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Added 2025-06-02 16:26:04 +0000 UTC

Chapter 324: What’s It Like to Be Castrated in Front of Your Goddess?

Night falls.

Medical Center.

Adam, feeling refreshed after assisting in another surgery, walked through the hallway and noticed Cristina and the others gathered together. He paused.

“What are you all doing here? Aren’t you afraid of getting yelled at by Nazi?”

For interns, life was tough—if a resident doctor saw them standing around idly, it would make them uncomfortable. Interns were supposed to be busy all the time.

After all, the residents had gone through the same ordeal back in their day.

Why should the new interns get special treatment?

“We’re comforting Liz,” Meredith said. “Her patient recognized her from Bethany’s Whisper and refused to let her perform his examination, let alone enter the operating room.”

“And then?”

Adam glanced at Liz, who looked dejected.

“And then?”

Meredith was momentarily stunned.

“This is a teaching hospital,” Adam reminded her. “Who gets to enter the operating room is up to the doctors, not the patients—unless he wants to go to another hospital. Did Nazi actually ban you from the OR?”

“She let me decide,” Liz murmured.

“So?”

Adam gave her a puzzled look.

“I really wanted to participate, but I couldn’t.”

Liz hesitated before repeating what the patient had told her:

**“You see, I’ve fantasized about you before. About all the women in those photos, actually. I’m not proud of it, but that’s the truth.

Do you know what they’re going to do to me today? I have cancer. They’re going to lift my legs, expose me in front of everyone, and remove my prostate and nerves—basically castrate me.

Maybe it’s hard to understand, but I don’t want one of the women from my fantasies to watch me get neutered.”**

“Hah.”

Hearing this, Adam couldn’t help but laugh.

What’s so hard to understand?

What would it feel like to be castrated in front of your goddess?

There was no Zhihu (Chinese Q&A platform) yet, but even without it, anyone could figure it out.

And he wasn’t proud of his fantasies about women in photos?

Classic old white guy thinking!

A normal person in his position would feel embarrassed, wouldn’t they?

“What’s so funny?”

Liz frowned. “If he doesn’t want me there, shouldn’t I respect his wishes?”

“No! What he doesn’t want is cancer! What he wants is to stay alive!”

Adam scoffed. “As for everything else he’s thinking, you’re a medical intern authorized by a resident to enter the OR. You don’t need to consider his personal feelings.

Otherwise, what’s next? Are you going to respect and accommodate all his fantasies about you too? You’re a doctor, not a Bethany’s Whisper model! If you can’t handle something this trivial, why are you even in medicine?”

Liz was stunned.

Adam ignored her and instead turned to Cristina and Meredith with an amused look.

“Why are you looking at us like that?”

Cristina snapped.

“I’m just curious.”

Adam grinned. “At a time like this, shouldn’t you two be fighting for the surgery?”

Cristina’s face darkened.

If she had the chance, she absolutely would have. No way would she be sitting here ‘comforting’ Liz.

To her, Liz was completely ungrateful for what she had—way too sentimental.

But by the time Cristina heard about the case, it was already too late. George had snagged the spot.

That made her secretly curse Nazi—was she into soft-looking, feminine guys like George? Otherwise, why did she always choose him whenever an opportunity arose?

“We’re friends,” Meredith said with a genuinely warm smile. “Friends come first.”

Adam just smiled without commenting.

Meredith was already sleeping with attending neurosurgeon Shepherd, following him into advanced neurosurgeries whenever she wanted.

A simple prostate nerve removal? It didn’t hold the same appeal for her anymore.

When you have everything, you can afford to say things like friends come first.

Just like how Adam could say, I don’t care about money—I just want to be a doctor and save lives.

It’s easy to be selfless when you already have it all.

“Who’s the lead surgeon?”

Adam asked casually.

“Dr. Victor,” Liz replied.

“Hah.”

Adam chuckled and shook his head. “Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

Cristina asked, curious.

“You don’t know Dr. Victor?”

Adam raised an eyebrow. “His motto is: Young people like to gamble with cancer. At my age, I know efficiency is key.”

“You’re saying… he’s going to remove all the related nerves, even if some could be preserved?”

Cristina immediately caught on.

“They call him ‘Soft Hands.’ His methods are a bit crude, but they get the job done.”

Adam smirked. “That patient will never be able to twist his face at a photo again…”

Once the prostate is removed and the surrounding nerves are completely cut, there’ll be no sensation left.

No desire, no problem.

This is exactly why people get second opinions for serious illnesses.

Different doctors have different approaches, and their levels of aggressiveness vary.

