The Surgeon's Studio

Stay in Sea City? Why?

Zheng Ren was stunned for a moment. Had Su Yun’s jibe come true? Did this professor want to stay behind and be his assistant?

Impossible.

Smirking, Zheng Ren chuckled at his own thoughts.

Normally, such a professor would be leading a dozen ongoing research projects with each team working their fingers to the bone every day. Leaving the projects unsupervised would make it very hard to move forward.

And all to watch him perform emergency surgeries?

Did the man think he was Mr. Bai[1] from The Grand Mansion Gate?

Professor Rudolf Wagner observed Zheng Ren’s expression closely; he noticed a distinct lack of agreement, instead catching surprise and even amusement.

An international student had once told Professor Rudolf Wagner that the Chinese people were very reserved and reluctant to express their emotions.

At least, that was what Professor Rudolf Wagner had thought.

Zheng Ren thought the professor’s request a joke but the professor misconstrued it as agreement. They both stopped talking; Zheng Ren changed his clothes in silence and left the operating room.

The emergency operating room, unlike many of its kind, was on the same floor as the changing room.

Zheng Ren saw the fiancée pacing back and forth anxiously as he exited the latter.

“Doctor, how’s Brother Kai?” she asked desperately when she spotted him.

“He had a gastrointestinal perforation and will need to be on antibiotics for a few days after surgery to prevent any further complications,” Zheng Ren said, “You can save on the surgery fee, but the antibiotics might be a bit expensive, it’ll cost…”

“It’s fine, really, as long as he’s okay. I can borrow some money.”

“Alright. I also told him off. Hopefully, he’ll change his ways after this,” Zheng Ren said.

“Thank you, thank you.” The girl was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Zheng Ren waved before turning and heading downstairs through the fire exit.

Professor Rudolf Wagner silently followed him all the way back to the emergency ward.

“Zheng, did the boy get hurt from fighting his romantic rival?” the professor asked eagerly when they reached the office.

“Professor, if you hurt someone during a fight in this country, you’ll need to bear the legal consequences,” Zheng Ren answered.

“The same applies to my country too. However, most of the great romances speak of duels, the power, and the charms of a man…”

“No, professor. I won’t comment on the traditional meaning of a duel. However, this patient is his own worst enemy.” Zheng Ren sat before his computer and launched his workstation to begin writing the operative report.

“Zheng, you’re no romantic, for sure.” Professor Rudolf Wagner flicked his long, golden locks. Romantic… my *ss.

Zheng Ren could not care less about tradition and focused on his report.

Professor Rudolf Wagner strolled around, sighing occasionally as he looked about the ward.

He was mumbling to himself in his mother tongue. Zheng Ren neither understood nor wanted to understand him; the professor was probably thinking about how the resources here were lacking, unequipped to conduct research, or something else along those lines.

Sea City General Hospital was undeniably incomparable to the fount of great talent that was the research center of Heidelberg University.

Even Karl Marx was a graduate of Heidelberg University.

The university received abundant donations from charitable foundations and other organizations every year, ensuring deep pockets for anything they required.

Sea City General Hospital did not have the same luxury.

Shortly after, the creak of a stretcher trolley found its way inside. Su Yun and Chu Yanzhi were sending the patient over.

They transferred him to a hospital bed, where he was deftly hooked up to an ECG monitor by a nurse and given a quick checkup.

Su Yun noticed that there was only one family member left and did not know what else to do; therefore, he returned the stretcher trolley with Chu Yanzhi.

When he returned, Professor Rudolf Wagner had occupied his regular seat in the office and was observing Zheng Ren at work.

“Is the professor staying permanently?” Su Yun asked.

“I doubt so,” Zheng Ren answered without raising his head.

“Zheng, you’d agreed for me to stay here,” Professor Rudolf Wagner said seriously.

This… Zheng Ren froze a moment; he looked at Su Yun, then turned to the professor. He had no idea how the tiny shrine that was Sea City General Hospital had managed to attract a major deity like Professor Rudolf Wagner.

Nevertheless, the man was free to stay and well-off enough to afford his own meals… wait a minute. Zheng Ren suddenly realized someone had to be responsible for sustaining the professor’s stay.

Xie Yiren’s parents were returning soon, and he was still tight on money.

Was the professor trying to force him to resign? Then, a thought crossed his mind: Department Chief Kong had earlier mentioned a research fund that he had not known how to spend. What was he going to do, buy a house with it?

A meal ought to be acceptable.

Su Yun began to smirk as he watched Zheng Ren’s expressions flick by like a Sichuan opera Face-Changing performer, already guessing the man’s thoughts.

“Professor, where are you staying tonight?” Su Yun asked.

Professor Rudolf Wagner pretended to be gracious. “Just give me a space, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you able to perform surgery?” Su Yun asked.

The question was ambiguous. Professor Rudolf Wagner could not understand its intentions.

“If you’re sleeping in the on-call room, I’ll have to go back home. If you can handle surgery, by all means, be my guest. If you can’t, I suggest you check into Shangri-La Hotel and rest.”

Shangri-La Hotel was the only five-star hotel in Sea City. Department Chief Kong would most likely be spending the night there.

Professor Rudolf Wagner hesitated for a long time before saying, “No worries, I can handle these surgeries. I have a clinician’s license, so common diseases shouldn’t pose much of a problem. I also volunteer in the ER for 3 to 5 days annually.”

The smile on Su Yun’s face only grew when he heard the professor’s answer.

Zheng Ren was unable to do anything but watch.

This rascal was obviously exploiting the professor, but Zheng Ren was indifferent. As long as there was no major surgery required, he could handle it by himself. The professor’s presence would not make any difference.

“I’ll leave then, Chief Zheng.” Su Yun began whistling, now in an exceptional mood.

“Keep your phone on. I’ll call you if anything happens,” Zheng Ren said coldly.

“Oh my God! You don’t have the right to call an off-duty doctor, it’s his private time!” Professor Rudolf Wagner exclaimed.

Zheng Ren smiled and did not argue.

Su Yun saluted before briskly leaving the emergency ward.

A routine check on the postoperative patients confirmed that the young man’s condition had stabilized; if the mild infection in his abdomen did not worsen, he ought to be able to be discharged after several days on intravenous antibiotics.

When Zheng Ren exited the ward, the girl followed him out.

“Thank you, Dr. Zheng.” She was clearly well-mannered and thanked him with a deep bow.

“You’re welcome.” Zheng Ren did not put on any airs. He certainly deserved it after the surgery and his attempt to rehabilitate the patient.

“I’ll try my best to raise the money. Can you please not stop his medication?”

“Oh my God…” Professor Rudolf Wagner cried out again.

…

…

Try to hum the chapter title in Zeng Yi’s [2]voice~~ It’s a new week already; I hope that everything goes smoothly at work and every day is happy, guys.

[1] The author used 白大爷, which appears to refer to Bai Jingqi, the main protagonist in The Grand Mansion Gate (大宅门), a 2001Chinese historical television series.

[2] Zeng Yi is a Chinese pop singer and member of the Chinese popular music duo Phoenix Legend.