Read Chapter 13: — THE ORTHOPAEDIC MACHINE

Professor Zou’s influence extended beyond the hospital.

He had spent years developing an orthopaedic technology platform known internally as GTP5, a programme that combined patient-specific implant design, advanced manufacturing and artificial-intelligence planning. Some elements were mature research. Others were ambition dressed in prototypes.

Investors did not care about the distinction.

The project attracted money, private companies and men who spoke about patients mainly as markets.

One of those men was Gao Xingchen.

Gao came from a wealthy family with interests in medical devices, property and technology. He was charming in public and ruthless in negotiations. His team wanted access to Zou’s intellectual property, manufacturing relationships and future licensing.

Zou resisted.

Then strange things began happening.

A subcontractor leaked confidential specifications.

A junior executive connected to Gao appeared to know details that had never been publicly released.

A man named Jiang Haozhe—half entrepreneur, half fixer—began appearing around people connected to the project.

At first, these were business problems.

Then someone threatened a researcher.

Police became interested.

Old Zhao’s unit quietly opened a file.

Li was dragged into the edges of it because medical documents and technical claims had to be separated from commercial exaggeration.

“This is not my job,” he told Chenxi.

“You say that every time before doing the job.”

“That is because people keep ignoring the first statement.”

At a meeting, Gao praised Zou lavishly.

“You are building the future of orthopaedics.”

Zou did not smile.

“I’m treating joints.”

“You’re being modest.”

“I’m being precise.”

Li watched the exchange and noticed something else.

This Zou was calm.

A week later, at a contract dispute, “Zou” was furious, theatrical and strangely uninterested in technical questions about the very patents supposedly at stake.

Li wrote down the date.

Chenxi saw him.

“You’re still doing it.”

“Yes.”

“You realise there are normal explanations?”

“Yes.”

“Such as?”

“Stress. Age. sleep deprivation. family conflict. mood. substance use. medication. ego.”

“That’s a long list.”

“And somehow none of it feels sufficient.”

Old Zhao overheard.

“A detective’s worst enemy is the theory he falls in love with.”

Li nodded.

“A doctor’s too.”

They agreed to keep looking without naming the thing they were looking for.