"My brother recommended Lu Cheng to me after spending some time in Long County. When I was chatting with our team, I found out that Lu Cheng has a senior here at our place," Xiang Dongshan said.

"Senior? Are you joking?"

"Xiang Dongshan, you're over fifty, not five," Cao Qianwei felt Xiang Dongshan was mocking him.

"Yes, an average senior-junior relationship is useless. But what if I told you, our department's associate professor graduated from Huashan Hospital?"

"What if I told you, Lu Cheng was supposed to go to Huashan Hospital for graduate studies, but the teacher he sought passed away unexpectedly, so he got eliminated?"

"His senior also couldn't stay because of the mentor's untimely death, no support, and finally ended up here dejected?"

"What if I told you, Chen Song from our department asked a few favors to help guide Lu Cheng?"

"Back then, Lu Cheng was just a small doctor from a county hospital, nothing more."

"Is this senior-junior relationship significant enough?" Xiang Dongshan asked.

Cao Qianwei picked up many keywords.

Dead mentor, fallen senior, fallen junior, fallen group, huddle for warmth.

But Cao Qianwei was puzzled: "Xiang Dongshan, with such a good network, you managed to mess it up?"

Lu Cheng formally told Cao Qianwei that his workplace was Huazhong Union Hospital; was Xiang Dongshan being crafty?

"I make connections with sincerity, hence fewer traitors here," Xiang Dongshan quipped sarcastically.

Cao Qianwei was annoyed and asked, "Stop the nonsense, Xiang Dongshan, are you failing to hold onto people, so you're giving yourself a grand excuse?"

The traitor matter had frustrated Cao Qianwei for years, rarely mentioned these days.

At the Second Hospital, Xiang Dongshan was among those fearless.

"I wanted to use emotional blackmail, but he didn't agree, so I respected his wishes."

"Cao Qianwei, we're discussing the issue as it stands! I can ensure this project stays, all you need to say is whether or not you'll fund it." Xiang Dongshan's voice was calm.

Cao Qianwei was silent.

Xiang Dongshan continued, "In the adult world, there's no absolute right or wrong, nor definites."

"On the contrary, I think Xiao Pang handled it well; seniors and juniors don't have to stick to one place, help if possible."

"There's no love or hate without reason, you're seeking Lu Cheng, aren't you?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"If you're willing, I'll arrange to meet him tomorrow afternoon; if not, don't come. We both know the importance and weight of this project."

"We haven't yet unveiled this relationship, it's for heartfelt connections, not just superficial ties."

Cao Qianwei probably understood Xiang Dongshan's meaning; a deputy professor from the emergency department has gone to Long County People's Hospital for outreach, treating Lu Cheng kinder than Tong Yuan'an from Xiangya Hospital.

There were reasons behind it...

"Can you secure people first before speaking?" Cao Qianwei replied irritably.

...

"Your results are fixed." When Tong Yuan'an and Lu Cheng entered the private room, a general surgery friend of Tong Yuan'an sent a screenshot of the results.

Lu Cheng's score had exceeded the full marks, topping the substantive organ suture track, meaning Lu Cheng had secured the three thousand yuan.

"Thanks, Teacher Tong. Anyway, if I don't take the money, someone else will," Lu Cheng thanked pragmatically.

"Xiao Lu, I might tell you something you may not want to hear later..." Tong Yuan'an's expression appeared slightly conflicted.

Lu Cheng looked at Tong Yuan'an with some confusion.

Tong Yuan'an said, "But as I drove here, I decided not to bring you into the private room first."

"I'll give you a heads-up ahead; after hearing it, if you're willing, you can enter."

"If you're not, I'll use my muscles to shield you from the situation today."

"So you don't lose composure at the time and say something wrong or make an insincere decision."

"The professor at Union Hospital has considered you as a 'gu insect'..."

Lu Cheng's expression slowly stiffened.

After circling the topic, Tong Yuan'an summarized, "In essence, Union Hospital has confirmed Han Loning as the priority for cultivating hand surgery."

"For you, the current strategy is to let you assist him and later help advance functional reconstruction together."

"This matter has been finalized."

Hearing this, Lu Cheng went silent.

Lu Cheng did not suspect Tong Yuan'an of falsely blaming Professor Zhong Junyun, as Professor Zhong himself was rather 'opportunistic'; once in Han City, he had done a similar thing.

After a long silence, Lu Cheng finally said, "Teacher Tong, I'm not sure about the truthfulness of your words right now, so I can't conclude."

"Until Teacher Zhong personally informs me, I'll act as if I'm unaware."

Tong Yuan'an asked again, "And what if in the future you find this is true? What will you choose?"

Lu Cheng remained silent.

This silence persisted with no reply.

After a while, Tong Yuan'an asked again, "Are you still going in for the meal?"

"Yes, Teacher Tong." Lu Cheng nodded.

Then Lu Cheng followed Tong Yuan'an into the private room...

Han City, a certain laboratory.