Love Healing Manual

Chapter 141 What is Love?

He dedicated himself to medicine...

Lin Ze now truly understands the meaning of those words; they are not just empty slogans.

In fact, slogans like "Master medical skills, cultivate medical ethics, and interpret the true nature of a doctor with risk" or "Dedicate yourself to modern medicine, it is glorious and great" are written everywhere in the corridors of the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tokyo.

Upon enrollment, the Dean of the Medical School inspired the students with stories of their predecessors, which ignited their passion and made them eager to dedicate their lives to modern medicine.

But when it came to Lin Ze, self-sacrifice was not just empty talk.

He knew that if he followed the system's instructions and guided Kitagawa Ayane, the two would find it difficult to sever their ties in the future.

This time, he has to choose between morality and his conscience.

But the question is, just how generous are the points?
In classrooms.

Lin Ze sat in his seat, using his old mobile phone to log onto a medical website to search for cases of concurrent treatment of head and neck cancer and esophageal cancer, while taking notes.

When he arrived, there weren't many people in the classroom, but now familiar classmates are gradually arriving.

Familiar voices could be heard as a group of boys entered the classroom.

Yamazaki Yu was chatting with Mizuno Taro when he glanced at Lin Ze and paused in surprise before walking over to sit down next to him.

Didn't you go home for lunch today?

"I'm back."

"You've arrived quite early."

This time, Lin Ze did not answer, and continued to focus on writing his notes.

aside.

Taro Mizuno and his classmates were still discussing something, their voices reaching his ears.

"Isn't it important who confesses first? The person who confesses first loses the initiative, which means they are still longing for the other person, and naturally they are at a disadvantage."

"It's not as serious as you make it out to be. It's only natural for a man to take the initiative and be a gentleman, isn't it?"

"Gentleman? Don't be ridiculous, I think you have absolutely no idea what love is."

"You talk like you know so much, but you once said you've never been in a relationship."

"But I've heard others talk about it, believe it or not."

The boys gathered around Lin Ze and Yamazaki Yu, some sitting and some standing. Otomo Shoji, who was significantly taller and stronger than the others, opened a can of Coke with a "hiss" and took a big gulp.

He has always had the habit of drinking sparkling water, which is the complete opposite of Lin Ze's habit.

According to Shoji Otomo, a day without Coca-Cola is meaningless, especially after walking along the tree-lined path in the sun all day, buying a can of Coke from the vending machine downstairs, and chugging it in the classroom.

That feeling was indescribably wonderful.

Right now, everyone is discussing matters related to Taro Mizuno's relationship.

There is more than one person in this class who has someone they like.

After the group assignments, Taro Mizuno and Yumi Suzuki were placed in the same group, and their relationship became a hot topic of gossip. After all, they were mutually attracted and there were signs of a romance, but they hadn't yet defined their relationship.

All I can say is that it's been a vague, ambiguous relationship all along.

Originally, Taro Mizuno thought he had everything under control and that it was only a matter of time before Yumi Suzuki fell for him. However, he didn't expect that in the past few weeks, she wasn't in a hurry to reveal her true feelings, which made him a little unsure of what to do.

On the way here, someone urged Mizuno Taro to confess his feelings.

To put it bluntly, Suzuki Yumi is not some nobody on campus.

She has a cute appearance and a likable personality; she's the kind of girl that any grown man would unconsciously feel affection for if he stood in front of her.

In summer, Suzuki Yumi is undoubtedly even more adorable, often wearing a light yellow dress, with short hair that just reaches her shoulders, and a different hair clip every day, her face full of baby fat and collagen.

"I wouldn't be embarrassed to confess, but..." Mizuno Taro's words were full of hesitation as he made a difficult choice.

Within the entire medical school, if Lin Ze is among the most popular, then Mizuno Taro is also ranked below him.

Romantic relationship?

Lin Ze, who was writing furiously, was distracted by a few words. He stopped writing, turned his head and looked at the group of people chatting.

Yamazaki Yu keenly observed his movements and immediately realized something.

"Forget it, let's not talk here, so as not to disturb Lin Zesang's homework. I heard that their gastroenterology department is always very busy."

