PDGUT - 20

Yu Tian didn’t expect that just after vowing to stay away from men and focus on editing her footage into a feature program, she would be compelled to visit Yan Ming at the hospital again due to a phone call from Ren Yali.

Ren Yali had suddenly gone blind.

At first, when Yu Tian received Ren Yali’s call, she was skeptical. She suspected that Ren Yali might be using this as an excuse to get closer to Qi Sihao by indirectly involving her.

However, upon seeing Ren Yali in person, her doubts vanished.

Ren Yali could no longer walk independently and was being supported by her mother throughout.

Yu Tian tried waving her fingers in front of Ren Yali’s eyes several times, but Ren Yali’s gaze remained unfocused and blank—she truly couldn’t see anything, not even light. When questioned, Yu Tian learned that Ren Yali hadn’t suffered any external eye injuries or taken any medications recently.

Ren Yali was on the verge of tears: “I don’t know what happened. I woke up one morning and suddenly couldn’t see. My mom has already taken me to several private hospitals, and I’ve taken lots of medication. We’ve done all the possible tests, but no one can figure out the problem.”

“Yu Tian, isn’t your brother an ophthalmologist at the First Affiliated Hospital? Could you ask him to take a look at my case?”

Before Ren Yali could finish speaking, her mother interrupted: “We checked the online appointment platform for experts at the First Affiliated Hospital’s ophthalmology department, but all the expert appointments are fully booked for the next two weeks. However, our Yali has a performance to host next week—it’s a resource we worked so hard to secure, and it will be her first time on stage. She’s been looking forward to it so much. Her vision must be restored before the performance—we simply can’t wait any longer!”

It was clear that Ren Yali’s mother was extremely anxious, almost grasping at straws: “You’re Yu Tian, right? Yali says you’re her friend. Your brother works in the ophthalmology department at the First Affiliated Hospital—could you pull some strings to get us seen sooner? Our Yali has been crying for days because she wants to perform smoothly. Isn’t that right, Yali?”

Ren Yali’s eyes welled up with tears. Startled by her mother’s mention of her name, she hesitated before nodding, her expression wounded.

Although Yu Tian barely knew Ren Yali, her kind-hearted nature wouldn’t allow her to ignore someone seeking help.

“I’ll try,” Yu Tian said. “My brother isn’t seeing patients today—he’s in his office. If he’s not in a meeting and has time, I’ll bring you to see him there.”

With that, Yu Tian reluctantly dialed Yan Ming’s number under the grateful gazes and fervent hopes of Ren Yali’s mother.

“Brother Yan Ming, it’s me, Yu Tian. Are you free right now?”

After hanging up, Yu Tian breathed a sigh of relief. As usual, Yan Ming was cold and distant, but he did have time and agreed to let Yu Tian bring a friend over.

Without wasting a minute, Yu Tian rushed Ren Yali and her mother to Yan Ming’s office.

Receiving Yu Tian’s call, Yan Ming wasn’t surprised—in fact, he felt a sense of calm, as if the other shoe had finally dropped.

Since returning home last night, Yu Tian hadn’t contacted him.

In the past, this would have been unthinkable.

Ever since they’d met, Yu Tian’s affections toward him had been unmistakably direct. She reached out to him almost daily—sometimes sending medical articles, sometimes asking professional questions, or inquiring about surgical procedures. On the surface, it seemed like the curiosity of an eager medical student, but Yan Ming knew she was mostly just finding excuses to stay relevant in his life.

However, after crying last night, perhaps she had been discouraged—she hadn’t contacted him at all.

Yan Ming suspected this might be part of her plan, but after days of continuous contact, he had developed a conditioned reflex, repeatedly checking his phone throughout the day.

Today, Yu Tian’s excuse was clever: she claimed a friend had suddenly gone blind.

When she arrived with the patient, Yan Ming’s suspicions deepened.

This “friend” wasn’t even remotely a friend—at least, not according to Yan Ming’s memory. This was none other than the girl who had previously pursued Qi Sihao, failed, and then turned hostile toward Yu Tian.

