Chapter 105 - 104: The Scene Needs Your Skills

Chapter 105: Chapter 104: The Scene Needs Your Skills

Now that Yu Zhiming had cleared his name in the molestation case, the story of how he was eliminated from Jingda Medical School’s postgraduate program interview became another hot topic online.

As if to compensate for the cyberbullying and injustice Yu Zhiming had suffered, and now that the connection between Professor Wen Keming and the parents of the other two students had been confirmed with solid proof, netizens were demanding in droves that Jingda Medical School provide an explanation...

In Teacher Qi’s director’s office, Yu Zhiming met the representative from Jingda Medical School.

Her name was Zhao Xin, and her position was Vice Dean.

This was a capable-looking, middle-aged woman with short hair that fell past her ears.

"Dean Zhao, good afternoon!"

"Dr. Yu, hello!"

After a brief exchange of greetings, Zhao Xin cut straight to the chase.

"Dr. Yu, I’m sure you know why I’m here. I hope we can work together to put an end to this online controversy as quickly as possible."

Zhao Xin continued persuasively, "With all this endless turmoil, your work and life are also being greatly affected, aren’t they, Dr. Yu?"

"Besides, being constantly watched by so many netizens means you lose all privacy in your life and work."

"Even the slightest impropriety, no matter how trivial, could spark a heated debate."

"Dr. Yu, wouldn’t you agree?"

Yu Zhiming could tell that she had no intention of mentioning their own mistakes.

’It seems this woman isn’t here to sincerely solve the problem. It’s more like she’s here to throw her weight around.’

This made Yu Zhiming sneer inwardly.

He asked coolly, "Dean Zhao, how exactly do you plan to quell this online controversy?"

Zhao Xin gave a faint smile and didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said, "Back then, your preliminary exam score was quite good, Dr. Yu. Your English score alone was nearly perfect. Very outstanding."

Yu Zhiming understood her implication. He scoffed lightly and retorted, "And my political studies score barely scraped by."

He added confidently, "And in terms of the professional subject exam, my score was also higher than those two."

Zhao Xin retorted, "But if we set aside the scores for the general subjects, the gap in the professional subject scores wasn’t that significant, was it?"

She quickly followed up, "That second-round interview... it was over four years ago, but since it’s something you can’t forget, Dr. Yu, it must still be fresh in your mind, right?"

"I wonder, Dr. Yu, how would you rate your own performance during that interview?"

Qi Yue, who had been sitting silently to the side, spoke up first.

"Vice Dean Zhao, how my student performed in the interview isn’t what’s important. What’s important is how those other two students performed."

"If those two delivered a medical-genius-level performance in the interview, then it would be perfectly reasonable for my student to have been eliminated."

Qi Yue asked pointedly, "Vice Dean Zhao, you’re not going to tell me that after a mere four years, the video recordings from the interview have all been deleted, are you?"

"And that the written files were eaten by rats?"

Zhao Xin put on a very ashamed expression.

"Director Qi, it is indeed as you’ve said..."

"The video recordings have been deleted, and the written documents were damaged by rats and insects."

"The other instructors who participated in the interview at the time also can’t remember the details clearly, as too much time has passed."

"If that weren’t the case, we would have presented detailed evidence long ago to prove we have a clear conscience."

This... this...

Qi Yue and Yu Zhiming exchanged a look, silently sharing their thoughts.

’Damn. This has to be the pinnacle of telling bare-faced lies. So shameless and black-hearted. They were clearly the ones who rigged it, and now they’ve destroyed all the evidence, leaving no way to prove a thing. And they still have the gall to make themselves sound so innocent and righteous.’

Qi Yue couldn’t stand their shameless behavior. With a mocking expression, he said, "Jingda Medical School has been riding on the golden reputation of Jingda for so many years, yet it’s still floundering at a second-rate level."

"Now, I finally understand why."

"Vice Dean Zhao, your little speech today has really been an eye-opener."

Being called out so bluntly, even someone as thick-skinned as Zhao Xin looked a little embarrassed.

"Director Qi, I know. First came the exposé and the solid proof that a Professor Huang had a close personal relationship with that student’s parents."

"And now, I’m telling you that all the files are gone. I admit it’s not at all convincing."

"It looks like a classic case of protesting too much."

"But things are just that coincidental. We can’t prove our innocence, and believe me, we’re quite distressed and aggrieved by it too."

Qi Yue retorted sarcastically, "The real coincidence is that my student became famous overnight and brought this whole issue to light, isn’t it?"

He gave a dismissive wave of his hand, cutting off Zhao Xin’s excuses, and asked directly, "Vice Dean Zhao, just come out and say it. What is it that you people actually want?"

"We all have patients to see. Our time is precious."

Zhao Xin looked at Qi Yue, then at Yu Zhiming, but finally let her gaze rest on Qi Yue.

She let out a breath and put on a sincere expression.

"Director Qi, with your experience, you must understand that in a society like ours, which is so deeply rooted in personal connections and social obligations, we all face situations where our hands are tied, and we’re caught in inescapable networks."

"As your student, Dr. Yu... I’m sure you know a great deal about his past..."

