423-425

Chapter 423: Director’s Audio Track Version 

Medical Center. Buffet Area. 

“Is it really that over the top?” 

Leeds couldn’t believe it. “Flushed so red you’d think she had a fever?” 

“Not even exaggerating,” came the reply. 

Christina teased, “When she saw Dr. Shepter, she only had to fan herself a little to cool down. But the moment she laid eyes on Adam, fanning didn’t help at all. She turned so red it was like her face was practically bleeding, her breathing went rapid, and she nearly passed out from dizziness.” 

“Adam isn’t Michael Jackson!”  

George was at a loss for words. “Do people really faint just from looking at him?” 

“You’re okay with fans swooning over Michael Jackson’s performances, but you can’t accept a female patient getting all red, feverish, and dizzy because Adam is too handsome and utterly irresistible?” 

Christina, still in disbelief, replied, “They’re all a little crazy anyway.” 

“Watch it—or you’ll get it,” someone warned. 

Adam interrupted, “Alright, enough of these pointless topics. Meredith, did you bring Dr. Grey’s videotapes and medical notes?” 

“I brought a few tapes.” 

Meredith frowned. “Are you sure this will work?” 

“Worth a shot.” 

Adam’s brow furrowed. “Only a few tapes? Just videotapes? No medical notes?” 

“We’ll start with a few tapes and see.” 

Meredith’s eyes flickered. “Too many would be too much to lug around.” 

“Hmm?” 

Adam raised an eyebrow. Something about Meredith just didn’t sit right. Was she trying to hide these precious surgical tapes so as not to “aid the enemy”? And what about the medical notes? Adam couldn’t believe that the legendary Dr. Alice Grey would have left behind not even a single note. 

Not only did Meredith skirt around the issue of the notes, she wouldn’t even bring them up. Clearly, something bigger was going on. But then again, Adam could understand. If Meredith really had any intention of “aiding the enemy,” then the medical notes would be far more valuable than the tapes. 

Why? Because the tapes are just curated copies of the surgeries Dr. Grey performed all over—the originals are safely stored in hospitals. With a little effort, anyone could get their hands on them. But the medical notes? Those were Dr. Grey’s private summaries, filled with her insights on various procedures and her visionary ideas for groundbreaking surgeries.  

If the right person—say, Adam—got hold of those notes, studied them inside and out, and built upon those pioneering ideas, he could very well create an entirely new series of procedures bearing his name, making headlines worldwide and forging his own legend. Knowing Adam, he’d probably keep that kind of treasure under lock and key. 

Still, understanding doesn’t change the fact that this trend can’t be allowed to continue! Adam narrowed his eyes as a host of ideas for making Meredith willingly hand over those notes flashed through his mind. Meanwhile, a guilty Meredith lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes. She hadn’t even anticipated this angle. 

“Aiding the enemy?” she thought. She wasn’t as fiercely ambitious as Christina—she’d never planned on competing with Adam. The reason she was so vague and reluctant was that last night, while rummaging through the stack of surgical tapes and medical notes her mom had piled up at home, she uncovered a shocking secret. 

Her mother… had a lover. 

Well, “had a lover” might be an understatement—she wasn’t entirely sure why the word “also” would even apply. But that wasn’t the main point. The real shock was that her dad’s departure back then wasn’t entirely his fault. And the so-called fourth party in their family drama turned out to be none other than Head of Surgery Richard! 

Her mom’s medical notes even casually detailed the intimate cigarette breaks between her and Richard—details so scandalous that even she, known for literally losing her pants when she got totally wasted, couldn’t help but blush. And more often than not, it was her mom who made the first move. How could she possibly let such a family disgrace become public? If someone who knew her saw her mom’s notes, what terrible assumptions might they make—like, “a dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix begets a phoenix…”? 

But those unsettling thoughts were quickly pushed aside. 

“Director…” Meredith murmured, thinking of her once-respected uncle—now tarnished by this revelation—until she nearly felt sick. 

“Adam, are you really planning to take these surgical tapes to consult with Dr. Grey?” 

