With only an hour to work with, and considering the complexity of the brain tumor, Lin Jie naturally didn't expect Tian Xiangyu, Lu Kaicheng, or Huo Guangheng to produce any brilliant surgical plans.

He just wanted to see how their minds worked.

After Lin Jie reviewed Zhang Xiaoyu's medical examination data, the three had each completed a surgical plan, presented as hand-drawn sketches penned with a ballpoint pen.

Picking up the first sketch, Lin Jie examined it carefully, then pondered before asking, "Dr. Lu, are you the lead surgeon in this plan you designed?"

"Naturally, it's me. I understand that this surgical plan for me is an almost impossible challenge!"

Lu Kaicheng further explained, "The patient's tumor is situated deep within the brain, making the surgery extremely difficult. I've conceived several tumor removal routes; none yield optimistic results."

"Only this plan, though extremely risky, offers a relatively better prognosis for the patient if successful."

Lin Jie softly remarked, "I didn't expect you're an adventurer at heart."

Lu Kaicheng chuckled, saying, "Not quite an adventurer. Actually, this surgical plan is a choice without a choice, essentially a desperate measure to keep the patient alive.

He inquired probing, "Dr. Lin, if you were the lead surgeon, what would the chances of success be?"

Lin Jie gently shook his head without answering, and picked up the second sketch.

If Lu Kaicheng's plan was adventurous, this sketch embodied stability, methodical and procedural.

Tian Xiangyu scratched his head and said sheepishly, "With my ability, the chance of the patient leaving the operating table alive with this plan is certainly zero."

"At the moment, I just can't think of a better way to remove this tumor."

He couldn't help but ask, "Dr. Lin, if you were the lead surgeon for this plan, what would the chances of success be?"

Lin Jie glared at him, huffed, "Are you all trying to assess me?"

"Who would dare? Certainly not!"

Tian Xiangyu stepped back lightly, standing aside as Lin Jie picked up the third sketch.

Upon seeing this drawing, Lin Jie's eyes lit up slightly.

The design concept of this sketch was roughly the same as his idea for treating the leader's father, removing only part of the tumor to extend the patient's life somewhat.

However, this surgical plan would still result in very severe collateral damage, and the surgery itself would not be easy.

"Teacher, the tumor's position is too deep, making it really hard to remove."

Huo Guangheng softly explained, "I was just thinking of how to extend the patient's life, even if only by a few more months. If they keep living, there's hope."

Lin Jie nodded slightly, putting down the sketch, his gaze sweeping across Lu Kaicheng, Tian Xiangyu, and Huo Guangheng's faces, "Dr. Lu, Tian Xiangyu, your surgical plans are equivalent to personally killing the patient."

"If you encounter such a situation in the future, it's best to persuade the patient to forego treatment."

He turned his gaze to Lu Kaicheng, warning, "When you have two or three parts certainty in your heart, only then can you tell the patient to perhaps take a chance. Because we all tend to overestimate our abilities."

"These two to three parts of certainty might actually just be one or two parts of success possibility."

Lin Jie said solemnly, "At the same time, in such situations, patients in despair will only hear the 'success' you speak of, automatically ignoring the minuscule possibilities you describe."

"They always think a miracle will happen to them."

"So, as doctors, don't give patients needless hope."

Tian Xiangyu and Huo Guangheng spoke in unison, "Yes, teacher!"

Lu Kaicheng also replied, "Hmm, I will pay attention to this in the future."

"Huo Guangheng's surgical plan, the possibility of successful implementation is relatively larger. But even if successful, it would only allow the patient to live in immense suffering for a year longer."

"Nonetheless, this plan is considered somewhat effective."

Lin Jie decided, "This time, the winner is Huo Guangheng. You two can also enter the operating room to observe the surgery."

Upon hearing this result, Lu Kaicheng wasn't much disappointed.

He lost fairly to Huo Guangheng, and being able to observe Lin Jie's surgery was also a rare learning opportunity.

Lu Kaicheng smiled, "Dr. Lin, share your surgical plan with us, let us learn and admire!"

Lin Jie stood up, "Alright, let me tell you..."

At five in the afternoon, Lin Jie led Lu Kaicheng, Tian Xiangyu, and Huo Guangheng to Zhang Xiaoyu's ward.

The eleven-year-old Zhang Xiaoyu, whose nickname is Xiaoxiao, had a pair of bright eyes full of vitality, and a pretty little face the size of a palm, making her unforgettable upon first sight.

When Lin Jie and the others arrived, Xiaoxiao, dressed in a hospital gown, was holding a fluffy little dog, lying in bed, chatting happily with her parents.

