Among the invited interns, only Ryan Bolton was a medical school student, and yet Sophie Harris insisted on walking with this medical school student. Unconsciously, the group split into three factions: John Green and Megan Clark went ahead to order food, the other three male students walked in front with David Brooks at the center, while Sophie Harris and Ryan Bolton lagged behind. Ryan Bolton quietly reminded Sophie Harris, “There’s something I’m not sure if I should say.”

Sophie Harris was already used to Ryan Bolton’s half-formal, half-casual way of speaking, and smiled, “Go ahead, better to say it than hold it in and get sick!”

Ryan Bolton said in a low voice, “That girl Megan Clark is acting a bit strange. You’d better be careful.”

Sophie Harris couldn’t help but laugh. She knew Megan Clark’s usual behavior well. The reason Megan Clark stuck so close to her was, in no small part, because she hoped for help with assignments. As for John Green knowing her personal information, it was almost certainly Megan Clark who had leaked it. Sophie Harris had long since figured this out, but sometimes pointing things out just made them less interesting. There are many kinds of friends. Born into an official’s family, she had learned some principles of dealing with people from her relatives since childhood: neither too close nor too distant, keeping an appropriate distance is the right way to maintain friendships. If someone had spoken ill of Megan Clark in front of her under normal circumstances, she would have thought that person was stirring up trouble. But after witnessing Ryan Bolton’s miraculous actions tonight, she didn’t think much of it, and took Ryan Bolton’s warning as a gesture of goodwill. “Thank you!” Sophie Harris’s expression was calm, and compared to her twenty-two years of age, her demeanor was much more mature.

The direct impression Ryan Bolton got was that this girl was very shrewd—maybe she didn’t need his reminder at all.

Erbu Street Night Market was very famous in Chunyang County. In the early 1990s, nightlife here was limited to eating at the night market and watching movies—really quite monotonous.

John Green chose to sit at Lao Li’s Clay Pot, the busiest place in the night market. There were eight of them in total, and the owner had a worker push two small tables together. Because Sophie Harris was present, John Green acted especially generous, ordering four meat and four vegetable clay pots, plus two cold dishes—peanuts and fried small fish—filling the small tables to the brim.

Most of the interns were tactful enough not to sit on the bench to John Green’s right; that seat was clearly reserved for Sophie Harris. Sophie Harris looked at the two empty seats left, but didn’t sit down right away. Unexpectedly, Ryan Bolton, the medical school intern, sat down next to John Green without a hint of awareness, and even said annoyingly, “What a feast!”

Sophie Harris sat down next to Ryan Bolton. None of the other interns could figure out why Sophie Harris was favoring this intern so much tonight. In John Green’s view, Sophie Harris was deliberately using Ryan Bolton as her shield. What was infuriating was that this medical school student was so oblivious—couldn’t he see the teacher was displeased?

John Green was quite annoyed and waved for two bottles of Red Star Erguotou.

The interns with David Brooks hurriedly waved their hands and said, “Teacher Gao, we don’t drink!” In fact, these guys had already been tested by alcohol back in college.

John Green laughed, “Actually, I’m not much older than you. In the hospital, you call me Teacher Gao, but outside, you can call me John, or just John Green. Who knows, maybe next year we’ll be colleagues!”

The owner brought over eight glass cups. John Green ordered two cans of cola for the two girls, then started pouring liquor into the glasses. “Thanks to all of you today. You’re the best group of interns I’ve ever supervised—well, most of you, anyway!”

Ryan Bolton knew full well that John Green was putting him in the minority, but showed no reaction. He picked up a piece of pork intestine with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth. “Delicious!” This guy really had no manners, and his arrogant attitude was clearly a counterattack against Teacher Gao.

John Green cursed him inwardly for being disrespectful, but sitting in the teacher’s seat, he had to put on a show of magnanimity. He raised his glass, “Come on, everyone’s worked hard. Let’s drink to our friendship!”

Whether in his past or present life, Ryan Bolton had never been one to shy away from drinking. He opened his mouth and downed more than half a glass of Erguotou in one go—about a hundred milliliters! For a moment, everyone’s eyes were fixed on him. Ryan Bolton seemed completely unaware, calmly picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth, chewing it with relish. No one else had finished their drink. Ryan Bolton looked around in surprise, “Weren’t we supposed to drink up? I already finished mine first out of respect. John Green, you were the one who suggested it!”

John Green sat there holding his half-full glass, stunned. He had suggested a toast, but hadn’t meant for everyone to down it in one go. Damn, this was 56-proof Erguotou! This guy could really hold his liquor. And I’m still your teacher, yet you call me by my name? But then again, I was the one who told them to call me that, so who can I blame? John Green’s original intention was to show Sophie Harris that he was her peer, but instead, Ryan Bolton had turned the tables on him.

Hearing Ryan Bolton’s words, all the interns turned their eyes to John Green. In their minds, John Green was the strong one. For someone to openly challenge the strong, regardless of right or wrong, that kind of courage was worthy of admiration.