Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Apprentice Brothers

The next evening at 7:10 PM, in the Affiliated Hospital’s Plastic Surgery Center.

Yan Feifan, who was conducting a pre-op examination on Mrs. Xia, finally received a call from his sister. She told him their uncle had safely returned to the ship.

This made him let out a long sigh of relief.

Yan Feifan put his phone away and said to Mrs. Xia, “You’re in good health. We can proceed with the surgery as scheduled.”

“In a moment, an anesthesiologist will be here to run a test. This is to make sure you aren’t resistant to the anesthetic or won’t have an allergic reaction.”

After a brief pause, Yan Feifan couldn’t help but add, “I have to say, Mrs. Xia, I’m surprised. You seem so refined, yet you have the courage of Mulan.”

“What makes you say that?” Mrs. Xia asked with a soft chuckle.

Yan Feifan gestured to several spots on Mrs. Xia’s patient gown and remarked, “You have thirteen old knife wounds in total. Only two are on your back. The other eleven are all on the front of your body.”

“Isn’t that the best proof?”

Mrs. Xia reached up to gently touch her left breast, a reminiscent look on her face. “I was reckless and foolish back then,” she said, “and I paid a heavy price for it.”

She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Mr. Yan, this scar on my left breast… let’s leave it.”

“Are you sure?” Yan Feifan confirmed.

Mrs. Xia nodded slowly. “Those years… they actually hold people and memories I want to remember.”

“Let this scar serve as a reminder.”

Yan Feifan acknowledged with an “Oh,” then added as a reminder, “Mrs. Xia, you can change your mind anytime before the anesthesia.”

Mrs. Xia hummed in acknowledgment, then changed the subject. “I heard you also studied under the famous severed limb reattachment specialist, Dr. Qin Ying, Mr. Yan?”

“Yes,” Yan Feifan replied simply.

“It’s a shame about Dr. Qin!”

Mrs. Xia remarked with a sigh, then continued, “Years ago, a friend of mine severed his right thumb in an accident. An incompetent doctor reattached it.”

“But the job was botched. Necrosis set in, and he had to go through the ordeal of having it amputated again.”

“If only he could have found an expert as skilled as Dr. Qin back then.”

Yan Feifan said noncommittally, “Limb reattachment surgery is very demanding. Even for the most skilled surgeons, there’s always the success rate to consider.”

He added, “In your friend’s situation, with current medical technology, it’s also possible to transplant one of his own toes to serve as a thumb.”

“Alternatively, we can use the bone, skin, and nail from a toe to fully reconstruct a new thumb.”

Mrs. Xia’s eyes lit up. “Can you really reconstruct a thumb?”

Yan Feifan explained, “Toe-to-thumb transplants and full thumb reconstructions are actually quite established procedures now.”

“After recovery and rehabilitation, the new thumb can regain eighty to ninety percent of the original’s function.”

Mrs. Xia said pensively, “If you hadn’t told me, Mr. Yan, I’d have had no idea medical technology had advanced this far…”

Just then, Ye Lin walked into the hospital room with an anesthesiologist.

Yan Feifan left the room ahead of them to prepare for the upcoming surgery…

In the Plastic Surgery Center Director’s office, Wang Chuan was also preparing for a surgery that evening when Deputy Director Qu Peng knocked and entered.

“Dr. Qu. Is something the matter?”

A slight smile played on Qu Peng’s lips. “I came specifically to congratulate you, Director, on taking on another star pupil.”

“I hear this very young resident is known as a genius, with tremendous potential.”

“A talent like that certainly justifies you using so many of the center’s resources to train him up.”

Sensing the barb in the man’s words, Wang Chuan said coolly, “Dr. Qu, if you’re referring to the medical supplies for plastic surgery…”

“Those will be billed to my personal account, not the center’s.”

“And if you’re referring to the pro bono surgery project for the welfare institute, which we both agreed on…”

Wang Chuan scoffed lightly. “How many of the children would you like to take on, Dr. Qu?”

“In fact, it would be best if you took all of them.”

Qu Peng gave a small laugh and waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, how could I? This is a testament to your benevolence, Director. I couldn’t possibly try to steal your thunder.”

He wasn’t stupid.

’Pro bono surgeries like this don’t make money and are full of risks. As for the hollow reputation you get from being charitable… it’s completely useless for a doctor at my level.’

Qu Peng feigned a moment’s hesitation before saying, “Mr. Wang, I’ve accepted a cosmetic surgery case. The client is demanding the utmost confidentiality for the entire duration.”

“In other words, for the next two weeks, the top-floor operating room and VIP ward must be sealed off. No one is allowed entry except for my medical team.”

Wang Chuan was quite surprised. “Two weeks? With such strict requirements? Who is this person, some big shot?”

Qu Peng said evasively, “The Zhao Yuqi incident caused quite a stir. My client just wants to avoid any possibility of a leak.”

“The client has offered to pay double the usual fees.”

Wang Chuan mulled it over for a moment. “Dr. Qu, when is the surgery scheduled?”

Qu Peng explained, “The client wants it done as soon as possible, but the exact time isn’t set. We need the center to make the arrangements first.”

Wang Chuan thought for a moment. “I have a surgery tonight, and that patient will need the top-floor ward to recover for three days.”

“Other than that, I haven’t received any other requests for the top-floor OR or the VIP ward.”

“Alright, I’ll give everyone a heads-up tomorrow morning.”

“If no one else has anything already scheduled, you can book your surgery for three days from now…”

When Yan Feifan got out of the elevator on the second floor, where the operating rooms were located, he saw Tang Zheng standing in the hallway.

He spoke first. “Dr. Tang, do you have a surgery tonight as well?”

Tang Zheng chuckled. “I don’t.”

“I knew you had a surgery tonight, Mr. Yan, and since I happened to be free, I thought I’d come and observe.”

“That is, if you’d welcome the company, Mr. Yan.”

Yan Feifan replied politely, “Of course, you’re more than welcome. I’d appreciate any pointers you might have, Dr. Tang.”

Tang Zheng laughed. “Pointers? I wouldn’t dare. Our mentor thinks so highly of you. I’m just here to observe and learn.”

“By the way, is our mentor not coming for this surgery?”

Yan Feifan shook his head. “It’s just a minor scar removal procedure. The risk is low, so the Director said I could handle it on my own.”

Tang Zheng let out a soft “ah.” “Our mentor certainly has a lot of faith in you. Still, you are just a resident, after all.”

“According to hospital regulations, you need a senior physician to supervise you during surgery.”

“So how about this: as an attending physician, I’ll officially act as your supervisor. That way we don’t give any busybodies an excuse to cause trouble.”

Yan Feifan expressed his thanks. “Thank you, Dr. Tang. I appreciate it.”

Tang Zheng said with a broad smile, “It’s no trouble at all. We studied under the same mentor. It’s the least I can do…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep