"Splenic repair complete!"
"Place two drainage strips and prepare for abdominal closure!"
Cao Chong spoke in a measured tone. But when it came to the step of closing the abdomen, he suddenly paused and turned to Fang Zhiyan.
"Zhiyan, how about you handle the abdominal closure?"
There was a clear undertone of testing in Cao Chong's words.
Generally, steps like abdominal closure were assigned to resident physicians. Senior doctors usually focused on researching new surgical techniques, and many second- or third-tier surgeons no longer even performed abdominal closures.
But for an intern like Fang Zhiyan, performing an abdominal closure was absolutely unheard of. Simple skin sutures might be manageable, but abdominal closure involved blood vessels and fat—far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary intern.
But was Fang Zhiyan an ordinary intern?
Clearly, he was not.
So Cao Chong wanted to test him.
However, before letting him try, Cao Chong needed to gauge Fang Zhiyan's knowledge.
"Do you know the methods for abdominal closure?"
Fang Zhiyan paused briefly.
Of course, he knew.
In his previous life, abdominal closure techniques and materials had undergone significant advancements. Absorbable sutures could be used for continuous peritoneal suturing, followed by continuous suturing of the linea alba, interrupted silk sutures for subcutaneous fat, and mattress sutures for the skin.
But in this era, the standard approach was layered closure—peritoneum, muscle, fat, and skin—stitched sequentially.
After a moment of thought, Fang Zhiyan explained the current method.
Hearing his answer, Cao Chong's eyes gleamed with unmistakable approval.
Unexpected. This kid really kept surprising him.
A shame, though—he seemed to have already caught the attention of Director He. While Cao Chong was technically his supervising physician now, it was likely that Director He would take over his advanced training in the future.
"Alright, go ahead."
Seeing that Fang Zhiyan indeed had the knowledge, Cao Chong stepped aside to give him space.
Of course, he wouldn't leave him unsupervised. Theoretical knowledge was one thing, but practical execution was another. Cao Chong remained nearby, ready to step in if needed.
Fortunately, Fang Zhiyan was exceptional—far beyond expectations.
His movements were skilled, steady, and swift.
So much so that Cao Chong almost felt as if Fang Zhiyan's abilities surpassed his own.
How was this possible?
This wasn't the first time he'd felt this way. This kid was simply extraordinary.
Minutes later, Fang Zhiyan flawlessly completed the abdominal closure.
The patient, still unconscious, was transferred to the ICU.
Exiting the operating room, Fang Zhiyan exhaled deeply.
He never slacked off, regardless of the scale of the surgery. Every operation demanded his full effort.
It was this very dedication that had earned him the title of "Unparalleled Surgical Master" in his past life.
Cao Chong handed him a bottle of cola.
"Want some?"
Fang Zhiyan nodded.
After surgery, he preferred cola. While glucose might be better for recovery, its slippery texture and bland taste didn't appeal to him.
More importantly, if footage of a doctor drinking glucose went viral, it would likely invite criticism.
After a quick energy boost, Fang Zhiyan returned to the office.
Zhu Zixiao gave him a thumbs-up and subtly gestured toward Yin Jing nearby.
Yin Jing was another intern under Cao Chong. Initially, she hadn't paid Fang Zhiyan much attention.
But his recent performance had piqued her curiosity.
The moment he walked in, she stood up and asked, "Fang Zhiyan!"
"Are you really a graduate of Donghai Second Medical University?"
Fang Zhiyan took a sip of cola, sat down leisurely, and replied, "Yes."
Yin Jing studied him with curiosity.
Donghai Second Medical University wasn't a top-tier institution—not even a key university. It ranked far below her own alma mater.
So how was Fang Zhiyan so much more skilled than her?
Had she underestimated the school all along?
Before she could dwell on it, Zhu Zixiao cut in excitedly.
Leaning closer, he whispered, "Did you hear? Gu Tao got chewed out today."
"Gu Tao?"
Fang Zhiyan raised an eyebrow.
Gu Tao was the protégé of Jin Mingcheng, the head of the emergency department. After falsely claiming credit for Fang Zhiyan's work, he'd been lying low, afraid of being recognized.
Why would he suddenly get scolded?
Zhu Zixiao had a knack for gossip—something Fang Zhiyan had experienced firsthand—so he eyed him skeptically.
"Guess what?"
"Luo Yun—you know, the mayor's daughter—has recovered enough to walk around. She ran into Gu Tao today and tore into him. Rumor has it she did it to stand up for you!"
Zhu Zixiao's eyes sparkled with envy.
The mayor's daughter!
Fang Zhiyan had hit the jackpot.
Sure, the mayor and Director Tang didn't seem to pay him much attention now—but that was only because he was still an intern.
Once he passed the licensing exam and became a resident physician, his career would skyrocket!
The thought made Zhu Zixiao even greener with envy.
Fang Zhiyan rolled his eyes and left without a word.
He stepped out of the office, heading for the restroom.
The emergency department was quiet. As he stood at the urinal, he overheard a conversation outside.
"Wife… maybe we should just stop treatment."
The voice was calm, steady.
It gave Fang Zhiyan pause.
"You're already at an advanced stage. There's no cure. Chemotherapy costs so much, and in the end, we'll lose everything—money and life."
Fang Zhiyan frowned. He adjusted his clothes and turned to leave.
He firmly believed that fighting illness could yield miracles.
Of course, financial stability was crucial.
But for a husband to dissuade his wife from treatment… it felt wrong, no matter how he looked at it.
Yet when he stepped out, he froze.
A middle-aged couple stood nearby, leaning against each other as they spoke.
Both wore hats.
It wasn't just the woman who had late-stage cancer—the man did too.
Fang Zhiyan stood rooted in place, stunned.
"We're both terminal."
"I gave up treatment hoping you could be cured—at least to give you some hope."
"But I never thought you'd be incurable too."
"It's okay, husband. I won't treat it either."
"I know it'll cost too much. Let's save the money for Mom and Dad, and for our child's education."
Their quiet exchange struck Fang Zhiyan like a hammerblow.