The Surgeon’s Studio

At some point, Bu Ruotian had arrived at the ward. He stood nearby and greeted Qin Liren with a smile.

“You’re here.” Qin Liren finally regained a fragment of his old pride. He placed both of his hands behind his back subconsciously and humphed, “Let’s have a word outside, it’s too crowded in here.”

Bu Ruotian’s smile did not waver as he looked Qin Liren up and down. “Old friend, you’re in better shape than I am. I think the risk of complications is rather low and you’ll be able to recover very soon after your surgery.”

Bu Li stood behind Bu Ruotian, her smile as pretty as blossoming flowers.

“I still need to acquiesce to age.” Qin Liren let out a sigh before continuing, “Old Bu, you’re the only one who remembered our friendship and came to visit me.”

“What are you talking about? You’d always been there for me, Brother Liren. How can I not come to see you?” Bu Ruotian said. “Do you need any help? I’ll ask Little Li to stay the night and take care of you. I worry for your wife’s health if she stays up all night.”

“Worry not, there’ll be no need for that.” Qin Liren’s wife had overheard their conversation and walked out of the ward.

Bu Ruotian visited their home every year during holidays and festivals. Even though he did not usually visit them empty-handed, it was still relatively thoughtful of him to pay Qin Liren a visit in such a state.

“Old brother, when is your surgery?” Bu Ruotian asked.

Qin Liren’s expression darkened further as if there was a black mist enveloping his face.

He had learned an interesting lesson coming to Imperial Capital for treatment.

It made him realize that superficial relationships fell apart after one loses power… sigh.

“It was supposed to be today, but apparently there’s a great professor performing a surgical demonstration. All of the doctors went to observe,” Qin Liren said helplessly, dejected. “I’m waiting for the professors to come down so that I can ask them. No one’s giving me any referrals or contacts for surgery now that I’ve retired.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no need to hurry.” Bu Ruotian grinned. “You’ll probably get it done within the next two days, just stay calm. Modern medical technology is very advanced. Look at me, I’m doing just fine after major surgery.”

As they were talking, the air in the corridor seemed to freeze in time. All ambient noise stopped as if turned off by an invisible hand and everyone subconsciously became silent.

Qin Liren had his head lowered in self-pity, but felt the sudden shift and lifted his head in confusion.

A flash of white coats appeared at the main entrance of the ward, shiny as snow and filling his vision.

It was the blinding white of sunlight reflected off snow-capped peaks, impossible to stare at directly.

However, it was not cold like ice, but warm.

It was the first time seeing such a scene for many patients and their family. The sheer number of doctors appearing together exuded a powerful aura that eclipsed all else.

Everybody stopped talking at almost the same time as they stared in awe at the doctors making their entrance.

There were several professors encircling Department Chief Kong… and the young doctor, Zheng Ren, beside him.

Chief Kong turned to Zheng Ren and spoke a few words before heading straight to the ward for the patients who had just undergone surgery.

They exchanged a single glance, as sharp as the tip of an arrow.

The uniform white coats of the doctors trailing them resembled the arrow’s fletching, adding to the gravity and formality of the procession.

“The surgery was very successful. We’ll need to review the double contrast-enhanced imaging after 28 days. I’ll need your help to send me the films then, Chief Kong,” Zheng Ren said as he walked.

He was in a great mood after all the successful surgeries.

“Sure,” Chief Kong nodded, ignoring the onlooking patients and their families.

As department chief, Chief Kong was immune to their attention.

If he was not too busy, he could greet them with a smile. However, his head was buzzing with the surgical processes Zheng Ren had just demonstrated. He was using his decades of experience to form a conclusion and could not be bothered by others.

“There’s no major issue with the surgeries. The patients’ reactions after surgery were minimal, too. This is going to work.” Zheng Ren had already assessed the situation.

“Let’s go and take a look.”

The “arrow” flew at the ward. Chief Kong, Zheng Ren, Su Yun, and a few other professors went in while the other doctors stayed outside.

With the exception of the ward physician responsible for noting down the recommendations of the chief and Zheng Ren, the remaining doctors stood quietly and patiently in the corridor.

Those with a view of the situation in the ward had higher positions in the hierarchy, but the newbies had it the worst. No matter their age, they were pushed aside and could not even see the ward.

Initially, Bu Ruotian was a little surprised, but quickly felt at ease.

He knew that Zheng Ren would have reached this stage sooner or later; it just so happened that the young man had achieved it earlier than he had expected.

On the other hand, Qin Liren was perplexed seeing Zheng Ren and Chief Kong entering the ward side by side. His jaw fell wide open.

The universe was definitely playing a joke on him. It was so absurd that Qin Liren’s worldview and guiding principles, formulated over his many years, were immediately shattered.

Was that not the young doctor from his own hometown, Sea City, who had come to Imperial Capital as an observer? Why was he standing shoulder to shoulder with the department chief?

To others, such a thing might not have been a big deal.

However, Qin Liren understood that when one reached a certain status, even the order of names mattered significantly, not to mention where one stood in relation to the boss.

It meant that the young doctor was considered an equal to a department chief of Imperial Capital General Hospital.

Could he have been the surgeon who performed the demonstration? Was Chief Kong observing him?

The more he thought about it, the more his speculations seemed to fit the truth.

And the more it came to mind, the more unbearable its absurdity was to Qin Liren.

“Isn’t that Zheng Ren?” Bu Li whispered into Bu Ruotian’s ear.

The faintest smile appeared at the corner of Bu Ruotian’s mouth. He knew his daughter through and through. She was not one to speak without intention.

He had introduced Zheng Ren to help with Qin Liren’s surgery, only to be rejected.

That was fine as it did not concern him. He had nothing else to lose, and his own days were already limited with his chronic illness.

Nonetheless, Bu Li thought differently as she was still young. By mentioning it in front of Qin Liren…

Bu Ruotian could read between the lines and understood her intentions, but was unwilling to rub salt into the wound. He just smiled and nodded.

Qin Liren was already particularly sensitive at this point and he heard Bu Li despite her hushed tone.

Zheng Ren? The doctor that he was introduced to by Bu Ruotian and the one he eventually refused? Was he the one that the tanned man had referred to as “Mr. Zheng”?

Impossible!

Twice he had been presented with the opportunity, and twice he had turned it down.

He had been green with envy and spite at the patients who had received surgery from the “professor”.

However, he had allowed that very same chance to slip through his fingers, twice!

The full ridiculousness of his situation struck Qin Liren like a lightning bolt, rooting him to the spot, unable to say a word.