Compared to Yan Wenhua’s safe discovery that Yu Tian was dating Yan Ming, Yu Tian’s mother’s side was, looking back now, much more difficult to handle.

Like Yan Wenhua, Yu Tian’s mother didn’t use trendy social media either. She had no idea about the Kiss Cam GIFs online or Yu Tian’s self-media account, and was completely unaware that Yu Tian and Yan Ming were dating.

However, Song Chunxiang had more than once expressed her expectation for Yu Tian to focus on her studies and strive to become a medical authority. Yu Tian was troubled by this admonition and hadn’t found an opportunity to say she was already in a relationship—

“Xiao Yu, it’s good that you’ve finally thought it through and are willing to return to school for further studies. Mom felt it was such a pity before – all those years of medical study would have been wasted! But at that time, you had just injured your hand and suffered so much. You were devastated and felt uncomfortable hearing anything related to medicine, hospitals, or doctors, let alone asking you to return to medical school for further studies.”

“You were injured by a patient at the hospital. I thought you might have psychological trauma and didn’t want to face anything related to medicine and doctors, so I didn’t dare mention it. Mom thought at the time that even if we couldn’t become surgeons, there were still many other paths.”

“For example, becoming an internal medicine doctor or doing medical research like you’re doing now, becoming a medical school professor in the future – these are all very good.”

Song Chunxiang became more delighted as she spoke: “Actually, being a medical school professor is wonderful. It’s no worse than being a female doctor. It’s also very respectable, the environment is simple, and spending more years at school isn’t bad since you’re naturally straightforward in thinking, and focusing on research would make life simpler.”

After breaking free from Old Dai, Song Chunxiang stopped going on blind dates, feeling that being beautifully independent was quite good. She had met several peers and would go sightseeing together every few days. These older sisters were either widowed in middle age, like Song Chunxiang, and remained single, or were lifelong unmarried non-marriage advocates. Several women who controlled their own lives together made life quite exciting.

At this age, Song Chunxiang had become increasingly wise. Women could live without men, but not without money and health. As long as she could find her joy, life could be prosperous.

Although Yu Tian said nothing, Song Chunxiang had learned from Qi Sihao about some inside information regarding her previous hand injury – if it wasn’t for that Zheng Tingfu, her Xiao Yu wouldn’t have been waiting in the hospital at that time and wouldn’t have encountered such bad luck.

Qi Sihao didn’t elaborate much about Zheng Tingfu, saying Xiao Yu didn’t want him to talk about it. But Song Chunxiang wasn’t stupid. She knew Yu Tian’s social relationships were relatively simple. Most of her good friends were girls, and aside from Qi Sihao, who grew up next door, there were no other close male friends. Since Zheng Tingfu could arrange to meet Yu Tian in a consultation room, he was probably very close to her, and he was Yu Tian’s senior…

Although Yu Tian had denied it, Song Chunxiang’s heart was clear as a mirror – couldn’t she understand? This was most likely Yu Tian’s boyfriend at the time, which is why Yu Tian could wait in his consultation room. But she encountered bad luck – this man was trash who abandoned Yu Tian and the little patient and ran away, causing Yu Tian to lose her dream of becoming a surgeon.

If Yu Tian hadn’t dated this person and stayed away from this boyfriend, her life now would be completely different. She might be doing rotations in the hospital like Qi Sihao.

Song Chunxiang remembered how vulnerable, painful, and dejected Yu Tian looked when her hand was injured, and her heart ached endlessly.

It was rare that Yu Tian had somehow figured things out and was willing to face medicine again, working hard to return to school for further studies. Song Chunxiang didn’t want her child to repeat the same mistakes.

“Xiao Yu, you’re still young. Focus on your studies while in school. Mom isn’t the old-fashioned type who constantly urges children to marry and have the next generation. Girls’ youth is more precious than boys’. You must make good use of this time – publish more papers while in school, participate in more research activities, meet more capable people in the academy, date less, and prioritize your career above all.”

This was Song Chunxiang’s heartfelt words: “I married your father too early and had you soon after marriage. Then I was tied down by childcare and household chores. I had always wanted to learn a foreign language to become a translator, but it was shelved. Although I have time now and enrolled in a senior university, when people get old, their memory and learning ability aren’t what they used to be…”

“You young people of the new era – many don’t marry or have children. Don’t worry about Mom. I’m very open-minded. If you don’t want to marry or have children, I support you. You’re still relatively young. With modern medicine being advanced, late marriage and childbearing aren’t problems. Better not to rush into dating now.”

From Qi Sihao, Song Chunxiang learned that Zheng Tingfu was several years older than Yu Tian. She now broadly condemns all similar types: “Anyway, Mom’s point is that you’re only a first-year graduate student. Studying hard is most important. Academic research requires patience and dedication. Don’t let romantic feelings delay you. Most importantly, never find those medical school seniors.”

“Medical students aren’t necessarily all good people. On the contrary, these male doctors in the future will always be surrounded by young, beautiful nurses, and many female patients and patients’ families who easily admire these male doctors due to professional factors. They face too many temptations. Hospital systems also have intense competition. Having one person in our family who understands medicine is enough – we don’t need more…”

This time, Song Chunxiang spoke convincingly, but Yu Tian felt awkward—

“Mom, I’m already dating someone…”

Song Chunxiang’s eyes indeed widened.

Yu Tian swallowed: “And he’s indeed a senior who graduated from our medical school…”

Not only a medical school senior, but a graduate senior?!

Song Chunxiang’s brow furrowed tightly: “Master’s or PhD?!”

Yu Tian looked quite proud: “PhD!”

Unfortunately, Song Chunxiang couldn’t feel proud. A graduate PhD – how old must he be! This was even older than Zheng Tingfu, who was several years older than Yu Tian!

Could it be that because Yu Tian lost her father during adolescence, she lacked paternal love, so she subconsciously liked to find older men?

Song Chunxiang began to feel guilty thinking about this.

However, Yu Tian’s next words successfully changed Song Chunxiang’s emotions to another extreme—

“Mom, next weekend, could our two families meet? We originally…”

Yu Tian’s wishful thinking was quite good. She thought this was a suitable opportunity to first introduce him as a senior from the same school and major with a PhD degree. When her mother was full of praise, she could reveal Yan Ming’s identity, officially announcing it to her mother.

But she never expected Song Chunxiang’s reaction to be completely different from what she anticipated.

“Which shameless man is taking advantage of being several years older than you? Did he deceive you? How long have you been back in school? And he already tricked you into dating? And he’s already graduated – did he meet you during some alumni activity at your school?!”

Song Chunxiang’s anger wasn’t without reason. Yu Tian had always been a steady child who would never suddenly impulsively start dating.

She knew she shouldn’t interfere with Yu Tian’s love life, but wasn’t the Zheng Tingfu incident also a blow and warning to Song Chunxiang? If she had some grasp of her child’s social relationships and pointed out Zheng Tingfu’s many unreliable aspects, Yu Tian wouldn’t have foolishly continued associating with him.

Yu Tian had just managed to pull herself together and return to school. Song Chunxiang couldn’t let men with ulterior motives block her daughter’s path to progress.

“Have you two…”

This was Song Chunxiang’s most concerning question. She stared at Yu Tian like searchlights, and from Yu Tian’s evasive and embarrassed expression, Song Chunxiang already knew the answer.

So soon! Already tricked into bed!

In modern society, whether one was a virgin wasn’t the issue. Most importantly…

“Did you use contraception?”

Yu Tian almost immediately replied: “I won’t get pregnant! I still need to continue my studies!”

After saying this, Yu Tian realized she had made things worse – wasn’t this indirectly admitting she and he had done something…

Sure enough, Song Chunxiang was looking at her with a devastated expression, her eyes slightly red with anger.

Yu Tian felt the misunderstanding was deepening and almost immediately planned to explain his identity.

However, just then, the doorbell rang quite persistently.

Helplessly, Song Chunxiang had to compose her expression and answer the door.

To her surprise, Yan Ming was standing outside.

This was the son of one of her former blind dates, a talented young attending physician. Previously, when she was injured by Old Dai’s domestic violence and hurt her eyes, he had carefully noticed and called the police, and performed surgery to treat her.

Song Chunxiang had always had a very good impression of Yan Ming. She had only briefly dated his father and ultimately declined for her own reasons. His father had done nothing wrong – her unilateral rejection was more hurtful. But this child harbored no resentment.

Every time he saw Song Chunxiang, he could warmly and kindly call her “Auntie” with a humble attitude. He was handsome and upright, more eye-catching than movie stars. During several chance encounters, whenever Song Chunxiang’s older sisters were around, they would come over asking about this young man’s information, saying they thought Song Chunxiang knew some celebrity.

Song Chunxiang had always felt Rong City was very big – for example, since breaking up with Yan Wenhua, she had never accidentally encountered him again. However, Rong City sometimes made her sigh that it was really small – she frequently encountered Yan Ming by chance: in the small café outside Yu Tian’s studio, in supermarkets, bread shops near her home, wet markets, flea markets Yu Tian often visited…

The surgery after her eye injury was personally performed by this young man. After surgery, he often accompanied Yu Tian to visit her, taking care of post-operative precautions meticulously and professionally. Even Song Chunxiang had to secretly sigh several times that this child was really wonderful – it was such a pity they couldn’t become family.

Especially when Song Chunxiang was discharged, watching Yu Tian and Yan Ming successively come to handle her discharge procedures, her beautiful daughter and the handsome Yan Ming standing together made a beautiful scene.

If only she could have clicked with Yan Wenhua, then Yu Tian could have had Yan Ming as an older brother and gained such a knowledgeable and morally upstanding family member.

Sigh.

Although things didn’t work out between Yan Wenhua and her, Yan Ming seemed to occasionally keep in touch with Yu Tian.

Seeing Yan Ming when she opened the door wasn’t very surprising to Song Chunxiang. Although she had just received the devastating news that Yu Tian was dating an older man, she still managed to smile at Yan Ming.

“Auntie, I happened to come to see you.”

Yan Ming wore dark clothes. Without the hospital white coat decoration, he appeared more profound and upright, looking somewhat unapproachable, but Song Chunxiang still felt fondly toward him.

She had just opened the door wider to let Yan Ming in when she discovered he hadn’t come empty-handed. Both his hands were full, and there were more items on the ground beside him.

Song Chunxiang glanced and saw cordyceps, lingzhi mushrooms, American ginseng, and high-end skincare products.

She knew Yan Ming’s family was wealthy and that he was a good person, but… wasn’t this too much?

Yan Ming was very calm, as if everything was natural: “Auntie, these are all things I brought. Please accept my sincere gifts.”

Song Chunxiang watched in amazement as Yan Ming carried these expensive and thoughtful gifts inside one by one. After a moment, she seemed to react and called Yu Tian, who was standing aside, to make tea for Yan Ming.

Yu Tian looked somewhat awkward. Upon seeing Yan Ming, she only glanced at him once, didn’t even greet him, and quite rudely went into the kitchen to make tea, leaving Song Chunxiang and Yan Ming alone in the living room.

Because Yan Ming’s visit was sudden, Song Chunxiang hadn’t even boiled water yet. While Yu Tian was boiling water in the kitchen, Song Chunxiang could only make small talk with Yan Ming.

But she was still very distressed. Having just learned that Yu Tian had secretly dated a much older boyfriend behind her back and wanted to meet her parents next week, Song Chunxiang felt so troubled that she didn’t know what to do.

Perhaps it was Yan Ming’s reliable and steady temperament that made Song Chunxiang always feel relaxed and trusting around him. Seeing Yu Tian still busy making tea in the kitchen and not coming out, Song Chunxiang didn’t hide anything.

“Yan Ming, Auntie wants to ask you something. Do you know… do you know that our Xiao Yu, after returning to medical school, is dating a somewhat older boyfriend?”

“…”

Yan Ming looked like he didn’t know, but seemed to sense the seriousness of this matter from Song Chunxiang’s furrowed brow. His previously relaxed expression immediately became tense.

“A somewhat… older… boyfriend?” he repeated. “This is… what Yu Tian said?”

“Yes.” Song Chunxiang nodded worriedly. “He’s not young, and who knows how many years he’s been graduated from medical school, but he’s a PhD graduate. He must have been quite old when he graduated.”

“You also graduated from Xiao Yu’s school. Auntie just wanted to ask if you know who Xiao Yu’s boyfriend might be?” Song Chunxiang was nervous that Yu Tian was being deceived again. “Xiao Yu is very innocent. I’m afraid she’s no match for an older man. Since he’s a PhD, his intelligence must be good, and he’d be especially cunning when being bad. You PhDs must have your circles, right? You must have heard some rumors and know what kind of person Xiao Yu is dating, right?”

