Medical Sage

Chen Fei and Slickhead agreed to meet at Northern Mountain Park, which was near the commercial street in the city center. After having lunch at the Central Hospital, he bid farewell to Dr. Liu and boarded a bus heading back to the city center alone.

A little over an hour later, Chen Fei finally arrived in the city center on the slowly swaying bus, getting off at a stop near Northern Mountain Park.

Northern Mountain Park was one of Northern Mountain City’s most famous scenic spots. It was renowned not only for its variety of ornamental trees and fish but also for its numerous leisure areas for pedestrians to rest or exercise. In addition, it had playgrounds that were a favorite among children. Coupled with its prime location in the bustling city center, it was considered one of Northern Mountain City’s iconic landmarks. Almost everyone from Northern Mountain knew of it.

”Hey, Slickhead, I’m here at the bus stop. Where are you?” As soon as he got off, Chen Fei pulled out his Nokia phone to call Hua Zhinan.

”You’re here? Hang on, I think I see you… right behind you! Hey, Da Fei!” Just as Chen Fei was looking around, a loud shout came from both behind him and through the phone pressed to his ear.

A hint of joy appeared on Chen Fei’s face as he quickly turned around.

”Hey, you’re doing pretty well for yourself! Is that a Mercedes? You’re already driving one, not bad,” Chen Fei said. As soon as he turned, he saw a slim young man in a designer shirt standing next to a Mercedes C200 sedan, grinning cheekily at him. This was, of course, one of his three old college roommates—Hua Zhinan, a.k.a. Slickhead.

”Of course. Don’t you know who your brother is? It’s just a Mercedes. No big deal,” Slickhead said with a grin, walking over to give Chen Fei a friendly punch on the chest.

He remembered back in school, although the four of them in the dorm got along well, he was always closest to Chen Fei. The latter had helped him out more times than he could count, taking exams for him, helping with his graduation project, bringing him meals… Chen Fei had pretty much handled all the typical college troubles for him.

”You’re one to talk. It’s been months since we graduated, and you haven’t called me once. Did you find some new benefactor and decide to ditch this brother of yours?” Slickhead joked.

Thinking about it, it really had been several months since graduation, and Chen Fei, that brat, hadn’t initiated a single call. It was always him pestering Chen Fei. What was with this guy…

”Give me a break. I heard you went back to take over your dad’s business after graduating, so I didn’t call. I was worried that if you didn’t make it big, I’d lose my future meal ticket,” Chen Fei said with a laugh, clearly in high spirits.

”Are you kidding me? Who do you think I, Hua Zhinan, am? Managing a few jewelry stores is a piece of cake, like it’s a game. How could I not make it big? Hey, speaking of which, how are you doing? If you haven’t found a decent job, come work with me. My dad recently put me in charge of the stores here in Northern Mountain City. I can’t promise much, but getting you a supervisor position would be easy,” Slickhead said, looking at Chen Fei defiantly before his tone shifted to concern.

He had noticed that Chen Fei’s clothes still looked like they came from a street stall. Even his phone was the same ancient Nokia he had used for four years in college.

From the looks of it, his buddy wasn’t doing so well. After entering the workforce, a man should at least have a decent set of clothes to keep up appearances. That’s why he made the offer; he wanted to give his best friend from college a helping hand. After all, with his current status, he was more than capable of doing so.

”Me? I’m doing fine, quite satisfied, actually. I just found a great job recently,” Chen Fei replied with a smile, choosing not to elaborate.

He understood his friend meant well, but he really had landed a good job. He was a deputy chief physician at the Central Hospital, a position that would make countless people green with envy. He certainly didn’t need to trouble his friend.

”Hey, why are you being so polite with me? Look at what you’re wearing, and you’re still using that piece of junk for a phone. I don’t believe you!” Slickhead said, annoyed. Why did this brat have to be so formal with him?

”You don’t believe me? Let me tell you, your brother here is making an annual salary of three hundred thousand now. What do you say to that? Impressed or not?” Chen Fei said with a playful grin.

”Three hundred thousand? My ass! I’d have to be crazy to believe you!” Hua Zhinan retorted, rolling his eyes in exasperation. Since when did this guy learn to brag?

