Lo Jun’s words came so suddenly that Yan Feifan was caught completely off guard.

For a moment, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Mr. Lu was known for being incredibly strict.

In his opinion, a surgeon wasn’t qualified to lead a major operation like this without at least a decade of clinical experience.

So, when Lo Jun spoke, it wasn’t just Yan Feifan who was stunned. The other surgical assistant, Wa Wei, along with the scrub nurse, circulating nurse, and anesthesiologist, all turned to look at him in bewildered surprise.

Lo Jun raised an eyebrow. Staring at the dazed Yan Feifan, he asked sternly, "Have you gone stupid?"

"Yan Feifan, do you lack confidence, or are you just scared?"

Yan Feifan finally snapped out of it and quickly replied, "Sir, I have plenty of confidence, and I have the courage to take the lead."

"I just couldn’t believe it for a moment, heh heh..."

As he spoke, Yan Feifan wasted no time moving to the lead surgeon’s position at the operating table.

He quickly had a nurse readjust the surgical microscope’s position and height, afraid Mr. Lo might change his mind.

After these last-minute adjustments, the intraspinal tumor resection surgery officially began, nearly ten minutes behind schedule.

Yan Feifan knew the location and condition of the patient’s intraspinal tumor like the back of his hand.

He also possessed the delicate touch, skill, and patience required to dissect the tumor.

He had assisted in several similar surgeries from start to finish recently.

Combined with his ultimate weapon—surgical simulations in his world of consciousness—Yan Feifan was practically a seasoned veteran.

Yan Feifan could confidently say he possessed all the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to lead this operation.

This was the source of the confidence that allowed him to accept the task, even though he was caught unprepared...

Shortly before noon, Wang Chuan finished a surgery and returned to his office, where he was surprised to find Jio Xin waiting for him.

"Jio Xin, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be at home resting?"

Wang Chuan chided her with concern, "If you needed something, you could have just called. You didn’t have to come all this way."

Jio Xin gently tapped her head, which was covered by a baseball cap. "I’m pretty much recovered. It doesn’t affect my daily activities."

She paused for a moment before adding seriously, "Chief, I came to talk to you about something."

Wang Chuan was taken aback for a second. "Alright, let’s sit and talk."

They moved to the seating area and sat on opposite sides of the coffee table.

After they sat down, Jio Xin remained silent, simply watching Wang Chuan.

Before long, she noticed his hands and feet had nowhere to go, and his body began to squirm as if infested with lice.

’He’s getting nervous.’

Jio Xin sighed inwardly and said softly, "Chief, I’m resigning."

"Oh... What?"

"Resign?"

Wang Chuan’s expression, which had just relaxed, suddenly tensed up again.

"Jio Xin, what’s going on?"

"Why the sudden decision to resign?"

"Is it because you still can’t forgive me for what I said back then?"

Jio Xin shook her head. She raised her right hand, wiggling her fingers as she spoke. "My right hand is still a bit numb and wooden."

"This morning, Dr. Qiu gave me a thorough examination. She said this is likely a lingering after-effect of the brain tumor surgery."

"She couldn’t guarantee if it will ever fully recover."

Jio Xin sighed softly. "Even though it doesn’t affect my daily life, I definitely can’t continue working in the operating room."

Wang Chuan said urgently, "If you can’t be a scrub nurse, you can do something else."

"With your experience and ability, you could manage the operating rooms, supervise the nurses, or take on another administrative role."

"Besides, how long has it even been?"

"It’s common for a full recovery from brain surgery to take two or three months, sometimes even six months or a year."

"Don’t be so hasty."

Jio Xin smiled faintly. "Chief, I’m not being hasty. Strictly speaking, the numbness in my right hand is just an excuse to leave."

"The real reason is..."

She paused, then spoke slowly. "I’ve accepted an offer from Dr. Tang Zheng. I’m going to be the Vice President of Zhiyin Medical Beauty, in charge of daily operations."

Wang Chuan fell silent for a moment before asking, "Jio Xin, have you made up your mind?"

Jio Xin nodded, affecting a casual tone. "I’ve made up my mind. I’m not changing it."

"It’s the Vice President position at Zhiyin Medical Beauty. Jumping from a nurse to a role like this is a rare opportunity."

"Dr. Tang promised a high salary and a company car. Besides, it’s a little closer to my home."

"Only a fool would turn down an opportunity like that."

Wang Chuan gave a slightly forced smile. "Yes, that’s certainly a rare opportunity."

Then, they both fell silent again.

After a few minutes, Jio Xin stood up. "Chief, I’ll be back in a few days to handle the resignation paperwork."

Wang Chuan shook his head. "There’s no need to rush. We can just keep you on sick leave for now."

"Things at Zhiyin will be chaotic at first. If you’re not happy there, or if you can’t get used to it, you can always come back."

Jio Xin nodded. "Thank you."

"Chief, I’ll be going now."

"Oh, I’ll walk you out..."

Wang Chuan walked Jio Xin to the office door and opened it for her.

He said, his voice thick with emotion, "Jio Xin, as long as you want to come back, and as long as I’m still the chief, you will always be welcome here."

The rims of Jio Xin’s eyes reddened. "Chief..."

She looked at Wang Chuan’s handsome, mature face—a face she knew better than her own—opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing.

She stepped out of the office and walked toward the stairwell, her pace quickening until she disappeared around the corner without a single look back.

As Wang Chuan watched her disappear into the stairwell, a sudden sense of loss washed over him.

He wanted to run after her but realized he had no reason to make her stay.

In truth, Wang Chuan knew.

There was one reason that would absolutely make her stay.

But he hesitated. He was afraid. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

He couldn’t be sure if what he felt was love or simply the familial bond forged through years of companionship.

Shortly before 4:00 PM, after lasting more than five hours, the first intraspinal tumor resection surgery led by Yan Feifan finally concluded.

Amid a round of congratulatory applause, Yan Feifan looked proudly at Mr. Lo.

To Lo Jun, Yan Feifan looked just like a little kid who’d scored a perfect 100 on a test and was eagerly awaiting praise from his parents.

’So childish.’

’Still, he did do a good job on this surgery. It deserves encouragement.’

He nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad."

Lo Jun then turned and instructed, "Wa Wei, you’re in charge of closing up."

"Also, what are the arrangements for the research group’s dinner tonight?"

Wa Wei quickly replied, "Sir, it’s all set. We’re going to that excellent private kitchen that serves home-style food."

Lo Jun grunted in acknowledgment, then looked at Yan Feifan. "You’ll come with me to see the patient’s family..."

Yan Feifan followed Mr. Lo out of the operating room.

Before they left the surgical area, while they were removing their surgical gowns and rubber gloves, Yan Feifan suddenly noticed a piece of medical tape on the back of Mr. Lo’s right hand.

"Sir, your hand?"

Lo Jun raised his right hand and flexed it.

"Kid, you should thank that little terror I have at home. If he hadn’t accidentally burned my hand..."

"You wouldn’t have had the chance to be lead surgeon today."

As realization dawned on Yan Feifan, Lo Jun continued, "My original plan was to give you a chance, to test you."

"But if you had made even one mistake, I would have pulled you off the table and finished the surgery myself, pain and all."

"Judging by the result, you did a pretty good job."

Yan Feifan chuckled.

He followed Mr. Lo out of the surgical area, where a group of seven or eight people rushed toward them.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Yan Feifan saw Dr. Qiu Ge approaching slowly, accompanied by a few other people.