It seemed Yu Tian had gone to great lengths to find someone with eye problems as a pretext to approach him.

However, once faced with a patient, Yan Ming quickly set aside other thoughts and focused on conducting a preliminary examination.

The patient, Ren Yali, appeared young. The tests she had undergone at other hospitals were already extensive—even a cranial CT scan had been performed, showing no organic lesions.

“All the test results show no issues,” Ren Yali’s mother said anxiously, her face revealing doubt. “Doctor, could you recommend a senior expert?”

Clearly, she was concerned about Yan Ming’s youth.

Realizing how her words might sound, she quickly added: “It’s just that we’re in a hurry. Yali has a hosting gig next week—she’s worked so hard for it, practicing every single day. She’s really looking forward to being on stage…”

Yan Ming reviewed all the test results. His conclusion aligned with the doctors from the other hospitals.

Faced with Ren Yali’s mother’s skepticism and distrust, he showed no signs of impatience or displeasure. Instead of engaging further with her, he turned his attention to Ren Yali, who sat silently, visibly distressed.

“Your blindness started two mornings ago, correct?”

Unable to see, Ren Yali nodded toward the source of his voice.

“You’re very excited about hosting next week, aren’t you?”

Ren Yali hesitated, her face clearly showing anxiety and frustration. She bit her lip: “Yes.”

Yan Ming smiled gently, his tone soothing like a gentle stream nourishing the heart—neither abrupt nor overbearing. Gone was his usual aloofness, replaced by the patience of someone speaking to a child.

He began asking Ren Yali other questions, seemingly unrelated to her eyes, more like casual conversation.

At first, Ren Yali was tense, but Yan Ming’s questions were natural and non-threatening, like a soft spring breeze calming her nerves. Before long, she visibly relaxed, her responses becoming livelier.

Yu Tian watched as Yan Ming effortlessly bridged the gap with Ren Yali within five minutes. What should have been a formal consultation turned into a friendly chat, with the two laughing and conversing comfortably.

While Yan Ming was always more patient with patients, Yu Tian had never seen him so actively engage in small talk or show interest in a patient’s personal life.

Could it be that he was attracted to Ren Yali?

Yu Tian pursed her lips, studying Ren Yali closely. She wasn’t unattractive—her previously haughty demeanor now softened by her sightless eyes, exuding vulnerability and evoking sympathy. The combination made her appear endearing and innocent, undeniably appealing.

But…

She had brought Ren Yali here to treat her eyes!

Not to set her up with Yan Ming!

Why did it feel like they were just chatting?!

Yu Tian didn’t understand why, but she felt irritated.

Logically, she trusted Yan Ming as a highly professional ophthalmologist; emotionally, however, she felt uneasy and awkward. While it was normal for doctors to chat casually with patients—and Ren Yali was, after all, her guest—Yu Tian wished Yan Ming would maintain his usual detached professionalism.

Shouldn’t doctors treat everyone equally?

Yan Ming, however, seemed oblivious to Yu Tian’s disapproving gaze. He spoke to Ren Yali gently: “If you host that event, I believe it will go wonderfully. Your voice is very pleasant.”

At his words, Ren Yali’s cheeks flushed slightly: “Really…? Is that true…?”

Yu Tian knew Yan Ming was charismatic, but she hadn’t expected Ren Yali to display such obvious shyness and bashfulness even without the ability to visually admire him.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, Yu Tian felt restless and irritable. Perhaps it was because she had introduced Ren Yali, and she was frustrated that Yan Ming hadn’t yet diagnosed her condition.

Ren Yali’s mother shared her impatience: “Doctor! Can you tell us if you can cure my daughter’s eyes? We know her voice is nice, but if you can’t treat her, we need to rush to another doctor so she doesn’t miss her stage debut!”

Unfazed by the pointed question, Yan Ming remained composed.

“It can be treated.”

His response was concise. He looked at Ren Yali’s mother: “I can cure her, but you must promise me—she cannot participate in the hosting next week.”

Ren Yali’s mother froze, startled by the sudden stipulation: “Why?! Why not?!”

