PDGUT - 25

Yu Tian was cracking walnuts when she received a call from Gao Mei.

“Little Yu, next Wednesday is your brother’s birthday. I’m planning to throw him a surprise party and would like to invite you to join. While we’re at it, I’d love your help brainstorming ideas.”

Gao Mei’s tone was cheerful: “What does your brother like? What kind of birthday gift do you think would make him happy and leave a lasting impression?”

“I checked with Qi Sihao about your brother’s schedule for that day. He doesn’t have night shifts, only outpatient duties, and should be off by the afternoon. Qi Sihao has already agreed to use an excuse to lure him out for dinner. I’ll book a private room, decorate it, and then invite a few of his close friends from the hospital…”

Gao Mei was clearly excited about celebrating Yan Ming’s birthday. Ideas kept popping into her head, and her heart was full of anticipation.

But Yu Tian remained calm.

In fact, after returning home last night, Yu Tian still felt a bit down. She truly felt reluctant to part ways with Yan Ming.

Although all the difficult questions in her notebook had been resolved, wouldn’t new questions arise in the future?

Moreover, Yu Tian genuinely wanted a brother. In her heart, she had already considered Yan Ming as family, but now that dream had shattered, and their relationship had reverted to that of strangers.

Regardless, her brief stint as Yan Ming’s temporary “little sister” had officially ended. It wouldn’t be appropriate to cozy up to him again by attending his birthday party.

Perhaps deep down, Yan Ming didn’t even want Yu Tian to interact with his social circle anymore. Despite her repeated assurances that she could clarify things with Gao Mei, Yan Ming had firmly refused.

It made sense. Yan Ming had once used the excuse of being her “brother” to avoid a blind date with Gao Mei. If Yu Tian were to explain now, it might seem like she was deliberately exposing Yan Ming and causing trouble.

Since they wouldn’t see each other much in the future, Yu Tian decided it was best to stay quiet and minimize her presence.

So, Yu Tian casually made up an excuse: “I have work commitments that day. I’ve scheduled a shoot with a doctor from a neighboring city, so I’ll be traveling.”

Gao Mei was disappointed but had no choice but to accept this reality.

After hanging up, Yu Tian cracked a few more walnuts, cleaned up the shells, and returned to analyzing data.

She had been very busy these past couple of days.

The video on eye disease awareness that Qi Sihao had filmed had gone live, and the results exceeded Yu Tian’s expectations. Qi Sihao looked quite impressive in his white coat, appearing serious and professional. With his good looks and proper attire, he looked every bit the part.

Somehow, someone had discovered Yu Tian’s video, and thanks to Qi Sihao’s handsome face, the video unexpectedly went viral. The platform provided traffic support, and Yu Tian was even assigned a dedicated assistant to help optimize keywords and search trends.

Yu Tian’s account gained nearly 100,000 followers overnight, leaving her highly motivated. She decided to capitalize on the momentum and rope Qi Sihao into filming a few more episodes—selling knowledge instead of himself.

However, before completing the new medical education video series, there was one thing she needed to take care of.

After the misunderstanding last night, Yu Tian went home and had a long chat with Ms. Song Chunxiang to finally understand the full story.

“Yan Wenhua and I are better suited as friends. At first, we got along well, but over time, I realized I didn’t feel the desire to spend my life with him.”

“He’s a great person, really high-quality. I initiated the breakup, but I was afraid that if I told you, you’d worry that I refused to remarry because of you, fearing you’d feel pressured. I never expected you to misunderstand…”

Ms. Song Chunxiang regretted not telling Yu Tian earlier, but she took the opportunity to come clean: “The man you saw at the seafood shop was someone I met while buying fish. The fishmonger tried to cheat me—he swapped the live fish I picked with dead ones. Luckily, this man warned me, or I would’ve been scammed.”

“At first, I didn’t think much of it, but after running into him several times at the market, we exchanged contact information without any particular intentions. But as we spent more time together, I found we were quite compatible.”

Ms. Song Chunxiang’s words were simple, but her eyes and face radiated unconcealed joy: “Yan Wenhua’s family background is too privileged. Although he never looked down on us for our modest means, being with him always felt like stepping into a luxurious world. I often felt out of place, like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, awkward and constrained, as if I were acting.”

“But with him, it’s different. We’re both ordinary people…”

From her mother’s words, Yu Tian learned that the man her mother was currently dating was surnamed Dai. He had a son a year older than her, and their experiences were similar—both had lost their spouses in middle age and raised their children alone, never considering remarriage. Now that their children were grown, they happened to meet each other—a perfect match.

