A few days after the surgery, Jillian, Chloe, and Clara were surprised when they received a message from the hospital administration. They had been summoned to the director's office. Uncertain about what to expect, they exchanged nervous glances before making their way through the long, pristine hallways of West China Hospital.
Inside the director's office, Dr. Han Wei, the highly respected hospital director, sat behind his grand wooden desk, reviewing a few reports. As the girls entered, he looked up with a warm yet authoritative smile.
"Ah, the three rising stars of our hospital. Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of him.
Jillian, Chloe, and Clara sat down, hands folded on their laps, their hearts racing.
"I've been hearing remarkable things about you three," Dr. Han began. "Your dedication, intelligence, and ability to handle pressure have impressed not just your supervisors, but also many senior doctors in the hospital. It is rare to see students excel at such a pace."
He paused, letting the words sink in. The girls exchanged stunned looks.
"I wanted to personally congratulate you. Your performance during this attachment has been exceptional, and I have no doubt you will become brilliant doctors in your respective fields. Which brings me to the next point," he leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp. "If any of you wish to work at West China Hospital after graduation, let me know. I would be more than happy to arrange positions for you."
Jillian felt her heart skip a beat. A guaranteed job at one of the top hospitals in China? It was an offer many would dream of.
"Thank you, Director Han," Chloe spoke first, her voice steady despite her excitement. "This means a lot to us. We will definitely keep it in mind as we continue our studies."
"Good," Dr. Han nodded. "I won't pressure you to decide now, but remember—talent like yours is valuable, and we'd be honored to have you as part of our team."
The meeting ended on a high note, and as the three girls stepped out of the office, a new sense of purpose filled them. This wasn't just an internship anymore—they had made an impression, and the future was filled with endless possibilities.
After their meeting with Dr. Han, Jillian, Chloe, and Clara returned to their respective departments with renewed motivation. However, their responsibilities at West China Hospital were far from easy. With more cases being assigned to them, they quickly realized that true medical work was more than just theories and books—it was about handling pressure, making quick decisions, and dealing with the emotional weight of their patients' struggles.
One day, Jillian was called into an emergency case—a six-year-old boy with a congenital heart defect had been rushed in, struggling to breathe. His terrified parents clutched onto each other as they pleaded for the doctors to save their child. Jillian's mentor, Dr. Liang, led the case, but he allowed her to take the lead in initial assessments.
"Jillian, what's your diagnosis?" he asked as they observed the child's symptoms.
Jillian took a deep breath, recalling everything she had studied. She carefully examined the boy's rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, and weak pulse before responding.
"He's showing signs of severe heart failure due to his condition. We need to stabilize him immediately before proceeding with any further interventions."
Dr. Liang nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, what's the first step?"
Jillian's hands trembled slightly, but she steadied herself. "Oxygen support, IV medication to reduce his heart strain, and close monitoring of his vitals," she answered.
She moved swiftly, assisting the nurses and staying by the child's side, her heart pounding as she witnessed firsthand what it meant to hold a life in her hands.
Meanwhile, Chloe found herself in the middle of a critical brain trauma case—an accident victim suffering from a severe head injury. She stood beside Dr. Jiang in the neurosurgery department, watching as the surgical team prepared for an urgent operation.
"You're assisting today," Dr. Jiang said unexpectedly, tossing her a pair of gloves.
Chloe froze for a second. "M-me?"
"Yes. Time to see if you're ready for the real thing."
With no room for hesitation, Chloe stepped forward, joining the surgical team. The weight of responsibility pressed on her shoulders, but she reminded herself why she was here—to save lives.
On the other side of the hospital, Clara faced a challenge of her own—a badly injured athlete who had shattered multiple bones in a motorcycle accident. Under Dr. Wu's guidance, she had to develop a treatment plan that would determine whether the patient could ever walk again. Every decision mattered, and the pressure was suffocating.
By the end of the day, all three girls had faced their hardest tests yet. The stress, the exhaustion, the intensity—it was unlike anything they had imagined. But as they gathered later that night in their apartment, they knew one thing for certain—
This was just the beginning.
*****
The following morning a case emerged, the department director summoned, Jillian, Chloe and Clara and told them they would be performing their first real test together.
__
The operating room was colder than they expected. The bright overhead lights cast a sterile glow over the gleaming surgical instruments arranged meticulously on the tray. Jillian, Chloe, and Clara stood side by side, fully scrubbed in, their hearts pounding as they prepared for their first chance to lead a real surgery.
Dr. Liang, Dr. Jiang, and Dr. Wu stood at a distance, watching closely. It wasn't a complex procedure—a laparoscopic appendectomy—but for the three young doctors-in-training, it was their first real test.
Jillian, as the most composed under pressure, was designated as the lead surgeon. She took a deep breath and nodded at Chloe and Clara, who would assist her.
"Scalpel," she said firmly. The nurse handed it over without hesitation.
She made the first small incision near the patient's navel, her gloved hands steady but her breath shallow. Chloe monitored the patient's vitals, keeping an eye on the heart rate and blood pressure. Clara, responsible for suction, kept the field clear as Jillian maneuvered the laparoscope into the abdominal cavity.
"Camera feed is clear," Clara confirmed, adjusting the screen so Jillian could see inside.
Jillian carefully navigated the laparoscope, locating the inflamed appendix. Her mind raced, recalling every detail of her training.
"Clara, hold the retractor steady."
Clara did as instructed, keeping the surrounding tissue out of the way. Jillian reached for the laparoscopic stapler, securing the base of the appendix before carefully removing it.
"Vitals are stable," Chloe reported, but her voice had a slight edge of concern.
Jillian paused, scanning the screen. There was slight bleeding. Her hands didn't shake as she reached for the electrocautery device, swiftly sealing off the small vessel that had been nicked.
Dr. Liang cleared his throat. "Good catch," he said.
Jillian swallowed and proceeded to close the incisions. Chloe handed her the sutures, and Clara helped apply the sterile dressing. The surgery was complete.
Stepping back, Jillian let out a slow exhale. The patient's vitals remained steady. They had done it.
Dr. Wu clapped once. "Not bad for first-timers."
Dr. Jiang smirked. "You didn't panic when you saw the bleeding. That's what separates good surgeons from great ones."
Dr. Liang gave Jillian an approving nod. "You led well. But don't get comfortable—bigger challenges are coming."
As they stepped out of the OR, removing their gloves and masks, the three girls exchanged glances. Their first surgery had been a success, but they knew this was only the beginning.
"Let's get ready for the next one," Chloe said, a determined glint in her eye.
Jillian smiled. "We just proved we're ready."
Clara chuckled. "I think I need coffee before I prove anything else."
With that, they left the OR, knowing they had taken one huge step forward in their journey to becoming great surgeons.