Baining Hospital was located in the western suburbs of Jingcheng, nestled at the foot of a small, densely vegetated hill.

Yan Feifan looked out the window of the Mercedes, studying the scenery.

He noticed that the grounds of Baining Hospital were filled with ornamental trees and large swathes of lush, green lawn that resembled sponge cushions.

Unlike at the Affiliated Hospital, the paths connecting the buildings weren’t teeming with hurried medical staff or patients and their families coming for appointments or to visit. Here, there were only a few people scattered about.

Yan Feifan noticed medical staff on several lawns, helping patients in hospital gowns take slow walks in the sun.

But the medical staff… their height, their long legs…

Yan Feifan couldn’t help but exclaim, “Never mind that the hospital is built like a park, but every single nurse is as tall and long-legged as a model.”

“Aren’t you afraid of making the patients’ hearts race?”

Yu Youhai laughed. “As a private hospital, we naturally put extra effort into both our facilities and our service environment. It allows our patients to enjoy more added benefits.”

Yan Feifan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “This isn’t a health resort. Patients hope to spend as little time in the hospital as possible.”

Yu Suye added gently, “I wasn’t at the Affiliated Hospital for long, but I feel like it has more of a… hospital feel.”

Yan Feifan couldn’t help but add sarcastically, “The Affiliated Hospital serves the general public.”

“Your Baining Hospital serves the wealthy.”

“It’s all ‘serving the people’!”

Yu Youhai chuckled. “We just have different target demographics. We’re both committed to meeting the healthcare needs of people from different walks of life.”

As they spoke, the Mercedes stopped in front of a sixteen-story building.

After getting out of the car, Yan Feifan met up with Zheng Ling, Zhou Lang, Yu Nanxing, and the others who had gotten out of a Cadillac SUV. They entered the building together and took an elevator to the twelfth floor.

When the group exited the elevator, Yan Feifan saw Yu Youbin and others waiting outside.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yan Feifan and Yu Suye were led into a room to wash up and change into crisp, new white coats.

Afterward, Yan Feifan reviewed the patient’s latest MRI scans of the tumor in his cervical spine. After confirming there had been little change in the tumor’s condition, he was escorted by the group to the patient’s room.

It was a luxury hospital suite, complete with a sitting area with a sofa, a space for family members, and a private bathroom.

Yan Feifan even spotted a small kitchenette.

Lying on the hospital bed was a thin, elderly man with short, salt-and-pepper hair.

Yan Feifan’s eyes met the old man’s, and the old man was the first to speak. “Mr. Yan…”

What surprised Yan Feifan was that the old man’s voice was quite strong, and his eyes were clear.

“Will I be able to stand again?”

Yan Feifan said frankly, “There’s a chance you’ll stand again. It will depend on your own will to fight and your recovery.”

Yan Feifan added, “You’ll also need some luck.”

The old man smiled faintly. “I don’t believe in luck.”

“Mr. Yan, please tell me honestly, is my chance of standing again greater than twenty percent?”

Yan Feifan was silent for a moment, then met the old man’s gaze and said, “My estimate is more optimistic. I’d say about forty percent.”

The smile on the old man’s face grew wider. “I don’t see any sign that you’re lying.”

“Forty percent. That’s enough for me to give it my all.”

He added with a hint of longing, “Lately, I’ve been lying in bed, reviewing my life, and I’ve come to realize that I’ve let some people down and missed out on so many things.”

“If I can stand again, I’ll make up for those regrets one by one and complete my bucket list.”

At this, he looked at the children and family members gathered around his bed and instructed them softly, “I’ve already said everything that needs to be said.”

“Life and death are determined by fate. If something unexpected happens during the surgery, don’t give this young doctor a hard time.”

“My final arrangements should be handled as I’ve already instructed.”

“Is that clear?”

“Yes, Father,” and “Yes, Uncle,” chorused Zhou Lang, Zhou Qing, and the others, their eyes red.

This situation left Yan Feifan a bit speechless.