Leeds reminded him, “But she has Alzheimer’s. Even if she remembers the medicine, one misstatement from her could lead you astray—and that’s dangerous.” 

“Yeah,” George agreed. “That would be irresponsible to the patients. How dare you!” 

“It’s fine,” Adam said with a laugh. “I can figure things out on my own. But you do have a point—so for the sake of patient safety, you guys can just sit this one out. After all, how dare you!” 

George and Leeds went silent for a moment before Christina burst into laughter. “These are the precious Director’s Audio Track version surgical tapes! Are you sure you don’t want to watch them together?” 

Adam gave her an appreciative look. The analogy of a “Director’s Audio Track version” was pretty clever. In American movies, the producer usually calls the shots—most directors don’t even have the final say on the edit. And we all know how crucial editing is. The same film, with a different edit, can convey an entirely opposite message. The version shown in theaters reflects the producer’s vision, which often leaves directors fuming because it doesn’t capture the deep meaning they intended.  

To make a buck, many companies, after the theatrical run, are willing to let the director release their own director’s cut or even a director’s audio commentary version—then hype it up and sell the tapes like crazy. After all, if it were identical to the theatrical version, why should anyone who’s already seen it pay extra to buy it? And there are even those unscrupulous companies that tack on a few extra seconds, or even minutes, of previously cut scenes, boldly claiming that the viewing experience is entirely different—releasing it in theaters all over again just to make a quick buck. 

Just like in The Big Bang Theory—whether it’s the theatrical version with a few extra seconds or the director’s cut, or even the director’s audio commentary version—if the movie company dares to sell it, Sheldon and the gang wouldn’t miss out for the world. They’d happily spend the money, watch or buy it, then write reviews online and discuss it with other fans. It’s all part of the ritual. And why not? They’re that passionate. 

Now, back to the surgical tapes. These recordings are captured live, with no editing whatsoever. But different doctors watching them can come away with completely different interpretations—some deep, some shallow. It’s like having countless theatrical versions edited by producers of varying skill; the final result entirely depends on the editor’s ability. 

When the lead surgeon on these tapes is Dr. Alice Grey—and if she were there giving live commentary—it’d be nothing short of a director’s audio commentary version. For doctors who are truly passionate about medicine, who have ambition and drive, such a version of these precious tapes would be absolutely priceless. It sets the benchmark: even the least skilled, if they earnestly follow along and learn, won’t fall too far behind. 

Chapter 424: Tough Talk, Honest Body Medical Center. Afternoon. 

“Duncan, come here.” 

Dr. Bailey called out. 

“What’s up, Dr. Bailey?” 

Adam hurried over. 

“Kerry Lodge’s surgery is done,” Dr. Bailey said. “She’s about to wake up, and we need to check if the surgery worked. I can’t think of anyone better for the job than you.” 

“Got it.” 

Adam didn’t hesitate. 

In the hospital room. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi.” 

Kerry Lodge slowly came out of anesthesia and greeted Meredith with a groggy smile. 

“Is it over?” 

“Yep, surgery went great,” Meredith said with a grin. “We’re just keeping an eye on you now. Dr. Shepherd will be here soon to check on you.” 

“Say that again?” 

Kerry’s smile froze. 

“What?” 

Meredith blinked, confused. 

“Say his name—Dr. Shepherd.” 

Kerry clarified, then noticed her face wasn’t heating up like it used to. She lit up with excitement. “OMG! Look at my face!” 

“Not even a little red. You’re cured,” Meredith laughed. “No more ‘blushing like crazy thinking about your husband’ from now on…” 

Just then, Adam walked in. 

“Dr. Duncan.” 

Kerry glanced at him, then something felt off. She touched her cheeks and gasped, “My face is red again! Did the surgery fail?” 

Meredith’s expression turned serious. 

“Relax,” Adam stepped forward, checked her over, and reassured her. “The surgery just dialed down the overactive sympathetic nerve response to the minimum—it didn’t completely eliminate it. The blushing you’re feeling now isn’t the kind that used to cause fevers or dizziness. It’s just normal blushing. The surgery worked.” 