Some prioritize success rates above all else and push patients to make major sacrifices without caring about their quality of life afterward.

If you don’t know there are other options, that’s one thing. But if you find out later? That’s pure agony.

Take this patient, for example.

Mentally, he was already prepared for castration.

But did he have to be fully castrated?

Not necessarily.

There was a chance of residual cancer cells, sure—but combined with chemotherapy, the results could still be decent. And more importantly, he could retain his sexual function.

For any man, if you gave him that choice—without exaggerating the risks—he would 100% choose to keep it.

But ‘Soft Hands’ Victor? He wouldn’t bother.

One reason is the surgery’s success rate.

The other?

Preserving those nerves takes more time and effort.

Why waste an extra hour doing delicate work when he could be enjoying his afternoon tea?

People like to think doctors are all noble, making choices solely for the patient’s best interests.

But in reality, doctors are just professionals.

Most choose this career for the high income and prestige.

Victor was already in his sixties. His stamina wasn’t what it used to be, and after decades in the field, he’d become desensitized.

If he had to push through an extra hour of grueling surgery just to preserve a patient’s sex life, would he bother?

No surprise there.

“OMG!”

Liz jumped up and ran toward the OR.

“Where is she going?”

Cristina scoffed. “Is she really going to piss off Victor just so a guy who didn’t even want her near him can keep fantasizing about her?”

Adam shrugged.

At least this time, Liz took action on her own instead of relying on him.

For the sake of a patient’s well-being, she was willing to offend an attending physician.

It was a bit foolish, but it was hard to dislike.

Hopefully, she’d stick to it.

This just proves one thing: when something goes against your principles, you have to push back.

If you don’t push back hard enough, how will the other person ever wake up?

Barney needed it.

Liz needed it.

Some people just need a reality check.

And Adam? He was more than happy to give it to them.

Ring, ring.

His phone rang.

Adam glanced at the caller ID and answered, surprised.

“Joey?”

After hearing what Joey had to say, Adam was speechless.

Joey—classic you.

Chapter 325: The Poor Baby

On the other end of the phone, Joey said he had recently started seeing a single mother who had just given birth not long ago. However, while they were getting intimate, her eight-month-old baby suddenly started crying uncontrollably.

The new mother, who had been single for a while, wasn’t too eager to stop.

Seeing this, Joey cleverly called Adam, a doctor, to check if they really needed to go to the hospital immediately…

"I'm just an intern, not a family doctor!"

Adam was speechless. "You're still thinking about that at a time like this? Take the baby to the hospital! Right now!"

Half an hour later.

Emergency Room.

"…She refuses to drink formula. I only give her healthy, natural breast milk. How could this happen all of a sudden? Her face swelled up in just this short time!"

The young mother looked puzzled as she described her baby’s condition.

"Delicious!"

Joey stood to the side, giving a thumbs-up and winking while pursing his lips.

"Don't do that, Joey."

The young mother lightly patted Joey, but she couldn’t suppress the amusement in her eyes.

"…"

Adam's mouth twitched.

Your eight-month-old daughter’s face is swollen, and you still have the mood to flirt with a man?

Poor kid.

Adam reached out, touching the baby’s forehead and then her cheeks. "No fever, glands seem normal… Hmm?"

"What is it?" Joey asked.

"She hasn’t been vaccinated?"

Adam pointed to the baby’s medical record.

"That’s right!"

The young mother said naturally, "I’m not letting her get any vaccines."

"Why not?"

Adam was shocked.

"I don’t think vaccines work."

The young mother confidently said, "Those big international pharmaceutical companies just want me to believe vaccines are effective so they can make money. I’m not falling for it."

"Let me guess—you and Joey fell in love at first sight, didn’t you?"

Adam remarked sarcastically.

"How did you know?"

The young mother spoke while gazing affectionately at Joey.

"Heh."

Adam forced a smile.

How did he know?

Joey was clueless, and she was… well, let’s just say not the brightest.

Luckily, Joey had a bit of an innocent charm—making him clueless but adorable.

And she had good looks—making her clueless but pretty.

They were a match made in heaven. It made perfect sense that they clicked.

"Antibodies from breast milk only protect a baby for six months. That’s why those ‘evil’ pharmaceutical companies think they can make money off you."

Adam explained.

"No! I don’t believe it!"

The young mother shook her head. "There are so many medical scandals showing that vaccines are unsafe. They have tons of side effects—they cause depression, autism, and, in severe cases, even death! I will never let my child get vaccinated."

Adam paused.

This was about the credibility of vaccines in the Western world.

In a way, this young mother wasn’t completely talking nonsense.

