DSMIS CH74

Chapter 74: Extra 4—Drunk Director Shen

Although both were rural medical missions, a mission to the townships surrounding Tianjin was obviously an entirely different concept from the remote outposts around Fulan County. First, the distance was negligible; almost anywhere could be reached within a two-hour drive along smooth, well-paved roads that required no off-roading. Second, the rural areas circling a major metropolis were thoroughly developed. Many villages beneath the township level had simultaneously developed agritourism industries, with rustic farm-stay retreats (nongjiale) springing up everywhere.

The village for Shen Xing’s first stop had a pleasant environment nestled against the hills. Every household here had originally cultivated grapes, but now they had transitioned into a pick-your-own agritourism business. Across the village, greenhouses were ubiquitous, growing not only grapes, but also strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and various melons.

There were plenty of local homestays as well. However, unlike the exquisitely styled Yunnanese courtyards overflowing with flowers and quiet elegance, the homestays here leaned heavily into the rustic farmhouse aesthetic—most operating on an all-inclusive daily rate covering room and board. The accommodation arranged for Shen Xing wasn’t some rundown village committee office like back in Yunnan, but a local homestay arranged by his hosts.

It was a relatively new three-story detached house with an enclosed courtyard and very decent amenities. Best of all, the visiting doctors didn’t have to share standard double rooms; each was allocated a private room with a king-sized bed. This particular perk delighted Director Shen, whose family member was due to arrive shortly.

Looking out the window, one could see the distant mountains. In June, the peaks were blanketed in lush vegetation. Gazing upon those verdant green slopes softened the lingering regret of missing out on the northern grasslands; he simply treated it as a suburban countryside getaway rather than a grassland road trip.

Holding up his phone, he filmed a detailed walk-through video of the cozy room he would be occupying for the next few days and sent it to Jiang Lin:

“The accommodations this time are actually pretty nice. Look, they even set up a little tea table by the window with a view of the mountains. Remember to bring tea sets and tea leaves when you come.”

This rural clinic was far less extreme than the one in Fulan County. Shen Xing saw patients at the township health center. There were no language barriers, no treacherous mountain roads, and no shortages of medical supplies. There was even a Mixue Bingcheng shop less than two kilometers away; delivery orders arrived faster than hospital food runs during peak lunch hours.

If there was anything to complain about, it was that he missed his Captain Jiang, missed Qianjin, and missed Heibao.

He had assumed Jiang Lin wouldn’t arrive until Thursday. Unexpectedly, when he returned to his room after work on Wednesday, Jiang Lin sent him a live location pin from the road—a spot barely an hour’s drive away. Shen Xing immediately turned down an invitation from his colleagues to have dinner together.

An attending physician from his department, who was also his direct junior fellow from medical school, teased him with a knowing grin:

“Is Captain Jiang coming?”

Shen Xing had never deliberately concealed having a same-sex partner, especially with the glaringly obvious ring adorning his left ring finger. For a young, accomplished doctor of Director Shen’s caliber, there was no shortage of people eager to introduce prospective dates. Naturally, people asked when they spotted the band. While he didn’t announce it from the rooftops, he never denied it either.

Working in the same department, his colleagues had seen Jiang Lin drop by several times to deliver meals or keep him company during night shifts, sporting a matching ring on his finger. To top it off, when their department encountered some unruly trouble last year, Jiang Lin had personally stepped in to resolve it. From that point on, Captain Jiang’s name was firmly cemented within the department. Gossip travelled fast; Director Shen’s other half being a captain from the Municipal Criminal Investigation Detachment had long become an open secret.

Shen Xing smiled and nodded:

“Yeah. He took two days off and came up a day early.”

An hour later, Captain Jiang arrived with the entire household in tow. The white Samoyed charged straight toward Shen Xing the moment the car doors opened. Shen Xing cupped its massive chubby face in both hands:

“Hey there! Did you miss Daddy?”

The white plume of a tail behind the Samoyed wagged so furiously it practically blurred into a fan. Jiang Lin walked over with a smile:

“Have you eaten yet?”

Shen Xing looked up, his eyes instantly lighting up. Jiang Lin was rarely dressed in light-colored casual trousers paired with a white Ralph Lauren polo shirt that Shen Xing had personally picked out for him last year. At a glance, he was more striking than the display mannequins in luxury department stores. Were it not for the fact that they were standing in the courtyard of a homestay, Shen Xing would have launched himself into his arms on the spot. Even without jumping him, that thorough, admiring gaze sweeping from head to toe made Captain Jiang blush slightly. He rarely wore pants this light in color year-round. He rubbed his nose:

“Um… have you eaten?”

Noticing his shyness, Shen Xing crossed his arms with a smirk:

“Well, I haven’t eaten yet. Care to join me, Captain Jiang?”

Leaving the two dogs resting at the homestay, they drove out together. The local specialty in town was iron-pot stew, so they ordered a catfish pot. Stepping out after dinner, Shen Xing bumped his shoulder against the man beside him:

“Captain Jiang, care to treat me to coffee?”

