This person is clearly a male protagonist in a female-oriented novel, yet he is excessively lucid.

As the morning sun peeked over the eaves of the hospital's outpatient building, Yu Chenzhou stepped into the lobby, bathed in the cool morning light.

The nurse on the night shift quickly came to greet us, looking somewhat reserved.

"Dr. Yu, Dean Zhang is waiting for you in his office. He says he has something important to discuss."

Thinking of Su Qinghuan's righteous advice to "take responsibility" and voluntarily take the blame yesterday, Yu Chenzhou paused slightly, already understanding the situation.

The dean's request for him must be related to the botched surgery Gu Mo performed.

However, he remained calm. He had nothing to do with the medical accident, from the preoperative plan to the intraoperative procedure, so there was no need to panic.

He nodded to the nurse, straightened his back, and walked straight toward the dean's office on the third floor, the hem of his white coat swaying gently with each step.

The blinds in the dean's office were half-open, and the golden morning light was cut into thin strips, falling obliquely on Zhang He's face, clearly dividing his expression into light and shadow.

The bright areas are a deliberately maintained peace, while the dark areas conceal an imperceptible anxiety.

He tapped the fountain pen between his fingers rhythmically on the mahogany desk.

The "tap, tap" sound was particularly clear in the quiet room, and the ink from the pen tip spread into a small gray blotch on a blue-covered medical record.

Yu Chenzhou glanced at the label on the medical record cover and immediately recognized it as the surgical accident record performed by Gu Mo yesterday.

The surgeon's name was signed in black ink, the strokes bold and unrestrained.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the calm and collected person I am standing in front of my desk right now.

"Xiao Yu, sit down."

Zhang He's voice was like a thoroughly soaked dried sea buckthorn, soft yet exuding an undeniable authority.

He pointed to the seat opposite him and scrutinized Yu Chenzhou for a moment.

His gaze swept from the "Outstanding Physician" badge pinned to his chest to the neat buttons on his cuffs before he spoke slowly, his tone deliberately warm:

"You came to our city's First Hospital right after graduation, so it's been exactly five years this year, right?"

In the past five years, you have risen from a green graduate following the senior director on ward rounds to the deputy director of thoracic surgery. The hospital has been treating you as a key talent for development.

Last year, we broke with convention and promoted you to associate senior professional title.

This year, we've given you another spot in the provincial health commission's key support program for targeted lung cancer research.

Even specialized laboratory equipment is prioritized for you; this is real support, you should be aware of that.

Yu Chenzhou clenched the cuffs of his white coat, and faint red marks appeared on his wrists beneath the fabric from the force.

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips. Instead of going along with Zhang He's sentimental tone, he went straight to the point:

"Dr. Zhang, you called me because of the surgery that went wrong with Dr. Gu yesterday, right?"

I specifically reviewed the medical records and intraoperative notes yesterday. The accident was due to negligence on the part of the attending surgeon, and it has absolutely nothing to do with our ward or my treatment team. Therefore, the responsibility does not lie with our department.

His voice was steady, and every word was clear and unambiguous.

Zhang He suddenly laughed, a short and dry laugh. He pressed his pen heavily on the medical record, and the ink smear instantly spread out again, almost soaking into the page on "surgical complications".

"Xiao Yu, you're still too young."

He shook his head, opened the bottom drawer of his desk, took out a document with a gold-embossed cover, and pushed it in front of Yu Chenzhou, his fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly.

You've probably heard of the talent recruitment program at the Capital Central Hospital, right?

They were short of a deputy director for their thoracic surgery department. The position was fully staffed, with housing provided, and an independent specialist clinic.

I've already had someone submit your resume, and the leader there is very satisfied with you.

Once you get past this hurdle, this position is yours.

Yu Chenzhou reached out and picked up the document, his fingertips tracing the bold black text of "Proposed Hires". The blank column still had the horizontal line for filling in the name, and the traces of the pen tip were still freshly visible.

