DCH CH 17
by LinnaceThis Doctor, Go Get ‘Em!
Lu Jingcheng twitched his mouth at the words. “What are you talking about?”
Dr. Wang scratched his head. “No, I’m just here to remind you about the meeting. Nothing else…”
Realizing his explanation only made things weirder, Dr. Wang grew flustered. “I mean—I wasn’t talking about you… Ah, forget it.”
Rubbing his forehead, Lu Jingcheng sighed at the irony of karma.
The teasing remarks he’d made to Qingyi the night before were now coming back to haunt him.
Thinking of the wealthy young master who hadn’t spoken to him all night, Lu Jingcheng’s headache grew worse.
Had he been too disrespectful?
Maybe he should apologize again later?
As he walked through the corridor between the inpatient and outpatient buildings, his reflection flashed across the glass windows.
Dr. Wang trailed behind, carrying a stack of documents. Glancing at the tall figure striding swiftly ahead, his white coat fluttering in the wind, Dr. Wang couldn’t help but wonder: Which lucky soul will eventually win over our esteemed attending physician?
After turning a corner and entering the elevator, Dr. Wang sneakily glanced at Lu Jingcheng, who was checking his phone. A small keychain dangling from the device swayed rhythmically before his eyes.
It looked familiar—where had he seen it before? Dr. Wang frowned, trying to recall.
It wasn’t until lunchtime, while waiting in line at the staff cafeteria, that Dr. Wang heard the sound of a mobile game and suddenly remembered—the keychain was the emblem of the esports club next door!
Qingyi hadn’t sent Lu Jingcheng a single message all day.
After hesitating and editing his text repeatedly, Lu Jingcheng finally settled on a cliché question:
「Want to have dinner together after the match?」
Qingyi read the message and replied: 【It’ll probably be very late.】
Lu Jingcheng responded instantly: 【That’s fine. We can have supper instead.】
【No.】
Then Qingyi added: 【Don’t worry—I won’t read too much into you asking me out.】
Lu Jingcheng: ?
Qingyi didn’t reply further. He tossed his phone onto the locker room sofa, grabbed his team jacket, and headed toward the stage.
Even after taking his seat, his expression remained cold as he focused on adjusting his in-game settings.
Wen Jing, sitting beside him, cautiously asked, “Are you still upset about yesterday’s practice match?”
Qingyi glanced at him and forced a smile. “Am I that kind of person? We already reviewed it this morning. Let’s focus on today’s match.”
“Bullsh*t. I’m in a great mood right now.”
Wen Jing grumbled, “You’ve had a pissed-off look for two days straight. Who are you trying to fool?”
Qingyi ignored him, his face still dark.
Wen Jing grinned. “Wow, something actually bothering Young Master Huo? Do tell—I could use a laugh.”
“Ahem.” Wumian’s voice came through their headsets. “Idiots, everything’s being recorded. Watch your image.”
During that afternoon’s match, even the club’s own fans were stunned.
Their captain, Qingyi, who had always prioritized team play, showcased what it meant to single-mindedly hunt down the enemy carries.
Three matches turned into his personal highlight reel, leaving the opponents no room to breathe.
The match, which started at 1:30 PM, ended before 4:00 PM. Fans sat dazed, watching the post-match highlights.
The team voice comms playback was both hilarious and concerning:
“Did you swallow gunpowder?!” Wen Jing complained. “And you call this a good mood? Terrifying.”
“Holy crap, wait for me!” Xinggui frantically scrambled to catch up with Qingyi, only to arrive just in time to witness the final blow. “Leave some kills for the rest of us!”
“Output? I’m the marksman, and all I got was a photo with the exploding nexus!”
“A win’s a win. We’ll crush them again in the finals,” said Wen Jing, content with his free ride.
“I’m in a bad mood. Killing helps me vent.” Qingyi charged alone into the enemy base, trading his life for both enemy carries under tower fire. As his character fell, he said coldly, “We’re reviewing this when we get back. You four were practically AFK these three matches.”
The other four: ………
Seriously?! We wanted to contribute, but you never gave us a chance!
As soon as the match ended, Qingyi grabbed his phone from the locker room and headed straight out of the venue.
The coach called out in surprise, “Aren’t you doing the post-match interview? You were the MVP—how am I supposed to explain your absence?!”
