CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: I’M NOT WORTHY

Only after retreating did Tian Zhongren realize his actions seemed to show weakness.

How ridiculous! I’m a medical expert, a neurology professor! What weakness could I possibly have in front of a young man in his early twenties?

So, his face darkened, and he bellowed angrily, "What are you doing? Don’t you know this is a matter of life and death? Move aside!"

"How is it a matter of life and death?"

Li Tianyao glanced at him, then turned to Director Xiao and Zhang Xuebin. "Did Miss An Yan let him in?"

Zhang Xuebin shook his head. "Miss An Yan instructed Dr. Lin Ling to guard the door, saying that no one is allowed to enter or leave! But Professor Tian said he could wait outside the operating room, ready at any time..."

Li Tianyao’s gaze turned icy. "A renowned professor willing to lower himself to wait outside the operating room—didn’t you find that suspicious? Who made this decision?"

His gaze shifted to Director Xiao and Zhang Xuebin. The pressure from a superior made both men hang their heads.

Only then did Tian Zhongren realize something was amiss. The sudden deference from Director Xiao and Chief Zhang indicated this man’s rank was higher than theirs.

He instantly regretted shouting like that! Important people should be befriended, not offended.

Professor Song, noticing Tian Zhongren seemed intimidated by the handsome young newcomer, had no choice but to step forward.

"Me!"

Professor Song, a man seasoned by many trials and tribulations, only realized how soft his voice had been after he called out. Strangely, I didn’t think so at the time.

Realizing this, Professor Song’s face darkened as well.

"It was me..."

"Professor Song!" Director Xiao called out to him and began the introduction, "This is Captain Li Tianyao, a special consultant for our police force!"

Director Xiao deliberately spoke vaguely; in truth, Li Tianyao’s authority was far greater than most people imagined.

"I don’t care who he is! I only know that if we make one more preparation, the lives of the staff in the operating room will have an additional layer of security," Professor Song said.

"And how are you so certain it’s an additional layer of security, and not an additional risk?"

Professor Song was speechless.

Li Tianyao stopped looking at him and directly stated his stance: "Unless An Yan requests external assistance, everyone is to remain here quietly. No one moves!"

The clear warning in his words made Tian Zhongren’s heart inexplicably pound. For a moment, I even felt as if I’d been exposed.

Professor Song had lived for many years, and truly, few people had ever dared to be so discourteous to him. He was so angered he momentarily found it hard to breathe.

An assistant nearby hurriedly gave him a pill.

"Fine! You’re the one saying our people can’t go in. If something truly happens, don’t you regret it," Professor Song retorted, feeling considerably better afterward.

Tian Zhongren didn’t dare say anything further; his gaze on the large screen, however, was somewhat unfocused.

This newly arrived Captain Li is definitely not someone to be trifled with. Right now, the only thing I can do is remain still and observe!

「In the operating room.」

The atmosphere had returned to normal. No, it was better than normal—even more relaxed. This applied to everyone, whether on the operating table or observing from the side. Every face was brimming with joy.

Su Siming asked, "Sister Yan, is this poison airborne? Was that an Antidote you gave us to take?"

An Yan nodded. "What you took was a Qingling Pill!"

Ya Zhuo was shocked. "A Qingling Pill? The kind that sells for about a hundred million each?"

An Yan hummed in affirmation, her voice light.

Ya Zhuo’s team members were also stunned.

"A hundred million?" one exclaimed.

Another lamented, "Professor An, if you’d told us earlier! My worthless life isn’t worth a hundred million!"

"Professor An, if I spit out the pill now, would that work?" a third asked.

A fourth chimed in, "The poison is just on the surface of our bodies, right? When we leave the operating room, can’t we just take off our masks, caps, and surgical gowns? Won’t that solve the problem? Professor An, why did you make us take a pill worth a hundred million?"

An Yan was speechless. This was the first time she’d been complained at for saving lives.

Ya Zhuo glared at his team members in dissatisfaction. "All of you, shut up!"

Acting like a bunch of country bumpkins!

Once everyone had quieted down, Ya Zhuo asked, "Professor An, uh, considering our incomes aren’t very high, could we perhaps work off this debt?"

An Yan chuckled. "Don’t worry, I’m not asking you for money. The reason I had you all take it is because I wasn’t sure if contact with the corneas or inhalation into the nasal passages would cause harm. As a safety precaution, I had everyone take one."

"I see. But if it’s free, won’t you be at a loss?"

An Yan said, "I won’t be at a loss. Once we catch the poisoner, they’ll pay for these pills!"

"Oh, right!" Everyone instantly perked up.

Professor An is truly Professor An; her thinking is so clear! That’s right, the poisoner should indeed be responsible!

But then a new thought arose: Who is the poisoner?

They looked at one another, then instinctively took a step back from each other. Whoever it was, to so recklessly disregard everyone’s lives, they’re definitely not a good person!

The atmosphere, which had eased only slightly, instantly grew even more tense. An indefinable, eerie feeling permeated the air.

Seated in his wheelchair, Ya Zhuo’s gaze constantly swept over everyone in the operating room.

He wondered who the poisoner could be. But no matter how much he thought about it, no one here seemed suspicious. I know my own team well, of course. As for those not on my team—Liang Chen, Su Siming, and that young woman—it’s even less likely. They were brought by Professor An. And Lin Ling? That’s absolutely impossible. He’s Li Tianyao’s man, and Professor An is practically his boss’s wife. Would he dare to harm her?

An Yan deftly removed the non-adherent blood clots. The remainder were almost all adhered to the cerebral cortex; removing them would inevitably cause damage.

Everyone else felt the surgery could conclude at this stage, but An Yan thought differently. "This is a chance to practice. Every surgery deepens your muscle memory. Well? Who wants to give it a try?"

Of course, she dared to say this because the area they would be working on next governed the body’s limb coordination. Success would be ideal, but failure wouldn’t affect the patient’s memory or consciousness.

Liang Chen immediately volunteered, "I’ll do it!"

An Yan stepped aside for him.

Liang Chen had a steady temperament and had deliberately practiced his manual dexterity. Coupled with having just observed An Yan’s procedure, he made no mistakes, though he was not yet proficient.

More than ten minutes later, his speed noticeably increased.

Half an hour later, he was clearly hitting his stride.

Once An Yan noticed he had found his rhythm, she had him make way for Ya Zhuo.

Su Siming, who had been preparing to step forward, pouted. "Sister Yan, wasn’t it supposed to be my turn next?"