This miracle doctor just wants to be fired!

Over the years, Zou Ligan has always been at the forefront of the department, presiding over discussions of difficult cases, leading the team in surgeries, participating in academic conferences, and striving for research platforms.

Whenever there's a problem in the department, the first person everyone thinks of is still him.

Over time, everyone seemed to assume that he would continue standing like that, and few people seriously calculated how many years he had left before he officially retired.

Following Zhou Cheng's gaze, Zou Ligan raised his hand and touched his hair. "What are you looking at? Do you think I've aged overnight?"

Lin Feng forced a smile. "No, I still look quite energetic."

"Your lying skills are never as good as your surgical skills."

Lin Feng failed to catch it and could only lower his head and touch his nose.

Zou Ligan leaned back in his chair, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke much more slowly than before, "Actually, not being selected isn't all bad."

Zhou Cheng looked up.

"Over the years, I've spent countless hours preparing for the application, organizing materials year after year, and repeatedly categorizing my achievements. I even had to listen to others discuss my eligibility during meetings, which sometimes annoyed me. Now that the results are in, at least I don't have to worry about it this year."

There will be other opportunities in the future.

"Not necessarily."

Zou Ligan said calmly, "My age is what it is. Whether it's next year or the next round, I won't put too much energy into this anymore. The young people in the department have risen quickly in recent years, and the things I have to do are different from before."

"You haven't retired yet."

"Soon."

"A few more years."

"Is a few years a long time?"

Zhou Cheng did not answer.

For young doctors, a few years is enough to complete a study, master a new technology, and grow from a resident physician to an independent surgeon.

For Zou Ligan, who has been working in clinical practice for decades, a few years is only enough to gradually hand over his patients and projects, and transform those things that used to rely on him personally into a system that can operate independently.

"The cardiology department will be relying on you two from now on," Zou Ligan said. "Lin Feng is more tactful than you, which makes him suitable for management, and he knows how to leave room for others when things happen. You are more proactive in clinical practice and research, and you can see problems that others haven't yet noticed. I feel more at ease with the two of you working together."

Lin Feng quickly said, "Don't make it sound like you're handing over your shift today."

"It'll have to be handed in sooner or later."

"That's not now."

Zou Liqian smiled, did not argue with him, and turned his gaze back to Zhou Cheng.

"As for becoming an academician, my chances are slim."

Zhou Cheng's brows twitched slightly. "You just said there would be other opportunities in the future."

"I said maybe not."

"This matter has been clarified, next round..."

"The academician I'm referring to isn't me," Zou Ligan paused, "but you."

Zhou Cheng was stunned, and Lin Feng also looked up.

"I?"

"What, you don't dare to think about it?"

"I have no such intention."

"I didn't have that back then either," Zou Ligan said. "Many things aren't about setting a goal when you're young and then following it step by step. After doing clinical work for a long time, solving more problems, leading a team, and truly being able to push a discipline forward, someone will naturally step up to that position."

"I'm still a long way off."

"Of course it's far," Zou Ligan said bluntly. "You have the technology, the projects, and some international influence now, but you're still far from being an academician. Your biggest weakness is that you still have to rely on yourself for many things. How many surgeries can one person perform, how much data can one monitor, and how many students can one teach? A true academic leader is not just someone who can do it themselves, but someone who can enable a group of people to do it, and someone who can keep a direction moving forward even without you."

Zhou Cheng fell silent as he recalled the training incident.

Zou Ligan knew what he was thinking, and softened his tone slightly, "This isn't a bad thing for you."

Zhou Cheng paused, then said, "Four patients were injured."

"So the price can't be paid in vain," Zou Ligan said. "You used to think that if you explained the technology clearly, others would naturally learn it, and if you presented the data, your peers would naturally accept it. Now you should understand that academic communication, team management, and industry rules are all no simpler than surgery."

Zou Ligan leaned forward slightly and placed his hands on the table, crossed over each other.

"Recently, several conferences have been canceled, promotion has been suspended, and there has been criticism online. You might think that doing less in the future and keeping the technology in your own center is the safest option. But if all doctors keep valuable information to themselves for fear of making mistakes, medicine will not progress."

"Promotion must be based on security."

"certainly."

"This proves that our preparations were insufficient."

"Then prepare it thoroughly." Zou Ligan looked at him, his voice not loud, but every word was clear. "Don't be afraid to admit your mistakes just because someone attacked me for your mistakes. And don't think that you should consider me first in all your future choices just because I wasn't elected this time. I've already come a long way, but you still have a long way to go."

Zhou Cheng lowered his head and remained silent.

Zou Ligan continued, "If I don't get elected as an academician, at most my name will be missing two characters. I'll still perform surgeries, take care of patients, and the department won't lose a bed. But if you let this matter weigh you down and think about withdrawing every time there's controversy, the loss will be much greater than my failure to be elected."

The setting sun outside the window had begun to sink behind the building, and the light in the office gradually dimmed.

Lin Feng got up and turned on the light. The white light illuminated the materials and medical records on the table, making them clear again.

Zou Ligan reached out and took the multi-center review report that Zhou Cheng had brought, flipping to the last few pages. "When are we going to submit this?"

"It was originally planned for next week."

"Why the original version?"

"I'm considering taking it slow until the storm has completely passed."

Is there a problem with the data?

"no."

Does the conclusion hold water?

"It can stand firm."

"Was the patient follow-up complete?"

"It has been completed."

Zou Ligan closed the report and pushed it back in front of him. "Then submit it."

"This might spark another discussion."

"Let them discuss it."

"Your election just ended."

"It's over, what's there to worry about?"

Zhou Cheng looked at him.

Zou Liqian smiled and said, "Didn't you always say you wouldn't explain anything before the data was confirmed? Now that the data is confirmed, don't stay silent just because others don't like the explanation."

The office was quiet for a moment.

Zhou Cheng then reached out and took back the report. "Okay."

"And your new training system shouldn't just be tested in your own hospital," Zou Ligan said. "Find a few centers that are truly willing to cooperate, and conduct a new forward-looking assessment, including decision-making points, stopping criteria, and the surgeon's learning curve, to see if the changes can truly reduce the risks."

"It's already being designed."

"Don't try to oversee everything yourself again."

"Everyone has a task."

"That's more like it."

Zou Ligan stood up and put his white coat back on.

The clothes had been hanging on the back of the chair all afternoon, leaving a few shallow wrinkles on the shoulders. He raised his hand to smooth them out, restoring the clothes to their usual appearance when he was preparing to go to the ward.