“Just Say It Was All the Coach’s Guidance—I’m Not Going” As soon as Qingyi finished speaking, he was already far away. The coach sighed and had no choice but to brace himself and step up to the interview seat.
After leaving the venue, Qingyi hailed a taxi and headed straight to the villa district by the Qiantang River.
He felt like he urgently needed his good friend Gu Qingyan—the ever-reliable “listening ear”—to vent to, and maybe get some advice on his current situation.
This buddy of his had been acting in dramas for years and considered himself somewhat of a love expert. Ever since he successfully won over his hard-to-get partner, he’d been radiating that lovesick vibe—even on rare days off from filming, he’d rush back for some sweet couple time.
Qingyi knocked on the door, walked in like he owned the place, and flopped onto the expensive leather sofa, bossing the award-winning actor around to fetch him drinks.
Gu Qingyan grumbled the whole time he made tea. Qingyi ignored his complaints, casually picking up the script on the coffee table and flipping through it.
Gu Qingyan was studying a scene where his character gets flirted with by a beauty.
His role was that of a smooth operator in the business world, equally successful in romance—until he meets his true love and gradually settles down. A classic “playboy reforms” storyline.
Qingyi sighed as he read. He didn’t have much experience in love himself, but he’d never lacked admirers since he was young—most were after his money or fame, very few actually cared about him as a person.
Now, he’d finally found someone he fell for at first sight and decided to pursue… only to hit a wall right from the start.
Qingyi wiped away nonexistent tears and mused that years in the pro-gaming scene had at least toughened him up mentally—otherwise, his fragile heart might’ve been seriously bruised.
The script was written from a first-person perspective, and Qingyi unconsciously put himself in the character’s shoes—
The beauty in the scene had a great figure and long legs; every step she took seemed to sway rhythmically, captivating every man in the room.
As she drew near, she tilted her body slightly, casting a subtle, alluring glance his way, a faint smile playing on her lips as she gently bit her lower lip. She swayed her hips, exhaled softly, and said in a sweet, delicate voice: “Don’t you think I’m captivating?”
Qingyi shuddered and tossed the script aside, muttering, “What kind of cheesy plot is this?”
Gu Qingyan walked over with a glass of juice. “Here. I know you pro gamers can’t handle alcohol, so this’ll do, you lightweight.”
“I can drink!”
“Yeah, sure—one glass and you’re out. That totally counts,” Gu Qingyan retorted bluntly.
He glanced at the discarded script. “Your dad personally gave this to me, said it’s a big director, major production—and you’re trashing it like that?”
Qingyi stared straight at Gu Qingyan, full of resentment. “Is this how you people in love act? So direct?”
“Not really. There’s usually an ambiguous phase.”
“What’s that like?”
“Hanging out more, gradually getting physically closer—holding hands first, then putting an arm around the shoulder,” Gu Qingyan listed casually. “You can’t just jump straight to the end goal—that’s either creepy or just fooling around.”
“………” Well, sorry to say—I’m the type who goes straight to the point.
Gu Qingyan met his gaze, cleared his throat, and sat beside Qingyi. “What’s wrong? Has Young Master Huo run into trouble too?”
Qingyi turned away, avoiding eye contact, and stubbornly said, “No, what trouble could I possibly have?”
“Forget whether the script is cheesy or not—you’d never normally ask for such detailed advice,” Gu Qingyan swirled his wine glass. “There’s only one explanation: you’ve actually run into this problem.”
“……Also, you’ve never been this stubborn before,” Gu Qingyan added, seeming casual but laying traps with every word. “Spill it. You’ve been influenced by someone, haven’t you?”
“Are you still stuck in your detective role or something?”
“Just more experienced in love, that’s all,” Gu Qingyan adjusted his glasses. “Looks like I guessed right.”
Qingyi rolled his eyes. “What experience do you even have? You only pursued Lawyer Shen—and even needed my help with that. Now you’re acting all observant with me.”
Gu Qingyan shrugged. “Then tell me the details. I’ll help you out.”
“I have this friend…” Qingyi’s eyes drifted, not daring to look at Gu Qingyan.
“Mhmm, go on. I know it’s not you.”
“Yeah, it’s not me,” Qingyi took a sip of juice, trying to hide his guilt. “The person my friend is pursuing treats their relationship like some kind of game… doesn’t seem to take my friend seriously…”
While Qingyi was pouring his heart out to Gu Qingyan, Lu Jingcheng stared at his phone—the match had long ended, and there were no new messages on WeChat. His mood was complicated.
