Days turned into weeks, and the time finally came for Jillian, Chloe, and Clara to step beyond the lecture halls and into the real world of medicine. The three of them, along with other top students, were granted the opportunity to shadow senior doctors in the affiliated hospital of Tsinghua University.
Jillian followed Dr. Liang into the operating theater, her heart pounding in excitement and nervousness. The sterile environment, the beeping monitors, and the focused expressions of the surgical team made everything feel surreal.
The patient on the table was undergoing a complex valve replacement surgery. Jillian stood at a safe distance, her eyes locked on the delicate movements of the surgeons. Dr. Liang, while operating, explained the intricate details.
"Precision is key here, Jillian. A single miscalculation could lead to catastrophic results," he said without looking away from his task.
Jillian swallowed hard. This was more than just knowledge—it was responsibility, skill, and unwavering focus. She clenched her fists. One day, I'll be the one holding the scalpel.
**
Meanwhile, Chloe was in the neurology department with Dr. Jiang. They were called into an emergency case—a patient suffering from a sudden brain hemorrhage.
The tension in the room was palpable. Chloe watched as the team swiftly prepared for surgery, removing part of the skull to relieve pressure.
Dr. Jiang turned to her and asked, "What's the main risk of operating in this area?"
Chloe quickly recalled her studies. "Damage to the surrounding brain tissue, loss of motor function, or even coma if we're not careful."
Dr. Jiang gave a slight nod of approval before returning his attention to the patient. Chloe's heart pounded. Watching the neurosurgeons work with such precision ignited something deep within her—a fierce determination to one day be just as skilled.
**
On the other side of the hospital, Clara was shadowing Dr. Wu in the trauma ward when an emergency case arrived—a motorbike accident victim with multiple fractures.
The patient was rushed into surgery, and Clara watched as Dr. Wu led the team in stabilizing the shattered bones.
"Clara, tell me, what's the biggest concern when dealing with multiple fractures like this?" Dr. Wu asked.
"Blood loss and the risk of infection," Clara responded confidently.
Dr. Wu smirked. "You're learning fast."
She observed every step of the procedure, fascinated by how every move mattered in ensuring the patient's mobility. The realization hit her—this wasn't just about medicine. It was about restoring lives.
---
At the end of the day, Jillian, Chloe, and Clara met outside the hospital, each overwhelmed but inspired by what they had witnessed.
"This is it," Jillian said, her voice filled with excitement. "This is what we're meant to do."
Chloe and Clara nodded in agreement. The road ahead was long and difficult, but today had given them a taste of the future they were working toward.
And they were ready to embrace it.
****
The emergency call echoed through the university halls—an accident on the highway had left multiple victims injured, and the hospital was overwhelmed. They needed volunteers immediately.
Jillian, Chloe, and Clara exchanged quick glances before sprinting toward the hospital. This was their first real test—not in a controlled classroom setting, but in the chaotic reality of emergency medicine.
As soon as they arrived, the scene was overwhelming. The emergency ward was packed with patients—some conscious and groaning in pain, others being rushed into surgery. Doctors and nurses moved frantically, calling out orders, checking vitals, and preparing for procedures.
Jillian's First Crisis
Dr. Liang spotted Jillian and wasted no time. "You, come with me!" He led her to a middle-aged man clutching his chest, breathing heavily.
Jillian's heart pounded. Chest trauma. Possible cardiac injury.
"Run an ECG and check for pericardial effusion," Dr. Liang instructed.
Jillian nodded and got to work. The ECG results showed irregularities—something was wrong with the man's heart.
"It could be cardiac tamponade," she said quickly.
Dr. Liang glanced at her. "Good. If so, what do we do?"
Jillian took a steadying breath. "Pericardiocentesis—to drain the fluid compressing the heart."
Dr. Liang handed her a needle. "Assist me."
With steady hands, she helped perform the procedure. Moments later, the man's breathing steadied. Jillian exhaled. She had just saved a life.
Chloe's High-Stakes Moment
Chloe rushed to the neurology ward, where Dr. Jiang was handling a patient with severe head trauma.
"He was found unconscious at the scene," Dr. Jiang explained. "Pupillary reflex sluggish. What does that tell you?"
Chloe swallowed hard. "Possible brain swelling or hemorrhage."
Dr. Jiang nodded. "Correct. We need a CT scan, fast."
The scan confirmed a subdural hematoma—bleeding under the skull. Without immediate intervention, the pressure on the brain could be fatal.
Chloe's hands shook slightly as Dr. Jiang prepared for emergency surgery.
"Want to observe up close?" he asked.
Chloe inhaled sharply and nodded. This was the moment she had been waiting for.
Clara's Race Against Time
Dr. Wu directed Clara to a young man with a mangled leg.
"Compound fracture," he said. "We need to stabilize him for surgery."
Clara quickly assessed the injury. The bone had broken through the skin, and blood pooled around it. She grabbed sterile gauze, applying pressure to slow the bleeding while preparing the traction device to realign the limb.
The patient groaned, gripping her wrist. "Am I going to lose my leg?"
Clara looked him in the eye. "Not if I can help it."
Dr. Wu watched as she worked with precision. "Well done," he murmured. "You've got a surgeon's hands."
___
As days went by, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Jillian, Chloe, and Clara had gained recognition for their dedication and quick thinking during the emergency crisis. Their professors valued them, and their classmates admired their skills—or so they thought.
But not everyone was happy with their success.
It started with small things—whispers in the hallways, stolen glances that lingered too long, and the occasional smirk when they walked by. Then, the rumors began.
"They're just getting special treatment because they're close to the professors."
"I heard Jillian spends extra hours with Dr. Liang… wonder what she's really learning."
"Chloe and Dr. Jiang? You've seen how he looks at her, right?"
"Clara is always in Dr. Wu's office. Coincidence? I don't think so."
At first, they ignored it. Gossip was part of university life. But when their classmates started treating them differently—cold stares, whispered conversations that stopped when they entered the room, and even professors raising their eyebrows at them—it became impossible to overlook.
One day, after a particularly intense cardiology lecture, Jillian found a note tucked into her notebook.
"Sleeping your way to the top? How pathetic."
Her hands clenched around the paper.
Chloe and Clara had similar experiences. Their notes were tampered with, their lab results mysteriously "misplaced," and even their schedules were changed at the last minute, making them late to key assignments.
It didn't take long to trace the source—Megan Lin, a top student known for her ruthless ambition. She had always been competitive, but now that Jillian and her friends were excelling, she had turned hostile.
One afternoon, as Jillian packed up after a class, Megan leaned in with a smirk. "Must be nice," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Having professors who favor you."
Jillian met her gaze, her expression calm but firm. "I work hard. Maybe you should try it sometime."
Megan's smile faltered for a second before she scoffed. "We'll see how long you last."
Jillian, Chloe, and Clara knew they couldn't let this continue. If these rumors got out of control, their hard-earned reputations—and futures—could be destroyed.
It was time to fight back.
But how?