Chapter 270: Quiet Confidence and Hidden Currents

Having deep insight into life is its own kind of open-mindedness.

He’d led the cardiothoracic surgery department for years, always striving to nurture future successors. Sadly, hardly anyone could shoulder such a heavy mantle.

The department was packed with talented doctors and had a strong reputation, but what they lacked was a true leader.

Director Xueyan was certainly gifted, but growth took time. Especially in cardiothoracic and neurosurgery, training a top doctor took far longer than in other fields.

Right now she could handle some standard level-three and level-four surgeries and diagnose some difficult, complicated cases.

But to have her fully preside over most of the advanced level-four surgeries would take years more. For the highest difficulty surgeries, it could take over a decade—maybe even longer.

Besides her, there were a few young chief physicians and associate chiefs in the department with real skill, but they all needed time to mature too.

As for the veterans, most had already plateaued and their room for further growth was almost gone.

They could anchor the department, sure, but none would stand out as true trailblazers.

This was exactly why, last time Shangguan Yan from the Tuyu Affiliate Hospital messed up, even the main hospital had to scramble to protect his reputation. He’d been picked as the key figure for the digestive oncology specialty.

It’s easy to find a thousand soldiers, but a true general is a rare catch.

People like that are just too scarce.

Sacrificing one unimportant trainee—or even a few resident doctors’ reputations—would be worth it for such a talent.

Of course, times change.

Back then Zhou Can was weak, which is why Deputy Director Bai targeted him.

If things were different now, Deputy Director Bai wouldn’t dare. In fact, he’d try to help Zhou Can any way he could, since Bai represents the main hospital’s interests, and Shangguan Yan stands for the affiliate’s interests.

Now Deputy Director Bai had to take Zhou Can’s side.

And these days Zhou Can’s potential outshone even Shangguan Yan’s. If anyone tried to harm him now, every top leader at the main hospital would step up.

Zhou Can wouldn’t even need to say a word—Director Zhu and the others would take care of it.

That’s why hard work makes you stronger. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

After leaving the hospital with Dr. Hu Kan, Zhou Can felt a storm of emotions.

Hu Kan’s expectations for him were sky-high, and watching the doctor’s health decline made Zhou Can feel the weight on his own shoulders grow heavier.

Meanwhile, Dr. Feng from Anesthesiology wanted to teach him everything she knew and kept urging him to come learn.

Now even Chief Hu Kan from cardiothoracic surgery hoped to pass on all his skills too.

On top of his regular duties, Zhou Can still practiced the Rapid Surgical Technique and other entry-level surgical skills, plus carved out time for reading basic medical science to strengthen his foundation.

Sometimes even if the day had forty-eight hours, it wouldn’t be enough.

Having broken a sweat in surgery, the first thing he did after getting home was shower and change clothes, feeling instantly refreshed.

His phone buzzed twice. It was a message from Wei Fang.

Just two words: “It’s done.”

Zhou Can couldn’t help but smile. Whether Hu Wei would benefit from his custom-made ‘secret formula’ was still unclear.

He’d have to wait patiently for three days or more before the medicine really took effect.

For Zhou Can, Jin Yu Interactive was the key to financial freedom, while Su Qianqian was his girlfriend—likely his future wife.

Both were extremely important.

He wouldn’t let anyone mess with either one.

With his current strength, the only way he could beat a corporate shark like Hu Haikun was through clever tactics.

Hu Wei was the perfect breakthrough point.

The next morning, Zhou Can got to the hospital before seven, meeting the group. The hospital had rented a bus for everyone.

The bus sat quietly out in front of the main building.

Director Xin from the Medical Department was at the door himself, roster in hand, checking people in.

Every time someone boarded, he marked a check by their name.

“Dr. Zhou, bringing just one small travel bag? Traveling light, huh!”

Xin Wanshan greeted him with a laugh.

He’d practically watched Zhou Can grow step by step.

Their families even had some connection, so their relationship was always good.

“It’s just a week, nothing special to prepare. I’m heading up!”

Zhou Can didn’t want to hold up the line at the door with his bag.

A couple quick lines with Xin Wanshan was enough politeness.

“Alright! Got you checked off.”

Xin Wanshan made a check next to his name.

Once aboard, Zhou Can saw that plenty of doctors and nurses were already seated.

