Office of the Director of Cardiac Surgery, Kangning Hospital!

Hu Xinyi placed her phone on the desk, chuckled lightly, and said, "Lin Jie, I can have the hospital take on this young patient, but you need to agree to one condition."

Lin Jie frowned and asked, "What condition?"

He had come to seek Hu Yuanqing's brother, who was the director of cardiothoracic surgery at the hospital, but unexpectedly found him absent due to business matters and encountered Hu Xinyi acting on his behalf.

Not wanting his trip to go to waste, Lin Jie explained the baby's condition to Hu Xinyi.

"My condition is very simple, just don't collaborate with my uncle anymore."

Hu Xinyi tapped the desk with her fingers, speaking with conviction, "You came directly to me, so this young patient must be very important to you. I can tell you that the situation is very serious and only Kangning Hospital can perform the corrective surgery needed."

"You may also be aware that the cost of this surgery is very high. I can apply for a partial fee waiver for the patient and also help him apply for the hospital's assistance fund."

"Well? Isn't my condition generous?"

Lin Jie inwardly scoffed, thinking that Hu Xinyi really underestimated him as if he were only a nineteen-year-old inexperienced youth!

He picked up his phone from the desk and said softly, "When you see the pictures on the phone, what do you think I see?"

Without waiting for Hu Xinyi to respond, Lin Jie continued, "From your eyes, I see calm and indifference, not a trace of excitement at seeing a rare case, nor the desire to take on a challenge."

"You've blocked your own path to progress in medical skills; the only thing left is the pursuit of power and profit. Take care of yourself."

Seeing Hu Xinyi's face turn dark, Lin Jie wisely turned to leave, but not before saying, "Binhai University Affiliated Hospital and Tongren Hospital will surely be interested in this case."

Leaving Kangning Hospital, Lin Jie felt a bit of his confidence dissipate!

This baby's case is indeed rare, but the difficulty of the surgery is equally significant.

For a seasoned chief-level doctor, such a high-risk procedure with potential for failure and requiring multidisciplinary cooperation is not a welcome task.

Of the two remaining hospitals, Lin Jie harbored a particular aversion to Tongren Hospital and set his sights next on Binhai University's Affiliated Hospital.

He deliberated for a moment and decided to enlist Professor Chen Shi's help, preferring to steer clear of Professor Ren Maoshi, mindful of Ren Jianzhong's unpleasant demeanor.

Just as he was about to dial on his phone, by coincidence, he received a call from An Weize.

In the call, An Weize invited Lin Jie to dinner.

Lin Jie did not decline and changed his destination on the fly, taking the bus to the agreed location.

It was a rather obscure, unassuming little restaurant, and after getting off the bus, Lin Jie asked three people before finally finding it.

Walking into the restaurant, Lin Jie found the business was good; there was still over half an hour before the typical dinner time, yet all six tables in the hall were full.

Lin Jie mentioned An Weize's name, and what seemed to be the owner-cum-waiter ushered him into a small private room.

"Lin Jie, come have a seat!"

Already seated in the room, An Weize rose to greet him with a smile, saying, "Don't be deceived by this restaurant's size; the local fare is authentically prepared here. I come here every so often over the years."

Soon after Lin Jie was seated, plate after plate of hot dishes was brought out, including Eight Treasure Duck, Osmanthus Meat, and Grape Fish—famous local specialties.

Amusingly, though Lin Jie was a native, due to circumstances, he had only heard of these traditionally-made local dishes and only now was he getting a true taste of them for the first time.

An Weize seemed equally engrossed in the food, sticking to culinary topics, and Lin Jie joined in, eating and drinking.

After a few rounds of dishes and drinks, seeing that Lin Jie was slowing down, An Weize refilled his cup with tea and softly asked, "Dr. Hu said if I undergo surgery, I'll live for another five years. What do you think?"

The inevitable had finally arrived, and the question left Lin Jie with no appetite!

While at Kangning Hospital, he had observed An Weize's tumor imaging and discussed treatment options with Hu Yuanqing, possessing a clear understanding of An Weize's prognosis.

Lin Jie set down his chopsticks and answered truthfully, "Run by Dr. Hu, if the surgery is successful, there's a good chance you'll live another five years, although your quality of life will be affected."

"What kind of effects?" An Weize asked with concern.

"There could be some cognitive issues,"

Though Lin Jie spoke ambiguously, An Weize, being fairly astute, self-reflected in disbelief, "You mean, I would become... a fool?"

Lin Jie ultimately nodded, saying, "With Dr. Hu Yuanqing's current surgical abilities, that's the most likely scenario."

An Weize's face dimmed as he pressed, "What if I don't undergo surgery?"

Lin Jie thought for a moment and said, "Estimating from the tumor growth rate according to your brain CTs, you would manifest significant headaches in four months, and by five to six months, you may experience limb numbness and difficulty walking."

"By seven to eight months, paralysis is highly likely, along with successive loss of speech, vision, and hearing. Then organ dysfunction will arise organically, eventually leading to rapid failure of one or multiple key systems, causing death."

Seeing An Weize's complexion turn bleak, Lin Jie realized he had been perhaps overly brutal and comforted, "These are just my predictions, not necessarily accurate. Really, they might not be!"

After a brief silence, An Weize finished his tea in one gulp and said gravely, "Lin Jie, to be honest, I'm not really afraid of dying; I'm just worried that the time might be too short for Kexin to successfully take over the company."

"It was two months ago when, during a routine check-up, I discovered I had a brain tumor. While secretly consulting with renowned neurosurgeons and arranging for Kexin to quickly learn the ropes of the business."

He sighed deeply, "Now I regret it."

"Previously, I just wanted Kexin to enjoy a few more years of ease, without really teaching her about the company affairs. Now, suddenly burdening her with this responsibility feels too late."

"If I die in a few months or become incompetent, the company under Kexin's watch will definitely be devoured completely by others."

Staring intently at Lin Jie, An Weize said excitedly, "I need time, just three years—no, two years will do!"

"I need two years in a clear state of mind. As long as I have those two years, I can teach Kexin everything; even if she can't steer the company through the cunning marketplace, she can at least protect herself."

"Lin Jie, is there a way you can help me?"

Lin Jie gave a wry smile and said, "An Uncle, there might be a solution!"

"If you're able to bring in a level of expert like Dr. Siselda from the Mayo Clinic, USA, widely acknowledged as a neurosurgical expert, their surgical skills could provide you with five to ten years of clarity."

The hope that Lin Jie's words kindled in An Weize's eyes was ultimately extinguished by his subsequent remark.

Dejected, he said, "You think I haven't tried?"

"The schedules and surgeries of these experts are completely booked, way beyond what I can fit into. Money doesn't hold much sway with people at that level!"

"Maybe, I should start transferring the company, allowing Kexin and Kemeng to live as wealthy women without worries!"

As he watched the resigned An Weize, an idea suddenly sparked in Lin Jie's mind!

Once this thought came up, it spread like wildfire across a prairie, consuming Lin Jie with a reckless impulse.

He fixated on An Weize and said deliberately, "An Uncle, there's actually another way—just see if you dare to take a risk and if you trust me!"

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