It's already twenty past five. When encountering a teacher who doesn't like to drag out classes, finishing class at this time is totally reasonable.

Lan Hualuo was already pulling Lu Cheng out. The others didn't feel it was right to say much, but Lan Hualuo poked half his body back through the door after exiting:

"Xiao Xie, help tidy up Lu Cheng's workstation."

Xie Yuan'an's eyelids fluttered, yet without hesitation, he flashed a smile and compliantly replied, "Sure, Professor Lan."

Neither the sunrise nor sunset could illuminate the corridor inside the skill testing room, though a white incandescent lamp less than half a meter overhead brightly lit it up.

Lu Cheng and Lan Hualuo's shadows had nowhere to hide. Lan Hualuo stood with hands on hips, gazing at Lu Cheng with full admiration: "Xiao Lu, it's been years since we last met."

Once Lu Cheng took off his mask, Lan Hualuo recognized him, mainly because Lu Cheng's facial features were quite attractive, leaving a deeper impression in the mind of Lan Hualuo, whose looks were average compared to Liu Huanglong.

"Professor Lan, it's probably been five years." Lu Cheng, who had just turned thirty yesterday.

When Lu Cheng ended his residency training, he was not yet twenty-six, and a full five years have passed.

"Congratulations, Professor Lan. In just six years, you've advanced from chief resident to senior professor." Lu Cheng's cheerful smile was sincere, and his tone courteous.

In 2015, Lan Hualuo was still a Ph.D. student; 2016 became chief resident; Lu Cheng completed his residency training in June 2017... 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Though Lan Hualuo appeared nearly forty, he was actually only thirty-five, having graduated with his Ph.D. a year early.

He simply looked more mature.

"Let's not talk about the past. Come on, let's grab a meal together." Lan Hualuo clapped Lu Cheng's sturdy shoulder and squeezed his broad shoulder muscles.

Lu Cheng stood firm, feet unmoved, speaking calmly: "Teacher Lan, the thing is, I already made plans with a classmate to have dinner tonight."

"I didn't have the chance to explain in detail in the classroom earlier, so I can only express gratitude for your kindness, Teacher Lan. She and I are old classmates."

Lan Hualuo's expression stiffened slightly upon hearing this, staring at Lu Cheng for a moment: "Xiao Lu, you're a bit dishonorable, aren't you? Rejecting my invitation?"

"Are you dissatisfied with me?" Lan Hualuo touched his big earlobe, recalling bits and pieces about Lu Cheng, but couldn't retrieve many memories.

If he remembered correctly, Lu Cheng wasn't very remarkable back then.

Lu Cheng forced a smile: "Professor Lan, you misunderstood; it's mainly because I haven't seen this old classmate for many years. She's been my classmate from elementary to high school."

"Childhood friends?" Lan Hualuo's expression was taken aback.

This reason left him with no choice but to accept.

Lu Cheng nodded: "Not the most standard definition of childhood friends."

Having offered this kind of reasoning, Lan Hualuo couldn't press further. But his formal remark was nicely diplomatic: "Let's do it next time then. We're all old acquaintances, after all. No need to be so insistent about today or tomorrow; there's plenty of time."

Lan Hualuo didn't end the conversation abruptly, continuing to walk forward.

Lu Cheng and Lan Hualuo entered the elevator hall together, escorting him all the way to the ground floor parking lot...

Upon leaving the parking lot, Lan Hualuo asked, "Xiao Lu, where are you working now?"

Lu Cheng replied, "Professor Lan, Long County People's Hospital, in a very remote small county town in northwestern Xiang Province."

"County... county hospital?" Lan Hualuo's eyelids slightly shifted, his tone rising.

"Professor Lan, jobs are hard to come by nowadays... Just want to make a living... Perhaps I'm a bit of disgrace to our hospital." Lu Cheng said.

