Peng Kun knew Tong Yuan'an didn't take it to heart, so he said, "Teacher Tong, think about it, where does it make sense for our orthopedic surgical technique to be handled by the emergency department?"

"Lu Cheng is so aggressive, making our whole orthopedics department awkward. I got a bit anxious precisely because of this."

Tong Yuan'an glanced at Peng Kun, amused: "So you're starting to feel noble, huh?~"

"Dare to break through, dare to fight? Should I give you a medal then?"

"You're anxious, what did the patient do to provoke you?"

"I..." Peng Kun's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

Tong Yuan'an's tone was indifferent: "Don't bring up your department's difficulties to me, it's none of my business!"

"Everyone's an adult."

Tong Yuan'an waved his chubby hand: "I've told you everything I should and shouldn't say, but it's you who won't listen."

"Then I can only be unlikable."

Peng Kun raised his finger: "Sorry, Professor Tong, I promise not to make similar mistakes again. I assure you."

Tong Yuan'an pushed Peng Kun's hand down: "We're not elementary school students anymore. This is modern society; we don't need any swearing or pinky promises; don't make such a fuss."

Saying that, Tong Yuan'an put out the cigarette, then patted Penguin's shoulder: "Learning techniques is a slow grind, requiring years of accumulation; it's not something achieved overnight."

"In the future, learn slowly, work slowly."

"But Teacher Tong still has a word for you, you're an adult. If you can't discipline yourself, someone will stand out to discipline you."

"But once others force you to have self-awareness, self-awareness is all you'll have left."

Peng Kun suddenly asked, "Teacher Tong, do you think I'm learning too slowly, and that's why you're thinking of switching students?"

"Is Lu Cheng learning fast enough to earn your favor?"

Peng Kun's face was full of defiance, much like a student in middle or high school, with average grades but working hard, questioning the teacher's preference for top students.

"It's not about learning fast or slow."

Tong Yuan'an said: "If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it. Why find a legitimate reason to exonerate yourself?"

"We both know the real reason for the transfer."

Peng Kun said: "Teacher Tong, but I've explained the reasons to you, I..."

Tong Yuan'an's fat face turned with pupils becoming aghast: "You think explaining the reasons you deem justified is a full explanation?"

"Peng Kun, you're not young anymore, huh?"

"Let me ask you, why should I take on a ticking time bomb student, especially one with a record?"

"If I, Tong Yuan'an, don't take this student or teach surgery, will I die?"

Since Peng Kun brought it to this point, Tong Yuan'an didn't mind laying it all out.

The teacher's path doesn't align.

Take sensible advice, only then will you have enough to eat, but you won't listen. Can an apology suffice?

Where does that leave everyone else?

Peng Kun simply said, "Professor Tong, in our hospital's orthopedics department, aside from ours, nowhere else does hand surgery."

"We don't even have the instruments, how can we proceed?"

Tong Yuan'an felt Peng Kun was really too young: "If you can't proceed, don't proceed, right? Isn't it better for me to take a vacation?"

"Don't overthink things, the connection between you and me ends here!~"

"Let's not tear each other's faces apart, but retain some dignity."

"Besides, the hospital's equipment is the hospital's asset, not exclusive to your orthopedics, nor exclusive to your ortho-first department."

Peng Kun stood in place, watching Tong Yuan'an leave. It was a long time before he started walking again, his face full of exhaustion.

"No reasoning? How do you grow without practice? Not giving me any chance, only letting me bury myself in practice..."

"Even if I bury myself in practice, what can I achieve? In the end, won't I just be trailing behind Lu Cheng?"

"Didn't you ever feel anxious while doing surgery?"

"Didn't you ever get problems wrong while studying? It wasn't such a big deal... Why so serious about everything?"

Peng Kun's mutterings were very aggrieved.

...

Emergency department, doctors' rest room, Chen Song was lying diagonally in the corner of the lower bunk of a double bed, holding coffee in one hand and seriously staring at his phone.

The glow from the phone screen reflected off his balding head and high forehead, lighting up the somewhat dim corner.