"Let's call it a day then," Mizuno Taro chimed in.

Lin Ze had a good relationship with everyone in the class, which was evident from the fact that everyone stopped talking.

"It's alright," Lin Ze said, unusually, "What are you talking about?"

In the past, he would never have been interested in this kind of topic.

But today is different from the past.

As the saying goes, "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me." He was far ahead in terms of academic knowledge, but he was completely clueless when it came to these youthful and innocent emotions.

When Lin Ze heard someone talking about taking the initiative in a relationship, he thought it made a lot of sense.

This is a crucial issue in relationships between men and women.

Yamazaki Yu was momentarily surprised, and he and Otomo Shoji looked at Lin Ze with astonishment.

He wondered why Lin Ze, who was usually uninterested in such messy gossip, would be willing to join the discussion, since the sun hadn't risen in the west today.
"We're talking about dating," Taro Mizuno replied, scratching his head.

"Actually, everyone has different views on love. As for things like confessing first, I think it depends on the specific personality. Some people who like to be direct just can't hold back and will confess!" Goto couldn't help but say.

He had clearly been holding back for a long time, thinking about how to refute what Otomo Shoji had just said.

"So you mean if you meet a girl you like, you'll confess first no matter what?" Otomo Shoji chuckled lightly as he drank his cola.

"Of course!"

Even if the initiative is lost, will it still happen?

"Does that matter?" Goto straightened his neck, his expression becoming serious. He thought for a moment and then pointed to the can of cola in Otomo Shoji's hand: "Love is like cola. Cola tastes best in the first sip, and the taste after that is far inferior. Love is most beautiful at the beginning. Two people are reserved and tentative. When they are together, even touching hands will make their hearts race, and even slightly ambiguous words will make them roll around in bed."

His story elicited various reactions from the crowd.

Shoji Otomo looked down at the Coke in his hand and smacked his lips twice.

“If you hesitate over who confesses first, instead of thinking about experiencing the initial awkwardness and beauty, that’s something I can’t understand.” Goto turned his head away.

No matter what.

Goto's words certainly sparked a lot of thoughts. Those who had experienced first love recalled the thrill they felt in high school, while those who hadn't experienced it also had some more to think about.

However, Lin Ze was deep in thought.

If what Goto said is true, then intimate relationships progress the fastest at the beginning, right? And then, as the years go by, they tend to become tiresome.

That logic makes sense.

Shoji Otomo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said calmly, "Using love as an example is too simplistic. True love should be... a battle! It's the process of conquering the other person. Either you lose and are firmly in their grasp, manipulated and tormented at will, or you win and have them completely under your thumb, making them uneasy with every move you make. Taking the initiative is the most crucial thing. What does confessing prove? It proves that you desperately need her, so the other person can rest easy, since they're not worried that you'll run away. And for a real man, of course, it's about enjoying the process of conquest."

He rubbed his hands together, unable to suppress a confident smile, his shoulders shrugging as if he had already grasped the greatest secret of love.

He was smugly pleased with his conclusion.

Yamazaki Yu was not buying it. He had heard plenty of stories from Otomo Shoji about how he wanted to fawn over the beautiful upperclassmen from the neighboring college, and now he was acting like a love strategist.

So, Yamazaki Yu said, "Actually... I think love is unique to any other relationship, yet it's like any other relationship. I don't know if you've ever heard the saying, 'My lover is also my best friend.' Think about it, she can understand your hobbies, play games with you, and be your lover, enjoying the sweetness of your deepening emotional bond. She can comfort you when you're in pain, and be there for you when you're happy. You can tell her anything, and you can also show your ugly and selfish side. So, having a romantic relationship is like having a versatile best friend."

Shoji Otomo scoffed at this.

"That sounds nice, but where can you find a girlfriend like that?"

"Yes, yes, it sounds wonderful. Who wouldn't want a girl like that?"

“I believe what You Sang said, but I don’t believe I can meet her.”

The other boy also shook his head.

After listening to these insights, Lin Ze summarized and categorized them in his mind.

He felt that each of them made a valid point.

