After finishing the experiment, Xie Yuan'an and Mu Nanshu lay down directly on the wide sofa in the director's office of the laboratory.

"So tired!~"

"Thank you, Xiao Mumu. If you hadn't come, I would have spent at least several more times the effort." Xie Yuan'an closed his eyes, looking exhausted, his chest rising and falling gently.

Mu Nanshu's movements were much more pronounced compared to Xie Yuan'an's plumpness: "We're friends, after all. You've helped me a lot before too."

"You have to buy me bubble tea later."

"Count on me, Xiao Mumu. You can drink as many cups as you want." Xie Yuan'an promised generously.

After saying this, Xie Yuan'an suddenly opened his eyes, turned his head and said, "Xiao Mumu, I have some potentially not-so-good news to tell you."

"Can you secretly know it first?"

Mu Nanshu lazily turned halfway, lifting his right arm to stretch. "Go ahead."

"A young master named Han Loning has joined our department; he's extremely talented."

"Professor Zhong intends to cultivate him as the leading figure in hand surgery."

"But it doesn't mean they don't need Lu Cheng. The idea is just for Lu Cheng to coordinate with Han Loning's work and delve into functional reconstruction surgery together."

Mu Nanshu sat up straight, giving Xie Yuan'an a deep look.

"Don't look at me like that. My dad can't do anything about this kind of situation." Xie Yuan'an, naturally petite, frowned with a bit of guilt.

"At least another three to five years before Professor Zhong retires."

Mu Nanshu's expression became vacant and unfamiliar: "It's already decided?"

Xie Yuan'an knew Mu Nanshu's tone was off, but still nodded normally: "Han Loning's clinical talent is really outstanding. In just under two years, he improved our department's optimized nerve suturing technique."

"Nerve suturing has always been Union Hospital's forte and focus, and it's the core surgical technique of functional reconstruction surgery."

"So, from the perspective of developing hand surgery, Han Loning's clinical talent and ability are indeed more suitable for our department at this moment!"

"But let me say this, my dad did suggest forming a dual-core team with Lu Cheng and Han Loning."

"However, Professor Zhong's opinion is that the department's strength should be consolidated."

Mu Nanshu stood up immediately: "I'll go ask!~"

"Xiao Mumu, don't, your going there will expose me!" Xie Yuan'an quickly rose to stop him.

Mu Nanshu said, "I won't mention you. You're not the only one who knows about this."

Mu Nanshu left.

Xie Yuan'an followed for a while but couldn't persuade Mu Nanshu to stop, so he could only return.

Indeed, this matter wasn't known only to Xie Yuan'an; everyone in the hand surgery department basically knew about it.

...

"Xiao Mu, why are you back?" Mu Nanshu didn't find Professor Zhong Junyun, so he had to call instead.

"Xie Yuan'an asked me to come back for help, Teacher Zhong. When I was in the lab, I heard some rumors. Are they true?" Mu Nanshu asked.

"What do you mean by rumors?" Professor Zhong Junyun replied with a smile.

After hearing, Mu Nanshu paused for a moment and directly questioned, "Professor Zhong, how do you plan to place Lu Cheng?"

"I still value Lu Cheng greatly. A team's development is about collaboration, not individual heroism."

"Whether it's Lu Cheng or Han Loning, they are partners that complement each other."

"What big project can one's strength achieve?" Zhong Junyun's tone was quite gentle.

"Conducting projects is for treating patients, not for crowning oneself, isn't it?"

Saying such words, how could Mu Nanshu contend against Zhong Junyun? He didn't retort: "Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhong, for your guidance."

Zhong Junyun said, "Xiao Mu, you don't need to get involved in this. Xiao Lu is balancing it in his mind."

"He is a pure doctor and scholar, and I see this very clearly."

Mu Nanshu said, "Yes, Teacher Zhong, you're right, absolutely right, so your words will surely lead Lu Cheng to make the right choice."

Mu Nanshu's tone was piercing, with an implied meaning.

Zhong Junyun couldn't quite grasp it for a moment, but still said, "Collaboration and mutual benefits are the trend for development. Xiao Mu, as a professional researcher, you should understand this very well?"

Mu Nanshu said, "Collaboration is indeed necessary, but priority choices, medicine textbooks have already given the answers."

"Thank you, Professor Zhong."

"What do you mean by that?" Zhong Junyun's tone finally carried a slight irritation.

"Save life first, then treat the illness."

"I only hope, Teacher Zhong, that you'll remember your words today and won't interfere with Lu Cheng's other decisions in the future," Mu Nanshu said.

"As a medical practitioner, in my view, whether a functional reconstruction surgery is performed well is not as prioritized as saving more patients' lives."