He instantly saw through the other party's scheme.

He'd trade a better future for signing the accident report and taking responsibility.

He closed the file, swallowed nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing noticeably, and spoke with just the right amount of hesitation:

"Director Zhang, do you mean... I should sign this accident report? But I wasn't involved in that surgery at all. I was just an observer during the preoperative discussion, and I didn't even offer any suggestions for modifying the plan. I can't sign this."

"What do you mean by not participating?"

Zhang He leaned forward abruptly, the wheels of his office chair making a slight scraping sound on the floor.

He lowered his voice, deliberately creating an atmosphere of "heart-to-heart talk."

You were present at the preoperative case discussion, right? That's enough.

They'll say that as a key member of the department, you failed to adequately assess the surgical risks and bear secondary responsibility.

It won't affect your professional qualifications; on the contrary, it will demonstrate your responsibility to the investigation team.

He paused, picked up the purple clay teacup on the table, took a sip, and the warm tea seemed to calm him down. His tone abruptly changed, carrying a clear implication:

"You know Dr. Gu, who performed the surgery, is the nephew of a leader from the Provincial Health Commission."

If we really find him out, our hospital's tertiary hospital rating review and medical insurance qualification verification will be affected, and it might even reduce next year's government funding.

If morale collapses, will you still be able to secure your research funding and your department's performance bonuses?

Yu Chenzhou pinched the edge of the document hard a few times with his fingers, leaving several deep creases.

He looked up at Zhang He, his eyes no longer hesitant, but filled with determination:

"I participated in the preoperative discussion because my patient was also going to have the same surgery and I wanted to understand the details of the surgery."

As for the risk assessment, I prepared a separate report for my own patient. She had the same surgery and was the same age, and she is now well out of danger.

Dean Zhang, this is not taking responsibility, it's blatant fraud.

Yesterday afternoon when I got off work, I saw a patient's family member squatting at the hospital entrance eating instant noodles.

Their eyes were red; they had entrusted the lives of their loved ones to us.

We can't go against our conscience and deceive them like this.

Upon hearing this, the warmth on Zhang He's face vanished instantly, and his expression turned completely somber. The shadow of the blinds completely covered his face, concealing the turbulent emotions surging in his eyes.

He put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a dull thud as it hit the table.

"Xiao Yu, I hope you can understand my difficulties."

I am fifty-nine years old this year. I can expect to retire peacefully in just six months and receive my full pension. At this critical juncture, the hospital cannot afford the slightest mistake!

"You've been with me for so many years, and I've treated you well. You wouldn't want me to ruin my reputation in my later years and be punished for 'dereliction of duty,' would you?"

When bribery failed, he lowered his stance, his voice carrying a barely perceptible pleading tone, trying to win sympathy with their years of friendship.

"A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear; I trust your character, Director Zhang."

Once the investigation team has investigated thoroughly, they will definitely clear your name.

Faced with Zhang He's emotional appeal, Yu Chenzhou pretended to be confused and avoided responding.

Seeing that neither soft nor hard tactics could persuade Yu Chenzhou, Zhang He's patience completely ran out.

He suddenly pulled a stack of documents from the drawer on the right side of his desk and slammed them onto the table with a "thud," the jarring sound of the papers hitting each other breaking the silence of the room.

He pointed to the words "Professional Title Promotion Review Form" on the document cover, his tone cold and hard:

"Your promotion to associate chief physician has just been announced, and I need to sign the subsequent filing materials."

And for the provincial-level research project you applied for, I also have to circle it on the funding approval form.

Whether these processes are efficient or slow depends entirely on my word.

Yu Chenzhou put down his teacup, staring directly at Zhang He with a strange smile in his eyes:

Are you threatening me?

"It's a reminder!"

Zhang He leaned back in the wide leather chair, crossed his hands in front of his lower abdomen, and regained his previous composure, though the coldness in his eyes was unmistakable.

