The second surgery came sooner than expected.
A splenic rupture following a high-impact trauma case. The patient was in critical condition, and the decision had been made—an emergency splenectomy.
Unlike last time, I wasn't alone.
This time, it was a team effort.
The Surgical Team
Lead Surgeon: Dr. Patel – The experienced neurologist had been selected as lead, but given this was an abdominal surgery, he wasn't in his usual domain.
First Assistant: Dr. Lin (Me) – Despite being the 'new guy,' my skills were already under scrutiny, and this was the perfect opportunity for the others to see how I functioned without Su Yan watching over my shoulder.
Second Assistant: Dr. Rhodes – A younger general surgeon, eager but a little too nervous.
Anesthetist: Dr. Miller – A seasoned professional, unfazed by any situation.
Scrub Nurse: Nurse Amy – Who still hadn't fully recovered from the emotional damage of realizing I had a girlfriend.
The atmosphere was tense.
Everyone was watching me.
Because this time, there was no mysterious woman correcting my angles or nagging me about my speed.
This time, it was just me.
The Procedure Begins
The patient was already under general anaesthesia, the monitors beeping steadily in the background.
Patel took the scalpel and made the initial midline incision, exposing the abdominal cavity. "Dr. Lin, retract."
I responded immediately, adjusting the retractor with precise force, ensuring optimal visibility without damaging surrounding tissue.
So far, so good.
Patel worked through the layers, navigating toward the splenic hilum, where the main blood vessels were. "Bleeder. Suction."
Rhodes fumbled slightly with the suction catheter, so I reached over and stabilized it with one hand while keeping the retractor in place with the other.
Patel glanced at me. A brief, unreadable look.
Not bad, but they needed to see more.
Then, we reached the critical phase.
Complication: Uncontrolled Bleeding
The moment the splenic artery was exposed, things went wrong.
A sudden arterial tear.
The field filled with blood almost instantly.
Patel cursed. "We're losing visibility."
Rhodes froze. Amy's grip on the instruments tightened.
I didn't.
I reacted.
"Hemostats, now." I snapped my fingers.
Amy handed them over instinctively, and in one smooth motion, I clamped the ruptured vessel before the situation could spiral.
Patel's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Good."
But it wasn't over.
Patel was trying to ligate the vessel, but the excessive bleeding had made suturing nearly impossible. His movements, while steady, weren't fast enough.
We needed another pair of hands.
I knew that.
And so, I did something no one expected.
I took over.
Not aggressively. Not in defiance.
But smoothly, instinctively, as if we had been operating together for years.
"You secure the lower branch. I'll handle the proximal end." My voice was calm.
Patel hesitated for only a fraction of a second—then let me.
That was the moment everything changed.
Because what happened next was efficiency in its purest form.
Between the two of us, we controlled the hemorrhage, ligated the artery, and secured the field—all within seconds.
And for the first time, I felt the shift.
This wasn't just a test for me.
It was also a test for them.
To see if they could trust me.
And when Patel gave me that small nod of acknowledgment, I knew—I had passed.
Closing Up: The Verdict
The rest of the procedure went smoothly.
Once the splenic pedicle was divided, Patel removed the damaged organ, and I assisted in irrigating the abdominal cavity before closing up.
Sutures in. Hemostasis confirmed. Patient stable.
Surgery successful.
And when we finally stepped away from the table, stripping off our gloves, the room was silent.
Not the tense silence from before.
But a contemplative one.
Patel finally spoke.
"Dr. Lin… that was good work."
I simply nodded. "Thank you."
And just like that, I had done what was nearly impossible.
I had proven myself—without Su Yan.
Meanwhile, Back at Home…
Su Yan was still in bed.
Sprawled across my pillow, wrapped in my blankets, completely unbothered.
The moment I entered the apartment, she peeked one sleepy eye open.
"Mmm. Surgery done?"
I sighed, setting down my bag. "Yes."
"Did you miss me?" She yawned, stretching like a spoiled cat.
I paused.
Then smirked. "Actually… I think the hospital missed you more."
Su Yan giggled, flipping onto her stomach. "Of course they did."
And with that, she promptly went back to sleep.
As if the entire medical world wasn't currently trying to figure out who she was.
Back at the Hospital: The Conversations Begin
In the doctors' lounge, the discussion was already in full swing.
Evans shook his head. "So… he's just as good without her."
Wallace smirked. "Told you."
Patel exhaled. "I underestimated him."
Rhodes, still in mild shock, muttered, "That was the cleanest arterial control I've ever seen."
Amy, still recovering emotionally, sighed. "Not only is he ridiculously skilled, but his girlfriend still writes his reports and lets him come home to cuddle? I… I need a moment."
Wallace grinned. "Oh, I'd bet money she's still asleep right now."
Evans snorted. "Meanwhile, we're here pulling double shifts."
Rhodes groaned. "I hate my life."
Patel simply shook his head.
"I don't know who he is. I don't know who she is. But I do know one thing."
The others turned to him.
And Patel, for the first time, looked absolutely certain.
"Dr. Lin isn't just good. He's someone we can't afford to lose."