Chapter 238: with translation of chapter title

Bu Ruotian arrived at the ward at some unknown time, standing not far away, smiling and greeting Qin Liren.

"You've come." Qin Liren finally regained some of his former dignity, his hands unconsciously clasped behind his back, he snorted through his nose and said, "There are many people inside; let's talk outside."

Bu Ruotian's smiling expression remained unchanged; he sized up Qin Liren from head to toe and said, "Old brother, your health is still good, stronger than mine. I estimate there won't be any major issues after the surgery, and recovery will surely be swift."

Bu Li stood behind Bu Ruotian, smiling like a blooming flower.

"People still have to yield to age." Qin Liren sighed, saying, "Old Bu, only you remember the old feelings and still come to see me."

"You say that, but Old Brother Liren is my benefactor—how could I not come?" Bu Ruotian said, "Is the manpower sufficient? Let Xiao Li stay here to nurse tonight; if I stay up late, I'm afraid my sister-in-law's body can't take it."

"No need, no need." Upon hearing the conversation, Qin Liren's lover walked out of the ward.

Bu Ruotian used to visit the family every year during holidays, although he never came empty-handed; now that Qin Liren has retired, he still does this, which already shows he is a very decent person.

"Old brother, when will the surgery be done?" Bu Ruotian asked.

Really, touching the sore spot—Qin Liren's face darkened a few more degrees, the black aura shrouding his face seemed almost tangible.

But this time coming to the imperial capital for treatment gave Qin Liren a vivid lesson.

When people leave, the tea grows cold—this matter… sigh.

"Originally it was supposed to be today, but today a particularly outstanding professor came to perform a demonstration surgery, and all the doctors went to observe." Qin Liren felt helpless, his tone low, "I'm also waiting for the professor to come down so I can ask. After retiring, I wanted to find someone to do the surgery, but no one would run back and forth to help make the arrangements."

"Don't rush, don't rush." Bu Ruotian smiled, "Probably just these next two days; emotions need to stay calm, current medical standards are high—look at me, after such a major surgery I'm still lively and active."

As they were speaking, the air in the entire ward corridor suddenly seemed to solidify; the chaotic noise was cut off by an invisible large hand, and everyone unconsciously closed their mouths and fell silent.

Qin Liren had been lowering his head, indulging in self-pity, when he suddenly felt something different and blankly lifted his head.

Coming into view was the ward's main door, where dazzling white coats like ice and snow appeared.

White, so conspicuous, as if sunlight reflected off a snow mountain, making it hard to keep one's eyes open.

But this white was not cold; it even had a hint of warmth.

The patients and their families in the corridor were seeing so many doctors appear together for the first time; their imposing presence could overwhelm everything.

Almost everyone closed their mouths at the same time, looking astonished and curious as the doctors walked in.

Several team-leading professors gathered around Director Kong like stars around the moon… and beside him was a young doctor—Zheng Ren.

Director Kong and Zheng Ren occasionally exchanged a few words, then headed straight for the postoperative patient's ward.

The two looked at each other like the sharp tips of arrows, exuding an invincible sharpness.

Behind them, the doctors who couldn't get forward gathered on either side, like the fletching of arrows, wearing the same standard white coats, adding a sense of solemnity and gravity.

The surgery went very smoothly; in 28 days, a double-enhanced follow‑up check will be done—by then, please trouble Director Kong to send me the images. He said this while walking.

The surgery was very smooth, and Zheng Ren was in a great mood.

"Certainly." Director Kong nodded, completely ignoring the surrounding onlooking patients and their families.

As a senior director, Director Kong had long grown accustomed to the attentive gazes of patients and their families.

If there were nothing going on, he might perhaps return a smile, but now his mind is full of Zheng Ren's recent surgery; he is summarizing it with his decades of experience, and he has no spare attention for whoever might be looking at him.

I estimate there won't be major problems with the surgery, the postoperative reaction won't be severe, and the outcome will be very good. Zheng Ren had already given this assessment.

Let's go take a look.

Like sharp arrows aimed straight, they "shot" toward the postoperative patient's ward—Director Kong, Zheng Ren, Su Yun, and several team‑leading professors entered the ward, while the other doctors could not squeeze in at all.

Except for the attending doctor who needed to record the opinions of the director and Zheng Ren and was allowed in as an exception, the remaining dozen or so doctors stood with hands lowered, solemn, in the corridor.

Being able to stand in a spot where one can see the situation inside the ward indicates a relatively high status and rank among the doctors. The worst off are the newly arrived resident doctors, whether young or old, who were pushed to the side and couldn't even see the ward.

Bu Ruotian's expression first showed a bit of surprise, but then he revealed a look of relief.

Zheng Ren was bound to reach this point sooner or later; it's just that this day arrived a little earlier than he had imagined.

Qin Liren stared, mouth agape, as Zheng Ren and Director Kong entered the ward side by side, his whole person dazed.

This world is simply too absurd, absurd to the point of directly shattering the worldview and outlook on life that Qin Liren had accumulated over many years.

That doctor isn't the one from Hai Cheng in this province who came to the imperial capital to observe, is he? How in the blink of an eye can he stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the capital's senior director…

Perhaps to others, standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder isn't a big deal.

But Qin Liren understands that at a certain level, even the order of names is a major issue, let alone entering shoulder‑to‑shoulder.

This damn well means that the little doctor has the qualification to stand on equal footing with the capital's senior director!

Could it be that today he performed the surgery, while Director Kong was the one observing it?

The more he thought about it, the more this explanation fit the actual truth.

And the truer it became, the more Qin Liren found himself unable to bear it, unable to endure this absurd feeling.

"Isn't that Zheng Ren?" Bu Li leaned close to Bu Ruotian's ear and whispered.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Bu Ruotian's mouth—his own daughter, he knew. This remark was definitely not meaningless.

I had introduced Zheng Ren to Qin Liren for the surgery, but Qin Liren refused.

That's no big deal; I don't mind either. Having contracted such a serious illness, I don't even know which day I'll live to see—what is there to not let go of?

But Bu Li is still young, harboring a different thought, and in Qin Liren's presence she quietly pointed out this matter…

There are many twists and turns inside; Bu Ruotian understands, but he does not wish to add insult to injury, merely smiling and nodding.

At this moment Qin Liren is especially sensitive; Bu Li's voice is not loud, but it is enough for him to hear.

Zheng Ren? Could he be the doctor that Bu Ruotian recommended to me, whom I then refused? Could he be the "Zheng Lao Ban" that the black‑faced patient just mentioned?

How could that be possible!

The opportunity appeared twice, and I turned it down both times.

Just a moment ago I was envying and jealous of those patients whom the "professors" operated on.

But who would have thought, this opportunity slipped through my fingers twice!

An immense sense of absurdity, like a heavenly thunderbolt, left Qin Liren scorched outside but tender within, standing rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word.