Although it was Yan Wenhua who first actively went on blind dates trying to solve his single status, unexpectedly his son Yan Ming came from behind to overtake him.

After Yan Wenhua formally broke up with Chen Xi’s mother and returned to being single, Yan Ming successfully proposed and pulled Yu Tian into organizing a small engagement party for close friends and family while the iron was hot. A month later, this scheming young man dragged Yu Tian to the civil affairs bureau to get their marriage certificate. As for the wedding, since Yu Tian still needed to focus on her studies and Yan Ming needed time to prepare, they agreed to postpone it.

Although they hadn’t formally held a wedding banquet, Yan Ming had been glowing every day recently. His usually serious and unsmiling expression was now full of smiles, looking radiant and in an excellent mood.

Yan Wenhua was also in a good mood because of this. While Yan Ming, as a doctor, was busy with work, saving patients and performing surgeries, and didn’t care about the ceremony, Yan Wenhua couldn’t allow his only son’s wedding to be done hastily. He could see how excellent Yu Tian was – they couldn’t just casually hold a wedding and be done with it. He was determined to give Yu Tian and Yan Ming the perfect wedding memories.

With professional managers handling the business, Yan Wenhua had plenty of free time. He contacted several luxury wedding planning centers, and after reviewing many proposals, selected one of them. He was just waiting for them to produce a draft for Yan Ming and Yu Tian to review.

However, perhaps good things always come in pairs. After Yan Wenhua gave up blind dating and became more casual about relationships, he unexpectedly found success without trying. On his way to the wedding planning center that day, he encountered a middle-aged woman who had been hit by a car and fallen to the ground. The perpetrator had fled, and this area was sparsely populated. The woman had injured her leg, her phone was broken, and she couldn’t even contact family or call the police. Fortunately, Yan Wenhua passed by, helped her call the police, took her to the hospital, and paid her medical expenses before leaving.

After the woman recovered, she came to thank him, bringing some homemade pastries. Through their interactions, Yan Wenhua got to know her. Her name was Wu Xing, five years younger than him, with a twenty-three-year-old son.

Wu Xing’s life had been quite difficult. Shortly after her son was born, the child’s father passed away. She had never remarried and raised the child alone all these years, working while supporting the family. She now owned a small dessert studio that had gained some reputation. Today, she had been making deliveries herself because there were too many temporary orders and the usual delivery person had something come up, but she was unfortunately hit by a speeding truck that was violating traffic rules.

Yan Wenhua had no ulterior motives, considering such help just a small favor. However, unexpectedly, Wu Xing fell for him at first sight and took the initiative, asking Yan Wenhua to dinner and shopping, bringing him food, knitting scarves, and buying clothes. Through their interactions, Yan Wenhua was somewhat moved and thought perhaps he could give it a try.

Although she wasn’t as refined and fashionable as Chen Xi’s mother, she was still a neat and pleasant middle-aged woman. She wasn’t as unpredictable as his ex-wife, but was capable and virtuous. Though she didn’t talk much, she was efficient and considerate in her actions, practical and down-to-earth. Most importantly, after getting to know her, she was indeed a genuine person who knew how to live.

After two failed blind dates, Yan Wenhua was quite discouraged. He had thought about staying single for the rest of his life, but meeting Wu Xing, who was quite compatible, was unexpected and not unwelcome.

He no longer had a strong desire to form a family again. Regarding relationships, he felt it was more about fate.

With Chen Xi’s family, soon after establishing their relationship, they began actively asking for various benefits, even feeling entitled to do so. This entitlement made Yan Wenhua uncomfortable, feeling the relationship was too utilitarian. However, although Wu Xing’s family lived much more frugally than Chen Xi’s family, they had never asked him for any economic or networking help.

The more this was the case, the more Yan Wenhua wanted to be good to their family.

Wu Xing’s son Shen Zhou studied mechanical automation and had recently graduated from a university in Rong City. Yan Wenhua had met this young man several times – he was sunny and positive, straightforward, enthusiastic, considerate toward his mother, willing to work hard, and not afraid of hardship. He was a hardworking child.

