Yu Tian’s day, which should have been ordinary, became full of twists and turns because of this rain, but compared to the dramatic ups and downs of Yan Ming’s surgery, it was hardly worth mentioning.

She listened to Yan Ming recount the surgical details and procedures with an almost thirsty eagerness for knowledge.

Yan Ming’s words were concise and to the point, yet those thrilling moments in surgery when they suddenly discovered changes in the patient’s condition, or when they had to decide within seconds whether to preserve the eye or not—surgical decisions that could determine the patient’s future life—made Yu Tian unconsciously emotionally invested, her tension alternating with relief.

Since she could no longer perform precise and complex surgeries herself, she couldn’t help but project her inner longing and dreams onto Yan Ming. Listening to his explanations, she felt as if she had personally participated in the surgery.

“Encountering unexpected situations during surgery isn’t uncommon.” When discussing professional matters, Yan Ming’s eyes were serious and focused. “This was from a few years ago. Although I was no longer a novice in the operating room, compared to now, neither my surgical skills nor my mindset for handling emergencies were as good as they are now.”

“It was a cataract surgery for a patient with high myopia. Originally, this type of condition already had higher surgical difficulty than ordinary cataract patients, but the patient had a strong desire for surgery, and after comprehensive evaluation, I felt it could be done.”

“However, during this surgery, I encountered iris hypotonia syndrome for the first time in clinical practice, and the patient’s anterior chamber experienced a severe surge.”

Yan Ming’s tone was now calm and composed, yet only Yu Tian, as a fellow medical student, knew what those four words “anterior chamber surge” represented.

The level of an ophthalmologist is mainly demonstrated during cataract surgery in their response and operational skills during phacoemulsification.

Anterior chamber surge occurs at the moment when the phacoemulsification probe clears the blockage in the patient’s eye, caused by the instrument’s high negative pressure suction of fluid in the anterior chamber.

Surge happens in an instant—if defined by precise time, it might be milliseconds—and the surgeon’s ability to react quickly and intervene in time must compete with this millisecond-level surge. If action is slightly slow or intervention is inadequate, the rapid decrease of fluid in the anterior chamber will cause surgical complications, damaging the patient’s cornea, iris, and other structures, some of which would be completely irreversible disasters.

And Yan Ming not only encountered severe anterior chamber surge but also faced iris hypotonia syndrome, which Yu Tian had only seen in literature.

She eagerly asked: “Once the patient’s iris loses tension, the instantaneous pupil size changes during surgery become very large, making the anterior chamber surge more severe, right?”

Yan Ming nodded: “Yes, fortunately, although I was very flustered at the time, I immediately used epinephrine in the patient’s eye, and the symptoms were significantly relieved. Although the surgery was fraught with danger, it was ultimately completed successfully.”

Yu Tian’s heart rose and fell with Yan Ming’s words, sometimes thrown to great heights, sometimes landing safely. Now hearing that the surgery was successful, she was even more excited than the person involved: “That’s wonderful!”

“After coming off the operating table, I learned that the patient had concealed his use of prostate hyperplasia medication, and some α-blocker drugs for prostate hyperplasia also produce pharmacological effects that antagonize the iris dilator muscle.”

Actually, Yu Tian still wanted to hear more, but after Yan Ming glanced at the time, he seemed somewhat surprised and then stopped continuing with professional and surgical topics.

But Yu Tian originally thought Yan Ming stopped talking about this because he had other things to be busy with later, afraid the conversation would get out of hand, so she prepared to settle the bill and leave with Yan Ming.

However, Yan Ming wasn’t in a hurry to leave either.

He looked at Yu Tian a couple of times, obviously having something to say.

Yu Tian said understandingly: “What do you want to say, Brother Yan Ming?”

Yan Ming pressed his lips together: “Nothing much.”

He glanced at Yu Tian, then looked away: “Just about that patient with iris hypotonia, do you know why he concealed his prostate treatment condition?”

“We specifically asked during the preoperative examination, but he came with a woman he liked, and for the sake of face, he refused to admit he was treating prostate hyperplasia. Even when we reminded him that concealing medication history could cause intraoperative risks and possibly lead to surgical failure and blindness, he still stubbornly concealed it.”

Yan Ming said this while looking at Yu Tian with deep eyes: “After surgery, he was very happy, thinking he had bet correctly, that his willingness to take risks for love was right. Because he said, compared to the potential risk of surgical failure, he couldn’t bear the risk of his blind date partner having a negative impression of him because of his urological condition…”

Yu Tian couldn’t help but frown: “There’s such a thing? That’s way too careless with his own life! How could love be more important than one’s own life? Besides, it was just a blind date partner!”

Yan Ming was startled, seeming very surprised by her answer: “Since you think this way too… then you understand what I mean by telling you this, right?”

Of course, she understood!

Yu Tian nodded vigorously and said seriously, “I understand!”

