PDGUT - 2

With a heavy heart and dragging steps, Yu Tian arrived once again at the entrance of Room 203.

Song Chunxiang had been waiting anxiously by the door. Seeing Yu Tian emerge from the neighboring room, she frowned in confusion. “Why are you coming out of Room 204? Did you walk into the wrong room?”

Yu Tian hesitated, trying to delay entering. “Mom, maybe I shouldn’t go in after all…”

“What nonsense is this!” Song Chunxiang’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment as she lowered her voice. “He’s quite good-looking, and he takes this meeting very seriously. His son just finished a night shift, but he insisted on coming early by over half an hour to avoid being late. He didn’t even let his son rest at home first before rushing here…”

“…” If anything, that made Yu Tian want to disappear even more.

With a faint voice, Yu Tian made one last desperate attempt. “Why don’t you just tell him you’re a widow without children? It’d be easier for remarriage that way…”

Song Chunxiang’s eyes widened in anger, and she smacked Yu Tian hard on the arm. “I already told them I have a daughter!”

“Then say your daughter happens to be unavailable right now…”

“What rubbish are you spouting, you silly girl?!”

Song Chunxiang had always been decisive. Before Yu Tian could explain the gravity of the situation, her mother had already pushed open the door and shoved her inside with a bright smile. “My daughter, Yu Tian, accidentally walked into the wrong room earlier and was waiting next door. She’s actually been here for a while!”

With no choice, Yu Tian entered Room 203 once again.

Someone had opened a window, and a gust of wind swept through. The camphor tree leaves outside danced rhythmically, brushing against one another and producing a rustling sound amidst the cicada calls. Like butterflies flapping their wings, they refracted sunlight at different angles, bringing fresh air—and the scorching heat of summer—into the room.

The wind tousled Yu Tian’s hair and lifted the hem of her skirt. She scrambled awkwardly to steady her fluttering strands and keep her skirt in place. Her mood felt as unsettled as the wind-blown leaves, unable to find peace.

The man from earlier still sat in his original spot, calm and indifferent, showing no reaction to Yu Tian’s reappearance. She noticed him raise his eyelids slightly, casting a cold glance her way before turning his gaze toward the direction of the breeze.

In contrast to his aloof demeanor, the middle-aged man beside him radiated warmth. Almost the moment he saw Yu Tian, he instinctively straightened his collar and stood up. “Xiao Yu, hello! Your mother showed us pictures of you before—you’re even prettier in person!”

Yu Tian glanced at the young man sitting next to the older gentleman. So her mother had shown them photos of her—it wasn’t surprising then that the man recognized her name, leading to all the misunderstandings that caused her to mistake him for her blind date.

The middle-aged man smiled warmly. “I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yan Wenhua. You can call me Uncle Yan.”

As Song Chunxiang had mentioned, Yan Wenhua took good care of himself—he had no beer belly, and his hair was thick. Though his appearance was pleasant enough, if he ranked as an A-tier, his son would undoubtedly be S-tier. Fortunately, he was tall and well-built, making him stand out among men his age.

Forcing herself to appear composed, Yu Tian put on a polite smile. “Hello, Uncle Yan!”

Yan Wenhua chuckled in response, then glanced at the disengaged figure beside him. Clearing his throat slightly, he prompted, “Go on, introduce yourself.”

Finally turning away from the window, the seated man didn’t rise or extend his hand. With concise indifference, he uttered two words:

“Yan Ming.”

Yan Ming?

Yu Tian froze.

Yan Wenhua seemed somewhat apologetic. “Yan Ming just finished a night shift. He’s probably exhausted and not fully awake yet…”

Though there wasn’t a trace of fatigue or confusion in Yan Ming’s eyes, Yu Tian didn’t have time to dwell on it.

All she could think about was that he had come straight here after finishing his night shift…

Could it be…

Yu Tian’s heart began to race wildly.

Staring at his face, her voice trembled slightly. “Yan as in ‘language,’ Ming as in ‘motto’?”

His tone remained cool but carried a hint of laziness. “Mm.”

“…” Still unwilling to give up, Yu Tian pressed further. “You… Are you a doctor?”

Yan Ming fiddled absentmindedly with the teacup on the table and nodded indifferently. “Mm, yes.”

“…”

If given the chance, Yu Tian believed she would do anything to travel back in time and erase her actions from half an hour ago.

This was Yan Ming !

That Yan Ming!

Instinctively, Yu Tian’s left hand traced the scar on her right hand. Her fingers, once numb and clumsy due to the injury, now trembled faintly.

Her mind swirled with indescribable embarrassment, nervousness, and fleeting hints of relief and excitement.

Her mother was dating Yan Ming’s father!

Which meant… there was a possibility she and Yan Ming might become family!

And what had she done just moments ago?!

Yu Tian’s face flushed red and pale in turns, but Song Chunxiang remained oblivious. At that moment, she was engrossed in discussing the menu with Yan Wenhua, paying no attention to Yu Tian or Yan Ming.