Yan Wenhua’s company didn’t have a corresponding mechanical automation business, so he helped submit the young man’s resume to a friend. He just did a small favor without speaking too highly of the child. However, because of this opportunity, Shen Zhou seized it. From written tests to multiple rounds of interviews, he performed outstandingly with an impressive resume and was ultimately hired by the company for a research and development position.

Both Wu Xing and Shen Zhou were very grateful for Yan Wenhua’s small favor, insisting on treating Yan Wenhua to dinner to express their thanks.

But Yan Wenhua was somewhat hesitant: “I don’t have a problem with it, but these days, when I’m free, I eat with our children. I can’t immediately confirm when I’ll be available without them…”

Recently, Yan Ming’s work had become increasingly busy, and Yu Tian’s studies and self-media entrepreneurship were both on track. These two workaholics often forgot meal times when working together.

Yan Wenhua was quite worried, plus he had wedding preparation work to discuss with them, so he had been calling Yan Ming and Yu Tian to eat together recently, having the household helper cook for them.

Originally, when Yan Ming was single, he definitely couldn’t be called out – he would find all sorts of excuses to eat takeout at home. But now with Yu Tian, Yan Ming was much more obedient. As long as Yan Wenhua invited, he rarely refused. After all, when he was alone, eating poorly didn’t matter, but now with a wife… how could his wife eat nutritionally inadequate and unhealthy takeout?

Yan Wenhua was also happy about this. When he was single, weekends were quite lonely and hard to endure. Now with Yu Tian, he could call both children home for a lively atmosphere.

Regarding his scheduling uncertainty and difficulty, although Wu Xing felt somewhat embarrassed, at her age, she had already done things like actively pursuing Yan Wenhua, so she felt there was no need to be coy about other things. She directly invited:

“If your children don’t mind, we could all have dinner together. But don’t feel pressured – let’s just be like friends. Regarding our child’s job search, we need to thank you. In reason and emotion, I should treat you to dinner.”

Yan Wenhua and Wu Xing were indeed currently interacting as friends, which was quite relaxed. As for what their relationship might develop into in the future, that depended on fate.

After consulting Yan Ming and Yu Tian, both children agreed and were willing to accompany Yan Wenhua to dinner with Wu Xing’s family.

“My dad isn’t like my mom, who has many hobbies and friends all over the world by herself, with a young mentality and no lack of companionship. He’s the opposite of my mom. Last time I went home, I saw such a big villa all dark, with my dad just sitting in the living room, even forgetting to turn on the lights, staring at the yard in a daze.”

Yan Ming recalled that scene with some emotion: “Although there’s a housekeeper at home, she has to run around upstairs and downstairs cleaning every day. She can’t chat with my dad, much less accompany him for walks or outings.”

“So I think if my dad can find a compatible auntie, I’m very supportive. My dad and mom didn’t have any principled problems like affairs – they simply discovered their personalities were too different after marriage, so they separated. Someone like my mom is indeed suitable for freedom, but someone like my dad might feel more lonely than free living alone.”

Because Yan Ming understood Yan Wenhua, he didn’t make things difficult for his father regarding the somewhat embarrassing request to eat together. Instead, he readily agreed:

“It’s good to make friends. That auntie happens to have a son in his twenties – maybe we’ll have common topics to discuss.”

…

With Yan Ming’s statement, Yan Wenhua felt much more relaxed and immediately agreed to Wu Xing’s invitation.

Yu Tian had lost her father early, and now that she and Yan Ming had gotten their certificate, she was legitimately Yan Wenhua’s family member. Although the wedding hadn’t been held yet, she could see all of Yan Wenhua’s kindness toward her. He truly treated her like a daughter, even more caringly than toward his son Yan Ming. Whatever Yan Ming had, Yu Tian had; whatever Yan Ming didn’t have, Yu Tian still had.

They say you should only change how you address someone after the wedding and receiving the name-change red envelope, but Yu Tian didn’t want to be bound by such formalities.

Human relationships had always been about exchanging sincerity for sincerity. Since Yan Wenhua loved her like a daughter, Yu Tian respected Yan Wenhua like a father.

She had naturally started following Yan Ming in calling Yan Wenhua “Dad.” This wasn’t abrupt, because even before they got their certificate, right after meeting the parents, Yan Ming had already been warmly calling Song Chunxiang “Mom.”

