"The surgery is over, everyone. Thank you for your hard work."
Putting down the scissors in his hand, Ye Xiu glanced at the staff around him, a faint smile playing on his lips as he habitually thanked everyone. In the operating room, no one spoke; all eyes were fixed on Ye Xiu, filled with respect.
Who among them had worked harder than Ye Xiu? Throughout the entire procedure, he had almost single-handedly performed the surgery, never stopping for a moment, maintaining a high level of concentration and skill.
Zhao Ruobing's gaze also followed Ye Xiu, her eyes revealing a complex expression. Initially, she had only agreed to let Ye Xiu assist because she thought he might have some experience in surgery. She had no trust in him initially and had planned to let him handle only simple tasks. However, she hadn't anticipated that he would end up taking charge of the entire surgery, with her becoming merely an assistant.
This surgery would forever be etched in her memory, making her realize how inadequate her own talents were. And Ye Xiu's words, 'Never give up until the very end,' had left a profound impact on her.
She understood the true meaning of giving it her all: not justifying oneself with excuses but persisting even when all hope seemed lost, grasping onto every last opportunity.
In her heart, there was also a sense of pride and gratitude. She was proud that she had adhered to her principles and hadn't given up when everyone advised against the surgery. And she was grateful for encountering Ye Xiu, a true genius in surgery, and for choosing to trust him, despite her initial doubts.
Although the patient was still not entirely out of danger, everything that could be done had been done. Now, it was up to the patient's own will to survive.
"Thank you!" Ye Xiu felt the gazes of the crowd and smiled faintly, turning to Dr. Zhang, the anesthesiologist, to express his gratitude. He knew that without Dr. Zhang's effort in securing the extra twenty minutes, the surgery might not have been successful. Dr. Zhang had worked hard, monitoring the patient's vital signs and adjusting the anesthesia throughout the procedure.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's you who deserves thanks!" Dr. Zhang was taken aback by Ye Xiu's individual thanks, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Remembering his initial distrust of Ye Xiu, he felt a twinge of guilt.
Ye Xiu just smiled and didn't say anything more, turning to Zhao Ruobing next. With a sincere expression, he thanked her as well. Despite Zhao Ruobing's initial flaws in her professionalism and her slower pace, Ye Xiu had noticed her potential for growth.
His appreciation for her had grown even more after the surgery. Zhao Ruobing's mental resilience, her stubbornness, and her ability to learn quickly were qualities that Ye Xiu admired.
But Zhao Ruobing's response was cold. "Do you think saving lives is your duty? Are we not capable of saving lives too?"
Ye Xiu was taken aback by her response. "Of course, that's not what I meant."
"Then why are you thanking us?" Zhao Ruobing's gaze was icy.
"Yeah, saving lives is our duty. There's no need for you to thank us!" Dr. Zhang and the other nurses echoed.
"Uh... Alright, my bad." Faced with the collective attack, Ye Xiu could only laugh awkwardly and admit his mistake.
Looking at Zhao Ruobing's frosty expression, he couldn't help but recall the saying of Confucius, 'It is hard to raise the good from the wicked, and the woman from the man.' Our Confucius truly is the wisest of the wise; he had just thanked them, after all. Did she really need to be so calculating?
"Well then, I'll leave the rest to you guys. I'll go rest for a bit." Ye Xiu glanced at the patient on the operating table and then at the monitor screen nearby, making sure everything was stable. With a wave to everyone, he left the operating room.
"Rest assured, we'll take care of it!" Dr. Zhang's eyes followed Ye Xiu, filled with respect. Although Ye Xiu's face couldn't be seen behind the mask, it was evident from his tired eyes and pale forehead how exhausted he must be.
The nurses also encouraged Ye Xiu to rest, knowing full well how much he had exerted himself. They had wiped his sweat multiple times during the surgery, and the towels were soaked, a testament to Ye Xiu's efforts.
After nodding to everyone, Ye Xiu turned and left the operating room. Zhao Ruobing watched his retreating figure, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to call him back.