Some were familiar faces.

“Hey, Gao Jian! You’re joining this too?”

He and Gao Jian had always gotten along well.

Even if they were technically competitors.

Since they weren’t in the same department, it made it easier—they could act like old friends.

“Sigh, don’t even bring it up. I was supposed to rotate through General Surgery next, but Director Tan personally signed me up for this expert outpatient gig instead,” Gao Jian said with a look of protest.

He’d originally been assigned to Neurology.

Director Yin Hua was nowhere to be seen.

Which made sense. If you’re sending support to Xinxiang Maternity and Child Hospital, you wouldn’t send your top experts.

Tuyu Hospital still needed to function too.

Pulling one or two mid- and high-level specialists from each key department was more than enough.

It let these experts boost both their reputations while also helping Xinxiang. Win-win.

“Come on, don’t pretend you’re unhappy! Having Director Tan personally put you on the list means they’re investing in your future. Get it?” Zhou Can laughed.

“But now my surgery rotation is delayed by a week! And you know, when Sub-departments were being set up in General Surgery, you made a huge contribution and became a star over there. I lost sleep for two nights from jealousy. They say General is going to become the hospital’s new flagship!”

Gao Jian looked genuinely envious.

Looks like the whole hospital was up to speed with the latest gossip.

General Surgery had split into eight sub-departments, with results still to be seen.

But it set a trend that was bound to take off.

History rolls forward. Those who don’t adapt to the times are left behind.

Once General’s experiment succeeded, every department at Tuyu Hospital would jump to imitate it.

Things would get lively fast.

Even though Gao Jian was studying internal medicine, he had his eyes set on a surgical rotation—not just for surgical skills, but to get firsthand experience with all the changes, spot pros and cons, and pave the way for future reforms in Internal Medicine.

Even with his master’s degree from Imperial Capital Medical University, he wasn’t the obvious pick as internal medicine’s heir.

There would be plenty of candidates.

But by moving fast and getting into General Surgery early, he was adding a serious edge to his career.

When Internal Medicine split into sub-departments down the line, they’d want people with proven experience running them.

Which meant Gao Jian had a strong shot at heading one someday.

“I’m no star! It’s lucky I didn’t screw up in General Surgery. Anyway, I’ll catch you later. I’m going to find a seat in back.”

Zhou Can moved along the aisle, since two nurses behind him looked ready to start hurrying him.

Spotting an empty seat, he was about to sit down…

And realized it was next to Class Monitor Yang Chan.

He hadn’t seen her in over a year, and she was more stunning than ever. Her presence had shifted from gentle and reserved to confident, poised, and—well—a bit like a real young lady from a wealthy family.

Clearly her year and a half of training had paid off.

“Hey, Class Monitor!”

Zhou Can greeted her with a smile.

“Hey.”

Her tone toward him was just as cool and detached as before.

He didn’t mind. She’d always had his back when he hit real trouble.

Owing her made him naturally more considerate.

“Zhou, Zhou—this seat’s perfect for you! You and Yang Chan are classmates and both outstanding. You should chat more.” Director Zhang Bihua herself was team leader, sitting in the seat to the right.

Zhou Can had been so busy looking at Yang Chan, he hadn’t noticed Director Zhang at all.

“Hello Director Zhang! You look honestly great today. No wonder your students are just getting better and better.”

When Zhou Can complimented someone, he meant it.

“Heh, you have a real gift for sweet talk! Now stop standing around and get settled—you’re blocking the aisle!” Director Zhang urged him along.

Maybe because Yang Chan had twice begged director Zhang to help Zhou Can out in the past, Zhang Bihua still thought they made a perfect couple.

Yang Chan blushed and glanced his way, but didn’t say anything. Instead, she shifted over in her seat.

It couldn’t be clearer—she was inviting Zhou Can to sit beside her.

He stowed his bag overhead and sat down.

A light, pleasant fragrance tickled his nose.

Class Monitor had never worn perfume before. People really do change.

Lots of rural girls, after a few years in a big city, transform completely—just like the most glamorous city girls.

Looking fashionable and beautiful was a natural human urge.

Scientists have run experiments: give a baby two flowers, one plain and one colorful, and the baby always reaches for the prettier one.

Loving beauty is just human nature.

No wonder she seemed so changed—more beautiful, more confident.