Although Song Chunxiang had raised Yu Tian as both father and mother after Yu Tian’s father passed away, and Yu Tian hadn’t lacked any love, occasionally in quiet moments, she would still think of her father’s past appearance and voice, still feeling regret. These regrets about not being able to accompany her father further were unconsciously projected onto Yan Wenhua. What she couldn’t repay to her deceased father, she somewhat emotionally projected wanting to repay to Yan Wenhua.

Although Yu Tian regretted Yan Wenhua’s two consecutive failed relationships, she couldn’t help much. What she could do was, like Yan Ming, firmly stand by Yan Wenhua’s side when he approached new people with a willingness to try, supporting all his decisions.

She could see that Yan Wenhua was somewhat embarrassed, afraid that the younger generation would criticize his behavior, for still being restless at such an age, still wanting to find a companion, always going on blind dates. He seemed fearless on the surface, but cared very much about his son’s feelings. Support from family and younger generations was really important for him to bravely take the next step.

Yan Ming thought the same way, which led to his proactive agreement to have dinner together.

However, Yan Ming hadn’t expected that his casual agreement would cause him many unnecessary troubles.

To be honest, Wu Xing’s family gave Yan Ming a much more genuine and reliable feeling than Chen Xi’s family. Wu Xing wasn’t as socially adept as Chen Xi’s mother. When she first met Yan Ming and Yu Tian, she was even nervous, like a primary school student meeting teachers.

Shen Zhou was tall, had bright eyes, a sturdy build, and possessed the sunshine and vitality unique to young men in their twenties. He looked at people very sincerely. Having just graduated from school, he didn’t seem to understand society’s unspoken social rules yet. After Wu Xing introduced Shen Zhou, she somewhat exasperatedly patted his head, and only then did Shen Zhou somewhat shyly greet Yan Wenhua’s group.

“This is my son, Shen Zhou. He’s a bit silly. Fortunately, you helped him submit his resume; otherwise, we still wouldn’t have found such a good job.”

Yan Wenhua naturally waved it off: “It was nothing.” He was obviously in good spirits, pointing to Yan Ming and Yu Tian with a smile: “My son and daughter – Yan Ming and Yu Tian.”

This wasn’t a special introduction just for this occasion. Previously, when Yu Tian accompanied him to several small friend gatherings, Yan Wenhua had always introduced Yu Tian as his “daughter,” because in his view, “daughter-in-law” wasn’t as accurate as “daughter” in describing his inner feelings toward Yu Tian. He truly treated Yu Tian as family.

Of course, most of Yan Wenhua’s close friends knew that his son Yan Ming was engaged to Yu Tian and knew Yan Wenhua was just jokingly calling her daughter.

However, Yan Ming hadn’t expected that such an introduction would cause major misunderstanding for Wu Xing, especially her son Shen Zhou.

The dinner was harmonious. Yan Ming had very good impressions of both Wu Xing and Shen Zhou. Although this mother and son weren’t from wealthy backgrounds, they were courteous and neither servile nor arrogant. Shen Zhou was the studious academic type who understood gratitude. He didn’t take Yan Wenhua’s small favor for granted, speaking with great respect toward Yan Wenhua. He was someone who knew how to be grateful, with sincere and clear eyes.

This was originally a quite pleasant gathering. Several people exchanged contact information in a harmonious atmosphere, except…

Except that the day after the dinner ended, Yu Tian began frequently encountering Shen Zhou.

He had originally graduated from a school across from Rong City Medical University, but despite having graduated and started working, Shen Zhou began frequently returning to campus. Sometimes he claimed to visit graduate school friends, sometimes he said underclassmen had matters to discuss, and sometimes even more ridiculously, he said he missed the school cafeteria food and especially came during lunch break to eat… His current workplace was quite far from his alma mater.

Every time he returned to his alma mater, he would “conveniently” visit neighboring Rong City Medical University, and almost every time, he would “happen to encounter” Yu Tian:

“I met Shen Zhou at school again today. He said our cafeteria was good and came to freeload meals, but their school is better. It’s always been our school’s students secretly running to freeload at theirs.”

“I encountered him on the weekend, too. I was only at school these weekend days because of school activities, but I saw Shen Zhou playing basketball on our sports field, saying their school didn’t have enough court space. But he played quite well – many girls from our school were cheering him on around the court. He seemed quite popular.”

