The Tremor

Jiang Chu stared blankly at the Black Card that had suddenly appeared, as if a vortex were pulling him into it.

He stared at the Black Card strangely for more than ten minutes without moving, as though he had heard the voice that often appeared beside him for no reason during this period.

"Doctor Jiang, the Dean wants you to go to his office."

Just then, the duty nurse's voice rang out. Jiang Chu froze, then jerked his head up and realized that his back was already slightly damp. He said dazedly, "Oh... I understand. I'll be there right away."

As he spoke, Jiang Chu hurriedly closed the file. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately put the Black Card into the pocket of his white coat.

A few minutes later, Jiang Chu arrived at the Dean's office.

The Dean, who had celebrated his sixty-third birthday just last month, looked much healthier than most middle-aged men around fifty. When he saw Jiang Chu, whom he valued highly, arrive, he immediately smiled. "Jiang Chu, I knew you'd still be here at this hour."

"Dean, did you need me for something?" Jiang Chu sat down.

The Dean said, "It's like this. I'll need your help with this matter."

Jiang Chu said seriously, "Dean, just tell me. What is it?"

The Dean sighed. "I have an old classmate whose granddaughter was found to have an early-stage brain tumor. He came to me... Well, I've carefully examined the patient's condition over the past few days. Then I recommended you to him."

Seeing that Jiang Chu remained perfectly calm, the Dean was satisfied, but his expression grew more solemn. "She's not even five years old, and the nerves in her brain are still extremely fragile. To be honest, with so many doctors in the hospital, I wouldn't trust anyone but you to perform the operation."

Jiang Chu suddenly said, "Dean, I submitted a leave request to you last week..."

The Dean said kindly, "I know you haven't had a proper rest these past few years. I had already approved your leave... It's just that this old classmate of mine and I have been friends for decades. You can put your vacation on hold for now. Once the operation is over, I can give you a full month off without any problem."

Jiang Chu said, "But Dean, operating on a child will be extremely difficult... If something goes wrong... Wouldn't it be better to have Doctor Huang perform the operation instead? He has more experience."

The Dean looked slightly displeased. "This operation requires work on the frontal lobe. Believe me, there's no one in this area who's more talented in this field than you. Jiang Chu, there's no need to be so modest. I'm not someone who cares about seniority. Compared with credentials, I value a person's medical ethics and skill more. Do this operation well. If you can complete it flawlessly, I'm planning to make you my deputy."

Jiang Chu looked at the Dean in surprise.

The Dean said earnestly, "I've worked hard for many years. It's time for me to get some rest. Jiang Chu, I value your character and your abilities. Believe me, after you've honed your skills for a few more years, this hospital will definitely need you to take the lead."

The Dean walked over to Jiang Chu and patted him on the shoulder. "You have the ability, so don't sell yourself short. Besides, my old classmate has already agreed to let you perform the operation. If you back out now, it'll cause some trouble."

Jiang Chu heard the implication and frowned. He had no choice but to play the friendship card. "Teacher, just tell me honestly. Who is this person?"

"He's an old hand from the Health Bureau. Although he's retired, his words still carry considerable weight." The Dean smiled. "Have some confidence in yourself, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. This operation is difficult, but it's no problem for you. Don't disappoint me."

Jiang Chu could only say, "I'd like to look over the patient's records first."

"No problem. I'll send them over to you later."

After saying that, the Dean went on his rounds. As for Jiang Chu, he returned to his office and sat staring at the desk with a troubled expression.

He suddenly looked at his hands. After a long while, he took a small knife from the pen holder and held it like a scalpel.

But the moment he gripped it, his wrist began to tremble faintly. Jiang Chu suddenly flung his hand, throwing the small knife onto the floor, then covered his face in anguish.

His hands were trembling. After making a preliminary self-diagnosis, Jiang Chu had no choice but to face, with an almost collapsing rationality, what was happening to him.

Parkinson's disease.