Song Chunxiang didn’t know if such questions were too difficult for Yan Ming. This child usually seemed devoted to work, not even caring about his family’s billions in assets. Asking him to pay attention to social gossip was unrealistic.

But Song Chunxiang’s concern for Yu Tian was urgent. The only PhD graduate she knew was Yan Ming, so she had to try anything.

“Auntie is just worried that Xiao Yu is being deceived. The guy sounds like he’s not very proper, and he’s rushing to meet his parents next week, as if he can’t wait to settle marriage quickly. I feel something’s wrong. If he were an excellent PhD graduate like you, why would he be so rushed? It’s like he’s afraid this opportunity will pass – I always feel there’s fraud…”

Yan Ming was indeed a good child. As Song Chunxiang spoke, his expression became increasingly grave and ugly.

They say doctors, having seen life and death regularly, have a more detached attitude toward life, death, and human emotions. But looking at Yan Ming like this, he was probably someone with strong empathy, which was why his complexion could become so bad after Song Chunxiang’s few worried words.

“Auntie… I have something to say…”

Song Chunxiang didn’t give Yan Ming a chance to speak. She just felt the more she analyzed Yu Tian’s boyfriend, the more suspicious he became: “Listen to Auntie first. Auntie suspects that either he has some shortcomings, or he’s not very good-looking. Last time I heard Qi Sihao say that among PhDs at your school, at least four out of ten are bald. Auntie is worried…”

“Mom!”

Yu Tian’s voice interrupted Song Chunxiang. She came over with a teacup, pouting, and set it in front of Yan Ming: “What are you talking about?”

Song Chunxiang was straightforward: “I’m talking about your boyfriend. Do you think this kind of person is proper? As the man, before both sets of parents meet, shouldn’t he visit me first? You said he’s also a PhD graduate from your school, right? Then he’s an alumnus. Yan Ming must know him. Since Yan Ming happens to be here today, why don’t you tell everyone this man’s name in front of us all? I trust Yan Ming. Let him, as an impartial third party, fairly evaluate this man’s character.”

Yu Tian was dumbfounded.

Yan Ming fell silent.

Song Chunxiang was puzzled. She looked at Yu Tian, found her unreliable, and turned her gaze to Yan Ming: “What’s wrong? Yan Ming, do you know something? Is that man unreliable?”

“…”

Finally, it was Yu Tian who, with an expression about to crack, looked awkwardly and somewhat tearfully at her mother—

“Mom, have you considered that Yan Ming couldn’t possibly be an impartial third party in this matter?”

Song Chunxiang was stunned.

Before she could understand what this meant, she heard Yan Ming, who had been silent, finally speak.

“Auntie, it’s my fault. I was too busy with work before. Several times, I planned to formally visit, but we kept missing each other due to various circumstances. These gifts this time are also a small token of my appreciation.”

“Although I am indeed a PhD graduate and graduated several years before Yu Tian, I skipped grades in school, so age-wise, I can’t be called very old. As for my hair, you can see it’s still very thick, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

Yan Ming’s voice was sincere, his attitude serious: “As for you thinking I’m rushed, that’s not wrong. I am indeed quite anxious because Xiao Yu is excellent, and after she returned to school, I have more potential competitors around me. Although I may be younger than you think, I’m still not that young, and I want to settle down and have my own small family.”

“But I’ll first respect Xiao Yu’s opinion. If she wants to study and pursue her career, I absolutely won’t interfere. You can also rest assured about children – how many she has or whether she has any is completely her freedom. As for meeting parents, I just hope to formally gain your approval, so we won’t have to keep running into each other downstairs near your building.”

Yan Ming seemed quite helpless: “Because my identity hasn’t been made public, Yu Tian always feels it’s not formal enough. So every time you’re coming home, Yu Tian kicks me out. When you’re coming to the studio, I also have to leave. Several times, dinner was just ready, and before I could eat, I was kicked out. That day it was raining outside, and Yu Tian didn’t even give me an umbrella. You could say I was physically and emotionally traumatized…”

Song Chunxiang had never considered this possibility. Now, hearing Yan Ming explain point by point, those details finally connected.

