Yan Ming ultimately settled on a boxed meal.

He had never been a picky eater. But for some reason, though it was from the same fast food restaurant he usually frequented, today’s boxed meal had become unbearable.

Yan Ming thought about the glimpse he’d caught of the dishes in Qi Sihao’s lunch box, and inevitably felt that the food in his hands was no longer appetizing—it had even become difficult to swallow.

However, if his guess was correct, Yu Tian would be bringing him food again tomorrow.

After all, she sounded so hopeful about having her mother and his father remarry.

For that purpose, she’d probably try to win him over, too.

Only she might have miscalculated—though Yan Wenhua indeed valued Yan Ming’s opinion greatly, Yan Ming had no intention of interfering in his father’s romantic life.

However, what Yan Ming hadn’t expected was that during his routine dinner meeting with Yan Wenhua that evening, he received news that shocked him considerably.

“Son, do you remember that aunt you met last time? The one called Song Chunxiang?”

Yan Wenhua took a sip of red wine and said somewhat sadly, “I broke up with her.”

Yan Ming paused with his knife and fork in hand. “Why? Didn’t you two get along well?”

“Indeed, it’s rare to meet someone so compatible, but she felt something was still missing between us, that being friends would be more comfortable.”

Yan Wenhua sighed. “I had a premonition. This past week, when I tried to ask her out, I kept getting turned down, with various excuses about being busy. Sure enough, today she brought up breaking up.”

Yan Ming was somewhat surprised.

Because of their family’s wealth, after Yan Wenhua’s divorce and return to single life, women wanting to become Yan Ming’s stepmother had been coming in an endless stream. This was truly the first time someone had actively rejected Yan Wenhua.

He didn’t have a deep impression of Song Chunxiang, so he wasn’t as regretful as Yan Wenhua.

His father had been heartbroken, and Yan Ming knew this was inappropriate, but his first thought was that he probably wouldn’t be able to eat the food Yu Tian brought anymore.

It had looked quite delicious.

So it was somewhat regrettable.

Yu Tian, however, remained unaware of everything.

When she returned home, the first thing she did was study recipe books.

Today had been ridiculous—if she’d known Yan Ming would come, she would never have let Qi Sihao benefit from her cooking.

Yu Tian decided to prepare an even more sumptuous spread than today’s, and deliver it to Yan Ming for several consecutive days as an apology.

When Song Chunxiang returned home, Yu Tian was cutting vegetables.

“Mom! You’re back!”

Seeing Yu Tian at home, Song Chunxiang immediately adjusted her expression and smiled. “I’m back.”

After deep consideration, Song Chunxiang had formally declined Yan Wenhua today.

Although she was getting on in years herself, with a child this grown, and Yan Wenhua’s conditions were better than hers in every aspect, and he treated her well, and they got along reasonably well—any normal person shouldn’t be coy and should seize the opportunity.

But Song Chunxiang still carried a bit of idealism, feeling that at her age, she should listen to her heart a little more.

After the initial novelty wore off, through continuous contact, she felt less attracted to Yan Wenhua, and Yan Wenhua’s family was obviously several levels wealthier than hers. Therefore, the places Yan Wenhua took her, the things he bought her, the restaurants they ate at, were completely not the type Song Chunxiang would normally patronize.

At her age, she was long past the moment when a young girl’s vanity would take hold. She knew that different consumption habits and unequal living standards would bring conflicts to their future.

Through more and more contact, Song Chunxiang became increasingly aware of the major gulf between herself and Yan Wenhua—rather than enjoying high-end dates with Yan Wenhua, she more often felt awkward and out of place.

And Yan Wenhua’s interests and lifestyle habits were also vastly different from Song Chunxiang’s.

But now at home, looking at Yu Tian, after much hesitation, Song Chunxiang still didn’t tell her about ending things with Yan Wenhua.