Though Yu Tian was never quiet or reserved, facing Yan Ming now, she felt a strange mix of shyness and apprehension—as if she were a mermaid who had traded her legs for a voice, only to lose her ability to speak upon encountering him.

Her face turned crimson, and her left hand unconsciously twisted the edge of her skirt.

She grew flustered and clumsy, her thoughts grinding along like a slow, rusted machine unable to function properly.

Outside, the cicadas continued their relentless song, unbothered by the awkward silence inside.

Despite the ample air conditioning in the private room, Yu Tian felt waves of heat enveloping her. Just as she began to feel as though she might evaporate into the air like the steam rising from Yan Ming’s teacup, he lazily raised his head.

“You work fast. Already changed your clothes?”

“…”

He smirked faintly. “Didn’t you look quite refreshing earlier? The temperature’s rising as it nears noon—why are you wearing even more layers now?”

Yu Tian glanced down at her modest dress and forced herself to offer an explanation. “Maybe it’s what people call kidney yang deficiency…”

Stealing a quick glance at Yan Ming, she added, “Kidney yang deficiency makes you feel cold; kidney yin deficiency causes heat.”

Good. Very thorough.

Facing Yan Ming, Yu Tian couldn’t help but feel like a nervous elementary school student preparing for final exams.

But Yan Ming didn’t seem to care. He simply gave a casual, indifferent smile. “What about your cat? Wasn’t it having trouble giving birth?”

“…” Yu Tian’s inner turmoil intensified, but outwardly, she remained eerily calm. “Turns out it wasn’t giving birth after all.”

Yan Ming stared at her blankly.

Yu Tian’s nerves frayed further. Though staying silent and changing the subject would have been the wisest move, her anxiety drove her to explain herself.

“It was just constipated,” she stammered. “It gained so much weight that we mistook it for pregnancy. But when we saw how hard it was struggling, we thought it was having complications…”

Unfortunately, just as Yu Tian was secretly congratulating herself on her quick thinking, Song Chunxiang seemed to have caught a keyword and turned her head.

With a puzzled expression, she slowly said, “You don’t have a cat, do you? Aren’t you allergic to cat hair?”

“…”

Yu Tian had no idea how to manage her facial expressions to get out of this unscathed. She bit her lip hard and decided to stay silent, feeling utterly awkward and out of place.

In the face of overwhelming embarrassment, a person’s self-preservation mechanism often slows their reactions by a beat or two.

Yu Tian’s inner self retreated into the shell of her consciousness, numbing her heart with a sauce-like coating while it sizzled like deep-fried oil inside.

She chose to ignore Yan Ming’s dismissive, mocking tone.

Yu Tian had originally hoped that the Yan Ming in front of her was the Yan Ming, but now a small part of her clung to wishful thinking, praying that this was just a stranger with the same name and profession.

There were so many Yan Mings in Rong City—it wasn’t necessarily…

But this bubble of hope, effervescent like the fizz when opening a soda can, was quickly burst by reality.

After ordering the dishes, Yan Wenhua enthusiastically began introducing his son’s background.

“Our Yan Ming may be quiet and not talk much, but he has a strong sense of purpose. He skipped several grades during middle and high school and was admitted to Rong City Medical University at just sixteen. He completed an integrated undergraduate-to-doctorate program and, at twenty-eight, has already been working in the ophthalmology department of Rong City First Affiliated Hospital for four years.”

It really was him…

For countless nights, Yan Ming’s resume had been taped to the wall above Yu Tian’s desk, accompanying her through every exhausting yet determined late-night study session.

Yu Tian’s heart felt like a lemon submerged in honey—though surrounded by the sweet atmosphere of dreams coming true, the sourness within refused to dissolve.

Yan Wenhua was clearly proud of Yan Ming: “If you ever have any eye issues, just go to him!”

Yu Tian wanted to warn her mother, but it was too late.

“How coincidental! Our Xiao Yu also graduated from Rong City Medical University!”

This piqued Yan Wenhua’s interest. “So Xiao Yu is an undergraduate graduate, right? Are you planning to pursue further studies or enter hospital training? If you have any questions, feel free to ask our Yan Ming. What a coincidence—he’s your senior!”

At the mention of graduating from Rong City Medical University, Yan Ming, who had been indifferent until now, raised his head slightly and looked at Yu Tian with some surprise.

This was exactly the encounter Yu Tian had dreamed of for so long.

But… not at this moment.

Song Chunxiang’s face revealed hints of regret and sorrow.

Fortunately, before she could speak, Yu Tian quickly took over the conversation. “I’m not planning to pursue further studies or work in a hospital.”

Yan Wenhua looked confused.

“I’m switching careers. I want to start my own business and become a content creator,” Yu Tian said with a smile, dimples showing, her voice light and playful. “Medicine is too tiring for girls. I’d rather take it easy.”

“That’s true,” Yan Wenhua chuckled. “Yan Ming is always busy to death and still hasn’t found a partner.”

Yan Ming raised an eyelid slightly. His lips remained neutral, but he didn’t refute the statement.

Thankfully, the topic shifted soon after.

