Chapter 55: A Misinterpreted Inspection

“Hasn’t Dr. Zhou had enough of the view?”

A trace of irritation flickered across Su Qianqian’s stunning face.

“Well, Miss Su, with looks that beautiful, one could never tire of looking. And if you could roll up your pant leg for me to see, that’d be even better.” Zhou Can nodded earnestly.

Dr. Xu, having admired the student a bit too long, found it hard to keep watching.

This is a hospital, after all. How could doctors behave by teasing a female patient?

“Zhou, watch your influence!”

Dr. Xu reminded him firmly, his face set in disapproval.

Nurse Tang Ling’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. Dr. Zhou’s behavior was downright outrageous.

Jin Mingxi looked on with sympathy—truly, even heroes sometimes fall before the charm of a beauty!

Even a doctor as competent as Zhou Can eventually succumb to the allure of this celebrity’s beauty.

Su Qianqian glared at Zhou Can in disgust, her gracious demeanor barely containing her anger without resorting to insults.

Instead, she stood up and expressed her gratitude to Dr. Xu, “Dr. Xu, thank you for performing my surgery. I have other matters to attend to, so I must be off.”

Everyone could tell that Zhou Can’s flippant remarks had deeply upset her.

“Wait! Even if Miss Su doesn’t want me to see your leg, please do take a urine test!” Zhou Can’s expression turned even more serious.

Su Qianqian nearly fainted from anger.

She had never encountered someone so shameless.

She tolerated Zhou Can’s leering looks and his crude remarks, but she hadn’t expected him to overstep by demanding a urine test.

Her ears immediately translated his words into another meaning.

An insult.

“You filthy pervert! Having scum like you in the medical field is a true tragedy! A disgrace!”

Her face flushed a deep red, her bright eyes burning with fury.

“Miss Su, please don’t be upset. I was merely scrutinizing your neck. I suggested the urine test for your own good.”

Having been called a pervert by her, Zhou Can felt as wronged as if he were a martyr.

He had only been complimenting her beauty with a touch of humor in his first response.

After all, she truly was breathtaking; one could never tire of admiring her.

“For my good? Making a girl take a pee test—what’s depraved about that? Explain to me how that’s for my benefit.”

Had she not been a public figure, she wouldn’t have wanted to escalate the issue.

But she was determined to report this disreputable doctor.

Her recent collapse on stage had already thrust her into the limelight—what bad luck!

Who would have thought that a minor surgery would land her in the path of such a repulsive doctor?

“I noticed a stark contrast in skin tone between your neck and the area below your collarbone. At first, I thought it was a tan, but upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem like it. Your face and neck are fair and radiant, yet below the collarbone, your skin is darker with no luster. I later discovered the reason.”

Zhou Can explained his reasoning earnestly.

“Go on!”

Su Qianqian’s anger subsided a bit.

The others also wore expressions of thoughtful concern.

Only then did they realize that they might have misunderstood Zhou Can.

“May I ask, have you used any cosmetic products to enhance your neck and face?”

Zhou Can had never used makeup himself, but he was well aware of its power.

Freckles, blemishes—everything can be covered. Makeup can even turn dull skin into a fair, enchanting canvas.

Finding her privacy exposed, Su Qianqian’s eyes flickered with a hint of panic.

She raised her right hand and, out of habit, casually swept her hair away from her forehead to hide her embarrassment.

“Um… yes, I do use some cosmetics. Most girls can’t go without them,” she admitted, trying to preserve her delicate dignity.

She didn’t want people to think her beauty was merely an artifact of makeup.

“That’s not what I meant. I actually think it’s great for girls to use makeup. But when I noticed your skin looked rather dull, from a professional medical standpoint, I had reason to suspect your kidneys might be compromised. Symptoms like unexplained leg itching, swelling, strange-smelling urine, or abnormal urination could be indicators.”

After Zhou Can’s explanation, everyone realized that his gaze wasn’t merely fixed on a beautiful face.

He had actually detected a potential hidden kidney issue in this celebrity, and out of concern, he urged a urine test.

Instead, he was branded a pervert.

“Well, sometimes my legs do get inexplicably itchy. I don’t think there’s any swelling though,” she said while raising her pant leg with her right hand.

Her slim, fair leg was now on display for everyone.

“There’s a slight swelling already. You really need to get a urine test to check your kidneys.”

After examining her leg, Zhou Can pressed on it. It was soft and yielding; the imprint would take quite some time to fade.

He was at least 90% sure that her leg was indeed swollen.

“Ah… Is it really that serious?”

By now, Su Qianqian had nearly stopped doubting Zhou Can.

Yet, his youth made it hard for her to fully trust his medical expertise.