To be a good doctor, one must not only judge patients’ symptoms but also try to understand the patient’s personality and family background in a short time, especially their emotional situation, to determine whether the patient has major concealment regarding their condition.

Seeing Yu Tian nod, Yan Ming looked somewhat relieved.

He said tactfully: “Actually, you see, the same principle applies—when it’s someone else, you can see clearly, but when it’s yourself, sometimes people can’t see clearly.”

Exactly! If it weren’t your patient, as an observer, you’d be clear-headed and might think of this aspect, but if it’s your patient, the doctor might focus too much on the patient’s self-reported symptoms and overlook other details, causing oversights.

What Yan Ming said made sense!

She learned something!

Yu Tian couldn’t help but look at Yan Ming with shining eyes again.

Yan Ming somewhat unnaturally looked away: “No matter what, no matter how much you like someone, there should be boundaries. Nothing should compare to your health and safety. Whether or not you can get a response, you should love yourself first before loving others.”

Although Yu Tian didn’t know why Yan Ming suddenly switched to life philosophy education, she still nodded repeatedly, showing agreement, though mostly just going through the motions.

She had stayed up late editing materials last night, gotten up early this morning to continue rushing work, didn’t nap at noon, then rushed out in heavy rain this afternoon to deliver an umbrella and clean up Qi Sihao’s mess. She got soaked and injured, and because she couldn’t get a taxi, was forced to wait at the hospital for Yan Ming to complete the entire surgery.

Originally, when discussing professional knowledge, Yu Tian was still energetic, but now she didn’t know how Yan Ming suddenly switched to elder-lecturing-on-life-principles mode, causing Yu Tian’s drowsiness to become irrepressible, like sprouting seedlings that, irrigated by the moist rain, grew wildly upward.

She had already secretly yawned several times while Yan Ming wasn’t paying attention, yawning until tears came to her eyes. When Yan Ming saw this, he suddenly and abruptly stopped his life philosophy lecture, paid the bill, and drove Yu Tian home.

But the ride home afterward was silent.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, but Yu Tian was too tired to care.

She just kept secretly yawning frantically, both eyes full of tears.

There was traffic in the rain, and by the time Yan Ming finally delivered Yu Tian home, she had passed the point of drowsiness and wasn’t sleepy anymore.

She got up to say goodbye to Yan Ming, but before she could say anything, Yan Ming interrupted her—

“Stop crying. I was just speaking casually just now, didn’t mean anything else. You don’t need to cry like this.”

His tone and expression were extremely unnatural. These words were directed at Yu Tian, yet his gaze looked elsewhere.

As if being chased by something, Yan Ming dropped these words and, without even waiting for Yu Tian’s explanation, quickly said, “I have some things to do, leaving first,” then stepped on the gas and sped away.

“…”

Yan Ming was always composed and unhurried. Even when facing difficult eye surgeries, he rarely lost composure.

But today was different.

After returning home, he still felt unsettled.

Yu Tian made him feel helpless.

He seemed never able to correctly handle and treat her.

Yu Tian always left him at a loss.

Yan Ming felt somewhat irritated. He grabbed his phone and called Jiang Yuming.

“I’ve encountered a girl who’s been pursuing me.”

Jiang Yuming cursed: “Haven’t women always been pursuing you? What’s new about this?!”

Yan Ming’s mind conjured Yu Tian’s face: “This one is different from all the others. She should like me a lot. When encountering danger, her first thought is of me; she’d even risk her life for me. To politely refuse her before, I was quite cold to her, but she doesn’t care at all.”

Jiang Yuming gave two cold laughs: “Yan Ming, so many pursue you, I’ve never seen you troubled by any of them. Stop making excuses—this one is particularly beautiful, right?”

Yan Ming pressed his lips together, not admitting it: “Although she is beautiful, it’s mainly that her personality is very considerate. I was in surgery for several hours, and she waited outside that whole time without a single complaint. She seems to have a good temper and is very patient. To be fair, she really would be suitable as a doctor’s family member…”

“Is she as beautiful as Yu Tian?”

Even though he was just talking to Jiang Yuming on the phone, when Yan Ming heard Yu Tian’s name, he couldn’t help but become flustered. He said vaguely: “About the same.”

“She’s that beautiful! And she’d risk her life for you, plus she’s gentle and considerate—just go for it!”

“But she’s a bit too immature.” Yan Ming thought of Yu Tian’s pitiful, teary-eyed appearance. “I just told her to love herself first, didn’t say anything else, didn’t even directly reject her, and her eyes filled with tears, looking like she was about to cry. People should at least have self-respect and self-love first.”

Not only did Jiang Yuming fail to empathize with Yan Ming’s troubles or offer any constructive solutions, he was very angry: “Really, the drought-stricken die of drought while the flood-victims die of flooding—how come not a single one is pursuing me!”

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yu Tian had just finished a hot shower and changed clothes when Qi Sihao from across the hall rushed over as if he had timed it perfectly.