He didn't know when his hands would start trembling. If it happened in the middle of an operation, then...

He had originally requested an extended leave so that he could visit a doctor friend abroad and discuss ways to resolve his own problem.

But the Dean, who was his mentor, clearly had high hopes for this operation. Jiang Chu also knew even better what this operation meant for his future career.

And yet...

"How ironic... The surgeon has lost the use of his hands." Jiang Chu couldn't help giving a bitter smile.

Nothing had happened at the club over the past two days, but Luo Qiu still received word from Zhang Qingrui that the auction house had recovered the lost item and personally delivered it.

Since they didn't know where Luo Qiu lived, they had contacted him by phone.

Luo Qiu was unwilling to reveal where he lived either. Although finding out wouldn't have been difficult in this information age if someone was determined, he ultimately chose to meet at Gu Yue Zhai.

He had originally thought that the person delivering the jade tablet would be the fat manager. Unexpectedly, the auction house's owner had personally brought it over.

It was a woman named Dong Minghua.

"That young lady didn't come?"

Seeing that Luo Qiu was alone, Zhang Qingrui asked curiously.

Luo Qiu said, "She's busy."

Dong Minghua smiled. "It was ultimately just a false alarm. You may not believe this, but the jade tablet was anonymously returned the next day. I have no idea what happened in between."

She was saying this for Luo Qiu's benefit, because Zhang Qingrui showed no surprise as she listened—she had clearly known about it earlier.

But Luo Qiu had known even sooner, so he could only pretend to be surprised. "That really is strange."

For some reason, Dong Minghua lowered her stance and said, "Mr. Luo, I'm truly sorry for putting you through this scare. If possible, I'd like to treat you and that young lady from the other day to a meal."

Luo Qiu was the sort of person who avoided socializing whenever possible. He said bluntly, "There's no need to be so polite. Ms. Dong, now that the jade tablet has returned to my hands, I won't pursue the matter any further."

Dong Minghua forced a smile. "In that case, I have to treat you even more."

Luo Qiu could only say, "I'm busy today as well."

This was the first time Dong Minghua had met someone who showed her so little respect. She wondered whether this fellow was simply an obtuse youngster or genuinely that busy. But she had already invited him twice. If she asked again, she would lose all dignity, so she could only nod. "What a pity. But Mr. Luo, if you come to my auction house again, be sure to let me know so I can have someone receive you."

Luo Qiu nodded as well. "That I can do."

Zhang Qingrui was dumbfounded as she watched them. Although she knew Luo Qiu was a strange person, being so unreasonable would surely make him suffer once he entered society.

On the other hand, she somewhat admired this side of his character. He didn't curry favor with the powerful; he was actually a free-spirited person. In today's restless society, such integrity was rare among young people.

"Hmm... Miss Zhang, there are still some matters at my auction house, and I have to hurry back." Dong Minghua said, "It's a shame I didn't get to meet Old Madam Zhang today. If I have the chance next time, I'll definitely pay her a visit."

Zhang Qingrui exchanged a few more polite words with her before seeing Dong Minghua out.

When she turned around, she was surprised to see that Luo Qiu was still standing there. In her view, someone like him should have left without a word earlier.

"Hmm... There's something I'd like to trouble you with." Luo Qiu spoke directly.

"You even look like that when you're asking someone for a favor?" Zhang Qingrui smiled helplessly. "Do you know you just offended someone highly influential in the local antique circle? And now you're speaking to me in that matter-of-fact tone. Aren't you afraid of offending me too?"

Luo Qiu froze. After thinking for a while, he said, "I've always lent you my class notes to copy..."

Zhang Qingrui... Zhang Qingrui sighed. "Go on. What is it?"

But as soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Qingrui frowned and snapped angrily, "You're actually trying to use that favor to demand repayment? How stingy!"

"But I really have lent you my class notes to copy many times..."

"..."

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P.S. There's an update called begging for votes at midnight. I'm so hungry...