S City is a renowned playground, a place where grand casinos, bustling bars, and lavish hotels draw people in. Life there is notoriously expensive, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and majestic, castle-like buildings that captivate all who pass by. Luxurious cars line the streets. By day, it’s a picture of wealth, but at night, the city truly comes alive as its casinos and bars open their doors. Yet, beneath this glamorous facade lies a hub of illegal activity. Besides gambling, the city is a breeding ground for drug trafficking, prostitution, and even murder. Despite this dark reputation, people flock to S City for its entertainment.

Across the major newspapers, a young doctor's genius was once celebrated. He graduated from medical school years ahead of schedule, becoming a full-fledged doctor at just 18. However, an incident at his hospital led to a devastating fall from grace. He lost his license at the peak of his career. Now, he is a shadow of his former self, haunted by the insults and contempt of those who once praised him. They now see him as a weak coward who values money over a patient's life.

In the shadows of S City, a rumor circulates about a man named Leidende, a brilliant doctor who demands an exorbitant fee for his services. In a warehouse belonging to a paper company, a surgery is underway. The doctor administers a local anesthetic and begins an intravenous drip. After stopping the patient’s heart, he connects them to a heart-lung machine to keep their organs alive. He sterilizes the surgical site, carefully making an incision down the center of the sternum. Blood seeps from the cut as he uses surgical instruments to expose the heart. A quick assessment tells him the problem. He reaches the heart valve, carefully excising the damaged leaflet and setting it aside. Choosing the right suture, he begins to stitch the edges back together. The doctor finishes the surgery, collapsing on a sofa from exhaustion.

A woman emerges from the operating room and looks at the young man slumped on the couch. "The surgery was a success. I'll transfer the money we agreed on, Leidende."

The Joy Hotel is known for its five-star service and massive revenue. Inside its banquet hall, a luxurious class reunion is in full swing, attended by some of the most influential people in society. Though called a reunion, it’s really a chance for everyone to show off their success. "I think Hy is missing," someone says. "I heard he's a back-alley doctor now, a real quack," another chimes in. "Didn't he get fired for killing a patient?" "Yeah, and that guy still has the nerve to show up here." They all look toward the young man, who is chatting with his close friends. Luckily for him, he has people who still believe in him.

"He's adorable! Is he your son?" a group of people say, gathering around a little boy in front of the doctor. The doctor looks at the cute child and gently ruffles his hair. "Yes, he's my beloved son. His name is Felix."

The slums stand in stark contrast to S City’s prosperity. It’s a neighborhood for the poor, often described as such by the wealthy. It's home to thieves, addicts, and sex workers. At 11:30 PM, the city is cloaked in darkness. The doctor and his friend stop at a bus station before heading to the slums. A man in his 40s or 50s approaches them. He’s thin, with frail arms visible through his worn shirt, and walks with a limp due to his old wooden prosthetic leg. His face is not one you'd easily trust. As they enter the slums, the doctor steps on something wet and red. It splashes onto his eyes and shoes. The ground is slick and sticky. The man says, "You just stepped on a dead rat. No one cleans up around here. You'd be safer hiring me as a guide." They decline and use a flashlight to navigate the slum, following a map to their pre-booked hotel. They have no idea what awaits them.

The slums are worlds away from S City's grandeur. Shacks are crammed together, and open acts of theft and pedophilia are common. The sounds of suffering echo from a nearby house. Finally, they reach a hotel called Liberi.

After checking in, they head toward their room. As they walk, the doctor's friend points to a sound coming from a half-open door down the hall. They approach room 34. Inside, a little boy, no older than elementary school age, is being attacked by a man who is tearing off his clothes. The boy’s cries for help are weak. The two men rush in to stop the attacker. The doctor scoops up the boy and his friend follows. They quickly take the child to an empty room.

