After Professor Chen Song intervened in the surgery, the patient's vital signs gradually approached stability.

The only thing Lu Cheng couldn't understand was why Professor Chen Song, who usually loved to talk, had also become silent.

Could it be that he had been influenced by Professor Tong Yuan'an after spending too much time with him?

At 11:10 PM, after Chen Song announced the conclusion of the surgery, he stepped back and began taking off his gown without following the usual practice of calling Lu Cheng down from the operating table.

This demeanor seemed a bit withdrawn, akin to Tong Yuan'an.

Removing his gown and taking off the sterile gloves, he picked up his phone and stepped out through the automatic sensor doors of the operating room in one fluid motion.

Only when he was leaving did Professor Chen Song seem to notice Lu Cheng still in the operating room. He turned his head slightly, half-crying and half-smiling, with unevenly sized eyes.

He mimicked Ji Gong's classic divine acting scene, just without the same classic touch.

It was only then that Zeng Huanqi asked, "Xiao Lu, isn't this the uncle who works at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital?"

Lu Cheng explained, "This is my father's good friend, Uncle Wei, who often gives me New Year's money."

"For years, we've stayed in touch."

Upon hearing that he still received New Year's money every year, Zeng Huanqi remarked that even if he wasn't a real uncle, he wasn't much different: "It's fortunate that Professor Chen was here, otherwise, your Uncle Wei would have had to gamble on a transfer after you stopped the bleeding."

"With the liver damage in that condition, I don't think you would have been able to handle it."

Lu Cheng smiled, "Brother Zeng, no need to doubt, you can be more certain. I indeed wouldn't have been able to handle it..."

After placing the drainage tube and suturing the abdominal skin, by the time he stepped out, it was already 11:30.

Professor Chen Song was long gone, so Lu Cheng could only send a private message to thank him.

He thought if Chen Song replied, he'd find an opportunity to invite him for a meal. If not, he'd just talk about it tomorrow.

After all, they both had 'rest' tomorrow, so time was ample.

Outside the emergency operating room, upon seeing Lu Cheng, He Shanshan hurriedly squeezed through the crowd to ask, "Xiao Lu, how is your Uncle Wei? Is the surgery over?"

Lu Cheng noticed that aside from Wei Ying's relatives, his own father was also there, but he was the slowest, trailing behind the crowd.

"Auntie, Uncle's surgery is done. His condition was quite serious; during the operation, we directly performed a splenectomy and liver preservation surgery."

"Primarily, Uncle Wei's splenic laceration was too severe, coupled with multiple organ damage. Performing spleen preservation surgery would have delayed the operation significantly, so Professor Chen decided to remove the spleen, considering life preservation as the priority."

"The surgery is now complete, and Uncle Wei has passed the most critical stage. Next, he will be transferred to the ICU for monitoring and treatment, and it's up to him to survive the ICU."

"The surgical outcome is quite good, but the internal injury was extensive, leaving potential risks for post-operative infection or other near-shock complications…" Lu Cheng replied truthfully.

He Shanshan's face immediately turned paler, her voice fraught with panic and emotion, "Xiao Lu, don't scare me."

"Auntie, I'm not scaring you; I'm telling you the most truthful situation. Uncle Wei has already made it through the surgery's most dangerous stage."

"The rest should be worth looking forward to," Lu Cheng reassured.

Lu Cheng had worked at the County Hospital for five years, encountering many doctors treating their own relatives and friends, most of whom were successfully saved.

However, there were a few cases that led to conflicts due to poor communication...

Lu Cheng wasn't alone in approaching the family members; he was just the doctor they were most familiar with, hence he took the lead in communication.

Zeng Huanqi took off his mask and, without avoiding any issues, said: "The condition of the patient arriving at the hospital was so severe that any delay or a slightly more special circumstance could have left no chance for an ICU entry."

"Having this outcome is thanks to Dr. Lu and Professor Chen's timely surgical interventions, but we are human and cannot wholly predict the future."

"Post-surgery, the patient still faces certain life-threatening risks."

"Now, what you family members need to do is leave some people outside the ICU to await updates on the patient's recovery, while others should go home to rest and come back fresh for shifts."

"The surgery went well, so there's no need to worry about its success." Zeng Huanqi concluded definitively.

Upon hearing Zeng Huanqi's words, a particularly close relative of Wei Ying stood up: "Since Wei Ying has gone to the ICU, it means he made it through the surgery. Let's wait there."

"Otherwise, there could be a problem if the ICU needs to locate family members."

"Dr. Lu, Doctor, thank you both. You should both go rest now."

Zeng Huanqi nodded, "We will go rest as well. After the patient is in the ICU, most of the recovery work is handled by them. If you have any questions, first communicate with the doctors there. We'll make regular visits to check on the patient."

...

"Brother Han, you should head back. I need to update the surgery records and post-operative instructions," Lu Cheng said as he exited with Han Xiaoping and Zeng Huanqi.

Zeng Huanqi joked, "Xiao Lu, don't you trust my level of skill?"

"I'm on duty today; do you really need to go back to the department for such tasks?"

"Leave the post-operative instructions and surgery records to me. You can modify them later if there's any issue." Zeng Huanqi said generously.

"Then I'll trouble Brother Zeng..." Lu Cheng didn't stand on ceremony, mainly because Mu Leng was still among the crowd, as he had come with Mu Leng.