Yu Tian desperately wanted to numb herself into believing that none of this had happened.

She hadn’t come to stroll in front of the hospital entrance dressed so casually, and Yan Ming hadn’t seen her either.

Perhaps it was because she so desperately wanted to pretend she didn’t know Yan Ming, but Yu Tian’s hands and feet seemed to develop a mind of their own. Whether to ease her master’s embarrassment or succumb to the pressure from the dancing aunties around her, Yu Tian stubbornly kept her expression blank, hardened her resolve, kept her eyes straight ahead, and courageously continued dancing for another ten minutes.

If Yan Ming understood social etiquette, in this situation, he would automatically leave.

Unfortunately, he didn’t.

Because just when Yu Tian was dancing to the point of being breathless and exhausted, she heard Yan Ming’s detestable yet calm voice.

“Stop dancing.”

“You’re four beats behind everyone else.”

The man was still standing not far away, quietly watching Yu Tian.

“…”

Yu Tian built herself up mentally, thinking positively that this was at least a successful chance encounter, and since Yan Ming had taken the initiative to call out to her, perhaps this was a signal that he wanted to improve their relationship.

With this thought, the embarrassment Yu Tian had felt earlier dissipated somewhat.

She emerged from the square dance formation and, pretending to have just noticed Yan Ming, called out with feigned enthusiasm and surprise: “Brother Yan Ming! What a coincidence! Did you just get off work?”

“Mm, heading to the parking lot.”

Yu Tian was covered in sweat from dancing, but upon hearing Yan Ming’s words, she instantly became nervous and anxious again.

By saying this, Yan Ming probably intended to give her a ride along the way, right?

That’s why he had specifically called out to her and was waiting for her.

However, here in the open space of the park under the cover of night, she could still use the darkness to blur the awkwardness of her outfit, but once inside a car, there would be nowhere to hide… And after dancing so vigorously just now, she probably looked quite disheveled at the moment.

Just as Yu Tian was feeling somewhat flustered, hesitating whether she should find an excuse to decline or seize the opportunity to ride together and grow closer—

She heard Yan Ming’s calm voice:

“It’s getting late. I’ll head back first. Goodbye.”

After saying this, without looking at Yu Tian again, he quite decisively and cleanly turned around and walked away.

??

Yu Tian was simply bewildered: “Um…”

She called out to Yan Ming, but suddenly didn’t know what to say, becoming somewhat tongue-tied: “It’s just that you called out to me earlier… was there something you needed?”

Yan Ming paused, then said indifferently: “Nothing much, just called out to confirm something.”

Yu Tian began to feel nervous. She lowered her head, her voice becoming somewhat soft and gentle: “Confirm what?”

“Confirm that my eyes and brain are working fine.”

“Huh?”

“I just finished a surgery and suddenly saw you dressed quite… unusually, then suddenly dash into the nearby square dance group and start dancing. I thought I was having hallucinations from being overtired, so I came over to confirm.”

Yan Ming smiled slightly at Yu Tian: “Now I know it’s you, so everything’s fine.”

You’re fine, but I’m not…

He glanced at Yu Tian: “Continue dancing. I won’t disturb you.”

“…”

Yu Tian was stunned for just a second, but by the time she came to her senses, she had already chased after him and called out to Yan Ming.

She forced herself to sound natural: “Since we happened to meet like this, and our parents are coincidentally dating, it shows we’re quite fated too. How about we add each other on WeChat? In the future, if our two families get together, it would be convenient for contact…”

Since she had already been recognized by Yan Ming dressed like this, she couldn’t let the embarrassment be meaningless. Remembering her ambitious promise to her mother, Yu Tian still mustered up the courage.

This was Yu Tian’s second attempt.

She just hadn’t expected to be met with Yan Ming’s rejection again.

“No need.” He barely paused, very smoothly and naturally refusing Yu Tian’s suggestion. “When it comes to our parents’ relationship issues, I think it’s inappropriate for children to interfere.”

He glanced at Yu Tian: “Let’s talk about it later.”

Yu Tian bit her lip: “Even if our parents don’t work out, we can still get to know each other.”

