Chapter 102:

At exactly nine o’clock, the patient was wheeled into the operating room. The Guan family waited anxiously outside, occasionally glancing at the operating room doors.

No one spoke, and the atmosphere was tense.

Inside the operating room, the mood was equally serious. The one under the most pressure was undoubtedly Yu Minglü.

The surgery proceeded smoothly at first. Yu Minglü thought luck was on his side today—everything was going well. But just as he was preparing to suture, sudden massive bleeding sent him into a panic, and he frantically called for Qin Chaoyu.

The other medical staff were also alarmed. The worst-case scenario had occurred. Once this surgery resulted in massive bleeding, stopping it would be extremely difficult. Even if they managed to control it, complications would likely follow, risking the entire procedure’s success.

Yet, instead of immediately initiating emergency measures, Yu Minglü called for a stranger, leaving the team puzzled. They had worked with Yu Minglü for years and trusted his expertise. Despite their reservations, they didn’t interfere, curious to see what the two would do.

Qin Chaoyu stepped forward, nudging Yu Minglü aside from the prime position. She swiftly took out sterilized silver needles and inserted them into the patient’s head with lightning speed. Within moments, six or seven needles were embedded.

She didn’t step away afterward, and Yu Minglü didn’t mind, instead rushing to the head of the bed to observe the monitors.

The rest of the medical team, however, looked uneasy. They recognized this as traditional Chinese medicine but had no idea what Qin Chaoyu was trying to achieve. Each needle was over ten centimeters long—seeing them plunged into the patient’s skull was unsettling, even if the patient was under anesthesia. What if something went wrong? Who would take responsibility?

Could they really explain to the family that they hadn’t stopped her in time because she moved too fast?

Yu Minglü’s assistant glared at Qin Chaoyu and snapped, “What are you doing? Stabbing such long needles into someone’s head—are you trying to save them or harm them?”

Qin Chaoyu didn’t answer, keeping her focus on the patient’s head. She planned to remove the needles once the bleeding stopped, as they would interfere with suturing.

Frustrated by her silence, the assistant grew angrier, even blaming Yu Minglü inwardly. If not for the chief surgeon, how could this outsider have entered the OR? Endangering a patient like this was a dereliction of duty.

Fearing further delay would worsen the patient’s condition, the assistant reached out to pull the needles himself.

Before he could touch them, Qin Chaoyu grabbed his wrist. “Don’t touch them!”

The assistant glared at her. Her mask obscured half her face, leaving only her sharp, cold eyes visible. The intensity of her gaze sent a chill down his spine. Before he could react, she released him and muttered, “Look for yourself.”

Confused, the assistant turned to Yu Minglü, who was practically pressing his face against the monitor. Before he could speak, Yu Minglü suddenly exclaimed, “It stopped! The bleeding stopped!”

“What? Let me see!” The assistant pushed Yu Minglü aside and peered at the screen. After five or six minutes, he gasped, “It’s true! The bleeding really stopped. This… this is incredible!”

Once both doctors confirmed it, the rest of the team crowded around the monitor, eager to witness the miracle.

And it was a miracle. Not only was this type of hemorrhage notoriously difficult to control, but stopping it with just a few needles? Unheard of. Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn’t have believed it.

As the medical staff marveled, Qin Chaoyu removed the needles and stepped aside, signaling Yu Minglü to resume the surgery.

The most critical moment had passed, and the rest was relatively straightforward.

The surgery lasted over seven hours, ending around five in the afternoon.

None of the staff had eaten, but they didn’t feel hungry—they had just witnessed a miracle.

Qin Chaoyu’s role was over.

Grateful for her help, Yu Minglü gave her the next day off. She returned to her hotel to reflect on the experience, having gained valuable insights from observing such a complex craniotomy.

The next morning, Yu Minglü invited her to his office—not summoned, but genuinely invited, with warmth and smiles.

Qin Chaoyu immediately understood: the surgery had been a success, and the patient was out of danger.

Indeed, Yu Minglü confirmed that the patient had regained consciousness the previous night and was recovering well. Though further observation was needed, the prognosis was positive.

Then, with sincerity, he said, “You helped me tremendously. I owe you a favor. If there’s anything I can do for you in the future, I’ll do my best.”

This was exactly what Qin Chaoyu had been waiting for. “Actually, Director Yu, there is something I’d like your help with.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I’d like to treat patients here. Just for four days.”

Yu Minglü hesitated. While arranging this would be easy for him, he wasn’t sure about her qualifications. If something went wrong, he’d be held accountable.

Sensing his concern, Qin Chaoyu explained, “I have a medical license. Yuzhou Hospital can vouch for my competence.”

Yu Minglü recalled her mentioning her work as an expert consultant at Yuzhou Hospital, a prestigious institution. If they trusted her, her skills must be exceptional. Relieved, he agreed.

That afternoon, Qin Chaoyu began working as an official pediatrician—her chosen department. With seasonal changes causing frequent childhood illnesses, she’d have plenty of cases. Most would be minor, fitting her tight four-day schedule.

The other pediatricians didn’t know her and were skeptical of her sudden appointment. She seemed too young—was she really qualified?

Many assumed she’d pulled strings, breeding resentment. Unfair advantages always rankled, especially when others had worked hard for their positions.

As a result, the staff treated her coldly, making her an invisible presence in the office.

Qin Chaoyu didn’t take offense. With the selection ending soon, she only needed to endure four more days.

At first, no parents trusted her due to her apparent lack of experience.

But when the department became overwhelmed with patients, a critically ill child went unnoticed—until Qin Chaoyu stepped in and saved them.

Her skill stunned both parents and staff.

They realized she wasn’t an unqualified outsider but a highly skilled practitioner. None of them had spotted the child’s condition, yet she diagnosed and treated it instantly. Even if they hadn’t been busy, they might have misdiagnosed the infant’s asthma as bronchitis or bronchopneumonia. Some childhood asthma cases were infrequent and easily confused with other respiratory conditions. A misdiagnosis could have been disastrous.

Once convinced of her ability, the staff warmed up to her, and the office atmosphere improved.

Four days passed quickly. The organizers announced a day of rest before gathering to reveal the selection results.

The announcement took place at the hotel.

Zong Nanhan straightforwardly listed each candidate’s scores. Unsurprisingly, Qin Chaoyu ranked first again.

Finally, he declared that Qin Chaoyu, Xing Weiyue, and Luo Chenshe would represent Chinese medicine in the international competition.

Qin Chaoyu and Xing Weiyue were expected choices, but Luo Chenshe was also a formidable talent. The other participants accepted the results without dispute.

With that, the selection concluded. The three winners would undergo a month of training, while the others returned home.

Yin Ledan and Kong Han hadn’t made the cut but weren’t disappointed. They were happy for Qin Chaoyu. Though sad to part ways, they decided to return early, booking flights for the next day. Most others did the same.

After three days of rest, Qin Chaoyu, Xing Weiyue, and Luo Chenshe moved into a traditional courtyard residence for their month-long training.

The training focused on past competition formats, potential challenges, and insights into other countries’ medical practices—practical knowledge more valuable than theoretical lectures for candidates of their caliber.

On September 5th, Qin Chaoyu, Xing Weiyue, and Luo Chenshe, along with three Western medicine representatives—Rong Zhen’er, Si Liangxiao, and Gao Xiangfei—boarded a flight to the United States. Accompanying them were a team leader and a national TV reporter, the latter permitted by the competition organizers to document the event.