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Chapter 5: 5

As the cool breeze of spring melted away, July came with the warm, scorching summer sun . Under the cocktail blue skies and the glimmering yellow sun, the same Eastern City remained .

Eastern University’s School of Medicine was situated in the bustling Qingyun District, north of the city . Right beside the “Tallest Peak of Eastern Province”, Mt . Qingyun, the prestigious century-old Eastern University School of Medicine stood . This school was just like Mt . Qingyun, standing as the best amongst other schools and boasting world-class facilities: A faculty of elite professors . Every student graduating from this school would be the creme de la creme of their generation .

As expected of a top-notch institution, students were still gathered even during the summer break, engaging in the array of events and enrichment arranged for their further development . On the sun-baked pathways, students, city-dwellers, vehicles and even tourists roamed .

“Profound Knowledge, Benevolence for the World” The majestic words of their school vision were engraved onto a towering stone pillar beside the school gates . Looking at these words, Gu Jun muttered to himself, striding confidently through the gates .

A different emotion swelled in his heart as he passed the gates for the first time in 3 months . 3 days had passed since the disaster underwater . Yesterday, he hopped onto the earliest flight back to Huaxia’s Eastern City the moment the cruise docked at the Maldives .

When the clock ticked to 00:00 hours, his missions had refreshed again . However, owing to different circumstances, they were all seemingly impossible . Without a single accepted mission, he nonchalantly strolled back into school grounds . After all, the plethora of medical facilities presented sufficient opportunities to complete them .

What’s more, he had to test the potency of the drug he received . To do so, returning to school was inevitable .

In the streets next to the school gate, there would always be a few stalls of mobile hawkers selling various snacks . Being only seven in the morning, Gu Jun hadn’t had breakfast yet . Walking towards a stall selling local Eastern Province snacks, he asked the old hawker, “Uncle, 1 pancake, please . WeChat Pay?”

“Yes, yes . ” The old man pointed to a small QR code sign hanging on the front of the cart . His old face was full of pure smiles . “Five dollars per pancake . ”

6

“Okay . ” Gu Jun took out his phone and scanned the code to pay, then watched the old man make pancakes .

The uncle was already in his silver age with hair as white as snow . However, his hands were still dexterous, full of attention, and his eyes were bright with focus . As he wrapped the pancakes, he smiled, “Boy, Let me give you more fillings . ”

“Thank you . ” A simple gesture filled Gu Jun’s heart with warmth .

Not long later, the pancake was fresh out of the oven . Passionately, the uncle handed it over, the same warm smile on his face . “Eat it while it’s still hot . ”

Taking it over, Gu Jun took a huge bite . Immediately, hot juices spurted and covered his mouth . Yes, it was scorching hot, but it was delicious . Even the chefs on the premium cruise could not compare .

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Perhaps, this is the taste of home . Even if the world outside is turbulent and messy, returning to Eastern University is equivalent to returning home .

1

“Boy, are you a student of Eastern University?” The uncle asked . Seeing the gentle nod, an enthusiastic thumbs-up was raised . “Good! Being a doctor is great! This is a huge contribution to the country . You are a pillar supporting society!”

Pillar of society… Such high praise . Looks like this uncle is a fervent supporter of Eastern University .

Gu Jun sniggered to himself, “Uncle, you are exaggerating . Actually, er…”

Breaking into a broad smile, the uncle’s white teeth glistened . “No . not at all . The people I respect the most are doctors . Medicine is good!”

“One can distinguish himself in every trade . ” Finishing the rest of the pancake in one mouth, he praised, “Just like your craft, your pancakes are superb!”

That one sentence struck a chord with the uncle, who broke into a peal of euphoric laughter, “HAHA, this old man like that! Come, let me give you 1 fried fritter!”

Receiving the fritters, Gu Jun still sept the QR code, paying a dollar for it . Somehow, he felt as if he played right into this old uncle’s hands .

4

Waving goodbye to the uncle, he strolled down the pavements with the fritters in his hand . As he walked towards the laboratories, he passed an array of people, students, tourists, and parents .

