In Yan Feifan’s opinion, Qi Xiuping’s hands-on wound treatment, especially his suturing technique, was mediocre at best.

You could say it was a tiny smidgen better than his aesthetic sense, which meant it was barely passable.

In Yan Feifan’s words, if Qi Xiuping wanted to stand out and become one of the five, his only hope was that the competition wasn’t too strong this time.

After all, no amount of special training could cause his skills to make a quantum leap in just two or three short days.

Yan Feifan pointed out a few areas where Qi Xiuping’s suturing technique needed improvement, then left him in the emergency department to perform some unpaid labor.

He called it "special training," of course.

Yan Feifan also specifically instructed his colleagues in the emergency department to assign as many patients with facial and hand trauma to Qi Xiuping as possible.

The only thing about Qi Xiuping that impressed Yan Feifan was that he had come prepared, with several boxes of standard 5-0 absorbable sutures already in his briefcase.

’At least this Qi Xiuping has the right mindset.’

As for Lv Xin, who had been clamoring for cosmetic surgery, Yan Feifan told her in all seriousness.

To achieve the level of aesthetic enhancement she currently had on her face, she would need a major operation that would cost around one to two hundred thousand.

Furthermore, to maintain the results, she would need one or two minor follow-up surgeries every three to four years.

After Yan Feifan went on to explain the potential complications of such a major surgery, like facial nerve damage or a "frozen face," he could see Lv Xin was clearly hesitant and having second thoughts.

"Lv Xin, this is a big decision. Don’t be impulsive. Go home, think it over carefully, and discuss it with your family."

After Lv Xin left, Yan Feifan and Yu Suye returned to the lab and resumed the practice they had interrupted.

Around noon, they finished their practice, cleaned up the workstation, and eagerly prepared to go to lunch.

For doctors, especially surgeons, irregular mealtimes were a common occurrence.

Sometimes, when things got busy, they wouldn’t get a bite to eat for seven or eight, or even ten-plus, hours.

Many surgeons had stomach problems to some degree.

During their daily work, as long as the task at hand wasn’t critical, they always made a point of eating on time.

"Feifan, I was thinking..."

Yu Suye said as she put away the training equipment, "Qi Xiuping’s skills are actually quite good."

"You shouldn’t judge him by your own standards."

Yan Feifan replied while tidying up his own things, "I’m judging him by Mr. Wang’s standards."

"And Qi Xiuping’s skills really aren’t outstanding enough."

Yu Suye reminded him, "Feifan, have you ever thought about it?"

"If he were really that skilled, would he need to pull strings and call in favors just to get special training from you?"

Yan Feifan stopped what he was doing and looked at Yu Suye.

"Su Ye, what are you trying to say?"

Yu Suye met his gaze and said slowly, "Everyone knows you’re in the good graces of a lot of important people, especially Mr. Wang."

"Mr. Wang is putting on a show of being impartial and choosing the best candidate based on merit, so getting connected to you is a clever workaround."

Yan Feifan’s expression darkened. "I’m a man of principle. I despise backdoor deals."

’What a hypocrite,’ Yu Suye thought. ’When it came to Xiaoyu’s education, you paved the way for her a long time ago.’

She gave a small smile and said, "No one’s asking you to make a backdoor deal."

"In my opinion, Qi Xiuping’s skills are still excellent."

"There will definitely be competitors who are better than him, but not many will be significantly better. Probably fewer than five."

"When it comes to the other excellent candidates who are on par with Qi Xiuping, and the differences are negligible, who do you think will be chosen in the end?"

Yu Suye chuckled. "If Mr. Wang finds out that Qi Xiuping received special training from you..."

"Do you think he would still choose someone else?"

Yan Feifan was taken aback for a moment, then retorted, "So in other words, Mr. Chen used me?"

Yu Suye pursed her lips in a smile. "Not ’used,’ more like ’leveraged.’ Besides, Mr. Chen has been very good to you."

"Shouldn’t you help him out?"

Yan Feifan grunted, showing he wasn’t pleased.

The two of them finished cleaning the workstation, washed up, and left the lab.

As they walked into the emergency department lobby, Yan Feifan went over to Qi Xiuping’s treatment cubicle. He saw him suturing a wound on the forehead of a seven or eight-year-old boy.

He watched for a minute or two, then left without a word.

Once they were outside the emergency building, Yu Suye asked, "So, were you satisfied with Qi Xiuping’s performance?"

"Not satisfied," Yan Feifan said bluntly. "Barely a passing grade."

"I gave him six points to work on earlier. From what I just saw, he’s managed to improve on maybe three of them, at a stretch."

Yu Suye smiled gently and looped her arm through Yan Feifan’s.

"Seeing an immediate improvement on three points is already very good. Habits formed over many years can’t be changed overnight..."

The two of them went to Staff Cafeteria 1, got their food, and found a relatively quiet table to sit at.

Just as they were finishing up, Yan Ziruo sat down next to Yan Feifan with a tray of food.

Ever since Yan Feifan and Yu Suye had started dating, Yan Ziruo rarely ate in Cafeteria 1 anymore.

"Feifan..."

Yan Ziruo had just started to speak when her younger brother cut her off.

"Sis, are you wearing makeup?"

"It’s light makeup, just light makeup. I didn’t put any on my nose or eyelids."

Yan Ziruo explained, then added with a flourish, "Feifan, Su Ye, you guys have no idea."

"Today, the very first thing everyone who knows me said when they saw me was how much prettier I’ve gotten."

She stressed, "Feifan, Su Ye, listen closely now. Not *some* people. *Everyone*."

Yan Feifan scoffed. "That’s my handiwork. What are you so smug about, Sis?"

"I am smug, and you can’t do anything about it."

Yan Ziruo shot her brother a glare, then said smugly, "This morning, I went to the plastic surgery center’s pharmacy to pick up some scar cream, and I took the opportunity to talk to Mr. Wang about the partnership agreement for the private restaurant."

"Feifan, guess what Mr. Wang said?"

Yan Feifan guessed, "That there’s still room for negotiation on the agreement?"

Yan Ziruo reached out and flicked her brother on the forehead. "No, not that!" she huffed.

Beaming, she said in a sing-song voice, "Yan Feifan, you better listen closely. The director said I was..."

"Elegant and radiant, as graceful as a chrysanthemum or an orchid."

"Of course..."

Yan Ziruo gave a dismissive wave of her hand and continued, "He also threw in a compliment for you, by the way."

"Something about your skills being intuitive, effortless, a state of true mastery, whatever."

Yan Feifan chuckled. "Sis, when the director praises you, he’s really praising me. What’s there for you to be so happy about?"

He then asked with concern, "Sis, has that guy who asked for your WeChat at the wedding contacted you yet?"

Yan Ziruo giggled. "We’re in touch. He’s pretty forward, already invited me out and asked me to dinner."

"As for me, I’m not acting too eager or proactive. I’m being reserved, playing a little hard to get, keeping him on the hook for now."

"Once my face is fully healed, I’ll get all dolled up and make my grand, dazzling entrance."

Yan Ziruo pumped a small fist, roaring with unshakeable confidence, "If I don’t knock him dead with my beauty in one go, then my last name isn’t Yan!"

Yan Feifan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Just as he was about to make a sarcastic remark to take his sister down a peg, his phone rang.

It was a call from Dr. Qiu Ge.

The moment he answered the call, Dr. Qiu Ge’s voice, full of unconcealed excitement, came through the phone. "Mr. Yan, Mr. Ren came through with the reward!"

"And not only that, he threw in a little something extra..."