After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

early december.

A heavy snow fell in the north of the city, and the old locust tree in the courtyard was covered with a thick layer of white frost.

The heating in the Gu family's old house was on full blast, and a layer of condensation formed on the windowpanes.

Gu Zheng skillfully tossed the diaper Gu Lin had changed into the basin, then turned to prepare formula for Gu Nian. The three-month-old twins were growing extremely fast, lying side by side in their crib, waving their little fists and blowing bubbles.

Ye Zhen came out from the inner room.

She changed into a custom-made dark red Chinese-style long dress with frog buttons. The dress was neatly tailored without any unnecessary embellishments, and the frog buttons at the neckline were fastened tightly, which made her cool and aloof temperament stand out.

Gu Zheng handed the baby bottle to Gu Nian and went over to straighten Ye Zhen's collar.

"Flying to Stockholm tomorrow, have you packed everything?" Gu Zheng put his hand on her shoulder.

Ye Zhen straightened her cuffs.

"Dean Zhou Hai delivered the itinerary this afternoon. Vice Minister Li is leading the team, and there are three accompanying personnel from the Ministry of Health."

"I took half a month's leave from the military region." Gu Zheng poured a glass of warm water and handed it to him. "I'll be your full-time bag carrier and part-time security guard. Those people abroad are cunning, and I won't feel at ease if I don't go with them."

"This is to receive the Nobel Prize, not to go to war."

"It's the same for me." Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Anyone who dares to mess with my wife will learn a lesson."

The following morning, at Beijing Airport.

The special plane was parked on the runway. Vice Minister Li was waiting at the boarding gate.

Vice Minister Li was holding a thick stack of foreign newspapers, all of which had been delivered urgently.

"Xiao Ye, look!" Vice Minister Li spread out the newspapers. "The Times, the Lancet special edition, and the New York Times—they're all filled with your story! It's all about our country's medical data!"

"In the past, when we went out for exchanges, people looked down on us. This time it's different. The Nobel Prize committee sent four confirmation letters, afraid that you wouldn't go."

Ye Zhen glanced at the English headlines in the newspaper.

There are no negative reviews above; they are all objective analyses and high praises of the "Heart of China" technique.

"Let's board." Ye Zhen handed the newspaper back to Vice Minister Li, her tone perfectly calm, showing no excitement whatsoever at the prospect of receiving the world's highest honor.

Gu Zheng carried the luggage and escorted Ye Zhen up the gangway.

December 10th.

Concert Hall, Stockholm, Sweden.

The venue was brightly lit. The King of Sweden and members of the royal family sat in the front row, followed by top scientists and medical luminaries from around the world.

Siemens CEO Thomas sat in the fourth row, with Sir William and Dr. Brown of England sitting next to him.

"Williams, I heard that several financial tycoons in the United States have been inquiring about Dr. Ye's schedule lately," Thomas said in a low voice.

Williams straightened his tie.

"It's no use them asking around. Dr. Ye's skills can't be bought with money."

The entire venue, with over two thousand people, was so quiet that you could hear someone breathing.

The Chinese delegation sat in the front row on the right. Vice Minister Li's hands were clasped tightly together, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Gu Zheng sat next to Ye Zhen, his back straight, his hands resting flat on his knees.

The conference chair, a representative of the jury from the Karolinska Institute, stepped onto the stage and stood in front of the microphone.

The large screen began playing video footage in a scrolling manner.

In the operating room of the Beicheng Military Region General Hospital, with its direct-view small incision under the armpit and precise operation of radiofrequency guidewires, one after another, children with congenital heart disease who had once been given a death sentence have regained healthy vital signs.

The voices of the judges' representatives echoed throughout the hall.

"In the past few decades of medical development, the treatment of complex congenital heart disease has always been a formidable challenge."

"Today, this wall has been completely broken down."

"The birth of the 'Heart of China' technique has increased the success rate of surgery for complex congenital heart diseases from 30% to an astonishing 92%."

"There are no theoretical disputes, only irrefutable survival data. With a scalpel, she redefined the limits of cardiothoracic surgery worldwide."

"Please welcome this year's Nobel Prize laureate in Medicine, Dr. Ye Zhen from China."

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted in the hall.

Ye Zhen stood up.

The dark red Chinese-style long dress stood out among the Western evening gowns in the room.

Gu Zheng watched her from below the stage, pressed his palm hard on his knee, and his heart was pounding.

Ye Zhen walked onto the podium and stood before the King of Sweden.

The King bowed slightly and handed her the gold medal and certificate, expressing his highest respect in fluent English.

Ye Zhen nodded in return and turned to walk towards the microphone.

The entire room fell silent once again.

She did not produce any lengthy prepared remarks.

"The essence of medicine is to snatch people back from the clutches of death."

"The only standard for surgery is survival rate. We have achieved the world's highest standard of cardiac surgery under the most limited conditions."

"Today, I stand here, bringing back more than just personal honor."

"Chinese medicine is no longer a bystander in textbooks."

"The heart of China beats forever for life."

"Thanks."

Extremely brief, without any unnecessary formalities, just pure technical confidence.

There was a two-second silence in the audience.

Sir Williams was the first to stand up and clapped his hands vigorously.

Thomas then stood up.

Within seconds, the entire concert hall, filled with over two thousand of the world's top scholars, nobles, and political figures, stood up.

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

Vice Minister Li's eyes were red from the audience.

Gu Zheng stood up with the rest of the audience, his palms clapping until they were red, his face full of pride.

The banquet following the awards ceremony was held in the Blue Room of the City Hall.

As soon as the banquet began, media from various countries surrounded the Chinese delegation.

A reporter with a tag from a well-known American newspaper hanging around his neck pushed his way to the front and raised his recording pen.

"Dr. Ye, congratulations on your award. However, some in the industry have pointed out that the high success rate of the 'Heart of China' procedure largely depends on cutting-edge equipment provided by European manufacturers such as Siemens. Does this mean that without Western hardware support, China's congenital heart disease surgery remains at a backward stage?"

That's a very pointed question.

Vice Minister Li's face immediately darkened.

Ye Zhen walked over and took the microphone.

"This reporter missed a crucial piece of data when you were doing your research."

"The prototype parameters of Siemens' latest radiofrequency guidewire, which is currently being promoted globally, were personally verified and modified by me in the laboratory of the Beicheng Military Region General Hospital. That clinical data report is still locked in my office."

Ye Zhen pointed to the other side of the banquet hall.

"Siemens' president, Mr. Thomas, is right there. You can go and ask him yourself whether he's selling me equipment or coming to me with a technical solution seeking cooperation."

All the media present looked in the direction Ye Zhen was pointing.

Upon hearing the commotion, Thomas immediately raised his champagne glass and responded loudly to the camera.

"Dr. Ye is not only Siemens's Chief Technical Advisor for Life, but also a rule-maker in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. It is an honor for Siemens to participate in 'Heart of China'!"

The shutter clicked wildly, and the flashes went off one after another.

The American journalist was speechless, his face turning red, and he slunk away to the back of the crowd.

Vice Minister Li let out a long breath and gave Gu Zheng a thumbs up.