Medical Sage

”You don’t believe me?”

Actually, Chen Fei figured the other man wouldn’t believe him. So, he took the most practical approach: pulling the classic Nokia phone from his pocket and dialing a number.

”Humph, what’s with the act? Do you really think I’ll believe Dr. Liu is on the other end of the line just because you’re making a phone call? How could a greenhorn like you have any connection with Dr. Liu? You must have a screw loose,” Dr. Liu sneered. But despite his dismissive tone, beads of sweat had already started to form on his large forehead, and his palms were slick.

If this guy really knows the top boss of our department, and seems so familiar with him… then I’ve offended him, which means I’m done for! No, that’s impossible… absolutely impossible…

Just as the fat pig was starting to panic, Chen Fei connected the call and greeted with a smile, ”Dr. Liu? It’s me, Chen Fei. I have something to tell you.”

”I’m telling you, Chen Fei, stop with the charade. What do you think you are? Just a worthless intern. If you piss off my Uncle Wang, he’ll definitely make you regret it!” Wang Kai blustered, also growing panicky as he tried to snatch Chen Fei’s phone.

SLAP!

His hand was slapped away by Slickhead, who sneered meaningfully, ”What’s the matter, Class President Wang? Scared now? Why don’t you let Da Fei finish his call?”

In an instant, the entire private room fell silent. Whether it was Art Commissioner Zhao Le with her helpless expression, or those who either wanted to curry favor with Dr. Liu or simply chose to stay out of it—all of them now had looks of shock on their faces.

They watched Chen Fei chatting and laughing on the phone, recounting what had just happened, completely unable to imagine the true identity of the person on the other end.

If that person really is Dr. Liu, then Chen Fei is on another level. He actually knows the nationally renowned cardiology expert, Dr. Liu Changshan! And he’s just casually chatting and laughing with him, none of the sycophantic fawning Wang Kai showed earlier. Damn it, this can’t be a dream, can it!? This… this… how is this possible!?

”Dr. Liu, please take the call. It seems Dr. Liu has something he wants to say to you,” Chen Fei said with a smirk, handing his Nokia phone to the doctor, whose forehead was now drenched with sweat and whose eyes trembled.

”Ah, yes…”

Dr. Liu took the phone in a fluster. With a voice trembling with a dread, as if walking to his own execution, he spoke into the receiver, ”Dr… Dr. Liu, is it really you?”

”Who else would it be? Liu Zhichuang, you’re getting quite bold, aren’t you? You even dared to offend Doctor Chen! Didn’t you know that Zheng Yi from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine was just fired by the dean this afternoon for offending him? Do you think you’re better than Zheng Yi? Have a stronger backing? Or do you think the dean is begging you to stay and that you have nothing to fear!?” the voice on the other end roared, the words making Liu Zhichuang’s legs go soft and his face turn pale with fright.

What? Zheng Yi from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine… wasn’t he a deputy chief physician? Fired by the dean just for offending this kid? This… this… I’m screwed. A deputy chief couldn’t stand against him, and I’m just an attending physician. I’m nothing!

”Dr… Dr. Liu, you have to save me! After all, I’ve worked under you for so long. Please, you have to help me!” Liu Zhichuang was now completely terrified, his mind foggy. He ignored his surroundings and pleaded loudly into the phone.

The classmates in the private room erupted.

”What’s wrong with Dr. Liu? It’s just a phone call. There’s no need to be that scared, is there?”

”This… this… could Chen Fei really know Dr. Liu Changshan?”

…

Remember, this was an attending physician from the Central Hospital. In their eyes, he was a high-level figure. But now, he was reduced to this state of fear from a single phone call. Everyone couldn’t help but steal glances at Chen Fei, their eyes filled with a mixture of shock and awe. Damn, now *that’s* what you call a true powerhouse!

”Doctor Chen, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I, Liu Zhichuang, was blind and didn’t recognize your importance. Please, considering we’ll be colleagues in the future, just forgive me this once. I apologize to you, and to your classmate,” Liu Zhichuang stammered, having seemingly been yelled back to his senses by Liu Changshan. He bowed shakily to Chen Fei and then to Zhao Le, the student he’d taken an unwelcome interest in earlier, giving her a subtle, desperate look, hoping she would put in a good word for him.

Are you kidding me? This guy got a deputy chief physician fired by the dean. Of course I wouldn’t dare provoke him. I’m not looking for a death wish.

”Oh, let’s not be so formal,” Chen Fei gestured dismissively, then pointed to the table. ”Look, there’s a bottle of baijiu right there. I’m a magnanimous person, not petty at all. Why don’t you drink the whole thing?” The bottle of Erguotou he indicated was the kind of liquor that, while fine to sip slowly, would be absolute torture to down in one go.