In a profit-driven society, companies often prioritize their bottom line over human lives.

Take the pharmaceutical company where Bernadette worked in The Big Bang Theory, for example.

As researchers, Bernadette and her colleagues knew the drug they developed had weak effects and potentially serious side effects. But under corporate pressure, they still pushed it through for approval and aggressively marketed it.

Whenever issues arose, the company had a standard response:

"There are countless factors that could cause these symptoms. Why assume it’s our drug?"

As a major pharmaceutical corporation, they had plenty of money.

As long as there wasn’t a large-scale outbreak of issues, they could easily handle any problems with their financial power.

By the time a real scandal broke out, they had already made massive profits from the drug.

And who paid the price? Ordinary people.

With so many medical scandals happening over and over, it’s no wonder Americans—and Westerners in general—have such little trust in vaccines.

The endless conspiracy theories and absurd reasons for refusing vaccines all stem from this deep-seated anxiety.

"What’s wrong with the baby, exactly?"

Joey couldn’t help but ask.

"My diagnosis is a common cold."

Adam answered cautiously. "But I’ll have a pediatric specialist take a look. You should listen to what they say."

"A cold?"

Joey was dumbfounded. "How is that possible?"

Who doesn’t catch a cold a few times a year? Could it really be this serious?

Adam smiled and had a nurse notify the pediatric department.

The common cold is no small issue.

The Spanish flu was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, infecting a billion people and killing 40 million, with a 4% fatality rate.

Even today, despite vaccines, the U.S. still sees tens of thousands of flu-related deaths every year.

Not vaccinating and exposing an infant to this environment? It’s a serious risk.

"Dr. Ross."

"Dr. Duncan, what’s the situation?"

A handsome male doctor walked over—pediatric senior resident Doug Ross.

Adam explained the case.

"Your diagnosis is correct."

After examining the baby, Dr. Ross confirmed Adam’s assessment.

"It’s really because she wasn’t vaccinated?"

Hearing it from two doctors, the young mother started to waver.

"Yes."

Dr. Ross couldn’t help glancing at the young mother’s partially exposed "baby food supply," left open for convenience. "For just $40, you can protect your child from most serious diseases. It’s best to get her vaccinated. These basic vaccines are nothing like experimental new ones—they’ve been tested for a long time and are proven to be safe."

"Can you guarantee 100% safety?"

The young mother pressed.

Dr. Ross’s charming smile froze.

Who could guarantee that?

No medication is foolproof. That’s why doctors always ask about allergies before prescribing drugs.

For some, a certain medication is life-saving.

For others, the same drug could be deadly.

Only God could guarantee 100% certainty.

And God doesn’t work as a doctor.

Adam stayed out of it, simply observing.

Vaccinating or not was entirely up to the mother.

If, by some rare chance, a vaccine-related complication occurred, the doctor who encouraged her to vaccinate would likely be the one in trouble.

At that point, she wouldn’t care about the doctor’s good intentions or the risks they took trying to help.

It might sound cruel.

But this is what absolute freedom looks like.

With it comes the responsibility to bear the consequences.

"Adam?"

Joey looked at Adam for input.

"Listen to Dr. Ross."

Adam remained neutral. "He’s the pediatrician."

"I can’t guarantee absolute safety."

Dr. Ross knew the risks too. He was no longer distracted by the "food supply" and said cautiously, "The choice is yours. You can also seek another opinion at a different hospital."

"Give her the vaccine."

After a long struggle, the young mother looked at her baby’s swollen face and decided to trust the doctors.

Despite her limited education, she had always been confident—almost anti-intellectual, like many working-class Americans.

But when faced with a real crisis, she knew better.

If she blindly stuck to her beliefs now, the one who would suffer would be her own child. Chapter 326: Doctors' Gathering

Emergency Room.

“Wow, Adam, you really look like a doctor now.”

Joey pointed both fingers at Adam, winking playfully, as a new mother followed a nurse to get her baby vaccinated.

“I am a doctor.”

Adam responded, speechless.

“Before, it was just a title. Now, you actually look the part.”

Joey chuckled.

“What’s going on with you? That woman just had a baby, and you’re already hitting on her?”

Adam teased.

“I wasn’t planning on it!”

Joey defended himself. “At first, I just thought she was gorgeous and had a great figure, so I went over to chat. Who knew she was a single mom? By the time I realized it, there was no backing out…”

“No backing out? Really?”

Adam gave him a skeptical look.

“This time, it’s not like I didn’t want to back out.”

Joey looked aggrieved. “The thing is, she locked me in! I never expected a single mom to be this persistent. I guess being single for too long really makes you resourceful.”

