Chapter 97: Unforeseen Diagnosis

Zhou Can noticed some subtle gestures and expressions from Mr. Chloe.

Just moments ago, Mr. Chloe had been staring at the bottle of hydrogen peroxide used for cleaning wounds, his eyes wide with terror. His hands flailed wildly, and his body kept recoiling. Drool even escaped from the corner of his mouth.

For patients who refuse treatment, once the family consents, the hospital actually has a solution.

They can simply tie the patient’s hands and feet.

For major surgeries, it’s even simpler—two or three staff restrain the patient and firmly put on a breathing mask. The anesthetic is delivered through the ventilator.

The patient soon slips into unconsciousness.

If you tie up a foreign patient, even if he recovers, he’ll surely boast about it back home.

Never go to a Huaxia hospital—they treat patients in a terrifying manner.

They tie people up as crudely as cannibals, letting them be handled at will.

“Mr. Chloe, are you afraid of this?”

Zhou Can shook the bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

Mr. Chloe immediately started waving his arms in panic, backing away while fixing his terrified gaze on the bottle in Zhou Can’s hand.

“Take it away now!”

Zhou Can handed the hydrogen peroxide over to Qiao Yu.

Then, lowering his voice, he said, “Be sure to wear protective gloves and don’t get too close to him!”

“Hmm?”

Qiao Yu mumbled in assent, though her eyes were filled with doubt.

Nonetheless, she followed Zhou Can’s instructions.

This trust was built gradually over time.

“Mr. Chloe, do you have any relatives here?” Zhou Can inquired.

Seeing his hesitation, he repeated the question in English.

“No!”

Mr. Chloe shook his head.

“Don’t worry. Let’s sit down and talk about how you got hurt, shall we?”

Instead of rushing into surgery, Zhou Can chose to chat with the patient in the operating room.

This unusual behavior, although well-intentioned, soon attracted the attention of Dr. Lu and Dr. Xu.

The operating room is a very serious place—its usual atmosphere is cold, strict, and quiet.

Conversing with a patient to relax them isn’t unheard of.

But it rarely happens in an emergency operating room.

Patients coming in for surgery are typically emergency cases.

Injuries or sudden illnesses leave patients bleeding or writhing in pain. Is it really appropriate for a surgeon to chat with them?

Thus, the atmosphere was exceptionally bizarre.

“Did you injure yourself while riding a bicycle?”

“Mm!”

“Did the fall terrify you?”

“A bit, yes!”

“Why is your body trembling? Is it because of fear?”

“Somewhat!”

After a few brief exchanges, Dr. Lu could no longer stand idly by.

“Dr. Zhou, if you keep chatting like this, you’ll never finish the surgery. Let me take over. Isn’t he just scared of the hydrogen peroxide cleaning his wound? There are plenty of ways to handle that.”

Dr. Lu volunteered eagerly.

“This patient is a bit unusual. It might not be just a fear of hydrogen peroxide,” Zhou Can said solemnly.

Even if he suspected an underlying illness, without a confirmed diagnosis, he couldn’t speak out of turn in front of the patient.

At best, he’d be cursed; at worst, the patient might complain.

And the worst outcome could be a physical attack.

For now, Zhou Can only suspected another underlying condition but lacked solid evidence.

“Let me explain—when a foreigner gets injured, he prefers to treat himself. He might have tried cleaning his wound with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and now that the wound is large, it’s natural for him to be frightened. Leave it to me.”

Dr. Lu dismissed Zhou Can’s caution without much concern.

“Mr. Chloe, I’m a senior doctor at Tuyu Hospital with years of experience. Rest assured, I will provide you with outstanding treatment.”

Dr. Lu introduced himself with a smile, shamelessly flattering his own skills.

Doctors have always needed to boast.

The better they boast, the more money they earn.

There are always charlatans who rack up titles and honors, adorning their clinics with banners, and employing stooges to boost their reputation. Once dubbed a miracle doctor, desperate patients come from miles around.

The most common case is a toothache—treated with some fumigation medicine, and then bugs seemingly fall out of your eyes or ears.

