“Doctor Ling, you must let me treat you to lunch.” The associate hospital director looked extremely apologetic.
After the associate hospital director watched a few of the surgeries performed by Ling Ran, he strongly believed that even if Ling Ran were to charge a few thousand RMB for one freelance surgery, it would not even be considered expensive. It could even be considered an extremely charitable price. Ling Ran’s market price was probably low because he was not renowned or experienced enough.
The Third People’s Hospital of Yun Hua City was paying Ling Ran 500 RMB a day. The associate hospital director was too embarrassed to even calculate how much they must be ripping Ling Ran off. Hence, he had to be a proper host.
Ling Ran did not think much. He looked at the associate hospital director and said, “I feel like eating in Shao family’s restaurant.”
“Anything you want. Even if you wanted to eat dragon meat today, I’ll make sure that your wish is fulfilled.” Even though the associate hospital director was using a hyperbole, he meant what he said.
Even though they were only allowed to pay freelance surgeons 500 RMB a day, they would get reimbursed even if they were to treat those freelance surgeons to lobsters.
“Let’s go to Shao family’s restaurant, then,” Ling Ran said.
“Alright. We’ll go there. Do wait for a moment. I’ll ask the hospital to send a car over.” As the associate hospital director spoke, he whipped out his phone and made a call.
At the same time, Zuo Cidian gave Yu Yuan a call and asked her to come over for lunch too.
After a moment, the associate hospital director put down his phone. He forced a smile as he looked at Ling Ran and Zuo Cidian. He raised a finger and said, “Just a minute. The hospital’s cars are all being used. I’ll search somewhere else.”
Nowadays, they only had a limited number of official cars. Even though the hospital sent a car to fetch Ling Ran over in the morning as a sign of respect, they did not designate a car to fetch Ling Ran for lunch.
Ling Ran did not feel like waiting. He whipped out his phone and said, “I’ll just call a car using DiDi.”
The associate hospital director immediately said, “Please don’t. Why don’t I drive you guys there?”
“It’s easier to use DiDi because we don’t need to park.” Ling Ran started tapping at his phone.
The associate hospital director said awkwardly, “Or I can call a Shenzhou[1]…”
“Don’t worry about it, the car is already here. Let’s go downstairs.” Ling Ran put his phone inside his pocket and took the lead to walk out of the door.
The associate hospital director had no choice but to follow suit. He smiled in embarrassment at Zuo Cidian and said, “Look at this mess. It’s really my fault for not making a satisfactory arrangement. Do explain things to Doctor Ling on my behalf later.”
“Don’t worry about this. Doctor Ling doesn’t care about things like this.” Zuo Cidian walked quietly beside the associate hospital director. Even though Zuo Cidian was very willing to be at his leader’s service in regards of various miscellaneous tasks, he never interfered when it came to calling cabs and ordering food.
“If Doctor Ling doesn’t care, it’s his business, but if we don’t make satisfactory arrangements, it means that we did not do our jobs well. Can you tell Doctor Ling that I’ll just go and look for a car now? It’ll just take a few minutes.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“No, DiDi’s cars are not so great in terms of quality, after all. When Doctor Ling comes back, he has to carry out more surgeries. So, if he gets to sit comfortably, it’ll be beneficial to the succeeding surgeries and the patients. Do listen to me on this—”
“No, there’s really no need. Doctor Ling always rests very well on the DiDi cars he hails,” Zuo Cidian answered the associate hospital director very earnestly.
The associate director hospital flashed a wan smile. “Doctor Ling is still young now. At my age, even if I want to hail one of those DiDi cars, it’ll be a trouble for me to get myself into the car-huh?”
In front of the hospital building, Ling Ran could obviously be seen entering a Rolls-Royce.
What especially captured to associate hospital director’s attention was that Ling Ran was holding his phone to check the number plate of the Rolls-Royce before entering the car. He looked very cautious and serious.
“I gave this Rolls-Royce Phantom one hundred and one out of one hundred marks before.” Zuo Cidian glanced at the sky blue Rolls-Royce and seemed to recognize it.