“By the way, he’s been nagging me to introduce him to my child. If you’re free, let’s have dinner together and get acquainted.”

Yu Tian was thrilled. Seeing her mother find happiness again made her happier than anything else, and she readily agreed.

Ms. Song Chunxiang didn’t delay this time, quickly arranging a meeting.

“Next Wednesday evening. It just so happens that it’s my son’s birthday, and he suggested combining celebrations. Let’s have dinner together to mark the occasion.”

Yu Tian was completely absorbed by the news of her mother’s newfound happiness, even setting aside her ongoing project. Her mind was brimming with excitement: “Sure, sure! I’ll prepare a gift for him. It wouldn’t be right to show up empty-handed for his birthday.”

As long as her mother was happy, Yu Tian wholeheartedly supported whoever her mother chose, as long as they treated her well.

She was eager to facilitate this relationship, so she put a lot of thought into selecting a birthday gift for Mr. Dai’s son.

However, with so little information about him—no clues about his interests, hobbies, height, weight, appearance, or personality—buying something random might not suit him and could even backfire.

After much deliberation, Yu Tian decided to bake a cake herself. It would show sincerity and be a safe option.

Deciding to act, Yu Tian had recently come across a recipe for a low-calorie, reduced-sugar cheesecake. She planned to make that and simultaneously film an episode for her food channel to boost popularity.

Yu Tian promptly purchased the ingredients, planning to make the cake the day before and refrigerate it.

Once that was settled, she dove back into analyzing the latest trends in medical education content on the platform, brainstorming topics for the second episode featuring Qi Sihao.

The first episode on ophthalmology unexpectedly went viral due to Qi Sihao’s good looks, catching the platform’s attention and earning extra exposure. This presented a golden opportunity to make meaningful contributions to ophthalmology education.

During her frequent visits to the hospital’s ophthalmology department, Yu Tian hadn’t solely focused on interacting with Yan Ming. She observed the patients as well.

Young people today grew up in the internet era. Even for minor issues like conjunctivitis, they were proactive about healthcare, smoothly navigating online appointment platforms to seek treatment.

However, most patients in the ophthalmology department were either teenagers or children—cases like nearsightedness, astigmatism, or eye strain. Parents nowadays paid significant attention to their children’s eye health. Beyond pushing academics (“chicken parenting”), there was even a saying: “To raise chickens, first raise their eyes.”

Once, while waiting for Yan Ming to finish work, Yu Tian chatted with the parent of a young patient and learned how seriously modern parents took their children’s vision. Some not only practiced eye exercises but also ensured outdoor activities. A few even used light meters to find optimal lighting conditions to relax their children’s eyes.

Therefore, whether it was children or young adults, there was relatively advanced awareness about eye health. However, the real gaps existed among the elderly.

Most families prioritized raising children and often overlooked the elderly. Many seniors adhered to the habit of not causing trouble for their families or preferred to endure discomfort silently. Due to a lack of understanding about eye diseases, they often only sought medical attention when their vision deteriorated severely or when eye conditions became critical.

By then, it was often too late.

Cataracts, glaucoma, floaters, macular degeneration, and retinal diseases were common among the elderly.

Nowadays, many seniors owned smartphones and frequently browsed short videos on platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou. Could using accessible short video formats, combined with educational skits, better help seniors improve their lives?

After all, losing vision drastically diminishes quality of life, even for otherwise healthy seniors.

But what were the most common eye problems among the elderly? What did they urgently need to know about eye care? Though Yu Tian had read some literature, she felt she needed to personally engage with seniors to gather insights.

Where could she find a group of seniors to interview?

Fortunately, Qi Sihao, who dropped by for dinner after work, quickly provided a solution—

“Seniors? This Saturday, the Health Bureau is organizing a free clinic in old neighborhoods where seniors gather. Would you like to join? The First Affiliated Hospital is sending volunteers, including doctors from our ophthalmology department. I remember seeing the notice in the hospital group chat—I signed up too.”

It was exactly what Yu Tian needed. She immediately asked Qi Sihao for the event’s time and location and added it to her calendar.

To maximize the impact of the free clinic, Yu Tian couldn’t go unprepared. She needed to design a questionnaire quickly and purchase small gifts to incentivize participation.

Thus, she squeezed in time to complete the low-calorie cheesecake and was soon swept forward by the passage of time.

Blink, and it was already Wednesday evening.

The restaurant was arranged by Ms. Song Chunxiang’s new boyfriend. When Yu Tian and her mother arrived, he was already waiting at the entrance.

“Old Dai, we’re here!”