Zhao Xin said earnestly, "Four or five years ago, he was just an ordinary student from a third-rate medical school. His family is from a rural area, and he had no family background in medicine."

"Could you have predicted that Dr. Yu would achieve what he has in medicine today?"

"No one could have predicted that, right?"

She asked rhetorically before continuing, "Compared to the other two students’ educational and family backgrounds, they were clearly the more promising candidates to invest in, weren’t they?"

"Add in some old personal connections, and the preferential choice becomes self-evident, doesn’t it?"

Although these words angered Yu Zhiming, he also knew she was speaking the harsh truth.

’Discrimination and unwritten rules are everywhere when it comes to the postgraduate entrance exams. For instance, some universities deliberately suppress the scores of their first-choice applicants to free up spots for transfer students from the more prestigious 211 and 985 universities. What I went through was just a formality. I was just an unwitting escort runner in a race that was all but fixed. In society, there are countless people like that—escort runners who don’t know the inside story and think they have a real shot!’

Seeing that both Qi Yue and Yu Zhiming had fallen silent, Zhao Xin knew her words were having an effect.

She pressed her advantage, saying, "Actually, we aren’t asking Dr. Yu to do much. We just want him to post something online to cool the situation down and quiet the discussions."

"Of course, our medical school will take some corresponding measures and issue a new public notice on our handling of the investigation."

Zhao Xin added, "But I must be clear: there are certain matters of principle that we will not admit to."

"There are too many issues and people involved. Once we open that can of worms, it will likely be very difficult to contain the fallout."

"I hope you can understand our position."

Hearing this, Yu Zhiming finally understood.

’So they want to have their cake and eat it too? In private, they can tacitly admit they were wrong, but in public, they’d rather die than confess.’

Zhao Xin finally turned her gaze to Yu Zhiming.

"Dr. Yu, if you’re still interested in pursuing advanced studies—be it at a domestic medical school, a renowned international hospital, or a medical research institute—we can help you make the necessary connections."

"As a medical school, our connections and network are always far more extensive than what an individual can muster..."

’This is their compensation offer,’ Yu Zhiming realized. ’Or more accurately, hush money.’

He didn’t have to agonize over the choice, as Qi Yue rejected the offer for him, directly and decisively.

"As for his advanced studies, we won’t trouble you. I have my own arrangements for him."

Zhao Xin smiled knowingly. "With Director Qi’s connections and network, of course our help isn’t needed."

"Well, as for collaborations on research projects, that’s something our two sides could still pursue."

Qi Yue was silent for a moment before replying, "We didn’t have the chance to collaborate before, so there’s no need to rush into it now."

"Let’s wait for a suitable opportunity in the future."

Zhao Xin’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "Good! Good! We’ll collaborate when a suitable opportunity arises in the future."

"So, Director Qi...?"

Qi Yue sighed softly. "This online controversy really can’t be allowed to continue. It truly is affecting our lives and work."

Qi Yue made the call and took a step back.

’The other side made a point of sending a vice dean to negotiate, which could be considered a form of apology. He didn’t want to end up in a completely adversarial relationship with Jingda Medical School. Besides, the name ’Jingda’ carried a lot of weight, and the power of its alumni association, in particular, was something that made one think twice. He himself wasn’t afraid, but Yu Zhiming was still young with a long career ahead of him. He might have to deal with these people again in the future. Compromise is always the adult choice.’

Qi Yue turned to instruct Yu Zhiming.

"Zhiming, just post some general thoughts online. See if it helps cool down the debate."

Since his teacher had spoken, Yu Zhiming had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Seeing that this was the final outcome of the negotiation, Zhao Xin didn’t dare push for any more unreasonable demands. She rose to her feet solemnly and thanked Qi Yue and Yu Zhiming for their magnanimity.

Just as Yu Zhiming thought the matter was concluded, Zhao Xin spoke again.

"Dr. Yu, I volunteered to come here today. Apart from this matter, I also had a personal objective."

Without waiting for Yu Zhiming to ask, Zhao Xin stated frankly, "I’m in a high-risk group for breast cancer."

"My grandmother died from breast cancer, and I have a cousin who was also diagnosed with it four years ago."

"I was wondering if I could ask you, Dr. Yu..."

Previously, Zhao Xin had been there to negotiate on behalf of her institution; now, she was personally seeking medical help.

As a doctor, Yu Zhiming couldn’t very well refuse a normal request for medical assistance, so he gave Zhao Xin a thorough breast exam in an examination room.

And he did, in fact, find something.

Yu Zhiming drew a simple diagram for Zhao Xin, whose face had grown much paler, to make it easier for her to get further diagnostic tests when she returned to the Capital City...

Nearing the end of his shift, Yu Zhiming suddenly received a call from Director Zhao Shan of the Outpatient and Emergency Department.

The moment he answered, Zhao Shan’s urgent voice burst from the phone.

"Get to the ER and assemble, as fast as you can!"

"We’ve just been notified of an emergency rescue mission. A tour bus went off an overpass. Casualties are severe."

"We need your skills at the scene..."