“Because even after her vision is restored, her eyes cannot endure excessive light stimulation in the short term. It’s best to limit exposure to natural light. The stage lighting will place too much strain on her eyes.”

Ren Yali’s mother hesitated: “But this hosting opportunity…”

“Is your daughter’s eyesight more important, or the stage?”

Yan Ming paused, then calmly added: “If you insist on letting her host, then there’s no point in treating her now. If I cure her today and she hosts next week, her eyes may likely lose vision again.”

What kind of situation was this?

Though still somewhat skeptical, Ren Yali’s mother understood the gravity of the situation: “Fine! As long as you can cure her, she won’t host! Missing one performance isn’t a big deal, but losing her sight forever would be devastating. Yali is still so young!”

“Good. Then, take some medication. Wait a moment—I’ll fetch it.”

With that, Yan Ming stepped into the small room behind him. Moments later, he returned with a small bottle of pills. He poured out three tablets, handed them to Ren Yali with a glass of water: “Take these. They work quickly—you should regain your vision shortly.”

Ren Yali’s mother was obviously hesitant. But after trying nearly every renowned ophthalmologist in Rong City, even resorting to folk remedies back home, Ren Yali’s vision hadn’t budged. Now, faced with this young doctor’s confident assurance, she figured it was worth a shot.

Under her mother’s assistance, Ren Yali swallowed the pills Yan Ming had given her.

And then, the unbelievable happened.

Less than fifteen minutes after taking the medication, Ren Yali exclaimed in surprise: “I can see! I can see again!”

Ren Yali’s mother, who had initially held little hope, rushed forward to test her daughter’s vision by waving her fingers in front of her eyes.

Miraculously, Ren Yali’s sight, which had been completely lost, was fully restored right before their eyes after taking the medication!

Even Ren Yali’s mother found it hard to believe, let alone Yu Tian, who began to question modern medicine itself.

What kind of miracle drug was this?

Just as Yu Tian leaned over to inspect the pill bottle, Yan Ming swiftly tucked it into his pocket.

“You can visit the outpatient clinic for a regular check-up. If everything goes as expected, her vision should have returned to its original level.”

“Additionally, her eyes can no longer withstand any form of stress. Psychological pressure will eventually affect physical health. If you don’t want her to lose her sight again, you must stop putting undue pressure on her. Let her decide for herself whether she wants to do something—stop making decisions for your child, Auntie. Can you do that?”

Ren Yali’s mother, now fully aware of the importance of her daughter’s health compared to fame and glory, nodded eagerly: “Yes, yes, I understand! Thank you, Doctor!”

Yan Ming continued: “Auntie, come with me. I’ll help you register for an outpatient appointment and explain the medication I gave your daughter, along with post-recovery care instructions. There’s also an eye drop you can purchase from an external pharmacy—I’ll write down the name for you.”

Ren Yali’s mother, now humbled and respectful, followed him obediently: “Yes, yes, thank you, Doctor!”

With that, Yan Ming left with Ren Yali’s mother, leaving Ren Yali and Yu Tian alone in the office.

Once her vision returned, Ren Yali had secretly admired Yan Ming several times. Even though he was no longer present, the lingering effects of his charm were still evident.

Ren Yali, her face flushed with both shyness and gratitude, turned to Yu Tian: “Yu Tian, I’m really sorry for everything before. Thank you so much. I didn’t expect your brother to be such a great person.”

“And so handsome!” Ren Yali added in a whisper. “And so gentle... despite being so young, his professional skills are incredible...”

The praise kept flowing from Ren Yali’s lips. Logically, Yu Tian should have felt proud of Yan Ming being admired this way—but instead, she couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.

Her emotions were tangled, as though someone had eyed a treasured possession of hers.

It was like how some fans adore their idols most fervently when they’re still relatively unknown, cherishing the sense of exclusivity and hidden admiration. But once that idol becomes wildly popular, with countless devoted fans showering them with effortless adoration, those early fans often lose interest.

Much of that devotion stems from the desire for uniqueness and secrecy.

Yu Tian suspected her feelings mirrored those of a fan.

She felt uneasy but couldn’t pinpoint why.