At this moment, at the very center of the conversation, Taro Mizuno took a deep breath and said seriously, "If you ask me, I think love is one of the two greatest pursuits in life. There are two kinds of success for a man—having a career that he can dedicate his whole life to, and having a happy and stable family. And the ultimate goal of love is to form a family."

"Two businesses?" Lin Ze asked curiously.

"What, Lin Zesang, do you think love is?"

"It's still unclear," Lin Ze said cautiously.

In the bright and clean department.

Tomura Masamune, who was taking a nap, was awakened by a deafening cell phone ringtone. Still dazed, he quickly got up, fumbled for his phone, and glanced at the contact name.

In an instant, most of my drowsiness disappeared.

Dr. Hucun quickly pressed the answer button and then put the phone to his ear.

"Director," he adjusted his tone, coughing lightly a few times, but even so his voice was still somewhat muffled, "Is the meeting over? Director, what can I do for you?"

Hucun rubbed his sore eyes, and his clear mind returned.

"The meeting is over, and I saw the medical record you sent me," came Director Niijima's voice from the other end of the phone. "How is that patient now?"

"I left my phone number and address, and told him to come for a gastroscopy tomorrow," Dr. Hucun replied hurriedly.

"Okay, this afternoon you go to see Professor Nagano Kosuke. I called him in advance to ask him to apply for the B-7 special assistance for that patient at our hospital. Then take the application form to the observation ward and ask them to prepare it in advance."

"Applying for special assistance? I remember the application form was in your office, Director?"

"Okay, you can sign for me. I probably won't be able to go back to the hospital until tomorrow, otherwise I won't have enough time."

"Okay, I understand, Director. Please take care on your journey."

"Let's leave it at that for now."

beep-

The phone rang as it ended. Dr. Hucun, who had just woken up, was still a little groggy, but now felt completely refreshed.

He coughed a few more times and put on the leather shoes that were under the bed.

Lin Ze was unaware of the significance of the patient he had discovered for the internal medicine department. Horikawa's original plan to show off had actually backfired.

The University of Tokyo's medical school has recently been engaged in a promotional competition with several other equally prestigious hospitals in Tokyo.

For example, Kyoto Prefectural First Hospital, backed by a conglomerate, recently produced several medical documentaries that became very popular, even topping the charts for documentaries in Japan.

While the official explanation was to help patients better understand the overall life of doctors and the internal workings of hospitals, the praise it received from the Japanese Medical Council is genuine.

The popularity of medical documentaries among the public demonstrates that people have long been curious about what real doctors are like behind the high walls of hospitals.

The Japanese Medical Committee sensed the potential and believed that producing a documentary could greatly reduce public prejudice and misunderstanding of the medical industry, so they prepared to collaborate with Japan's official NHK television station.

This is the current era.

Every industry needs to open its doors to the public and let them know, and the development of information technology has made this extremely convenient.

However, hospitals have always had a cold image in the eyes of the Japanese people.

There's also the long-standing misconception that surgeons won't perform surgery properly without giving a bribe.

Previously, Section Chief Minamino Isamu, along with other departments, conducted a joint consultation to handle an accident in which a steel bar pierced the patient's chest. The patient is now out of danger and has been discharged from the intensive care unit. Lin Ze and the other interns even gathered together to watch the entire video recording of the patient's journey from entering the emergency room to the surgery.

That video was actually an internal production filmed in collaboration between the University of Tokyo Affiliated Hospital and a television station.

It has experimental significance.

Of course, the effect is very good.

Clearly, Lin Ze discovered that Daipu You, a patient with a high probability of having esophageal and head and neck cancer, fits the typical criteria for a difficult and complex disease, making treatment extremely difficult.

However, the University of Tokyo has some of the best doctors, and they have successfully treated even more difficult cases.

After Dr. Tomura reported this typical and difficult case, Chief Physician Niijima reviewed the medical record and immediately realized that this was a great opportunity.

Noon.

In the office of Director Shinjima.

There was a rustling sound.

Dr. Tomura took a stack of documents from the drawer and then locked the cabinet on his desk. He was one of only two people with a key to this cabinet, which showed how much Director Niijima valued him. Whenever the director was out and unable to return, it was always Tomura who signed on his behalf.

