Chapter 17: Doctor Bottom x Celebrity Top

Jing Chi watched as Feng Qinghan emerged from the bathroom once more, his expression unusually grave. He immediately assumed it was because of his earlier actions that the man felt displeased.

Cautiously, he asked, “Brother, was I too much just now?”

Feng Qinghan snapped back to attention. Seeing the anxiety on Jing Chi’s face, he shook his head and changed the subject. “What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?”

Jing Chi wasn’t entirely convinced, his instincts telling him something was off, but he still said happily, “I signed a contract with Shengyi Entertainment.”

“Congratulations,” Feng Qinghan replied with a smile that felt a bit forced. “Get some early rest tonight. I’m tired.”

Jing Chi watched as the man lifted the covers and slid into bed, then closed his eyes.

It struck Jing Chi as odd, but he didn’t dare ask.

Instead, he scooted closer to Feng Qinghan, resting his head against the man’s back, wrapping an arm around his waist, and clasping his slightly cool fingertips.

It was probably that message. For once, even with Jing Chi by his side, Feng Qinghan suffered a nightmare.

The message wasn’t about anything else—it was simply that their hospital had admitted a new patient that day.

A short time ago, the patient had only been experiencing dizziness, headaches, and vomiting. Her family thought she’d just eaten something bad. But as the symptoms persisted and seizures began, they realized something was seriously wrong and rushed her to the hospital.

The on-duty doctor made a preliminary judgment that it might be a brain tumor, but further detailed tests were needed for confirmation.

If it turned out to be malignant, surgery would need to be performed as soon as possible.

And among the doctors at the hospital currently, Feng Qinghan was the only one available to handle it. The others were either away on training or had their schedules backed up with surgeries.

Feng Qinghan had this window in his schedule because, right after his rebirth, he’d requested it from the hospital on the pretext of researching a new project.

As a result, over this period, he’d only handled minor procedures. This would be his first major, high-risk operation.

And it was an even more delicate brain surgery.

Most crucially, ten years ago, Feng Qinghan’s mother had died during surgery for a similar condition.

Back then, medical technology wasn’t as advanced, and he’d been powerless to do anything but watch. Now, a decade later, the same disease had returned, and it might fall to him to wield the scalpel.

If this were the once-confident, unscarred Feng Qinghan of old, he would have taken on the surgery without hesitation.

But now, with his right hand once lost and two years without touching a scalpel, he found himself doubting.

Though technically he’d fully recovered in the meantime, still…

In his dream, a figure lay on the operating table, blood dripping steadily. The heart monitor let out a piercing beep, then flatlined into a straight line.

“It’s all because of this doctor. You killed my mom.”

“If you weren’t sure, why did you even perform the surgery?”

“It’s you—you killed her…”

The accusations stabbed into Feng Qinghan like thorns. He covered his ears, shaking his head. “That’s not how it happened.”

He approached the operating table and pulled back the white sheet. Beneath it was his mother’s pale face.

Feng Qinghan jolted awake, gasping for air.

The night was silent, save for the youth’s steady breathing.

He tried to lift his hand, only to find Jing Chi gripping his right one tightly. His heart, racing from the nightmare, began to calm.

Turning over, Feng Qinghan brushed the youth’s cheek with his fingertips, then pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

Finally, he nestled fully into Jing Chi’s embrace. Only like this did he feel safe.

.

The next morning, when Jing Chi woke, Feng Qinghan was already gone—a routine he was used to by now.

On a normal workday, Feng Qinghan always left precisely at seven.

Jing Chi checked his phone and saw the schedule Jiang Yi had sent over.

She’d also forwarded the invitation from the Program Group. This time, their offer was generous, a far cry from before.

That was the difference between being hot and not.

After tidying himself up, the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, he found a bespectacled young man in simple clothes, looking a bit awkward and nerdy.

This was the new assistant Jiang Yi had found for him. The old Jing Chi had never had such treatment—he’d always gone everywhere alone. Now he finally had a little sidekick.

“Hey there,” Jing Chi greeted with a smile.

“Brother Jing, hello. I-I’m your assistant, Lu Xiaozhi.” Lu Xiaozhi looked at the young man’s exceedingly refined features and felt a bit embarrassed. “Brother Jing, the car is ready, and I’ve bought two kinds of breakfast and put them in the car. Have you had breakfast yet? Shall we head to the Program Group now?”

Today was the recording day for the second episode of the show.

Stepping out the door, he found a car waiting along with prepared breakfast. It felt incredibly convenient. Jing Chi nodded. “Sure, let’s go.”

He finished his breakfast in the car, and soon they arrived at the Program Group.

This time around, Jing Chi’s reception was worlds apart from his previous visit.

Last time, people had eyed him with contempt or ignored him outright. Now, every person he passed greeted him warmly.

Jing Chi was still getting used to it.

“Jing Chi, you’re here! Get any good rest? Need a couple more days off?”

The program director spotted him right away and hurried over, clapping him on the shoulder.

