Chapter 26: Special Treatnt
The man pointed to the newspaper headline and said, "ining University announced that they have found a new key to curing cancer—a new type of gene immunotherapy drug. It can directly kill cancer cells without surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, and theoretically achieve a 100% cure rate. Reportedly, if all goes well, the first batch of reagents will be ready for clinical trials in three months, and the official product might hit the market next year..."
"If it's on the front page, it must be true."
His words imdiately drew the attention of everyone present. A cure that required no surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy to directly kill cancer cells—this might not seem like much to healthy people, but to this group of patients and families who had long battled cancer, it was nothing short of a bombshell.
But soone quickly sneered in disbelief. "How could that be? That must be fake news. These days, people make up anything for money—qigong therapy, starvation therapy—they all turned out fake. I bet this is just hype, right, Director Tu?" The man grabbed Director Tu, who happened to be walking by, and asked.
The latter also happened to be holding a newspaper. Hearing the question, he surprisingly pulled up a chair, sat down, raised the paper, and smiled. "I don’t know about other things, but this announcent ca from Academician Zheng Yuntai and Academician Ding Pengshan from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Academician Shangguan Hong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. They’re all senior experts in gene engineering and cellular immunology. Especially Professor Shangguan—he’s an absolute authority in biological immunotherapy..."
"Three academicians made the announcent? Then it must be true!" Everyone’s eyes lit up. A cancer cure—that was sothing scientists around the world didn’t even dare dream of.
Director Tu pondered for a mont, then said, "Hehe, let’s wait and see. Right now, most targeted drugs on the market are imported, extrely expensive, and not long-lasting. Worse, so patients develop resistance to them. If an immune drug can truly and completely kill cancer cells, it would be a milestone in the history of human dicine."
After Director Tu’s words, everyone beca excited, including Xu Danlu and her parents. Xu Danlu in particular grabbed Zhang Yang’s arm and shouted, "Zhang Yang! Zhang Yang! It’s from ining University! This is amazing! Academician Zheng even taught us before!"
Though her voice wasn’t loud, everyone nearby was imdiately drawn to her words and crowded around.
"Really, young lady? You were Academician Zheng’s student? Wow, that’s such an honor..."
"What does Academician Zheng look like?"
Xu Danlu was instantly surrounded by the crowd, while Zhang Yang calmly slipped away, picked up the newspaper they’d dropped, and skimd it. After a few lines, his brows furrowed.
The reason was simple. At the end of the article, there was a small note in fine print: "Reportedly, the governnt has allocated 30 million yuan in research funding for the project. According to the dean of ining University dical School, they will be collaborating with the local pharmaceutical giant Bai Group to jointly develop the first batch of reagents."
Bai Group? Zhang Yang’s brow arched slightly.
The so-called collaboration basically ant handing over the future production rights of the drug to Bai Group. That was like giving them a massive pie from the sky. If the drug truly reached the market, Bai Group’s value would skyrocket like a rocket.
If Bai Group were genuinely contributing to the research, fine—but Zhang Yang knew better. The drug’s developnt relied entirely on the theories he’d provided. Bai Group was just reaping free benefits. He believed Professors Zheng and the others weren’t the ones making that call. The governnt funding would go through the institute before reaching the research team. So the decision to cooperate with Bai Group must have co from certain leaders at the institute—who no doubt received terrifyingly large kickbacks from them.
Zhang Yang was furious. That was sothing he’d exchanged for fifty system points after enduring days with the title of Vile Scum Overflowing with Evil! Why should Bai Group get the profit?
Zhang Yang reached into his pocket, intending to call and protest, but when he pulled out his phone, it was dead.
"Damn it!" he cursed his luck.
"Zhang Yang!" Xu Danlu suddenly called out from the crowd.
"What’s up?" Seeing her surrounded, Zhang Yang thought helplessly, Auntie, I’m not capable of saving you right now.
"A call for you! Qiao Xier..."
"Uh..." Zhang Yang was stunned. She’d even managed to track down Xu Danlu? Impressive.
Zhang Yang took the phone and said hello, only to be t with an earful of shouting.
"Hey! Where the hell have you been? Your phone’s been off for days! I even went to your dorm and couldn’t find you! I was this close to posting a missing person notice online for a manhunt! Turns out you’re off on a trip with your little girlfriend? You heartless bastard! Don’t let catch you, or I’ll beat you half to death!"
