On Monday morning, while Lin Jie was giving a lecture, he suddenly noticed Dr. Chang Kaixin quietly entering from the back door of the small auditorium and sitting down in one of the empty seats at the back.

Lin Jie didn't think that he came specifically to listen to his lecture.

He checked the time and realized it was almost break time, so he announced a fifteen-minute break.

Sure enough, Lin Jie saw Chang Kaixin moving against the flow of people heading out, walking along the aisle towards him.

When he got closer, Lin Jie asked, "Dr. Chang, is there something unexpected or unusual about the patient's condition?"

Chang Kaixin rubbed his hands a few times and awkwardly said, "Expert Lin, it's not the patient's condition, it's... it's... the patient and family don't agree to change the main surgeon."

"Why?" Lin Jie was quite puzzled.

Recently, many people have asked through various channels for Lin Jie to be the main surgeon.

But because these surgeries weren't particularly challenging, he had politely declined them all.

Unexpectedly, the surgery he actively wanted to take on was rejected by the patient.

Chang Kaixin felt even more embarrassed and hesitated for a bit before saying, "The patient's family said that if the surgical results are similar, they'd have to pay nearly double if you were the main surgeon, and they think it's not worth it."

This was a version toned down by Chang Kaixin.

Because what the patient's family actually said was somewhat unpleasant, almost accusing the hospital of changing the main surgeon temporarily just to squeeze more money out of the patient, suspecting potential overtreatment.

Lin Jie then remembered that as a specially appointed expert, his fee standards are one or two times higher than the hospital's regular experts.

He inquired further, "Is the patient from a low-income family? Do you know exactly how much it would cost for me to perform this surgery?"

Chang Kaixin shook his head and said, "Probably not. They are staying in a single room, not a regular multi-bed room."

The hospital offers six-person, three-person, and double rooms as ordinary rooms, as well as single rooms, luxury rooms, and VIP suites, allowing patients to choose based on their financial capability.

This patient staying in a single room indicates they are financially stable and should be able to afford the surgery costs.

Chang Kaixin continued, "According to the pre-payment forms from the hospital's finance department, if you were the main surgeon, they'd need to pre-pay 160,000, whereas if Dr. Yu was the main surgeon, they'd need to pre-pay 90,000..."

Lin Jie felt a bit frustrated internally.

Just yesterday, he was sarcastically complaining that patients, circumstances permitting, would even want specialists for things like colds and fevers, only to be proven wrong today.

For such a complex surgery, the patient actually rejected him, a proven surgical expert, due to the cost.

"This... this..."

Chang Kaixin hesitated again before saying, "Dr. Yu, this guy, how should I put it, tends to have a habit of bragging."

"I guess he must have boasted about being confident in this particular surgery in front of the patient, which misled the patient and their family, hence leading them to make the wrong choice."

"Expert Lin, I'm really sorry."

"Dr. Yu is also frustrated with the patient's choice and insistence, but he..."

Lin Jie raised his hand to stop Chang Kaixin and smiled lightly, "It's alright, the hospital receives so many different types of patients every day, anything can happen."

"Besides, this seven to eight thousand difference isn't small change for an average family, so it's understandable why the patient chose this way."

"I won't be upset over this matter."

"Please also convey to Dr. Yu not to overthink and to do his best in completing this surgery."

Chang Kaixin felt even more ashamed of Lin Jie's attitude.

He originally wanted to take this opportunity to build a relationship with Lin Jie, possibly assist in the surgery, or at least observe and learn in the operating room.

But unexpectedly, things turned out this way, making him slightly annoyed with his old friend.

Doesn't he know his own level, will he die if he doesn't brag?

For such a complicated surgery, he definitely can't do it alone; he must invite colleagues from neurosurgery, orthopedics, and plastic surgery for a joint operation.

With multiple people working together, the risks greatly increase, and the postoperative results may not meet ideal expectations.

At the same time, Chang Kaixin was also dissatisfied with the patient's stubbornness and lack of insight.

They really have a persecution complex; this is such a good opportunity, they will never understand what they have truly missed.

In such a complex major surgery, even a one percent difference in surgical outcomes can, over the long journey of life, expand to ten percent, or even dozens, severely affecting life expectancy.

He hoped that the patient wouldn't regret their decision vehemently after the surgery.

Suppressing his wild thoughts, Chang Kaixin sincerely said, "Thank you, Expert Lin, for your understanding. On behalf of Dr. Yu and myself, I apologize once again."

"Expert Lin, I won't disturb your rest and lecture any longer..."

Lin Jie felt quite helpless about the situation.