Jiang Lin looked up and immediately spotted a Luckin Coffee not far away:

“Luckin? Won’t drinking coffee this late keep you awake?”

Shen Xing laughed:

“What, trying to pinch pennies? We’re going to a proper cafe.”

Jiang Lin glanced around the town street. Though reasonably bustling, it hardly looked like the kind of place that would harbor a chic cafe:

“There are cafes around here?”

“Not right here. Come on, I’ll drive.”

At 8:00 PM, the sky was not yet completely dark. Shen Xing drove Jiang Lin out of the small township. The navigation showed a short distance of only eighteen kilometers before the car veered onto a winding mountain road. Jiang Lin teased deliberately:

“You aren’t planning to sell me off, are you?”

“By the pound? Selling you wouldn’t fetch nearly as much as selling Qianjin.”

Five minutes later, the car crested the hillside into a mid-mountain village. Jiang Lin’s eyes widened slightly. The village was ablaze with warm lights, lined with distinctive buildings housing boutique cafes, bars, restaurants, and artisanal homestays—all decorated with sophisticated, upscale flair. The streets were filled with fashionable young people, most of them taking photos and checking in at aesthetic photo spots.

Shen Xing found a parking spot. The moment he popped the car door, the mellow acoustic sound of a live singer from a nearby roadside bar drifted into his ears. Glancing sideways at Jiang Lin’s fascinated expression, Shen Xing knew without asking that Captain Jiang had never heard of this arts-and-culture village:

“Country bumpkin, never been here, have you?”

Looking at the village buzzing like an evening market, Jiang Lin chuckled:

“Truly never have. They’ve developed this place remarkably well.”

“Yeah, I heard colleagues mention it before, but I never had the time to visit. Who knew this rural clinic would be right next door?”

At this hour, nearly all the bars had live performers singing. Watching Shen Xing crane his neck to peek inside each venue amused Jiang Lin:

“Want to find one and listen for a bit?”

“Hold on, let me pick.”

Ruling out the noisier, heavy-metal venues, they were left with a cluster of laid-back acoustic bars playing folk and pop. Suddenly, the opening chords of Jay Chou’s Nocturne drifted through the air. Shen Xing’s eyes lit up:

“That one.”

They selected a comfortable sofa booth beside a large window. Since Jiang Lin was driving, he ordered a non-alcoholic mocktail, while Shen Xing opted for an “Iceland”—a cocktail built on a vodka base. Outside, the night had fully descended, the multicolored lights of the small street reflecting off the passing crowds. Shen Xing leaned sideways against Jiang Lin, his hand slipping beneath the table to find Jiang Lin’s palm, his fingers tracing patterns across his skin:

“Does this feel like we’re on vacation?”

The interior lighting was soft and dim. Jiang Lin tilted his head and pressed a swift kiss to Shen Xing’s temple:

“It does. Let’s pretend we’re on vacation.”

Shen Xing looked up at him:

“You make it sound so heartbreaking.”

Jiang Lin stroked his hair. Under the dim bar lighting, his gaze held room only for the person before him:

“What else can we do? Director Shen is burdened with state affairs.”

“As if you have loads of free time yourself.”

In their lines of work, 350 out of 365 days a year were spent on duty. What precious little time they had off was consumed by meals or family obligations; unwinding at a bar after hours with a drink, live music, and people-watching was a rare luxury.

Director Shen maintained an excellent mindset, living by the personal creed of enjoying every spare moment whenever possible. Shortly after the drinks arrived, Director Shen’s complaints followed:

“Hey, this Iceland has no kick at all. Did they water down the vodka to fool me?”

Having had salty iron-pot stew for dinner, he treated the iced cocktail like a refreshing beverage and downed it in three or four gulps. He then waved down the server for the menu, ordering a dry martini—also vodka-based, but significantly stronger.

Jiang Lin felt uneasy:

“Don’t get drunk.”

“What’s the matter? Can’t bear to spend the money?”

Faced with that familiar, charming stubbornness, Jiang Lin smiled and said nothing further, merely asking the server for a glass of water. He was right here watching over him, after all.

The alcohol didn’t feel like much at first. But five or six songs later, Shen Xing’s head began to feel pleasantly fuzzy. He knew it wasn’t the sheer volume of alcohol—neither cocktail was exceptionally high in proof—but rather the mix of different ingredients and congeners in cocktails that easily went straight to the head.

He gave his head a gentle shake:

“I’m heading to the restroom.”

Seeing him shake his head, Jiang Lin was concerned:

“I’ll go with you.”

Shen Xing pressed a firm hand onto his shoulder:

“No need, I’m not drunk. Be a good boy and wait for me right here.”

Jiang Lin: “…”

His eyes tracked Shen Xing all the way to the restroom around the corner. When Shen Xing finished and walked back, he spotted a young woman in her twenties standing beside Jiang Lin, apparently asking for his WeChat. Shen Xing quickened his pace, threw his arm possessively around Jiang Lin’s neck, and winked at the young woman:

“Sorry, beauty, this patch of grass already has an owner.”