“B-7 special allowance, that’s it.” Dr. Hucun picked up the pen next to him and wrote a note.

After that, he hurriedly set off for Professor Nagano Kosuke, the first professor of internal medicine.

Although he didn't know why this patient was entitled to special subsidies, Tomura never asked, which was one of his strengths.

He knew very well that there was always a reason behind what the leader did.

If the leader wants to tell, they will naturally do so at the appropriate time.

……

Neon lights illuminate the Rokuji River in Kiyose City. A bus travels across the river bridge towards the Obayashi Medical Technology Research Institute.

On the bus.

The people sitting there were clearly leaders from the affiliated hospital of Southeast University, the lowest of whom was a department director.

Okamura, the vice president of the University of Tokyo Hospital, opened the window next to him and smoked a cigarette.

"I've already contacted the NHK television crew for filming, and the process will have to be started as soon as possible, since our director is very eager to enjoy this delicious meal."

Pale blue smoke billowed from Vice President Okamura's mouth.

Those present were all his confidants.

Therefore, he had no qualms about discussing the director of the University of Tokyo Hospital in private.

“Those medical institutions contacted the dean like crazy, and they probably tried to win you over as well.”

"What's the use of coming to me? I'm just a vice president. I can't decide which brands of medical devices should appear on camera."

“One day we’ll be able to make the decisions.” Director Niijima chimed in at the opportune moment.

Director Niijima put the phone back in his pocket, adjusted his glasses, and a meaningful emotion appeared in his weathered eyes.

"Dean Shiraishi is retiring, so make sure he has a good meal before he leaves... By the way, have you made arrangements for that patient in your internal medicine department?"

"I've already informed my assistant, Tomura," Director Niijima said, turning his head.

"That's good. We need to gather the documentary filmmakers and suitable cases as soon as possible. Director Shiraishi has been urging us on all the time, and I'm exhausted." Okamura scoffed lightly, as if he was quite dissatisfied.

"An intern discovers a typical difficult case, that's a great title. As expected, there are no mediocre students under Professor Hishida's tutelage," Director Niijima said with a smile that looked more like a grimace, his face full of wrinkles. "Lin Ze has been performing exceptionally well since he joined the department. I'm thinking... why don't we try to recruit him into the internal medicine department?"

“There are mediocre people, like me.” Okamura’s cheerful remark made everyone laugh out loud.

"The vice dean is joking. If you're mediocre, what are we?" Director Niijima chuckled.

"Don't even think about my nominal junior brother. I have other uses for him," Vice Dean Okamura said calmly, regaining his serious expression. "I need him to ease the tension with the professor. Otherwise, once that old guy Shiraishi retires, I'll be in danger without the professor's support."

"Is this junior fellow student, the vice dean, highly regarded by the professor?" Director Niijima couldn't help but wonder, not understanding what Okamura meant.

"Heh, junior brother will definitely be valued, after all, his score in the professor's special test was no lower than Dr. Shimazu's..."

"Is there such a thing?"

“Never mind,” Okamura realized he had misspoke and quickly changed the subject: “The intern angle is not bad, and Lin Ze’s image is quite suitable for the protagonist of a documentary. After all, people actually prefer to see handsome young people rather than old men, right?”

"This is true."

"I don't really mind being on camera."

“The young girls don’t want to see your old face. In the hospital, you’re the head of the department, but in their eyes, you’re just an old man.”

"The vice president's insights are truly profound."

As the conversation lightened, the atmosphere inside the bus became exceptionally pleasant.

Okamura chatted and laughed with everyone for a while, but when he turned around, his relaxed expression quickly disappeared, and his eyes revealed a faint solemnity.

Collaborating with Japan's national television network to produce a documentary for promotional purposes has significance for the University of Tokyo Hospital for more than just breaking down barriers.

At that time, many medical brands will want to be featured in the video and increase their brand awareness among the public.

This has immeasurable value for building brand value.

When the time comes, as the final decision-maker, Dean Shiraishi's home will have another small mountain of gold.

Vice Dean Okamura recalled the urging look on Dean Shiraishi's face.

He couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Who would willingly spend their entire life as a vice dean?

(End of this chapter)