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Added 2025-06-08 15:40:03 +0000 UTC

Chapter 339: The Shameless One

The Next Day

Medical Center

"Hi."

Greetings echoed throughout the hall.

Most people looked cheerful.

Of course.

After a full day of rest, not only had they recovered from exhaustion, but they had also released some much-needed hormones. It was impossible not to be in high spirits.

Doctors were human, not machines.

Even machines needed lubrication from time to time…

"Adam, Dr. Shephard has a patient today who will likely require surgery. You should go and join the rounds."

Shirley blinked. "Dr. Bailey will be bringing her interns as well. Whether you can get the surgical opportunity depends entirely on you."

"Got it."

Adam accepted the challenge with enthusiasm.

He thrived on open competition like this.

In the Ward

Dr. Shephard, a neurosurgeon, was examining a patient. A crowd of interns surrounded him—some under Dr. Bailey’s supervision, others from different attending physicians.

Each one looked eager, eyes burning with competitive spirit.

Christina shot Adam a provocative look.

Adam responded with a composed smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Lavange. This is Dr. Bailey and her team of outstanding interns."

Dr. Shephard finished his examination, glanced at the group, and introduced them to the patient.

"Welcome to hell, kids."

The patient, Edward Lavange, trembled uncontrollably, his limbs spasming as he struggled to move with the support of his daughter.

Adam’s eyes narrowed.

He recognized that face. If this man were a few years older, sitting in a wheelchair with a drooping mouth, an IV drip hanging by his side—he would be the spitting image of that relentless Mexican cartel boss from Breaking Bad, the one with cockroach-like resilience.

That realization made Adam uneasy.

Family-based crime syndicates were always bad news.

Once entangled with them, trouble was inevitable.

"Who wants to present the case?"

Dr. Bailey spoke up.

"Edward Lavange, 63 years old, admitted for movement disorder and pain management. His condition stabilized last night, and the medication has been effective post-injection."

Christina answered immediately.

After speaking, she cast Adam a smug glance.

Adam understood.

Despite the mandatory day off, Christina had stayed at the hospital to get firsthand information on the patient.

"Liz, explain the treatment approach."

Unfortunately for Christina, Dr. Bailey directed the next question to someone else.

"For Parkinson’s treatment?"

Liz hesitated. "Deep brain stimulation—"

"Not for Parkinson’s, for spinal pain," Adam interjected. "The procedure involves an intrathecal catheter implantation, allowing direct medication delivery for long-term pain relief."

Dr. Shephard, who had been making intense eye contact with Meredith Grey, hoping she would answer, was caught off guard.

"...Dr. Shephard?"

Adam pretended not to notice and prompted him again.

"Very well."

Dr. Shephard’s lips twitched, resigned. "This is Dr. Duncan. He will assist you with the surgery preparation and any necessary treatment."

Despite being the attending physician, Dr. Shephard had to abide by the "best candidate wins" rule.

Liz and the others looked disappointed.

Christina was clearly frustrated.

Meredith, on the other hand, could only smile bitterly.

In open competition like this, no amount of preparation could help if Adam was involved.

Even if she had discussed the case with Dr. Shephard last night in bed and had been fully prepared…

Adam would still beat her to it.

No matter how complex the case, Adam could instantly provide the correct treatment plan.

Even if Meredith had just revealed the answer outright, admitting she had prior knowledge, she still wouldn’t have been fast enough.

Adam’s speed was unmatched.

She couldn’t even win while cheating!

What could she do but smile helplessly?

If she had done this, people would have suspected cheating immediately.

But when Adam did it, no one doubted his ability.

They just grumbled that he wasn’t a real intern.

The gap between people could sometimes be that infuriating.

With Adam officially assigned as Lavange’s primary resident, the others left.

Adam meticulously followed protocol, careful with every step, speaking only when necessary, and avoiding unnecessary actions.

Whether or not this man was indeed the ruthless crime boss from his memory didn’t matter.

As long as he maintained professionalism and avoided personal entanglements, even if complications arose during surgery, it was unlikely the patient—if truly a dangerous man—would come after him.

This surgery was interesting. Adam wasn’t about to give it up easily.

Even though his primary goal was to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery, he believed in mastering multiple disciplines.

Take that one guy, for example—he was proficient in every medical field.

(No mistake—this was exactly the overpowered trope found in all the best stories!)

Even House, M.D. didn’t have a system. Yet, Dr. House was a specialist in infectious diseases and nephrology, with theoretical mastery across all fields. Otherwise, how could he diagnose complex cases?

He even had a surgical license and occasionally performed operations.

Master of both internal and surgical medicine.

If House wasn’t secretly the protagonist of his own fictional universe, Adam wouldn’t believe it.

