In the past, he had always watched from the second-floor observation gallery, studying one surgery after another performed by renowned doctors.

He often imagined it.

‘One day, I’ll be the one at that operating table, wielding a scalpel, earning everyone’s awe!’

‘I never thought that wish would come true so soon…’

It was soon half-past eight.

Yan Feifan left his office and headed to the locker room to prepare for the surgery. Yu Suye trotted up behind him.

“Feifan, at a dazzling, high-profile moment like this, how could you not have an assistant? That would really bring down your image.”

Yu Suye said with a grin, “So I’ll make the noble sacrifice and help you complete the picture.”

Yan Feifan just shook his head and smiled, letting her tag along.

In the locker room, they changed into blue scrubs and put on their surgical caps. Then they went to the scrub sinks to disinfect their hands.

After scrubbing in, they entered the operating room, where a nurse helped them put on their masks, surgical gowns, and gloves.

During this, Yan Feifan glanced up.

He saw that in the semi-circular, tiered observation gallery directly above the operating table, forty to fifty people, including Lo Jun, Ma Peilin, and Qin Ying, were already seated.

Yan Feifan’s gaze then fell upon the operating table.

There, Pan Lirong was already lying prone on the operating table.

The anesthesiologist was making the final preparations while the scrub nurse was busy disinfecting the surgical site.

Yan Feifan walked over to the operating table. He first checked the surgical instruments and puncture supplies, and seeing that everything was in order, he glanced up at the observation gallery again.

His eyes met those of Qin Ying, Wang Chuan, Chen Yu, Miao Quan, and Lo Jun in turn. Then, the anesthesiologist’s voice sounded by his ear.

“Mr. Yan, we’re ready for surgery.”

Yan Feifan immediately lowered his gaze and held out his right hand. A large, rounded scalpel was placed firmly in his palm.

He incised the skin, then the muscle, right down to the spine…

He then used a retractor to spread the incision, completely exposing the third, fourth, and fifth lumbar vertebrae.

Next, Yan Feifan used a small bone drill to begin drilling holes in these three vertebrae.

The drilling process was essentially no different from drilling into a wall, except that the locations of the holes had been meticulously planned.

The holes were also much finer.

More importantly, he couldn’t drill all the way through.

If the drill bit damaged the spinal cord, it would be a catastrophe.

Drilling the eleven holes in total took Yan Feifan nearly half an hour of careful work.

The most critical moment was at hand.

Yu Suye had already placed a tray with eleven slender syringes on it within her reach.

The eleven syringes were arranged in a strict, specific order.

Based on data provided by Yan Feifan, each syringe contained a different dose of 95% ethanol.

Yan Feifan took two long, deep breaths to steady himself, then reached out and took the first syringe from Yu Suye.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he inserted the syringe’s Puncture Needle into the first hole on the left.

After insertion, Yan Feifan swiftly depressed the plunger completely, then immediately withdrew the needle and tossed it into a nearby empty tray.

Then, he took the second syringe from Yu Suye…

The ethanol injection process was remarkably fast.

Yan Feifan completed all eleven injections in just thirty-two seconds.

“Start the timer. Tumor resection begins in fifty-one minutes…”

As he spoke, the numbers 00:51:00 appeared on the digital clock on the wall.

Then it began to count down, second by second…

Sitting in a prime spot in the observation gallery, Ma Peilin turned to Lo Jun beside him and said, “They say the real work happens behind the scenes, and I’m sure Xiaoyan has prepared meticulously for this.”

“I imagine that in addition to the carefully calculated positions of the holes, the ethanol dosages, and the waiting time, the depth of each puncture must also be precisely calibrated, correct?”

Ma Peilin asked tentatively, “But the speed of his injections seemed… a little too casual, don’t you think?”

Lo Jun gave an enigmatic smile. “Xiaoyan has it all planned out in his head, and his hands have it down to a science.”

Ma Peilin smiled faintly. “Then I’ll just have to wait another fifty minutes to see if opening that window reveals a pleasant surprise or a nasty shock…”

「Thirty minutes later.」

Lo Jun, now in his surgical gown, entered the operating room with his two assistants.

Lo Jun went to the operating table and took his position as chief surgeon. He first exchanged a glance with Yan Feifan across from him, then took a surgical marker from an assistant.

He drew a two-by-three centimeter rectangle on the left side of the fourth lumbar vertebra.

This marked the spot for the bone window.

The assistant would then use this mark as a guide to saw off that piece of bone, giving him access for the tumor resection.

“Mr. Lo…”

Yan Feifan, standing on the other side of the operating table, suddenly spoke up. “After the ethanol injection, both the tumor and the spinal cord will undergo certain changes. I have a better suggestion for the fenestration site.”

Lo Jun glanced up at Yan Feifan, his voice tinged with annoyance. “I have already taken the potential changes after the ethanol injection into account when selecting this fenestration site.”

Yan Feifan insisted, “Mr. Lo, the site I’m proposing would provide better access for the surgery.”

Lo Jun’s gaze sharpened, shooting toward Yan Feifan like an arrow.

“I told you, I have already considered the potential changes.”

Yan Feifan met his gaze without backing down an inch. “Mr. Lo, the site I’m suggesting will make the surgery easier.”

“Yan Feifan, I am the chief surgeon for this operation.”

‘He’s using my full name.’ Yan Feifan knew the old man must be furious.

‘But over the last few days, while designing the optimal injection protocol, I’ve also been constantly simulating the subsequent tumor resection.’

‘According to my simulations, Mr. Lo’s fenestration site isn’t wrong, per se, but overall, it’s definitely inferior to the one I designed.’

‘In a complex procedure like an intraspinal tumor resection, the slightest surgical variance could mean the difference between the patient needing one crutch, two crutches, or even a wheelchair after surgery.’

For the patient’s well-being, and to achieve the best possible result to validate his method, Yan Feifan had no intention of backing down.

“Mr. Lo, you are the chief surgeon, but you also know exactly why this surgery is getting so much attention.”

“I can do things others can’t because my understanding of human anatomy is more profound than anyone else’s.”

“Mr. Lo, you agreed to be part of this surgery. Please, continue to trust me…”

Lo Jun didn’t speak, just gazed coldly at Yan Feifan.

And Yan Feifan met his stare without flinching.

Yu Suye, who was still in the OR, along with Lo Jun’s two assistants, the anesthesiologist, and the nurses, all held their breath, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

The crowd in the observation gallery also noticed the confrontational stare-down between Lo Jun and Yan Feifan.

Miao Quan was so angry he gritted his teeth. He couldn’t stop himself from shouting, “What is that damned kid doing? Does he not know his place? How dare he challenge the chief surgeon’s authority in the operating room?”

Qin Ying, who was sitting next to him, was not pleased.

She retorted coldly in defense of her student, “Mr. Lo may be the chief surgeon, but Feifan is the one who is key to this operation’s success…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep