No matter what, even if Yan Ming was providing cover, the instigator who did wrong was ultimately the perpetrator, Yan Wenhua.

Yu Tian also knew her behavior wasn’t quite right, but people tend to be protective, and thinking about the harm her mother would suffer because of this, once emotions took over, Yu Tian found it hard to control herself and act restrained and reasonable—she still couldn’t help but transfer her anger to Yan Ming.

But one thing was one thing. Yan Wenhua’s cheating and Yan Ming’s cover-up should be criticized, but being caught red-handed talking behind someone’s back also warrants an apology and treating them to dinner.

After eating, once she apologized for what had just happened, she wouldn’t owe Yan Ming anything. As for other matters, whatever Yan Ming and Yan Wenhua did wrong would be settled separately.

Yu Tian had eaten with Yan Ming several times and walked alongside him several times, but this time, walking side by side with Yan Ming again, the atmosphere was much more awkward.

Yan Ming seemed very natural, but Yu Tian couldn’t maintain such a steady mindset.

Fortunately, Yan Ming didn’t seem to intend to make things difficult for Yu Tian. He chose an affordable seafood restaurant and walked in with Yu Tian.

Not long after Yu Tian was seated, she realized it was good they came early, because moments later, the restaurant became increasingly crowded, and soon the waiting seats by the entrance were all occupied.

Though affordable, the restaurant had a nice environment. An entire wall was embedded with fish tanks where customers could personally select fresh fish, shrimp, and shellfish for the kitchen to cook.

“I don’t have any other thoughts about Gao Mei. You don’t need to worry or eliminate competition like that.”

Yan Ming launched his “attack” while flipping through the menu. His tone was calm, his pale fingers turning the menu pages—what should have been a beautiful scene, yet Yu Tian felt he was plucking at her already chaotic heartstrings.

Ah this…

Had her motivation to undermine Yan Ming to eliminate competition for Qi Sihao been seen through so quickly…

Yu Tian carefully looked up at Yan Ming: “Aren’t you angry then?”

Yan Ming moved his gaze from the menu to look into Yu Tian’s eyes: “Would my anger be useful?”

Indeed, it wouldn’t be useful, but could she be blamed for this?

Wasn’t this because Yan Ming and Yan Wenhua broke their word first?

At this point, Yu Tian didn’t want to be subtle anymore. She decided to have an honest talk with Yan Ming.

“About badmouthing you—I apologize, that was wrong of me. But since you brought it up, why don’t we take this opportunity to lay everything out in the open?”

But for some reason, after Yu Tian said this, Yan Ming, across from her, showed a somewhat complex expression. His gaze drifted further away: “Are you sure you want to talk about this now? If you force me to give you an answer now, I’m afraid I’m not prepared yet.”

Yu Tian was so frustrated that she was speechless.

How could he not be prepared?

What, not prepared to find some excuse to brush her off?

“What’s there to not be prepared for…”

But just as Yu Tian was about to righteously rebuke Yan Ming, her gaze swept across and saw the restaurant’s front door being pushed open. A middle-aged man and woman walked in holding hands, and that woman…

Her profile looked like her mother’s!

Yu Tian was about to marvel at the resemblance when the person turned around, and Yu Tian realized it wasn’t just similar to her mother—it was her mother!

After the two-day short trip, her mother would indeed return today. Since a friend was picking her up, Yu Tian had only called her in the afternoon to confirm she had safely met up with her friend. According to Ms. Song Chunxiang, she also had plans with the friend who was picking her up tonight, so Yu Tian felt reassured.

But no matter what, Yu Tian never expected to encounter her mother here.

After being stunned for a second, Yu Tian’s gaze fixed on the hands her mother and the strange man were holding.

She obviously wasn’t here with a friend… or rather, her companion was definitely not just a friend…

Moreover, it wasn’t Yan Wenhua, nor any of Yu Tian’s family relatives, but truly a complete stranger who had never appeared in Yu Tian and her mother’s social circle before.

And their interlocked fingers indicated their relationship.

Yu Tian’s heart was in chaos.

But her mother and the man were talking and laughing, obviously very intimate. Their eye contact was completely like a couple’s, but…

Fortunately, Yan Ming’s position faced away from the entrance, and he hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

Yu Tian nervously watched Ms. Song Chunxiang and her male companion. The two were obviously quite interested in this seafood restaurant, browsing the menu at the front entrance, then joining the end of the waiting queue. It seemed they were determined to dine at this restaurant.

This was terrible!

This was the end!

Yu Tian felt this was utterly ridiculous.

It seemed that not only was Yan Wenhua cheating!

Her mother was cheating too!

Both of them were having affairs!

Yu Tian had never expected in her lifetime to witness her own mother’s cheating scene. Her heart was in turmoil, with various chaotic thoughts tangled together, leaving her unable to think clearly.

Did Yan Wenhua cheat first, and her mother was cheating in retaliation? Or had they agreed to the currently popular open relationship? Was that why Yan Ming was so nonchalant about it?

Yu Tian couldn’t figure it out and had no time to react. Her instinct had only one thought—now wasn’t a good time for Yan Ming to find out. She needed to calm down first, figure out the facts, and then plan her next move.

She would talk to her mother properly first, find out what was really going on, then distinguish right from wrong and take respective responsibility.

At this moment, if Yan Ming saw this scene, it would be too awkward.

Even if they broke up, they should at least break up with dignity!

Just as when Yu Tian saw Yan Wenhua cheating, she wouldn’t directly rush out to “catch them in the act” and confront them. In modern society, people value civility and tact. Even breakups should be handled with grace. Now wasn’t the time for Yan Ming to see her mother.

However, perhaps because waiting was too boring, Ms. Song Chunxiang pulled her male companion’s hand and walked around to the glass fish tank wall, staring at the fish inside to make selections first.

Originally, Yan Ming couldn’t see them, but with this movement, Yan Ming only needed to look up and slightly to the left front to see them.

“Do you have any dietary restrictions? What would you like to eat…”

At the critical moment, just as Yan Ming looked up, Yu Tian slightly rose from her seat and forcefully embraced Yan Ming’s head with her hand, pressing his head toward the glass fish tank wall on the right side.

In her panic, Yu Tian pretended to enthusiastically ask him to look at the fish in the tank: “Brother Yan Ming! Look!”

A few seconds’ difference was enough to save an irreparable encounter.

Due to her quick thinking, Yan Ming’s gaze successfully missed Song Chunxiang walking past them.

Yu Tian watched her mother pull her male companion back to sit in the waiting area and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But this relief was quickly raised again.

Having solved the previous trouble, when Yu Tian finally came to her senses, she realized she had fallen into new trouble—

In her urgency and lack of thorough consideration, her hand was still pressed against the back of Yan Ming’s head.

And due to her impulsive haste, Yan Ming’s face had been pressed almost against her face.

Yu Tian did not doubt that if she lost her balance slightly, her nose tip might very well bump into Yan Ming’s.

But compared to her panic and helplessness, Yan Ming’s eyes were perceptive and calm.

He didn’t even struggle, just maintained his original distance and posture, quietly looking at Yu Tian.

After a moment, Yu Tian finally heard Yan Ming’s voice—

“Look at what?”

Yu Tian felt like she had become one of the fish in the surrounding tanks. Due to the medium of water, sounds from the outside world reached her ears slowly and sluggishly, becoming unreal.

Because they were too close, Yu Tian even felt she could sense the subtle airflow created by the vibrations of Yan Ming’s voice when he spoke. Her face became somewhat red, and her heartbeat quickened again.

Compared to her silent embarrassment, Yan Ming slightly raised an eyebrow, pointed at the glass fish tank in front of them, and said expressionlessly: “Look at this?”

Following his gaze, Yu Tian also looked at the glass tank in front of them.

Then she fell silent.

Who could tell her why, in this damn seafood restaurant, all the other glass tanks contained fish or shrimp, but the one in front of them only had a few bullfrogs?!

Yu Tian stared at the bullfrogs, and the bullfrogs stared at Yu Tian.

And Yan Ming’s eyes fixed on her: “Yu Tian, tell me, what’s so interesting about this? You dragged me over to look at this?”

Yan Ming’s brow furrowed slightly: “What exactly are you…”

As Yan Ming spoke, he was about to look away.

Before she could think clearly, she absolutely couldn’t let Yan Ming become suspicious! Absolutely couldn’t let Yan Ming discover anything!

Yu Tian had no choice but to grab Yan Ming’s hand again and forcibly turn his head back toward the fish tank.

But obviously, she had to say something now.

Facing Yan Ming’s increasingly suspicious gaze, Yu Tian could only bite the bullet and make something up: “Brother Yan Ming, look! These two bullfrogs… these two bullfrogs are mating!”

“…”

Yu Tian no longer knew what she was saying. She felt completely confused, but having come this far, she could only grit her teeth and persist. Meeting Yan Ming’s shocked gaze, Yu Tian coughed and tried to calm down. She stared at the bullfrogs in front of her and, feeling completely broken but pretending to be composed, commented: “These two bullfrogs seem to be both male. I wanted to show you that there are homosexuals in the bullfrog world, too!”

