"Don't you think this is all too coincidental?"
A few people nodded. "That does seem to be the case."
The doctor who raised the question beca excited. "Consider this possibility: one traditional Chinese dicine expert recomnds him, a National dical Master acts as a stepping stone, and then they catapult Du Heng directly into the spotlight as a star of the future, elevating him to a god-like status?"
Several people's eyes widened. At this point, soone whispered, "You an, just like that guy in our Neurosurgery Departnt?"
"Right, just like that. Look at that guy in the Neurosurgery Departnt. He returned from studying abroad last year, and then, six months later, suddenly announced that he could perform 'Direct Surgery for Cavernous Sinus Atrophy,' instantly catapulting him to the status of a genius in neurosurgery."
"In the six months since then, that person has participated in nurous high-profile forums and lectures, and attended quite a few dostic and international conferences. But have you ever heard about him performing an actual surgery since then?"
Several people shook their heads in unison. "Why would they do that?"
"Why? For fa, of course." The doctor who was speaking glanced furtively outside, then continued, "First, they establish the image of this genius. Then, by participating in various high-profile conferences, they continuously promote this person's fa. Once this person can completely master the surgery—even though others can also perform these surgeries—with his great fa and high qualifications, wouldn't he be able to easily ascend to 'god' status in their field and then control the narrative? For an individual, wouldn't this an taking a shortcut that saves decades of detours ordinary doctors would face, or even reaching a goal that others might never achieve in their lifeti?"
"So, you're saying this Du Heng is also like that?"
"I'm just guessing, because Du Heng's ergence is too strange. One traditional Chinese dicine expert promotes him, a National dical Master gets publicly challenged by him, and he instantly becos famous. I ask you, who in today's dical circle doesn't know that Master Zhang Dewen was confronted by a young man? Coupled with his current online achievents, the persona of a traditional Chinese dicine genius has been established, and his 'divinity' has been set in stone."
Saying this, he gave a scornful smile. "And look at the situation today. This Du Heng will definitely find so excuse to get out of it, either claiming he's not feeling well or heading straight back to Jinzhou. Then he'll continue to boost his fa online. When the ti is ripe, he'll make his grand entrance into the Capital. By then, a new 'god' will have erged in the Chinese dicine field, and no one will find it abrupt. Doesn't this pattern look a lot like that guy from the Neurosurgery Departnt?"
"It does."
"It's practically identical."
"So, that ans this 'Demigod' isn't coming today?"
"Heh, what's this 'Demigod' business?"
The one who had just spoken laughed. "Didn't we just say? After that move yesterday, this Du Heng's 'divine status' was established. Give it so ti, and he'll smoothly ascend to full 'godhood.' Calling him a Demigod now? Nothing wrong with that."
The others also laughed. "Heh heh, Demigod. Yeah, nothing wrong with that at all."
"Alright, enough talk. It's a waste of breath talking about him."
"Exactly. I haven't even finished my disease records because I was waiting for him this morning."
"Let's break it up, break it up."
As the people in the office dispersed, the buzz of anticipation for Du Heng throughout the ward also gradually died down.
anwhile, the nickna 'Du Demigod' subtly began to circulate around the ward, occasionally punctuated by mocking laughter. Whenever this laughter arose, the words 'Du Demigod' also started to gradually appear in the dical staff's phone chats and in subtle posts on their ins.
And that conspiracy-theorist doctor was, at this mont, quite pleased with himself. He strolled leisurely down the hallway, occasionally sharing a laugh or two with his colleagues.
"Doctor Yang, that term 'Du Demigod' is a bit too harsh, don't you think?"
"Purely coincidental, purely coincidental." Doctor Yang replied with a subtle smile. "Let's not talk about it. I have to speak with so patients today. They're scheduled for surgery on Monday, and if I don't do it now, it'll be too late."
"It's still early morning. What's the rush? You can talk to them this afternoon."
"I can't. I have quite a few patients, and so of the families are rather troubleso..." Suddenly, Doctor Yang saw Professor Zhang, and with him, a young man laughing and chatting animatedly.