After all, this was Song Chunxiang and Yan Wenhua’s blind date. The two got along well, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

Yan Wenhua clearly liked Song Chunxiang. After finishing the meal, he invited her to watch a newly released art film at a nearby cinema.

Unfortunately, Song Chunxiang wasn’t interested in art films and suggested visiting a new open-air market nearby instead. Hearing this, Yan Wenhua readily agreed to accompany her.

He handed the movie tickets to Yan Ming. “You don’t have anything planned for the afternoon, so don’t waste the tickets. Take Xiao Yu to watch the movie, and then drop her off at home afterward, understood?”

Yan Ming glanced at the tickets, his lashes fluttering slightly. He cast a casual glance at Yu Tian.

Yu Tian thought he might refuse, but unexpectedly, he accepted the tickets.

“Mm.”

Yan Wenhua left with Song Chunxiang first.

Yan Ming went to settle the bill.

Yu Tian waited not far away, watching the tall and handsome man at the cashier counter. Gradually, her heart began to regain some sense of reality.

Her heart started racing uncontrollably again.

Unable to resist, Yu Tian pulled out her phone and secretly snapped a picture of Yan Ming’s profile, sending it to Qi Sihao.

Qi Sihao replied almost instantly: “? You’ve fallen for him?”

“He’s decent-looking, barely on par with me,” the guy joked. “I approve of this marriage!”

Yu Tian felt slightly better. She smiled and replied, “Stop talking nonsense and kneel down to worship.”

“?!”

Yu Tian teased, “Do you know who this is?”

Qi Sihao sent a shocked sticker. “You’re my opposite-sex bro! Is this someone I need to kneel to? Could it be your future dad?”

“…”

Yu Tian’s silence only reinforced Qi Sihao’s certainty. “Is this your mom’s blind date partner? This young? Little Fish, come clean—are you guys hiding lottery winnings from me? Has money corrupted your values? Even Aunt Song, who’s usually so down-to-earth, turned into a wealthy widow and started dating pretty boys?”

“…”

Yu Tian thought the story of Mencius’ mother moving three times was indeed worth emulating. If Song Chunxiang had moved earlier, she wouldn’t have met Qi Sihao as a neighbor.

“This is Yan Ming!”

“?!!!” Qi Sihao indeed sent a series of shocked stickers.

“The one who looks like a male model—is this really Emperor Yan?”

Yu Tian felt a bit proud. “Of course!”

Yan Ming was a legend at Rong City Medical University. As Yan Wenhua had said, he entered the university at sixteen, completed his eight-year integrated undergraduate-to-doctorate program, and consistently ranked first in both theory and practice. After entering the hospital, he broke through countless barriers and became the youngest attending physician. The several delicate and complex eye surgeries he performed nearly became textbook examples.

The undergraduate medical program lasted five years. Yu Tian and Qi Sihao were exactly five years behind Yan Ming. By the time they entered the school, Yan Ming had already moved on to his graduate studies and spent most of his time rotating in hospitals, rarely appearing on campus.

They constantly heard about Yan Ming’s legends from their teachers and saw his dazzling, otherworldly resume on the school bulletin boards—but neither of them had ever seen Yan Ming in person or even a photo of him.

While admiring him, Qi Sihao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. “Isn’t it said that Emperor Yan doesn’t like taking pictures and never leaves any behind? I thought it was because he was ugly. After all, a man must be ugly enough to avoid romantic distractions to focus solely on academics and achieve what he has. Unlike me—I’m quite handsome…”

Yu Tian scoffed at Qi Sihao’s words. “Stop flattering yourself! My idol isn’t camera-shy because he’s ugly. He’s the most virtuous and talented person in the world! And he’s probably a hundred times better-looking than you!”

To be precise, Yan Ming hadn’t left no photos at the medical university.

He left behind legends—and a nickname: Emperor Yan.

Every finals season, there would be a superstitious activity where students prayed to Emperor Yan for good luck in their exams.

As a result, the ID photo of Yan Ming that had been displayed in the school’s bulletin board had long since been taken by some desperate student hoping to pass exams through unconventional means and used for worship. Now, only an empty photo slot remained.

Yu Tian hadn’t thought much of it before, but now she harbored deep resentment toward whoever had stolen that photo.

If only she had known what Yan Ming looked like earlier, could such a farce have been avoided?

After briefly recounting how she had come to meet Yan Ming, Yu Tian, with a stern expression, delivered her closing remarks in their chat—

“From now on, I’m no longer your opposite-sex bro, and don’t call me ‘Little Fish’ so casually anymore. If my mom and his dad get remarried, Yan Ming will be my older brother. He’s Emperor Yan, which makes me the Crown Princess!”

Yu Tian then sent Qi Sihao some messages suggesting that he’d soon be unworthy of her presence and advising him to start flattering her while he still could. Finally, she put her phone away.

Yan Ming had finished paying at the register and was already walking back toward her.

He still appeared aloof, glancing at Yu Tian briefly.

“Let’s go.”

Under the influence of her idolizing admiration, Yu Tian didn’t mind Yan Ming’s cold demeanor at all. With a heart full of excitement and nervousness, she followed him eagerly.