Chapter 607: An Unreasonable Request

"Public enemy? What's going on?"

"I was doing my rotations back then, in the Operating Room. You know, Zhao Ge, whenever I finished a surgery, I'd wander around and if I saw other Surgical Operations going on, I'd go in to watch the excitement."

"But every time I went into a Gastrointestinal Operating Room back then, something would go wrong."

"Every time you went in, something went wrong?" Zhao Zhe seemed to recall something, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

"Yeah, every time, it was super eerie. One time, I watched a surgery for a while, and even after I'd gone back to the dormitory to rest, I got a phone call and was called back."

As Miao Zong spoke of the stories from the past, he still felt a lingering fear.

"The surgery I was watching was missing a piece of Gauze. No matter what, we couldn't find it, so the Patient was just left open like that, and no one dared to close."

"Gauze!" Ji Xiang frowned, "How did it go missing?"

"They had turned the Operating Room upside down. The Deputy Director of the Medical Affairs Department sat there in person to review the video surveillance, and every doctor who had been to Operating Room 8 had to describe their movements in detail."

"That involves personal privacy!" Zhao Mengmeng emphasized.

Miao Zong smiled, glanced at Zhao Mengmeng, and continued, "The Operating Room was practically dug up three feet deep, and since it was Gauze and not a needle, we couldn't use a magnet. In the end, after checking everyone's movements, we found that another doctor who had been observing the surgery had stuck the Gauze to their slipper, walked to change clothes, and left it in the big bin for slippers in the locker room."

"Whew~~~" Zhao Zhe let out a long breath, "Miao, it had nothing to do with you either."

"Sigh, it was because of this incident that the Gastrointestinal Surgery department blacklisted all the relevant doctors. My luck really wasn't very good back then; not long after, I ran into another incident."

"I was rotating in the Orthopedics Department. After finishing two hip Joint replacement surgeries, I passed by our Gastrointestinal Operating Room, so I went in to take a look."

"Weren't you blacklisted?" Zhao Mengmeng asked.

"I'm thick-skinned. Even if they said I was blacklisted, I was just passing by to take a look; they couldn't really chase me away with a broom, could they?" Miao Zong chuckled and continued, "I stood behind the surgeon. They had just made the incision, and I planned to leave after watching the anastomosis. But as soon as the Patient's belly was opened, I felt something was wrong."

"Did the Patient eat before the surgery?" Zhao Zhe was experienced and hit the nail on the head.

"Sigh, it wasn't just that they ate; it was like a starving ghost had been reincarnated. They ate and drank normally before the surgery... no, they ate more than a big guy like me normally does."

"Director Zou touched the Patient's stomach... and the sound wasn't right."

It was as if Ji Xiang could hear the sound of Deputy Director Zou sucking his saliva—slurp, slurp, slurp.

"When we opened it up, we saw the Patient's stomach contained millet porridge, pickles, mustard greens, fried dough sticks, and tofu pudding."

"Uh... don't you all do preoperative education?" Zhao Zhe sighed and asked.

"At the time, Director Zou scolded the ward doctor for a long time, and that's what he said too," Miao Zong said helplessly. "The ward doctor felt wronged but didn't explain. But we all know that the nurses do routine education, and the doctors also mention it during the preoperative briefing. If the Patient and the Family Member don't listen, there's nothing we can do."

"The Suction Device was running for a long time. When Director Zou turned his head and saw me, from then on, the door to our Gastrointestinal Surgery Operating Room might as well have had a sign saying 'Miao Pu and dogs not allowed'."

"Then how did you end up in Gastrointestinal Surgery?"

"Everything I said before about the blacklist was a joke; that was all metaphysics. I was diligent and willing to work, and the director gave me a chance, so in the end, I stayed in Gastrointestinal Surgery."

Ji Xiang and Zhao Zhe both laughed; it was obvious that Miao Zong's final explanation was insincere.

It is rare for a Doctor of Philosophy who graduated from a high-level Grade A Tertiary Hospital like the Affiliated Hospital to be able to stay; most have to achieve it through some other means.

As for being diligent and willing to work, that's all nonsense. It might fool a novice, but fool an old Attending Physician like Zhao Zhe? That's not enough.

The director was willing to give a chance, but it definitely wouldn't be because of Miao Zong's own diligence that he was given such an opportunity.

But Ji Xiang and Zhao Zhe didn't ask; that belonged to personal privacy, and what Zhao Mengmeng said was wrong. The two of them had a sense of propriety and wouldn't cross the line.

Zhao Zhe began to talk incessantly about some of his experiences in Yuanliao City. He had deep life experience, and coupled with his talkative nature, telling stories was a daily routine for him.

Not long after, an innocent-looking face appeared at the office door.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, hello."

Lin Jiuze stood at the door very politely and kindly, greeting them.

Miao Zong raised an eyebrow, but his gaze immediately turned toward the door.

Lin Jiuze had a deep background and a very high level of skill, but he was definitely not as simple as he looked.

He stood up subconsciously, trying to adjust his focus to flash a smile at the door frame next to Lin Jiuze.

For a split second, Miao Zong felt a bit cross-eyed.

"Doctor Lin, hello."

"Doctor Ji Xiang, do you have a moment?" Lin Jiuze asked.

"I do."

Ji Xiang stood up and walked out.

Zhao Zhe hesitated for a moment but sat back down, not following them out. He stared blankly at the door frame, pondering this strange Lin Jiuze.

It was obvious that Lin Jiuze had a private topic to discuss with Ji Xiang.

The two arrived at the Fire Exit, and Lin Jiuze didn't waste words, saying directly, "Doctor Ji Xiang, I have an unreasonable request."

"Since it's an unreasonable request, then forget it," Ji Xiang said.

His tone was very gentle, but the attitude contained within was extremely firm; he wouldn't listen to Lin Jiuze's explanation at all.

Lin Jiuze didn't seem surprised; he added a layer of even gentler smiles to the innocent expression on his face.

"Doctor Ji Xiang, I was also tricked into coming here this time. Qin Chu and my teacher had some history many years ago. I only knew it was a variety show, and I happened to have a vacation, and the teacher also mentioned this matter, so I didn't think much of it."

"If there was any offense, please forgive me."

Lin Jiuze noticed that Ji Xiang kept looking at him with a nonchalant expression, and he was slightly surprised, his tone becoming increasingly respectful.

"Doctor Lin, you are too polite," Ji Xiang said calmly.

"After this vacation, I will have my own medical team. We have cooperated on one surgery, and I admire your technical level very much. I wouldn't dare to say I'm recruiting you to my medical team..."

As he spoke, Lin Jiuze paused slightly.

"You can treat my medical team as a stepping stone. With your level, you will soon have your own medical team. And I estimate that you will soon be able to obtain the position of Lifetime Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital. I will definitely cooperate fully; you don't need to worry about that."

"Doctor Lin, the show will end soon, and I will return to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baiyi University then," Ji Xiang said.

Lin Jiuze recalled his words as quickly as he could.

He was full of sincerity, his attitude was humble, and he had considered all of Ji Xiang's concerns. Even if he hadn't spoken in great detail, with Ji Xiang's comprehension, he shouldn't have made a mistake.

But!

Ji Xiang still refused his own proposal without the slightest hesitation!

(End of this chapter)