Wang Xiaoqing appeared to be just passing him instruments, but she was also silently observing Jiang He.

The more she watched, the more astonished she became.

’Did this kid start performing surgery in the womb? How the hell is he so damn steady?’

Blindly suturing a blood vessel in a deep, narrow space was a procedure that required intense concentration, even for the Attending Physicians at Affiliated Hospital No. 1. The limited field of view meant they couldn’t rely on their eyes to calibrate the needle’s angle of entry; they had to depend entirely on the tactile feedback from their fingertips.

But look at Jiang He.

’It’s just ridiculous.’

Grasping the needle holder, inserting the needle, pulling it through, looping the thread, tying the knot.

It was unbelievably smooth, without the slightest hesitation. His hands were uncannily steady, moving like he was a veteran Attending Physician with twenty years of experience.

On the surface, Wang Xiaoqing maintained her professorial composure, but inwardly, she was already cursing up a storm.

’First, she cursed Jiang He. How could he possibly be this good?’

Then, a profound sense of helplessness washed over her.

’It’s over. I can’t even find a single point to deduct. I have no choice but to pass him.’

’A perfect opportunity to become his mentor, gone just like that.’

Wang Xiaoqing was devastated.

Meanwhile, Xu Chen, who was standing to the side and watching, was in the middle of a serious lesson.

’Oh, so this is how you can do a simulated practical exam?’

’You can actually get the professor to hand you your instruments?’

’So badass.’

’Damn, I’m taking notes.’

’Next time it’s my turn for a practical, I have to try this!’

"CLICK."

Jiang He set down the needle holder and snipped the suture.

He looked up at the monitor. The simulated blood pressure was rising, and the blood loss volume had stabilized.

"Professor, the suturing is complete," Jiang He said calmly.

Wang Xiaoqing nodded, her expression stern. "Yes. The bleeding is completely stopped, and there’s no collateral damage to the surrounding area. Time... three minutes and forty-two seconds."

As she spoke, the students gathered around the operating table couldn’t help but gasp.

The passing time was ten minutes, and Jiang He hadn’t even used half of it.

Without a doubt, Jiang He had passed with a perfect score. That much was beyond question.

Jiang He walked over to the sink at the side and meticulously washed his hands.

After drying his hands, he didn’t immediately grab his backpack and leave.

Today, he had first embarrassed Xu Chen, then publicly rejected Professor Wang’s offer for extra lessons, and finally, he had turned the tables and made a professor assist him.

He had demonstrated his skill, but if he didn’t handle the social fallout properly, he would easily make enemies.

What he needed now was a peaceful environment for his research, not pointless campus conflicts.

"Professor Wang, thank you for your guidance. I’ve learned a great deal from practicing with your scenario and equipment today."

Then, he turned to Xu Chen, Pan Wen, Tang Pei, and the others, his expression sincere.

"To all my seniors, this South China Region competition covers complex cases from internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics. It’s a comprehensive test of clinical thinking, and all of you are the real top contenders with a truly solid, well-rounded foundation."

"I personally have very limited time and energy. If I stay in this class, not only will I be unable to keep up with your comprehensive review, but I might also slow down the group discussions and waste Professor Wang’s efforts. Therefore, regarding the South China competition, let’s all work hard in our own ways. I wish all of you in this advanced class the best of luck in reaching even greater heights and bringing glory to our university at the competition in late October."

It was an incredibly graceful speech.

Everyone appreciates a little praise. Who wouldn’t be pleased to hear that?

You could practically see everyone’s opinion of him shoot up.

A skilled, humble junior who was also this well-spoken? Who could possibly dislike him?

After bidding Professor Wang farewell one more time, Jiang He turned, pulled open the door to the operating room, and left.

The moment he was gone, a female doctor in their group with a ponytail sidled up to Tang Pei and whispered, "Hey, Tang Pei, Junior Brother Jiang is so amazing. Do you think he has a girlfriend?"

Tang Pei shot her a look and retorted, "Weren’t you paying attention?"

"To what?" the female doctor asked, completely baffled.

"What was the very first thing he did after finishing the simulation and washing his hands?"

The female doctor thought back for a moment. "Oh! You mean... the ring?"

Tang Pei nodded. "Have you ever seen a doctor so eager to put their ring back on right after finishing a procedure? He’s not just taken; they must have a really strong relationship. You’d better give up on that idea."

The female doctor gave an awkward laugh. "Haha, I was just asking, just asking..."

At the operating table, Xu Chen’s brow furrowed as he overheard the whispers nearby.

This female doctor was the girl he had a crush on, and now she was asking about Jiang He’s love life? ’What is the meaning of this?’

Xu Chen’s resentment flared up again, and he spoke out.

"Ahem. I have to admit, Junior Brother Jiang is exceptionally talented when it comes to clinical skills and his understanding of specific diseases. However... in the field of medicine, what ultimately matters are your research achievements. If I’m not mistaken, he’s only a third-year student. He probably hasn’t published any papers yet, has he? On the path of academia, Junior Brother Jiang still has a lot of work to do."

Hearing Xu Chen’s words, a few of the other students whose confidence had been crushed by Jiang He seemed to find an emotional outlet and quickly chimed in.

"Yeah, Senior Brother Xu is right! Publications are the only currency that matters."

"It’s so hard for an undergrad to publish a good paper. Senior Brother Xu, didn’t you have to slave away for a whole year before your last paper was accepted?"

"Being good in the clinic doesn’t mean you’re good at research. Jiang He still has a long road ahead of him."

The group chattered on, seemingly restoring a sliver of their psychological balance by reassuring themselves that Jiang He had no publications.

However, Wang Xiaoqing, who was standing nearby, remained expressionless.

At the mention of papers, Yang Xu’s smug, punchable face instantly flashed through her mind.

"Oh, Old Wang..."

"You see my student, Jiang He? That paper he put together for LNR... wow, it’s about to be accepted already, you know~"

"And guess what? The reviewers’ feedback was just ’minor revisions’! For a third-year undergrad, isn’t that just a little bit outrageous?"

"And that’s not all! They even put it on the fast track for publication. Wow, I hear it’s going to be in print any day now!"

"It makes even me, the corresponding author, blush. Ah, kids these days... they’re really leaving us old-timers in the dust..."

The more Wang Xiaoqing replayed this in her head, the more she felt like she was having a stroke.

Yang Xu’s bragging was more agonizing than death itself.

’That bastard!’

The more she stewed, the more agitated Wang Xiaoqing became. She was already fuming about losing a genius student with nowhere to vent her frustration, and Xu Chen’s comments just walked right into the line of fire.

Her expression turned glacial.

"Enough with the useless chatter," Wang Xiaoqing said coldly. "You’re all in the same class, and you just watched Jiang He’s performance. So now, let’s see what you can do. The equipment is already on, so let’s not waste it. Everyone, come and give it a try. Ten minutes. Blind vascular suturing in a deep, narrow space. Who wants to go first?"

No one was laughing now.

The students who had been chattering away just moments ago all fell silent.

’Holy crap, who the hell knows how to do a surgery like that?’

In perfect unison, everyone looked down at their toes, trying to instantly vanish into the background.

Only Xu Chen calmly raised his head.

’Whether I can actually do it is another question.’

’Whether I pass or fail is also another question.’

’But... I’m going to make Professor Wang hand *me* the instruments!’

Xu Chen took a step forward and announced loudly, "Professor, I’ll go first!"