“…”

Yan Ming’s face indeed showed an indescribable expression.

And Yu Tian really couldn’t keep this up anymore.

She didn’t even have time to lay groundwork, directly grabbing Yan Ming’s hand and roughly pulling him toward the restaurant exit: “These two bullfrogs engaging in such uncivilized public lewdness in broad daylight—my moral sense won’t let me continue eating in this restaurant. Brother Yan Ming, let’s eat somewhere else!”

Leaving this restaurant would be safe!

But after pulling Yan Ming out of the restaurant and calming down again, Yu Tian fell silent once more.

Yan Ming’s gaze carried scrutiny, making Yu Tian’s scalp tingle.

Fortunately, she had a flash of inspiration: “I heard there’s a food night market on Chunbai Street. Why don’t we eat there? After eating, we can buy you some health supplements at a nearby pharmacy!”

Chunbai Street was only a few minutes’ walk away. Yu Tian no longer dared look directly into Yan Ming’s eyes, just pretended to be nonchalant, and pulled him forward without allowing refusal.

Only when the outdoor wind gradually cooled the heat on Yu Tian’s face did she realize she was still holding Yan Ming’s hand.

Yu Tian’s head felt hot, and she almost instantly let go of Yan Ming’s hand as if slightly shocked by electricity.

She became nervous and anxious, while Yan Ming followed calmly and composedly.

Though the night breeze was cool, Yu Tian felt the air was scorching.

Night colors and neon lights flowed across Yan Ming’s pale profile—it was an extremely seductive scene that made Yu Tian know it was impolite to stare at someone’s face, yet her gaze still returned to that face after wandering in a circle.

Yan Ming’s face seemed to have magnetic poles, and due to the unavoidable laws between magnetic poles, Yu Tian found herself inescapably drawn to fix her gaze on it.

Yan Ming quickly noticed her gaze. He slightly turned his head, staring at Yu Tian with his deep, beautiful eyes. His diamond-shaped, full lips lightly touched up and down, and a low, spell-like tone flowed out.

“What are you staring at me for?”

Due to the earlier episode with her mother, and because of her behavior of pulling Yan Ming away to avoid him seeing her mother, Yu Tian instinctively felt guilty and uneasy.

Was her behavior essentially different from Yan Ming’s previous concealment?

But her mother’s cheating was also a huge shock to Yu Tian. Her heart was in chaos, feeling like she was caught between a rock and a hard place. After pulling Yan Ming away from the seafood restaurant, she didn’t know what to say.

Regardless of what Yan Wenhua did, her mother’s cheating was wrong.

Her previously righteous indignation toward Yan Ming suddenly deflated.

Though she had avoided her mother and Yan Ming meeting directly, what should be confessed still needed to be confessed.

With compensation and guilt toward Yan Ming in her heart, unable to find topics, she instinctively began flattering him.

Yu Tian’s calculation was good—you don’t hit a smiling face. First, she’d work hard to flatter Yan Ming, and when he was happy, she’d think about how to introduce the topic. In a relatively relaxed atmosphere, she’d confess what just happened, then discuss Yan Wenhua’s cheating, too.

So Yu Tian looked up at Yan Ming and showed a sincere, simple smile: “Brother Yan Ming, has anyone told you you’re very handsome?”

Since the conversation was being steered in this direction, she’d start by praising Yan Ming’s appearance. After this line, Yan Ming would at least say thank you, and then she’d strike while the iron was hot, climbing up the pole to praise Yan Ming for not only looking good but having even better character—a model of beauty inside and out in the new era.

In short, just praise, praise him to death.

Especially praise his magnanimity and kindness, so that when confessing later, Yan Ming would be embarrassed to blow up because of the high hat she’d just placed on him with her praise.

Just as Yu Tian was on high alert, waiting for Yan Ming to respond with thanks according to normal expectations, she heard Yan Ming’s answer—

“Yes, patients who can’t get appointments and want me to add them all praise me like this.”

“…”

Yu Tian choked, and just as she was about to praise Yan Ming for having not only external beauty but also inner beauty, she heard Yan Ming continue—

“If they want me to add a bed, the usual next step is to start praising how I not only look good, but am also a good person, with good professional ability, good medical ethics…”

Yan Ming listed a whole string, completely enumerating all the points about himself that could be praised, vividly demonstrating taking his path and leaving Yu Tian with no path to take.

After finishing, he looked at Yu Tian with a half-smile: “What else?”

