Just as Xu Ze had anticipated, the surgeon on duty grew frantic when he saw so many patients arriving at once. Six or seven cases at the same time—how could he handle them all alone?
Remembering that Director Qu was on duty in the internal medicine department today, he hurried to fetch him, hoping he could arrange for additional staff or request support from the trauma department.
When Director Qu saw the sheer number of patients, he also panicked. As the head of the emergency department, his expertise lay in internal medicine, while emergency surgery was overseen by Deputy Director Zhang. He had no authority to intervene in trauma cases.
Left with no choice, he immediately called in the emergency surgery team for overtime and contacted the inpatient trauma department for backup.
However, the trauma department replied that they were currently handling emergency surgeries and couldn’t spare anyone. Director Qu was now at his wit’s end—the emergency surgeons would take at least twenty minutes to arrive from home. Meanwhile, six or seven patients were groaning in pain. How could they manage like this?
Standing nearby, Xu Ze noticed Director Qu pacing anxiously but showing no intention of asking for his help. Puzzled, he decided to take matters into his own hands. While Director Qu was distracted, he put on a mask and cap, entered one of the empty emergency operating rooms, and gestured to a middle-aged man who was anxiously making phone calls beside a bloodied patient on a gurney. “Come on, push him in here with me.”
Relieved to see a doctor, the middle-aged man eagerly wheeled the patient inside. Xu Ze took over, pulled the curtain shut, and instructed, “Wait outside. I’ll call you if needed.”
“Of course, of course! I’ll be right here!” the man replied in a thick Beijing accent.
With the curtain closed, Xu Ze began examining the patient—a composed young man under thirty, well-dressed and handsome, though slightly pale. Despite clutching his thigh and occasionally grimacing, he remained remarkably calm.
The thigh wound was long and deep, nearly fifteen centimeters, with the periosteum faintly visible. Fortunately, no major blood vessels or bones were damaged. Xu Ze swiftly tore open the expensive Armani trousers to fully expose the injury. He then grabbed two bottles of saline solution from the cabinet, opened them, and placed them on the operating table before proceeding to treat the patient right there on the stretcher.
Seeing the patient was fully conscious, Xu Ze said, “I’m going to clean the wound now. It might sting a little—hang in there.”
The young man met Xu Ze’s calm gaze and nodded in understanding.
After donning sterile gloves, Xu Ze used forceps and a cotton ball soaked in saline to thoroughly rinse the wound, ensuring all debris was removed to prevent infection. Impressively, the patient endured the process without a sound, even when hydrogen peroxide was applied, which typically caused significant discomfort.
Once the wounds were cleaned and disinfected, Xu Ze removed his soiled gloves, prepped lidocaine, and changed into fresh surgical gloves.
Noticing Xu Ze was about to operate alone, the young man finally spoke up, “Doctor… you’re doing this by yourself? No assistant?”
Xu Ze smiled reassuringly. “There’s no one available right now. Backup won’t arrive for another ten minutes or so. But don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”
Something in Xu Ze’s soothing voice and confident demeanor put the young man at ease. He lay back and let Xu Ze proceed.
After administering local anesthesia—nearly ten injections along the wound—Xu Ze began suturing. Despite this being his first time handling such a severe injury in reality, his extensive practice in virtual simulations made it feel routine. Layer by layer, he stitched the muscle and skin with precision, finishing the lengthy wound in just four or five minutes.
When Xu Ze began removing the sterile drapes, the patient blinked in surprise. “Done already?”
“Done,” Xu Ze replied lightly. “Now, let’s take care of the cut on your chest. That’ll be much quicker.”
Relieved, the young man was even more impressed. The deep thigh wound, which had nearly exposed bone, had been handled so swiftly. A flicker of gratitude crossed his eyes.
The chest wound, only about six centimeters, was straightforward. Xu Ze used the remaining lidocaine, sutured it in under three minutes, and bandaged it neatly. “Any discomfort now?”
“None at all. I feel fine,” the patient replied, his handsome face breaking into a grateful smile. He even joked, “Doctor, are all the physicians at Xingda First Hospital this skilled? If so, hospitals in Beijing might soon fall behind.”
Xu Ze chuckled modestly. “Not necessarily. I just have a bit more experience with this sort of thing.” After advising post-op care, he prepared to wheel the patient out.
There was something inexplicably likable about this young, skilled, and easygoing doctor. The patient found it unusual how quickly he had trusted Xu Ze—something rare for him.
On impulse, he pulled a white business card from his torn pocket and handed it over. “Thank you. I’m Li Yue. If you’re ever in Beijing, call me.”
Surprised but touched by the gesture, Xu Ze accepted the card—bearing just a name and number—and tucked it away. Removing his mask, he smiled warmly. “I’m Xu Ze. Pleasure to meet you.”
