The Stars In Your Eyes

December 25th

Jian Kang Lu woke up with a pain throbbing inside his head, hammered from inside. He raised his hand and massaged his forehead. He tried to open his eyes, focusing his sight to the things surrounding him. He saw his own bedroom, the sun rays peeked from behind the curtain. 

His memory was hazy, but he still remembers. No matter how drunk Jian Kang Lu was, he was not a person that would forget what he did when he was drunk. He remembers, but sometimes can't control what he does. And he remembered he could not even walk after the dinner party. Slumped like a dead trunk.

Last night they had Christmas Eve's dinner, and also celebrated their colleague Lai Chin Ping promoted from associate to full professor. The bad news is, Professor Lin Hsing Hun also attended the dinner.

It was rare for Prof Lin coming to Christmas Eve's dinner. He's a real prodigy in the medical field. Prof Lin was number one in his class, also being number one when he took nephrology specialist qualification. His research is massive, acknowledged in the whole world. He was also the last living person who attended the first successful kidney transplantation in their country.

The problem with this 71 year old Prof Lin is his weird hobby. It's so famous that all the doctors will try to run away once they see his figure at the dinner party. Every genius has their own unique trait and habit that normal people won't understand. And Prof Lin's hobby is to make people drink.

Drink until wasted.

The rumours said that the hospital deliberately halt every dinner party invitation to Prof Lin, preventing their doctors absent in the next day because the victim could not get up from Prof Lin's torture in the night before.

So who is the culprit that leaked the information to Prof Lin this year???

The resident and the junior doctors's forehead were sweating profusely. They hurriedly shoved the most junior members to stand in front of them. These juniors are idiot lambs who only know Prof Lin's achievement. So they stand proudly, staring at awe towards Prof Lin. For them, meeting Prof Lin the living legend is such an honour.

Yes it was an honour, but not when you meet him at the dinner party. 

"Chin Ping! Congratulations! You're such a promising young star. How old are you now? Remind this old man."

This poor Lai Chin Ping is a charismatic and wise nephrologist. It was not even necessary to list his achievement. Such a rare thing to see a man below 50 year old become a full professor. He also has this kind of aura that makes people like to listen to him.

But in front of Prof Lin, there's no trace of his authority left. In front of Prof Lin, all of them are just shitty little brat. Even Prof Kang Wen, their department's head, slickly slipped away and saved himself in no time. This is what they called veteran. 

Prof Kang Wen was a two timed victim, dead just from four glasses of beer. Because of his lame drinking ability, he was mocked by Prof Lin every time they met. There's no way he allowed himself to become a victim for the third time.

Lai Chin Ping desperately needed to save himself. With him becoming the center of attention, it's easy to predict he will become this year's victim. His eyes glared, shot the sign for his junior preparing the sacrificial lamb, replace him to become Prof Lin's victim. His juniors react swiftly, shoving their most junior resident who stares at Prof Lin still with awe and sweating. Nervous to see their idol.

Zhao Yang as the junior member in the nephrology department introduces their newest member, and also their residents to Prof Lin. Prof Lin looked at them with sparkling eyes, and questioned them one by one.

"What is your name? Where do you graduate from? Why did you choose internal medicine? Oh you're interested in nephrology, why?"

It was simple questions which they answered when they interviewed to become residents. So they answer honestly, politely.

"Drink, drink! We as doctors didn't drink often. Bad for your health. But we as humans need to enjoy our life. And alcohol will bring out your natural instinct. Can you explain to me what happens to your brain when you are drunk?"

These sacrificial lambs were not neurologist residents, they didn't quite remember which part of the brain and which neurotransmitter affected. One of them bravely answered.

"It will release dopamine and increase the effect of inhibitory transmitter GABA. It also has the effect on the excitatory NMDA and non-NMDA channels, as well as the subtype of serotonin receptors."

Prof Lin nodded his head, "You're not wrong. Your answer is better compared to this stiff man next to you." Prof Lin pointed his finger to Zhao Yang, who tried to stand as far as he could from Prof Lin. He was shuddered, remembering the year when he became the sacrificial lamb.

"But what I admire from the alcohol effect on our brain is how it affects our frontal lobe. In short, they will make you more honest with your natural instinct. Very interesting."

Oh God, this is why all of the senior doctors are already runaway. They can't leave the room, in fear if Prof Lin decides to remember their name and calls them. But they definitely will stay out of Prof Lin's sight.

Prof Lin grinned, "Who is the most annoying consultant here, in your opinion?"

Who dares to answer that question. They hurriedly answered that they love all their superior, and how lucky for them that they could study under these marvellous doctors in the best kidney hospital in the country.

Prof Lin nodded his head, "Yes yes, i can see your frontal lobe still intact. Come, drink again."

