Xu Ze wasn’t entirely sure just how formidable Zhao Qilong’s teacher—that old man named Zhang Ziqi—really was. However, anyone hailed by Elder Zhang as a “master of orthopedics” couldn’t be anything less than exceptional.
Having a prestigious mentor came with undeniable advantages. If nothing else, the reputation alone was enough to command respect—a fact Xu Ze deeply acknowledged.
Over the past couple of days, Xu Ze had been visiting Elder Tang at noon and in the evenings to administer acupuncture treatments. Nothing particularly unusual had happened, except for one minor annoyance: the conspicuous black Mercedes that ferried him back and forth always drew far too many stares.
Lately, Xu Ze had been spending most of his time assisting in the injection room. One of the female patients, Zhu Ling, had shyly asked for his phone number the other day. Since then, she made sure to confirm he was at the clinic before coming in for her shots, much to his amused exasperation.
Wait a minute—wasn’t I technically labeled as Miss Sun’s boyfriend now? he wondered. Why are so many girls still approaching me? Could they all know it’s just for show? No way… Miss Sun went through the trouble of roping me into this. She wouldn’t be the one spreading the truth, would she? The whole situation left him thoroughly puzzled.
After politely sending away a few girls who had bypassed the infirmary just to visit him at the clinic, Xu Ze found himself with little left to do. He decided to head to the examination room—after all, as a proper trainee doctor, it made no sense for him to linger in the injection room like some assistant.
Inside the examination room, Elder Zhang and Zhao Qilong also seemed idle, with all the patients already attended to. Xu Ze picked up a book and settled at a small side table.
Noticing Xu Ze’s arrival, Zhao Qilong curled his lips into a smug smile. Lately, Elder Zhang’s attention had shifted entirely to him, while Xu Ze had been effectively sidelined. The old doctor barely even called on Xu Ze to see patients anymore. Seems like I’ve successfully replaced this guy in Elder Zhang’s eyes, Zhao Qilong thought with satisfaction. Once the opportunity arises, I’ll make sure to kick this annoying brat out for good.
Unaware of Zhao Qilong’s scheming, Xu Ze focused on his book, his mind drifting to the new feature Xiao Dao had recently unlocked.
A few days ago, data about scanned objects had suddenly appeared on his lens display, leaving him both stunned and delighted. When he finally had a free moment, he’d cornered Xiao Dao for an explanation.
The answer had thrilled him. During his downtime, Xiao Dao had tapped into what he dismissively called the “primitive wireless networks,” combed through countless databases, and built his own search engine. By integrating global online resources with the system’s built-in detection and analysis functions, he’d essentially created an interactive encyclopedia for Xu Ze.
Now, whenever Xu Ze wanted, he could scan objects through the system’s glasses, analyze them, and retrieve detailed, accurate information.
Of course, this encyclopedia wasn’t without its costs. The energy required for scanning and analysis wasn’t negligible, so Xiao Dao had warned him to use it sparingly—not as some toy camera.
After a couple of experimental uses, Xu Ze reluctantly shelved the function for the time being, saving it for when he truly needed it.
He had only been sitting in the examination room for a short while when a new patient arrived—a trauma case, judging by how they were being supported.
Probably not my business, Xu Ze thought, blinking before refocusing on his book.
Seeing the injured patient, Zhao Qilong perked up immediately. Another chance to show off my skills.
Once I solidify my standing with Elder Zhang, kicking Xu Ze out will be a piece of cake.
With that in mind, Zhao Qilong eagerly stepped forward to help the patient into the treatment room. But the moment they entered, an argument erupted inside.
The patient’s family member stormed out, insisting that Elder Zhang handle the treatment personally, refusing to trust a “young doctor.”
Elder Zhang could only laugh helplessly. “I’m an internal medicine specialist, not a trauma doctor. Dr. Zhao here is the one you need—he’s perfectly capable.”
“That young guy? He doesn’t look experienced at all! Is he even past his internship?” the family member protested skeptically.
“Of course he is. Dr. Zhao is highly skilled—you have nothing to worry about,” Elder Zhang reassured.
Still unconvinced, the family member huffed, “No, no. If something goes wrong, it’ll be a disaster. We’d rather go somewhere else. Even if we can’t get someone as renowned as Zhang Ziqi, we at least want a proper, reliable doctor!”
As they moved to retrieve the patient, Zhao Qilong’s icy voice cut through from inside: “Zhang Ziqi is my master. So tell me—do I qualify or not? Let me warn you: this injury is serious. If you keep jostling him around, it’ll only worsen. By then, not even my master will be able to fix it.”
“W-what? You’re Zhang Ziqi’s disciple?” The family member froze, then—thoroughly intimidated—turned to Elder Zhang. “Is… is that true?”
Seeing the situation resolved, Elder Zhang smiled and nodded. “Indeed, he is Master Zhang’s prized pupil. Satisfied now?”
“Oh! Of course!” The family member hurried back inside, now fawning and apologizing profusely as Zhao Qilong lectured them with visible smugness.
Listening to the exchange, Xu Ze sighed inwardly. Having a renowned mentor really does open doors…
To his credit, Zhao Qilong was genuinely skilled in trauma care. Within half an hour, the patient emerged, supported by their now-grateful family.
Elder Zhang nodded approvingly, further inflating Zhao Qilong’s ego. The latter shot Xu Ze a sidelong glance, sneering under his breath, “Your days here are numbered, punk.”
By evening, Xu Ze received a call from Luozi, reminding him that their next round-robin match was in two days and urging him to come practice.
Checking the time, Xu Ze noted he still had two hours before Tang Zhi arrived to pick him up. Though no one had complained about his absence, as a member of the team, showing up occasionally was only proper—otherwise, people might think he’d gotten too big for his boots.
After informing Elder Zhang, Xu Ze hurried back to his dorm to change into sportswear and sneakers before rushing to the court.
When he arrived, the sidelines were already packed. As he approached, someone suddenly shrieked, “Xu Ze’s actually here!”—startling him.
What’s going on? He scanned the crowd of excited girls, baffled. It’s not even a match day. Why so many people?
Despite his confusion, he walked forward, feeling the heat of their gazes as they parted to let him through.
