Upon hearing Li Huaming suggest transferring the patient to the Respiratory Medicine department, Qian Zhixun thought for a moment and agreed. After all, the patient’s dizziness had significantly improved, and the main issue now was the cough. It seemed reasonable to transfer the patient to his department. He was just about to nod in agreement.
Seeing that Qian Zhixun seemed ready to agree with the Neurology department’s plan to transfer the patient to Respiratory Medicine, Xu Ze grew anxious. If the patient were transferred, it would almost certainly mean disaster for them, and the Respiratory Medicine department would likely land in serious trouble as well.
Unable to hold back any longer, Xu Ze quickly interjected, “Director Qian, Director Li, I have some questions regarding this patient. I’d like to clarify a few things first… Let’s not rush the transfer just yet…”
“Hmm?” Hearing Xu Ze suddenly speak up to stop the transfer, Qian Zhixun felt a flicker of displeasure. The two directors were making a decision here—what right did Xu Ze have to interrupt?
Not only did Qian Zhixun frown, but the two other doctors present also wore expressions of clear annoyance. They glared at Xu Ze, thinking to themselves, “This kid really has some nerve. How dare he interrupt and question the directors’ discussion? Doesn’t he know his place?”
While the three of them were visibly upset, Li Huaming, standing to the side, showed no surprise. He had already experienced Xu Ze’s personality before. If Xu Ze dared to challenge Director Zhang, then challenging them was nothing out of the ordinary. However, Xu Ze usually didn’t speak without reason, so Li Huaming remained silent, waiting to see how Qian Zhixun would react.
Qian Zhixun furrowed his brow and turned to look at Xu Ze. Seeing the genuine concern on the young man’s face, he felt a twinge of curiosity. “Xu Ze doesn’t seem like someone who doesn’t know his place,” he thought. “Why would he interrupt to stop the transfer now?”
He decided to hear Xu Ze out and see what he had in mind. With this thought, Qian Zhixun set aside his annoyance and asked calmly, “Xu Ze, what exactly is your concern?”
Seeing that Qian Zhixun was giving him the floor, Xu Ze didn’t hesitate. He knew he was just an intern, and while Qian Zhixun and Li Huaming probably didn’t see him as just any ordinary intern, he still needed to present a solid case to convince them.
“Director Qian, Director Li… I believe this patient’s issue might not be solely due to a lung infection,” Xu Ze said after a brief moment of consideration.
Hearing this, Qian Zhixun’s eyebrows shot up. “This kid really doesn’t know his place,” he thought. “He’s casually dismissing my assessment like that.”
Xu Ze knew his words would likely displease Qian Zhixun, but given that a life was at stake, he had no choice. After a brief pause, he continued, “I believe this patient’s cough might be related to a central nervous system issue.”
“Central nervous system?” Qian Zhixun was taken aback, silently cursing, “This kid just dismissed a case of central nervous system cough in our department a few days ago, and now he’s peddling that theory again here?”
Despite his frustration, Qian Zhixun, having learned from that previous incident, didn’t dare to take Xu Ze’s opinion lightly. He furrowed his brow slightly and waited for Xu Ze to explain his reasoning.
Meanwhile, Li Huaming, upon hearing Xu Ze’s words, was momentarily stunned before falling into deep thought. As the director of the Neurology department, he had extensive knowledge in neurovascular studies. Xu Ze’s assertion sent a jolt through him, making him realize he might have overlooked something.
As for the two other doctors, seeing Xu Ze so boldly challenge their director’s diagnosis, they were left speechless, their mouths agape. They stared at Xu Ze, thinking, “Does this kid not know his place? How dare he speak so boldly and embarrass our director like this? Does he not want to work in the Respiratory Medicine department anymore?”
