Chu Xuwei leaned back in his chair and said nothing.

When Du Heng proposed leaving, he didn’t feel any reluctance, but rather a mixture of annoyance and disdain.

He knew very well why Du Heng wanted to leave. He thought Du Heng was too young and impulsive. Despite his medical skills, such a rash personality wouldn’t lead to any significant achievements. And Du Heng’s sudden decision to leave would leave their ongoing project hanging in midair.

Looking at Du Heng, who sat calmly in front of him and expressed his gratitude, Chu Xuwei tried to calm his agitated mind.

"Doctor Du, I think you should think this through carefully and not make such impulsive decisions. As for Liu Amei’s issue, let her go find her husband, and it can be resolved eventually."

Chu Xuwei prepared to persuade Du Heng again. "As I told you before, if you stay in the Capital and in our Department, we will do our best to meet your requirements."

Du Heng gave a faint smile. "Thank you, Director Chu, for your appreciation, but I still want to go back. The Health Clinic is going through its first evaluation period, and I need to be there to oversee it. Otherwise, our year of hard work will be wasted."

Seeing Du Heng’s unyielding demeanor, Chu Xuwei became even more irritated. However, considering the half-approved project, he could only patiently say, "Doctor Du, the project we applied for on your behalf is already underway. This is a national-level project. If you leave now, what should we do?"

Du Heng had originally come with a grateful heart. But Chu Xuwei’s words, implying he was being irresponsible, displeased him.

They applied for the project without even asking for my input, and besides, this project isn’t mine—it’s theirs.

To put it bluntly, if there were any achievements, the most I could hope for would be some third-tier credit, and even that would require Chu Xuwei to be exceptionally selfless.

At this point, Du Heng felt there was no need to continue the conversation. "I’m truly sorry about that," he said. "I didn’t know about the application when it was made, so it wasn’t part of my plans."

Seeing Chu Xuwei’s expression change, Du Heng continued, "I’ve told Professor Lan and Doctor Cao Binghe about the composition of the formula. Therefore, even without me, you can still conduct the experiments."

With that said, Du Heng didn’t linger and got up to leave.

He still needed to visit the single room and chat with Lan Changhua.

Watching Du Heng’s departing figure, Chu Xuwei was so angry his nostrils practically smoked.

If Du Heng’s formula was so easy to master, Lan Changhua wouldn’t have needed to personally invite Du Heng to the Capital. Up until now, they had two cancer treatment cases: Zhu Minyan’s lymphoma and a thyroid tumor. However, while the two formulas shared eighteen common medicinal herbs, they also had twelve different ones. Furthermore, the dosages were completely different in each case. What was the core composition of the formula? They didn’t know. Why were different herbs used? They didn’t know. What was the appropriate dosage? They still didn’t know. How were they supposed to conduct experiments with all this uncertainty? Moreover, the formula Du Heng had prescribed for Zhu Minyan contained dosages exceeding those listed in the "Pharmacopoeia." With Du Heng gone, none of them dared administer such high doses to a patient. Even though they were a hospital in the Capital, when it came to prescribing medication, they weren’t as bold as the doctors in the Chinese Medicine Department at Provincial First Hospital. Even if they were to consult Wu Buwei now and see the dosages he prescribed, they would still break out in a cold sweat. But the formula belonged to Du Heng, and he wasn’t a doctor at their hospital. There was nothing they could do.

Du Heng arrived at Lan Changhua’s ward, and as he entered, he saw Lan Changhua putting down the phone.

The two didn’t discuss the project. Du Heng expressed his gratitude for Lan Changhua’s invitation, while Lan Changhua apologized for the inconvenience the arrangements might have caused Du Heng.

After exchanging some polite remarks to maintain superficial cordiality, and agreeing they could contact each other with any project-related questions, Du Heng left the ward.

Returning to collect his belongings with Cao Binghe, he encountered Gan Yanfang, the sharp-tongued woman.

"Doctor Du, are you packing your things?" Gan Yanfang warmly greeted Du Heng from a distance.

Walking over and taking a glance at the two packing, she invited Du Heng, "Doctor Du, today is my birthday, and I would like to invite you to have dinner together tonight. May I have the honor?"

Looking at Gan Yanfang’s smiling face, Du Heng suddenly found this woman rather endearing. She was the only person he had met during his time in the Capital who wore her thoughts so openly on her face. She tried to act cunning and play little tricks, but she seemed oblivious that her schemes were written all over her face before she even employed them. Aside from her sharp tongue, this woman seemed quite charming.

"Thank you for the invitation, Doctor Gan, but I have to leave. Next time I have the opportunity, I’ll treat you to a meal."

"Leave? Where to?" Gan Yanfang asked in confusion.

Du Heng smiled, "Back to Jinzhou, back to my hometown."

"Are you leaving today?"

"Today I’ll pack my things, and tomorrow I’ll leave."

Gan Yanfang’s expression changed instantly. Leaving a curt, "Have a good trip," she turned with a flounce and walked off.