"Teacher Chen." Lu Cheng sat on the lower bunk of another double bed.

Chen Song didn't blink: "Hmm..."

"Look at this paper? I think it's very interesting." Lu Cheng proactively approached to share his phone screen with Chen Song.

Chen Song shifted a bit, his tone aloof: "I'm watching a drama! Papers and such, you can just read them yourself..."

"This paper talks about the combination of corpus cavernosum disconnection in urological surgery and micro-surgical suturing, where the corpus cavernosum can be replanted effectively."

Lu Cheng continued: "Teacher Chen... Isn't the suturing in spleen preservation surgery also about thinking of a way to stitch it up?"

Chen Song's voice remained indifferent: "Hmm..."

"Teacher Chen, what would you like for lunch?"

"Just grab a boxed lunch." Chen Song finally raised his hand to check the time—

"It's just not even eleven o'clock, it's still early."

"Watching drama, watching drama."

"Teacher Chen, I have something to tell you." Lu Cheng said.

Chen Song looked up, seriously looked at Lu Cheng, single hand supporting his chin, said, "Lu Cheng, you don't need to do this, in another three to four days, I'll be packing up and heading home."

"I've taught you everything I could. The rest, you can't learn anyway."

"At thirty, shouldn't you have understood the inherent truth that 'parting' is part of life by now?"

Lu Cheng replied, "Teacher Chen, what you're saying is suitable for philosophers; I'm just a simple person and can't comprehend all this."

Chen Song listened and sighed: "Actually, everyone is simple-minded, no one should look down on anyone else."

"Before I knew you were recruited by Union Hospital, my plans for you were to guide you to a Ph.D. and then fight to stay in the hospital."

"But now, I regret it. Damn... I'm also someone who adapts to circumstances, you being more excellent, I have higher expectations."

"Now, it's useless to talk about these things."

"Everyone is a realist; it's just that perspectives on reality differ." Chen Song's voice was flat, revealing neither particular joy nor anger.

Is there anyone who's not practical? Throughout history and across regions, everyone harbors a desire for power to varying degrees.

Many young people in the emergency department of the Long County People's Hospital, but Chen Song treated Lu Cheng differently.

Others are also people, also hospital staff. At the end of the day, Chen Song valued Lu Cheng's talent, which was something sought after.

Lu Cheng then said, "Teacher Chen, regardless of anything, I still have to apologize personally to you."

"No matter how suddenly this occurred, I should have informed you."

Chen Song then asked, "Had you informed me earlier, would it have changed the final result? Can you give up your childhood sweetheart girlfriend?"

"Or, can you elope with your childhood sweetheart from Union Hospital?"

Lu Cheng's expression remained calm, but he didn't respond. Chen Song understood Lu Cheng's intent: "Isn't that the case?"

"You can't achieve these."

"Fate, although intangible, is indeed marvelous."

"We were destined to meet, but that destiny stops at one point."

"I honestly have no regrets, teaching you so much in just a few months is unfathomable to me."

"But you achieved it."

Four eyes met without sentiment or deep-seated animosity.

Lu Cheng saw calmness in Chen Song's face, while Chen Song saw conflict in Lu Cheng's.

Chen Song understood Lu Cheng's expression, and then continued: "Secrets aren't passed to six ears; learning requires mutual willingness. What I've taught you isn't some secret technique."

"If you're interested, you can find it online, no need for psychological barriers feeling indebted to me."

Chen Song waved his hand: "Don't dwell on it."

"Frankly speaking, the world's debt to teachers and parents is never fully repaid."

Chen Song owes Lu Cheng nothing, allowing him to face Lu Cheng openly.

But actually, Chen Song misunderstood Lu Cheng; Lu Cheng's conflict wasn't related to Chen Song: "Teacher Chen, I don't recall you mentioning specialized suturing techniques for spleen, liver, and gallbladder."

Chen Song looked at Lu Cheng with mixed thoughts: "Is that what you're thinking? Your mind is quite ambitious!"