"Santino, what's wrong with you? You've been disqualified from your internship in just a few days. This has never happened in our school before!"

The roaring voice came from an office in the Clinical Medicine Department of Greenville Medical College.

The middle-aged man had black-framed glasses and a crew cut hairstyle. Coupled with his strict demeanor, he gave off a sense of prestige pressure.

It was especially frightening when he put down his pen on the table forcefully. He was livid with rage.

He was Santino Pai's instructor, York Hua. It was definitely not a trivial matter as it made a professor lose his composure in such a manner.

In front of York stood a handsome boy dressed in plain but clean clothes. The cheap silver metal frame glasses made his bright eyes look even more gentle.

"Professor, I didn't do anything wrong! It's all-" Santino wasn't surprised that York had found out. After all, it was rare to be disqualified from an internship.

"You didn't do anything wrong, huh? Why are you disqualified from the internship then? Whose fault do you think it is?" York stared at Santino coldly, feeling disappointed.

He valued his student Santino a lot. Although Santino was from a poor family, he was very hardworking. His grades had always been one of the best in the college.

However, that was before York found out about this issue.

At this stage, York only felt that Santino was ignorant. He had put on such a poor show that York, as his instructor, had to take the responsibility as well. York could see his deducted bonus waving goodbye at him.

Santino grimaced, "Professor, they-"

"Enough with your nonsense. I know everything! Do you think that you have done a good job? You've embarrassed Dr. Lee, ruined the reputation of the government hospital, and violated an important rule in the industry!" York said in a low voice, "Save all your talks. Since you made such a huge mistake, and you've been disqualified from the internship, the department decided that you are barred from graduation."

"What?" Santino exclaimed. "Barred from graduation? Professor, what do you mean?"

York's face fell. "It means that your graduation is delayed forever."

"Delayed forever?" Santino was furious. "How is that possible? Even if my internship results didn't meet the standard, I could apply for another internship, can't I?"

Santino could accept that he had failed his internship, but he couldn't fathom why he was barred from graduation.

"Do you think you still have a chance? No hospital in Greenville City or the county will accept you."

"Professor..." he pleaded.

Some of the seniors in Greenville Medical College didn't do well in their first internship as well. But they were allowed to try for another one until they would get their medical degree after passing it. Then why couldn't he?

York waved his hand impatiently and interrupted, "Santino, this is the decision of the meeting among the college executives. As your instructor, I'd suggest you transfer to another degree course as soon as possible."

"Another degree course?" Santino looked at York as if he had seen a ghost.

He had studied hard for more than ten years and finally got into the Greenville Medical College. He spent five more years here diligently, yet he was told to transfer to another course after all these times.

He had put in so much effort in the past twenty years. And all of it was about to be obliterated just because of a single error he made.

Besides, if he didn't study medicine at a Medical College, which course should he transfer to?

As if being scorched by Santino's gaze, York's eyes darted around. "Don't look at me like that. I've tried to help you out, but it was of no use. Anyway, you won't be able to work in this field anymore after this. It doesn't matter if you graduate from medical school or not."

"Why doesn't it matter, Professor? I dedicated the best five years of my life to clinical medicine, and yet you made them sound worthless." Santino was in grief. But he wasn't only mourning for his wasted years. He also grieved for his instructor.

York wasn't the instructor whom he respected so much from years ago anymore.

"You're the one who kept on offending people without thinking about the consequences. I don't think you can fare well in this field, especially because of your recent behavior. You're an adult now. You need to be responsible for your mistakes."

York answered coldly. To him, Santino was no longer an excellent student. No matter how good his grades were, his future was ruined. York wouldn't be bothered to waste his time on a student who had a bleak future.

"I can't fare well as a medical professional? Do you think my passion for the medical field is a joke?" Santino suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart. His faith had been denied.

York was once again parched by Santino's burning gaze. Hence, he averted his eyes as he continued, "I'm not in the mood to debate with you about this now. That was all I had to say. Henceforth, you're on your own."

"Professor..."

"Get out!"

Realizing his instructor's annoyance and disdain, Santino held back his tears and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the office, Santino remembered those words that Dr. Lee had said.

"I can guarantee that once you leave this hospital, no other hospital in the city nor the county will accept someone like you as their doctor. You'd better change your career path."

Santino didn't believe it at first, but Ralph Lee did indeed have such influence that could affect the college.

If he couldn't graduate, all his efforts for so many years would be in vain. His mother had worked hard for him to go to college, and he had to obtain a degree to get a decent job no matter how capable he was.

Santino only wanted to graduate from college, and he didn't intend to further his study. He wanted to become a doctor as soon as possible to reduce the burden on his family.

"I must graduate and work as a doctor. Mom, Clarice, I will let you two have a happy life ahead," Santino swore in his mind.

No one would be willing to give up easily when faced with such a situation.

Neither would Santino. Thus, he went looking for the dean, the chancellor, and the vice-chancellor.

However, it was futile. Santino still got a 'fail' for his internship. Also, he wouldn't be recommended to any other hospital for an internship. He wouldn't be able to graduate from college. If he insisted on graduating, he would only get a certificate of incompletion from the college.

Certificate of incompletion was for those who withdrew from college and those who had not completed the required number of years of schooling or the credits specified in the education plan. Such a certificate was worthless. "What's the difference between it and a high school diploma?" Santino thought.

Although some students were indignant when they heard about what happened to him, they couldn't help him. Some even distanced themselves from him for fear of getting into unnecessary trouble.

Santino, who had always studied hard and often visited the college's cadaver lab, had always been an outcast in school. He had no friends at all.

Santino didn't dare to call home. Sitting at the corner of the sports field, he felt more helpless than ever.

The night fell, and even the chirping of insects sounded sad too.

"Beep-"

Santino woke up from his trance due to the vibration of his phone in the pocket.

Santino took out his phone and saw that it was a call from Rainie Chang.

Rainie was Santino's girlfriend for many years. She was his neighbor as well as his high school classmate.

At first, Santino didn't intend to be in a relationship during school. After all, his family wasn't well off, so he made a goal for himself. He had to get the scholarship for every year, and he had to learn as much as possible for him to be fully prepared for work.

Rainie had always liked him wholeheartedly.

Her parents also knew that she was very fond of Santino, and were glad to see Santino and Rainie being together. So they would even extend a helping hand to Santino's family at times.

After all, Santino was indeed an outstanding young man.

Santino was grateful to Rainie's parents for taking good care of his mother. Gradually, he and Rainie started dating.

He attached great importance to their relationship. Once he got in a relationship, he would devote himself to it unfeigned.

In others' eyes, Santino was a good boyfriend. The only drawback was that he was poor and couldn't afford anything nice for presents.

Yet even if he was poor, as soon as he got the scholarship, he would definitely buy Rainie gifts.

During this period of hardship, he didn't tell Rainie about his situation. Every time he picked up his cell phone and looked at the contact list, he couldn't bring himself to dial Rainie's number.