Chapter 112 - 111: You’d Better Stay Away From Zhiming

Chapter 112: Chapter 111: You’d Better Stay Away From Zhiming

Wang Yaxian hadn’t come specifically to visit Qi Yue and Yu Zhiming. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have shown up at this hour.

Today, she had been invited to Huashan Hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department for a medical exchange event.

Now that the event was over, Wang Yaxian, her heart heavy with complex emotions, had found herself at the Qi Yue Medical Research Center. Then, as if guided by some unseen force, she had walked inside.

She had only asked on a whim, not expecting them to still be here after closing time...

When Wang Yaxian saw Yu Zhiming in person and looked at his excessively young face, a sudden sense of defeat washed over her.

’All my hard work and diligence truly pale in comparison to such astounding natural talent.’

Wang Yaxian composed herself slightly and said with a sigh, "Director Qi, Dr. Yu, I was the one who personally examined that patient, Liu Xuan."

"Let’s put it this way: I used every available breast cancer screening method on her."

"I never expected that in the end, it would all be no match for your magic touch, Dr. Yu."

Qi Yue could deeply empathize with Doctor Wang’s current feelings.

He had, after all, experienced the same thing himself.

He comforted her in a low voice, "Doctor Wang, my student here is a monster of a talent who lives by his gift."

"It’s a gift from the heavens, bestowed upon him by a twist of fate. We can’t compete with it, nor can we hope to obtain it through envy."

Wang Yaxian gave a bitter smile. "You’re right. Talent is something you’re born with. You can’t force it."

But as a veteran with decades of work experience, Wang Yaxian quickly recovered after her bout of frustration.

Once her mind settled, her thoughts began to race with new ideas.

"Dr. Yu, please forgive my forwardness, but I’d like to ask... is there some secret to your examination technique?"

Yu Zhiming shook his head. "Dr. Wang, it’s not that I’m being selfish and unwilling to share. I truly don’t have any special technique or secret."

"It’s purely a feeling, something rather metaphysical."

Yu Zhiming emphasized again, "Dr. Wang, I’m really not trying to be intentionally mysterious. It’s truly a feeling that I can’t quite explain or put into words."

Wang Yaxian chuckled lightly. "Dr. Yu, I believe you!"

"In all my years as a doctor, there have been a few times when I’ve stubbornly stuck to my intuition, even when all the test data contradicted my judgment."

"Many colleagues and mentors even thought I was being obstinate, making a scene, and deliberately causing trouble."

"But in the end, events proved that I was right."

Qi Yue laughed in deep sympathy. "Doctor Wang, to be honest with you, I’ve had a few of those strong gut feelings myself."

"And afterwards, they always proved to be correct."

Wang Yaxian and Qi Yue glanced at each other and chuckled in unison.

The ever-sensible Zhou Mo refilled everyone’s teacups.

Wang Yaxian lifted her teacup and took a small sip.

"Dr. Yu, besides Liu Xuan, have you by any chance found any other patients with early-stage breast cancer?"

"Yes, there is one," Yu Zhiming replied honestly, his thoughts turning to Zhao Xin from Jingda Medical School.

Wang Yaxian’s eyes lit up. "Dr. Yu, would it be possible for you to disclose that patient’s information?"

She quickly explained, "Dr. Yu, Dr. Qi, it’s like this: current breast cancer screening methods all failed to detect Liu Xuan’s cancer."

"This indicates that there are significant flaws in the current screening methods."

"After Liu Xuan was diagnosed, I ran more detailed tests on her and did find that some of her biological markers were different from the average person’s."

"However, with only one sample—Liu Xuan—I can’t determine whether those different markers are unique to her or a result of the breast cancer."

Hearing this, Qi Yue’s eyes widened for a moment before returning to normal.

He quickly raised his teacup and took a sip to hide his excitement.

Wang Yaxian continued, "If I had more samples from early-stage breast cancer patients like Liu Xuan, perhaps I could find some commonalities among them."

"If that were the case, we could take a huge leap forward in breast cancer screening."

"If that were the case..."

Wang Yaxian grew excited. "Early detection, early treatment... breast cancer might not have to take so many poor women’s lives."

"At the very least, we could significantly increase the survival period for breast cancer patients, letting them live another ten, or even twenty years..."

Watching Wang Yaxian, whose eyes were shining with excitement, Yu Zhiming said thoughtfully, "I can’t directly disclose that patient’s information to you, Dr. Wang. I’ll need to contact her first."

"There’s a high probability she won’t refuse."

Wang Yaxian’s face was full of anticipation. "Good, good! Dr. Yu, I’ll be waiting for your good news..."

Since it was already after hours and Wang Yaxian had gotten what she came for, she chatted for a few more minutes before tactfully taking her leave.

After seeing Wang Yaxian off, Qi Yue suddenly slapped his own forehead with a loud SMACK.

The sudden action startled Yu Zhiming and Zhou Mo.

"I’m punishing myself for my own stupidity."

Qi Yue looked at Yu Zhiming and Zhou Mo and explained, "I’ve been sitting on a gold mine without realizing it. The fact that I needed Doctor Wang to point it out to me is just unacceptable."

He paused, then said with a sense of urgency, "Zhiming, from now on, every early-stage cancer patient you identify needs to undergo a complete and highly detailed full-body examination."

"And we’ll do the most detailed examination possible on the cancerous organ as well."

Yu Zhiming suspected that Teacher Qi had suddenly been overstimulated and wasn’t thinking clearly.

He reminded him, "Teacher, if by ’highly detailed examination’ you mean what I think you mean, the cost could easily exceed a hundred thousand yuan."

"Who’s going to pay for these tests?"

Qi Yue shot Yu Zhiming a disdainful look, as if he were a country bumpkin. "Why are you always thinking about money?"

"Just think about it. If we can use sample analysis to find early screening markers for cancers like breast or stomach cancer, how many people would that benefit?"

"This project would be worth investing tens of millions, hundreds of millions, even billions in."

"Teacher, what if we don’t find anything in the end?" Yu Zhiming began to play the role of the rational one, pouring cold water on the idea.

Qi Yue declared righteously, "Every scientific research project carries the risk of failure."

"Should we stop investing in research just because we’re afraid of failure? This project is worth a major investment even if it only has a one percent chance of success."

"If we successfully identify an early screening marker for even one type of cancer, it would be a monumental achievement for the country and its people."

Growing more and more excited as he spoke, Qi Yue couldn’t contain himself.

"I’m going to discuss this with Dean Li right now. I’m sure he’ll give this project his full support."

As Qi Yue turned to head back to his office, he suddenly noticed Yu Zhiming and Zhou Mo standing side by side, looking like a perfect couple.

His heart skipped a beat, and he turned back around.

"Zhiming, you should head home first. You have your physical exam tomorrow and a full day ahead of you."

"Zhou Mo, come back to my office with me."

Leading Zhou Mo back to the director’s office, Qi Yue personally shut the door.

When he turned around again, his expression had become grave.

"Xiaomo, I went to the lab and saw Zhiming’s so-called ’method’ for studying the physiological structure of cancerous organs..."

Qi Yue wore a pained expression.

"His unusual dissection techniques, and his obsession with it... it has me very worried."

"Xiaomo, your worries and concerns aren’t unfounded. I’m also very concerned that he might have a psychological problem."

"Then... then... Dr. Yu? What should we do?" Zhou Mo’s face was etched with deep worry.

Qi Yue let out a long sigh. "I suspect it might be related to his past experience with blindness."

"I’m going to arrange a psychological evaluation for him and make sure he attends counseling sessions on time."

"However, Xiaomo..."

Qi Yue urged, "It would be best for you to keep some distance from him. In fact, it’s better to stay far away from him. The farther, the better."

Zhou Mo’s small face was tense as she said, "Director, I will."

"Just thinking about him cutting up human organs like that gives me goosebumps all over."

"I’ll probably have nightmares tonight..."