Yan Ming’s excellence in his profession and his undeniable good looks were obvious to anyone. He had always attracted admirers, and it was natural for Ren Yali to be drawn to him. But…

But Yan Ming had been too gentle with Ren Yali. He had never shown such tenderness toward Yu Tian, who could potentially become his stepsister one day.

Though he wasn’t legally her brother yet—nor did they share any blood relation—Yu Tian still felt a strange sense of loss, as if something precious had been taken away.

Soon, Ren Yali’s mother returned, her eyes slightly red but her tone filled with gratitude. After profusely thanking Yan Ming again, she took Ren Yali to the outpatient clinic for a vision check.

The office was now left with only Yan Ming and Yu Tian.

“What was that miraculous medicine?”

Yu Tian feigned nonchalance: “Since you already figured out her condition earlier and knew exactly what medication to give her, why didn’t you just hand it over sooner? That pill was so magical—it restored her vision instantly!”

“After all, doctors are busy. You chatted with Ren Yali for quite a while, which must have delayed you. And her mother seemed pretty impatient—I saw her almost losing her temper earlier, probably because she was anxious after waiting so long.”

“But I just realized how talkative you can be. Seems like it depends on the person.”

Yu Tian immediately regretted her words after blurting them out—they sounded unnecessarily sarcastic.

She had no real grounds to be sarcastic, especially since Yan Ming wasn’t even on duty today, and Ren Yali had come at her request.

If someone spoke to her like that, she’d likely ignore them completely.

Surely Yan Ming wouldn’t bother replying.

Feeling embarrassed, her cheeks burning, Yu Tian was about to change the subject and sincerely thank Yan Ming when, unexpectedly, he began explaining.

“The conversation was to better understand her condition.”

His voice was calm and matter-of-fact: “What I gave her wasn’t some miracle drug—it was just a multivitamin.” He raised an eyebrow at Yu Tian. “You’re a medical student too. Is there really such a thing as medicine that works that quickly?”

“As a doctor, paying attention to a patient’s microexpressions is crucial. From her test results, there was no organic issue with her eyes, and the brain CT showed no abnormalities. So why the blindness? We had to consider psychological factors.”

“Ren Yali’s mother was indeed very anxious, hoping her daughter would recover quickly for next week’s hosting gig. But didn’t you notice? Whenever the topic of performing came up, Ren Yali started biting her lip and fidgeting nervously—very different from her mother’s anxiety.”

Yu Tian was surprised: “So…”

“Ren Yali’s mother was anxious because she wanted her daughter to recover and not miss the performance. But Ren Yali was nervous because she dreaded having to perform.”

Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian: “That’s why I chatted more with her about her life. It confirmed my suspicions—her mother has always been strict, placing immense pressure on her. Ren Yali doesn’t want to be in the spotlight; she just wants to live an ordinary, happy life. Her mother’s high expectations burdened her, making her unable to handle failure easily.”

“So when I suggested that even if her vision improved, she shouldn’t perform, her expression visibly relaxed—as if she felt relieved.”

“Fear of failure and the pressure of performing caused her blindness.”

Yan Ming organized some papers on his desk: “Medically speaking, her condition is hysterical amblyopia—a visual impairment caused entirely by psychological factors. I’ve encountered similar cases in my practice before. It’s often due to self-suggestion. Deep down, Ren Yali didn’t want to perform next week—it was too overwhelming for her.”

He paused, looking at Yu Tian before averting his gaze: “That’s why I engaged her in casual conversation—to lower her guard and confirm her issues so I could address them properly.”

“This kind of condition usually occurs in children or teenagers who lack the ability to resist their parents’ control. Many parents, under the guise of ‘doing what’s best,’ disregard their children’s true feelings and force them into situations they don’t want. While they think they’re helping, these parents often end up causing their children immense pain.”

“Years of unresolved unhappiness and unrelieved pressure can manifest in various ways—some suddenly lose their sight, others their hearing…”

“These conditions technically fall under psychiatry, but many patients or families don’t realize the root cause and seek help from ophthalmologists. However, once we identify the underlying issue, sometimes subtle psychological suggestions from an ophthalmologist can work wonders. That’s why I tried this approach.”