Du Heng! That's Du Heng. I've seen his videos. I recognize him. He actually ca!
Doctor Yang's sudden silence puzzled the doctor he was chatting with. "Doctor Yang, what's wrong?"
Noticing Doctor Yang's flickering gaze, she slowly followed his line of sight. When she also saw the young man beside Professor Zhang, and then recalled Doctor Yang's earlier expression, she seed to understand. "Doctor Yang, is that young man next to Professor Zhang the 'Du Demigod'?"
Doctor Yang snapped back to his senses and muttered, "He really dared to co?"
"Why wouldn't he dare?"
"Today's patient is as difficult a case as the one Dr. Cao from Hao Pengyou Hospital had." Doctor Yang swallowed. "In the four days this patient has been hospitalized, Professor Zhang has tried countless thods, invited all the ophthalmology experts and traditional Chinese dicine experts in the Capital, and even tried acupuncture, but nothing has worked."
After saying this, Doctor Yang took a deep breath. "At a ti like this, shouldn't this 'Du Demigod' be finding an excuse to slip away and slowly cultivate his 'divinity'?"
His colleague looked at Doctor Yang's dazed expression and suddenly laughed. "Perhaps this 'Du Demigod' is a real demigod, not a fake one."
Doctor Yang still seed a bit dazed. "That can't be right. Professor Lan Changhua isn't here today, nor is there a National dical Master to back him up. How could he dare to actually show up?"
"Hehe, you, you're really obsessed with this." His colleague laughed, patted him on the shoulder, and then pulled him into the office.
anwhile, Du Heng, who was passing by outside, was still apologizing to Professor Zhang. "Professor Zhang, I'm truly sorry. I should have co earlier, but my colleagues traveled a long way to get here, and I wouldn't have felt at ease if I didn't go to pick them up."
Professor Zhang was only a few years younger than Lan Changhua, but he was particularly robust and, unlike Lan Changhua, showed no signs of frailty when he walked.
"No need to apologize. It was my oversight as well. When we discussed this yesterday, I didn't ask if it was convenient for you. If I had known you had other commitnts today, I wouldn't have troubled you."
Du Heng smiled faintly. Even if you had told yesterday, I couldn't have inford you, Professor. This was decided after the event concluded, and I don't have the ability to predict the future.
After a brief chuckle, Du Heng said, "These are so local specialties from our Northwest. Since my colleagues were coming, I had them bring so for you, Professor Zhang. This is codonopsis, grown by herbalists in their own fields—pesticide-free, no chemical fertilizers, purely natural growth. It hasn't been processed at all, so it's completely natural. Professor Zhang, when you have free ti, you can soak it in water or steep it in yellow wine. It replenishes vital energy, tonifies the spleen and lungs, nourishes blood, and promotes fluid production. It's much better than what you can buy on the market."
At Professor Zhang's age and in his position, what hadn't he seen?
But Du Heng's respectful attitude made Professor Zhang hold him in higher regard. After all, given Du Heng's status as a traditional Chinese dicine practitioner, he, Professor Zhang, an ophthalmologist practicing Western dicine, arguably offered little of professional use to Du Heng.
"Your colleagues have gone to a lot of trouble. But for such excellent things, I certainly won't refuse."
"Professor Zhang, you're too kind."
Upon reaching the Director's office, Professor Zhang invited the three of them to sit down. "I do apologize. I don't co to the hospital much these days, only two or three tis a week, and I spend most of that ti in the outpatient service. So, I don't have a dedicated office here in the ward. When I co over, I just use this office. I hope you don't mind."
Du Heng thought, My goodness! An esteed expert invites for a consultation and tells ** not to mind? How could I possibly mind? Is he kidding? Being invited is an imnse honor in itself!
Hearing this, Du Heng naturally offered a few polite demurs. Then, he got straight to the point, anxious that any delay would cut into his afternoon plans and lead to another awkward situation with Wu Shengnan.
"Professor Zhang, shall we discuss today's patient?"
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