And Adam did have a system.

With so many legendary figures as inspiration, why should he settle for being just a cardiothoracic surgeon?

The heart and brain were the body’s most vital organs.

So, naturally, neurosurgery was also a field Adam planned to conquer.

With a neurosurgical case now in his hands, there was no way he’d let it go.

Morning Passed in a Blur

Adam spent it preparing for Mr. Lavange’s surgery.

Noon—Hospital Cafeteria

"You again!"

Christina scowled.

"Why is it always you?!"

Liz and the others chimed in, complaining.

"Come on, guys."

Adam chuckled. "It’s not like this is the only surgery. I heard Dr. Burke took on a fascinating case. If it were me, I’d be more interested in assisting with that massive tumor removal."

"Don’t mention it!"

At those words, Christina became even more frustrated. "Alex was shameless!"

"Absolutely shameless!"

"Despicable!"

"He flirted his way into that surgery! Only Alex could stoop that low!"

George and the others joined in condemning him.

"What happened?"

Adam had only heard about the tumor case in passing but wasn’t aware of the details.

"The primary resident role was never meant for Alex."

Christina fumed. "But he got close to the patient early on, acting all friendly—‘Annie, Alex’—like they were old friends.

Now imagine this: A forty-something-year-old single woman, self-conscious, afraid to face the world, isolating herself at home for over a year, letting a tumor grow to over 60 pounds (27 kg) before finally seeking medical attention.

Faced with Alex’s sweet talk, how could she resist? She directly requested that he be assigned as her resident. What could we do?"

"He totally manipulated her emotions," George grumbled. "That tumor is horrifying just to look at, and he had the guts to flirt through it!"

"Hah."

Adam smirked. "That’s the nature of competition. You can’t call it shameless—just admit he played the game better than you did."

"..."

Silence.

Deep down, they knew.

If they had realized earlier that this approach would work, they would have done the same.

Especially Christina.

If necessary, she wouldn’t have hesitated to pretend to be interested in women…

Chapter 340: I Heard You're Strong

"Dr. Duncan!"

After having lunch at noon, Adam returned to the ward to check on his patients. Before he could enter, he was stopped outside by a woman who appeared to be the daughter of Mr. Levange, a suspected Mexican cartel boss.

"How can I help you?"

Adam gave a professional smile.

"I was wondering if you could talk to him?"

The patient’s daughter looked exhausted.

"Talk about what?"

Adam’s smile remained unchanged.

"Brain surgery."

The patient’s daughter explained, "The doctors mentioned it before, and I did some research online. If it’s successful, it will not only ease his pain but also significantly reduce most of his symptoms."

"Does he want to undergo the surgery?"

Adam asked with a slight smile.

"He's scared."

The patient's daughter hesitated. "He's okay with the spinal surgery, but when it comes to brain surgery…"

"I'm sorry, but we have to respect the patient's wishes."

Adam understood and shook his head.

He also wanted to perform brain surgery on Mr. Levange, but if the patient was unwilling, he wouldn't try to persuade him.

So far, there were no signs of flashy gold-chain-wearing cartel members or stone-faced twin assassins visiting. This Mr. Levange, who looked and presented symptoms like the rumored cartel boss, was probably just an ordinary person. It was all just a coincidence.

Still, Adam remained cautious and followed protocol strictly.

"If he doesn't undergo brain surgery, his quality of life will be nonexistent, and his condition will only deteriorate."

The patient’s daughter looked pained. "I'm getting married next month. I've already lost my mother, and I want him to walk me down the aisle."

"I understand."

Adam nodded. "But I can only explain the situation to him again. The decision to proceed with the surgery is entirely up to him. I think you should tell him this yourself—fathers often find the strength to overcome their fears for their daughters."

It was the truth.

Even though Adam had never been a father in either of his lifetimes, he had seen enough examples of paternal love.

For instance, in those joke stories where an adorable little girl asks her dad, 'If I were dying and the only way to save me was to eat poop, would you do it?'

And without hesitation, the father replies, 'I’d eat it!'

Then the little girl presses further, 'How much would you eat?'

And the father jokes, 'Enough to make you immortal!'

Of course, that example was extreme (and disgusting), but it still highlighted a father’s love for his daughter.

"I already asked him."

The patient’s daughter frowned. "But he said no. He said he would attend my wedding but wanted my uncle to walk me down the aisle. He said he’d sit in the back row because 'life isn’t perfect.'"

"If he decides to undergo brain surgery, it has to be done while he's conscious."

Adam shook his head. "It’s normal for Mr. Levange to have concerns. If you really want him to walk you down the aisle, you’ll need to work harder to convince him. Otherwise, as doctors, we are powerless in this matter."

A conscious brain surgery—listening to drills and surgical instruments roaring behind your head—was terrifying for anyone.

