Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes widened in surprise. Was she really going this far?

To An Xiuyu, however, Lin Xiaoxiao's expression looked like fear—which only made her more confident. Staring intently, she pressed, "If you're too scared, we can choose something else. I have some experience, so it might seem unfair."

Noticing one of their instructors approaching, she raised her voice: "Student Lin, if you don't dare, I expect an apology—"

Lin Xiaoxiao cut her off with a wave. An apology?

Wasn't she bringing this on herself?

Any slight guilt she felt about being an expert dominating a beginner vanished. Smiling, she said, "I'm not scared. But just to be clear—if you lose, you drop out. Is that right?"

An Xiuyu nodded confidently. "Yes. Whoever loses leaves the program."

"You promise?" Lin Xiaoxiao pressed.

An Xiuyu, now too swept up in the moment to reconsider, took Lin Xiaoxiao's questioning as hesitation. Irritated, she snapped, "I may not be someone important, but I keep my word. Are you in or not? Give me a straight answer."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled. "Alright. Let's begin."

An Xiuyu pointed at the two pieces of pork they'd been using for injection practice. "We'll use these. Make an incision on the skin and suture it shut. The instructors are here—they can judge who stitches faster and better."

Still smiling, Lin Xiaoxiao agreed. "Sure."

A circle of students quickly formed around them. Even Lu Yuanda heard the commotion—something about Zhou Huai'an's wife making a bet—and came over to watch.

He remembered the skillful, sturdy sutures on Zhou Huai'an's wound—far neater than standard technique.

An instructor made two identical incisions on the pieces of pigskin, timed them, and the competition began.

An Xiuyu picked up the needle anxiously and began suturing almost as if she were mending clothes, making the instructor frown at her clearly unprofessional technique.

Lin Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, stayed calm. She palpated the edges of the incision, then began suturing slowly—intentionally playing up a slight clumsiness.

Even so, she finished much faster than An Xiuyu, and her knot-tying was noticeably proficient.

Lu Yuanda watched Lin Xiaoxiao, growing excited. She was a natural for surgery. In all his years, he'd rarely seen a young person with such steady hands.

Throughout the procedure, her hands didn't shake at all. Meanwhile, An Xiuyu trembled so badly she misinserted the needle several times—mistakes that could seriously harm a real patient.

Hearing murmurs of surprise from the doctors, An Xiuyu glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao's work and knew she had lost. Her face went pale.

Her hands shook uncontrollably. She never actually intended to leave the program—she'd been so sure she would win.

After tying off her last stitch perfectly, Lin Xiaoxiao turned to An Xiuyu with deliberate modesty.

"Oh dear, mine's not very good. Sorry if it's embarrassing."

Even An Xiuyu could see Lin Xiaoxiao's work was far superior. Lin Xiaoxiao's composed smile felt like a provocation. "You did this on purpose!" An Xiuyu cried out, voice rising. "You knew how all along! Why did you pretend you didn't?"

Lin Xiaoxiao looked puzzled. "You were the one who suggested the bet—and what we'd bet. I asked you several times if you were sure. Besides, I never said I couldn't do it."

Bystanders had seen everything clearly and now sided with Lin Xiaoxiao. "She's right—Student Lin never said she couldn't suture. She even asked if you were sure."

"You insisted on the bet and accused her of being afraid to lose. Now you're the one who can't accept losing?"

Panicked, An Xiuyu realized that leaving the program now meant no certificate—and no chance to work at the commune clinic.

She wanted to beg Lin Xiaoxiao for mercy but didn't know how.

Li Guiling, seeing the situation turning ugly, stepped in to mediate. "Student Lin, maybe let it go?

We're all classmates. Besides, Sister Xiuyu is raising a child while studying. It's not easy for her."

Lin Xiaoxiao found that reasoning odd. "She's the one who proposed the bet. I didn't force her.

And she's the one who set such high stakes. If I had lost, would she have let me off?"

"And don't use her child as an excuse. Does having a child mean others have it easy? When she pushed me to bet, she wasn't showing any mercy. What, are we using double standards now?"

Li Guiling was left speechless.

A few others who were friendly with An Xiuyu also spoke up: "It's not that serious, it was just a game."

"There's no need to be harsh. If An Xiuyu apologizes, can't we leave it at that?"

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled coldly. "Easy for you to say. Where were you when she challenged me?

Weren't you all hoping to see me lose? If I had lost, would you have stood up and said, 'It's okay, we're all classmates here'?"

"So, if you can't handle the consequences, don't make bets. If you bet, have the decency to honor your word."

She looked firmly at An Xiuyu, showing no intention of backing down.

An Xiuyu began to cry anxiously, wiping her tears but refusing to speak or yield.

Leaving was not an option—this training was a rare opportunity, one she might never get again.

She stood there crying, unwilling to apologize.

Lin Xiaoxiao stood her ground as well. She'd long been annoyed with An Xiuyu, and thinking about what happened to Zhou Xiaocheng only made her angrier.

In the end, an instructor stepped in to mediate, taking each aside to talk.

Lin Xiaoxiao was willing to respect the instructor's effort, but on one condition: An Xiuyu had to apologize to her.

After watching the whole scene, Lu Yuanda went to find Zhou Huai'an. He enthusiastically recounted the betting incident and couldn't stop praising Lin Xiaoxiao.

"Xiaoxiao is a natural! After the program, she should stay at the hospital. I'll try to get her a advanced training spot. She'll be an excellent doctor."

Zhou Huai'an massaged his temples. She wasn't even trying to hide her skills—wasn't she worried about drawing attention? "She still has a lot to learn."

Lu Yuanda waved him off. "Not at all! I've seen how much she learned from Elder Cheng. I'll talk to him again—"

Zhou Huai'an quickly interrupted. "Xiaoxiao will be returning with me. I'm almost thirty—it's time we started a family."

Lu Yuanda looked at him skeptically. "How is having a baby conflicting with her becoming a doctor?"