“Nothing else…”

Yan Ming was like that most unhelpful honor student who, when the instructor asked for everyone to take turns expressing opinions, would be the first speaker would cover all possible viewpoints, leaving subsequent speakers with nothing to say.

But clearly it was Yan Ming who blocked Yu Tian’s broad avenue of flattery, yet after Yu Tian raised her hands in surrender, he darkened his face: “So I don’t have many advantages after all. Just a casual list and there’s nothing left.”

“…”

Yu Tian felt Yan Ming was a super difficult man to please, probably acting up because he was good-looking.

She fairly evaluated in her heart again that such a man wasn’t suitable as a boyfriend, because he looked like he’d be very dramatic, probably relying on his few points of beauty to get angry at the drop of a hat and need coaxing.

But it was fine not to think about it, but once she thought of the keyword “boyfriend,” Yu Tian couldn’t help thinking of her mother…

Everything just now had happened too suddenly. The moment she saw her mother holding hands with another man, Yu Tian’s first reaction was that Yan Ming couldn’t find out, at least not in a way that would make the scene awkward—it had to be handled calmly and peacefully. But now, gradually calming down, overwhelming self-blame and shame made her heart indescribably irritated.

What was going on?

She felt like she was riding on a turbulent small boat, struggling to maintain balance in wind and rain, but it was precisely at this moment that Yan Ming’s gaze kept falling on her, like adding insult to injury—waves crashing on her broken boat, making Yu Tian sway unsteadily.

In the short journey, before even reaching the night market food street, Yu Tian gave up.

She decided to stop randomly looking for topics and just have an honest talk with Yan Ming directly.

This matter had to be confessed.

Tonight.

Otherwise, Yu Tian’s guilty feelings would keep her from sleeping well tonight.

Her inner sense of right and wrong tormented her, making it impossible for her to keep quiet and think long-term at home.

“Brother Yan Ming, about what I didn’t have time to say in the restaurant just now—I think it’s necessary to talk openly.”

Yan Ming was stunned, obviously somewhat surprised that Yu Tian would bring up old matters. He frowned slightly, his expression slightly unnatural: “I thought that matter was over, because talking about it now might not be the right time.”

Yu Tian was somewhat dejected: “I know.”

Her parents are dating and possibly both cheating behind the scenes—when would ever be the right time to discuss such things?

But reality still had to be faced.

Yu Tian took a deep breath and looked at Yan Ming: “Brother Yan Ming, I think we can’t become siblings. But if we can’t become siblings, I think we can still get along in another way. We can still be…”

But before Yu Tian could say “friends,” Yan Ming quickly interrupted—

“Yu Tian, I still want to focus on work right now. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

What did focusing on work have to do with their parents’ romance?

Yan Ming, who had just been visibly relaxed, now seemed on high alert. He appeared to be carefully considering how to speak appropriately, rarely looking somewhat nervous, but his reaction was very abnormal.

His expression was somewhat serious, but his gaze became less forthright, only glancing at Yu Tian once before looking away.

“You need to think clearly. Some words, once said, might mean we can’t even be friends anymore.”

Ah…

So Yan Ming’s attitude toward relationships was that even if both parties cheated on each other, as long as the surface could be maintained, don’t expose it—just turn a blind eye and muddle through? But once that window paper was pierced, bridges would be bridges and roads would be roads?

This was completely contrary to Yu Tian’s concepts about marriage and love.

However, though the relationship between her and Yan Ming was entirely connected because of their parents, Yu Tian hadn’t expected Yan Ming to be so ruthless.

His words meant that as long as their parents didn’t succeed, he didn’t intend to have any subsequent entanglements with her. So, as long as she mentioned their parents’ cheating, they wouldn’t even be friends?

Though it was cold, it quite fit Yan Ming’s character.

Not being able to be friends with Yan Ming was indeed somewhat regrettable. If it were before, Yu Tian definitely couldn’t accept it, but now, after more contact with Yan Ming, as her idol filter gradually faded, Yu Tian’s mindset had become much more peaceful.

Cold, distant, difficult to please.

Excessively popular with the opposite sex, being his female friend would easily attract hatred.

Busy with work, basically no private life.

Patients first, others secondary.

Insufficient life skills.

Overly straight male who couldn’t understand subtext…

Thinking carefully, Yan Ming had a whole pile of flaws.

If they couldn’t be friends, then so be it.

Yu Tian wasn’t a primary school student anymore—she was long past the age of crying for days because someone wouldn’t be her friend.

Adults—the most important thing was to part amicably and know when to quit.

Though she’d feel disappointed and melancholy, it wasn’t unbearable.