The doctor tells his friend to take the child away quickly. The boy is frail and covered in scabs and old wounds. A quick look tells the doctor what has happened; he has a badly broken arm and leg. They break into a hotel room, taking the child inside. "Is the boy okay?" his friend asks. "He's lucky the man didn't do much harm." "What about the case?" "The boy is the last witness. All the other children have disappeared. The hotel employee committed suicide." "That's awful. Let's get him home."

In the doctor's room, the boy lies peacefully on the bed. A soft sunlight streams in, creating a warm atmosphere. The boy wakes up and looks around, his weary expression suggesting that waking up in a strange place is not new to him. The doctor and his friend enter the room. "Are you okay?" his friend asks. The boy doesn't respond, pulling the blanket tight around himself, a slight tremor in his movements. "Do you want to go out and play?" "When you feel better, we'll go out and play, okay?" The boy remains silent, trembling under the blanket. They hadn't considered his feelings. "Meow~" The boy peeks out from the blanket, looking at a cat. He picks it up and a small smile appears on his face. The doctor and his friend, watching through a crack in the door, feel a sense of warmth.

A few days later, his friend leaves. The friend and a psychologist visit the boy three times a week. The doctor waits patiently by the door for the boy to come get his food. A hand reaches out from the door. "I didn't know what you liked, so I cooked some of the things you've been eating a lot lately. Tell me what you like, and I'll cook it for you." The hand retreats, and the door slams shut. The boy still isn't ready to open up. Every time this happens, the doctor sits there and talks, almost to himself, bringing food and water, telling stories and reassuring the boy that what happened was not his fault. Using the boy’s love for the cat, the doctor slowly wins his trust.

One day, the door opens and the boy sits down next to him. "I still don't know your name," the doctor says. "...How about I call you Felix, or whatever you'd like? Just between us two."

One night, a thunderstorm rages outside, and the thunder and pouring rain frighten the boy. He holds the cat tightly, unable to sleep. The doctor rushes to his room and holds the scared child, who is curled up like a cat in his arms. The next morning, after the rain has stopped, the doctor wakes up with the boy and the cat nestled in his embrace. The boy wakes up and looks out the window. "You see? After the rain, the sky is clearer and brighter, right? Overcoming your difficulties is how you will truly shine."

It rained on the ground. The raindrops pattered on the roof tiles, bouncing with a sharp, staccato sound. Then, in an instant, the sky poured down like a torrential stream. The intense sound of the rain was unceasing, accompanied by the wind, which swept away dry leaves... The rain beat against the windowpanes; if you were close enough, you could hear a rasping sound. The outside world seemed to sink into darkness.

Mingling with the sound of the rain was the melody of a young man playing the violin, the flickering light of an oil lamp illuminating a corner of the room. The lamplight gave a glimpse of the man within. His silhouette was graceful and focused as he played. One hand held the violin, the instrument resting gently against his shoulder. The other hand held the bow, and from it, music flowed... But gradually, the music grew more and more frantic, until with a sudden snap, a string broke. The music stopped just as abruptly. He set the violin on a chair beside him, then collapsed onto the sofa. He rested his arm over his eyes to shield them, his face showing exhaustion and a hint of weariness. The rain continued to fall steadily, as if the moments before had drained all his strength. On the table, a photo lay face down, seemingly connected to his exhaustion...

...

The phone rang incessantly. An unfamiliar number. "Don't call me, old man. The moment you cared more about that woman than you did about me or my sister, you stopped being my father!" The noisy phone call woke Felix in the middle of the night. Through the half-open door, he clutched the door frame, peering into the room. It was then that he realized his beloved father didn't always have a happy smile on his face, and wasn't always as gentle as he was when he took care of him. Sitting on the sofa, his father's face was clearly exhausted, as if he were trying to suppress his emotions... A knock on the door, followed by a slightly shaky voice from Felix, "Daddy, can I sleep with you...?"

He got up and opened the door, as if he had already guessed what had just happened. He knelt down and wrapped his arms around the boy. "I'm sorry, sweetie. It's my fault for waking you up. I'm so sorry..."

