Chapter 121: The True Hero

Zheng Huayu was utterly stunned, still fiddling with his own microphone.

Although he had turned off his earpiece beforehand, Zheng Huayu had only assumed the production team would intervene to forcibly protect Su Chen and prevent him from dissing Su Chen. After all, in Zheng Huayu’s mind, the production team had every reason to favor Su Chen.

To avoid any interference, Zheng Huayu had simply switched off his own earpiece. Yet, he had no inkling that his words would have such serious consequences; in his view, criticizing Su Chen was hardly a big deal.

Little did he realize that such words—so detrimental to unity and social progress—had already crossed the inviolable line for any public figure.

“This can’t be right…” he muttered. “Did I accidentally break my mic?”

Mumbling to himself, Zheng Huayu turned his earpiece back on, attempting to reach Wu Tong. Though his earpiece was connected, no matter how many times he called out, there was no response from Wu Tong.

Now even more bewildered, Zheng Huayu could only signal to the nearby staff.

He wanted to report the issue, hoping someone would check his microphone. But after a technician inspected the equipment and assured him there was no problem, Zheng Huayu’s expression truly changed for the first time.

If the equipment was fine, then the production team must have deliberately muted him!

But Zheng Huayu couldn’t understand why.

On stage, Liu Shao acted as though he hadn’t noticed a thing; not once did the live broadcast camera cut to Zheng Huayu. No matter what kind of scene Zheng Huayu created, no one paid him any attention.

Not only Liu Shao, but even his fellow mentors—Zhou Zhiqian, Han Hong, and Yan Mi—acted as if Zheng Huayu didn’t exist. They had received subtle cues from Director Wu Tong, and, coupling that with Zheng Huayu’s earlier remarks, they were quick to piece things together.

Well, this was the end for Zheng Huayu.

The three of them had never been fond of his arrogance and the way he flaunted his fandom’s blind devotion. Their own positions afforded them a certain detachment; though they wouldn’t go so far as to kick someone when he was down, they certainly weren’t above feeling a bit of schadenfreude.

Meanwhile, the giant screen at the center of the stage lit up with the image of an elderly man in a doctor’s coat, his portrait pulsating as if vibrating.

It was a call from Shashi People’s Hospital!

Liu Shao dared not delay and quickly answered, “Hello? May I ask if I’m speaking to Professor Shen?”

“Yes, this is he.”

A voice came through—aged but strong.

“Professor Shen, this is the live broadcast of ‘Tomorrow’s Star.’ May I briefly introduce you to our audience?”

“Certainly.”

“Thank you! Let me introduce Professor Shen to everyone,” Liu Shao said, turning to the audience with a solemn expression. “Professor Shen is among the first wave of talent to return from overseas, and one of the earliest to be awarded the title of National First-Class Specialist. Since his return, he has performed over ten thousand surgeries, saving countless lives. Now, well into his seventies, he remains on the front lines. Professor Shen is one of the leading authorities in the field of surgery today.”

Even this brief introduction left the audience with a palpable sense of gravity.

He was a true hero.

When Liu Shao finished, everyone rose and applauded—even Zhou Zhiqian, Han Hong, and Yan Mi joined in.

Only Zheng Huayu remained seated, still fussing with his microphone, showing no intention of standing. He had no idea that a wide shot captured this scene for all to see in the live broadcast.

“Thank you, thank you, I hear your applause,” Professor Shen said with a gentle chuckle. “But really, there’s nothing to applaud. I’m just a doctor—saving lives is my duty.”

Liu Shao replied quickly, “You’re too modest, Professor Shen. If even you are not worthy of our respect and applause, then who is?”

Without letting Professor Shen demur further, Liu Shao continued, “I understand you’ve called in today to clarify something?”

“Yes,” Professor Shen replied. “I am here regarding the incident where Mr. Su saved a life that night, and would like to use this platform to explain the matter to the public.”

The audience was taken aback by his words.

Hadn’t the details of Su Chen’s actions already been shown in the video? Wasn’t it a simple act of saving someone as atonement for a previous mistake? What more could warrant a call from such a distinguished expert? Could it be… that Su Chen failed to save the elderly man after all?

Everyone was filled with curiosity about what this expert would say.

“First, let me say that even I was shocked by Mr. Su’s actions that night,” Professor Shen began, leaving the audience somewhat surprised. “Perhaps you don’t know this, but doctors always face psychological pressure when saving lives. Even after so many surgeries, I still feel it.”

“And to perform surgery under those circumstances, I can only imagine the pressure Mr. Su endured.”

“Moreover, I can state with complete responsibility that, though Mr. Su may not have received formal medical training, in terms of surgical skill alone, I consider myself his inferior.”

“So, to the young man who called Mr. Su a murderer just now—if that’s really the case, then are medical licenses nothing but a legal permit to kill? Are all doctors murderers?”

“I don’t know what motivated you to say such a thing, but… it’s far too simplistic.”

“To save a life is to save a life—it has nothing to do with a certificate.”

The old man’s voice conveyed neither anger nor indignation, but only regret and helplessness. It was as if he, too, could not understand how society had grown so restless and materialistic.

At the end, Professor Shen asked, “Is Mr. Su present?”

Su Chen picked up the microphone. “Professor Shen, please just call me Su Chen. I can’t bear to be addressed as ‘Mister’ by you!”

Laughter rang out from Professor Shen, warm and hearty.

“In both surgical skill and character, Mr. Su is worthy of the title,” he said. “Last time, I asked an officer to pass along a message—inviting you to visit. You replied that there was nothing special about me and that it would be better for me to spend my time saving more lives.”

“With such a person, how could he be unworthy of respect?”

Once again, the audience was deeply moved by Professor Shen’s words.

Su Chen… truly a good man.

Then Professor Shen continued, “I wonder, Mr. Su, if this time I might finally have the good fortune to arrange a meeting with you?”