Ren Xiaobao’s craniopharyngioma resection surgery began promptly at 7:00 p.m.

The puncture injection stage, using absolute ethanol, went quite smoothly.

During the procedure, Qiu Ge was still responsible for the Puncture Needle’s orientation and angle, while Yan Feifan controlled the depth of the insertion.

No significant signs of bleeding occurred during the punctures at the five injection sites.

Qiu Ge and Yan Feifan were relieved. It seemed luck was on their side.

Next, they had to wait patiently under close, tense observation for the absolute ethanol to take effect...

Qiu Ge pulled her gaze from the monitor, collected herself, and looked over at Yan Feifan. "Dr. Yan," she asked, "with your talent, you must have had better options when you were applying for college."

"Why did you choose the high-pressure field of medicine?"

Yan Feifan replied softly, "Back then, both of my maternal grandparents were in poor health. I naively thought that by studying medicine, I could actually help them."

He added with a soft sigh, "But the more I learned, the clearer it became that modern medicine is powerless against many things."

Yan Feifan added, "Still, I don’t regret choosing to study medicine one bit."

"Seeing patients get diagnosed, treated, and then recover... it fills me with a sense of happiness and fulfillment."

Qiu Ge smiled, her tone hopeful. "Dr. Yan, with your gifts and skills, I’m sure you can make the impossible possible."

"Like today, for instance. Without your precise application of the ethanol Puncture Injection Skill, I would never have dared to take on this operation!"

Yan Feifan said humbly, "It’s just an extension of an existing technique. Nothing so special."

Qiu Ge’s tone was complex. "Right now, you’re the only person in the entire country who can do this. And you say that’s not a real talent?"

"You really hold yourself to a high standard."

She continued with a sigh, "But you’re right to. At your age and with your talent, you certainly should have higher standards for yourself."

At this, Qiu Ge suddenly began to study Yan Feifan carefully.

He was a good 1.8 meters tall, which was considered quite tall for a man from the south.

His features were well-defined, with clear brows and bright eyes. He was refined and handsome.

His frame was a bit thin, but Qiu Ge knew the reason for that...

The more she studied him, the more pleased she was.

Yan Feifan, however, was growing uncomfortable under her gaze. "Dr. Qiu," he blurted out, "I already have a girlfriend."

"What a shame."

After a moment’s regret, Qiu Ge’s grin returned. "Dr. Yan, you’re brilliant, and you’re outstanding in the looks and height department, too."

"Your genetic material must be top-notch."

"Dr. Yan, genes this good can’t be wasted. You should spread them around as much as possible..."

Just as Yan Feifan was growing confused, he heard Qiu Ge continue, "I have a friend who runs a sperm bank."

"But his bank’s selection criteria are incredibly high. Only healthy, physically attractive elites from various fields are eligible."

"With your qualifications, you’d be a shoo-in."

Qiu Ge added with a smile, "I also have a good friend, a young woman who doesn’t plan on ever getting married. She’s been wanting to have a child recently."

"She’s also been looking for a donor with outstanding qualities."

"Dr. Yan..."

Yan Feifan shook his head so fast it was a blur. "No, absolutely not," he interrupted. "I would never consider something like that."

Qiu Ge chuckled, trying to persuade him. "Dr. Yan, don’t be so quick to refuse. Think of it as a contribution to improving our country’s gene pool."

"Besides, it’s not like you’d be doing it for free. The compensation is quite generous, you know..."

At this moment, Yan Ziruo and Yu Suye had returned to their apartment at Zuimo Court and were starting to prepare dinner.

And they had an extra person at their dinner table.

Yu Youhai, the Vice President of Baining Hospital.

Yu Suye ladled a bowl of soup for Yu Youhai and asked, "Uncle, are you here to poach talent or to talk business?"

Yu Youhai chuckled. "I’m here to discuss a partnership with the municipal government."

"The government?" Yu Suye didn’t quite understand.

Yu Youhai took a sip of soup, set down his bowl, and explained, "Over the past decade or so, we’ve been focusing on developing the medical industry side of our business."

"Now, our various companies have reached a stable phase of growth, which you could also say is a developmental bottleneck."

"On the other hand, we only have the one Baining Hospital in Jingcheng. Our expansion has been far too conservative."

"Moreover..."

Yu Youhai continued to explain, "due to our market positioning, Baining Hospital doesn’t get the same high volume of diverse cases as public hospitals."

"Our family’s young doctors lack sufficient hands-on experience, so we have to send them to other hospitals for training and development, just like we did with you..."

Yu Suye’s eyes lit up, and she interrupted excitedly, "Uncle, does this mean we’re opening a branch in Binhai?"

Yu Youhai chuckled. "Don’t get too excited just yet."

"Binhai is just one option. Other major cities like Guangshen, Jinmen, Jiqing, and Chongdu are also on our list of potential sites."

"Which city we ultimately choose will depend on our negotiations with the local government."

Yu Suye pleaded, "Uncle, please build it in Binhai! That way I won’t have to be separated from Feifan."

"I’ve been so worried about that."

Yu Youhai couldn’t help but shake his head. "Su Ye, honestly. You’re a young woman, you should be a little more reserved!"

His expression turned serious. "Which city we build the hospital in can’t be decided based on our personal preferences."

"We’re preparing to invest two billion to build a Grade 3A comprehensive research hospital that serves the general public."

"An investment this large requires us to consider many different factors."

Yu Suye understood that, but she said hopefully, "Still, Binhai has its advantages. It’s an international metropolis and the economic and medical hub of East China." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Uncle, let me give you a heads-up..."

Yu Suye said with a completely serious expression, "In the future, if you really make me choose between being with Feifan and leaving Binhai..."

"...I can’t guarantee I’ll choose to go back."

Yu Youhai reached out and gently tapped Yu Suye’s nose. He laughed, "They say you lose your daughter to her husband. It’s really true."

"The family has invested so many resources in you. Would you really abandon all that for a man?"

Yu Suye giggled. "The Feifan I love is no ordinary man."

"Isn’t that right, Ruoruo?"

Yan Ziruo said with a proud expression, "Of course."

"Mr. Yu, my Feifan is a medical genius who constantly delivers surprises and works miracles..."

「At 8:50 p.m.」

After a long and anxious wait, Ren Xiaobao’s craniopharyngioma surgery resumed.

Dr. Qiu Ge chose a subfrontal approach for the craniotomy.

As Dr. Qiu’s assistant, Yan Feifan was involved in the entire operation.

This meant he wouldn’t be able to leave until at least three or four in the morning, after the surgery was over.

The first half of the surgery went quite smoothly.

But around 1:00 a.m., the operation reached its most critical stage: dissecting the part of the tumor entangled with the optic nerve.

Yan Feifan, assisting, noticed through the surgical microscope that the scalpel was hesitating, failing to make the cut.

He pulled away from the eyepiece and looked at Qiu Ge. Her forehead was covered in a fine sheen of sweat.

"Dr. Qiu, are you alright?"

At Yan Feifan’s question, Qiu Ge withdrew her hands and pulled her head away from the surgical microscope.

"Dr. Yan, I’m paralyzed with indecision. I can’t calm my nerves."

"I’ve... lost all my confidence..."