And if the surgery failed, the patient would die instantly.

Choosing not to undergo such a high-risk surgery while still ensuring he could be present at his daughter’s wedding was understandable.

In contrast, the daughter insisting on the surgery despite the risk of turning a joyful wedding into a funeral seemed selfish.

"You could consider having the spinal surgery first and then, after your wedding, proceed with the riskier brain surgery."

Adam suggested.

The patient’s daughter lowered her head and fell silent.

Adam internally shook his head.

He understood her thoughts.

She was getting married next month. Right now, she should have been joyfully busy with wedding preparations.

But instead, she was exhausted from taking care of her father.

At such a happy moment, she wouldn’t have her father’s arm to hold, but instead, a trembling, sickly guest attracting everyone’s attention.

Given that, she would rather have him undergo brain surgery now.

Either he would recover enough to walk her down the aisle,

Or, if the worst happened, she would wipe away her tears and move on with her life.

"A long illness tests filial piety."

Her decision was simply human nature.

But understanding her reasoning didn’t mean Adam would help her. That was out of the question.

In the end, the patient’s daughter failed to convince her father to undergo brain surgery.

Adam regretfully assisted Dr. Sheppard in performing a straightforward spinal surgery instead.

But, as the saying goes, misfortune and fortune are interwoven.

As soon as the surgery ended, Adam, like everyone else, rushed to the observation room.

A massive tumor, weighing over 27 kilograms, resembling the body of The Thing from Fantastic Four, was about to be removed—an unprecedented case that would definitely make it into medical textbooks.

"Dr. Duncan, are you interested in assisting with the giant tumor surgery?"

In the hallway, after reprimanding Alex, Dr. Burke suddenly turned to Adam with an invitation.

"Of course."

Adam was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded.

"Then prepare yourself with Cristina and follow me into the OR later."

Dr. Burke instructed before walking away.

"What’s going on?"

Adam looked at Cristina, who was practically bouncing with joy, her fists clenched in excitement.

"That idiot Alex!"

Cristina sneered, nodding toward Alex, who was walking away with a sour expression. "He was pretending to be charming, making that poor woman believe there was a spark between them.

But once they went for the MRI scan, while the patient was inside the machine, Alex showed his true colors—gossiping with the technician.

The tech, being nosy, made a few comments about the patient’s situation, but Alex went all out, calling her disgusting, saying she brought it on herself, and making other nasty remarks.

And guess what? He forgot to mute his microphone. The patient heard every single word.

So, once the scan was over, she made it clear: she would go through with the surgery, but under no circumstances would Alex be involved.

That idiot even tried to laugh it off and ask if he had done something to offend her.

Ha!"

"What a scumbag."

Adam said coldly. "In this situation, she could totally sue him—and given her condition, she’d have a solid case."

"When it comes to cases like this, people naturally sympathize with the victim."

"He's lucky."

Cristina shrugged. "The patient is too self-conscious to go to court. Otherwise, he’d be in serious trouble."

"But hey, at least it worked out for us. If Alex weren’t such an idiot, we wouldn’t have gotten the chance to assist in this groundbreaking surgery."

"That’s true."

Hearing this, Adam pushed aside his disgust for Alex and started feeling excited instead.

"By the way, do you know why Dr. Burke chose me?"

"Why are you asking me?"

Cristina's reaction was oddly defensive.

Adam gave her a strange look.

"I don’t know either."

Cristina looked away, avoiding eye contact. "But I’d guess it has something to do with your reputation for being ridiculously strong."

"You mean…"

Adam suddenly understood.

"Think about it—this surgery is incredibly complex and expected to last at least 14 hours."

Cristina confirmed his thoughts. "During the procedure, we’ll need to hold up that massive tumor the entire time. Not everyone has the stamina for that. So… when the time comes, you’ll help hold it up for as long as possible, okay?"

"No problem."

Adam smiled.

Getting such a close-up look at an ultra-rare tumor was an opportunity he wouldn’t pass up.

And when it came to strength and endurance, he had plenty to spare.

Chapter 341: Only the Incompetent Escape Envy

Observation Room – Operating Theater

Neurosurgeon Dr. Shepherd and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Burke led the operation, accompanied by resident Dr. Bailey, anesthesiologist Dr. Taylor, and interns Adam and Cristina. Together, they were performing a complex, joint procedure to remove a massive tumor.

A group of doctors and nurses gathered under the surgical lights, making the room feel somewhat crowded.

Upstairs, the observation gallery was already filled with doctors watching the procedure.

Alex stood with his arms crossed, glaring unhappily at Adam and Cristina in the operating room below.

That surgery was supposed to be his.