“…”

Adam couldn’t help but feel a little offended and rolled his eyes. “Are you sure she’s actually single? You don’t want the baby’s Marine dad showing up out of nowhere and putting a bullet in you.”

“That… shouldn’t happen, right?”

Joey suddenly looked nervous. “She said she was single. But we did just meet tonight…”

“Better start praying.”

Adam patted Joey’s shoulder.

Joey pulled a worried face.

Situations like this weren’t uncommon—in fact, they happened a lot.

Long-distance relationships were already unreliable in the U.S., let alone when one partner was a Marine frequently deployed overseas and hard to reach.

While they were out causing trouble abroad, their families often had their own problems back home.

Guys like Joey—charming playboys—were often the biggest threat to these relationships, essentially acting as… weed removers.

Why is it that in Western culture, love and relationships are seen as separate?

Because of the sheer number of one-night stands.

If love and relationships were treated the same way, the divorce rate would skyrocket, possibly even dismantling the very concept of family and causing social instability.

“As long as I love you, but I momentarily lost control because of hormones and made a mistake that anyone could make, you should forgive me.”

When society collectively accepts this idea, marriage counseling and therapists can then step in to say things like, “This kind of thing happens all the time. If you want a successful marriage, you need to be a little more open-minded.”

Only then can divorce rates be kept under control, and people can continue to believe in family values.

“Enough of that gloomy face. I’ve got some good news for you.”

Adam, feeling refreshed after scaring Joey a little, changed the subject.

“What good news?”

Joey looked at Adam curiously.

“Barney is in the hospital.”

Adam smirked. “Isn’t that great news?”

“Barney Stinson is in the hospital?”

Joey’s eyes lit up. “Why? Did he get sick? Which room is he in?”

Adam quickly filled him in.

“I have to see this.”

Joey couldn’t contain his excitement and bolted off.

Adam chuckled.

The bet with Barney was supposed to last two months, which was way too long. Letting Joey go and mock him for a bit was like collecting some early interest.

No wonder so many brilliant minds are also incredibly sarcastic—mocking people really is satisfying.

“Dr. Drake Ramoray?”

“You’re Dr. Drake Ramoray from Days of Our Lives?”

“It’s me!”

Before Joey even reached Barney’s room, someone recognized him.

Apparently, plenty of hospital staff were fans of the show.

There was even a time when a beautiful woman, completely obsessed with Joey’s character, chased after him.

Joey initially turned her down, but when he saw how stunning she was, he assumed she just wanted to roleplay. Since he had nothing to lose, he played along.

Turned out, she had serious mental health issues. She scared him so badly that he swore never to use his on-screen doctor persona to pick up women again.

Now, getting recognized at the hospital gave Joey a massive ego boost. Smirking, he mimicked Dr. Drake Ramoray’s mannerisms and responded to everyone’s greetings in character.

“Adam, lend me a white coat.”

Joey, fully in the zone, momentarily forgot about visiting Barney. He just had to embrace his role as Dr. Drake Ramoray again.

“Nope.”

Adam shook his head firmly.

No way was he indulging Joey’s antics.

Joey’s acting skills aside, his passion for fully immersing himself in a role was intense—almost on par with the greats.

Adam had no doubt that if Joey got too into it, he’d probably stick around the hospital for days, just to get his fix.

And in a real hospital, if Joey overacted and caused any trouble, it could turn into a huge problem.

“Buzzkill.”

Seeing Adam’s firm refusal, Joey had no choice but to give up on the idea. Instead, he ran off to Barney’s room to roast him.

“Adam, thank you!”

As Adam walked down the hall, he ran into Liz, who beamed at him with excitement.

“You saved the nerve?”

Adam asked, surprised.

“Yeah.”

Liz nodded enthusiastically. “I rushed to the OR and stopped Dr. Victor. I told him that Dr. Bailey taught us to always respect the patient’s wishes, and this patient wanted to keep their heart function intact.”

“And Victor actually listened?”

Adam gave her a skeptical look.

A surgical intern directly challenging an attending? Even if Liz wasn’t part of Victor’s team, that was bold.

“If you had that much courage, why did you need me to step in before?”

“He told Dr. Bailey to kick me out, but she said she couldn’t, because, and I quote, ‘these kids are just too damn stubborn nowadays.’”

Liz grinned, looking way too pleased with herself.

“You do realize he’s going to complain to the surgical chief about you guys, right?”

Adam reminded her.

“I know.”

Liz shrugged, still grinning. “But I don’t care. We did the right thing.”

“Great. That patient is never going to forget you.”

Adam deadpanned.