With a tragic heart and heavy steps, Yu Tian returned to the entrance of room 203.

Song Chunxiang had been waiting eagerly at the door. Seeing Yu Tian emerge from the adjacent private room, she asked in puzzlement: “How did you come out of 204? Did you go to the wrong room?”

Yu Tian hesitated, reluctant to enter: “Mom, maybe I shouldn’t go in after all…”

“What are you saying, child?” Song Chunxiang’s face showed something resembling embarrassment as she lowered her voice: “He looks quite good, and he takes this meeting very seriously. His son just finished a night shift, and he was afraid his son would be late if he went home to rest first, so he insisted he come directly half an hour early…”

“…” So she definitely couldn’t appear now…

Yu Tian made a weak, dying struggle: “Why don’t you just tell them you’re a widowed single woman with no children? That would make remarriage more convenient…”

Song Chunxiang glared with wide eyes and gave Yu Tian a firm slap: “I already told them I have a daughter!”

“Then say your daughter recently died too…”

“What are you saying, you silly child?!”

Yu Tian’s mother had always been decisive. Before Yu Tian could explain the stakes involved, she had already pushed open the door and forcefully shoved Yu Tian inside, saying with a bright smile: “My daughter Yu Tian went to the wrong room earlier and was waiting next door, but she arrived early too!”

Yu Tian had no choice but to enter room 203 again.

Someone had opened a window, and when a breeze passed through, the camphor leaves by the window began dancing and jostling against each other as if finding their rhythm, making rustling sounds among the cicadas’ chorus. Like butterflies spreading their wings, green and refracting sunlight from different angles, they brought fresh air currents and also carried in the summer heat from outside.

The wind tousled Yu Tian’s hair and lifted her skirt hem.

Yu Tian tried somewhat frantically and awkwardly to steady her blown hair and skirt.

Her mood was also swept up by the wind, leaving her feeling unsettled and displaced.

The man from before still sat in his original position, composed and aloof, unmoved by Yu Tian’s reappearance.

Yu Tian saw him only slightly lift his eyelids, cast her an indifferent glance, then look toward the window where the wind was coming from.

Compared to his coldness, the middle-aged man beside him was much more enthusiastic.

Almost the moment he saw Yu Tian, he instinctively straightened his clothes and stood up: “Hello, Xiao Yu. Your mother showed us your photos together before—you’re even prettier than in the pictures!”

Yu Tian glanced at the person beside the middle-aged man. So her mother had shown them her photos, which explained why the man across from her could call her by name when he saw her, leading to all the misunderstandings that made Yu Tian mistake him for her blind date.

The middle-aged man in front of her smiled warmly: “I forgot to introduce myself—I’m Yan Wenhua. Just call me Uncle Yan.”

Indeed, as Song Chunxiang had said, Yan Wenhua was well-maintained with no beer belly and thick hair. Although his appearance was also good, if he were A-level, his son was S-level. Fortunately, he was similarly tall, and for his age, his condition made him outstanding among his peers.

Yu Tian forced herself to show an obedient smile: “Hello, Uncle Yan!”

Yan Wenhua smiled in acknowledgment, then glanced at the person beside him, who was not focused, and cleared his throat slightly.

Only then did the man who had been sitting and staring out the window turn his head. He didn’t stand up or extend his hand, merely spoke two words concisely.

“Yan Ming.”

Yan Ming?

Yu Tian froze.

Yan Wenhua seemed somewhat embarrassed and explained: “Yan Ming just finished a night shift—he’s a bit tired and confused right now…”

Although there wasn’t a trace of fatigue or confusion in Yan Ming’s eyes, Yu Tian had no time to delve into these details.

She only heard that he had just finished a night shift and rushed over…

So could it be…

Yu Tian’s heart began beating violently.

She stared at his face, her voice trembling slightly: “Yan as in ‘language,’ Ming as in ‘motto’?”

His voice was indifferent with a trace of laziness: “Mm.”

“…” Yu Tian persisted unwillingly: “Are… are you a doctor?”

Yan Ming toyed with the teacup on the table and nodded casually: “Mm, yes.”

“…”

If it were possible, Yu Tian believed she would spare no cost to travel back in time and eliminate herself from half an hour ago.

This was Yan Ming!

That Yan Ming!

Yu Tian instinctively used her left hand to touch the scars on her right hand. Her fingers, which had become slow and numb from injury, were also trembling slightly at this moment.

Yu Tian’s heart was filled with indescribable embarrassment, nervousness, and some fleeting feelings of relief and excitement.

Her mother was actually on a blind date with Yan Ming’s father!

That meant she and Yan Ming might become family!

And what had she just done!

Yu Tian’s face alternated between pale and red, but Song Chunxiang was completely unaware, currently huddled with Yan Wenhua, looking at the menu and ordering food, paying no attention to Yu Tian and Yan Ming.

Though she was never a quiet, introverted person, at this moment, facing Yan Ming, Yu Tian felt a sense of being close to home, yet timid about it. She seemed like a mermaid who had traded her voice for legs, having exchanged the luck of meeting Yan Ming only to have the gods confiscate her mouth, losing her ability to speak forever.