”If Doctor Chen is giving me a chance, then of course I, Liu Zhichuang, will drink,” he declared. Ignoring the consequences, he grabbed the potent baijiu and started pouring it down his throat.

He was truly terrified of meeting the same fate as Zheng Yi from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It wasn’t worth losing everything over something so trivial. Besides, he couldn’t bear to lose his excellent job as an attending physician at the Central Hospital. Conceding was his only option.

”Alright, we’re all going to be colleagues. Doctor Liu, if you can’t drink anymore, don’t force yourself.” Seeing how quickly the man complied and that he was on the verge of vomiting, Chen Fei finally relented.

”Thank you, Doctor Chen,” Liu Zhichuang said, dizzily putting the bottle down, a burning sensation searing his stomach.

”Hey, Art Commissioner, everyone, Slickhead and I have something to do, so we’ll be leaving now. You all have fun. Let’s get together again when we have time.” Seeing the situation resolved, Chen Fei lost the desire to stay any longer and pulled Slickhead to his feet.

”Hey, wait up! I’ll walk you out,” the fashionably dressed Zhao Le immediately called out, getting up to follow.

Seeing this, any of the guys in the room who still harbored ideas gave up, sinking back into their seats with embarrassed expressions.

”Little Kai, you really set me up good today!” Liu Zhichuang said, looking at Wang Kai with a chill in his voice that everyone could feel.

SLAP!

”Uncle Wang, please, let me explain! I really didn’t know he was so important, that he even knew Dr. Liu! Back in school, they were just ordinary students! Uncle Wang, you have to believe me. Even if I had all the courage in the world, I wouldn’t dare to set you up. You have to believe me!” Wang Kai’s legs gave out and he dropped to his knees, stuttering and trembling.

”You think I’d believe you!? SLAP!” Having lost all reason to his anger, Liu Zhichuang struck Wang Kai hard across the face before striding away, leaving a mess in his wake.

Seeing this, everyone looked at each other, never having expected a pleasant class reunion to end this way. But it’s what he deserved, right? Who asked him to be so obsessed with appearances, to be such a show-off? He was willing to sell out his own classmates to suck up to his powerful connection. Serves him right.

「」

Outside the private room, having witnessed the entire affair through the ajar door, Xiaao Ming stroked his chin. ”Hmm, I suppose there’s no need for a discount in this situation, is there?” he mused, deciding to add more fuel to the fire. ”Go over there now. Tell them to pay double the bill as compensation.”

”Yes, Boss. I’ll get right on it,” a manager-like figure said, scurrying off to do his bidding.

”What!? You want to charge me double as compensation just for breaking a few things? On what grounds?”

”On the grounds that you offended someone you shouldn’t have! Pay up, or you’re not walking out of our Red River Restaurant today!” Wang Kai wailed, on the verge of fainting in the bathroom again.

…

Zhao Le followed Chen Fei and Hua Zhinan out of the Red River Hotel. She placed a hand on her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. ”Hey, I never expected a class reunion to turn out like this. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come.”

”So, Art Commissioner Zhao, you were just trying to escape with us. Ah, I’m heartbroken. And here I thought you came out specially to see us off,” Slickhead said, feigning injury and pretending to collapse.

”Oh, cut it out.”

Zhao Le rolled her eyes at him, then turned her sparkling gaze to Chen Fei. ”Chen Fei, Slickhead, you two were hiding your true colors! One’s a rich kid, and the other actually knows the famous Dr. Liu Changshan. Getting a job at a Grade-3A hospital like the Central Hospital just a few months after graduation… I’m so envious.”

Though her words sounded like a complaint, they were filled with endless envy for Hua Zhinan and Chen Fei.

It was true. Whether it was Hua Zhinan, a ”rich second-generation” heir in the eyes of ordinary people, or Chen Fei, who now seemed like a powerful figure with incredible connections, both were objects of envy and jealousy.

However, Chen Fei wasn’t one to let success go to his head. He replied humbly, ”You’re giving me too much credit. Slickhead is definitely a rich kid. As for me, I just happened to get acquainted with Dr. Liu. I’m just a minor doctor, that’s all.”

Slickhead said nothing, quietly watching Chen Fei put on his humble act.

Damn. The power to get a deputy chief physician at a Grade-3A hospital fired, and he calls himself a ’minor’ doctor? Only this rascal could say something like that with a straight face.

Zhao Le also had a look of disbelief. She smiled and said, ”Well, old classmates, I’ll be heading off. I’m pretty tired and want to get some rest. You two, remember to stay in touch.”

”Of course! Bye, Art Commissioner Zhao, see you later!” Slickhead quickly promised, while Chen Fei nodded with a smile.

To be honest, back in school, I didn’t have a great relationship with her. But now, I feel a sense of admiration for her—not romantic feelings, but genuine respect. After all, in this day and age, a good girl who can resist temptation and maintain her integrity is truly a rare find.