Chapter 81

"Wang Chuan, how are you so skilled?" Lin Weiwei's puzzled voice as she left echoed in Wang Chuan's ears.

"Medical student, artificial respiration—of course I'm skilled!" He had already stepped out of the manager's office and spotted Cao Te at the other end of the corridor.

So he walked over, "Manager Cao, I'm just a nominal deputy general manager—I don't handle anything. The bar is still entirely your domain."

"I just occasionally bring friends here for a drink! I still work at the hospital normally."

When Cao Te first heard Wang Chuan's title as deputy general manager, his heart skipped a beat; then seeing Lin Weiwei's enthusiasm, he assumed she'd sent a spy to watch him.

Now, hearing Wang Chuan say this, his smile deepened further: "Manager Lin already gave me a heads-up—your expenses here can be put on account; just sign when you leave."

He added with admiration, "Director Wang, such a young doctor—rare indeed! A true young talent!"

Wang Chuan replied coolly, "I'm not a doctor yet. I'm in my final year of medical school, interning at the hospital. Next year, after graduation, I'll still become a doctor."

After hearing this, Cao Te was startled—being a doctor, why invest as a bar shareholder? Was he a second-generation rich kid from Mingzhou, whose family put money into the bar hoping he'd gain experience, yet he still preferred being a doctor?

At the entrance of Nanshan Blue Fire Bar, he saw it was already full of luxury cars; Yang Fang silently gave himself a thumbs-up—glad he'd borrowed a BMW 7 Series from a friend ahead of time.

But damn, the car was too long—he'd been parking for ages without getting it in, and Pei Nanli in the front passenger seat kept glancing over, making Yang Fang even more anxious.

In the back seat, Xin Chanxi muttered softly to Sun Ying: "This big brother's driving skills aren't nearly as good as Brother Wang Chuan's."

The words drifted into Yang Fang's ears, irritating him: "Pei Nanli, does your classmate know Wang Chuan?"

"They met last week while learning to drive."

"Wang Chuan only started learning last week—how could his skills be better than mine after five years of driving?"

Sun Ying made a "zip your lips" gesture toward Xin Chanxi—after all, today's bar visit was invited by Doctor Yang Fang; better show some face.

Xin Chanxi ignored him, pouting: "They're better than yours—next time, you two can compete at the driving school."

Pei Nanli smoothed things over: "Teacher Yang, take your time reversing, no rush."

Seeing Pei Nanli smile, Yang Fang thought internally, "I'd rather cut ten appendixes."

After fifteen full minutes, he finally parked successfully—his forehead was drenched in sweat.

He hurried out of the car and opened the front passenger door for Pei Nanli: "Be careful."

Sun Ying and Xin Chanxi walked behind, whispering: "Xiao, we're the third wheel."

"Once we go in, I'll make an excuse to use the toilet, slip out the back kitchen door, and meet up with Wang Chuan and Xu Jin."

Xin Chanxi's thoughts were on Wang Chuan.

Sun Ying sighed inwardly—he'd just received a text saying Xu Jin had already arrived at the bar's back door; Xu Jin, if only you hadn't come.

Ahead, Yang Fang pulled out five invitation cards and led everyone into the bar.

As they walked, he said to Pei Nanli: "I'm very close with the owner of this Nanshan Blue Fire Bar, so I got so many invitation cards."

Pei Nanli's gaze flickered: "If you know the owner, why didn't you get Wang Chuan an invitation card?"

In reality, the person Yang Fang knew was Tang Fei—the car was borrowed from him. Tang Fei told Yang Fang he was one of the bar's shareholders and gave him a member card good for a 40% discount.

Yang Fang clutched the member card in his pocket—he'd show it off at checkout for maximum face.

He'd met Tang Haode and his two sons years ago at a banquet with Vice Dean Yang Guohua; later, Yang Fang performed surgery on Tang Fei, the recovery went well, and Tang Fei was deeply grateful.

"It's packed! There really aren't any extra invitation cards. Word is, everyone who spends tonight gets a signed photo of a Hong Kong singer surnamed Chen… He even came personally to cut the ribbon at noon."

Sun Ying, a pop music fan and karaoke queen, rushed forward: "Is it really him? Then today was totally worth it!"

Xin Chanxi pointed to the bar's walls, plastered with posters of that Hong Kong singer.

On the bar's second floor, Wang Chuan chatted with Cao Te a while longer, then walked straight downstairs; after a few steps, he sniffed and caught the scent of citrus fruit.

It must have clung to him from Lin Weiwei's Chanel Coco Mademoiselle perfume.

Wang Chuan thought for a moment, walked up to the semi-circular walnut bar counter, and said: "One Sazerac."

Sazerac, one of North America's oldest cocktails, originated in 19th-century New Orleans, famed for its complex herbal aroma and layered flavor.

Made with rye whisky, rinsed with a small amount of absinthe, it has a strong, complex scent capable of masking the lingering fragrance of Lin Weiwei.

The bartender turned around—Wang Chuan recognized him: Jack, Liu Jieke, from Guangdong, raised in Hong Kong since childhood.

"Master, what are you doing here?"

"Chuan, your T-shirt's purple—looks like you're missing another master, Purple."

"Yeah, I miss her too."

"I'm covering for her for a few days—she'll be the main bartender here from now on."

He handed Wang Chuan the Sazerac: "Put it on Manager Lin's tab?"

"Master, put it on my tab!" Wang Chuan handed Liu Jieke a business card.

"Oh? Chuan, you're my boss now?"

"But you're still my master," Wang Chuan teased, downed the drink in one gulp, then pointed toward Lu Na and the other four: "Master, can I mix drinks for those five friends of mine?"

"OK, no problem. They haven't ordered alcohol—just juice. What do they do? Especially the two girls."

"Two Emergency Department Doctors—one nurse, one intern like me."

"Oh, then your drinks need different styles."

"No problem."

Wang Chuan walked over to their booth, crouched beside Lu Na, and smiled: "You guys are at a bar—why drink juice? Come to the bar, I'll mix five different cocktails for you five."

"You can mix drinks?!" Lu Na's face was full of disbelief.

Li Wei smirked quietly beside her.

Zhang Yang and Wu Qinghua were also stunned: "Wang Chuan, you're cutting open abdomens and now mixing cocktails—constant surprises."

Wang Jia sniffed the scent on Wang Chuan: "Wang Chuan, why do you smell like perfume?"

"You wouldn't understand—I just drank a Sazerac cocktail, spilled a bit on myself, that's the scent."

Wang Chuan explained immediately.

Li Wei and the other four followed Wang Chuan to the semi-circular bar counter.

Wang Chuan extended a finger. "You play rock-paper-scissors. I'll mix drinks for you one by one in the order of victory. Fair enough, treating men and women equally!"

"Fair!" everyone shouted in unison.

The final winner turned out to be Wu Qinghua.

Wang Chuan had already placed the cocktail shaker, mixing glass, bar spoon, jigger, and other bartending tools on the bar counter.

"Doctor Wu, very good. As an emergency room doctor, I'll mix you a 'Midnight Shift,' which I named 'Midnight Emergency Rescue' myself."

At that moment, Wang Chuan looked up and noticed the male customers in the bar were all staring toward the entrance.

Yang Fang walked in, accompanied by three stunning beauties.