As the rumors outside grew more and more exaggerated, Xu Ze couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat. If he really had the skills people were talking about, why would he still be stuck in school or working as an apprentice at a clinic?
Gradually, Xu Ze couldn’t stay put any longer. Word had spread throughout the town, and many long-time patients, hearing the rumors, began to entertain the idea that this young Dr. Xu might actually have the miraculous abilities people were claiming. They thought, “What if this young doctor really is as skilled as they say? If he can cure my old illness, I’d be a fool not to try!” So, they started planning to visit this newly acclaimed “miracle doctor.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ze knew he couldn’t stay home any longer. He was well aware of his own limitations. While he might be able to handle common illnesses, these patients were long-term sufferers who had likely visited countless hospitals. Their conditions were complex and difficult to treat. If they really came knocking on his door, he wouldn’t be able to help them.
Without waiting until the next morning, Xu Ze hastily informed his parents and rushed out of town on his bicycle.
As he sped through the streets, people greeted him warmly, but Xu Ze had no time to chat. He gave brief responses and kept pedaling without stopping.
After a few minutes, he finally made it out of town and onto the main road.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Xu Ze let out a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, “I must be the only ‘doctor’ who’s been forced to flee from patients. And I’m not even a real doctor yet—not even a resident. If something went wrong while treating someone, it would be a huge mess.”
Xu Ze sighed again. He never expected that saving someone on a whim would lead to such trouble. But there was no use dwelling on it. For now, he needed to return to school and lay low.
As he rode, Xu Ze maintained a steady pace, knowing it was the best way to conserve energy. After all, the nearly 60-kilometer journey was no joke.
As he pedaled, a certain program in his mind activated once again: Bioelectric Energy Storage Function Accelerating…
Tiny strands of vibrant energy began to seep out from every cell in his body, converging toward a mysterious location. Meanwhile, a progress bar in the program slowly climbed: 23%… 24%…
After more than two hours, Xu Ze finally arrived back at school, drenched in sweat but just before nightfall. Without bothering to park his bike properly, he rushed straight to the second cafeteria. His stomach was growling fiercely, and he felt like he might faint if he didn’t eat soon.
The dinner rush had already passed, and the cafeteria was sparsely populated with only about a dozen people. Xu Ze hurried to the counter serving rice bowls and ordered a beef brisket with potatoes rice bowl from the chatty owner. He waited anxiously for his food, and once it was ready, he devoured the entire plate in just a few bites.
As the large amount of food entered his stomach, the mysterious program in his mind beeped again: Large intake of bioenergy detected. Cellular energy gradually replenishing. Excess energy detected. System bioelectric energy storage accelerating once more!
Looking at the empty plate, Xu Ze couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. He thought to himself, “Lately, my appetite has been much bigger than usual, especially after exercise. In the past, a single rice bowl would fill me up, but today, it only satisfied about half of my hunger.”
“Did the owner skimp on the beef and potatoes today?” Xu Ze smacked his lips, knowing it wasn’t the case. The portion was just as generous as always. Besides, given their friendly relationship and the fact that he was a regular customer, the owner wouldn’t shortchange him.
The beef brisket rice bowl at the second cafeteria was famous for being filling, so the fact that he was still hungry must be due to his own body.
Glancing at his slightly thin but somewhat muscular frame, Xu Ze sighed inwardly, “I hope it’s not some hormonal imbalance that’ll turn me into a big fat guy.”
But regardless of the reason, his stomach was still growling. After some thought, Xu Ze decided not to worry about the potential consequences of overeating. For now, filling his stomach was the priority.