‘The upcoming puncture and injection procedure might not achieve the desired results, but the chance of him not making it off the operating table is extremely low…’

Twenty minutes later, the surgery began.

Yan Feifan made a vertical incision through the skin and muscle on the back of the elderly man’s neck. He then used a retractor to spread the opening, fully exposing the cervical spine.

The next step was drilling.

With Yu Suye’s assistance, Yan Feifan drilled a total of sixteen holes into the front and sides of the cervical vertebrae.

Yan Feifan put down the bone drill and pulled a nearby medical tray closer for easier access.

This tray held a small lead box containing the radioactive seeds.

From another tray, Yan Feifan picked up and put on a pair of special, thin gloves that offered some protection against radiation.

He glanced at Yu Suye, who was across the operating table. “Su Ye, and you, nurse—you can both step out for now.”

Yu Suye froze for a second, but then her eyes curved into a smile. She said cheerfully, “Feifan, it’ll go faster with my help.”

“Besides, the radioactivity of these seeds is weak. Short-term exposure won’t cause any harm.”

Yan Feifan said slowly, “No matter how weak the radiation is, it’s still radiation. Since I can complete this procedure by myself, there’s no need for you two to stay here and take the risk.”

“Go on, step out.”

Yu Suye was about to insist, but she saw Yan Feifan’s eyes suddenly turn stern. She immediately complied. “All right, then. We’ll step out.”

She added with concern, “Feifan, you be careful too.”

Yan Feifan waved his hand with a hint of impatience…

After Yu Suye and the nurse left the operating room, Yan Feifan began to regulate his breathing and focus his mind.

‘He was preparing to work at top speed, to finish implanting the radioactive seeds in all sixteen locations in the shortest time possible…’

In the monitoring room, Yu Youhai watched this scene unfold and nodded in approval. “I didn’t think the guy was anything but a block of wood, but he has a thoughtful and considerate side to him.”

He turned and found that at some point, Yu Youlian had also entered the monitoring room.

Yu Youhai gave her a meaningful look, and they both left the monitoring room one after another, meeting up at one end of the hallway.

“Did the puncture procedure not go well?” Yu Youlian asked worriedly.

Yu Youhai smiled. “It’s too early to tell. We’ll have to wait a while and run some tests on Mr. Zhou to know for sure.”

“But that kid already has two successful cases under his belt. Plus, seeing how confident and fluid his movements are, there probably won’t be any major issues.”

“Youlian, let me ask you something…”

Yu Youhai asked with concern, “What’s the deal with Su Ye? The way she looks at that kid… it’s almost like she’s looking at her lover.”

“But she’s laying it on a bit thick, as if she’s deliberately putting on a show for me. Besides, the kid isn’t responding in kind at all.”

Yu Youlian pursed her lips into a smile. “It’s true that Su Ye is putting on a show for you.”

“But it’s also true that she’s genuinely taken with him.”

Yu Youhai said “Oh,” and nodded lightly. “With that kid’s medical talent, it’s understandable that Su Ye would be attracted to him.”

“So she’s trying to sound out my opinion on the matter?”

Yu Youlian hummed in agreement. “Hai, you should go help Su Ye persuade Fourth Uncle and his family.”

“I mean, what century are we in? And they’re still clinging to those old feudal ideas.”

“Watch out, or they’ll push Su Ye into cutting ties and leaving. Then they’ll be left with nothing.”

Yu Youhai said, a headache coming on, “I’ll try talking to them.”

Then, Yu Youlian asked worriedly, “Hai, I heard some patient’s family is planning to make a scene?”

Yu Youhai’s expression was pained. “A donor liver was intercepted mid-transfer. The patient’s family is accusing us of falsifying the compatibility data and downgrading the patient’s criticality to lower their position on the transplant list.”

Yu Youlian scoffed lightly. “Even if the compatibility data can’t be tampered with, the patient’s criticality level…”

She gave another dry chuckle and asked, “So what’s the plan to fix this?”

“We can only pin our hopes on that kid working another miracle…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep