3:00 a.m.

Yang Xu’s office.

Once the door was closed, the mentor and his student relaxed.

Yang Xu praised him, "You did very well on the table today... You kid, you were born to be a surgeon."

Jiang He said softly, "It’s because Teacher’s exposure and pressure were perfectly applied. If you hadn’t used your fingers to press down on the rupture and stabilize the blood pressure right away, I wouldn’t have even had a chance to get the needle in."

Yang Xu waved his hand, dismissing such formalities.

He’d been a clinician his entire life. He knew full well what skill level everyone on the surgical team possessed.

The rapport they had built during tonight’s surgery no longer needed to be reinforced with empty flattery.

"I didn’t call you over to debrief the surgery. It’s about that peripheral blood miRNA early screening project you mentioned to me a while back. I asked around at the hospital and the Medical School."

Jiang He’s expression turned serious. "Please, Teacher, go on."

Yang Xu said, "The situation isn’t optimistic. Do you know Professor Sun Changming from the cancer research institute?"

Jiang He searched for the name in his mind, then nodded. "I’ve heard of him. He’s an authority in the hospital’s medical oncology department and also a doctoral advisor at the university."

"That’s right. Sun Changming happens to have a research group that’s also applying for a project with the university. Its focus highly overlaps with the miRNA project you proposed. They also plan to use specific microRNA expression in peripheral blood for the early screening of digestive tract tumors."

Jiang He was silent for a few seconds.

In scientific research, overlapping projects were a common occurrence, especially in such cutting-edge and popular fields.

Yang Xu spelled it out for him. "Sun Changming is a doctoral advisor. His project is led by him, with four full-time doctoral students and two dedicated lab researchers pushing it forward. They have a ready-made tumor cell culture room, skilled PCR amplification technicians, and an existing clinical sample library."

"And on your side... there’s just one person. You? Anyway, the school’s research funding and resource allocation are limited each year. You understand what I mean, right?"

Jiang He knew what Yang Xu meant.

The university would never split a large amount of funding equally between two teams whose projects were so similar.

Especially when applying for national-level projects and major awards, the university would only concentrate its resources on the team that seemed to have a higher chance of success.

So, Jiang He said, "Is Professor Sun Changming’s project team looking for people? I’d like to join."

Yang Xu: "?"

Jiang He explained, "As long as the project gets done, I’m fine with it."

Yang Xu: "..."

He remembered now. This student of his had such a big-picture mindset...

’I think it was because someone close to him got sick? That makes it understandable.’

Yang Xu said, "No, you should still do it yourself. You’re my student. What would it mean for you to join another project team?"

Jiang He blinked and said, "Alright... So, the university will choose between our two teams?"

"Correct. There will be a hospital-level project review and defense at the end of November to decide next year’s priority support list."

Jiang He: "I see."

Seeing his nonchalant expression, Yang Xu clicked his tongue, then said, "Sun Changming, that kid, is also pursuing Professor Wang. Get it now?"

Jiang He had a sudden realization.

So that’s how it was.

’A love rival! He’s after the woman who should be my teacher’s wife!’

’No wonder Teacher was being so subtly hostile... Nice.’

Yang Xu continued, "So do a good job, you hear me?"

"Yes, I understand, Teacher."

"Alright, go back and get some rest." Yang Xu waved his hand. "Get a good night’s sleep. Later, if you have time, you can come and observe a few more surgeries to get familiar with things."

Jiang He: "Okay."

Yang Xu emphasized, "Come by often when you have time!"

Jiang He was amused by his teacher. After giving a firm agreement, he turned and left.

Just as he stepped out, he was called over by Liu Jianbang. "Jiang He, come here."

Jiang He walked over. "Director Liu."

Liu Jianbang pulled a plastic card holder on a lanyard from the pocket of his white coat and handed it to Jiang He. "Take this."

Jiang He looked down and saw a temporary access pass for Affiliated Hospital No. 1.

His photo was on it.

The permissions section had the red stamp of the medical affairs department and was marked with "Access Permitted for Intensive Care Unit & Surgical Area."

In 2008, fully electronic access cards weren’t yet common.

This stiff, red-stamped card was the main form of identification, and usually, only visiting doctors or experts from higher-level hospitals on inspection tours could get one.

"I had someone get this from the on-duty office of medical affairs just now. Old Yang also put in a word. From now on, when you come to Affiliated Hospital No. 1, you can get into the ICU and the operating rooms with this."

"Thank you, Director." Jiang He took the card holder with both hands and put it in his pocket.

He really did need this. For his future research project, he would inevitably have to run around the hospital collecting clinical data.

Liu Jianbang looked Jiang He up and down, his eyes full of appreciation. "You’re from Southern Medical University, right? When do you graduate?"

"Normally, it would be 2011," Jiang He answered.

Liu Jianbang shook his head. "That’s too long. If you can manage to graduate early or get qualified for early clinical rotations, come find me directly. I have all sorts of cases here. It’s the best training."

Jiang He smiled politely. "Thank you for the high praise, Director. If I do get a chance to enter clinical rotations early, I’ll definitely come here to learn from you."

Liu Jianbang patted Jiang He’s shoulder. "Alright. Go on home and get some rest."

Jiang He said his goodbyes to Liu Jianbang and walked to the elevator bank, pressing the down button.

The elevator doors slid open.

Just as he was about to step in, a person walked out.

It was the circulating nurse from Operating Room 1.

She had already changed into her regular clothes and was holding a thermos, looking a little tired.

When she saw Jiang He, she paused, and her eyes lit up.

"You haven’t left yet, Dr. Jiang?"

After going through an emergency rescue together, people in the operating room naturally developed a sense of camaraderie, like comrades-in-arms.

Jiang He nodded slightly. "I was just debriefing with Teacher Yang. I’m heading back to the university now."

The nurse shook her head, her tone a mix of amazement and jest. "It’s really unbelievable. You’re so young, so incredibly promising."

Jiang He responded calmly, "You flatter me. It’s all thanks to Professor Yang’s excellent guidance."

"Oh, come on." The nurse smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

In the light of the corridor, she noticed the silver ring on Jiang He’s hand.

She raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I was just thinking that our hospital’s surgery department finally got a handsome young man with such amazing skills. The single nurses in my department are going to be asking about you like crazy tomorrow. But look at you, so afraid of attracting admirers, huh?"

Jiang He glanced down at the ring on his hand. An image of Teacher Shen surfaced in his mind, and his expression softened considerably. "No, I’m just used to it. I don’t want to take it off."

Seeing how open and devoted he was, the admiration in the nurse’s eyes deepened.

Young and promising, composed and low-key, and with a clean-cut air about him.

"Not only are your skills great, but you’re a reliable person, too." The nurse’s eyes curved into a smile as she stepped aside. "Hurry back and get some rest, Dr. Jiang. It’s been a long night."

Jiang He nodded and left.

Although today’s events, much like the time he saved someone at the internet cafe, wouldn’t be widely publicized, the intangible value was definitely significant.

He could tell just from the change in attitude from Liu Jianbang and the nurse.

’My standing within the hospital has clearly improved.’