Yu Tian’s face flushed bright red, her left hand unconsciously gripping the edge of her skirt.

She became helpless and slow, her mind like a sluggish, rusted machine unable to function.

Only the cicadas outside the window were unafraid of the current awkward silence, singing wantonly.

The private room had sufficient air conditioning, yet Yu Tian felt heat steaming from her entire body. Just as she was in a daze, feeling she might evaporate into the air like the steam from Yan Ming’s teacup, Yan Ming lazily lifted his head.

“Pretty fast—you changed clothes so quickly.”

“…”

He smiled slightly: “Weren’t you dressed quite coolly just now? It’s almost noon, and the temperature has risen—why are you wearing more and more?”

Yu Tian looked at her current modest-style dress and still brazened it out to explain: “This might be what they call kidney deficiency…”

She secretly glanced at Yan Ming and added: “Kidney yang deficiency.”

Kidney yang deficiency causes fear of cold, while kidney yin deficiency causes irritable heat.

Very good, very meticulous.

Facing Yan Ming, Yu Tian unconsciously had the serious preparation of an elementary student facing final exams.

However, Yan Ming didn’t care. He just smiled casually and lazily: “What about your cat? Wasn’t it having a difficult labor?”

“…” Yu Tian’s heart was collapsing, but her face became increasingly calm: “I just discovered it wasn’t difficult labor.”

Yan Ming looked at Yu Tian expressionlessly.

Yu Tian felt uneasy. Staying quiet and changing the subject would be the best strategy, but the more nervous she became, the more she wanted to explain and salvage his bad impression of her.

“It was because it ate too much and got fat, so it was mistaken for being pregnant. It was just constipated, but seeing it struggling, I thought it was difficult labor…”

Unfortunately, just as Yu Tian was secretly praising her quick wit, Song Chunxiang seemed to catch some key words and turned her head.

She looked at Yu Tian with confusion, saying slowly: “You don’t have a cat. Aren’t you allergic to cat fur?”

“…”

Yu Tian no longer knew how to manage her facial expressions to get through this safely. She bit her lip hard and simply stopped talking, feeling so helpless that her entire existence seemed superfluous.

In the face of enormous embarrassment, people’s self-protection mechanisms actually make all reactions slower by a beat or two.

Yu Tian’s self retreated into the shell of her consciousness, wrapping her heart—which felt like it was being deep-fried—in numb coating.

She decided to ignore Yan Ming’s mocking noncommittal expression across from her.

Yu Tian had originally hoped the Yan Ming before her was that Yan Ming, but now her heart gave birth to a bit of wishful thinking and prayer, hoping this was just a stranger who happened to share the same name and profession.

There were so many Yan Mings in all of Rong City, it wasn’t necessarily…

However, this expectation, as ephemeral as bubbles bursting when opening a cola, was quickly punctured by reality.

After ordering food, Yan Wenhua enthusiastically began introducing his son’s situation.

“Our Yan Ming is a bit quiet and doesn’t talk much, but he’s quite decisive. He skipped several grades in middle and high school, was admitted to Rong City Medical University at sixteen, completed eight years of undergraduate through doctoral studies, and now, at twenty-eight, he’s already been working in the ophthalmology department at Rong City First Affiliated Hospital for four years.”

It was him…

In countless days and nights, Yan Ming’s resume had been posted in front of Yu Tian’s desk, accompanying her through every tired but still studious night.

Yu Tian’s heart was like a lemon soaked in honey, though surrounded by the sweet atmosphere of dreams coming true, it couldn’t dissolve the sour, swollen feeling inside her.

Yan Wenhua was very proud of Yan Ming: “If you ever have any eye problems in the future, just find him!”

Yu Tian wanted to remind her mother, but it was too late.

“What a coincidence! Our Xiao Yu also graduated from Rong City Medical University!”

Yan Wenhua became interested: “Xiao Yu is at the age of undergraduate graduation, right? Are you planning to continue your studies or go directly to hospital residency training? If you have any questions, you can ask Yan Ming. What fate—he’s your senior!”

Mentioning graduation from Rong City Medical University, even the previously indifferent Yan Ming looked up at Yu Tian with some surprise.

This was the encounter Yu Tian had dreamed of so many times.

However… it wasn’t the right time.

Song Chunxiang’s face showed some regret and heartache.

Fortunately, before she could speak, Yu Tian grabbed the conversation: “I’m not planning to continue my studies or go to the hospital.”

Yan Wenhua looked puzzled.

“I’m planning to change careers, start my own business, and do social media.” Yu Tian smiled, showing her dimples, her voice light and expression playful. “Studying medicine is too tiring for girls—I’d rather have something more relaxed.”

“That’s true.” Yan Wenhua chuckled. “Yan Ming is busy to death and still doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”

Yan Ming lifted his eyelids, his lips flat, but he didn’t refute.

Fortunately, the topic was quickly moved past.

After all, this was Song Chunxiang and Yan Wenhua’s blind date. The two chatted happily, and the atmosphere was quite good.

