Flatline ECG

Lin Xuan went to change into surgical scrubs and had the hospital prepare the necessary tools for the operation.

Li Fang, meanwhile, instructed nurses to summon the Hospital Director and other top medical experts from the hospital.

He even arranged for the surgical room's live monitoring feed to be activated, ensuring the entire procedure would be streamed in real-time to computers.

He wanted everyone to witness firsthand how Lin Xuan would push Old Jiang toward death. With this recording, Lin Xuan wouldn’t be able to deny his failure.

Li Fang smiled faintly and said, "Young Master Lin, the entire surgery will be broadcast live. Eldest Miss Jiang and Second Miss Jiang will see every step. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?"

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Clearly, Li Fang was hoping to watch him fail, face the Jiang family’s wrath, and even suffer public condemnation.

But his scheme was doomed to fail.

"Sure," Lin Xuan shrugged. "But Dr. Li, I’m afraid you won’t get to see what you’re hoping for."

Li Fang sneered. "Mr. Lin, you’re quite confident in yourself. Let’s see how you ‘revive’ Old Jiang."

Heh.

If Lin Xuan failed, the Jiang family would never let him off the hook.

Lin Xuan smirked. "How about we make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?" Li Fang frowned.

Lin Xuan said, "Let’s bet on whether I can save Old Jiang—and fully heal him. Since we’re betting, let’s make it big. If I win, you’ll kneel and kowtow three times, then leave the medical field for good."

"If I lose, I’ll do the same for you. On top of that, I’ll transfer ownership of Tianmu Group to you."

Li Fang’s eyes lit up.

So, Lin Xuan was the owner of Tianmu Group—the leading enterprise in the entertainment industry, with its platform dominating the fiction market as well.

Acquiring Tianmu Group would instantly make him a billionaire.

He could never earn this much in dozens of lifetimes!

This bet was a no-lose situation for him.

Lin Xuan, oh Lin Xuan… you’ll regret this.

"Fine, I accept," Li Fang nodded.

"Remember, this is all being recorded. No backing out," Lin Xuan pointed at the monitor.

"Don’t worry, I won’t. If anything, I think you’re the one who’ll try to weasel out," Li Fang retorted coldly.

Jiang Yutong anxiously interjected, "Lin Xuan, shouldn’t you reconsider? Just skip the bet. My sister and I both trust you."

Tianmu Group was Lin Xuan’s life’s work.

What if something went wrong?

"Relax. I won’t lose," Lin Xuan said with a cold smile.

Before entering the operating room, he called Butler Wang.

"Young Master Lin," came Butler Wang’s respectful voice.

Lin Xuan asked, "Butler Wang, is Hua awake yet?"

Butler Wang replied, "The young miss hasn’t left her room. She must still be asleep."

If she had woken up and couldn’t find Lin Xuan, she would’ve come looking for him immediately.

"I have something urgent to handle and won’t be reachable for two hours. If she asks for me, explain it to her so she doesn’t worry," Lin Xuan instructed.

"Understood," Butler Wang acknowledged.

After hanging up, Lin Xuan put away his phone and stepped into the operating room.

As Lin Xuan prepared for the surgery, the Hospital Director rushed in, sweating profusely.

What if Lin Xuan failed and something happened to Old Jiang?

Inside the operating room, Lin Xuan took out a set of acupuncture needles.

Li Fang frowned. "What are those for? These have no place in a surgical procedure!"

He had never heard of a surgeon using acupuncture during an operation.

Lin Xuan replied coolly, "Dr. Li, I’m the lead surgeon here. Your job is to shut up and follow my instructions. What I do is none of your concern."

"Fine, fine," Li Fang sneered. "Do whatever you want."

He had initially worried Lin Xuan might have some real skill, but now? No need for concern.

He’d just wait for the surgery to fail.

Lin Xuan inserted needles into Old Jiang’s palms, wrists, and skull.

The anesthesiologist asked, "Mr. Lin, when should I administer anesthesia?"

"No anesthesia," Lin Xuan said.

Anesthesia could affect Old Jiang’s brain and lower the success rate of the surgery.

"You’re insane!" Li Fang exclaimed. "No anesthesia for a craniotomy? Do you want the patient to die from pain? What if he wakes up mid-surgery?"

Lin Xuan shot him a cold glare. "Do you think I’m using acupuncture for fun?"

The needles were meant to numb Old Jiang’s nerves, preventing pain and ensuring he remained unconscious throughout.

"Li Fang, you talk too much," Lin Xuan said icily.

"Fine, I’ll stay out of it," Li Fang scoffed.

Lin Xuan began the surgery.

He didn’t let Li Fang assist at all, handling everything himself with only the nurses passing him tools.

Li Fang stood to the side, arms crossed, as the patient’s vitals remained stable.

As the operation progressed, Li Fang noticed that despite the lack of anesthesia, Old Jiang’s condition showed no signs of distress.

And Lin Xuan’s movements were precise and practiced.

A growing sense of dread crept into Li Fang’s heart.

Could Lin Xuan actually succeed?

If he did, Li Fang’s medical career would be over.

He was only in his forties—he still had years to climb higher in the medical field, maybe even become Hospital Director one day.

Leaving medicine would ruin everything.

The Hospital Director watched Lin Xuan’s technique with awe.

"Using acupuncture as anesthesia… I never imagined this!"

He resolved to have the hospital’s TCM specialists learn from Lin Xuan.

Surgeons often struggled with patients who couldn’t tolerate anesthesia.

If they mastered this acupuncture method, that problem would be solved.

The surgery continued under tense conditions.

Li Fang’s unease deepened.

Suddenly, Lin Xuan paused. He checked the ECG, then inserted a few more silver needles into Old Jiang’s skull.

Slowly, he rotated the needles, guiding them deeper.

After the third needle—

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The ECG flatlined.