“It was raining today, and I didn’t bring an umbrella, but I happened to meet Shen Zhou. What a coincidence – he held an umbrella and walked me to the subway station.”

“This afternoon, after class, I was planning to go to the studio, but I met Shen Zhou at the subway station. He said he was doing business nearby. We chatted a bit, and he even gave me cake from that popular cake shop nearby. Look, I thanked him and brought it back. Want some? This cake shop is quite good, but the queue is long. Every day, many students compete to buy from them. Shen Zhou said he bought too much and gave me one. What luck…”

…

Once or twice was fine, but with increasing frequency, not only Yan Ming but even Yu Tian, dull as she was, began to wonder: “I’ve been encountering Shen Zhou way too much lately, haven’t I?”

Shen Zhou was the slow-boiling-frog type. Each “encounter” with Yu Tian was controlled to just the right degree – not obvious or overly enthusiastic, just like a reliable big brother continuously appearing in Yu Tian’s life.

Yu Tian’s wooden head hadn’t caught on, but how could Yan Ming not know what Shen Zhou was planning?

“Have you been wearing your wedding ring lately?”

“I have!” Yu Tian blinked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Yan Ming pressed his lips together, his expression dark: “Just thinking some people have such bad eyesight, trying to steal other people’s proper wives who are wearing wedding rings. They should all come to my ophthalmology department for checkups.”

“Hm?”

He kissed Yu Tian’s cheek: “Nothing, just thinking I should come pick you up from school more often and hold umbrellas for you on rainy days. These should be things husbands do.”

Yu Tian didn’t realize anything special. She was busy translating medical literature recently and didn’t take this small episode seriously. However, Yan Ming did what he said. The next day, when the sky drizzled again, Yan Ming, who happened to be off duty, really brought an umbrella and waited early outside Yu Tian’s classroom.

Since she still had student status, Yu Tian hadn’t made a big announcement about getting their certificate. Besides Qi Sihao, Gao Mei, Jiang Yuming, and Ren Yali, among her classmates, only class monitor Chen Gang knew.

Previously, although some individual classmates knew about Yu Tian and Yan Ming’s relationship, as time passed, most medical students buried themselves in studies. Those unclear about Yan Ming and Yu Tian’s relationship were the majority. Many classmates hadn’t even completed an undergraduate degree at Rong City Medical University and didn’t know about the famous alumnus Yan Ming.

Now Yan Ming stood by the door in casual business attire, tall and straight, naturally attracting others’ attention.

Almost the moment Yu Tian saw Yan Ming, she smiled and waved, then packed her schoolbag and ran out happily:

“Yan Ming gege, you kept your word and came to pick me up!”

At this moment, another female classmate happened to pass by Yu Tian. Hearing her voice, she couldn’t help gossiping:

“Yu Tian, is this… your older brother? So handsome!”

Yu Tian naturally wanted to avoid trouble and was about to nod, but Yan Ming stopped her. He directly took over the conversation: “Although Yu Tian calls me gege, legally I’m her husband.”

“Wow!!!”

The female classmate couldn’t help exclaiming: “You’re married?! Wow, you’re such a perfect match!” Her eyes were full of shock and disbelief. “I saw you wearing a ring before, but I thought you were just wearing it for fun. It was a wedding ring! Oh my, congratulations! Your husband is handsome. Wishing you happiness!”

After this female classmate cast envious, blessing glances, she dragged several other girls who had just heard this fresh gossip away, chattering and looking back as they walked.

Yu Tian was somewhat puzzled: “I’ve always worn my wedding ring. Why didn’t anyone think I was married and assume I was wearing it randomly? Who would randomly wear a wedding ring?”

“You don’t look like a married person.” Yan Ming naturally took Yu Tian’s schoolbag and slung it across his shoulder, then took Yu Tian’s hand. “Of course, it’s mainly not your fault but mine. I’ve been too busy with work lately. Otherwise, I should have come more often to establish my presence and let everyone realize we’re newlyweds.”

Yan Ming looked at Yu Tian: “You don’t mind, do you? Me publicly revealing our relationship like this?”