“All that stuff before was just a misunderstanding. I’ve fired everyone who acted out of line. You know our Program Group runs on fairness—no tolerance for dirty tricks.”

Jing Chi met the director’s gaze with a faint, ambiguous smile, his mind flashing back to the rigged lottery draw that had left him last.

Airting out grievances wouldn’t do anyone any favors, though, and the whole mess was behind them. Far from losing out, he’d turned it into a win, gaining fame in the process—a case of silver linings.

Jing Chi waved it off with feigned politeness. “No worries, Director Meng. Let’s just pretend none of it ever happened.”

“Right, right, exactly.”

Director Meng bobbed his head eagerly, a wave of relief washing over him.

“Take it easy for now. I’ve got things to handle. Second recording starts soon—get yourself ready.”

Jing Chi lingered nearby, chatting idly with his assistant, when someone bumped into him from behind.

He staggered back a step and glanced up to find a familiar face.

Bai Yusheng stared at him in feigned surprise, as if he’d only just noticed him there. “Oh, Teacher Jing Chi! I didn’t see you standing here—my bad. But someone of your stature now wouldn’t stoop to squabbling with a nobody like me, right?”

His words started out apologetic but soured into biting sarcasm, his eyes burning with barely veiled jealousy.

He could scarcely believe it—Jing Chi had pulled off a stunning comeback, not only clearing his name but raking in fans by playing the pity card.

Jing Chi had no patience for this nonsense. His voice turned icy, his gaze dripping with contempt. “Of course I wouldn’t waste my time on trash.”

“You!” Bai Yusheng balled his fists.

Jing Chi spared him a bored glance before drawling on. “If I were you, I’d keep my tail tucked and stay the hell away from me. Because one day, if I wake up in a foul mood, I’ll spill to everyone how you paid water army to trash me online.”

“Can’t imagine what folks would think of their pure, innocent big star Bai then.”

Sure enough, Bai Yusheng went deathly pale at those words, his voice quavering. “H-how did you find out about that?”

Jing Chi tsked dismissively, utterly casual. “You know the saying: ‘If you don’t want it known, don’t do it’?”

The sight of the man shrinking into himself like a frightened quail, all his swagger evaporated, suddenly struck Jing Chi as pointless.

He rarely wasted energy on fools like this anyway. “Watch yourself.”

Just then, the director called out from up ahead, so Jing Chi turned and walked off.

“Watch myself?” Bai Yusheng muttered under his breath.

No way was he buying that Jing Chi would let it slide just like that.

The entertainment industry wasn’t kind to the soft-hearted. Better to strike first than wait to get hit.

If he was going to get exposed anyway, he might as well take the bastard down first.

“Host, do you really think this Bai Yusheng will turn over a new leaf?”

The System couldn’t help feeling like its Host had gone soft.

Jing Chi shook his head. “No idea. But I’ve said my piece. Whether he listens is on him. And if he tries any funny business, well, I’ve got the almighty System on my side. What do we have to fear?”

The System practically melted at the praise, oblivious to how thoroughly it had been sweet-talked. If it had a physical form, it would’ve thumped its chest in assurance. “Not a thing! With me around, Host, that guy’s no threat.”

Jing Chi’s lips curved in satisfaction.

All of a sudden, his thoughts drifted back to Feng Qinghan. He still had no clue what had gone down yesterday to put that look on the man’s face.

~~~

In the hospital, Feng Qinghan stared down at the medical report clutched in his hand.

“Pang Chunxia, female, 55 years old. Brain CT reveals pronounced edema, signs of infiltration, with tumor cells distributed in band-like or patchy formations…”

“Based on the MRI scan, it’s a malignant brain tumor. It needs to be surgically removed immediately to extend the patient’s life. What do you think, Dr. Feng?”

“Dr. Feng?”

Feng Qinghan snapped back to attention. He lifted his gaze from the medical records and met the eyes of the doctors sitting across from him.

Seeing their puzzled stares, he felt a pang of guilt. “Sorry, I didn’t get much rest last night.”

“No worries at all. For this surgery, could you take the lead as the primary surgeon?”

“I’ve been feeling under the weather lately, so I’m worried…” Feng Qinghan started to decline.

But someone cut him off. “It’s okay. The procedure is challenging, but we’re confident you can pull it off, Dr. Feng.”

After some discussion, they settled on Feng Qinghan as the lead surgeon.

No one doubted his ability to perform the operation flawlessly. What they didn’t know, however, was that he wasn’t the same man he used to be.

His real problem wasn’t his surgical skills—it was the mental block weighing on his heart.

He had begun to doubt himself. And once that seed of doubt took root, even the most self-assured person could lose their confidence.

Feng Qinghan feared making a mistake, especially one he couldn’t live with.

The surgery was scheduled for five days later.

Jing Chi soon noticed that Feng Qinghan had spiraled into an even worse frenzy than during his previous bout of insomnia. He was either at the hospital or on his way there.

So, during the break after the second episode wrapped, Jing Chi slipped over to the hospital without saying a word to him.