They call it curing ‘tooth worms’.

Anyone with basic medical knowledge knows it’s a scam.

Yet some people believe in it wholeheartedly, continuously handing their money over to these frauds.

Mr. Chloe’s look towards Dr. Lu changed noticeably.

“Thank you! You’re his senior doctor, right?”

To a patient, a senior doctor signifies superior skill, more professional treatment, and greater safety.

Even for a minor cold, patients yearn for a chief physician’s personal care.

In reality, it’s rarely necessary.

For ordinary illnesses, resident doctors and attending physicians perform nearly identical procedures.

Registering with an ordinary doctor is cheaper and avoids long lines.

Sadly, most patients are fixated on the titles of chief physicians, experts, and professors.

At Tuyu, a top expert’s registration fee can reach 2000 yuan.

While the fee for an ordinary doctor is usually between 6 and 8 yuan.

Why pay extra for nothing?

Yet if a patient truly suffers from a difficult illness that ordinary doctors can’t handle, a specialist might be the answer.

Though the expert’s fee is steep, their treatment is remarkably honest.

They wouldn’t intentionally prescribe overpriced or impractical treatments.

Often, they prescribe medications that cost only a few dimes or a couple of yuan per box.

And the results are quite effective.

“Yes, yes, I am his senior doctor,”

Dr. Lu nodded emphatically.

“Okay! Then please, treat me properly!”

Mr. Chloe clearly put more trust in Zhou Can’s senior doctor.

Foreigners tend to speak very directly, hating to beat around the bush.

He wouldn’t spare Zhou Can’s feelings but would make the choice most beneficial for himself.

“Thank you, Mr. Chloe, for your trust. Next, I’ll place an eye mask on you to reduce your fear during treatment,” said Dr. Lu, who, as a seasoned doctor, certainly had his tricks.

At least when faced with such a peculiar reaction, he knew exactly what to do.

Sure enough, once Mr. Chloe’s eyes were covered, he began to cooperate much more.

He quietly complied with every instruction.

“Xiao Zhou, take note. When treating patients, you often encounter special cases where you can’t just wing it,” Dr. Lu chided, showing off once more in front of Zhou Can.

He started boasting again.

Ever since his previous mishap with Dr. Fu during surgery, he hadn’t acted so ostentatiously in front of Zhou Can.

One might have thought he had changed.

But it’s understandable—some people are naturally flamboyant while others are more reserved.

Dr. Xu had regained his independent surgical privileges today, and when treating the foreign patient, he indeed appeared more capable than Zhou Can.

Multiple factors combined, making Dr. Lu rather overconfident.

The key was that he wanted Qiao Yu to see that his skills were not inferior to Zhou Can’s.

“I’m learning! Just a friendly reminder, Dr. Lu—be sure to use proper protection. If possible, have the patient undergo a blood or urine test before debridement and suturing,”

Zhou Can offered in return.

Dr. Lu winced at the remark.

It reminded him of the patient with uncontrollable bleeding last time.

Then, Zhou Can had been cryptic, advising him not to rush into surgery.

But he didn’t heed the warning and ended up with terrible luck.

“Once bitten, twice shy,”

Dr. Lu hesitated noticeably.

“Was this patient only given an X-ray?”

He was clearly asking Nurse Tian Tian.

“I believe so! I’ll go check!”

Nurse Tian Tian quickly ran out to consult with the nurse in charge.

She returned shortly.

“The consulting doctor determined that since the injury was superficial, simple debridement and suturing would suffice. An X-ray was done only to confirm there was no bone damage.”

That’s typical of a big hospital.

In clinics or local health centers, they might skip even the X-ray,

proceeding directly to debridement and suturing.

“Dr. Zhou, do you really think a blood test is absolutely necessary before surgery?” Dr. Lu began to fret and earnestly sought Zhou Can’s opinion.

“Debridement and suturing can be performed immediately, but personal protection is a must. However, for the patient’s safety, I believe a blood or urine test is very important,”

Zhou Can, despite his personal reservations about Dr. Lu, always showed genuine concern in these matters.

