Zhuang Shilei's third surgery, like the previous two, also lasted two days.

Lin Jie spent all of Friday extracting the nerve fibers from the dermis for use.

Saturday's surgery mainly involved transplanting these nerve fibers, as well as muscle fibers.

After two successful surgeries, Zhuang Shilei's left cheek was much fuller and plumper, and this third surgery served to fill in the gaps.

At the same time, to allow for precise cosmetic adjustments in six months, Lin Jie left some room for adjustments with the muscle fiber transplant this time.

The surgery on Saturday started at nine in the morning and continued until ten at night.

When Lin Jie put down the surgical instruments and stepped back from the operating table, Chen Shi, Tao Taqing, Yao Siyuan, and Song Licheng all wore expressions of excitement.

Given the success of the first two surgeries, the success of this one was also anticipated.

This indicated that the research project had entered its final phase.

Yao Siyuan approached the operating table, took Lin Jie's place, and began to suture the skin on Zhuang Shilei's left cheek.

The door of the operating room blocked Lin Jie's departing figure, and the atmosphere inside suddenly relaxed.

Chen Shi smiled and asked, "Old Tao, how's the preparation of the final report going?"

"Just missing some data from this surgery. In seven days, I'll compile the surgery data and some imaging data, and the final report will be complete."

Tao Taqing said excitedly, "Old Chen, estimate for us, what are the chances of our research results winning this year's Ministry of Health Medical Award?"

The sparkle in Chen Shi's eyes grew brighter, but he said with some restraint, "The quota is limited and the threshold for the medical award is high, so it might be challenging!"

"But, at the very least, we should be awarded a Medical Progress or Innovation Award!"

Tao Taqing couldn't help but laugh, saying, "That's my estimation too. At least this time, we won't come back empty-handed!"

He lamented, "We suffered because of time constraints!"

"If only we had an additional three or four months, we could publish several more papers in domestic and international journals and hold one or two seminars to build momentum. Winning a major medical award would be a real possibility!"

Chen Shi scoffed, giving him a sidelong glance, "Isn't it you who's eager to build your momentum? We could easily defer the project results to the next year's applications."

"Old Tao, by the way, how confident are you in securing the director position this time?"

"Before, my confidence was only about 40-60, more failure than success!"

Tao Taqing said without humility, "But now, with this project, in addition to gaining honor, it will also bring considerable short-term and long-term benefits to Donghua Hospital!"

"So, as for the director position..."

Chen Shi, unable to stand his smugness, said, "Don't get overconfident; your rivals aren't pushovers and have plenty of resources at their disposal too."

Tao Taqing disdainfully said, "Those guys? They're just good at maneuvering up and down, without much real skill."

While the two were speaking, Yao Siyuan and Song Licheng finished up the follow-up work.

Nurses took the anesthetized and unconscious Zhuang Shilei back to her ward, and as Tao Taqing and the others exited the operating room, they headed to the prep room to change clothes.

"Dean Tao!"

Just out of the operating room, Tao Taqing saw his student and confidant, Dr. Jiang, approaching with a worried expression.

Feeling a twinge of unease, he asked worriedly, "Xiao Jiang, have you been waiting here for me? Is there something important?"

Dr. Jiang hesitated for a moment and said, "This afternoon, there was an emergency board meeting. The old director proposed to retire early due to poor health!"

Tao Taqing frowned, saying, "So, the director election will start earlier? Did the board meeting set a time for the election?"

"The time has been set!"

Dr. Jiang glanced at Tao Taqing's face and said softly, "The director election will begin next Monday, and the selection will be finalized on Friday!"

"What?"

Tao Taqing's face changed dramatically, and he asked loudly, "Is this true?"

Dr. Jiang nodded heavily, saying, "Yes, it's true! A notification email has already been sent to the entire hospital, along with official documents."

Tao Taqing immediately understood what was happening and couldn't help but curse, "Damn those bastards, playing dirty. They're afraid I'll crush them with the project's momentum..."

When a sliver of morning sunlight touched the bedroom, Lin Jie slowly opened his eyes.

He didn't get up immediately but carefully assessed the state of his body.

Despite recovering overnight after two consecutive long surgeries, he still felt the fatigue physically and mentally.

But, he had a scheduled vocal cord surgery today.

Lin Jie evaluated himself and felt that in his current condition, completing a minor surgery lasting just over an hour wouldn't be an issue.

He turned over and got out of bed, first doing some exercises to loosen up his stiff muscles, then took a hot shower, and finally changed into clean clothes before leaving the bedroom.

What surprised Lin Jie immensely was that he saw an unexpected guest in the living room!