“No, I don’t mind.” They were already married – what was there to be coy about? Yu Tian didn’t mind making it public. She was simply lazy and felt there was no need to make grand announcements. Not having a wedding ceremony was only because both she and Yan Ming were quite busy, and wedding banquets required a lot of preparation time.

“Good.”

Yan Ming smiled: “Let’s go. Hold me tight in a bit.”

Yu Tian was puzzled, but soon she understood what Yan Ming meant by “hold tight,” because he had brought a very small umbrella.

There were so many large umbrellas at home…

Maybe he was in a hurry to leave and grabbed a small one by mistake.

However, Yu Tian soon realized Yan Ming had done it on purpose.

When she hugged Yan Ming’s waist and walked to the school gate, they “encountered” Shen Zhou again, who also had an umbrella and seemed to be waiting by the gate like a hunter waiting for prey.

Seeing Yu Tian and Yan Ming appear together, he was stunned but still came forward with his umbrella to greet them.

“Brother Yan Ming, Xiao Yu, what a coincidence. Are you going home together?”

“Mm.” Yan Ming’s voice was quite calm. “Yes, did you come to Rong City Medical University after work? Want a ride? It’s raining hard now, and inconvenient to get a taxi. I’m free anyway after picking her up.”

Yan Ming was considerate enough toward his patients, but he was someone who kept work and personal life separate, usually maintaining strong distance in interactions and rarely actively bringing strangers into his life.

His proactive offer to drive Shen Zhou home quite surprised Yu Tian. As far as Yu Tian knew, Shen Zhou’s mother and Yan Wenhua were still only in friend mode with no further developments.

Shen Zhou was almost ecstatic about Yan Ming’s suggestion. Holding his umbrella, he followed them to the street parking lot, and throughout the walk, Yan Ming kept his arm around Yu Tian.

To Yu Tian’s surprise, Yan Ming was driving Yan Wenhua’s car today – a quite flashy Lamborghini.

As a guy, Shen Zhou was very curious about this luxury car, couldn’t help looking at it more, and was somewhat uncontrollably excited after getting in.

He was quite respectful toward Yan Ming, almost every sentence containing “gege this” and “gege that.” Although he was mainly chatting with Yan Ming, Yu Tian finally felt that half of Shen Zhou’s attention was on her, and the topics he discussed with Yan Ming were often guided back to Yu Tian:

“What does Xiao Yu like to eat?”

“Does Xiao Yu want to become a medical professor in the future?”

“What does Xiao Yu usually like to do on weekends when she’s free?”

“I’m raising a stray cat. If you like cats, Xiao Yu, you can come see the cat when you’re free…”

Yu Tian originally hadn’t thought much about their “encounters,” but now, facing Shen Zhou’s obvious advances, she finally caught on. Subsequently, she also understood Yan Ming’s intention in choosing the small umbrella and his mentality in deliberately driving the Lamborghini.

Being jealous so subtly, declaring ownership so quietly.

How could this man be so childish?

But…

But she was wearing a wedding ring!

Yu Tian was somewhat at a loss, not knowing how to clarify this. Someone like Shen Zhou probably wasn’t doing it on purpose – he didn’t understand Yu Tian and Yan Ming’s relationship, causing the current misunderstanding.

But if he didn’t say anything proactively, Yu Tian couldn’t take the initiative to clarify either.

So Yu Tian had to look pleadingly at Yan Ming and indeed received a resentful look from him saying “you’re really good at attracting admirers.”

But Yan Ming always gave Yu Tian a lot of security. He was someone trustworthy and dependable who could solve any trouble for Yu Tian. In this awkward situation, he naturally had a solution.

Regarding Shen Zhou’s questions, Yan Ming patiently answered them one by one.

Shen Zhou indeed smiled: “Brother Yan Ming, you and Xiao Yu have such a good relationship.”

Yan Ming seemed to handle this with ease, as if he had long anticipated Shen Zhou would say this. He simply said: “Mm, after all, she’s my wife.”

Shen Zhou had been smiling, but hearing this, his expression suddenly went quiet. He stared wide-eyed, looking at Yan Ming, then at Yu Tian.

“Brother Yan Ming, are you joking?”