Yu Tian didn’t know where this persistence came from, but this time she was determined to get Yan Ming’s WeChat, so she persuaded him very reasonably and systematically: “Besides, we graduated from the same school and are somewhat related in our fields. In the future, we might be able to help each other…”

Unfortunately, Yan Ming seemed unmoved. He said expressionlessly, “All my high school classmates who want to add me on WeChat for convenient free medical consultations say the same thing.”

“But except for making me, an ophthalmologist, help them solve problems ranging from their family members’ strokes to their constipation, they’ve never provided me with any help.”

At this point, he glanced at Yu Tian and summarized: “I don’t think I need your help.”

“…”

“Continue dancing. I’m leaving now. Goodbye.”

“…”

By the time Yu Tian snapped back to reality, Yan Ming had already left, leaving her only with his retreating figure growing smaller and smaller.

“He’s too cold! Don’t you think he’s too impersonal? Indeed, idols are things that lose their charm when you get close to them!”

Regarding Yu Tian’s little episode tonight, Qi Sihao made such pretentious commentary, then began to boast about himself: “So you see, while I’m no idol, I’m approachable, gentle, and courteous…”

“What do you know?! Is that what you call Brother Yan Ming being cold and heartless? That’s called being measured and principled. Think about it – he’s a doctor who looks like that. How few patients would ask for his WeChat daily? If he didn’t know how to refuse, wouldn’t he become a WeChat medical consultant?”

Yu Tian rolled her eyes at Qi Sihao: “If he answered, without understanding the patients’ conditions, he might give wrong guidance and harm them; if he didn’t answer, patients would think he’s not a good doctor and would still have opinions about him when they see him again!”

Although being rejected was somewhat embarrassing, Yu Tian still firmly believed that Yan Ming had done nothing wrong.

She glanced at Qi Sihao: “You’re starting your rotation at the First Affiliated Hospital next Monday. You’ll understand then that everything Brother Yan Ming does is reasonable!”

“Yes, yes, yes! When you add him on WeChat, then you can praise him in person!”

Both Yu Tian’s mother and Yu Tian were skilled at cooking. Being neighbors, Qi Sihao had loved shamelessly coming over to Yu Tian’s house for meals since childhood.

He quickly snatched the last piece of pork chop from the plate and escaped back to his own house before Yu Tian could react and hit him.

After the square dance episode, Yu Tian dressed appropriately and took several more strolls in front of the First Affiliated Hospital, but unfortunately, never encountered Yan Ming again.

However, she soon became busy.

Because the previous livestream on how to make desserts suitable for diabetics was well-received, Yu Tian struck while the iron was hot and did several more therapeutic cuisine livestreams, all with quite good results.

Although Yu Tian hadn’t won over Yan Ming yet, Ms. Song Chunxiang and Yan Wenhua were progressing nicely.

The two would have hour-long phone conversations every night.

Yu Tian noticed that her mother’s smile appeared more frequently, and she even started humming little tunes while doing housework.

However, tonight’s phone call made Song Chunxiang’s face show worry:

“Yan Ming is sick? Is it serious? Don’t panic. Didn’t you say you’re out of town for a major contract bidding, and the bidding is tomorrow? How can you abandon it and come back at this crucial moment?”

“If you don’t mind, send me his address. I’ll go check on him for you. You can rest assured – I’m here.”

Yan Ming is sick?!

Almost as soon as Song Chunxiang hung up, Yu Tian jumped up: “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Yan Wenhua’s son, after several consecutive surgeries and night shifts, his old problem flared up. Acute gastroenteritis. He’s lying at home, and being a doctor himself, he won’t listen to his father’s advice and refuses to go to the hospital.”

Song Chunxiang shook her head repeatedly: “You children are like this, always giving your parents endless worries.”

As she spoke, she began changing clothes.

“So you’re going to take care of his son for Uncle Yan Wenhua now?”

“Mm. He just called Yan Ming, but Yan Ming hasn’t been answering. It’s been an hour now. Yan Ming lives alone with no one around, and he’s afraid that something might happen to Yan Ming. I’m going to check on him for him. Get me whatever stomach medicine we have at home – I’ll take it all over.”

Yu Tian didn’t know what she was thinking, but as if possessed by a ghost, she had already taken the bag from her mother’s hands.

“Mom, let me go instead!”