The girl froze for a fraction of a second, her eyes instantly lighting up with unmistakable excitement before swiftly pulling her phone back:

“Oh, oh, oh! I’m so sorry!”

Shen Xing smiled warmly and shook his head to signal it was fine. Before walking away, the girl turned back with a broad grin:

“You two look amazingly well-matched!”

She immediately spun around, whipped out her phone, and began typing furiously into a group chat…

With his mind thoroughly clouded by alcohol, Shen Xing had little control over his physical strength. Before he managed to choke him, Jiang Lin caught Director Shen’s arm, pulling the man snugly into his lap. Tilting his head up, Shen Xing could see Jiang Lin’s face clearly. Never one for restraint, Director Shen reached up and stroked Jiang Lin’s cheek, his words teasing as usual:

“Captain Jiang is getting up there in years, yet your charm hasn’t waned a bit.”

Jiang Lin chuckled in exasperation:

“Mm. Barely enough to deceive a few people. Please don’t despise me, Director Shen.”

Though his head spun, Shen Xing was considerably bolder than usual. He hooked his arms firmly around Jiang Lin’s neck, pulled the man’s head down, and kissed him soundly on the lips. Breaking away, his heart hammered against his ribs. In a dim, noisy bar like this, it felt vividly like having an illicit affair.

Jiang Lin wished he could haul the man straight into the car and carry him away right this second. His voice dropped to a husky rasp as he caught Shen Xing’s wrists:

“Stop causing trouble.”

Director Shen’s teasing skills had grown increasingly lethal. Squinting his dazed eyes, he pulled his hands from Jiang Lin’s neck, only to look ready to cause further mischief. Jiang Lin caught his fingers, his eyes darkening:

“Shall we head back?”

“Not going back yet. I smell barbecue outside. Come on, let’s grab a few skewers.”

Utterly defeated by the capacity of Shen Xing’s stomach, Jiang Lin laughed:

“Weren’t you stuffed earlier?”

“Walking around digested it all, didn’t it?”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The street grew livelier as the night wore on, packed with open-air barbecue joints grilling skewers curbside. The scent of street barbecue carried a magnetic pull that was impossible to resist, especially for a foodie like Director Shen.

Holding him by the arm, Jiang Lin looked at the tipsy cat whose eyes were practically glued to the grills:

“Which one do you want?”

“That one. The open-air terrace tables on the second floor look like they have a great vibe.”

Jiang Lin eyed the narrow staircase leading to the upper deck:

“Can you manage those stairs?”

“If I can’t, will you carry me on your back?”

“I will.”

“Forget it. I won’t bully a semi-disabled man.”

In the end, the “semi-disabled man” supported Director Shen by the waist from behind, guiding him safely up the stairs.

By the time they wrapped up barbecue, it was nearing 10:00 PM. Mindful that Director Shen had clinic duty the following morning, Captain Jiang escorted his drunken charge back to the homestay.

Upon returning, they realized the two furballs hadn’t been fed yet. Jiang Lin hurriedly poured kibble into their bowls. Shen Xing wrapped his arms around Jiang Lin’s waist from behind, resting his head against his back and nuzzling him—bearing an uncanny resemblance to Qianjin snuggling against Heibao.

Jiang Lin reached back to hold him, and Shen Xing naturally propped his chin onto Jiang Lin’s shoulder. Having consumed alcohol, his burning, flushed ears pressed against Jiang Lin’s cheek, eroding Jiang Lin’s self-control to the brink. Grasping his last shreds of reason, Jiang Lin kissed him gently and whispered a reminder:

“You have work tomorrow morning.”

Shen Xing hooked his arms around Jiang Lin’s neck, raising an eyebrow with shameless defiance:

“Does whether Captain Jiang gets hard have anything to do with me working tomorrow?”

The next second, he was scooped up cleanly into Jiang Lin’s arms and carried straight into the bathroom.

The sound of rushing shower water mingled with short, ragged breaths, while two indistinct silhouettes moved against the semi-frosted glass.

The night stretched rather late. Worried that drinking followed by such wild indulgence would leave Shen Xing aching the next day, Jiang Lin waited until the man fell into a deep slumber before sitting up to thoroughly massage his waist, legs, and arms. Even in his sleep, Shen Xing hummed contentedly from the soothing relief. Jiang Lin leaned down, pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, and finally switched off the lamp to lie down.

Moments later, a familiar figure rolled into his arms. A pair of warm legs pressed against his own, just like every other night. Shen Xing murmured half-asleep, and Jiang Lin gathered him close, patting his back softly until the man drifted back into quiet, peaceful slumber.

The next morning unfolded into a script all too familiar to Jiang Lin:

“I don’t want to go to work! Ahhhhh, Captain Jiang, pull me up!”

Jiang Lin hauled the limp man out of bed, massaging his neck, rubbing his arms, and gently shaking him awake:

“Wake up, time to go move bricks.”