He pursed his lips, watching the team coach on screen repeatedly praise Qingyi during the post-match interview. A few seconds later, he closed the livestream, scrolled through his WeChat contacts, and after some thought, sent a message to Dr. Gao.
【Got a moment? Need to ask you something.】
Lu Jingcheng had two interns: Dr. Wang, a straightforward guy who wouldn’t be much help in this matter, and Dr. Gao, a smart and hardworking young woman. Because of Lu Jingcheng, she was also somewhat familiar with his sister, Lu Chengjing—the two often chatted about girl stuff.
Determined not to let his sister laugh at him, Lu Jingcheng hesitated but finally decided to consult an “expert” for targeted advice.
“Director Lu, you wanted to see me?”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s something personal,” Lu Jingcheng said warmly as he poured her a cup of tea. “Have a seat.”
The young woman was uneasy. “My dear director, whatever it is, just say it. Don’t treat me like this—it’s kind of scary.”
“Well, I have this friend,” Lu Jingcheng carefully chose his words, “who’s been having some troubles lately.”
He explained the situation, and Dr. Gao’s face clearly showed she thought he was full of it. It took her a moment to control her twitching lips. “Do you want to date that person or not?”
“Let me stress again—it’s my friend, not me.”
“Okay, fine. Does your friend want to date them or not?”
Lu Jingcheng hesitated. “Don’t you think dating someone from a different social class, where nothing matches up, would face a lot of obstacles? Besides, the other person was so direct right from the start—are they just fooling around?”
“Director, you’re a grown man—why are you so timid?” Dr. Gao facepalmed, unable to hold back. “You’re not lacking in any department—looks, education, figure… Why assume they’re just playing with you? Maybe it was love at first sight!”
“How could there be someone as… unambitious as your friend!”
“If the girl isn’t afraid, what are you scared of?” Dr. Gao spoke like a disappointed mentor. “I wish I could find a rich older sister—no such luck!”
“Worst-case scenario, even if it’s just fooling around, what have you got to lose? You’re a man—do what you need to do, treat the rich sister well, and that’s what matters!”
Lu Jingcheng covered his face. “What do you mean by ‘treat well’?”
“In every way, every aspect,” Dr. Gao said excitedly, patting Lu Jingcheng’s arm. “I know what you’re worried about—those TV dramas always show difficult rich parents, playboy heirs… but that’s when the pursuer is a guy. Your rich older sister is different.”
Lu Jingcheng fell silent. How could he explain that there was no “rich older sister,” only a young wealthy heir?
“Besides, I trust your character. You wouldn’t be the kind of guy who leads people on and doesn’t take responsibility, right? If you want to pursue them, then go for it! Take it slow—it’ll work out!”
Lu Jingcheng stayed quiet. According to a certain young heir, his esteemed mentor had already flirted with him—and he was the one being pursued.
He couldn’t help but rub his forehead. His dear student had managed to step on every single one of his sore points.
“My dear mentor,” Dr. Gao said, her eyes sparkling—she’d been reading too many CEO romances lately, “drop that reserved act and go chase true love!”
“Social class can be overcome, personality isn’t a barrier, gender isn’t an issue!”
In a way, she’d nailed every issue between them.
Lu Jingcheng: “But I already turned him down yesterday.”
“……” Dr. Gao was speechless. After a long pause, she said, “Is it too late to apologize profusely now?”
“He said he wants to seriously pursue me.”
“Damn! Where else can you find such a devoted rich sister?!”
Dr. Gao grew even more excited. She grabbed Lu Jingcheng’s hand and said with deep sincerity, “If you let this chance slip away, years from now you’ll look back full of regret, Director! You know what they say—’Bite back your words, get cysts in your ov*ries; take one step back, end up with lumps in your breasts!’”
“When you make it big someday, remember to introduce me to a rich second-gen in your circle.”
Lu Jingcheng: ……
He felt he should seriously reconsider Dr. Gao’s internship evaluation.
“So your advice is…”
“Go for it! Full speed ahead!”
“Actually, I think that person treats you pretty well,” on the other side, Gu Qingyan was also analyzing things for Qingyi. “They’ve done a lot quietly—taking care of you at the hospital. Besides, I get the feeling they’re just stubborn and in denial—all talk.”
“How so?” Qingyi glanced at Gu Qingyan.
