The Surgeon's Studio c1-799

by Black Ursa Prime

  "That's really high!"

  Was it really that high? He had already adjusted it.

  Zheng Ren smiled and nodded before they left the ward together.

  "Hello, Dr. Zheng. We meet again." Bu Ruotian appeared in front of Zheng Ren and enthusiastically extended his right hand. It was more formal than their last meeting.

  "What a coincidence. You're here…" Zheng Ren was not surprised to see Bu Ruotian in the hospital, but was curious as to why he was in the interventional radiology department.

  "And this is?" Chief Kong was slightly unhappy with the interruption. He still had many questions to ask Zheng Ren, and butting in ground his gears severely.

  As a savvy socialite, Bu Ruotian reacted quickly and immediately extended his hand with a smile. "I'm one of Dr. Zheng's patients. He performed the Whipple procedure1 on me a while ago."

  Department Chief Kong knew Zheng Ren was from the general surgery department and assumed it was not his strongest suit, since the man clearly excelled in interventional surgery.

  After all, the human body had its limits. No one could study or practice surgery 24 hours a day, not even if they were made of iron.

  Chief Kong was no longer displeased by the interruption after hearing Bu Ruotian out. Subconsciously, he reached out and shook the proffered hand.

  "It's all thanks to Dr. Zheng, he conducted the surgery all by himself and is my savior," Bu Ruotian added as if his initial explanation was insufficient to convey the full weight of his gratitude.

  "..."

  At Zheng Ren's age, someone able to perform the Whipple procedure would be considered the cream of the crop. According to this man, Zheng Ren completed it alone?

  What happened to all the other doctors in the hospital? Were they all gone?

  Chief Kong had not expected this new information and began speculating on the circ.u.mstances surrounding that day.

  Zheng Ren started sweating. He had been under the control of the System then and completed the surgery flawlessly with the help of the prime experience. Were he asked to reenact the same procedure right now, he would not be able to pull it off. It was best not to dwell further into it.

  He tried to change the topic abruptly. "Mr. Bu, why are you here?"

  "I'm here for a follow-up appointment. All my vitals appear to be normal. I'm also here to visit an old friend." Bu Ruotian pointed to Qin Liren, who had not moved where he stood, contemplating the absurdity of life.

  The man looked rather familiar… As usual, Zheng Ren was unable to recognize him due to his face blindness.

  If that was one of his patients, he would probably have some recollection, but if it were just some passerby, Zheng Ren would probably not be able to recognize the man if they met eight or even ten times. No, his memory would definitely fail him.

  "He's the guy from Sea City who refused to be operated on by you," Su Yun whispered into Zheng Ren's ear.

  With that, he emerged from the shadows behind Zheng Ren, extending his hand alongside a formal smile and saying politely, "Hello, Mr. Bu. I'm Mr. Zheng's assistant."

  The gesture caught Bu Ruotian by surprise, but the man was used to such a situation and simply laughed as he shook hands with Su Yun.

  He was the ric.h.e.s.t man in Sea City, after all, and no stranger to people trying to get on his good side.

  "Director Fu from Sea City General Hospital is my uncle. My name is Su Yun, please treat me with kindness." Su Yun let go of his hand, astounding Zheng Ren with his choice of words.

  Zheng Ren's eyes lit up, glinting like daggers in the dark.

  Bu Ruotian understood right away. He did not reply to Su Yun and continued smiling before bringing Zheng Ren and Chief Kong to Qin Liren.

  "Brother Liren, this is the doctor that I wanted to introduce to you, Zheng Ren. Dr. Zheng may be very young, but he is a skilled physician," Bu Ruotian said.

  Department Chief Kong called out, "Whose team is this man under?"

  One of the professors by him responded.

  "You'll be leading the surgery; get it done by this evening," Chief Kong ordered.

  Zheng Ren's face fell. He was getting boons one after the other.

  Putting aside the fact that they had managed to invent a new surgical method, rescuing Lin Jiaojiao's vision had put Department Chief Kong deeply in Zheng Ren's debt.