Work had brought her into contact with stylish colleagues, and she’d learned how to show her best side.

“Your perfume smells amazing! Is this an American brand?” Zhou Can asked with a grin.

“You can tell? I bet you’ve bought perfume for more than one girl before.” She seemed to accept it.

“You judge people the same way you did as class monitor—conviction without evidence, pure imagination! Okay, sure, I was a bit of a flirt. Pretty girls always caught my eye.”

But in college, the only girl he ever truly liked was the class monitor—and she’d just never noticed him.

Eventually, he buried himself in his studies.

“Of course. Rich boys like you—don’t tell me you haven’t dated at least a dozen girls?” She shot him a teasing glance, holding onto her theory.

But it sounded more like she was fishing for info.

“All through college, I only wrote two love letters, both to you—and you threw them out after class. Never wrote another to anyone else. Back in high school I wanted to try dating, but was too scared of getting expelled.”

He felt a rush of nostalgia for the simple days of student life.

In high school, his deskmate was the one he wanted to pursue, but the rules were so strict he never dared write even a single confession.

After starting college in clinical medicine, there weren’t many girls in the program to begin with.

And of those, only Yang Chan had looks and character.

“Serves you right! Maybe if you spent less time daydreaming, you’d have gotten better grades.”

Yang Chan laughed, covering her mouth.

“Hey, I heard you excelled in a bunch of departments. Tell me more!”

After laughing, she arched her elegant brows, looking expectant.

Her eyes shone with curiosity.

“It’s all been exaggerated. It’s true though, my instructors did scold me a lot.”

Zhou Can never liked bragging about his achievements.

He firmly believed in keeping a low profile.

Modesty is not just a virtue, but a form of self-protection.

Kids who learn to be humble go further.

“Hmph, if you’re not going to talk, fine! Everyone knows there’s a genius trainee called Zhou Can—word is, even Dr. Du Leng, the top international PhD, was outperformed by you.”

She sure was well informed.

“Ahem…”

Speak of the devil.

Du Leng had clearly overheard, walking onto the bus with a blank expression and heading their way.

Yang Chan looked a little embarrassed and stuck her tongue out. Whispering, she said, “I think he heard that. But it’s true—you are better than him.”

If he didn’t know her so well, he’d have wondered if she was trying to paint a target on his back.

Didn’t she see how unhappy Du Leng already looked?

Keeping the topic going would just make things worse.

Even with her low voice, Du Leng was sharp enough to guess what was said from her expression.

Sure enough, his scowl deepened.

“Hello, Director Zhang!”

As Du Leng passed, he greeted Director Zhang Bihua directly.

On the way in, he’d nodded at several associate chiefs and chief physicians, but only treated Director Zhang with full respect.

You couldn’t blame him—his credentials gave him the right to be proud.

“Dr. Du, you’re representing the Neurosurgery Department this time?”

Director Zhang smiled.

“Yes! I was just promoted to attending, so Director Xie sent me here to learn from you.”

Without waiting for an invite, Du Leng sat in the seat behind Director Zhang.

“With your overseas doctorate and a year of hands-on training at Tuyu, I bet you’re a real powerhouse already. All we can do is learn together. I wouldn’t dare say I’ll be teaching you anything.”

Director Zhang was very polite to Du Leng.

With Zhou Can, it was heartfelt warmth and affection. With Du Leng, it was all respectful formality, treating him as a peer instead of a junior.

PhD holders weren’t rare at Tuyu, but an overseas top university doctorate? Only Du Leng.

He truly was elite talent.

The hospital valued him highly.

Unless something went awry, he was set to become a major figure at Tuyu in the future—especially if he led a strong team and launched innovative projects.

That’s why he only nodded to the other chiefs and acted so self-assured.

Soon, every doctor and nurse for the expert outpatient mission had assembled.

The only one missing was a nurse out sick; otherwise, all twenty-seven were present.

With that much staff, you could almost open a hospital by yourself.

It showed just how much support Tuyu was giving Xinxiang.

The bus rolled out from the hospital gate, hit the road, and sped toward Xinxiang Hospital.

In their seats, Yang Chan would chat with Zhou Can from time to time.

He could tell she wasn’t nearly as distant as before—a first for her.

Maybe she’d just matured, or maybe his reputation at Tuyu had grown enough to earn her respect.