“Really?” 

Kerry looked skeptical. 

“Really,” Adam said with a smile. “It’s not your fault—it’s mine!” 

“Heh.” 

Kerry kept touching her face. The wild heat she used to feel didn’t show up, and that calmed her down. She couldn’t help but laugh. 

Meredith let out a relieved breath too. 

“I’ll go grab Dr. Shepherd to check you out.” 

Since it was her surgery, Dr. Shepherd arrived quickly. The results matched Adam’s take—everything went perfectly, no issues at all. 

Hearing the news, Cristina smirked. “The miracle doctor versus Mr. Dreamboat—who’s got the most charm? You guys ready to admit defeat yet?” 

George and Izzie rolled their eyes in unison, refusing to take the bait. 

Nightfall. 

Thanks to Adam’s deep pockets, Dr. Grey’s office was finished in record time. Six caregivers eagerly signed up to help care for the legendary Dr. Ellis Grey. 

Ellis Grey was moved from the VIP ward to her new setup. 

“Dr. Grey, these are some tapes of surgeries you performed,” Adam said. “We were hoping you could walk us through your thought process back then and share some practical tips.” 

“We?” 

Ellis Grey frowned. “I don’t have time to teach a bunch of clueless interns. Just you, Adam. You’ve earned it.” 

“Thanks.” 

Adam’s lips curled into a smile. He shot a look at Cristina, who was bristling with indignation, and smoothly added, “Dr. Grey, I misspoke earlier. I’m the only student here. They’re just my interns, here to listen and help out. If they’ve got questions, I’ll handle them. We won’t waste your time.” 

“Okay.” 

Dr. Grey nodded coolly, then pointed at Meredith, who was leaning against the doorway, trying to blend into the background. “But she’s not allowed in here.” 

“Mom?” 

Meredith stared at her mother in disbelief. 

At first, she’d been against Adam’s whole plan. But now that it was happening, she couldn’t pretend anymore. Deep down, she longed for what Adam had promised: a fresh start with her mom, having her there to support and witness her growth. That’s why she was standing there, after hours, when no one could force her to be. 

But she never expected this. She hadn’t even brought up how her mom’s affair with Chief Richard left her fatherless at five, stuck growing up with a single mom in a hospital. And now her mom was doubling down, saying something this hurtful. 

Her eyes started to well up. 

“She’s a child. I don’t work with kids,” Ellis Grey said flatly, oblivious to the sting of her words. 

In her mind, Meredith was still just a kid. And kids should be off playing, not bothering her while she worked. 

“Dr. Grey, Meredith isn’t a child anymore—I can vouch for that,” Adam interjected. 

He paused for a second. If any kid had her knack for getting plastered and dropping their pants 100% of the time, their parents would probably disown them faster than you can say ‘Li Jing from Chentang Pass.’ Of course, if they were up against someone who could catch a blade barehanded like Li Jing, that’d be a different story. 

Shaking off the random thought, Adam continued, “She’s finished med school and is a fully qualified intern. Test her if you don’t believe me.” 

He gave Meredith a subtle nod. 

Cristina quickly stepped over from Dr. Grey’s side to Meredith’s, whispering, “She’s a patient. Humor her a little.” 

“Fine,” Dr. Grey said, glancing at Adam. “I’ll ask you…” 

Meredith almost ignored her mom’s question entirely. But with Cristina tugging at her arm and a flicker of wanting to prove her wrong, she swallowed her frustration and focused on answering. 

Dr. Grey had never thought much of her daughter. But they were still mother and daughter—how could Ellis’s insane medical talent not trickle down at least a little? Meredith might not be on her mom’s level, but she was still top-tier. 

That’s how she’d managed to party hard and still graduate near the top of Harvard Med, becoming besties with overachiever Cristina. 

But as Dr. Grey cranked the difficulty up to a near-vertical climb, even Cristina—silently answering in her head—started to falter. Meredith, naturally, hit a wall. Talent alone couldn’t match Cristina’s talent-plus-grind combo. 