The next morning, the sound of commotion from outside woke young Felix. The little boy, his footsteps light, shuffled toward the noise coming from the living room. The ruckus made him a little scared. He hugged his teddy bear tightly and walked into the living room. In front of him, his father was pinned to the floor, his hands held tightly as he knelt. Sitting on the sofa was an older man, a figure over 60, and next to him, a younger woman who still showed the marks of time on her face.

"Didn't you come here because you want me to cure your beloved child? Isn't this a little too coercive?"

"Anything you want, as long as you cure my daughter."

"Isn't that better than bringing up 'blood ties'? When did you get so considerate? When I left, hadn't you already settled everything with my family?"

"Let him go."

He arrived at T Hospital, one of the most advanced hospitals in the city. His face showed annoyance as he followed a nurse to a private room. When the door opened, a young girl lay on the hospital bed.

"Her surgery is very difficult. I hope you will do this. After all, you two are children of..."

"How much will you pay me?"

"Whatever you want."

He received a nod in agreement. The commotion woke the girl. When she saw the man, she turned her face away. The man left the room, and he sat down beside her. "Did he treat you badly?"

She didn't say anything, as if she didn't want to engage with him, but he didn't let her off easily. His words made her furious, and she yelled, "Are you crazy?! I want to die! Do you know that he only sees me as an object to glorify himself? Do you have any idea what my life has been like?"

"You've lived a life of wealth every moment since you were born. Have you ever thought about what poverty is like?"

That evening, in the hospital's operating room, in addition to the surgical equipment, there were also cameras and crew members discussing the surgery. When he entered the room, he saw the scene before him but didn't seem to care. He walked to the operating table. The girl was lying on her back, her neck gently arched so the doctor could easily access her thyroid gland. He began to administer general anesthesia to the patient. A breathing tube was then placed in her trachea to maintain her airway, and an IV was set up to provide necessary fluids and medication. Next, the nurse thoroughly cleaned and disinfected the patient's neck. When everything was ready, he made a swift horizontal incision in the neck and quickly began the thyroid surgery. Throughout the procedure, everyone seemed to be in awe of his skilled surgical talent. When the surgery was over, he left the room, recalling his conversation with his sister.

Leaving the hospital, he took a taxi home. A small figure, Felix, seemed to be waiting at the door. As he got out of the taxi, the boy ran and hugged his legs. The boy then asked a series of questions. He hugged the boy and didn't answer any of them, instead promising to take him somewhere fun. It seemed he didn't want to remember the people he once called family.

In the bustling atmosphere of the shopping center, the clear sound of a violin suddenly rang out from the main stage, captivating every eye and ear. Amidst the noisy crowd, the young man with his violin stood out like a beacon, enchanting everyone with his melodious tunes. When the song ended, a brief moment of silence gave way to warm applause from the audience. From the crowd, a boy ran quickly to the young artist, followed by an older man who seemed to be his guardian. The boy tugged at the artist's shirt, his voice excited: "Can you play with my dad? He's really good too!"

"Felix, don't bother him," his father's voice, Y, said with a hint of embarrassment. Looking at the man with the boy, the young artist smiled kindly: "It's okay. I'm sure this young man here admires me... Besides, playing alone here is a little lonely."

"Please, Dad..." the boy pleaded.

"It looks like there's no piano here..." Y hesitated.

"It's okay," the young artist replied, "there's a piano at a cafe nearby. If you don't mind..."

A light sigh escaped Y, followed by a gentle nod. Young Felix's face lit up. The three of them walked toward the nearby cafe. The ringing of the cafe's bell attracted the attention of those inside. Y walked over to the piano in the corner of the cafe, and couldn't help but gently touch the keys. A few notes resonated, making everyone even more curious. The young artist took his familiar violin out of its case. To the sound of applause, the melodious tunes, a blend of violin and piano, spread gently throughout the cozy cafe...