Because of a microphone malfunction, he was excluded from the procedure and punished by Dr. Burke, who banned him from entering the OR for a week.

Why?

It was just an accident—he hadn’t even spoken badly about the patient directly.

Exactly!

In Alex’s mind, he hadn’t done anything wrong. If anyone was to blame, it was the faulty mic.

Inside the OR:

Dr. Burke began the procedure, focusing on the patient’s lungs first.

The tumor was so large that it had severely compressed the patient’s lungs, making breathing difficult and putting them at constant risk of suffocation.

Once Dr. Burke finished with the lungs, Dr. Shepherd would handle the spinal surgery next.

Due to the dense concentration of nerves around the spine, the procedure had to be performed with extreme precision and was expected to take a very long time.

Cristina and Adam were both excited and confident, ready to assist.

Eight hours later:

"More suction."

"Get another bag of O-negative blood!"

"Cauterize those minor bleeds—I need a clear view."

Commands flowed steadily from Dr. Burke as the surgery dragged on.

"Dr. Duncan, are you holding up? You’ll need to remain absolutely steady soon."

He looked over at Adam, who was still holding the massive tumor in place.

"No problem."

Adam replied confidently, steady as ever.

Dr. Burke nodded in approval, glancing briefly at Cristina, who had already become too exhausted to help and was now just standing by, doing nothing useful.

Cristina avoided meeting Dr. Burke’s gaze.

She hadn’t been chosen by Dr. Burke for this surgery—she had pushed herself into the opportunity.

Just like how Alex had faked enthusiasm to win over the patient and become the primary intern, Cristina had found her own way in—by getting very close to Dr. Burke.

Unlike Bailey, who was openly against Dr. Shepherd’s favoritism toward Meredith, Bailey knew Cristina was highly skilled, so she didn’t object. She had no idea, though, that Cristina had resorted to the same tactics Meredith had.

Initially, Cristina and Adam shared the responsibility of holding the tumor, giving them front-row seats to this groundbreaking operation.

But as time passed, even though Adam bore most of the weight, just maintaining the lifting posture for eight hours was too much for Cristina’s body to handle.

She started shifting uncomfortably, accidentally moving the tumor at one point.

With no other choice, Adam reassured the team that he could handle it alone, letting Cristina step aside so she wouldn’t make things worse.

"Great job, Dr. Duncan!"

Half an hour later, Dr. Burke completed the lung surgery and praised Adam for holding the tumor so steadily, as if it were resting on a platform.

"Your strength really lives up to your reputation! I think I’ll be calling on you next time for something like this."

"Anytime, anywhere," Adam replied with a confident smile.

Though it sounded like a joke, Adam meant every word.

Getting this kind of recognition from Burke—who was known to be a rival of Dr. Leonard—was a huge endorsement. If Burke started giving Adam more opportunities, his career trajectory would only accelerate.

Laughter rippled through the OR.

When the lead surgeon jokes, everyone follows suit—it’s basic etiquette, especially when the joke is genuinely funny.

"We’ve got five or six more hours to go."

Taking over as the lead surgeon, Dr. Shepherd was genuinely impressed with Adam’s stamina. His earlier irritation from being interrupted by Adam that morning seemed forgotten.

"Dr. Duncan, you sure you’re still good?"

"No problem," Adam assured him. "If I can’t hold out, Dr. Yang can take over."

Cristina shot Adam a grateful glance.

"Alright, let’s get started. The sooner we finish, the lower the patient’s risk."

Dr. Shepherd officially began the spinal surgery.

"Look at this artery—my God, it’s as thick as a thumb! Have any of you ever seen a vessel this large?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"This tumor requires a huge blood supply," Dr. Shepherd explained mid-surgery. "We’re about to run out of ten units of blood. Contact the blood bank—we need more O-negative, fast!"

In the Observation Room:

"Damn Adam!"

Alex had returned after running some errands and now saw Dr. Burke praising Adam, the room filled with laughter. Compared to his own scolding and punishment, it was a bitter sight.

He had always noticed Adam’s condescending attitude but dismissed it before.

You look down on me? Well, I don’t think much of you either.

But now, the glaring contrast between them was like a slap in the face. Adam clearly had the right to look down on him, and all Alex could do was swallow his frustration.

It drove him crazy.

"How’s it going?"

Meredith entered the observation room after finishing her own tasks.

"Same as before," Alex responded coldly.

"Are you really as shallow and indifferent as you seem?" Meredith asked, studying him.

"Why? Want to grab a drink tonight? Hear about my inner pain?"

Alex turned toward her, smirking.

"Does that pickup line ever work?" Meredith laughed.

"Sometimes." He shrugged.

"Probably just because of your looks."

Meredith averted her gaze.

"So… you’re saying yes?" Alex grinned lazily.