This Doctor Is Too Wealthy

The conversation was beginning to wind down, and all the dishes had been served, but Ma Zichen, who had gone out to get wine, was nowhere in sight.

Growing impatient, Du Heng picked up his phone and dialed Ma Zichen’s number.

To his surprise, the ringtone sounded from the table. He hadn’t taken his phone when he went out.

”Where has that kid disappeared to?”

Du Heng felt uneasy. He stood up and went out to look for him, worried something might have happened.

However, just a few steps after leaving their private room, he saw Ma Zichen emerging from another private room. ”Goodbye, Uncle Su! Goodbye, Doctor Zhang!”

Ma Zichen, grinning, finished his farewells with those inside and turned to see Du Heng. ”Eh, Doctor Du, what are you doing out here?”

”I couldn’t find you, so I came out to check.”

”Oh, sorry about that. I ran into Uncle Su from the Municipal Third Hospital. He’s an old classmate of my father’s, so I popped in to say hello. By the way, Doctor Zhang Jinlian is in there too. Doctor Du, would you like to go in and greet them?”

Du Heng waved his hand dismissively, rejecting Ma Zichen’s well-intentioned offer. He and Zhang Jinlian were hardly on friendly terms.

Ma Zichen continued, ”Doctor Du, my Uncle Su is the section chief of the Human Resources Department at the Third Hospital. How about I introduce you?”

”No need. Let’s not disturb them. We should hurry back and eat; we’ve been waiting quite a while for you.”

Ma Zichen might have meant well, perhaps trying to help him network, or maybe he was just showing off his connections.

But either way, Du Heng would refuse.

Firstly, it was unnecessary. As a doctor from a mere Health Clinic, they might not even be interested in getting to know him. Secondly, with Zhang Jinlian present, he wouldn’t go in. If that woman lost her temper and made a scene, he’d be in a real bind. Arguing back would make him look uncouth, but not retorting would mean having to endure her tirade for nothing. It just wasn’t worth it!

Back in their own private room, the food and drinks were ready. With just their group present, there was no need for formalities, so they immediately picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

”Alright, for this first glass,” Du Heng began, raising his cup and smiling at Wang Shuqiu beside him, ”I’d like to thank Ms. Wang Shuqiu for booking such a great restaurant for us today. Thank you for your trouble.”

Wang Shuqiu, without hesitation, raised her glass, clinked it with his, and downed her red wine in one go.

Du Heng watched, his eyes nearly popping out. Good heavens, this woman was a formidable drinker!

Seeing Du Heng merely holding his glass without drinking, Wang Shuqiu was displeased. She grabbed his hand and urged, ”Stop dawdling, drink up!”

The small white spirit cup looked like it held barely anything, but Du Heng knew his limit: three of those at most, and he’d be unconscious. Seeing Wang Shuqiu’s insistent gaze, Du Heng quickly pleaded, ”No, no, no! Let me toast the others first, and then I’ll drink it all together.”

”No way! That’s not how it works. You can’t toast me and then use that same drink to toast others.”

”Exactly, Brother Du!” Wu Buwei chimed in. ”You toasted Sister-in-law; you can’t use that same drink for us. That’s not proper drinking etiquette.”

Ma Zichen, ever the instigator, added, ”Doctor Du, how about I drink it for you?”

Wang Shuqiu glared. ”Absolutely not! This is the first glass, the one we toasted with. He has to drink it himself.”

Left with no other option, Du Heng had to brace himself and drink.

He didn’t feel any fumes rushing to his head, nor that sensation of it going straight to his crown; just a warm current flowing down his throat.

But Du Heng knew that within thirty seconds, his head would feel a bit heavy, and his vision a bit blurry. His constitution was basically incompatible with alcohol. Of course, such a constitution wasn’t good, but when he drank only a little, the effects came on quickly and also faded quickly.

Watching Du Heng finish his drink, Wang Shuqiu finally relented. This was the first time the two of them were drinking together; she didn’t want it to be marred by regrets.

Du Heng cleared his throat; Ma Zichen, beside him, had already refilled his glass.

No longer caring if he got drunk, Du Heng picked up his glass. ”Buwei, you’ve worked hard running around everywhere with me this month. Here’s to us!”