Firstly, she was afraid Yu Tian would worry, thinking it was her existence that made Song Chunxiang hesitant and unable to pursue love freely; secondly, she was also afraid Yu Tian wouldn’t understand her decision and would be disappointed. After all, Song Chunxiang could see that Yu Tian was very satisfied with Yan Wenhua—she genuinely hoped from the bottom of her heart that she and Yan Wenhua could work out.

Better to keep it from this child for a while…

Telling her about the breakup all at once might be a blow to her—better to let her accept it naturally and gradually.

Fortunately, Yu Tian didn’t notice anything abnormal.

She smiled teasingly. “Why are you back so early today? Didn’t you go on a date with Uncle Yan?”

Song Chunxiang smiled and told a lie. “We’re not young people like you—he has a son, so he needs to spend time with his son too.”

Song Chunxiang’s words were unintentional, but Yu Tian took them to heart.

This wasn’t the first time Song Chunxiang had said this—she’d barely been dating Yan Wenhua for almost a week now. Every time Yu Tian asked, it was the same reason: Yan Wenhua was spending time with his son.

Once, twice, but not thrice.

How many times had this been!

Yu Tian couldn’t help but feel resentful toward Yan Ming.

She hadn’t realized Yan Ming was such a daddy’s boy.

Every time he clung to his father, preventing her mother from enjoying happy romance and delightful dates, this wouldn’t do!

Yu Tian thought about it all night, then had a flash of inspiration.

If she took the initiative and pestered Yan Ming every day, occupying all his time, he wouldn’t have time to cling to his dad anymore!

Then, naturally, her mother would have time to date Uncle Yan!

Yu Tian acted on her plan immediately. The next day, after finishing her livestream of recipe tutorials, she packed all the food into boxes and headed to the First Affiliated Hospital.

To win over Yan Ming, she’d start by winning over his stomach.

But for some reason, when Yan Ming saw Yu Tian today, he seemed somewhat surprised.

“Why are you here?” He pressed his lips together slightly, looking at the food containers in Yu Tian’s hands that were even taller than yesterday’s. “Should I call Qi Sihao for you?”

Yu Tian coughed and said clearly, “No need to find Qi Sihao. Big Brother Yan Ming, I’m looking for you.”

“I thought deeply about it last night—although Qi Sihao is a friend, his importance is far less than what you mean to me.”

Before coming, Yu Tian had done psychological preparation, deciding to throw away her pride to flatter Yan Ming. To prevent stumbling over words, she had even written a script of compliments in advance and memorized the lines.

Yan Ming indeed raised his head.

Yu Tian encouraged herself and continued earnestly, “Actually, during university, you were always my idol, but originally you were just like a distant symbol to me—I didn’t even know what you looked like. But even so, your excellence was already brilliant enough to guide me forward.”

Yan Ming raised an eyebrow slightly. “Didn’t you say that imaginary idols aren’t as important as real, sincere friends? I quite agreed with that statement.”

“No, no, no, you’re no longer just an imaginary idol to me now! You’re someone I truly know in real life! I figured it out yesterday! The closer I get to you, the more I feel your excellence—you’re good-looking, have a great physique, brilliant mind, and kind heart, gentle as jade and magnanimous…”

“I’m not kind or magnanimous.”

Yu Tian was still racking her brains to recite her flattering script when Yan Ming unexpectedly interrupted her. He looked at Yu Tian with leisure, “I hold grudges quite well—I’ll hold grudges over very small things.”

“…”

Yu Tian could manage when following her script, but being interrupted by Yan Ming like this made it hard to continue…

She stammered, “Holding grudges is also good, holding grudges…”

“First, people who hold grudges, especially those who can hold grudges over very small things, shows they have good memory, which is a great asset for achieving success in life, especially for us medical students—excellent memory is what makes excellent doctors; second, holding grudges is a manifestation of having clear love and hate. In modern society, repaying evil with kindness isn’t necessarily a virtue—sometimes it shows a lack of principles and backbone; lastly, holding grudges can spur us forward—thinking about getting revenge makes us want to become stronger, so holding grudges is motivation for progress…”

Yan Ming smiled. “You put it very well, but why didn’t you ask me whose grudge I’m holding?”