One of the doctors, particularly unhappy with an intern-like figure speaking so presumptuously, coldly retorted, “This patient clearly has a lung infection. How could it be a central nervous system issue? When the patient was admitted, a head CT was done, and it showed no abnormalities. Moreover, the chest X-ray and blood tests clearly indicate a lung infection.”
He paused briefly before adding with a sneer, “Hmph… These findings are clear enough. Don’t you even understand such basic common sense?”
Faced with the doctor’s sarcastic remarks, Xu Ze simply smiled faintly, unperturbed. The doctor wasn’t entirely wrong, but his thinking was limited by the test results, preventing him from considering other possibilities. Once Xu Ze finished explaining, he would understand.
Without addressing the doctor directly, Xu Ze continued his analysis. “This patient was admitted due to cerebral arteriosclerosis. After vascular dilation treatment, his condition improved significantly. However, he developed a cough… Based on the chest X-ray and blood tests at the time, it was reasonable to conclude it was a lung infection.”
“But after several days of anti-infection treatment, as everyone can see, the infection has clearly improved,” Xu Ze said confidently, glancing around at the others. “However… if the infection is under control, why hasn’t the cough improved? In fact, it seems to have worsened.”
“Director Qian’s consideration of mycoplasma infection is very reasonable… But we mustn’t overlook another possibility… The patient’s cerebral blood vessels are already hardened. Even though the initial tests showed no issues when he was admitted, abnormalities like aneurysms could have developed in the past few days… Their sudden appearance could compress certain nerves, leading to this severe dry cough.”
Here, Xu Ze emphasized his point. “Director Qian, Director Li… Don’t you think this explanation fits the patient’s current situation better?”
“How is that possible? It’s too much of a coincidence,” the doctor who had initially retorted indignantly.
“It is a coincidence, and the probability is low. But we can’t ignore it just because it’s unlikely. If it is the case…” Xu Ze said gravely, “If it is this cause, then the patient could be in a very dangerous state… As doctors, we are responsible for the patient’s life. Therefore, I suggest postponing the transfer and immediately scheduling a repeat head CT or MRI.”
“……”
As Xu Ze’s serious words hung in the air, the doctor who had been retort fell silent. He had to admit that what this young man said made sense. Moreover, Xu Ze had framed it under the weight of professional responsibility, making it difficult for him to argue further.
Listening to Xu Ze’s analysis, Qian Zhixun’s expression also grew solemn. While he thought the possibility was small, Xu Ze’s reasoning was sound. If it was true, and they transferred the patient to his department… the consequences…
“Alright… Send the patient for an MRI immediately,” Li Huaming, who had been ponder, spoke up. As the Neurology department director, he understood the validity of Xu Ze’s points. Considering the potential as a result of, he immediately instructed his subordinates in a serious tone, “Use a gurney to take the patient for the scan. Tell the MRI department to expedite the results… We need them as soon as possible.”
The two doctors were taken aback, but seeing their director’s stern expression, they didn’t dare delay. They quickly got up to prepare the gurney and take the patient for the head MRI.
After the two doctors left, Li Huaming looked at Xu Ze, who now sat calmly and composedly across from him, with a complex expression. He let out a soft sigh.
Li Huaming truly didn’t know how to evaluate this young man, twenty years his junior. Xu Ze was only in his fourth year of university, yet he could detail analyze and arrive at conclusions that even Li Huaming hadn’t considered…
Regardless of the MRI results—whether they confirmed Xu Ze’s theory of a central nervous system cause or not—the fact that Xu Ze could think of something Li Huaming had missed was enough to earn him significant respect.
This isn’t something that can be figured out with a little cleverness; it requires a wealth of experience, and this kind of experience takes years, decades, or even longer to accumulate. He truly couldn’t understand how someone who was only twenty years old could have achieved this…
Qian Zhixun’s expression was similar. While not as specialized in neurovascular diseases as Li Huaming, as the head of Internal Medicine at Xingda First Affiliated Hospital, his knowledge was broad. He quickly grasped the logic behind Xu Ze’s words and realized they weren’t far-fetched but had a solid basis.
