After exchanging knowing smiles, the five of them turned their gaze toward Qin Chaoyu.
Stanley Derek, observing the silent communication between the five, quickly realized that the key lay with this young woman. He then looked at Qin Chaoyu expectantly.
Qin Chaoyu had no choice but to respond: “Our secret lies in traditional Chinese medicine. TCM employs four diagnostic methods—observation, listening and smelling, inquiry, and palpation. What I used was ‘observation.’ As the name suggests, it involves looking. But what exactly do we observe? We examine the patient’s facial features, using the naked eye to assess their external vitality, complexion, form, and posture, as well as bodily excretions such as phlegm, pus, and blood, to deduce the illness. The greatest advantage of this method is that it quickly provides the practitioner with a clue—what the patient’s condition might be. Subsequent diagnoses can then revolve around this initial observation or hypothesis, allowing for faster assessments and saving precious time in treatment.”
Stanley Derek listened, half-understanding. On the surface, it sounded as though this young girl could diagnose illnesses just by looking at someone’s face. While it seemed miraculous, wasn’t it a bit too far-fetched? If illnesses could be diagnosed this way, wouldn’t modern medical diagnostic equipment be rendered a joke? Skeptical, Stanley voiced his doubts outright.
Faced with sharp criticism, Qin Chaoyu smiled calmly and replied, “I never claimed that. Modern medical instruments play an equally indispensable role. Not every practitioner can accurately diagnose a patient through observation alone—misdiagnoses can easily occur, which could be fatal for the patient. But these medical devices don’t lie.”
Stanley Derek laughed heartily, acknowledging Qin Chaoyu’s point. Then, with a slight bow, he gestured for the six of them to rest first, like a true gentleman.
The other teams weren’t as fortunate. Without Qin Chaoyu’s seemingly supernatural abilities, they had to rely on answering questions to obtain clues and locate patients—a much slower process. To speed up and complete the task as quickly as possible, they didn’t dare walk, sprinting nonstop instead. Under the scorching sun, their clothes were drenched in sweat, and only after sunset did they get a slight reprieve—though that also meant the deadline was fast approaching.
When time was up, at least half of the teams had failed to complete the task—an outcome well within the organizers’ expectations, and indeed, their intention. Increasing the difficulty meant more excitement and a better showcase of the contestants’ abilities.
Thus, no matter how much the participants complained about the challenge, the organizers remained aloof, offering neither explanations nor consolation to those who failed.
That said, while the organizers were cold, they weren’t heartless. They didn’t announce the results immediately, allowing the exhausted contestants to rest and recover overnight. Whether this left them even more anxious was beyond the organizers’ concern.
Given how grueling the previous day had been, most contestants slept in until nearly 11 a.m. the next day. The organizers had anticipated this, scheduling the assembly for the afternoon.
At 2 p.m., standing at the forefront of the gathered contestants, Stanley Derek raised a microphone, scanned the crowd, and lifted a sheet of paper. “I assume you all know what this is? I won’t waste words—I’ll announce the results directly. Only the top three will be named, as they deserve this honor and praise. The rest of you will have to check your rankings on the official website later.”
“First place: China. Second place: Japan. Third place: America.” Stanley paused briefly before adding, “The Chinese team is the undisputed champion. Even I was astonished by their speed. When you check the website later, I guarantee you’ll be shocked.”
His cryptic remark left the other contestants torn between curiosity and disdain. However, with Stanley still present, they refrained from voicing any sarcastic remarks.
Unconcerned with their reactions, Stanley continued, “Envious? Jealous? Then work harder and prove your worth. The weak don’t deserve the spotlight. Next time, I hope to announce your names with pride.”
Admittedly, his words ignited a competitive fire in most contestants, especially those who had failed this round—they were eager for the next challenge to begin immediately.
Of course, that wasn’t possible. After this round, the organizers allowed the contestants to rest, with the next competition scheduled a week later.
While the contestants relaxed, the organizers grew busier. This time, they weren’t just changing the competition format and content—they were also altering the broadcasting method. Previously, the entire event was recorded and aired afterward, but now it would be broadcast live as the competition unfolded.
After a rushed production, the show was released. Thanks to deep-pocketed investors, it aired on America’s highest-rated TV channel at 9 p.m. on Friday—prime relaxation time for most viewers.
Beyond America, the show was also broadcast in nine other countries, including China, South Korea, Japan, and France, though air times varied slightly.
After the premiere, the organizers were on edge—especially producer Anthony Lance. With so much money invested, if the show failed, not only would his reputation suffer, but he might also lose his position.
As he awaited the ratings, Anthony couldn’t help but regret accepting the project just for the paycheck. Yet, recalling the hefty sum deposited into his account, he couldn’t bring himself to regret it entirely. After all, as a true American, he believed anything was possible with enough money. It was a bittersweet feeling.
Just as Anthony was anxiously waiting, a call came in from the TV station. “Mr. Lance, I must say—you’ve created another miracle.”
Hearing this, Anthony knew the ratings were good. He exhaled in relief, his confidence returning. “Thank you for the praise. Judging by your tone, I take it the ratings exceeded expectations?”
“Hahaha, absolutely! This is a huge surprise—*Medical Challenge* reached 10 million viewers. For a show that isn’t purely entertainment-focused, that’s an incredible number. Post-broadcast surveys also showed an 80% approval and anticipation rate. This show is a success!”
“Wow, that’s fantastic news. I guess I bet right,” Anthony replied, genuinely surprised by the numbers. But no matter how miraculous the ratings were, they only solidified his reputation as a producer who could turn anything into gold. Let the naysayers who mocked him for taking on a “boring” medical show see—for him, nothing was impossible.
The successful premiere not only relieved the organizers but also the TV station, which had taken a risk airing the show in such a prime slot. A flop would have been hard to justify, especially given internal politics.
Meanwhile, on a Chinese video-sharing platform, things were buzzing. Someone had clipped and uploaded the segment where Qin Chaoyu and her team swiftly diagnosed patients.
Netizens, always drawn to the novel and extraordinary, were especially enthusiastic since Qin Chaoyu’s team had brought glory to their country. The video quickly sparked heated discussions.
Within days, the screen was flooded with so many comments that the footage was barely visible. Some playful remarks even made it seem like a cult gathering.
“Every time I see this, it feels unreal—can ‘observation diagnosis’ really work like that?”
“Someone’s clearly uninformed. As one of TCM’s four major diagnostic methods, it’s still widely used by experienced practitioners. It’s even a mandatory subject in some TCM universities. At its core, it’s just statistics—not some mystical art.”
“Good explanation, but you missed one thing: while every TCM student learns observation, not every practitioner masters it. Misdiagnoses are easy to make. Given Qin Chaoyu’s speed and accuracy, only veteran doctors with decades of experience could match her.”
“So… this *is* basically magic! Wow, I have an exam tomorrow—gotta pray to this for good luck! No failing, please!”
“Me too! Bless me with a boyfriend ASAP!”
…
The hype wasn’t limited to video platforms—even on Weibo, discussions about Qin Chaoyu and *Medical Challenge* trended multiple times.
One hashtag even held the top spot for a considerable duration.
This was genuine popularity, not artificially inflated.
Of course, the heavy promotional investment beforehand played a significant role in its viral success.
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