"Huh?"
"‘Huh’ my ass! Do you even know Professors Zheng and Shangguan were about to chop your Dean Cao into pieces?!"
Zhang Yang nearly jumped, picturing two old n with white hair chasing another old man with white hair wielding kitchen knives. "Wh-why?"
"Why? You’ll find out when you get back!"
"I still have things to do," Zhang Yang added. "Serious things!"
"Serious things? Is it about Xu Danlu’s father?" Qiao Xier asked quickly.
Zhang Yang thought for a mont. Since she already had Xu Danlu’s number, knowing about her father wasn’t surprising. So he answered honestly, "Yeah."
"Don’t worry about that. Professor Shangguan already arranged everything. For the next month and a half, two chief physicians and a world-class oncology expert will personally oversee your future father-in-law’s case. All the expenses will be covered by the research team. That lineup’s way better than what you could get yourself, right?"
"Uh..." Zhang Yang gasped. World-class? What kind of treatnt was this? "Alright then... but help find a place to stay. I... uh, got expelled, so I’ve got nowhere to go."
"Expelled, my ass! I’m officially informing you—you’ve been accepted for guaranteed graduate admission. Also, you’re now an official mber of the major research project codenad ‘Dragonborn,’ serial number 2012aa9a0012."
"Uh..." While Zhang Yang was still processing that, a group of people suddenly entered the radiotherapy room. Leading them was a man with silver hair but sharp, spirited eyes. A crowd of white coats followed—definitely soone important.
Then Zhang Yang saw Director Tu quickly step forward to greet him. "Vice Dean Wang, what brings you here?"
"Hehe, Xiao Tu, did your Radiology Departnt recently take in a patient nad Xu Maogen?" Vice Dean Wang asked cheerfully.
"Hmm, let think." Director Tu pondered for a mont, then nodded. "Yes, I believe so. Why do you ask...?"
"From today, I’ll personally take charge of his treatnt," said Vice Dean Wang, rolling up his sleeves. "Have soone bring his scans and pathology reports."
Director Tu stared in astonishnt. He knew Vice Dean Wang was the hospital’s most senior oncology expert. He never took personal cases unless it involved a national leader. And now he was personally treating Xu Maogen? Who on earth was this man?
"Is there a problem?" Vice Dean Wang frowned.
"N-no, not at all." Director Tu quickly stood up and looked around the crowd for Xu Maogen. Then it hit him—he’d transferred Xu Maogen to one of his subordinate physicians! If this patient turned out to be a big shot, he might’ve just screwed himself. He wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
Luckily, he spotted Xu Maogen in the crowd. Rushing over, he grabbed his hand and led the confused man toward Vice Dean Wang. "Dean, this is Mr. Xu Maogen."
Vice Dean Wang nodded without saying much, his eyes landing directly on Xu Maogen’s swollen lymph nodes. Then he looked sharply at Director Tu. "When’s Mr. Xu’s turn?"
"I’ll check right away." Director Tu wiped more sweat and ran toward the control room.
"No need. I’ll handle it myself," said Vice Dean Wang, leading two experts into the control room.
After a while, he ca out, nodded, and said, "Prepare a special ward for ."
Then he smiled at Xu Maogen and nodded. "Mr. Xu, I’m Wang Jinchong. I’ll be in charge of all your treatnt from now on. If you have any concerns, feel free to contact anyti."
Director Tu quickly explained, "Vice Dean Wang is our hospital’s most senior oncology expert and a world authority on treating squamous cell carcinoma. With him handling your case, you can rest easy."
"World-class?" The surrounding patients were stunned, and even Xu Maogen himself was dumbfounded. His mouth fell open. For such a big shot to treat him—how much would that cost?
He blurted out instinctively, "I... I don’t think I can afford it."
Hearing that, Vice Dean Wang smiled kindly. "Hehe, don’t worry about money. Your entire treatnt will be covered by the hospital. I assure you, we’ll use the most advanced dications for you. From your pathology report, your condition doesn’t look too severe. As long as you follow our instructions, I guarantee you’ll be discharged in at most two months."
"No charge?" Xu Maogen was stunned. After rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, he hesitantly asked, "Can you tell why?"
Vice Dean Wang smiled again and said, "Well, do you happen to know a young man nad Zhang Yang?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)