The Surgeon's Studio

After a quick bite of noodles, Zheng Ren contacted Research Graduate Liang and went to the CT room to review his patients’ films.

There had been a breakthrough last night, after all. Although there was no way to measure it, he had a feeling that it would earn him at least 100 skill points. Thus, it was best to review his patients’ imaging films again in order to perfectly execute the surgeries tomorrow. There also remained a few lingering doubts that he wanted to resolve.

He finally finished reviewing all seven patients’ films that night. Exhausted, he invited both Research Graduate Liang and Feng Xuhui to dinner.

This time, Feng Xuhui insisted on picking up the tab.

Around the same time, Zheng Ren received a call from Su Yun to attend dinner, which he refused immediately.

After all, he was wounded. How would he perform surgery tomorrow if he fooled around the whole night? Besides, eating was a waste of time to him, and he preferred to spend every possible second of his life being productive.

Zheng Ren understood Su Yun better now. It was no surprise that the man could familiarize himself with his peers upon arriving in Imperial Capital as the socialisation alone was enough to drive Zheng Ren crazy.

He had a hard time believing that Su Yun, cynical as can be, would possess such an attitude.

His world finally returned to peace and quiet after Research Graduate Liang and Feng Xuhui left for home.

The shocking experience yesterday and sudden enlightenment today made Zheng Ren feel as if he had been cut off from the outside world for ages.

He only hoped that,

The fewer the thrills, the better.

The more knowledge he got, the better.

Without cushioning his injured shoulder, Zheng Ren casually washed up and lay comfortably on the bed to read his novel.

When he accidentally dropped his phone onto his face from drowsiness, he turned off the lights and went to sleep.

His slumber remained undisturbed until the next morning.

His muscles ached, and his body burned with a fever. It was an indescribable, uncomfortable sensation.

The discomfort woke Zheng Ren up, and when he realized that he had a fever, his heart sank immediately.

It was six o’clock in the morning. After a few moments of hesitation, he called Feng Xuhui instead of Su Yun.

“Hello, Manager Feng.” Zheng Ren could practically hear the fatigue in his own tone.

“Yes, I’m having a slight fever now. Please bring me a thermometer and some antipyretics.

“Alright, thank you.”

Zheng Ren figured that his fever was due to the overstimulation during the emergency resuscitation on Fang Lin the day before yesterday, and his wearing only a thin coat in the freezing weather afterward. That was more likely than it being an inflammatory reaction secondary to local infection of the wound on his shoulder.

‘It’s just a cold,’ Zheng Ren thought.

However, every muscle and joint on his body was sore, and his head felt heavy, which made him feel uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable…

Feng Xuhui was quick with his tasks. He was at the doorstep within twenty minutes.

Zheng Ren struggled to get up and open the door for him.

Feng Xuhui was taken aback upon seeing Zheng Ren’s mentally exhausted, sallow expression. The concentration and finesse of the man who had practically devoured his imaging films yesterday were absent.

Zheng Ren’s body temperature was at 38.6 degrees Celsius. Feng Xuhui boiled water for him to take his antipyretics and asked the front desk for fresh, dry bed sheets so that he could rest up.

“Chief Zheng, it’s best that you don’t perform surgery today.” Feng Xuhui’s heart ached as he said the words.

He had really hoped for Zheng Ren to perform surgery today, and even to win the competition, if possible.

That way, his efforts would not have been in vain.

Last night, he had even been contemplating his bright future in the company if Chief Zheng did win the surgery contest.

However, as he looked at Zheng Ren’s sickly visage, Feng Xuhui knew that it would be impossible for the man to complete a surgery even if he participated.

This was not an appendectomy that a surgeon could complete in mere minutes, confidently setting down their scalpel on the sterile surgical drape next to the patient’s thigh and letting their surgical assistant handle subsequent procedures with ease.

One had to wear a lead apron weighing a few kilograms to even perform interventional radiology.

Ordinary surgeons could barely perform an operation for one to two hours in a heavy lead apron, let alone a man with a fever at 38.6 degrees Celsius. If Zheng Ren had to perform a surgery with such a load on him, would he die in the middle of the operation?

Moreover, Zheng Ren had gone through seven patients’ imaging films yesterday.

As far as Feng Xuhui was concerned, Zheng Ren would not be able to make it to the surgery, which saddened him greatly.