Yu Tian reasoned logically: “You’re not familiar with him – how awkward would that be?”

Song Chunxiang rolled her eyes at Yu Tian: “Are you familiar with him then?”

“Although I’m not familiar with him either, I’m young, and we graduated from the same school, so we have more topics to talk about than you would. How about I go instead?”

“Besides, if he hasn’t answered his phone for an hour, he might have fainted. Acute gastroenteritis can even trigger myocarditis, which could be life-threatening. I’m a medical school graduate after all – if something happens on site, I can handle it better than you, and taking care of a patient shouldn’t be a problem for me!”

Although Song Chunxiang hesitated, after thinking it over, she felt it made sense. For Yan Ming, she was in an awkward position as someone who might become his future stepmother. Going there might just add to the patient’s troubles, so it was indeed more appropriate for Yu Tian to go.

Yu Tian, carrying her mother’s repeated instructions and backup medicine, found Yan Ming’s residential complex according to the address.

This was a very high-end development in Rong City, all large flat garden houses with low plot ratio. Backed by mountains and facing a lake, looking through the lush, flourishing trees and large green spaces, one could see an endless lake surface. The entire complex was like a huge garden park.

It seemed Yan Ming’s family background was indeed as her mother had said – quite well-off.

But having heard that Yan Ming had acute gastroenteritis and hadn’t been reachable for nearly an hour, Yu Tian had no mood to appreciate the landscaping before her or marvel at Yan Ming’s family circumstances.

The complex was large, and her steps were so urgent they were almost a jog, wanting only to quickly confirm Yan Ming’s safety.

However, when Yu Tian breathlessly took the elevator to Yan Ming’s door and rang the bell and knocked, there was no response from inside.

Had something happened?

Yu Tian tried calling Yan Ming again.

The result was the same as Yan Wenhua’s – no one answered.

She waited at the door for a while, but there was still no response from inside.

Now Yu Tian was truly getting nervous.

She quickly took out her phone. Fortunately, Yan Ming’s front door had an electronic lock with both fingerprint and password functions, and Yan Wenhua, worried about Yan Ming, had already sent the password to her mother.

Yu Tian nervously entered the password. Hearing the electronic lock open, without thinking, she anxiously rushed inside:

“Brother Yan Ming! Are you all right…”

Yu Tian’s words weren’t even finished when she looked up and was completely stunned by the scene before her. The word “right” got completely stuck.

Yan Ming, whom she had imagined was sick to the point of fainting and in life-threatening danger, was currently bare-chested, wrapped in a bath towel, using another towel to dry his still-damp hair.

He seemed to have just come out of the shower, staring at Yu Tian at the door for a full minute before reacting.

“Yu Tian?”

Yan Ming frowned slightly. His hair had become smooth from being freshly washed, with some strands messily scattered and covering his originally sharp, indifferent gaze, giving his whole person a misleading sense of gentleness.

The moment Yu Tian realized what she was seeing, she instinctively closed her eyes to avoid impropriety.

She knew she shouldn’t look.

But the memory of such a strong visual impact was hard to erase immediately.

And once she closed her eyes, her thoughts seemed to sprout wings of imagination.

Yu Tian’s mind flashed alternately between the core socialist values, Yan Ming’s chest muscles, abs, and V-line, the core socialist values, then Yan Ming’s chest muscles, abs, and V-line, Yan Ming’s chest muscles, abs, and V-line, and finally completely just Yan Ming’s chest muscles, abs, and V-line…

You couldn’t tell when he was dressed, but unexpectedly, Yan Ming had such a good physique.

Yu Tian’s face became increasingly hot with her increasingly wild thoughts. She felt like a criminal who had committed a mortal sin with her eyes, having desecrated her deity.

Without vision, her other senses became more sensitive.

Yu Tian heard Yan Ming turn and go back to his room, the sound of a closing door, and moments later, she heard him approaching in slippers again.

She tried to keep herself calm and natural: “Can I open my eyes now?”

“Yes.”

Yu Tian opened her eyes again.

Yan Ming had already put on casual home clothes. He sat on the sofa, one hand holding a bottle of soda water he was drinking, the other hand relaxed and casually draped at his side – slender and pale, but with muscle definition that contained strength. When drinking, his Adam’s apple moved, making Yu Tian unconsciously feel somewhat thirsty herself.