Yan Ming kept his eyes on the road for safe driving, his tone as steady and unruffled as his driving: “Not joking. Yu Tian and I are already married, just haven’t had the ceremony yet. Don’t we look like a married couple?”

Shen Zhou’s face showed a cracked expression: “But… but isn’t Xiao Yu your sister? I heard her call you ‘Yan Ming gege,’ and heard Uncle Yan introduce her as daughter and you as son… I thought you had different surnames because after Uncle Yan’s divorce, the son followed his surname while the daughter followed your mother’s surname…”

“Son and daughter are my dad’s joking terms, though it’s not wrong either, because Yu Tian and I are indeed family. Yu Tian also calls my dad ‘Dad,’ and my dad treats Yu Tian like his own daughter. As for Yu Tian calling me ‘Yan Ming gege,’ since she’s several years younger than I, she’s always called me that and never changed. So she’s both my younger sister and my wife.”

After a moment of losing composure, Shen Zhou finally accepted reality and quickly adjusted his emotions.

Yan Ming hadn’t proactively mentioned any clarification or declaration. All the truth about his and Yu Tian’s real relationship was learned through Shen Zhou’s questions and passive answers, so it wouldn’t make Shen Zhou lose face.

But this didn’t prevent Shen Zhou’s inner embarrassment. He said somewhat ruefully: “That day I even said I noticed Xiao Yu seemed to be wearing a ring on her wedding ring finger, but I thought some girls just wear rings on whichever finger looks good without caring about the different meanings of wearing rings on different fingers. I didn’t expect Xiao Yu to be wearing a wedding ring.”

“Mm, yes. Are you currently single?”

Shen Zhou scratched his head: “Currently, yes.”

“Then let Yu Tian help you find suitable girls from her medical school to introduce when she’s free.” Yan Ming’s tone was kind and friendly. “Yu Tian, look among your medical school classmates for suitable ones to set up Shen Zhou with. After all, didn’t you say you often meet Shen Zhou at school? Since he already has many opportunities to come to Rong City Medical University, dating a medical school girlfriend would be quite perfect.”

Only then did Shen Zhou realize Yan Ming’s purpose in proactively coming to pick up Yu Tian today.

When he first saw Yan Ming and Yu Tian close together in the rain, Yu Tian lightly hugging Yan Ming as they shared an umbrella, Shen Zhou had the illusion that “these two people couldn’t fit a third person between them.” Although he knew some siblings were quite close, he felt Yu Tian and Yan Ming’s closeness had a strange, ambiguous flavor.

At this moment, Shen Zhou knew his thoughts hadn’t been illusions.

There was no room for another person between Yan Ming and Yu Tian.

The two weren’t siblings at all, but a couple.

He also intelligently received Yan Ming’s kind reminder – Yu Tian was his person.

Yan Ming had kindly but unquestionably demonstrated his and Yu Tian’s real relationship and tactfully hinted that Shen Zhou shouldn’t continue misunderstanding, to avoid making all three of them awkward.

Shen Zhou was very sensible and tactful. At this moment, besides being somewhat troubled by his slowness, almost as soon as Yan Ming revealed his relationship with Yu Tian, he distanced himself from Yu Tian, no longer continuing topics related to Yu Tian or giving Yu Tian his attention. Instead, he chatted with Yan Ming about workplace interpersonal relationships.

In the end, they had a pleasant conversation all the way, and Yan Ming dropped him off at his residential complex entrance.

Shen Zhou routinely thanked him, then waved goodbye:

“Goodbye, Brother Yan Ming!”

He held his umbrella, looked at Yan Ming, then at Yu Tian: “Goodbye, Sister-in-law Xiao Yu!”

This “sister-in-law” seemed to finally satisfy Yan Ming. He smiled slightly and sincerely waved at Shen Zhou.

After the car again contained only Yu Tian and him, Yan Ming paused before finally speaking again:

“I’ve been thinking – to avoid more people like Shen Zhou misunderstanding, you shouldn’t call me ‘Yan Ming gege’ when we’re outside anymore.”

He seemed to have thought it through carefully: “It does cause misunderstandings easily. From now on, ‘Yan Ming gege’ can be saved for calling me at home.”

Yu Tian bit her lip: “Then what should I call you when we’re outside?”

Yan Ming kissed Yu Tian: “Call me husband.”