He, too, sighed, finally understanding why their superior, Director Zhang, had once described Xu Ze as a “monster.”
A fourth-year student, outperforming two experienced physicians with over twenty years of practice in terms of depth of thought… It was almost unbelievable. For someone so young to reach this level…
In this industry where reaching the top relies entirely on experience, Xu Ze’s current performance and age were beyond description; the word “monster” might truly be the only fitting term…
The two doctors were exclaiming in admiration, one after the other, while Xu Ze sat there, his earlier overbearing confidence completely gone. He now feigned humility, casually flipping through the patient’s medical records…
The results of the head MRI came back quickly, urged on by the two doctors. Looking at the diagnosis of a hemangioma on the report, the two doctors were stunned. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock. They simply couldn’t understand how this inexperienced young man could be so accurate… even diagnosing such a possibility… it was simply unbelievable…
Despite their shock, they didn’t dare waste any time. They knew full well what it meant for an aneurysm to appear in the patient’s cranial cavity within just a few days…
It meant this aneurysm was a ticking time bomb that had already been activated. It could rupture at any moment—today, tomorrow, or even within the next five or ten minutes. It certainly wouldn’t be long…
If this large-vessel aneurysm ruptured, it would mean the patient’s life was in immediate danger, with the potential for sudden death…
One doctor immediately called to report to their department director, Li Huaming, while the other began contacting the Neurosurgery department, asking them to prepare for surgery… They needed to perform a craniotomy to remove the aneurysm immediately…
Upon hearing the doctor’s report over the phone, Li Huaming’s expression instantly turned grave. After a quick glance at Xu Ze, who remained calm, he immediately ordered, “Contact Neurosurgery. Tell them to prepare for surgery right away.”
“We’re already on it, Director… Should we send the patient to Neurosurgery now?”
“Yes, send him immediately. The surgery needs to be done as soon as possible,” Li Huaming responded firmly.
Seeing Li Huaming’s grave expression and urgent tone, Qian Zhixun finally understood what was going on… He turned to look at Xu Ze beside him, nodded with a sigh, and his mind was filled with complicated thoughts: “This kid… is he really still a senior in college… could he be some vascular neurosurgeon in disguise…?”
Xu Ze’s performance this time once again stirred waves within the Internal Medicine department of Xingda First Affiliated Hospital. Although the doctors from Neurology and Qian Zhixun instinctively avoided publicizing the matter, they had to report it to the head of Internal Medicine, Zhang Lide, since Xu Ze was an intern approved by Director Zhang himself.
Moreover, given Zhang Lide’s keen interest in Xu Ze, Li Huaming and Qian Zhixun dared not withhold any information and reported the entire incident to him.
After hearing the full story, Zhang Lide still looked somewhat skeptical at his two subordinates. However, seeing their somewhat grim expressions, he knew it must be true.
Leaning back in his genuine leather chair, which he usually sat in straight, he remained silent for a long while before finally letting out a soft sigh. Sitting up straight again, he looked at the two men and stated decisively, “From now on, Xu Ze will report directly to me.”
The two directors were momentarily stunned. They exchanged a glance, then nodded. The head of Internal Medicine personally mentoring an intern… If this got out, countless jaws would drop.
Normally, department heads wouldn’t mentor even rotating doctors, let alone interns… let alone the head of the internal medicine department… Today, when Director Zhang said he would personally mentor Xu Ze, these two directors didn’t seem surprised at all. After all, they knew that with this monster-level intern’s abilities… and given their own circumstances, they really had no face left to mentor him…
And truth be told, they were somewhat hesitant to continue mentoring him. If such a formidable intern consistently outperformed his mentors, who would dare to take him on?
Since Director Zhang wanted to take over, Qian Zhixun was more than happy to comply… Better to pass on this hot potato as soon as possible…