Yu Tian unconsciously looked away.

She felt the weather was somewhat hot, making her feel more irritated and restless, and could only look down at the floor.

She cleared her throat and assured Yan Ming: “You can rest assured – I’ve already completely forgotten what I just saw! I’m famous for having a poor memory!”

Yan Ming said nothing, just looked up at Yu Tian, then finished his soda water and lazily tossed it toward the trash can in the corner.

After a clean, decisive arc, the empty soda can landed precisely in the trash can.

At the same time, came Yan Ming’s indifferent voice:

“Female, 18 years old. The right sole was punctured by an iron nail, wound cleaned and healed. Six days later developed fever, cough, chewing weakness, excessive phlegm, local muscle tension, then frequent limb convulsions, and ineffective sedative treatment. What immediate treatment should be taken to ensure patient safety?”

Yu Tian answered almost without thinking: “Tracheotomy.”

“What are the normal reference values for red blood cells and hemoglobin in normal adult males?”

“4.0-5.5×1012/L, 120-160g/L.”

Yu Tian answered almost instinctively, but after answering, she was somewhat puzzled.

Was Yan Ming testing her professional knowledge? These were all high-frequency exam questions from clinical medicine finals, weren’t they?

But before she could speak, she saw Yan Ming glance at her: “So how can I believe you’ll forget?”

His tone was flat: “Anyone who could graduate from our school’s medical college wouldn’t have a poor memory.”

“…”

Yu Tian looked up resentfully, glaring at Yan Ming with anger she dared not voice.

This guy used tricks!

Yan Ming seemed to sense Yu Tian’s gaze. His voice was indifferent: “Learn from barbarians to control barbarians. Wasn’t that what you said? Be honest, and I won’t need to use as many tricks I learned from you.”

Yu Tian hardened her resolve and looked at the carpet: “But for us medical students, whether it’s male or female bodies, seeing them doesn’t create any sense of mystery or excitement. Although I did see, it’s as calm as looking at cadaver teachers.”

Yu Tian felt she was telling the truth, but her ears and face still unconsciously burned, as if she were telling some enormous lie.

Yan Ming was indeed an excellent medical student – observant and perceptive.

“If your heart is as still as water, then why are your ears so red?”

Yu Tian wanted to praise Yan Ming for his good observation, but hoped he wouldn’t observe so much next time.

She argued: “Because it’s hot here, the ambient temperature is relatively high, causing capillary congestion in my ears, which is why they’re red.”

Yu Tian said dryly, “Temperature difference, mainly due to temperature difference.”

To verify her claim, she had to pretend to fan her ears.

Yan Ming neither confirmed nor denied Yu Tian’s excuse. He just frowned slightly, then looked away, using his still calm, low voice to warn: “Anyway, forget what you just saw.”

Yan Ming’s voice was cold, but Yu Tian saw that his ears were also red.

Inexplicably, Yu Tian heard herself foolishly speak: “Your ears are red too…”

Yan Ming pressed his lips together, glared at Yu Tian, and succinctly uttered two words: “Temperature difference.”

Yes, yes, temperature difference. It must be the temperature difference, too.

Soon, Yan Ming changed the subject: “What are you here for?”

“Uncle Yan said you were quite sick. He couldn’t reach you, and he’s out of town, so he was worried about you. He gave me your door password and asked me to come check on your condition. I didn’t mean to barge in.”

Yu Tian stammered her explanation: “It’s because when I called you, knocked on the door, and rang the bell just now, none of it worked. I was worried you might have fainted…”

She looked at Yan Ming carefully several times: “But I see your stomach seems fine now, you can even drink cold soda water…”

Yan Ming lowered his gaze and said quietly: “I’m fine. I apologize on behalf of my father for troubling you to make this trip.”

Yu Tian looked at Yan Ming several times and felt he indeed didn’t seem sick. Moreover, judging from his physique, she’d just seen, he wasn’t the frail type. Besides, a doctor who could endure ten-plus-hour surgeries and thirty-plus-hour shifts couldn’t have a poor physical constitution.

So why did he say he had acute gastroenteritis?

Yu Tian probed: “So you’re not sick? You lied?”