The associate hospital director look baffled. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, this Rolls-Royce often accepts bookings around our hospital. I thought that it only operates around Yun Hua Hospital, but it seems that the Third People’s Hospital of Yun Hua City is also within its coverage area.” Zuo Cidian explained to the associate hospital director, but the associate hospital director got even more confused.
“Why did you give it one hundred and one out of one hundred marks?” The associate hospital director asked.”
Zuo Cidian sighed in nostalgia and said with a smile, “Because the champagne this Rolls-Royce provides is extremely delicious. You don’t get to have it when you ride other cars. The Bentley is the most epic, as the driver often serves us rum. I think it’s related to the interior design of the car or something, as the Bentley is decorated Cuban-style.
The associate hospital director wore an extremely dumbfounded expression as he settled himself in the backseat of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Yu Yuan, who just rushed over, entered the car.
“Welcome.” Tian Qi turned and looked at the people who just entered her car while she was clad in the DiDi uniform. She adjusted her cap and said with a smile, “It’s nice to see you guys again. Are you guys working in this hospital today?”
“Yeah, we are carrying out surgeries in the Third People’s Hospital of Yun Hua City today. Outpatient consultation.” Zuo Cidian bowed slightly in a polite manner. That was the sign of respect he had for all owners of Rolls-Royce cars. He then asked with a smile, “Ah, you’re working part-time again?”
“Yup. I can’t just ask for money from my parents all the time, right?” As Tian Qi spoke, she turned and glanced at Yu Yuan, who was a little out of breath, and said, “There’s water in the refrigerator. You can have some.”
Yu Yuan subconsciously opened the refrigerator door. She sank in contemplation as she stared at the mineral water packed in elegant and gorgeous bottles.
Meanwhile, Tian Qi looked at Ling Ran and asked, “Doctor Ling, back in university, have you ever worked part time to pay for some of your university fees by yourself? Have you ever modelled or something? There are certainly a lot of companies out there who would like you as their model.”
Ling Ran thought about it for a moment and said, “No.”
“No? Do your parents give you a lot of pocket money?”
“I didn’t use to spend much when I was in university. Besides, I got scholarships all the time.”
“All the time? How often?”
“I don’t really remember either. I always received random scholarships out of nowhere.”
Tian Qi nodded in understanding. “I always face this kind of problems too. There were times when I didn’t know where the extra money in my bank account came from as people would send me money anonymously without any recipient’s reference. Sometimes, my credit card debts would be miraculously cleared too. But I don’t like obtaining money this way. I believe in working hard.”
Ling Ran nodded slightly in agreement.
“I’m going to start driving.” Tian Qi turned to the front and started the engine. She looked out of practice as she stepped on the accelerator and drove toward their destination.
Soon, the signboard for the Shao family’s restaurant entered everyone’s field of vision.
“Do you want to have lunch with us?”Ling Ran invited Tian Qi as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
“Sure.” After Tian Qi said that, she paused for a moment and retrieved her phone from the phone holder on the dashboard. She said with a smile, “Wait for a moment while I indicate that we have arrived at our destination and… exit the driver app.”
After Tian Qi exited the car with Ling Ran and the others, someone naturally entered the car and drove it away.
Ling Ran’s attention was already focused on Shao family’s restaurant.
Even though it was only noon, Shao family’s restaurant was filled with people as usual. Zuo Cidian wanted to utilize his connection with Boss Shao. He went forward and asked one of the employees, “Hello, is Boss Shao here? We are from the Emergency Department of Yun Hua Hospital.”
“Are you here to pick up our boss…? But that can’t be it, our boss went to stock up today.” The staff member was dumbfounded.
Zuo Cidian froze for a moment as well. He then said, “We’re here to have lunch.”
“Oh, you should have told me that earlier. You gave me a scare.” The staff member turned and glanced at Zuo Cidian, but could not recognize him. But when his gaze fell upon Ling Ran, he could not help but slap his head and said, “Doctor Ling, you’re here. Please wait for a moment while I get you guys a table.”