  However, Chief Kong could also remember that this was the same patient who had refused Zheng Ren's surgery several days ago after trying to pull strings to get a private ward.

  He had not paid it much attention as there were so many people attempting the same. How could he remember them all? Everyone below deputy level was insignificant to him.

  Qin Liren finally gathered his courage and swallowed the last of his pride. "Dr. Zheng, can you operate on me?"

  As soon as the words left his tongue, Qi Liren felt as if each one were a tight slap to his face.

  His cheeks burned; it was truly painful to be the architect of one's own misery.

  Nevertheless, this was a matter of life and death, worth the strife and struggle he had to endure.

  The image of Zheng Ren and Chief Kong walking side by side kept replaying in Qi Liren's mind. It was obvious that the young upstart had gotten Chief Kong's approval and that all of the other doctors recognized Zheng Ren's demonstrative surgery.

  Were this a multiple-choice exam, it would be a bonus question.

  If Qin Liren chose the wrong answer, he would have lived his entire life in vain.

  Given the choice between life or dignity, Qin Liren would choose to let Zheng Ren operate without hesitation.

  Why had he brought this upon himself…

  Qin Liren felt the bitter taste in his mouth, but could blame no one else.

  He had rejected Bu Ruotian outright when being recommended Zheng Ren, even smashing apart his home in rage at the old dog looking down on him.

  He had been presented with a second chance when he had coincidentally met Zheng Ren in this hospital, but rejected the doctor again.

  This humiliation was his own doing.

  At Qin Liren's question, Chief Kong looked askew at Zheng Ren.

  "I'm fine with that," Zheng Ren answered.

  Chief Kong was surprised. "But you need to visit other patients this afternoon."

  Right, he had to visit the urology department to prepare for prostate interventional embolization.

  Zheng Ren began to reconsider.

  "Boss, I've informed you about that. Did you forget it in your fevered state?" Su Yun said, "We'll be visiting a patient in the urology department. If the condition permits, we'll do a 64-slice CT scan and prep for surgery as soon as possible."

  "..." Zheng Ren nodded.

  He had no qualms with conducting the surgery, but he had yet to do a 64-slice CT image reconstruction for Qin Liren.

  "Let's send them both to CT this afternoon," Zheng Ren said, "Chief Kong, would that be alright with you?"

  "Of course," Chief Kong laughed and said. "It's no big deal. Take your time with the reconstruction and surgery."

  Could he sound any more casual? Qin Liren burst into tears. Previously referred to as a pancreaticoduodenectomy.

  Chapter 234 - Not Much Has Changed Throughout The Ages (Part 3 of 5)

  It was lunch soon and Department Chief Kong invited Zheng Ren to the Little Stove Canteen. However, Zheng Ren's attention was elsewhere and he politely turned it down.

  They agreed to reconvene at 2:00 pm in the genitourinary department.

  Zheng Ren also dismissed Feng Xuhui, who had been waiting by the door, in an unusually brusque manner.

  For the first time, Zheng Ren asked Su Yun, "What are we having for lunch?"

  Su Yun was silent.

  "We'll just grab something, then," Zheng Ren said.

  They were greeted by blue, cloudless sky and the bite of north wind as they exited the inpatient department..

  Imperial Capital had seen more clear skies and white clouds since last year.

  T
here was a nearby noodle stall that Zheng Ren had visited with Feng Xuhui.

  He ordered two bowls of plain noodles, then took a seat across Su Yun. "Your performance today was unsatisfactory."

  "The surgery? I thought it was perfect." Su Yun's head was lowered and a stray breeze blew through his jet black hair.

  "You know what I mean," Zheng Ren said.

  Su Yun was silent. From his expression, he had no intention of backing down.

  Zheng Ren ignored the man's petulance and forged on. "Since our first meeting, you've brought up Director Fu only once: when claiming that your family and their seniority had nothing to do with you. At first, I thought you were just a lying, contemptible pretty boy but our time together has changed my view."

  These words would normally have elicited a retort from Su Yun.

  However, he did not speak, instead looking down and staring dumbly at the table.

