Super Doctor - Chapter 152

Everyone thought the matter was settled. Both the Internal Medicine and Emergency Department teams waited for Dean Ou to announce that the research project would remain with Emergency.

So when Zhang Lide suddenly spoke up, the room froze in shock. Everyone turned to stare at him, baffled. Was he still unwilling to concede?

The Internal Medicine chiefs, however, felt a flicker of hope. If Director Zhang was speaking up, they might still have a chance.

Dean Ou frowned slightly. “Director Zhang, do you have further objections?”

Despite the dean’s displeasure, Zhang Lide pressed on stubbornly. “Dean, I still oppose handing this project to Emergency.”

The Emergency Department doctors exchanged glances. What else could this old man possibly want? After the humiliation he just suffered, how could he keep pushing?

Chief Qu, furious, snapped, “Zhang Lide, what the hell are you playing at? We won the debate. The results speak for themselves. Are you still not satisfied?”

Zhang Lide glared back, unyielding. “Qu Zhiyuan, no matter what you say, Emergency is still Emergency—not Internal Medicine. Guillain-Barré syndrome falls under our domain. It’s ours by right.”

“You—!” Chief Qu was so angry he laughed. “You shameless old bastard! You were the one who proposed the challenge: whoever won the debate gets the project. Are you seriously going back on your word now?”

“Qu Zhiyuan, this project belongs to Internal Medicine, and that’s final!” Zhang Lide retorted. “We have more resources, more specialists. Neurology, Infectious Diseases, Immunology—all the relevant departments are under us. We’re the obvious choice!”

“Director Zhang,” Dean Ou said coldly, “you’re the head of Internal Medicine. You can’t just renege on an agreement. Emergency won the debate. The project is theirs.”

Deputy Dean Qian and Director Sun chimed in, “Exactly. A man of your standing shouldn’t act like a petty thug.”

Zhang Lide scoffed. “For the sake of this project and the hospital’s reputation, I’ll play the thug if I have to!”

Turning to Dean Ou, he adopted a righteous tone. “Dean, you know our Internal Medicine department is nationally renowned. Our resources, our talent pool—we’re at the forefront of research. We’re the best candidates for this project!”

He gestured dismissively toward Emergency. “What do they have? Six people—one chief physician, two attending physicians, the rest just ordinary doctors. Oh, and one unlicensed trainee! How could they possibly handle a ministerial-level project? If they botch it, the damage to our reputation would be catastrophic!”

“But if you give it to us,” Zhang Lide declared, “I guarantee we’ll outperform Emergency—by a long shot.”

Dean Ou hesitated. Zhang Lide’s arguments echoed his own earlier concerns. Emergency’s recent breakthroughs had swayed him momentarily, but now doubt crept back in.

Seeing the dean waver, Chief Qu panicked. “Dean, how can you let Zhang Lide get away with this? After all our hard work, after everything we’ve achieved—what does that count for?”

Zhang Lide cut in smugly, “Qu Zhiyuan, save your breath. The facts are clear. Internal Medicine is simply the better choice.”

He had staked his pride on this. If he lost both face and the project, the defeat would be unbearable.

Chief Qu’s face flushed with anger. “This is our patient! Our diagnosis! Our application! How dare you just snatch it away?!”

The two department heads devolved into a shouting match, their dignified demeanors crumbling like squabbling children.

Dean Ou rubbed his temples. “Enough! Both of you, stop this nonsense!”

Reluctantly, they fell silent. But Zhang Lide wasn’t done. “Dean, I’ll make you a promise: hand this patient to Internal Medicine, and I’ll have him fully recovered within a week. We’ll deliver complete treatment data.”

“A week?!” Chief Qu and Dean Ou both stiffened.

Chief Qu’s heart sank. After two days of intensive treatment, their patient had only regained slight movement in his feet. Full recovery in seven days? Impossible.

But Dean Ou’s eyes gleamed. If Zhang Lide could deliver on that promise, the project would be a guaranteed success.

Noticing the dean’s interest, Zhang Lide smirked. He had obtained confidential foreign research data through connections. With adjusted treatment protocols, a week was feasible.

Even if it took an extra day or two, securing the project now would buy enough time to finalize the data and submit the application.

Chief Qu, meanwhile, wavered. By his estimates, full recovery would take at least ten days. Seven was unrealistic—he couldn’t make that promise.

Dean Ou saw the hesitation and made his decision. “If Internal Medicine can indeed cure the patient within seven days, then the case will be transferred to them.”

Chief Qu exploded. “Dean, this isn’t fair! We filed first! We made the diagnosis! You can’t just—”

Zhang Lide sneered. “Qu Zhiyuan, if you can guarantee seven days, I’ll back off.”

He knew Qu wouldn’t dare. The project was as good as his.

Chief Qu was frantic but powerless. This wasn’t a bluff he could call.

Then—

“Five days.”

A clear, calm voice cut through the tension.

Every head in the room whipped toward the back, where Xu Ze stood, his expression unshaken.

“Five days,” he repeated. “Emergency guarantees the patient will fully recover in five days, with all necessary data.”

Silence.

Then chaos.

“Five days?!” Chief Qu spun toward Xu Ze, searching his face for confirmation.

Xu Ze nodded. “Five.”

Without hesitation, Chief Qu turned back to Dean Ou, his voice ringing with conviction. “Five days. Emergency will deliver in five days.”

Dean Ou gaped, looking between the suddenly electrified Chief Qu and the unflappable Xu Ze. “Five… days?”

“Yes,” Chief Qu said firmly. “Five days to full recovery and complete research documentation. We’ll secure the ministerial project.”

The dean was speechless.

Zhang Lide, meanwhile, looked like he’d been struck by lightning. He stared at Xu Ze, then at the triumphant Chief Qu, his face twisting in outrage.

Five days?!

He had said seven, and this brat dared to undercut him with five? Was the kid high?

“Little bastard,” Zhang Lide snarled, “did you just say five days to cure Guillain-Barré? Are you out of your mind?”

Xu Ze met his glare with icy calm.

“Old man,” he said, each word razor-sharp, “I said five days. Five. Do you hear me?”