“If they really had no feelings for you, why would they answer all your questions and give you everything you ask for?”
It was a wake-up call: “You’re right…”
“And compared to the minor celebrities you meet in the entertainment industry or those pro-gaming streamers, a doctor is practically a haloed profession. Your parents would definitely approve.”
“Marriage probably isn’t happening…” Qingyi muttered. “But thinking about it, they really are playing hard to get.”
“What do you mean?”
“Literally,” Qingyi chuckled softly. “Really hard to pursue—like, seriously. Honestly, I have no idea what they even think of me now.”
Gu Qingyan reassured him, “Don’t overthink it. Instead of sitting here guessing with me, why not actually talk things out with him properly?”
“Invite him to my place again?” Qingyi waved his hand dismissively. “No way. That’d just lower my impression score even more.”
Gu Qingyan refilled Qingyi’s glass. “Honestly, I really don’t think that’s the case. You should try asking him out again. If he agrees to meet up, then my guess is he’s just being stubborn and proud—whatever he says, probably take it the opposite way.”
“Hope you’re right,” Qingyi set his glass down on the coffee table. “But I still think the most likely scenario is that he was just having fun with me.”
“And when he realized I was serious, his good upbringing kicked in and he put on the brakes,” Qingyi added. “Now he’s completely turtling up—not making a move at all.”
“Even now you can’t help praising his manners… you’re something else, I swear,” Gu Qingyan mercilessly teased his friend.
Qingyi: ……
“Seems like you’ve made up your mind,” Gu Qingyan raised an eyebrow. “Need help? I do have experience chasing my dear Zhou.”
“No thanks, I’m not impressed by your skills anyway.” Qingyi was too tired to keep up the “asking for a friend” pretense—they both knew exactly who they were talking about.
Gu Qingyan lifted his glass. “Well then, good luck.”
Qingyi picked up his glass, clinked it against Gu Qingyan’s, and downed it in one go.
So he’s turtling, huh?
Over all these years, what I’ve excelled at most is diving under the tower for a kill.
My kill count ranks in the top five in the entire league—I’m a freaking beast.
When leaving Gu Qingyan’s villa, Qingyi made a special request: “When your new movie comes out, save me two tickets to the premiere. I’ll need them.”
Gu Qingyan, always willing to help, said, “Why not make a cameo? I can get you a role that fits your image.”
“Sure, why not.”
Eventually, Gu Qingyan couldn’t hold back anymore and cautiously asked: “One more thing… are you the top or the bottom?”
Qingyi turned around confidently: “Are you kidding? I’m the alpha in the league—you think some doctor can pin me down?”
Gu Qingyan stared expressionlessly.
Alright, noted. Flag officially raised.
Lu Jingcheng had been busy all afternoon—seeing patients, making rounds, assigning tasks to his two interns, especially the one with the wild imagination.
If she had time to read so many CEO romance novels, she clearly didn’t have enough work.
Fortunately, luck was on his side today. Everything proceeded smoothly, and no emergencies popped up near the end of his shift.
Right on time, Lu Jingcheng shut down his computer, changed, and left—all in one seamless motion.
On the escalator, he scrolled through group messages and then glanced at a certain someone’s WeChat.
Still no new notifications.
No updates on their Moments either.
That same hollow feeling from last night returned. Lu Jingcheng felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
The escalator soon reached the first floor. Lu Jingcheng stepped out of the inpatient building—but the moment he passed through the doors, he froze.
The sun hadn’t fully set yet, and the evening glow fell on the figure in front of him, stretching their shadow long.
Qingyi had just reached the steps of the inpatient building. He was still wearing his team jersey from the afternoon. When he looked up, his eyes met Lu Jingcheng’s.
“Well, what a coincidence,” Lu Jingcheng greeted with a smile.
“Not really a coincidence. I came here to find you.”
Qingyi took two steps closer. Though his tone was light, he was following Gu Qingyan’s advice.
He reached out and straightened Lu Jingcheng’s collar, which had been tucked inside out: “Weren’t you asking me to dinner this morning? Does that offer still stand?”
“……”
When Lu Jingcheng didn’t respond, Qingyi wasn’t annoyed. He leaned in a little closer.
“Remember what I said the other day? About what I’ve relied on all these years in the league?”
“What?”
Qingyi moved his face closer to Lu Jingcheng’s, his smile growing more provocative—
“Perseverance.”