Sure enough, he tearfully complained to Yu Tian about his tragic experience, denouncing Yan Ming’s broken umbrella that got him and Gao Mei soaked like drowned rats.

“Isn’t Yan Ming’s family very wealthy? Why doesn’t he just throw away such a broken umbrella?”

Because he stole Yan Ming’s umbrella, Qi Sihao didn’t bring his own. His calculation was shrewd—with only one umbrella, Gao Mei would have to share it with him.

Unfortunately, despite all his calculations, he didn’t calculate that Yan Ming’s umbrella would be broken!

“It caused Gao Mei and me to have to randomly find a nearby café for a simple meal to avoid the rain. During the entire hour of dining, she only talked about Yan Ming!”

Qi Sihao liked Gao Mei, showing disappointment and distress on his face: “But Yan Ming is excellent. After hearing what Gao Mei said, I also think Yan Ming is perfect.”

Qi Sihao looked seriously at Yu Tian: “Little Fish, honestly, if you didn’t have the potential future step-sibling relationship with Yan Ming, wouldn’t you also like someone like Yan Ming? Isn’t he particularly charming, making women want to date him?”

If it were before, Yu Tian might have hesitated, but after this night, she firmly shook her head.

“Yan Ming can be my big brother, but not my boyfriend.”

Qi Sihao was startled, then quite moved: “Little Fish, although I know you’re just humoring and lying to me, this friendship moves me!”

“I’m telling the truth.” Yu Tian took a sip of hot water. “As a big brother, Yan Ming could be considered perfect—tall and handsome, respectable work with a sense of responsibility, strong professional abilities. Who wouldn’t be envious when you brag about him? He could score a perfect hundred.”

“But.” She changed her tone, saying with lingering fear, “As a boyfriend, Yan Ming could only score a failing grade.”

“He has too much professional integrity, so patients always come first, and everything else gets thrown to the back of his mind. Whoever becomes his girlfriend might find that even if you’re halfway through… intimacy, if he gets a call from the hospital, he could abandon you and run.”

“His life skills also don’t seem very good. He can’t cook at all. Last time I went to his place, he served me instant noodles!”

“He also doesn’t seem good at cleaning and organizing. He doesn’t know how to take care of people. All his attentiveness goes to caring for patients.”

The more Yu Tian talked, the more she realized that her recent accumulated observations had revealed quite a few of Yan Ming’s shortcomings.

“Although he’s only a few years older than me, when he speaks, he feels like an elder.”

Even now, Yu Tian found it baffling: “You know what? Tonight he kept lecturing me about life principles, about self-respect and self-love—completely inexplicable…”

“And I think he’s not considerate at all, and quite slow. Tonight I went through so much, was dead tired, yawning continuously, and he thought I was moved to tears by his life lessons!”

No wonder they say if you truly love an idol, the best way to preserve that love is to keep your distance from the idol and stay away from their private life.

She had regarded Yan Ming as an idol for many years, yet now, with frequent proximity and contact, Yu Tian felt the idol’s filter gradually fading.

Although Yan Ming’s professional standards always shone like a constant star, and every time he discussed professional matters, Yu Tian’s admiration and reverence couldn’t help but overflow, once he stripped away the doctor’s professional halo and became an ordinary man, Yan Ming also had quite a few flaws.

Of course, he couldn’t be called completely ordinary—Yan Ming was at least much more handsome than average men.

Given his level of handsomeness, even if he had several times more flaws, it wouldn’t diminish his attractiveness to the opposite sex.

But…

“Good looks can’t be eaten as food.” Yu Tian pursed her lips. “And someone as good-looking as Yan Ming usually has high standards. He’s also well-qualified and his family is wealthy, so when choosing girlfriends, he’s picky. His dating pattern probably basically involves women chasing and doting on him.”

“And given his work nature and personality, he’s suitable for finding the kind of woman whose whole heart is devoted to him, who’d wish she could sacrifice everything for him, yet is gentle, obedient, patient, and strong.”

Yu Tian blinked: “This personality is opposite to mine. Except for people I’m not familiar with, where I can pretend to be gentle and obedient, with people I know well, I’m completely not gentle, not obedient, plus I’m spoiled and have a bad temper. So Yan Ming and I, if analyzed for romantic CP compatibility, are completely unsuitable.”

She said with certainty, “If I were looking for a boyfriend, I definitely wouldn’t choose his type. I feel like he’s too excellent in all aspects, not only giving me great pressure, but always feeling like I’d be fired from the girlfriend position before I could sit steady.”

Qi Sihao’s eyes lit up, his expression moved: “Little Fish, so if you were Gao Mei, you wouldn’t choose Yan Ming, you would definitely…”

Unfortunately, before he could finish, Yu Tian ruthlessly interrupted: “I wouldn’t choose you either.”

“…”

“I would stay away from you scheming men and focus on making money.”

“…”