  His full attention was on the plastic, as if there were a gorgeous woman or mountains of gold embedded in it.

  "I'm sure being the rising star of the cardiothoracic department in Imperial Capital ismiles better than simply being related to Director Fu. Still, you name-dropped Director Fu when introducing yourself to Bu Ruotian as my assistant.Do you worry that he is seeking revenge on your uncle?" Zheng Ren crossed his fingers and rested them on the table.

  "The great Detective Zheng Ren." With the truth finally and painstakingly exposed, Su Yun could no longer hold back his spite.

  "It wasn't difficult to figure out, especially since it is pretty straightforward. I memorized the Zizhi Tongjian1 and Twenty-Four Histories during my time in university. Not much has changed throughout the ages." Zheng Ren chuckled and continued, "Do you know why I persisted in the emergency department and never said a word edgewise despite being hounded mercilessly?"

  "I've no idea. It's not like your lack of skill is keeping you trapped there," Su Yun said. He was looking up now, his eyes affixed on Zheng Ren.

  "That's true," Zheng Ren said.

  "You're almost as good as I am." Even Su Yun's compliments were backhanded.

  The narcissism was frustrating, but Zheng Ren remained silent.

  "Unfortunately, my uncle is a dumb*ss." Su Yun sighed. "He was the only son on my mother's side. Spoiled rotten and utterly useless."

  It was unusual for a junior doctor to denounce an operations deputy director so.

  Nevertheless, Zheng Ren agreed fully.

  After Zheng Ren's needling, words poured forth from Su Yun's mouth as he vented. "I knew something going to happen to him after Bu Ruotian's surgery. Such a fiasco cannot be resolved by burying one's head in the ground."

  "Indeed."

  "Well, that dumb uncle of mine thinks he's safe as deputy director of operations. Since Bu Ruotian's surgery had ended in success, he assumed that no one would talk and expected the screw-up to eventually die down. Does he truly not expect Bu Ruotian to get back at him?!" Su Yun spat.

  "If this had happened twenty years ago, your uncle would have been hospitalized at the very least," Zheng Ren said, amused.

  Su Yun shook his head. "Even then, something as crude as a blade in the dark was never needed. It starts with career assassination, a transfer to a dead-end post to rot for years. Once you have faded from everyone's memory, you would end up in an unfortunate car crash. It's a shame my uncle is too obtuse to even see what's coming right at him."

  "Is that why you came to the emergency department?" Zheng Ren asked, his smile unwavering.

  "What was I supposed to do?" Su Yun said in frustration. "I had already tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen. I had to do something for my mother's sake. Did you think I pulled every string I could to transfer to the emergency department for your good looks?"

  "I assumed it was due to my skill as a surgeon."

  "How vain of you," Su Yun muttered. "There were four people in total that day. The anesthesiologist has left the country while the other two are, as you know, also from the emergency department. I have no idea what Bu Ruotian has planned but I think there's a chance he will use you."

  "Hm. Were I Bu Ruotian, I wouldn't let your uncle go, so I did not panic and resign on the spot.

  "While I may seem like a simple, honest man, I must admit to being rather petty when it comes to grudges. I could leave the hospital any time, but I wanted to personally watch what happens to Director Fu," Zheng Ren said coolly. "Didn't expect you to show up, though."

  "I saw an opportunity. The research here means little to me in comparison. If I hadn't spoken up today, I would have just returned and convinced my uncle to resign, and then start up a veterinary hospital," Su Yun said.

  "What's your plan now?"

  "Boss, please help mediate this for me." It was Su Yun's first sincere usage of the title and there was no hint of sarcasm in his tone. "A simple resignation is the best we can hope for. I doubt any compensation would be of use to the Bu family. If you humble yourself, he might exchange leniency for a favor from you in the future."

  "And if it doesn't work?"

  "Can you guarantee success before any surgery?"

  "No."

  "This is similar. Just try your best," Su Yun said. Once I return, I will once again try to persuade my uncle to resign. If he has any sense, he will take my advice. Otherwise…"

  "What do you plan to do?"

  "Boss, what do you think of a veterinary hospital?"