Graduates from Zhongnan Hospital's residency program, if they have some family background, would have the chance to land a position at a tertiary hospital in a prefecture-level city. While one may not secure a top hospital in the city, entering secondary or tertiary hospitals isn't difficult.

The platform and starting point are better than a county hospital, but Lu Cheng didn't have that background.

Lan Hualuo lightly sighed, candid about his feelings: "Seems Xiao Lu, you truly intend to follow Professor Zhong. Well... Professor Zhong's high regard is generally not easy to refuse."

"But then, our work requirement at Zhongnan Hospital isn't that demanding?" Lan Hualuo still tried to persuade.

Though back then, it left him wondering how the whole department overlooked Lu Cheng's talent, allowing him to drift unnoticed for quite some years.

Now, Lu Cheng appears outstanding among his peers; the only flaw is being slightly less educated.

Yet in a teaching hospital, education level is easily raised.

"Professor Lan, I haven't thought that far. Just intend to learn more skills."

"To earnestly be a good doctor, as the teachers taught – advancing means fighting for a lifeline for critical patients, retreating means ensuring the health of the citizens under your care," Lu Cheng replied formally, echoing Elder Professor Chu's words in trauma surgery from when he was alive.

"Well, there'd be other opportunities to drink together then." Lan Hualuo opened the car door and slid in.

Lu Cheng waved, his expression all-natural, genuinely smiling—

He held no grudge against Zhongnan Hospital or Lan Hualuo, neither was there any animosity.

Lu Cheng didn't resent not being recognized by Lan Hualuo back then; the adult world essentially admires strength, and no one focuses on unremarkable 'characters.'

That's the environment at Zhongnan Hospital, Huashan Hospital, and Union Hospital as well; if everyone acts this way!

Then choosing a mentor is just a matter of selection; Professor Zhong's expertise is great too, considering 'first come, first served,' Lu Cheng couldn't be disloyal.

Moreover, Lu Cheng felt he was somewhat opportunistic; just because Professor Zhong Junyun offered more, he instantly 'pledged allegiance,' while Tong Yuan'an and Professor Chen Song promised less, so he continuously 'declined politely.'

He was indeed a 'realist' scoundrel, his internal melodrama defined true sinister nature.

Lan Hualuo watched Lu Cheng's honest expression in the rearview mirror, standing still and watching him leave, as if sending off his former self.

"Sigh!~" Lan Hualuo breathed a long sigh.

He knew, the fate between Zhongnan Hospital and Lu Cheng ended just there.

The world is bustling with talent, impossible for all to gather in one place.

Once Lan Hualuo's car completely moved out of sight, Lu Cheng messaged Mu Nanshu, asking if she could leave work on time today.

Mu Nanshu said yes, so Lu Cheng went upstairs first, needing to tidy up his own workstation.

…

Inside the skill testing room, Dong Qiaoshan and others had just tidied their workstations. Surveying those around him, Dong Qiaoshan sighed, "As the saying goes, comparing goods leads only to discarding; what's up with this situation now?"

"Xiao Lu is just too damn strong!~" Dong Qiaoshan's tone carried a smile, seeking opinions from everyone.

Dong Qiaoshan didn't blame Lu Cheng for being too exceptional, but once the class started, everyone focused on Lu Cheng, relatively doing injustice to others.

Xie Yuan'an's phone vibrated, and he said: "Got some good news for everyone, Lu Cheng won't be coming to class tomorrow!"

Dong Qiaoshan's expression instantly tensed: "Huh? Why? Did he take leave?"

Xie Yuan'an clarified: "No… it's that Professor Zhong is taking him solo to operate."

"Lu Cheng and Professor Lan just went out for a meal, caught by our department's Ph.D. students."

Dong Qiaoshan's facial muscles twitched as if he were suffering from Parkinson's.

With Lu Cheng gone, the classroom remained, teachers couldn't show favoritism anymore; however, Lu Cheng practically bombed the classroom, since he lured the relatively most influential teacher away...