Looking at his bloodshot eyes, extremely haggard face, and slightly disheveled hair, a worried Lin Jie urgently asked, "Dean Tao, did something happen to Zhuang Shilei?"

"She's fine, recovering quite well after the surgery!"

After calming Lin Jie's emotions, Tao Taqing sighed and said, "I came here because of my own issues!"

As long as it wasn't a problem with Zhuang Shilei's surgery!

Feeling relieved, Lin Jie took a cup of warm water handed over by Zhang Xiaoxiao and drank it all at once before saying, "Dean Tao, did something happen? By the looks of it, you seem to have not slept all night!"

"Lying in bed, I couldn't sleep at all, so I figured I might as well think through some things in the study!"

Tao Taqing took a sip of strong tea and continued, "I've figured some things out and made some decisions, and I feel it's necessary to tell you first!"

A puzzled Lin Jie asked, "Oh, what exactly happened? It seems like you've been hit quite hard!"

"It's a blow that made me thoroughly sad and disappointed!"

Immediately, Tao Taqing told Lin Jie about the dean election at Donghua Hospital that was scheduled during yesterday's board meeting.

He lamented, "A few competitors conspired, offering benefits to urge the old dean to retire early and called for an emergency board meeting. In the end, it's nothing. This can be considered a not-so-upright competitive tactic!"

"If I think about it from their perspective, perhaps I would also take such a drastic measure!"

"What chills me is the result of the board's vote! Out of fifteen directors, two voted against, one abstained, and twelve passed it."

Tao Taqing shook his head, revealing a smile uglier than crying, "Only two votes against, just two!"

"These two votes might not even be because of me—they might have opposed for other reasons."

"Thinking about me, Tao Taqing, working hard at Donghua Hospital for more than twenty years, I thought I'd devoted myself deeply to the hospital. I didn't expect it to end up so poorly!"

He said angrily, "These people clearly know that the project in my hands would bring quite a bit of honor to the hospital, not to mention real profit, yet they still voted this way..."

Seeing Tao Taqing's 'the world has wronged me' expression, Lin Jie thought to himself, "Maybe you should reflect on whether there's something improper in how you deal with people?"

Of course, Lin Jie wouldn't say this aloud. Instead, he asked, "You mentioned you've made some decisions?"

Tao Taqing nodded heavily, saying, "In such a situation, it's absolutely impossible for me to win the dean election."

"If I'm not staying here, there will be somewhere else to go. I've already inquired, and after Daniel Li left Tongren Hospital West Branch unexpectedly, their dean position is still vacant, and they're interested in me too."

"So, I've decided to accept their invitation to become the dean of Tongren Hospital West Branch!"

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

Lin Jie cupped his hands and said, "When trees move, they die; when people move, they thrive. With your capability, Dean Tao, I'm sure you will shine brilliantly in a new environment!"

"I hope so!"

At this point, Tao Taqing showed an embarrassed expression, saying, "Since I've agreed to be the dean of Tongren Hospital West Branch, the results of this project will naturally no longer stay with Donghua Hospital..."

"You can take the project's results away?" Lin Jie couldn't help but interject, asking suspiciously!

Tao Taqing nodded, giving a cold snort, and said, "At that time, they tried to jam me with no funding for the project, so I had to advance the funds myself. When signing the agreement, I made sure to cover myself."

"A separate clause is listed in the agreement."

"If due to Party A's reasons or Party B's reasons, the project funds advanced by Party B cannot be reimbursed or redeemed by Party A, then the research results of the project are fully at the discretion of Party B, and Party A must not interfere!"

Hearing this, Lin Jie suddenly understood, thinking to himself that this veteran truly deserved respect; he handled matters more comprehensively and meticulously than himself.

"In my situation, I ought to transfer the project's results to you or Anlin Hospital, but..."

Tao Taqing pleaded, "I'm going to be the dean of Tongren Hospital West Branch and need this project's results to support the position and use the subsequent benefits of this project's results to win over some doctors to gain sufficient say."

"So, Lin Jie, what do you think..."

Lin Jie considered for a moment and said, "Regarding the subsequent benefits of this project, didn't you sign an agreement with An Kexin earlier?"

"This agreement will still be honored, and Anlin Hospital will absolutely not suffer any losses!" Tao Taqing promised!

Lin Jie nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I have no objections!"

"Thank you! Thank you!"

Tao Taqing was full of gratitude, saying, "The Han Family has money, and I will explain in detail this project's results, the future honor and benefits it will bring, and your role in it!"

"I believe the Han Family will offer a fair price to compensate for your loss."

After sending off Tao Taqing, Lin Jie had breakfast and headed to the Affiliated Hospital to perform Shao Deyao's vocal cord surgery.

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