Yan Ming’s voice was steady and explanatory: “When treating such patients, beyond giving psychological hints, we also use our authority as doctors to guide the parents, aiming to improve the family environment and resolve the root problem. This requires understanding their lifestyle and identifying the source of tension.”

Yu Tian’s mood suddenly soared, as if riding a rollercoaster. Her earlier discomfort vanished, and everything seemed brighter again.

She felt a twinge of guilt but not overwhelmingly so—what filled her heart now was joy and relief.

Clearly, Yan Ming was responsible. How could she have doubted him?

Still, he’d make a terrible boyfriend. Putting herself in that position, Yu Tian imagined seeing this scene—if she were his girlfriend, she’d probably explode with jealousy.

Even knowing he was acting professionally, seeing him treat Ren Yali with such gentleness and care made her feel irrationally angry and envious.

She stole a glance at Yan Ming. His profile remained perfect and aloof. Silent and unsmiling, he exuded an untouchable, frosty aura. Yet, paradoxically, this only heightened the urge to claim him.

Objectively speaking, even as a fellow medical student, she should have understood his actions better. But imagining herself in a romantic relationship with Yan Ming, Yu Tian admitted she wouldn’t fare much better than the average girl. Facing someone like Yan Ming, it was easy to succumb to jealousy and irrationality, unable to fully empathize.

Perhaps the best course of action was to distance herself from men like Yan Ming—never date someone like him.

Yu Tian’s thoughts swirled. She alternated between stealing glances at Yan Ming and lowering her gaze.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Though his head was bowed, Yan Ming seemed to know everything. Without raising an eyelid, his tone was icy: “If I remember correctly, didn’t you try to set me up with her once?”

“Since you were so generous then, isn’t it fair that I chat with her a little, even outside of a doctor-patient relationship? Isn’t this what you expected?”

Yan Ming took a sip of water and glanced at Yu Tian: “Your words aren’t holding up well.”

For some reason, Yu Tian’s face flushed red under his gaze.

She wanted to defend herself, but before she could speak, Ren Yali and her mother returned to the office. As Yan Ming predicted, Ren Yali’s vision had fully recovered, showing no issues during the outpatient check.

Ren Yali’s mother expressed her gratitude once again. Then, nudging her daughter, Ren Yali hesitantly stepped forward, pulling out her phone.

“Brother Yan Ming, could we exchange WeChat? If anything happens with my eyes later, I’d like to ask for your advice…”

Yu Tian had been about to protest that she was generous and trustworthy, but seeing Ren Yali now, she was glad she hadn’t spoken yet—because she might have ended up lying.

She was furious. How dare Ren Yali call him “Brother Yan Ming”! That was her exclusive term!

Besides, wasn’t Ren Yali supposedly interested in Qi Sihao? How could she switch allegiances so easily? Clearly, she wasn’t loyal at all!

But Yu Tian knew she couldn’t stop anything. She silently cheered for Qi Sihao’s pursuit of Gao Mei, glaring at Ren Yali in her mind.

Look, Yan Ming adds WeChat contacts every day. Anyone dating him would drown in jealousy. In comparison, Qi Sihao didn’t seem so bad after all.

Just as Yu Tian expected Yan Ming to pull out his phone, she heard his refusal—

“No need for WeChat.”

His expression, which had been warm and gentle while treating Ren Yali, turned cold and distant—like a stranger’s.

“Your eyes should be fine moving forward. There’s no need to book another appointment with me. If anything comes up, just register for a regular consultation.”

He added politely: “Normally, I shouldn’t see patients outside of my scheduled hours. But since you’re Yu Tian’s friend, I’ll make an exception this time.”

“And… just call me Dr. Yan from now on.”

As he said this, Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian. Though he didn’t say anything directly to her, his eyes clearly conveyed: “Are you satisfied now?”

Yu Tian pressed her lips together, pretending indifference, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled upward.

Maybe Yan Ming was still a bit better than Qi Sihao after all.