He raised the small cup and drained it.

Wu Buwei followed suit, downing his drink without hesitation.

Raising his glass again, Du Heng looked at Ma Zichen. ”Xiao Ma, I feel bad for making you write disease records for a whole month. Let’s have a drink.”

Ma Zichen clinked glasses with him, smiling. ”Doctor Du, you’re too kind. Inputting those disease records every day has actually been very beneficial. Many things I didn’t understand from textbooks and classes, I’ve managed to figure out by reviewing those records these past few days.”

Hearing this, Du Heng started to think this young man wasn’t as arrogant as the rumors suggested. But why would he have acted so recklessly on his very first day as an intern? Was he somehow bewitched that day? Whatever the case, it’s good that he’s doing well now. ”It’s good that you found it useful,” Du Heng said. ”If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me, or you can ask Wu Buwei.”

By now, Du Heng was already feeling a bit dizzy.

White spirit... its effects hit even faster.

”Thank you, Doctor Du. I look forward to your guidance,” Ma Zichen said.

”Call me Du when we’re not at the clinic; it’s friendlier.”

With that, Du Heng finished his drink.

”Alright, Du!” Ma Zichen exclaimed, also emptying his glass in one go.

”Come on, eat up! Everyone, have some more food,” Du Heng urged the two, then took out his phone and handed it to Wang Shuqiu. ”The PIN for everything is six zeros. Go ahead and pay the bill.”

Wang Shuqiu glared at Du Heng, displeased. This man really treated her like his woman, telling her everything, giving her everything. But seeing the glazed look in Du Heng’s eyes, she, as a seasoned drinker, understood that he was probably already drunk.

Looking at Du Heng, whose limbs were becoming uncoordinated and who was starting to talk more, Wang Shuqiu felt both exasperated and amused.

It was exasperating that he couldn’t hold his liquor, yet insisted on putting on a show of toasting everyone. The amusing part was that three small cups of white spirit, adding up to probably less than a single shot, had knocked him out completely. That was truly a rare sight.

Du Heng himself had no idea what he was mumbling; his eyelids were already closing as he muttered on.

”You two, give me a hand,” Wang Shuqiu said. ”Let’s get him onto the couch by the window to sleep for a bit. We’ll continue eating. We’ve only just started, and barely had any drinks. We can’t let him spoil the mood.”

As they helped move Du Heng, Wu Buwei chuckled. ”I’ve known Brother Du for almost a year, and I never knew his alcohol tolerance was this poor.”

Ma Zichen sighed in agreement. ”I’ve drunk with many people, and I’ve seen a few who can’t hold their liquor, but I’ve never seen anyone like Du get knocked out after just three cups. His tolerance level must be one of a kind.”

Together, the three of them managed to lay the limp Du Heng onto the sofa in the private room. Then, they began their proper get-together for the evening.

After eating and drinking their fill, Wang Shuqiu went to settle the bill, using her own phone instead of Du Heng’s.

But when she reached the front desk, she was informed that their bill had already been paid.

Upon inquiring, Wang Shuqiu discovered that Ma Zichen had paid.

Wang Shuqiu insisted on reimbursing Ma Zichen. After all, Du Heng had organized this dinner, and it was inappropriate to let him, a newcomer, pay.

But Ma Zichen refused to accept the money. ”Sister-in-law, it’s my treat today, as your younger brother. In the future, I’ll still need Du and Wu to look out for me. Besides, it’s just one meal, a small gesture. Next time, Du can treat us.”

Wang Shuqiu felt she had no choice but to let Du Heng deal with it himself later.

She turned to see if Du Heng had sobered up at all, only to find that Ma Zichen and Wu Buwei had already hailed a taxi and gotten in.

Wu Buwei leaned out the window and called, ”Sister-in-law, I put the car keys in Brother Du’s pocket! Have him drive it back to the Health Clinic tomorrow morning. I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive.”

As his voice faded, the taxi pulled away.

Wang Shuqiu froze for a moment. They’ve left... What about Du Heng?

Looking at the limp Du Heng leaning against her, Wang Shuqiu’s mind raced, unsure what to do.