Yu Tian fawned, “Anyone who could make Big Brother Yan Ming hold a grudge must be no good! Who is it—do I know them?”

Yan Ming said nothing, just looked at Yu Tian meaningfully.

“…”

Yu Tian was stunned, pointing at her nose. “It’s not me, is it?”

Yan Ming chuckled softly, then looked at Yu Tian with deep meaning. “What do you think?”

“…”

So it was about yesterday’s lunch delivery?

Even Yu Tian was speechless, and the atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Fortunately, Yan Ming finally spoke.

He looked at Yu Tian twice. “You don’t need to bring lunch anymore, after all, your mother and my father…”

Yu Tian, coming to deliver lunch today, was quite beyond Yan Ming’s expectations.

After all, their parents had broken up—Yu Tian had no reason, emotionally or logically, to continue trying to please him.

But before he could finish speaking, Yu Tian interrupted him—

“Big Brother Yan Ming, don’t say that. This has nothing to do with our parents’ situation—I simply want to bring you lunch!”

When Yu Tian said this, she hadn’t thought much about it. She knew that those things she’d said to coax Qi Sihao yesterday had probably been overheard by Yan Ming, so now she was putting all her effort into finding opportunities to clear her name.

Although her bringing lunch to Yan Ming was indeed full of ulterior motives, in modern society, people who tell the truth end up unable to find partners, leading to their genes being cut off from inheritance, so that honest people are nearly extinct!

Yu Tian felt she couldn’t be one of the extinct honest people.

No matter what, she had to beautify her intentions.

“What I’m doing has absolutely nothing to do with our parents’ situation. No matter what stage they develop to, I’m acting purely from my intentions and selfish motives.”

Yu Tian smiled shyly. “I simply want to get to know you a little better…”

She felt there was nothing wrong with what she’d said, but Yan Ming opposite her showed a strange expression.

He looked at Yu Tian once, pausing. “You’re acting out of your selfish motives?”

Yu Tian nodded. “Yes.” She thought about it and said tactfully, “Of course, our parents’ current state is still beneficial for promoting our relationship.”

This was naturally the truth.

If her mother and Yan Ming’s father got together, she and Yan Ming would be legal step-siblings. With this in-law relationship, they’d naturally be bound more closely, having to interact during holidays and festivals, with more intimate and warm exchanges.

Flattery should be given, but overdoing it would be excessively false.

Only mixing truth and falsehood was the highest realm.

However, for some reason, after Yu Tian said this, Yan Ming looked at her with an even stranger expression.

“What do you mean by this?”

Yu Tian met his searching gaze, ran her fingers through her hair, and forcefully stuffed the lunch box into Yan Ming’s hands. “Exactly what you think it means!”

What other meaning could there be? Wasn’t it just hoping to become a loving family in the future?

Yu Tian was a bit puzzled by Yan Ming’s slowness, but she quickly reined in her emotions.

“Also, um, Big Brother Yan Ming, are you free tonight? I heard from Qi Sihao that you’re not on duty tonight. There’s a new shopping mall that opened near the First Affiliated Hospital—let me treat you to dinner and explore it together!”

She must occupy all of Yan Ming’s after-work time to ensure he couldn’t interfere with her mother’s dates!

Yu Tian was afraid Yan Ming would have time to refuse. After speaking, she immediately put on an expression of “it’s happily decided then.” “Then I’ll wait for you here when you get off work.”

Then Yu Tian glanced at her watch and, as if rushing to other matters, quickly escaped.

Completely unaware that behind her, Yan Ming was looking at her retreating figure with the expression of someone who’d seen a ghost.