At 11:50 AM, after the surgery led by Yu Youbin, Yan Feifan left the operating room.

However, he didn’t leave the surgical area. Instead, he took off his surgical gown and went to the scrubbing area to scrub in again.

Afterward, Yan Feifan entered another operating room, put on a sterile surgical gown, and began his second surgery.

After completing the percutaneous injection of anhydrous ethanol, Yan Feifan talked with Dr. Cao Hui while waiting for the substance to take effect.

During their conversation, Yan Feifan was surprised to learn that Dr. Cao had also graduated from Binhai University Medical College.

However, he had gone to the United States right after graduating.

Later, through his own hard work, he obtained his medical license in the United States and had been working in American hospitals ever since.

That was until three years ago, when he accepted an offer from Baining Hospital and returned to China.

"Mr. Yan, I’m not exaggerating, but the overall strength of the top medical institutions in the United States is truly formidable."

Cao Hui advised, "Given your skills, if you get the chance, you should really go to one or two of them for advanced training for a year or two."

"You’ll be able to learn from their strengths and broaden your horizons. After that, with your abilities, you’re bound to achieve even more remarkable things."

Yan Feifan replied politely, "Thank you for the advice. If the opportunity arises and the timing is right, I’ll definitely consider it."

Cao Hui chuckled. "Bin University Medical College and the Affiliated Hospital maintain good partnerships and exchange programs with many renowned medical schools and institutions abroad."

"So there’s definitely no shortage of opportunities to go abroad for advanced training."

He sighed again and said wistfully, "Back in the day, I was actually qualified for one of those government-sponsored opportunities to go abroad..."

"I just didn’t have strong enough connections..."

Cao Hui gave another smile. "But let’s not talk about that."

"With your current achievements, Mr. Yan, something like being replaced at the last minute would never happen to you."

Even someone as unobservant as Yan Feifan could sense the indignation and resentment in the man’s words.

Back when Yan Feifan was in medical school, it would have been quite easy for him to get an opportunity to study abroad, if he had wanted to.

But the thought of going abroad had never crossed his mind.

Even with government funding or a full scholarship, a few years of studying abroad would still involve a lot of personal expenses.

Besides, Yan Ziruo was still in college at the time, and she was someone who only knew how to spend money, not earn it.

Their financial situation made it difficult, but it wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle.

The main reason, however, was a psychological one. Yan Feifan was scared and resistant to the idea of studying abroad—of leaving his familiar surroundings and the sister he had grown up with.

In all these years, Yan Feifan had left Binhai a number of times that could be counted on one hand.

Other than his two recent trips to Jingcheng, the last time he had left Binhai was to join the hospital’s medical team for earthquake disaster relief.

The time before that...

As far as Yan Feifan could remember, there were no other times...

Cao Hui only brought up the topic of going abroad briefly before letting it drop.

He switched topics, and the two of them began discussing issues in neurosurgery...

A little after 1:30 PM, Yan Feifan walked out of the surgical area and found Yu Suye waiting for him.

"Feifan, you must be exhausted and starving, right?"

Yu Suye took Yan Feifan’s arm. "Come on, I’ll take you to try some food from a five-star hotel’s chef!"

Yan Feifan keenly noticed she was forcing a smile. "Did your talk with your family not go well?"

Yu Suye gave a bitter smile. "I wouldn’t say it didn’t go well. It’s just the same old story."

She sighed deeply. "I’ve just completely given up, that’s all. I have no expectations left."

Seeing Yu Suye’s crestfallen and desolate expression, Yan Feifan felt a sudden, inexplicable pang in his heart.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

As they spoke, the two of them entered the stairwell and started down the stairs, one step at a time.

Yu Suye tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear and said slowly, "My grandfather and the others have shifted their focus. They’ve set their sights on the Baining Group’s project to establish a new branch hospital."

"My grandfather said that as long as I can help my brother secure a senior executive position with real authority in this project, they’ll leave my personal life alone."

Yan Feifan was confused. "But you don’t really have a say in your family’s major business decisions, do you?"

Yu Suye stopped and turned to face Yan Feifan, forcing a smile. "You’re right. I have no say at all."

"But you do!"

"Me?"

Yu Suye nodded emphatically. "If you leverage your future, and considering my brother isn’t incompetent—he’s genuinely talented and capable—there’s a very good chance of getting him a senior position with real authority."

Yan Feifan understood.

"What was your answer?"

After asking the question, Yan Feifan suddenly felt nervous.

He didn’t even understand what, exactly, he was nervous about.

’Am I nervous she might have agreed to her family’s request?’

’If she had, that would give me the perfect excuse to break up with her!’

’But that didn’t seem to be the answer he was hoping for.’

As Yan Feifan looked into Yu Suye’s eyes, the rims of hers suddenly reddened. "Feifan," she said, "the girl standing in front of you... is now a girl without a family."

’No family?’

Yan Feifan was stunned. "You refused them?"

Yu Suye wiped the corner of her eye. "I just want to be in a simple relationship," she said softly.

"One with no strings attached. Like a teenage girl, I want to be in a relationship simply because I like someone, because my heart skips a beat for them."

Fresh tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.

Yu Suye continued speaking as she wiped them away. "I’ve been so tired my whole life."

"My brother is brilliant, so I thought that if I became even more brilliant, maybe my grandfather and father would finally value me more."

"It was only today that I finally realized I’m just a bargaining chip to them."

"The better I become, the heavier that chip becomes."

"I don’t want to go on like this anymore."

"So, I finally mustered up the courage and said no."

"And so... I no longer have a family."

Yu Suye’s voice was already choked with uncontrollable sobs, and the tears welling in her eyes only came faster the more she wiped them away.

The back of her hand and half her face were soaked with tears. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It was the first time Yan Feifan had ever seen Yu Suye cry, and she was crying so heart-wrenchingly, as if releasing years of pent-up grievances all at once.

Yan Feifan opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

Yu Suye buried her face in Yan Feifan’s shoulder. Her hitching sobs at first gave way to quiet crying.

A moment later, she let go completely and began to wail.

Yan Feifan didn’t know how to comfort her. He just held her tighter, patting her back from time to time.

After a few minutes, Yu Suye’s wails finally subsided, turning back into soft sobs.

Yan Feifan breathed a silent sigh of relief and tried to comfort her. "Su Ye, you still have a home. My sister and I... our home is your home, too."

Before he could finish, he felt a warm, wet sensation on his neck, followed by a slight tickle.

The warm, wet, tickling sensation kept moving... upward...

Just as Yan Feifan finally understood what was happening, something warm and soft pressed against his lips.

Yan Feifan’s mind went blank for a moment, and he didn’t know how to react.

At first, he just stood there like a statue, letting Yu Suye take the offensive.

Before long, however, spurred on by a rush of hormones, Yan Feifan began to kiss back...

Suddenly, the saxophone rendition of "Jasmine" began to play.

The sound snapped Yan Feifan back to his senses, and he quickly stopped a mischievous Yu Suye.

"This could be an important call. Stay still."

With one arm, he held the now-compliant Yu Suye, while he fished his phone out of his pocket with the other.

It was a call from Dr. Qiu Ge.

Answering the call, Yan Feifan swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. "Dr. Qiu..."

"Mr. Yan, Ren Xiaobao is awake..."

This should have been great news, but Yan Feifan couldn’t detect any joy in Dr. Qiu Ge’s voice.

"Are the test results not ideal?"

"Not ideal? They’re an absolute disaster."

"Blindness, aphasia, and total paralysis..."