“That’s it?” Dr. Grey said coldly. 

“…” 

Meredith’s face flushed red. 

Izzie shot her a sympathetic look. Having a mom like that? Total headache material. 

George wanted to step in again, channeling Dr. Grey’s husband Zack from last night to shut her down, but Adam’s glare stopped him. Then Adam stepped forward, blocking his view entirely. 

“Dr. Grey, that question’s way beyond an intern’s knowledge base. It’s normal that Meredith couldn’t answer,” Adam said, smoothing things over. “As their mentor, that one’s on me to tackle…” 

And then he nailed the answer. 

“Dr. Grey, they’re with me. They won’t disrupt your work,” Adam said with a smile. “I promise.” 

“Alright,” Dr. Grey nodded. “Your interns, your responsibility. Let’s get started.” 

Meredith: “…” 

Who’s your real kid here? With her mom’s attitude so drastically different, she’d almost rather be ignored completely. 

“Hemipelvectomy…” 

Adam hit play. The big-screen TV they’d set up flickered to life, showing a surgery led by a younger Dr. Grey. Her face was hidden behind a mask, but her steady, confident, almost icy eyes radiated charisma. 

As the older Dr. Grey narrated, Adam and the others dove in, fully engrossed. 

Even Meredith. 

Chapter 425: When the Overachiever Meets the Genius 

Medical Center  

Night One  

Adam, Christina, Meredith, George, and Liz all took part. 

Night Two  

Bianca (who was on duty last night), along with the ever-bold Bald Chris and Chubby Stu, joined in. 

Night Three  

“Hey, you got any connections?”  

“What kind of connections?”  

“You know… with Adam Duncan or Meredith Grey? Worst-case scenario, even Cristina Yang would do.”  

“Oh, you mean that ‘watch surgery videos together’ thing they’re setting up? No thanks. We can’t even sort out our own mess—why sign up to be the sucker in that ordeal?”  

“You’re right, but can you do me a favor?”  

“What favor?”  

“I was hoping we could swap shifts. What do you say?”  

“Sorry, I can’t do that.”  

“Why not? You won’t even help with something this small. Are you even my friend?”  

“We are friends, but I’ve already got plans during my off hours—I can’t change my shift.”  

“What do you have scheduled at that exact time?”  

“A date. I can’t ditch my date just to watch some crappy surgery tapes with you—you’re forcing me to be a lonely bachelor, aren’t you?”  

“Can’t you just reschedule your date?”  

“No way, it’s been set in stone for ages.”  

“If not this time, how about next time? We could keep swapping shifts—just talk to your girlfriend about it, isn’t that doable?”  

“Still no. My girlfriend’s work schedule fits my shift perfectly.”  

…  

Outside Grey’s Office  

“WTF?!!”  

“Hey~”  

“Weren’t you supposed to be out on a date with your girlfriend?”  

“Yeah, I’m on a date right now.”  

“…So your girlfriend is… your left hand?!!”  

“Cut the crap. As doctors, we barely have time for our two hands—juggling two girlfriends would be exhausting. You gotta pick one.”  

“Then why does your date have to be at THIS time? And why are you even here?!”  

“No helping it. My ‘girlfriend’ is insanely curious about our field—she thinks watching surgeries and dissections is super thrilling. And since they’re screening surgery footage here, she practically begged me to bring her along.  

She promised that if I agreed, she’d hook me up with some perks when we got home—so I couldn’t say no, you know?  

Between you and me, I’m pretty frustrated about it. I suspect she’s really just here to check out all the handsome doctors and gorgeous nurses. Sigh… but what choice do I have? I only have one girlfriend, and no matter what, I’ve got to put up with her. Don’t you agree?”  

…  

What’s gotten into this world? Where’s the trust between people? That poor doctor, practically getting played by his friend, obviously knows he’s been conned. 

His buddy keeps griping that watching surgery videos together is total crap and is always coming up with excuses not to swap shifts—forcing him to sneak in during his break just to catch a glimpse. 

