Chen Mo, however, smiled, "If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten the bet with Deputy Director Gao."
He then turned his gaze to Gao Jianxiang, "Deputy Director Gao, it's time for you to fulfill your promise. You wouldn't go back on your word in front of so many reporters, would you?"
Gao Jianxiang's face had never looked so unsightly.
At this moment, Gao Jianxiang wished he could tear that doctor to pieces!
Sensing that the atmosphere was amiss, the doctor asked with confusion, "Deputy Director Gao, what, what exactly is going on here?"
Zhao Hui stepped forward then, "Doctor Li, Director Chen's surgery was successful."
"What did you say! You said, you said his surgery was successful?!"
"This, how is this possible!"
Doctor Li was stunned.
"Indeed, your reaction just now was the same as Deputy Director Gao's," Zhao Hui replied.
Doctor Li again turned his gaze to Gao Jianxiang, whose face was ashen.
When he saw Gao Jianxiang's murderous glare, Doctor Li's legs went weak, and he almost fell to the ground.
No wonder Gao Jianxiang had that look when he mentioned the bet earlier; it turned out Deputy Director Gao had lost!
"Everyone, please make way. Don't affect Deputy Director Gao's performance," Chen Mo suddenly waved his hand at the crowd.
Instantly, a space was cleared in front of Chen Mo as people unconsciously moved aside.
Gao Jianxiang glared at Chen Mo through gritted teeth, "Director Chen, when one can be lenient, one should be. Doing this is going too far!"
"Heh heh."
Chen Mo suddenly smiled, "When one can be lenient, one should be. Deputy Director Gao, don't you find your words laughable?"
"Don't think I don't know how these reporters got here, and don't think I don't know what your intentions were when you asked me to be the lead surgeon."
"Now, I'll give you two choices: either kneel and become my disciple, or I'll make sure the entire Longhua knows your name, Gao Jianxiang."
"You!" Gao Jianxiang's face turned ashen.
"You're threatening me!"
Chen Mo smiled calmly, "You can think of it that way."
Gao Jianxiang clenched his fists in anger. If he knelt before Chen Mo today, he would likely never be able to hold his head up again!
At this moment, a doctor standing beside Gao Jianxiang quickly leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"Deputy Director Gao, you can agree to him for now. After you formally become his disciple, you can directly ask him to pass on that acupuncture technique to you in front of the reporters."
Gao Jianxiang's expression changed slightly, showing hesitation.
The doctor spoke again, "If he refuses, it means he's not worthy of being your master. Then we can denounce him and embarrass him. But if you can learn that acupuncture technique, think about how much profit it will bring you in the future!"
Hearing this, Gao Jianxiang finally showed some动容.
After a moment of silence, Gao Jianxiang slowly walked up to Chen Mo.
"Master, I pay my respects as your disciple!"
Gritting his teeth, Gao Jianxiang knelt before Chen Mo with a grim expression.
Wow!
The scene erupted in an uproar!
Everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes almost popping out.
The reporters also looked incredulous, rubbing their eyes several times, unable to believe what they were seeing.
They had collaborated with Gao Jianxiang many times, and they knew better than anyone who he was.
He was the Deputy Director of Respiratory Medicine at Provincial Hospital! A genuine Provincial Hospital expert and professor!
For someone of his standing to kneel and become a disciple of Chen Mo would likely shock the entire Longhua medical community if it got out!
Of course, while shocked, the reporters' hands were not idle; their camera shutters clicked faster than anyone.
Zhao Hui, standing beside Chen Mo, also hadn't expected this outcome.
He had initially thought Gao Jianxiang would renege on his word, but he hadn't expected to actually gain a grand-disciple!
"Master, can you teach me that acupuncture technique now?" Gao Jianxiang asked, still kneeling before Chen Mo.
"Teach you? On what grounds?" Chen Mo retorted.
The doctor who had whispered to Gao Jianxiang earlier jumped out, "Chen Mo, what do you mean? Our Deputy Director Gao has already become your disciple, are you really not going to teach him even one acupuncture technique? You're clearly trying to play him, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they finally understood.
They now knew why Gao Jianxiang had knelt to become Chen Mo's disciple; it was for the acupuncture technique Chen Mo had used.
If they were in his shoes, they would probably have knelt to become Chen Mo's disciple without hesitation.
Chen Mo's lips curved into a slight arc, "I only said that he should kneel and become my disciple, but I never said I would accept him as a disciple."
Gao Jianxiang's expression froze, "What do you mean?!"
Chen Mo looked down at Gao Jianxiang, "I mean, your character is poor, so I will not accept you as a disciple."
Gao Jianxiang's anger flared up instantly.
He suddenly stood up from the ground, pointing at Chen Mo and shouting, "Chen Mo, are you playing me?!"
Chen Mo frowned slightly, "Am I?"
"You asked me to become your disciple just now, and now you refuse me. Aren't you playing me?"
"Did I ever say I would necessarily accept you as a disciple?" Chen Mo retorted.
Then, Chen Mo reached out and patted Gao Jianxiang's shoulder, "With your character, you are simply not worthy of being my disciple."
As his words fell, Chen Mo turned and walked away from the crowd.
"Chen Mo, stop right there! Today, you will teach me that acupuncture technique, whether you want to or not!" Gao Jianxiang, having nearly lost his sanity, immediately blocked Chen Mo's path.
"I'd like to see who has the audacity to publicly threaten a director of our Longhua First Hospital!"
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the crowd.
Hearing this, everyone made way.
Jiang Hongwen and Wang Haibo, along with a deputy director from Provincial Hospital, walked over.
"Deputy Director Jiang, Director Wang," Chen Mo greeted the two.
Jiang Hongwen stepped forward and patted Chen Mo's shoulder, giving him a reassuring look.
He then turned his displeased gaze to the deputy director of Provincial Hospital, "Deputy Director Wang, your hospital's doctors have truly remarkable methods. If I hadn't arrived in time, were you planning to forcibly abduct him? What's the difference between your actions and those of a bandit?"
Vice Director Wang quickly smiled apologetically, "Deputy Director Jiang, you are exaggerating."
"Deputy Director Gao, what exactly is going on?"
Seeing that the deputy director had personally arrived, Gao Jianxiang could only briefly explain the day's events.
"What did you say? The surgery for that lung transplant patient was completed? And he completed it all by himself?" Hearing Gao Jianxiang's account, Vice Director Wang's gaze towards Chen Mo changed, filled with shock.
Now he finally understood why Jiang Hongwen had personally rushed over and why Gao Jianxiang had spoken such thoughtless words.
Noticing Vice Director Wang's gaze, Jiang Hongwen directly stepped in front of Chen Mo, "Wang Degui, stop eyeing our hospital's director. Discard that thought as soon as possible."