Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

The doctor's actions might have seemed cowardly, but they were also responsible in a way. After all, when lives were on the line, not everyone had the courage to take on such a heavy burden.

Francesca sighed. "I understand where he's coming from."

The announcer's voice echoed across the arena. "Very well. The judges have approved your request. You may voluntarily withdraw."

The male doctor staggered off the stage, his steps heavy with shame. As soon as he reached his seat, he broke down, burying his face in his hands as sobs wracked his body.noveldrama

Those around him tried to comfort him, but his cries of regret and frustration only grew louder. Walking away from the Grand Medical Summit meant saying goodbye to the chance of ever reaching the top three-a wound that would likely haunt him for the rest of his life.

His gut-wrenching sobs echoed across the stadium, reaching the ears of the remaining contestants. Immediately, it made the contestants in this high-pressure situation even more nervous, with sweat increasingly forming on their palms.

Yet, there were a few who remained calm-Mosby, Thomas, a student from the Advanced Medical Institute, and, of course, Andrew. They all maintained their composure, steady as rocks.

Even Francesca, despite her strong foundation and impressive talent, felt the strain. After all, this round required each contestant to independently treat a critically ill patient without the aid of machines, assistants, or experienced mentors.

Nonetheless, she had grown up under Cedric's guidance and had a natural gift for medicine. Besides, Andrew had taught her plenty of unconventional yet effective techniques.

With that, Francesca quickly tuned out the distracting noise and began focusing on her patient.

Thomas, Mosby, and the Advanced Medical Institute student also sprang into action, each moving confidently to assess and treat their patients.

Meanwhile, other contestants found themselves completely lost. Some were unable to even diagnose their patients, let alone begin treatment.

One unfortunate doctor stared helplessly at his patient, who lay motionless on the hospital bed. The patient's vital signs were stable, and his breathing seemed normal, yet he remained in a deep, unresponsive coma.

The panicked doctor tried every method he could think of, but nothing worked. Finally, in a moment of sheer desperation, he snapped, slapping his unconscious patient repeatedly. "Wake up! Wake up, damn it! Just wake up already!"

The outburst drew immediate attention, and a nearby judge rushed over, grabbing the frenzied doctor by the arm and pulling him back.

"Loss of composure, failure to administer proper treatment, and patient abuse! Guards, escort this contestant off the stage. He is disqualified and barred from participating in the next three Grand Medical Summits!"

The disgraced doctor's face turned ashen, his eyes wide with horror. He fell to his knees, sobbing and begging for another chance, but the two burly security guards dragged him off without a second glance.

Andrew, arms crossed, watched the scene unfold with a faint smirk. "Young and reckless a dangerous combination."

The bald, middle-aged examiner beside him let out an exasperated sigh. "Why are you just standing there? You haven't even started treating your patient. Shouldn't you be a little more concerned about your own situation?"

Andrew chuckled. "There's no need to rush."

The examiner snorted, cutting him off. "Yeah, yeah. Let me guess you're about

to say, 'Let the bullet fly for a while,' right?"

Andrew could not help but chuckle. "Not exactly. I'm just waiting. If Fran runs into trouble, I want to be ready to guide her."

The examiner followed Andrew's gaze to where Francesca was hard at work, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head as he asked, "Kid, do you even realize how hard everyone here has worked to stand on this stage?"