Thirty minutes later, these sacrificial lambs start to get tipsy. Their faces start to redden from the blood vessels vasodilatation in their skin.

"Chin Ping, why do you stand so far away? You're the star of this party, not me. Come here, sit next to me. Come come, don't be shy. Drink for me."

Lai Chin Ping sweating, but he could not say no. So he dragged Jian Kang Lu with him. This man is the social butterfly of their nephrology department. Jian Kang Lu was a two time victim already. But this man can hold his liquor much better compared to them, who already tipsy from three glasses of beer. When Jian Kang Lu drinks, prof Lin will focus on him to make him drink more. That way, Jian Kang Lu could save more members of their department from devastated death.

Jian Kang Lu was also sweating, he just wants to go home early, and hug his kitten. He admits that he was mad, and still sad from that awful Christmas dinner last Saturday. But when he arrived at this hotel for the dinner party, he saw Zhang Min in the entrance, and remembered that he needed to cherish what he has right now. 

If he keeps acting like a jerk, then maybe his kitten will truly leave him. Suffocated with his jealousy. Jian Kang Lu doesn't want to fight anymore with his kitten. He just wanted to go home, hug his kitten, and said that he loved him more than anything in the world. He doesn't want to lose his kitten.

Last time he became the victim was four years ago. It was also the last time Prof Lin attended a dinner party. But at that time Jian Kang Lu was also in a sad state and didn't mind drinking until he was wasted.

"Oh, Kang Lu! My favourite boy. Come come, this old man missed you so much. How's life? Still haven't found the right one?"

"Hello Prof Lin. I'm good as always. But I have to say you looked even younger compared to the last time we met two months ago at the conference."

"Naughty boy, just say that you don't want to answer my annoying questions. Come, drink for me then if you don't want to answer."

For Jian Kang Lu, Prof Lin doesn't want to waste the beer. He straightly asked for Baijiu. This sorghum based liquor contains alcohol greater than 30%. After a few glasses, Prof Lin suddenly looked at the sacrificial lambs in front of him.

"Come, you guys also drink." 

Ten minutes later these lambs eyes are unfocused from the baijiu's effect. Prof Lin's evil grin was visibly shown on his face.

"I guess my previous question was not polite. Then let me ask you a different question, and you have to answer honestly. Who is your favourite consultant?"

These pure lambs who are already drunk, try so hard to sober their minds. It's even hard to stand properly. They answered in slurred speech.

"Doctor Jian."

Prof Lin smiled to hear them answered in unison. They all mention the same name. No wonder, he himself also liked this bright and diligent man. Too bad he doesn't have greater ambition. If he had and asked for his help, Jian Kang Lu surely could become a full professor quicker compared to this Lai Chin Ping.

Jian Kang Lu never felt that he wanted to strangle all his juniors like he desired right now. Why on earth they said that in this unfortunate time. He sighed. It was not their fault, this is the first time for them to taste Prof Lin's ultimate 'kindness'. Well, start from tomorrow they'll know.

"Well well well, I can see now you start being honest to this old man. You guys make me so happy. Kang Lu, drink more. Maybe we need a yearly award and let these young people honestly vote for the best consultant in our department. Eh, why only drink half, let me pour again for you. I want to see you finish it this time. Can you do that to entertain this poor old man?"

How could Jian Kang Lu run away in this situation? Lai Chin Ping wiped his sweat, it seems he was saved. Previously he was already texting his wife, preparing for a devastating death that will fall upon him. He slipped away to the corner, not letting Prof Lin to remember that tonight they celebrate his promotion. He looked at Jian Kang Lu from faraway with pity. He will treat Jian Kang Lu tomorrow and promote him to be one of the main speakers in the next conference.

Jian Kang Lu didn't even remember how many glasses he drank. But he remembers Prof Lin still asking him about his research to check his consciousness state. And he remembered he slipped his tongue, saying that he already has a lover now when Prof Lin wants to introduce him to his 29 year old niece.

He remembered he can't even stand again, sits like a statue in his chair. Try to focus his gaze and fight the urge to throw up. 

He remembered how he could not hold up, and ran with his jelly legs to the bathroom.

He remembered he tried to wash his face with cold water, but no use. 

He remembered his colleague saved him in the bathroom, wants to send him home.

He remembered, his colleague summoned Zhang Min and asked him to send Jian Kang Lu home. Since all of them know that they were best friends. Inseparable, before Zhang Min finally tied the knot.

Jian Kang Lu wants to refuse, better for his resident to bring him home. He doesn't want his kitten to see Zhang Min bring him home in this state. But no words could be heard, for every time he opened his mouth, he puked again.

And he remembered Zhang Min's voice lingered in the air when he said, "Don't worry, I'll take this dead trunk home safely. Just make sure you guys take care of his car."