”Alright, alright, I’m telling you, I’m really doing well. If you don’t believe me, just call me when you’re at the Central Hospital sometime. That’s my turf. Your brother’s got you covered!” Chen Fei said, slinging an arm around his friend’s shoulders with a cheerful laugh. ”Come on, let’s go. Seriously, I’ve never been in a Mercedes before. Today’s my chance to try something new!”

”You country bumpkin. I remember you have a license, right? Want to take it for a spin? See how it feels?” Seeing Chen Fei act this way, Slickhead wisely decided to drop the subject, not wanting to further wound his friend’s pride.

It seems he’s just putting on a brave front, refusing to lose face in front of his best college buddy. But why bother, you brat? I’ll have to find another way to help him.

”Me? Nah, I’m not really interested in driving. I’m much more comfortable with you as my chauffeur. Anyway, why’d you call me out so early? Dinner’s still a few hours away, isn’t it?” Chen Fei asked as he settled into the passenger seat.

”What else? I’m taking you to buy some new clothes,” Hua Zhinan said, glancing at Chen Fei’s cheap outfit with a flat expression. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

Good thing I had the foresight. If this brat showed up to the class reunion in these clothes, what would people think? Everyone would laugh their heads off, and I, Hua Zhinan, can’t afford that kind of embarrassment.

”Buy clothes?” Chen Fei was surprised at first, but then he understood his friend’s intentions. A wave of warmth spread through his heart, and he didn’t refuse.

Buying clothes was fine. Although he hadn’t received his first paycheck from the hospital yet, he had recently come into a five-figure windfall, which was more than enough. Besides, money isn’t an issue for me anymore.

「...」

Splendid Sky City was one of the most prosperous shopping centers in Northern Mountain City. Its floors were dazzlingly lined with luxury goods, designer men’s and women’s fashion, and a wide range of gourmet restaurants, gyms, language clubs, KTV lounges, and even an ocean park. It was considered one of the must-visit places in the city center, primarily because everything was so expensive that most people couldn’t afford it.

Since he was buying clothes for his best college friend to help him save face, Hua Zhinan was clearly going all out. He drove straight there, heading directly to the third floor of Splendid Sky City.

”Da Fei, what do you think of the clothes here? Pick out an outfit. It’s on me!” Hua Zhinan announced magnanimously with a grand wave of his hand. Splendid Sky City had seven floors, with the entire third floor dedicated to menswear. It featured almost every well-known domestic and international brand imaginable, offering a vast and stunning selection. Of course, the prices were ridiculously high.

”My goodness! A T-shirt is 5,800, and a jacket is 13,000?” Chen Fei didn’t hold back. He casually flipped over the price tag on a T-shirt and jacket he liked and was momentarily stunned by the cost.

Looks like the cash in my pocket might not be enough after all!

”Hmph. Another country bumpkin. If you can’t afford it, don’t come in and get in the way. So annoying.”

Just then, a displeased voice drifted over from a flamboyantly dressed saleswoman nearby.

Although she whispered, Hua Zhinan overheard her. His face darkened with anger. ”What did you say? Is that any way to talk to a customer?”

The clothes Hua Zhinan wore were expensive designer brands, which the saleswoman had noticed immediately. A flash of hesitation crossed her garishly made-up face when he scolded her. But when her eyes fell on Chen Fei’s cheap clothes, contempt filled her gaze.

With a cold expression, she said, ”Was I wrong? The clothes here are very expensive. How could a bumpkin dressed in cheap rags like that possibly afford them?”

”What did you say?” Hua Zhinan’s anger flared, and he was about to erupt.

Of course I know the clothes at Splendid Sky City are expensive and my friend can’t afford them. That’s why I said I was paying. But how can I say that out loud in front of a stranger? That would be a complete slap in the face to my friend! Damn it, how can a high-end place like this employ such a classless sales clerk? No, I have to file a complaint against her.

”Am I wrong?” Seeing that the pretense was over, the saleswoman became openly arrogant. ”This is Splendid Sky City, owned by the Vast Sea Group. We cater to a high-end clientele! Could he even afford a scrap of fabric in here?”

”You…” Hua Zhinan’s face turned as dark as a thundercloud. He was about to explode when Chen Fei placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

Chen Fei looked at the haughty saleswoman with an amused expression and said, ”So you’re saying this Splendid Sky City is owned by the Vast Sea Group?”

Vast Sea Group… Vast Sea Group… Of all the luck, I run into them again? Heh, interesting.