However, when Su Yun woke up later and noticed Zheng Ren’s condition, he reacted with joy instead of dejection.

Sometimes, he wished to see Zheng Ren taking the lead and showing Jin Yaowu and others their place, but during others, he wanted the man to quit surgery and return to Sea City together.

His changes of mind were drastic, his thoughts inexplicable.

“You can’t perform surgery in your current state. I’m going to call Professor Pei, you just rest up now. Once you recover, I’ll bring you to a few tourist attractions before we return to Sea City.”

“…” Zheng Ren had no clue why Su Yun did not want him to perform the surgery.

It was certainly not due to jealousy as Zheng Ren could vaguely detect the pride in Su Yun’s heart. This was a man who firmly believed that he could surpass anyone given time.

This brat must have been upset again when Fang Lin had been stabbed the day before yesterday. The urge to compete and prevail over others during the meeting was simply a knee-jerk reaction that managed to come under control later.

Perhaps he would just resign and establish a pet medical center upon his return to Sea City.

The thought of Su Yun’s resignation sent a chill down Zheng Ren’s spine.

When he imagined the nancy boy no longer being there to watch over postoperative patients, pen and paper in hand while his black bangs danced in the air… Zheng Ren felt a sense of loss. He had overlooked the nancy boy’s importance.

Moreover, he had gotten used to having an assistant in surgery.

Every man had his habits.

“I can still rescue those patients,” Zheng Ren joked, which was rare in itself, but was even colder than the icy wind outside the building.

The stale joke made Su Yun’s expression stony flat.

“Why are you torturing yourself when you’re having a fever? Just lie down and rest,” said Su Yun angrily.

Any woman who heard Su Yun’s tone would have gotten a gleam in her eyes.

However, Zhang Ren, who had an unalterable sexual orientation, remained unaffected and smiled. “It’s just a minor issue. Why so serious?”

“You’re crazy. I’m going to call Professor Pei now.” Su Yun was exasperated.

“Don’t,” Zheng Ren said, “I’ll feel better after I sweat it out, and I think I’ll recover completely after finishing those surgeries.”

“…”

“Resting on the bed will slow down my recovery, so I should be exercising instead.” Zheng Ren started waffling while maintaining a stern expression. “Don’t bother me. I’ll make myself sweat and have breakfast later before attending the surgery.

“By the way, what time does the surgery begin?”

“Half-past seven at the research institute.” Su Yun remained expressionless. Even if he did inform Professor Pei, he was fully aware that he could not stop the idiotic Zheng Ren from going to the research institute.

What a twat!

“Okay, I’ll wake up at seven.” Zheng Ren’s decision was final.

The antipyretic had caused him to begin sweating profusely, and he woke up at seven o’clock in the morning feeling much better.

However, various kinds of breakfast Feng Xuhui bought failed to whet Zheng Ren’s appetite.

He forced himself to swallow a bit of each dish as if he was taking medicine.

Zheng Ren had learned his lesson from the nitrite poisoning event, and had no desire to embarrass himself in front of the renowned experts from Imperial and Sorcery Capital.

If he did faint while performing surgery… That would not be fun.

Thus, he reluctantly shoved the food down his throat.

‘Chief Zheng looks disgusted with the food, is it that awful?’ Feng Xuhui panicked, unable to discern the truth from his limited social experience.

After breakfast, Zheng Ren changed into dry innerwear and put on the coat that Xie Yiren had delivered before heading to the institute with a black-faced Su Yun and cautious Feng Xuhui.

Even though it was not yet half-past seven, most doctors, including a few elderly professors, had already arrived.

Professor Pei noticed Zheng Ren and waved his hand. “Zheng Ren.”

Zheng Ren forced a smile, attempting to make himself look more presentable, before he approached Professor Pei and bowed.

“I heard that you encountered a terrible incident two days ago?” Professor Pei looked indignant as he recalled it.

Empathy was a natural feeling, and doctors always put themselves in victims’ shoes whenever such incidents occurred.

“Yes.” Zheng Ren nodded.

“I heard the story. You performed very well, and you were even injured because of it.” Professor Pei consoled Zheng Ren, “You should rest up and not perform surgery today.”

Zheng Ren immediately replied, “I’m fine, Professor Pei.”

“Young man, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“I’m really fine.” Before Zheng Ren could continue explaining himself, Su Yun, who was answering a call, approached him with a peculiar expression and said, “Old Zhao wants to speak to you…”