  "Shut up and eat your lunch. We're needed at the genitourinary department ward later." Zheng Ren picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

  "I didn't hear a no," Su Yun mumbled.

  "The rising star of the Imperial General cardiothoracic department became my assistant to ask me for a favor. How can I deny you?" Zheng Ren smiled at him. "Do you feel better now?"

  "Yes. I feel much better knowing you're not a saint after all," Su Yun said sarcastically before starting on his noodles.

  They did not exchange another word; some plans and secrets needed not be verbalized.

  The only thing they needed to know was that there was more than one way to kill someone.

  After finishing their meal, the two returned to their accommodation to rest. At 1.30 p.m., they were greeted by Manager Feng anxiously standing guard at their doors. The or Zizhi Tongjian ('Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance) is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle. It, like the Twenty-Four Histories, is a dense historical text that Zheng Ren is using to show off his impressive, if selective, memory.

  Chapter 235 - Capitulation? (Part 4 of 5)

  "What's wrong, Manager Feng?" Zheng Ren asked.

  "Chief Zheng… I… Have I offended you in some way?" Feng Xuhui asked hesitantly.

  "Did you? What happened?" Zheng Ren looked confused.

  Su Yun glanced at him with disdain. Was this man really that obtuse?

  "This afternoon…"

  Zheng Ren realized what Manager Feng was referring to and quickly said, "Oh, that. I wanted to speak with Su Yun privately then. Everything is fine."

  The words did little to improve Feng Xuhui's spirits, but he did not pursue the topic, choosing instead to follow the two men to the interventional surgery department.

  They met up with Department Chief Kong and Dr. Shen before heading to the genitourinary department together.

  The patient was a 87-year-old man with severe coronary heart disease. His left anterior descending artery had 70% blockage even after a stent surgery, which had ended in him having a weakened respiratory system and impaired blood clotting due to the warfarin prescribed after.

  This was considered a high-risk patient.

  Any surgery at this stage risked the patient dying from a cardiac arrest on the operating table.

  However, the prostate surgery was necessary to reduce swelling and restore normal urine output. Otherwise, he would require a permanent urinary catheter or a cystostomy to relieve his bladder—a procedure that carr
ied similar risk.

  Overall, the old man's quality of living had deteriorated despite not having terminal disease.

  The patient's sons were all in their sixties, resembling a meeting of the Bureau of Retired Officials as they crowded around the hospital bed.

  Once they understood their father's condition, they swiftly agreed to the experimental surgery.

  While the surgery's success was not guaranteed, they were willing to take the chance. It was better than having to install a permanent urinary catheter, which was not only inconvenient but ran the risk of urinary tract infections. A severe urinary tract infection could also lead to abdominal complications.

  The visit to the ward confirmed Zheng Ren's suspicion—the surgery had to be minimally invasive.

  Zheng Ren said nothing in order to not worry the patient as they brought him to the CT room for his scan. A slot was also arranged for Qin Liren. Once the scans were complete, Zheng Ren proceeded with retrograde reconstruction.

  By the time the scans were complete, it was past clock-out time.

  He was able to work in relative peace and quiet, which was a relief as the capillaries in the prostate were very fine.

  It was much harder than identifying the tumor-feeding arteries in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

  All the while, Department Chief Kong sat beside Zheng Ren and watched in awe.

  He had initially assumed that Zheng Ren's flawless reconstructions stemmed from an unparalleled expertise in liver cancer.

  Now, the man seemed to be equally proficient in prostate reconstruction.

  How could a self-described general surgeon be so familiar with the prostate? Department Chief Kong had gotten used to being surprised by Zheng Ren's and Su Yun's skills, but this reconstruction still amazed him.

  3D reconstruction of the prostate was complicated by its network of capillaries. A normal CT scan could not clearly convey the intricacy of such a network, which necessitated Zheng Ren having to pick out scans in order to piece together a full picture.

  Department Chief Kong was focused on the reconstruction when his phone rang.

  He answered it begrudgingly. "Hello." A moment later, he rose abruptly from his seat.