After Chang Kaixin left, he immediately called An Kexin to tell her that the surgery was canceled and why, asking her to promptly notify the doctor they had contacted, so they wouldn't make a wasted trip.

After hanging up the phone, Lin Jie went to the restroom and took a short break.

Just as he was about to start lecturing, his phone rang again; it was a call from An Kexin.

"Ah Jie, when I informed them of the surgery cancellation, they told me that their hospital coincidentally has a similar patient. They said if you don't mind, they could accompany this patient to Binhai."

Lin Jie was delighted and quickly replied, "Of course, there's no problem at all..."

He then remembered the issue of surgery costs and said, "Kexin, you need to remind them that having surgery at the Affiliated Hospital might be considerably more expensive than at their place."

"I hope they're prepared for it mentally and can afford it..."

After lunch, Lin Jie returned to the Medical College office to review the new patient's information.

Seeing it, Lin Jie couldn't help but be pleased.

The condition of this patient was not much different from the previous one, which saved him a lot of time planning the surgery.

However, this patient was a sixteen-year-old girl, with a vascular malformation tumor in the middle-left side of her face, and the tumor was larger than the previous one, with a maximum diameter exceeding seventeen centimeters...

Around seven in the evening, Lin Jie, along with students Xiao Ganghao and Ma Hongmin, met the young patient Ni Ni, her parents, and Dr. Shao Ruiyue, who accompanied them, at the Affiliated Hospital as they got out of An Kexin's car.

Lin Jie had already reviewed Dr. Shao's profile.

Thirty-nine years old, obtained a master's degree at twenty-four from Yunan University Medical School, and a doctorate at twenty-seven from Jingcheng University Medical School, currently serving as a deputy chief doctor at a top-tier hospital in Yunan province.

Meeting him now, Lin Jie's first impression was that he looked like a gentle scholar.

About 1.7 meters tall, thin, pale complexion, wearing rimless glasses.

Introduced by An Kexin, Lin Jie got acquainted with the patient and Dr. Shao.

"Expert Lin, Dr. Shao says you're very capable, so I entrust my child to you."

With a heavy hometown accent, Ni's father said, "Our family didn't have money before, so we had to delay her treatment. Now that our home has been demolished, we have money. Please, Expert Lin, cure her. No matter the cost."

"We have money now."

Lin Jie smiled gently and said, "I will do my best."

He instructed, "Xiao Ganghao, Ma Hongmin, take the patient to complete the admission procedures. Plan the examinations for tonight and tomorrow, ensuring everything is done in time for Wednesday morning's surgery."

"Yes, teacher!"

Xiao Ganghao and Ma Hongmin responded in unison and led Ni Ni and her parents to the inpatient building.

At this time, An Kexin spoke up, "Dr. Shao, I've arranged your accommodation. Let's have a simple meal with Dr. Lin first, and then we'll take you to the hotel to rest. How does that sound?"

Slightly reluctant to look at An Kexin, Shao Ruiyue replied softly, "Okay... okay, no objections, whatever you arrange!"

Observing his behavior, Lin Jie thought to himself, a very introverted and shy person indeed.

He directly asked, "Dr. Shao, is Ni Ni your patient?"

Shao Ruiyue pushed his glasses lightly and nodded, saying softly, "Kind of... She was admitted by the plastic surgery department, and they called me and several orthopedic doctors for a consultation."

"Ni Ni's case... is quite complex. We haven't come up with a suitable surgical plan yet."

Shao Ruiyue glanced at Lin Jie, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Expert Lin, I've listened to your lecture recordings and found them very enlightening."

"I also have a pretty familiar Ph.D. alumnus working at this hospital who has told me about some of your surgeries."

"I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to observe and learn."

His face reddened, and he said softly, "Um, perhaps 'steal' would be a more appropriate term..."

Lin Jie couldn't help but smile; this fellow was rather honest and adorable.

He further inquired, "Regarding Ni Ni's surgery, could you talk about the part you're responsible for?"

"Oh, sure."

After a moment of contemplation, Shao Ruiyue softly said, "My idea is to separate the olfactory nerve before removing the malformation tumor..."

Lin Jie noted that as Shao Ruiyue explained further, he shed his previous shyness and unfamiliarity, his eyes began to shine, and his face showed confidence and radiance, accompanied by more gestures.

He somewhat understood that this was someone deeply immersed in the world of medicine.

As Lin Jie analyzed his surgical plan, he found several parts in agreement with his thoughts.

Seeing An Kexin subtly glancing at him, Lin Jie nodded slightly, using lip movements to silently tell her: "Quite a good fellow, worth recruiting!"

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