“Let’s get the blood drawn for an expedited test!”

Dr. Lu actually heeded Zhou Can’s advice.

This surprised both Dr. Xu and Jin Mingxi.

Next, Dr. Lu meticulously debrided and sutured the patient’s wounds.

He remained extremely cautious throughout the procedure.

Dr. Lu might have suspected from Zhou Can’s words that the patient could be carrying an infectious disease.

For a foreigner, the most severe infectious disease might be AIDS.

Given the circumstances, if doctors didn’t protect themselves, the risk of infection was high.

“Hey, it looks like Dr. Lu really took your advice seriously!”

Qiao Yu winked at Zhou Can.

“If he can listen, I’m quite surprised too,”

Zhou Can smiled.

Then he called in the next patient for surgery.

……

Twenty-plus minutes later, Dr. Lu had treated two wounds on Mr. Chloe.

Mr. Chloe’s emotional state appeared much more stable.

At that moment, Mr. Chloe’s blood test report arrived.

“The lab has noted abnormalities in your blood test and recommends further viral screening,” reported Nurse Tian Tian as she handed the report to Dr. Lu.

“Let me see!”

Dr. Lu took the report and examined it carefully.

Then his face immediately changed.

“Dr. Xu, this patient’s blood test shows serious abnormalities. His peripheral white blood cell count is uneven, with neutrophils at a staggering 81%.”

After all, he was a senior resident at Tuyu Hospital—even if not outstanding, his skills were competent.

There’s no denying his level was respectable.

Upon hearing the abnormal data, Zhou Can’s expression grew even more resolute.

Dr. Xu stopped his surgery, took the report, and examined it closely. His face turned exceptionally solemn.

“First, take Mr. Chloe to the anesthesia recovery room and have him rest. Do not let him leave, and instruct the on-duty staff to approach him with utmost caution while protecting themselves.”

Mr. Chloe seemed to sense that something was wrong.

His previously calm demeanor quickly turned agitated once more.

“Doctor, do I have another disease?”

Being in a foreign land and facing an unknown illness filled him with panic.

His body started trembling again.

“It’s too early to tell. Your blood test is just abnormal for now. Please rest in the recovery room while we conduct further tests,”

Dr. Xu reassured him, and once Nurse Tian Tian escorted him out, he turned to Zhou Can.

“Xiao Zhou, now share your diagnostic opinion.”

Everyone knew that Zhou Can was the first to notice the abnormalities.

His opinion was one that even Dr. Xu valued highly.

Not to mention, he had repeatedly proven his diagnostic prowess.

“I noticed that the patient was visibly frightened by the hydrogen peroxide—he even drooled when stressed, leading me to suspect rabies!”

Earlier, he had been too cautious to speak up.

But now he had little hesitation.

It was effectively a joint consultation among several doctors.

Moreover, the blood test report further backed his diagnosis.

That gave him some ground to stand on.

In advanced rabies, patients often present with hydrophobia and photophobia.

“Ah…” Dr. Lu’s face went pale as he quickly checked himself.

Fortunately, his gloves and protective suit had shielded him well.

He hastily removed his gloves and tossed them into the trash.

Nurse Tian Tian was even more anxious, her face an open mask of terror and panic.

Earlier, while assisting him, she had come into contact with the patient’s blood.

Rabies is almost 100% fatal—there’s no room for risk.

“Notify the infection prevention nurse immediately to collect the patient’s saliva for further testing. With so many people in the hospital, ensure that he is controlled to prevent any collateral harm.”

Fortunately, the patient had not yet descended into delirium.

The infection prevention staff are highly skilled at managing such cases.

It’s best to let them handle it.

“Dr. Zhou, thank you for your timely advice earlier!”

Dr. Lu immediately expressed his gratitude, much to everyone’s surprise.

This incident seemed to ease the tension between the two doctors considerably.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you took my advice seriously,” Zhou Can replied modestly.

Dr. Xu, normally so stern, showed a rare smile.

It was the first time he had smiled since nearly causing an incident with Jin Mingxi yesterday.