“Swelling, unexplained itching, and a dark, dull skin tone could indeed indicate kidney issues. Miss Su, you must take this seriously—the sooner it’s detected, the sooner it can be treated. If it progresses to a later stage, the kidney damage becomes irreversible.”

Dr. Xu emphasized the severity with a stern expression.

At this point, Su Qianqian no longer harbored doubts.

Before coming here, Director Xu had surely informed her of Dr. Xu’s exceptional skills.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have waited for several hours just to have Dr. Xu perform her suturing.

“I’ll do as you say and get a urine test right away!”

She then cast an embarrassed glance toward Zhou Can.

“Dr. Zhou, I misunderstood you earlier. I’m sorry for any offense caused. Please forgive me!”

She bowed deeply to Zhou Can.

In doing so, she inadvertently tugged at the wound on her left arm, her face contorting briefly in pain.

The anesthesia shouldn’t have worn off so quickly, yet touching the wound still caused discomfort.

After all, a brachial plexus block is never as effective as general or spinal anesthesia.

“Careful, careful with your hand. Our teacher worked so hard on the suturing—don’t you dare rip it open.” Zhou Can quickly helped her, though having just been called a pervert, he dared not fully support her body.

Seeing Zhou Can’s clumsy, flustered efforts, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but burst into a soft laugh.

Her charming smile fluttered across her lips, exuding irresistible grace.

Her sparkling eyes fixated on Zhou Can as she giggled.

“Dr. Zhou, you’re truly one of a kind! At first, you seemed like a gentleman; in practice, like a rogue; and deep down, still a gentleman. You remind me of that classic gentleman, Liu Xia Hui!”

She outlined her shifting impressions of him from their first encounter to now.

“It’s just like the old saying: ‘At first the mountain isn’t a mountain, and the water isn’t water; but look again, truly a mountain and truly water.’ How apt that describes you.”

Who would have thought that Su Qianqian wasn’t just a pretty face but also talented and articulate.

Her words carried genuine depth.

Zhou Can’s impression of this celebrity deepened even further.

In his mind, celebrities were normally all about looks, body, and melodramatic displays—singing a few love songs or starring in a TV drama to get famous.

Su Qianqian had shattered that stereotype.

She was at least a celebrity with talent and thoughtful depth.

“Miss Su, you’re too kind. I was just showing a bit of cultured flair with a touch of roguish charm. If you can help me shed that pervert label, I’d be most grateful. Now, hurry and get that urine test done! If your creatinine levels are too high, you must seek treatment immediately.”

Zhou Can felt a bit embarrassed by her praise.

Creatinine is a crucial indicator—if abnormal, it strongly suggests kidney issues.

“Alright, thank you. Goodbye!”

Su Qianqian shot him one last lingering look, waved at everyone, donned her sunglasses, and walked out of the Operating Room.

Watching her graceful retreat, Tang Ling still wore the look of an infatuated fan.

“Wow, Miss Su truly earns her title as a celebrity. The way she walks is so elegant, and her speech is top-notch. I’ve decided—no matter how many instant noodles I eat, I’m buying her album.”

It seemed that Su Qianqian’s outstanding performance had only deepened fan loyalty in Tang Ling.

“Are her songs really that good?”

“Of course they are! Especially her melancholic love ballads—they’re simply gorgeous. It’s a shame she isn’t more famous; she really has the potential to be a top-tier female singer, even challenging for the Queen of Pop title.”

“Haha, isn’t that a bit exaggerated? This conversation is getting out of hand. I’m off work soon.”

Zhou Can shook his head. He just couldn’t believe that Su Qianqian’s songs were actually that good.

As a doctor, his passion lay in conquering case after case—improving his surgical and diagnostic skills, and devouring medical textbooks was his favorite pastime.

He used to play basketball with his classmates, but now work kept him far too busy.

“Good observation, Zhou!” Dr. Xu complimented as he tossed his mask and disposable gloves into the trash.

“Hehe, that’s because our teacher and Dr. Jin were such upstanding figures—they never stared at that celebrity’s neck and other parts.” Zhou Can, sensing his mentor’s pleasant mood, dared to joke a little.

If everything were always so dour that the Operating Room resembled a funeral—so solemn and grim—it would be unbearably boring!

“You little rascal, when will you learn to speak properly? Pack up; everyone, you’re off duty now.”

Dr. Xu laughed and scolded him good-naturedly.

“Teacher…” Zhou Can began, but then trailed off.

“Are you constipated or what? Speak up quickly—I haven’t even had breakfast, and I don’t have time to dally with you.” Dr. Xu shot him a wry look.

This left both Tang Ling and Jin Mingxi quietly stifling their laughter.