Chapter 1340: with translation of chapter title

Zheng Ren had no idea what was happening far away in Rongcheng; he exchanged a few words with Director Kong, then went over to Doctor Mei Ha'er.

The two didn't even eat lunch, chatting straight through until after three in the afternoon.

Finally, their absorbed conversation was interrupted by the ringing of Zheng Ren's phone.

【They said, quickly write a love song that both refined and popular audiences can enjoy……】

Zheng Ren apologetically smiled, picked up his phone, and walked out.

"Zheng Lao Ban? Vice President Yuan wants you to come over." The voice on the other end of the phone was very familiar—it was Director Ye Qingqiu.

"Director Ye?" Zheng Ren blinked, wondering what he wanted him to do over there.

How?

"Oh, nothing, just wanted to ask—what's going on with the director's side?" Zheng Ren asked right away.

The Li Lao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences came for a check-up; originally we wanted to invite Director Luo and Director Kong to take a look together—this is why we thought of you. Director Ye said with a chuckle.

"Oh, I'll head over right away." Zheng Ren said immediately, exchanged a polite remark with Director Ye, then hung up.

Social status differs, so the patients they encounter differ as well.

Although a typical department head has high social standing, they would absolutely not ask Zheng Ren to see Li Lao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This might possibly be considered a task for the health care team," Zheng Ren thought to himself.

Getting ready to greet Doctor Mei Ha'er, his assistant Fisher stood at the door, gesturing for Zheng Ren not to enter.

As it turned out, the doctor had been excited for too long and had already fallen asleep.

In old age, one's energy truly can't keep up. Still, it saved him from having to explain things to Doctor Mei Ha'er, which was a relief. Zheng Ren smiled and hurried straight to the Office Building.

On the way, he began to ponder Li Lao's condition.

Seeking out Director Luo and Director Kong again—this must be liver cancer. Normally, the director would first say hello, then bring the patient straight to the Inpatient Department; doing it this way seems a bit more formal.

Who knows? Zheng Ren casually approached the door of Vice President Yuan's office and knocked lightly.

"Come in." Vice President Yuan's voice came out.

Zheng Ren pushed the door open, glanced around, and saw neither the elderly man nor the glowing System Panel. Inside Vice President Yuan's office sat a middle-aged woman about forty, seated on the sofa, speaking with Vice President Yuan.

"Come, Xiao Li, let me introduce you." Vice President Yuan smiled, stood up, and said to the woman: "This is our hospital's Doctor Zheng, nominated for this year's Nobel Prize in Medicine—his skill is quite high."

The woman stood, extended her hand, and politely said: "Doctor Zheng, pleased to meet you."

"No need for formalities." Zheng Ren shook her hand and said: "Director."

"Let's talk while seated." Vice President Yuan said: "Li Lao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, diagnosed with liver cancer three years ago, has been undergoing interventional surgery at Di Du Hepatobiliary. The postoperative results have been good; the tumor has been completely inactivated."

Zheng Ren listened quietly, thinking: Zhou Chun Yong? His level is also not bad.

"But since a year ago, Li Lao's alpha-fetoprotein level has started exceeding the normal range. Checked every two months, each test result is much higher than the last." Vice President Yuan seemed to have done his homework; otherwise he wouldn't be so familiar.

Zheng Ren nodded, his mind searching for similar cases.

"Little Zheng, here are Li Lao's images and lab reports—take a look." Vice President Yuan said: "He's been to Di Du Hepatobiliary, Xiehe, and East Tumor; they suspect liver metastasis, but the exact metastatic site……"

The last sentence, Vice President Yuan only said half of it.

Zheng Ren knew in his heart that this is a relatively rare clinical situation. It's rare, but not unheard of.

At Haicheng Shi Yiyuan, he has seen similar patients.

It wasn't a patient under Zheng Ren's care, but because the condition was quite special, he remembered it.

The patient had undergone Liver Cancer Resection; liver CT and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance enhancement showed no issues, only the alpha-fetoprotein value was especially high.

In the end, the alpha-fetoprotein surged above 2000.

The patient himself had no subjective symptoms; after all examinations, no specific location of metastatic tumor was found.

Liu Tianxing was at a loss, so he had the patient bring the documents to the Medical University Affiliated Hospital for consultation. It's said that the Medical University Affiliated Hospital also failed to give a definitive diagnosis, advising observation, after which the patient went home.

Besides the elevated alpha-fetoprotein, there were no other positive test results.

Afterward, they observed for a full one and a half years; the patient also grew older, and his vigilance wasn't as high as before. Several brothers scattered across the country were preparing to gather.

At this age, it's truly that seeing each other means one less meeting.

The patient is the eldest brother, and his hometown is also Haicheng, so the gathering naturally took place in Haicheng.

What should have been a joyous celebration turned sour when the patient's daughter-in-law, bursting with long-held resentment, flew into a rage at the reunion table and started shouting at his son.

As soon as the old man got angry, he caught a cold.

One week later, he felt abdominal bloating and came to Haicheng Shi Yiyuan for a visit. At that time, Liu Tianxing was also a bit careless, did a liver check, and found nothing.

Less than a month later, the old man developed neurological symptoms, followed by high-level paraplegia.

It turned out the metastatic lesion was in the thoracic vertebrae; as the body's immunity declined, the metastatic tumor lesion grew explosively.

Afterward, the old man passed away three months later.

This is a regrettable matter; Zheng Ren wonders, if not for that argument at the gathering, would he have lived a few more years?

Similar cases, Zheng Ren has also seen many in the System Library.

Such metastatic tumors cannot be definitively diagnosed; in the end, the patient, due to certain triggering factors—or even without any—develops widespread tumor dissemination and explosive growth.

There is a time bomb inside the body, but no one knows where it is; one can only wait—this is a truly headache‑inducing situation.

Other tumors rarely show this situation; only liver cancer exhibits this covert growth, culminating in a massive outbreak.

It's possible that Lao Li is in this situation; Zheng Ren supposes as much.

He stood up, walked to Vice President Yuan's desk, picked up the image bag and a folder. The image bag was arranged by date, with the topmost being a PETCT from three days ago.

Zheng Ren felt a stir in his heart; his guess should be correct.

The PETCT likely showed nothing abnormal, which is why he has been seeking medical help everywhere.

Vice President Yuan's office had no light box, so Zheng Ren carried the image bag and folder to the window.

He took out the PETCT report booklet and glanced at the report first.

No tumor tissue was found in the whole body, and the liver tumor lesions showed no activity—at least the glucose tolerance indicates as much.

From this report, Li Lao's condition is quite optimistic.

"Doctor Zheng, Director Zhou recommended you to me," Li Lao's daughter said softly, "Please take a look."

Zheng Ren pondered for a moment, nodded, didn't voice his speculation, but took out the films and began reviewing them one by one.

……

……

Note: An elderly patient unfortunately passed away. I refrain from commenting on the family's disputes; I have pondered this case for a long time and consulted many teachers, but there's not much that can be done.