“Seeing you work together as a team makes me very happy. I hope you continue to support one another,”

He acted more like the patriarch of the operating room.

He wished to see his colleagues united rather than undermining or suppressing newcomers.

Hospitals aren’t like other administrative units.

Mentoring juniors is a cherished tradition.

Only in this way can the art of medicine be passed down through generations, nurturing successors after successors.

At Tuyu Hospital, attending physicians and above are tasked with mentoring each year; the seniors do this to cultivate new talent.

“I also want to thank you, Dr. Zhou, for your protection!” Qiao Yu said, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Zhou Can guessed that beneath her mask, her delicate features were slightly wrinkled in amusement.

“Protecting you is what I’m here for,” he winked at her.

“Hehe, you sure have a silver tongue!”

Her laughter rang out even more merrily.

“Alright, let’s get back to work!”

Zhou Can resumed the surgery on the patient.

“At first, I was a little uneasy about your youth. I didn’t expect you to be so skilled. Now I’m completely at ease—please, Dr. Zhou, give it your all.”

The patient listened intently to the doctors’ discussions and was amazed that the young doctor performing his surgery appeared even more capable than the senior doctor.

Having such a talented doctor operate on him filled him with quiet delight.

A patient’s greatest fear is having a novice with poor skills use them as a training ground.

What he didn’t realize was that Zhou Can’s surgical expertise far exceeded even that of Dr. Lu.

……

During the lunch shift change, news came from the infection prevention department: Mr. Chloe had been confirmed to have rabies.

It was heartbreaking and tragic news.

This disease can only be prevented, not cured.

A confirmed diagnosis is essentially a death sentence.

It was a terrible fate for such a young life.

In the afternoon surgery, Dr. Xu assigned Zhou Can two Grade-Two surgeries.

But he supervised and guided the entire process.

Zhou Can performed admirably; both surgeries were completed flawlessly.

This greatly reassured Dr. Xu.

“Xiao Zhou, it appears your basic skills in rapid surgery have improved significantly. I can even detect a hint of the Rapid Surgical Technique in your work,” Dr. Xu complimented him with a smile.

“Really?” Zhou Can replied, pleasantly surprised. “I practice every day at home, but I didn’t expect to show even modest improvement so quickly.”

During the surgeries, he noticed changes in both making incisions and tissue separation.

It was hard to articulate—just a sense of ease and efficiency compared to before.

He had thought it was due to his overall improvement in skill.

Now he realized it was likely the result of practicing the basics of Rapid Surgical Technique.

“Keep practicing, and you’ll gain even more. This is only the beginning; once you reach a certain level, I’ll teach you the next step.”

Dr. Xu was quite surprised at how quickly Zhou Can progressed.

He couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

Normally, mastering the basics of the Rapid Surgical Technique takes at least one to two years.

Yet Zhou Can achieved this in less than a month. His talent is truly extraordinary.

With a genius like him inheriting this skill, he is bound to surpass his mentor.

His future achievements will undoubtedly exceed those of his teacher.

“Okay, thank you, teacher!”

Zhou Can felt elated and even more determined.

After work today, he planned to extend his daily practice time of Rapid Surgical Technique basics from four to five hours.

He was determined to reach an even higher level as soon as possible.

Jin Mingxi, witnessing Zhou Can receive praise from Dr. Xu, felt a twinge of envy.

These days, he had been practicing the basics of Rapid Surgical Technique alongside Zhou Can.

He had never slacked off.

But now, being in a precarious position, he dared not directly approach Dr. Xu and instead looked pleadingly at his good friend Zhou Can.

Receiving Jin Mingxi’s pleading look, Zhou Can, taking advantage of Dr. Xu’s good mood, decided to ask on his behalf.

“Teacher, these days Jin Mingxi has also been practicing the basics of Rapid Surgical Technique with me. How do you think his progress is?”

Dr. Xu turned to look at Jin Mingxi.

“You should stop practicing the basics of Rapid Surgical Technique immediately!”

That single sentence struck Jin Mingxi like a bolt of lightning, leaving his face ashen.