Super Doctor - Chapter 148

As the clear, slightly magnetic voice rang out, everyone froze for a moment before turning toward its source.

Xu Ze stood up slowly from the back, a composed and faintly shy smile on his face as he said, “I’d like to add a few points.”

Hearing his words and seeing him rise, the room fell into stunned silence. The internal medicine directors, taking in Xu Ze’s youthful face, couldn’t help but chuckle under their breaths. This kid really doesn’t know his place. A debate among department chiefs is no arena for an unlicensed intern to chime in.

Director Qu and the emergency department team, equally startled, turned to look at Xu Ze. His calm, confident smile left them momentarily speechless.

Wu Yue and the others exchanged bewildered glances, but Director Qu’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. He knew Xu Ze better than most—knew that his understanding of Guillain-Barré syndrome might rival his own. Xu Ze wasn’t one to seek the spotlight without good reason. If he was speaking up now, he must have something solid.

With that thought, the despair in Director Qu’s heart gave way to renewed optimism. He gave Xu Ze a slight nod, his gaze filled with encouragement and expectation.

Xu Ze returned the nod with a reassuring smile.

“You?” Zhang Lide frowned, studying Xu Ze with displeasure. He remembered this intern vividly—the one who had delivered that impeccably clear patient history. But now, seeing him step forward at such a critical moment, Zhang Lide felt both irritation and an inexplicable prickle of unease. If he dares to speak up now, he must have something up his sleeve.

Noticing Zhang Lide’s hesitation, Dean Ou raised an eyebrow. What’s this? A chief of internal medicine intimidated by an unlicensed intern?

Dean Ou had always liked young Dr. Xu. Seeing him stand up for the emergency department, he smiled and encouraged, “Dr. Xu, if you have something to add, please go ahead. You’re part of the emergency team and co-managed this patient—you have every right to speak.”

“Thank you, Dean Ou.” Xu Ze nodded politely, then turned to Zhang Lide with a mild smile. “Director Zhang, I’ll proceed with my additions.”

As Zhang Lide forced a stiff nod, Xu Ze surveyed the room and began, his voice steady.

“Since I’m supplementing the answer, let’s start with the etiology. Both our emergency department and your internal medicine team considered it a delayed hypersensitivity immune disorder triggered by nonspecific infections or vaccinations.”

“But I’d like to add one point: Nonspecific infections are typically viral, and viral infections aren’t limited to the upper respiratory tract. Many enteric infections could also be culprits.”

“Enteric infections?” The room buzzed with surprise. This kid isn’t bluffing. He’s got substance.

Xu Ze continued, watching the stunned expressions of the internal medicine directors.

“Specifically, I believe cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are the most likely candidates. Only these two, due to their unique mechanisms, could trigger such widespread peripheral nerve inflammation.”

He paused, then added with a faint smile, “Would the esteemed directors care to comment?”

Silence.

No one could refute him. His reasoning was sound, and in the absence of extensive case data, no one could outright dismiss a plausible theory—especially not in front of an audience.

Zhang Lide’s face darkened. Just like that, this nobody—this intern four or five ranks beneath me—has turned the tables.

But Xu Ze wasn’t done.

“Moreover, the limb and neck pain in Guillain-Barré patients strongly suggests radicular pain. The progressive muscle weakness, a hallmark symptom, points to segmental demyelination of peripheral nerves caused by inflammation.”

“Radicular pain? Segmental demyelination?”

Director Qu slapped his thigh in sudden realization. “Of course! Only demyelination could explain this!”

The other physicians, equally stunned, quickly grasped the logic. As seasoned specialists, they recognized the validity of Xu Ze’s analysis.

One by one, their expressions shifted from skepticism to astonishment.

Dean Ou and Vice Dean Qian watched with growing delight as Xu Ze dismantled assumptions with effortless precision.

But Zhang Lide’s face grew stormier by the second. Every word out of Xu Ze’s mouth was another nail in internal medicine’s coffin.

Xu Ze, however, showed no signs of stopping.

“Director Li Qijiang covered the clinical signs thoroughly, but I’d like to add a few more observations for consideration.”

The internal medicine directors’ faces soured instantly. He’s still going? If he keeps this up, not only will we lose the research project, but our reputations as department chiefs will be in tatters.

The thought of the rumor mill was unbearable: “The mighty internal medicine team, a dozen senior specialists burning the midnight oil, only to be dismantled by an intern in minutes.”

Yet, under the watchful eyes of the hospital leadership, none dared interrupt.

Dean Ou, Vice Dean Qian, and Minister Sun were hanging on Xu Ze’s every word, their expressions alight with anticipation. Each insight he offered was a potential breakthrough—one that could propel their hospital ahead in the race for research acclaim.

No one would dare stand in the way of that.

Not even the proudest department chiefs.