"Please, my love, don't utter those words again," Mr. Cai implored, his eyes fixed on his wife. Today was the day they had both been dreading, the day of her surgery. He had spent the entire night by her side, his mind racing with worry and fear. As the minutes ticked by, his anxiety grew, but he refused to let it show. He knew that his wife needed him to be strong, to be her rock. So he held her hand tightly and whispered words of comfort, even though he wasn't sure if they were true. Deep down, he was praying with all his might that everything would be alright.
"Hubby, it's not like I don't trust you or Dr. Lin," Mrs. Cai began, her voice quivering with emotion. "But I know my body better than anyone else. I can sense that my condition is deteriorating with each passing moment."
Despite the pain and fear that gripped her heart, Mrs. Cai forced a smile, hoping to reassure her husband. She kept her gaze fixed on him, afraid that at any moment, someone might ask him to leave, and she would never see him again.
"May I make a humble request?" she asked, her eyes pleading with him.
Mr. Cai looked at his wife, his heart aching at the sight of her trying to be strong in the face of such adversity. "Anything, my love," he replied, his voice filled with tenderness and compassion.
"Regardless of the outcome of my surgery, can you please sell Dr. Lin our restaurant?" Mrs. Cai inquired, her eyes pleading with her husband.
Mr. Cai was taken aback. "What? You already know?" he asked incredulously.
"Indeed, she told me everything on her first visit to check up on me. While I initially thought it was a bit selfish of her, upon further reflection, I realized that Dr Lin is a woman of integrity. She is forthright and harbors no malice within her. Her unwavering dedication to my well-being has dispelled any doubts I may have had. She is not merely tending to me for the sake of our restaurant, but rather, she genuinely desires to cure me. And now, whether I recover or not is in the hands of fate," Mrs Cai smiled as she expressed her sentiments.
As Mr. Cai gazed upon his beloved wife, a weighty sensation settled deep within him, threatening to unleash a torrent of tears. Summoning all his strength, he mustered a smile and spoke with a resolute tone, "I understand. I've already given it a thought and I'm prepared to sell the restaurant to her. Without you, my dear, I anyway cannot continue to run our restaurant. It's better to let it thrive under new ownership than to watch our labor of love crumble before my own eyes."
As they kept exchanging sweet talk, the air in the room was warm. The sweet talk between the Caies had been a brief respite from the anxiety that had been building up inside them. But as the door creaked open, their hearts skipped a beat. In walked Lin Chang, her confident strides accompanied by a young man in white.
Lin Chang's smile was warm and welcoming, but Mr and Mrs Cai couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt. They had entrusted a life to this young girl, but they still couldn't shake off the fear that gnawed at them.
"All set?" Lin Chang's voice was soft, but it carried a sense of authority that demanded respect. Mr and Mrs Cai exchanged a hesitant glance before nodding in unison.
Lin Chang could sense their apprehension, but she didn't let it dampen her spirits. She knew that trust was something that had to be earned, and she was willing to do whatever it took to prove herself. After all, she was sure about it. In her past life, brain tumor surgery was like a walk in the park for any surgeon.
With a reassuring smile, Lin Chang took charge of the situation and said, " Mr. Cai, I'll have to ask you to wait outside. Mrs Cai now your hair will be shredded totally. And in just a mere two hours, we will commence with your surgery, which will require approximately 18 to 19 hours. Allow me to introduce you to my assistant surgeon, Dr. Song Mu," she exclaimed, gesturing towards the Song Mu standing beside her.
With a gentle smile, Song Mu turned towards Mrs Cai and began to assess her vital signs. It was only yesterday that he had agreed to assist Lin Chang, and already the Director had arranged a virtual meeting to discuss Mrs Cai's case. Song Mu had heard that Lin Chang was a prodigy, with exceptional medical knowledge despite her youth. But he had never expected her insights to be so astute, so precise, that it was almost unbelievable that they came from a mere teenager. Her every concept, angle, and hypothesis was unquestionable, leaving Song Mu in awe of her brilliance.
This morning , he eagerly made his way to meet her at the hospital. As he saw her physically for the first time, he was struck by her beautiful yet commanding presence. He saw an aura of superiority surrounding her, leaving him in awe. In that moment, he realized the vast difference in their knowledge and status. He knew then that he had much to learn and a long journey ahead of him.
After a two-hour long wait, the surgery finally started. The Third People's Hospital had seen its fair share of operations over the years, but this one was different. The stakes were higher, the risks greater, and the outcome uncertain. As Mrs. Cai lay on the operating table, some prayed for her recovery while others secretly hoped for Lin Chang to make a fool of herself. The air in the hospital was thick with tension, and yet, amidst it all, another conspiracy was brewing. Despite the gravity of the situation, there were those who couldn't resist the temptation to stir the trouble.
"Every word I said is true. A doctor has claimed one hundred percent recovery rate for grade IV astrocytoma, and on a seventy-five-year-old woman, no less! The surgery is currently underway, just come to 3rd people hospital if you want to witness this golden moment." A sly smirk played across his lips as he imagined the look of humiliation on Lin Chang's face when the surgery failed. Dr. Kan had already concocted a foolproof plan to expose her as a swindler, and he was positively giddy with anticipation.
Once the surgery failed, he had already called in the media and will expose Lin Chang for the charlatan she was. Dr. Kan relished the thought of being the one to bring her down, and he could hardly contain his excitement as he waited for the inevitable outcome.