Within the northern sector of the school, while he was still quite a distance from the laboratories, an appalled voice called to him from behind, “Tycoon Jun?”

Turning back, he saw a man scurrying towards him with his bicycle, “OMG! It’s really you! I haven’t seen you in several months! WeChat, phone calls, how could you not reply to a single one of them!!”

This man was not short, but not tall either . A victim of early life receding hairline . His balding head accentuated his frail listless expression and pair of lifeless eyes . Worse still, the heavy drooping eye bags added several tens of years to his age, making him look as if he was in his forties . Not much younger than the cart vendor from just now .

In reality, this man was only 21 years of age . His slowly receding hairline was a proud insignia of the “slaves of medicine”, a consequence of the Everest-like pressure the young aspiring doctors faced and caused symptoms of early ageing .

2

This rascal, Cai Zixuan, was one of Gu Jun’s roommates . Both of them were enrolled in the same 8-year course and specialising in clinical medicine . From the start, they got along on good terms . More accurately, Cai Zixuan was a simple man and was suffering endless “bullying” from Gu Jun . Wherever Gu Jun wreaked havoc, Cai Zixuan cleaned up his mess, sheltered him, and even lent his notes for Gu Jun to copy .

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While Cai Zixuan never followed Gu Jun on his crazy antics, their friendship was still rock-solid .

“Some stuff happened . Took a break from school . Today is my first day back,” Smiling, Gu Jun updated his friend while giving him a light punch on the shoulder .

When he was first diagnosed, he requested confidentiality from the affiliated hospital of Eastern University . Hence, few people from school knew about his illness . Only a few neurosurgeons of the affiliated hospital knew about his illness, but not his identity as a student of Eastern University .

“Ouch!” Cai Zixuan rubbed his shoulders in pain and muttered softly, “Everyone thought you dropped out of school . There were even rumours that you’ve suddenly dropped dead at the bar and that your family was bankrupt . Argh! Whatever! As long as you are back . You probably have to take makeup lessons during this summer vacation . I’ll lend you some notes . ”

“Nice! I want them all . ” Gu Jun nodded . In his heart, warmth sprouted and enveloped him . “What about you? What are you doing in school during the summer vacation? You failed a module?”

Suddenly, the listless eyes glistened with vitality, Cai Zixuan’s face seemed to drop a few years of age . “I was selected for the Frontier Cup Competition! I’m on Prof . Gu’s team!”

“WOW!” A surprised gasp came out . Genuine excitement for his friend surged onto Gu Jun’s face . “Congratulations!”

The Frontier Cup had been run by the medical school in recent years . Undergraduates conduct scientific research experiments during their summer and winter holidays . Every year, students of every major sign up and battle for the coveted spots, but only 60 people can be shortlisted . From those 60 slots, the five-year and eight-year courses would acquire half of those slots .

In addition to building personal abilities and the development of interpersonal relationships, there would be even more benefits for participating students who made it to the list .

The 5-year course undergraduates could secure their Doctorate’s . The 8-year course students could attain the highest honours and reputations . Everyone wanted to get their hands on the scholarships .

“I was so lucky! You know that I’m pretty apt at injecting hamsters with medication . ” Cai Zixuan was a man full of emotions . “Professor Gu’s research was on photodynamic therapy for tumors . When he heard about my skills, he roped me in . Super lucky . ”

As he spoke, he did not hold back anything . Unafraid of hurting Gu Jun’s feelings or tearing apart their friendship . With his understanding of Gu Jun, he knew that the latter was uninterested in the Frontier Cup .

“What a pillar of society . ” From the bottom of his heart, he relayed the old uncle’s praise onto his friend . Only an ambitious and talented man like him could live up to such high praise .

“Haha!” Cai Zixuan smiled happily, then remembered something . “Oh right…”

This is what Gu Jun would care about .

He lowered his voice, “We have a situation in the group . I think you need to know . ”

“What?” Gu Jun asked .