After all, he wasn’t a boyfriend, just a friend, and not irreplaceable.

In this era, who was so lacking in friends that they had to cling to someone who didn’t want to be their friend?

Thinking about her previous efforts, attempts to win favor, and enthusiasm made Yu Tian feel somewhat wronged and unworthy—after all, the sunk costs weren’t low, and she had thought Yan Ming would be lenient for her sincerity’s sake, plus considering they were alumni.

However, even if she wouldn’t interact with Yan Ming in the future, she had at least learned quite a bit from him and consulted on many medical professional questions. Honestly speaking, it wasn’t a loss…

Though Yu Tian could have pretended not to know and concealed her mother’s cheating, her sense of right and wrong made it impossible for her to help family over principle.

Even if it was her mother, regardless of whether Yan Wenhua cheated first, cheating was wrong—there was no reason to whitewash it. For her mother’s wrongdoing, she at least had to take responsibility and stand up to apologize.

Therefore, after thinking it over, Yu Tian ultimately couldn’t get past this hurdle in her heart. She took a deep breath and decided to completely confess her thought process—

“Last time I saw your father on a blind date outside, I was quite angry. You thought it was nothing then, but I felt it was a principled issue that was hard to tolerate. But now I probably don’t have the right to criticize your father like that, because just now I saw my mother… my mother also seems to be in contact with other men.”

Having started, Yu Tian no longer held back: “When I pulled you out of the seafood restaurant just now, it was actually because I didn’t want you to see my mother having dinner and dating another man.”

“But I can’t turn a blind eye, and I can’t have double standards. I think you have the right to know about this; otherwise, it’s unfair to you all. As for how you view it, whether you plan to tell your father, these are all your choices. How they develop subsequently isn’t something I can interfere with. I respect your choice and our parents’ choices too.”

“It’s just that from my standpoint, two people who just met on blind dates and started dating should still be in the relatively passionate period, yet they’re both already contacting others outside. I think they’re not that into each other.”

Probably hearing that Yu Tian’s mother was also dating another man, Yan Ming’s expression became very poor. He frowned slightly, as if unable to believe what Yu Tian was saying.

Yu Tian, therefore, looked away: “I wanted to be siblings with you before, and I hoped my mother and your father could remarry so we could become legal step-siblings. But reality is what it is. I think we don’t have that fate to be written into the same household registration book and become family.”

Yan Ming’s expression became increasingly ugly.

But even so, Yu Tian felt that what she needed to say and the stance she needed to take should still be honest.

“I’ll talk to my mother when I go home. I don’t approve of her behavior, and I’ll tell her about your father’s previous blind dating. Other than that, I won’t get involved. They both did wrong and are both adults—they should take responsibility for their actions and decide how to handle the aftermath themselves.”

Yu Tian’s expression was serious: “Since you feel that after speaking and exposing this matter, our two families can’t become one family, and you don’t want to be friends with me anymore, repeatedly hinting that I should think carefully before speaking, otherwise we can’t even be friends—I think you probably already had some sense of our parents’ relationship status but chose to turn a blind eye. I know choosing the same handling method as you might be more mature and sophisticated, but my values still can’t accept this approach.”

Yu Tian took a deep breath: “I know that by laying everything out like this, it might become quite awkward and embarrassing, making you uncomfortable, so you repeatedly tried to stop me and avoid the current scene. But I still prefer clear distinctions between right and wrong, so please forgive my selfishness in handling this.”

Yu Tian also somewhat understood Yan Ming’s thinking. Like some husbands who cheat—wives might not be unaware, but as long as the husband doesn’t make it too obvious or excessive, she pretends not to know, continuing to deceive herself and maintain a superficially harmonious family. Because in many people’s view, dignity might be more important than real happiness. Life, after all, is about getting by.

But Yu Tian couldn’t agree with this.

However, she also understood the disparities in the world and differences in people’s values.

“Given the current situation, if you feel uncomfortable, find this awkward and strange, and don’t want to interact with me anymore, then I accept that too.”

Yu Tian believed her speech was reasonable, well-founded, rational, and gentle.

After all, though her mother was cheating, Yan Ming’s father wasn’t idle either. With both sides doing wrong, Yu Tian had been objective and neutral enough, apologizing when she should, without favoritism or concealment, and giving Yan Ming’s subsequent reactions and attitudes one hundred percent tolerance, expressing complete acceptance.

But for some reason, Yan Ming looked like he absolutely couldn’t accept this. His voice could practically be described as gritting his teeth: “So what you said about wanting to talk openly—this is what you meant?”