Yan Ming’s expression became somewhat unnatural, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn’t want to elaborate but acknowledged the lie, ending the topic simply and vaguely.

“There are some special reasons.”

Lying for special reasons?

With Yan Ming saying this, Yu Tian almost immediately had an epiphany-like realization.

Yan Ming probably pretended to be sick to make Yan Wenhua worry, just like a child claiming to be sick to get parental attention!

Especially at this juncture, with Yan Wenhua and her mother’s relationship heating up, Yan Ming, who had always depended on his father, would inevitably worry about the future, fearing he’d become an outsider in his father’s new family, so he’d resort to various ways to establish his presence.

Yu Tian, also raised in a single-parent family, could somewhat understand Yan Ming’s awkward and indescribable mindset.

Suddenly, she felt closer to Yan Ming.

As if to confirm Yu Tian’s current thoughts, Yan Ming stood up. He checked the time: “It’s about dinner time. Thank you for coming over. I’ll order takeout – let’s eat together.”

“No need, no need.” Yu Tian politely declined. “It’s peak delivery time now. Ordering takeout isn’t as good as making a simple meal at home.”

She was about to suggest she could cook when she heard Yan Ming speak.

“I can only make you a very simple lunch at home…”

“I don’t mind! Simple is fine!”

Her idol is personally cooking for her! How could she mind?

She’d be delighted!

Moreover, eating together was an important way to grow closer.

However, Yu Tian also felt bad about troubling Yan Ming entirely, so she offered: “Do you need help? I can assist or something.”

Yan Ming was very concise: “No need.”

Yu Tian smiled somewhat embarrassedly: “Then I’ll trouble you.”

After Yan Ming finished speaking, he quickly went into the kitchen.

Yu Tian suppressed her excited joy and almost immediately took out her phone to start bragging to Qi Sihao:

“My idol is personally making me lunch. Look how domesticated Yan Ming is! Not only good at academics, but also skilled at living with household abilities. And certain people? Can’t cook but can eat, always mooching meals, never seen him repay me by cooking something in return.”

Yu Tian had a heap of beautiful descriptive words and phrases to praise Yan Ming, but before she could use these put-down-lift-up remarks, Yan Ming emerged from the kitchen.

“It’s ready.” He glanced at Yu Tian: “Pretty simple.”

So fast?!

Worthy of being an impressive doctor – such efficient movement!

Yu Tian was moved: “It’s fine! I usually eat very simply myself. You’re so capable – making a simple lunch in such a short time! Such quick movements! No wonder our former teachers praised you endlessly, saying you were both precise and efficient in experiments…”

However, Yu Tian’s words trailed off when she saw Yan Ming bring out two bowls of instant cup noodles.

When Yan Ming said a simple meal, Yu Tian understood it as something like scrambled eggs with tomatoes…

But what was before her… wasn’t it a bit too simple?

Yan Ming was quite matter-of-fact: “Braised beef noodles. I fried an egg, boiled some vegetables, plus the beef bits from the seasoning packet – very balanced nutrition.”

Indeed, in a bowl of red-soup Master Kong braised beef noodles, a few vegetables floated along with a poached egg.

It could be considered a meat-and-vegetable combination.

Yu Tian thought one should be content – this was at least instant noodles personally prepared by her idol.

Just after finishing the instant noodles, Yu Tian heard the doorbell ring:

“Yan Ming, are you home?”

Accompanying the doorbell was a female voice – gentle and clear, with some anxiety.

Yu Tian stared wide-eyed at Yan Ming: “Who is it? Do you have visitors today?”

Yan Ming’s lips pressed into a line.

“It’s the blind date I was supposed to meet today.”

Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian: “I was supposed to have lunch with her.”

He spoke methodically and calmly: “But I’m sick. Acute gastroenteritis.”

Yan Ming’s beautiful eyes fixed on Yu Tian: “You know that, right? Severe enough that I can’t go out.”

“…”

“So you, as my… sister, came to check on me.”

“…”

Yan Ming calmly looked at the cup noodles in front of him, then at Yu Tian’s – both contained only red broth and some scallions.

“People with acute gastroenteritis need to fast and replenish electrolytes, so if these two cups of noodles are discovered, they were both eaten by you – someone with a big appetite.”

“…”