Yes, Yan Ming lived in an upscale wealthy area, and the hospital wasn’t in this area either. Logically, she shouldn’t have been able to encounter him so frequently…

Now it seemed…

Song Chunxiang turned her gaze to her daughter, who was blushing and thinking Song Chunxiang hadn’t noticed as she lightly punched Yan Ming.

That youthful romantic atmosphere was unbearable to watch.

Song Chunxiang began to doubt whether her eyes, having been injured, were working well anymore. How had she never noticed anything unusual in Yu Tian and Yan Ming’s interactions before? These two children, looking carefully now, could make caramel with their eye contact!

But…

If it were some unknown man taking away her daughter, Song Chunxiang would be ten thousand times hostile. However, if it were Yan Ming…

Song Chunxiang just felt it was wonderful!

Yan Ming kept expressing his apologies to Song Chunxiang for not visiting earlier, making various promises to visit more often in the future, and praising Song Chunxiang’s home cooking, making her beam with joy.

However, this praise didn’t last long because Yan Ming received a phone call and had to excuse himself to answer it.

This left only Song Chunxiang and Yu Tian in the living room. Song Chunxiang practically glared at Yu Tian—

“You silly child, your boyfriend is Yan Ming – why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“And why haven’t you formally introduced him to me in this capacity? Look how wronged he is – it’s like you’re not giving him proper status…”

Yu Tian was speechless: “Mom, who was it that kept telling me not to date and to focus on career, making me afraid to tell you? If it weren’t for me getting first place in the whole academic year this year, I wouldn’t have dared to mention it, afraid that if I failed exams after talking about dating, you’d criticize me for neglecting studies for romance.”

“Is Yan Ming just any object? Dating Yan Ming means you can learn more from him – this is good! If you had said it was Yan Ming, Mom definitely wouldn’t have criticized you.”

Song Chunxiang was full of regret: “And how could you kick him out every time I came home when you two aren’t even having an affair? That’s not how we treat guests! In the future, you must let him eat his fill before leaving, understand!”

“…”

Song Chunxiang lowered her voice: “But well done.”

“?”

She winked at Yu Tian: “Mom isn’t old-fashioned. Sometimes, when you should make a move, make a move. When you should sleep together, sleep together. You did very well! Yan Ming looks like he doesn’t understand how to interact with girls and maintains proper distance in everything. Indeed, after this happens, the relationship between you two becomes completely different.”

“I forgive you for having relations with him, and I understand why you were so eager to get him into bed. Children like Yan Ming indeed make people feel insecure – you can’t give others opportunities.”

“…” Yu Tian wanted to say: Mom, are you misunderstanding something… Have you considered that the proactive person in such matters isn’t your daughter at all, but Yan Ming, who appears noble and desireless in front of you? He’s one way in his white coat and completely different when he takes it off…

Fortunately, Song Chunxiang’s lecture didn’t last long because Yan Ming soon returned after finishing his call.

His expression was apologetic: “The hospital emergency department just received a car accident victim with eye injuries who needs immediate treatment. Sorry, Auntie, I need to rush to the hospital.”

“Go, go!” Song Chunxiang’s face showed no trace of hostility toward male doctors – she was practically beaming: “Xiao Yu, quickly see Yan Ming off! Doctors have such hard lives, sacrificing their rest time for patients, on call all the time!”

“…”

This face-changing speed was incredible.

So five minutes later, Yu Tian was walking beside Yan Ming, seeing him off to the parking lot.

“My mom just said privately that next time you should eat your fill before leaving.”

She held back but couldn’t resist: “Some people are so shameless, talking about not eating enough. Where did I not let you eat enough?”

Yan Ming just laughed in a low voice: “When I said eating enough, I didn’t mean that. As for what I meant, you understand. Wasn’t it true that several times, dinner was ready, everything was prepared, even the eating utensils were bought, but because your mom was coming, you mercilessly kicked me out of bed and made me leave?”

“…” You have the nerve to say that!

“But now Auntie has spoken – in the future, I must eat my fill before leaving. Mm, so I understand. I will.”

Before getting in the car, Yan Ming pressed Yu Tian against the car door and gave her a brief, slightly breathless kiss—

“Alright, go back. It’s cold outside. I’m going to save the patient.” He looked into Yu Tian’s eyes: “Remember to let me eat my fill when I come back.”