In the twilight glow of autumn,the large T University appears brilliantly illuminated. The campus is vast, featuring a spacious courtyard, a grand stage, and enormous lecture halls. A familiar figure enters the auditorium—a tall man with long hair tied back over his shoulder, a gentle, refined face, and bright eyes emphasized by glasses. All the students in the lecture hall suddenly rise and speak in unison.

"Professor, you've arrived!"

"Yes... Is there a new student in the class?"

"Not exactly a new student, Professor. He's just here to audit the lecture."

The speaker points toward a young man, whose face breaks into an excited smile.

... The class ends, and the two men meet in the school hallway. From this height, the campus below appears vibrant and beautiful.

"You're a professor? To be so young and already a professor is truly rare..."

"Isn't that because of you? Ah, my hope"

"Why because of me? And what's this about a student? What's the connection?"

"Don't you recognize me, sir? I'm older than you, aren't I?... Do you remember the person you saved, the one who was **ostracized since March 21st**?"

...The story begins when... **His** family was shattered by the appearance of a woman. His parents became embroiled in conflict, leading to divorce. To support the family, his mother had to work multiple jobs at once. The large, loving home he once knew was gone. Eventually, his mother collapsed from exhaustion and passed away, leaving him and his older sister alone. But life showed them no mercy. Due to illness and resulting complications, **He** needed money for surgery. Driven to desperation to care for him, his sister was forced into prostitution. Yet, the days ahead were no easier. During one night of entertaining a few major corporate executives, his sister was attacked by the wife of one of the men. She and another girl who were pouring drinks were both **gang-raped** at the karaoke parlor. They were infected with a disease. The illness plunged his sister into even greater hardship, causing her to take any client offered, working late into the night.

The slum they lived in was full of thugs, and seeing her vulnerable state, they turned their attention to **Him**. His appearance, which was 80-90% feminine, attracted the predatory gaze of even men.

When **He** was **12 years old**, a group of 17 and 18-year-old youths was staking out his sister's return. **He** was home alone. Mistaking his tall frame and face for a girl's, they kicked down the door and rushed in to sexually assault him. **He** offered no resistance, allowing them to overpower him. Two held his arms while the leader ran his fingers over his pale neck, unbuttoning his shirt. It wasn't because he was a boy, but... A few blue bruises on his body stunned them momentarily. One even yelled, "Damn! Thought he was still clean! Looks like he's already been taken!"

**He** said nothing, seemingly unwilling to reply. Another said, "I live next door. I heard groaning from this room the other day. Thought it was his sister with a client, but it was his little brother, at that age, taking care of business?"

The leader saw this, grabbed **His** chin and said, "His sister has HIV, and there are no condoms anywhere in this room, so this dog has probably got the disease too!" Seeing their contempt reach its peak, **He** struggled to break free from the two henchmen, lunged toward the leader, and kissed him with all his might. The leader tried to push him away, but the stubborn youth wouldn't let go. **He** bit his own tongue until it bled, then used his tongue to force the blood into the kidnapper's mouth, making him swallow it. The man shoved him away, tasting the faint metallic flavor of blood on his tongue, and kicked him, screaming, "Damn it! I'm not playing with you!" He then fled, followed by his two henchmen. No one would have guessed that the disease which had made his mother and sister's lives a living hell would save His life that day. The bruises were also self-inflicted, a way to protect himself from the thugs.

That sordid past was a result of his circumstances, and the deaths of the two people he loved most were ultimately connected to it. The children in the slum often mocked him because of it. Later, He was taken back in by his father due to public gossip, and his ambition was sparked from that point. At the hospital, many people would say they wished they could go back to the time when their parents took care of them and they didn't have to worry about bills. But for Him, what he called childhood was dirty, cheap, and utterly disgusting. Yet, his fate was not finished with him.

On March 21st, after saving a young man injured in a car accident and then saving a little girl on the road, He abandoned the attempt to save a famous person who arrived later. Consequently, all responsibility for the failed surgery that year was placed on Him. The reputation of the genius doctor was destroyed from that day forward.