Chapter 14 — After I Resigned, The Whole Hospital Was Paralyzed

The CEO of that corporation did not understand. He looked at me regretfully.

"What we can give you is hundreds of times better than what we have now."

I looked at him. Calmly answered:

"Because at my hospital..."

"There's my patient."

"There are my teammates."

I stopped for a moment. Then smile.

"They are my roots."

The man opposite was silent for a long time. In the end, nothing more was said. Return to Central Hospital. Life seems to return to its familiar trajectory. I still showed up on time at the Center for Precision Microinvasive Surgery. Face new challenges with your teammates. It was as if the thunderous applause in Beijing was just a dream. But I know. A lot of things have changed. My team is more mature. More confident. Also much more connected than before. Everyone takes pride in working at the center. No one sees this simply as a place of work anymore. It's a common roof. A place to pursue ideals. Even colleagues in the hospital are the same. The way they looked at me was different. It's no longer just admiration. But also trust. They no longer see me as a "genius" standing too far out of reach. But a teammate who can be relied on at any time. That makes me happier than any award. One afternoon. After completing the last surgery of the day. I walked out of the building. Right in front of the door. There was a shadow of a person waiting. It's Tu Khai. I almost didn't recognize him. He wears normal clothes. Short hair cut. There was no longer the arrogance and impatience on his face. Instead, it looked experienced and tired. Like in just a few short months. He has aged a lot. See me. Tu Khai immediately bowed deeply.

"Doctor Tran."

I stopped walking. Quietly look at him. Tu Khai bowed his head. Very small voice.

"Next month I will go to prison to serve my sentence."

"Come here today..."

"I wanted to say sorry to you."

"And also for my father..."

"Sorry, sister."

I didn't speak up. He smiled bitterly.

"We were wrong."

"So wrong that there's nothing left to justify."

Tu Khai clenched his hands. His eyes were full of regret.

"I always thought that before."

"There is a relationship."

"Anything can be solved."

"Until the day I stood on the operating table."

"I destroyed a life with my own hands."

"I just understand."

"There are things."

"Money and power can never buy you."

I looked at him silently. Tu Khai smiled bitterly.

"Technology, for example."

"Another example is the fear of life."

First time. I saw sincerity in his eyes. No more fake. No more pride. Only true repentance remains.

"I've been thinking a lot."

"Maybe this whole life."

"I will never be a good doctor again."

"But at least."

"I hope I can become a kind person."

He raised his head. There was sincere appreciation in his eyes.

"Doctor Tran."

"Thank you."

"It was you who made me understand those things."

He bowed deeply again. Then turned around and left. Gradually disappearing into the sunset. I stood in place for a long time. My heart is filled with all kinds of emotions. Perhaps this is maturity. Just regret that. There are people who have to pay a price too It's expensive to learn that lesson. Come home. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Tan Tranh. She sent me a photo. A young girl with a pancreatic tumor that we operated on to save her life. Under the sun. She smiled brightly. The smile is clear and full of life. Below the photo are Tan Tranh's words:

"Look."

"This is the greatest meaning of the medical profession."

I looked at the photo for a long time. Then suddenly smiled. All the struggles. All the glory. Then it will become the past. Only lives are saved. New is the light that lasts forever. Outside the window. The city has turned on its lights. Right at that moment. My phone suddenly rang. This is the center's emergency line. An urgent voice rang out from the other end of the line:

"Director Tran!"

"The Emergency Department just received a patient stabbed through the abdomen!"

"Severe bleeding!"

"Hemorrhagic shock!"

"Need surgery immediately!"

That moment. The blood in my body boiled again. No hesitation. I immediately stood up. Grab your coat.

"Prepare the operating room."

"I'll be there soon."

I rushed out of the house. The darkness quickly swallowed my figure. Because I know. Somewhere. Another life is waiting to be saved. And my battlefield. From then until now. It's always the operating room. Will always be the one who rushes to the front line. Until I no longer had the strength to hold the knife.