Du Heng chuckled. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to leave, such an ’amusing’ person had appeared to lighten his mood a bit.

Then, Du Heng took his belongings, and with Cao Binghe’s company, they went to the Medical Affairs Department of the hospital to complete the final procedures.

When Du Heng appeared at the hospital’s main entrance again, he took a deep breath. The air was thick with car exhaust and the strong smell of gasoline, but he inhaled it all the same.

When he slowly exhaled, he felt much more relaxed, and his shoulders became very light.

「Half an hour later, at the Department of Orthopedic Traumatology of the Central Affiliated Hospital.」

Li Chengzu was very happy and enthusiastic about Du Heng’s arrival.

"Doctor Du, your medication is truly miraculous," Li Chengzu said, giving Du Heng a thumbs up.

Du Heng laughed and asked, "What’s going on? Why is Director Li praising me so much?"

"Li Qin has taken three sets of the medicine you prescribed and applied a plaster since yesterday evening. When we changed her plaster just now, her arm had already reduced in swelling, leaving only a faint purplish color. Based on the current situation, her arm will be completely free of swelling and bruising by tomorrow. Don’t you think you deserve praise?"

Having left Hao Pengyou Hospital, Du Heng’s mood had brightened considerably. Now, with Li Chengzu, he chatted and laughed, no longer as reserved as he had been the previous day.

"Director Li, there’s no need to be so surprised. It’s just standard procedure."

Listening to Du Heng’s words, Li Chengzu was slightly surprised but soon laughed along.

Indeed, as Du Heng said, it was standard procedure. After all, he had experience with this.

"Doctor Du, I think we can cooperate," Li Chengzu said seriously after they laughed.

Du Heng also became serious. "What kind of cooperation does Director Li have in mind?"

"Join our hospital. Join my Department of Orthopedic Traumatology. With your orthopedic reduction skills and your abilities with medication, combined with my surgical expertise, there would be no surgery we couldn’t perform. We could satisfy any patient’s requirements."

Du Heng chuckled and replied earnestly, "I am deeply honored by Director Li’s high regard. However, today I am here to bid farewell to Director Li."

Li Chengzu froze for a moment, not quite keeping up. After a pause, he finally processed Du Heng’s words and asked, "Farewell? What do you mean?"

"I’m returning to Jinzhou tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Why the hurry? You didn’t mention it yesterday. Did something happen? Is there anything I can help with?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Du Heng smiled gratefully.

He had thought Director Li was a man of character yesterday, and now Li was offering help, despite them having known each other for only two days. This genuinely pleased Du Heng.

"Thank you, Director Li. There’s no problem. It’s just that I’ve taken on a patient today, and she must be brought back to Jinzhou for treatment."

Li Chengzu was even more confused. Accepting a patient in the Capital only to take them back to Jinzhou for treatment—what kind of peculiar reasoning was that? Could the treatment environment and standards in Jinzhou possibly be higher than in the Capital?

As Li Chengzu voiced his confusion, Du Heng explained Liu Amei’s situation to him.

After listening, Li Chengzu fell silent.

He had seen such things before. His department, his hospital, indeed, every major hospital in the Capital, encountered similar situations constantly. Playing it safe to protect oneself seemed to have become the general consensus.

"Can’t she be treated in the Capital?"

Du Heng shook his head. "The hospitals here won’t accept her. If she goes back home, she’ll likely just be waiting to die. I can’t stand by and do nothing; I can’t watch a young life fade away before my eyes, especially when I know I have the ability to save her."

Li Chengzu sighed silently. He understood and accepted Du Heng’s words; after all, he approached his own patients with the same dedication. "Couldn’t Liu Amei stay somewhere nearby, as an outpatient?" he asked. "That way, you could remain in the Capital, and she could avoid the hardship of travel."

"It won’t work." Du Heng shook his head; he had considered this possibility. "Liu Amei’s condition is quite special. Some aspects of her illness are still unclear and require diagnostic equipment. It would be very inconvenient if she isn’t hospitalized. Moreover, the medication I need to use for Liu Amei is also quite specific and can only be prescribed within a hospital setting. If she isn’t admitted for observation, I can’t prescribe those medicines for her."

Li Chengzu was silent for a good while, then asked, "So Doctor Du, what’s the purpose of your visit today?"

"To bid farewell to Director Li, and then to find Li Qin about a small favor."

"Alright, let’s go. I’ll accompany you."

Du Heng stood up to refuse. "No need to trouble Director Li. I’ll go by myself. After I’ve finished talking to Li Qin, I won’t come back to bother you anymore."

Li Chengzu also stood up. "Doctor Du, remember to notify me when you come to the Capital in the future. We still have that agreement to have a good chat."

"Of course. Goodbye, Director Li."

Just as Du Heng turned to leave, Li Chengzu couldn’t help but add, "Doctor Du, whenever you change your mind and decide you want to come to the Capital, remember to let me know."