Yan Wenhua was quite taken with Song Chunxiang. After the meal, he even invited her to see a newly released art film at the nearby cinema.

Unfortunately, Yu Tian’s mother wasn’t very interested in art films and expressed wanting to visit the newly opened outdoor market nearby. Upon hearing this, Yan Wenhua immediately agreed cheerfully to accompany her.

He stuffed the movie tickets into Yan Ming’s hands: “You have nothing to do this afternoon anyway—don’t waste the tickets. Take Xiao Yu to see it, and after the movie, take Xiao Yu home, understand?”

Yan Ming glanced at the tickets, then his eyelashes trembled slightly as he cast Yu Tian a casual glance.

Yu Tian thought he would decline, but unexpectedly, he took the tickets.

“Mm.”

Yan Wenhua left first with Song Chunxiang.

Yan Ming went to pay the bill.

Yu Tian stood not far away, waiting, watching the tall, handsome man at the cashier, finally gradually gaining some sense of reality in her heart.

Her heart began beating violently again, beyond her control.

Yu Tian couldn’t help herself—she still took out her phone and secretly photographed Yan Ming’s profile, sending it to Qi Sihao.

Qi Sihao replied almost instantly: “? You’ve taken a fancy to him?”

“He does look pretty good, barely on par with me.” This guy replied frivolously. “I approve of this marriage!”

Yu Tian’s mood improved somewhat. She smiled and sent: “Stop talking nonsense and kneel to kowtow.”

“?”

Yu Tian played coy: “Do you know who this is?”

Qi Sihao sent a stunned emoji: “You’re my opposite-sex brother, so someone who’d make even me kneel in terms of seniority… could it be your future father?”

“…”

Yu Tian’s speechlessness only deepened Qi Sihao’s conviction: “This is your mom’s blind date? So young? Xiao Yu, confess honestly—did your family recently win the lottery and get rich without telling me? Has money corrupted your values, making even honest Aunt Song start dating young pretty boys after becoming wealthy?”

“…”

Yu Tian felt the story of Mencius’s mother moving three times was indeed worth emulating, because if Song Chunxiang had moved earlier, she wouldn’t have known this neighbor Qi Sihao.

“This is Yan Ming!”

“???” Now Qi Sihao indeed sent a string of shocked emojis.

“This guy who looks like a male model is Emperor Yan?”

Yu Tian felt somewhat proud: “Of course!”

Yan Ming was a legend at Rong City Medical University. As Yan Wenhua had said, he entered school at sixteen, graduated after eight years of undergraduate through doctoral studies, always ranked first in grades, excelled in both theory and practice, and after entering the hospital, he fought his way through to become the youngest attending physician. Several delicate major eye surgeries he performed almost became teaching material templates.

Medical school undergraduate programs last five years. Yu Tian and Qi Sihao were exactly five years behind Yan Ming. When they first entered school, Yan Ming had already entered graduate studies and was mostly rotating in hospitals, no longer appearing at school.

The two constantly heard legends about Yan Ming from their teachers’ mouths and saw Yan Ming’s golden, otherworldly resume in the school bulletin boards, but neither had seen Yan Ming in person, much less seen his photos.

While worshiping him, Qi Sihao couldn’t help being a bit sour: “Didn’t they say Emperor Yan doesn’t like taking photos and usually doesn’t leave any pictures? I thought it was because he was ugly—after all, a man would only be free from romantic distractions if he was ugly enough to focus on studies and reach his level. Unlike me, who’s quite good-looking…”

Yu Tian scoffed at Qi Sihao’s remarks: “Don’t flatter yourself! My idol doesn’t avoid photos because he’s ugly—he’s the most virtuous and talented person in the world! He’s probably just a hundred times better looking than you!”

Accurately speaking, Yan Ming hadn’t left any photos at Rong Medical University.

He left behind legends at school, and also a nickname—Emperor Yan.

During finals, superstitious activities of worshiping the Emperor Yan for exam success would become popular.

Therefore, the ID photo Yan Ming left on the school bulletin board had long ago been stolen by some student hoping to cheat their way through exams, leaving only an empty photo slot.

Yu Tian hadn’t thought much of it before, but now she hated whoever stole that photo.

If only she had known what Yan Ming looked like earlier, would she have made such a fool of herself?

After briefly describing how she came to meet Yan Ming, Yu Tian put on a fierce expression and made her closing statement in the chat:

“I’m no longer your opposite-sex brother, and don’t call me Xiao Yu so casually anymore. After my mom and his dad remarried, Yan Ming became my older brother. He’s Emperor Yan, so I’ll be the princess!”

Yu Tian sent Qi Sihao more messages about how she would be beyond his reach in the future and suggested he flatter her more now, before finally putting away her phone.

Yan Ming finished paying and was walking back toward her.

He still appeared very cold, glancing at Yu Tian.

“Let’s go.”

Because of her idol filter, Yu Tian didn’t care about Yan Ming’s coldness at all, just followed him with inner excitement and nervous anticipation.