Chapter 10: Foreign Object in the Esophagus

“Hahaha.”

Hearing his little sister’s voice, all the fatigue of the day instantly melted away for Fang Zhiyan.

He carried Fang Zhixia into the house. “Oh, our little sister isn’t fat, just thin—thin like a little monkey.”

“Second brother, you always tease me. You’re the real monkey,” Fang Zhixia said, clearly displeased, twisting her body and glaring at Fang Zhiyan with big, pouty eyes—utterly adorable.

“Hahaha.”

Fang Zhiyan laughed again as he gently put his little sister down.

Inside, Jiang Xu was tidying up. Seeing the two children playfully teasing each other, a faint smile appeared on her face.

“Zhiyan, how was your first day at work?”

“Not bad,” Fang Zhiyan nodded. “My mentor, Teacher Cao Chong, praised me several times, said I have a lot of talent.”

“I feel like the teachers value me. I should be able to achieve something at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.”

Fang Zhiyan’s personality was typical: he reported good news but kept the bad quiet. After all, telling his mother bad news wouldn’t solve anything—it would only add her worries. Moreover, the little issue with Gu Tao was nothing serious. At worst, Fang Zhiyan believed there would be a breakthrough by tomorrow.

However, after tomorrow, he had to take the night shift.

Emergency duty was different from other departments. His night shifts were extremely stressful. If luck was on his side, he might catch a brief rest. If not, he’d be working continuously without pause.

But at this moment, what mattered most to Fang Zhiyan was his medical skill. As a surgeon, it wasn’t just theory he needed to master; he had to hone his control over the scalpel.

Although he had vast experience from a previous life, his current body was still a novice. When he operated on Luo Yun that morning, others might have thought his movements decisive and steady, but Fang Zhiyan knew well that his skills had regressed compared to his past life.

He needed more practice to better apply his past experience.

He had a secret for practicing—using pork. Of course, meat was expensive and couldn’t be bought every day, which was a major inconvenience.

Lost in thought, time had grown late. Fang Zhiyan glanced at his little sister, who had finished her homework and was ready for bed, and smiled.

After tucking her in, he said, “Mom, you should sleep too. Don’t stay up late—it’s bad for your eyes. I’ll work hard. We’ll live well.”

Jiang Xu looked up, gently grasped Fang Zhiyan’s hand, and examined her son. She nodded firmly, pride shining in her eyes.

“I know. Mom is proud of you. You’re a good boy.”

Fang Zhiyan’s nose tingled, but a smile spread across his face.

The next day, Fang Zhiyan returned to the hospital.

Tonight was his night shift—from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.—followed by a colleague taking over from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.

However, when Fang Zhiyan arrived, he noticed an unusual atmosphere in the hospital. The private room where Luo Yun was staying had been cordoned off, and even Gu Tao was barred from entering.

After a moment, Gu Tao was called inside.

Inside the room sat none other than the mayor, Luo Dongqiang. He said nothing, only coldly staring at Gu Tao. Beside him, Tang Ya wore an expression of deep anger.

Neither spoke, but the secretary, Xue Shan, stepped forward slowly.

“Doctor Gu, you said you saved Miss Luo, correct?”

Gu Tao lowered his head, eyes darting nervously, but he nodded. “Yes, why?”

“Then, Doctor Gu, can you explain the details of how you saved her?”

Gu Tao was stunned. Details? How was he supposed to explain that?

“This involves professional knowledge. Like I said, you wouldn’t understand. It was a traumatic pneumothorax. I followed Director Jin’s instructions,” Gu Tao explained with difficulty.

But Xue Shan was not convinced and pressed further, “Then what knife did you use? From which position did you cut?”

“What equipment did you take from the pharmacy, and how did you use each of them?”

Hearing these questions, Gu Tao’s mind nearly exploded. What was going on? Were they questioning him? Had they started doubting him?

Cold sweat formed on his forehead. He stammered, unable to find words.

Gu Tao was just an intern, clueless about much of this. Everything he had done was under Jin Mingcheng’s orders.

Seeing Gu Tao silent, everyone else understood what was happening.

Luo Dongqiang scoffed coldly.

Tang Ya stood and said, “So you’re saying it wasn’t you who saved my daughter?”

Gu Tao looked up at the two powerful figures, legs nearly giving out from fear.

“I-I don’t know anything, I know nothing, it’s not my fault.”

“Hmph, get out!” Tang Ya snapped.

Gu Tao fled the room like a man facing a death sentence.

Inside the room, Xue Shan carefully reported the situation.

Luo Dongqiang’s eyes narrowed, a trace of icy sharpness gleaming within.

“That Gu Tao has some nerve, trying to steal credit?”

“Does he think I’m a fool? How could an intern dare do such a thing? Someone must be backing him.”

No one responded.

Tang Ya said, “So, the one who saved our daughter is this Fang Zhiyan?”

Xue Shan nodded. He had thoroughly investigated and verified everything within the hospital. Several fellow interns, Zhu Zixiao and Yin Jing among them, testified to the facts.

Luo Dongqiang shook his head slightly. “Don’t rush to judgment. Let’s observe this Fang Zhiyan first.”

Meanwhile, Gu Tao, panicked and distraught, ran from the private room straight to Jin Mingcheng’s office.

“Director, Director Jin, something’s wrong!”

He pushed the door open hurriedly, his face full of alarm.

“The mayor discovered the truth. He knows I didn’t save his daughter.”

“What?” Jin Mingcheng stood, shocked.

“What happened? How did it get exposed? The wealth I stuffed into your hands—you can’t even keep that secure?”

Jin Mingcheng scolded him harshly.

Gu Tao wept uncontrollably, sniffling and sobbing. “Director, what should I do? Will the mayor have me arrested?”

“Enough!” Jin Mingcheng snapped, silencing his tears.

“This is strange. How did it get exposed? Could it be Fang Zhiyan?”

Jin Mingcheng immediately thought of Fang Zhiyan.

But Fang Zhiyan hadn’t done anything suspicious. How could he have exposed them?

Jin Mingcheng was puzzled but irritated at Gu Tao’s pitiful display.

“Enough noise. If not for the fact you’re my nephew, I wouldn’t bother thinking for you.”

“What’s there to fear? I’ll handle this for you.”

Jin Mingcheng said.

Before he could act, his phone rang abruptly.

“Director, something urgent! There’s a patient at the emergency room with a foreign object in the esophagus. You need to come quickly!”