But he was too naive; he forgot one thing. 

His friend is, after all, a dog. 

For him, dog crap doesn’t stink at all—it even smells kind of sweet. 

The real reason he won’t swap shifts is because his schedule lines up exactly with Adam’s. And without Adam, the whole “watch surgery tapes together” event just wouldn’t happen. It can only take place once Adam’s shift is over and he’s off duty. That’s why he was so eager to swap shifts in the first place. 

Who would’ve thought… this world is brutal; there really are bad people out there. 

Facing his grinning, cocky friend, he could only flash him a double middle finger before glancing into the office—where a dense crowd had gathered. Many didn’t even have seats; they just grabbed any available spot and watched intently. Those who couldn’t get in had no choice but to stand outside, slowly increasing in number as they waited for someone to leave and a seat to open up. 

Beep… beep… 

When the pager finally went off—and under the angry stares of everyone—he offered a sheepish smile and sulked away. 

As doctors, none of them are fools; they all know how once-in-a-lifetime this opportunity is. So those who knew the right people and were on good terms with Adam’s crew had already snuck in through the back door. Everyone else had to keep hanging outside, hoping that when someone’s pager buzzed and they left, they could rush in and snag a spot. 

In the early hours of the morning, the director’s commentary finally wrapped up. People began chatting in small groups as they prepared to leave. One comment caught everyone’s attention: 

“Adam…”  

Steven Murphy emerged with a conflicted expression.  

“Hope you didn’t come to the wrong place?” he asked.  

Alice fell into step beside him. Acting as if she hadn’t heard the ramblings of the so-called “super backup,” she smiled and said, “How rare is it to have a legendary female doctor personally walk you through each of her classic surgeries? Even you couldn’t have imagined an opportunity like this, right?”  

“Yeah,” Steven nodded.  

To have a mentor like Grey—a true legend—no amount of money could ever buy that chance. More precisely, no one is capable of or willing to pay an astronomical price just to follow a legendary doctor and learn how to be exceptional. Steven considered himself nearly there: his dad is the chairman of Murphy Pharmaceuticals, and though he’s a super rich second-generation, he’s determined to earn his stripes as a doctor. Yet even with his father’s backing, nothing justifies the unimaginable cost of convincing a legend to become his teacher. This opportunity, it seems, is nothing short of miraculous.  

Without a legendary doctor like her, without a rare case, without a genius-level breakthrough—and without Adam’s money-powered execution—such an opportunity would simply never arise. 

“By the way, with an opportunity this rare, how did you manage to get in—and even bring me along?” Steven suddenly asked, recalling the grumbles from other doctors who couldn’t join in. 

Alice’s eyes twinkled as she smiled. “We’re all med school classmates. Even if you and Adam had a few rough patches before, didn’t you eventually make up? Adam’s a big-hearted guy who always supports driven doctors. Isn’t it only natural that we get in?”  

“True,” Steven replied with an awkward smile. “Adam really is a great guy. I guess I was off—I kept hearing how hard it was to snag a spot and that everyone was trying to pull strings, and I forgot we’re all classmates.” 

Alice chuckled, though her smile seemed a little forced—a bit odd, really. 

Inside Grey’s Office  

Everyone who was leaving had already gone; only Adam, Christina, and a few others remained. 

“Adam, I’ve got a proposal,” Christina said. “I’m thinking of buying a video camera so we can record the entire lecture. It’ll help us review later—what do you think?” 

“Really? Do we need that?” Adam asked, clearly surprised. 

“Absolutely!” Meredith, Liz, and George all chimed in at once. 

“Not everyone’s as obsessed as you, with your high-def photographic memory!” someone teased. 

“You and Dr. Grey dive so deep into things that the rest of us can’t keep up!” another added. 

“Yeah, not just us—Christina can’t keep up either!” came a further jab. 

The banter flew back and forth, leaving Christina looking rather embarrassed. 

That’s just the kind of moment you get when a top student meets a genius…