"A hospital is a collective; we all prosper together and we all suffer together."

If you take on this task, all you have to do is sign a document, and the offer letter from the Capital Central Hospital will be delivered to you on time tomorrow; if you don't take it on...

He picked up his pen and heavily circled the "Secondary Liability Bearer" section of the accident report, the ink seeping through the paper onto the table.

This statement will include the phrase "Yu Chenzhou refused to cooperate with the investigation and is suspected of protecting a doctor in the same department." I will report it to the National Health Commission along with your performance evaluation.

At that point, forget about promotion; even staying in the medical system to continue practicing medicine will be a big question mark.

As soon as he finished speaking, the office fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that the distant siren of an ambulance could be clearly heard outside the window.

It came from afar and then gradually faded away, as if serving as a footnote to this stalemate.

Yu Chenzhou looked down at the glaringly written accident report on the table, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

He stood up abruptly, the collar of his white coat taut with the movement, his back to Zhang He, his voice low yet resounding:

"Director Zhang!"

I learned on my first day of medical school that the primary principle in handling medical malpractice is to be truthful and factual.

When patients lie on the operating table, we are their hope;

When problems arise, we should be their support.

We're all adults. Making mistakes isn't scary; what's scary is knowing you're wrong and trying to cover it up, and being afraid to take responsibility for your actions!

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the door, pausing as his hand gripped the cold metal doorknob. He turned back to look at Zhang He, whose face was ashen, and added:

"I am very grateful for the opportunity you mentioned at the Capital Central Hospital, but I cannot exchange it for the trust of my patients and my professional ethics as a doctor."

As for my promotion and research project, let's proceed with the normal procedures.

You have the right to block me;

I also have my own choice; I can resign.

I could even lay down my scalpel and give up being a doctor, but I must never break the Hippocratic Oath I took upon joining the profession.

After saying that, Yu Chenzhou opened the door and resolutely walked out.

Inside the office, Zhang He clenched his fists tightly, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks on his palm from the pen, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He stared intently at Yu Chenzhou's resolute back, watching the white figure disappear behind the door until the office door was gently closed with a soft "click".

He could no longer maintain his composure and abruptly swept the documents off the table.

Papers were scattered all over the floor, the accident report drifted to his feet, and he stared at the signature section, his voice filled with malice and resentment:

"Young man, don't be so stubborn. I want to see how long your bones can stay hard."

As Yu Chenzhou stepped out of the dean's office, the solemnity on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a light smile, and even his steps became lighter.

The nurses and doctors passing by in the corridor were curious to see his cheerful expression.

He looked so serious when he went in, how come he changed his expression in just a few minutes?

No one knew that the moment he stepped out of the office after rejecting Zhang He's attempts to bribe, play the victim, and threaten him, the system notification sounded in his mind at the same time.

"Congratulations, host, for maintaining your senses and earning one chance to win a prize."

No one knew how pleasant that voice was to Yu Chenzhou.

"It seems that obtaining lottery chances is much easier than I thought."

Yu Chenzhou, in high spirits, hummed the school song from his medical school days and strode towards his office.

Because he desperately needs system rewards to strengthen himself.

For him, the system rewards are what give him confidence.

As for jobs, as long as you have the ability, you can change jobs at any time.

Back in his office, he locked the door, sat down at his desk, concentrated his mind, and instantly started the lottery.

The virtual lottery light in my mind spun rapidly before finally settling steadily on a square.

As the system notification sound faded, a bank card appeared out of thin air in his hand.

【Discount Card (0.1% off)】

The text on the card is clear and concise. This card can be used to enjoy a 0.1% discount when making in-game purchases. In other words, one yuan can be used as one hundred yuan.

Although the reward is only valid for in-game use, Yu Chenzhou raised an eyebrow.

Yu Chenzhou was well aware that the gaming industry was highly competitive, and this card might come in very handy unexpectedly.