In the ward, Xiaoxiao's cheerful songs were playing.

Lin Jie surveyed the room and noticed many flowers, fruit baskets, and numerous plush toys.

"Expert Lin, you're here!"

"Honey, quickly wash some fruits for Expert Lin and the other doctors."

Zhang Xiaoyu's mother hurriedly stood up to greet them, asking her husband to busy himself, and explained, "These flowers, fruit baskets, and toys are gifts from Miss Xiaoxiao's fans. They are really enthusiastic."

"Thank you, but there's no need for fruits!"

Lin Jie declined Xiaoyu's parents' hospitality and continued, "I have reviewed Xiaoyu's medical data. Her condition is relatively good, and she can undergo surgery."

"I have scheduled her surgery for three o'clock tomorrow afternoon, but there are some matters we need to confirm with you first."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyu's parents grew a bit nervous and each held one of Xiaoyu's hands.

Lin Jie candidly said, "According to my surgical plan, there is a high possibility the surgery will affect four control centers of Xiaoyu's brain: the language control center, visual control center, emotional control center, and logical thinking center."

"Although it is harsh, I need you to choose which one of these four brain control centers you are willing to sacrifice."

Zhang's mother hesitantly asked, "Expert Lin, could you please explain this to us in detail?"

Lin Jie nodded and said, "The language control center, as the name suggests, controls our language expression. Damage here would cause aphasia."

"If the visual control center is damaged, it would mean blindness."

"The emotional control center manages our emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and grief. Damage to this area would make a person emotionally numb and unable to perceive familial, friendly, or romantic bonds."

"The logical thinking center governs speaking, reading, writing, calculating, arranging, classifying, verbal memory, and a sense of time, providing continuity, orderliness, and analytical functions."

"I won't elaborate on the consequences of damage to this part."

Zhang's father's lips trembled as he asked, "This, this, Expert Lin, must we really choose one out of the four?"

Lin Jie said no more and merely nodded lightly.

Immediately, Zhang's mother covered her face with her hands, tears streaming down, while Zhang's father also had reddened eyes, unable to speak.

Lu Kaicheng saw this and couldn't help but console, "Expert Lin's surgical plan can thoroughly remove Xiaoyu's brain tumor, allowing Xiaoyu to grow up smoothly."

"Compared to the long-term companionship Xiaoyu can have, the cost is still bearable."

Unlike her distraught parents, Xiaoyu remained relatively calm.

She glanced at her father and mother and spoke, "Dad, Mom, before, you were worried I might die. Now you only need to consider whether I might become mute, blind, an emotionless shell, or a fool."

"Isn't this a good thing?"

Zhang's mother wiped her tears while trying to smile, saying, "Right, right, it is a good thing. We no longer have to worry about you leaving us forever, Xiaoyu."

"Xiaoyu, this concerns your future life, you... you..."

Zhang's mother stuttered for a long time before gritting her teeth and asking, "Xiaoyu, how would you choose?"

At the moment of decision, Xiaoyu's breathing became rapid, and fine sweat appeared on her forehead.

After a long silence, she once again looked at her parents and finally fixed her gaze on Lin Jie, saying, "These months, Dad and Mom have worried a lot and aged a lot."

"I... don't want them to keep worrying about me in the future."

"I choose... I choose... to become mute!"

As she said this, Xiaoyu started to cry, "Sobbing... Becoming mute, though I won't be able to speak, I can take care of myself, and Mom and Dad won't have to worry too much about me, sobbing..."

Suddenly, Xiaoyu pleaded, "Expert brother, can you postpone the surgery a bit?"

"I want to sing; I want to say a lot of things. I want to record my voice, sobbing..."

Lin Jie sighed and said, "Okay! When you're ready, have the nurse inform me."

Having said this, he led Lu Kaicheng and the others out of the ward.

After walking a few steps away from the room, Huo Guangheng felt a lump in his throat and couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, is there really no way to avoid these collateral damages? She is only an eleven-year-old child, just one year older than my sister."

Lin Jie replied coldly, "Do you think I don't want to avoid it?"

"This is already the best surgical plan I could come up with over the past few days. Compared to having Xiaoyu die on the operating table, becoming mute is arguably the smallest price to pay."

Tian Xiangyu patted Huo Guangheng on the shoulder, saying, "When you truly become a doctor, you will find that you will encounter many such situations."

"Sometimes, you can only watch helplessly as patients die before your eyes."

"That feeling of helplessness, how to put it, alas..."

"You'll get used to it."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.