Ms. Song Chunxiang waved, and a middle-aged man eagerly approached them with a smile.

Completely different from Yan Wenhua’s demeanor, Old Dai dressed casually, wasn’t tall, and had a slightly stooped posture. Though not handsome, he appeared neat and tidy, with a shy smile as he looked at Yu Tian.

Though he couldn’t compare to Yan Wenhua in terms of external conditions or family background, he didn’t resemble a business elite or mature success story. However, his ordinariness exuded reliability.

From the relaxed and natural way Ms. Song Chunxiang conversed with him, it was clear she felt more at ease with Old Dai than she had with Yan Wenhua, where she seemed tense and reserved.

The two of them were warm and lively, resembling old friends or an elderly married couple gossiping about daily life—Old Dai complained about the seafood prices being twice as expensive as at the market but felt it was worth it since he was treating Ms. Song’s family. Ms. Song teased him about cooking at home instead…

“Today is Xiao Xin’s birthday, and we were going to celebrate anyway. Having you join makes it even better—it’ll be livelier.” Old Dai remarked, adding, “Thankfully, I booked the private room early. Today seems to be a special day; the restaurant has three birthday parties. The owner said they’ll give each room a complimentary birthday noodle dish…”

Yu Tian followed closely, listening to their chatter, feeling genuinely relaxed and happy.

Perhaps it was fate that Ms. Song and Yan Wenhua didn’t work out—because someone better suited for her mother was waiting.

Inside the private room, Old Dai smiled at Yu Tian: “I brought some drinks. Xiao Xin went to fetch them from the car. Later, I’ll introduce you two. You’re around the same age—young people always get along well…”

Not wanting to intrude on the middle-aged couple, Yu Tian quickly excused herself, saying she needed to retrieve something from the car.

She did have something to fetch—she had forgotten the homemade cheesecake in the backseat.

While retrieving the cake, Yu Tian unexpectedly encountered a familiar face in the elevator of the underground parking lot.

Strictly speaking, it was only familiar to Yu Tian.

The person was a major streamer on the same platform as her, with the ID “Paid Vacation.” He was a renowned review creator, versatile and covering a wide range of product categories—from women’s beauty and skincare to household items, kitchen appliances, gourmet foods, and even baby products. His reviews were professional and trustworthy.

Before becoming a creator on the platform, “Paid Vacation” had amassed a massive fanbase on Weibo. He rose to fame through his unwavering honesty in product reviews, facing lawsuits and backlash from companies whose products failed his tests. Yet, he persisted in speaking the truth, warning consumers against subpar products.

Through sheer determination, he carved out a reputation, helping countless people avoid pitfalls in shopping. In recent years, with the rise of live-streaming e-commerce, he opened a live-streaming room on the platform, offering group-buy deals for products he deemed worthy of recommendation. With platform support, his influence skyrocketed.

Yu Tian recognized him because he appeared on camera during live streams, and his fame was partly due to his good looks. In this era, most streamers were attractive.

He looked even more vibrant in person—athletic, with handsome, symmetrical features, tall, and long-legged. Not only was he a rare gem among review creators, but he also stood out in any crowd.

His face attracted rational fans and even some obsessive “private-life fans,” akin to celebrities. Yu Tian had heard rumors that “Paid Vacation” had an ambiguous relationship with a dancer on the same platform, sparking jealousy among his extreme female fans. Eventually, he clarified that they were just friends, and the situation calmed down after the girl temporarily left the platform.

Now, wearing sportswear and sneakers, with a headband tied around his forehead, he looked like he had just finished exercising. He carried drinks in his hands.

Wait…

Yu Tian stared at him—drinks, “Paid Vacation,” Dai Xin…

Her eyes widened as she tentatively asked: “Hello, are you Dai Xin?”

He paused, nodded, and looked at Yu Tian. His expression shifted from confusion to realization: “Are you Ms. Song’s daughter?”

It really was Dai Xin!

Yu Tian was pleasantly surprised: “I’m Yu Tian. I’ve watched your streams! I’m also a creator on the same platform!”

Both being creators on the same platform, though in different fields, they found plenty of common ground. Yu Tian forgot this was their first meeting, chatting animatedly about the platform’s recent traffic support plans and live-streaming tips. They quickly exchanged follow requests.

True to his status as a top-tier creator, Dai Xin reviewed a few of Yu Tian’s episodes and offered suggestions on production and editing, pointing out areas for improvement.

“Have you considered increasing your streaming frequency? You could use filters occasionally. Stick to your current focus on healthy recipes, but consider showing your face?”

Dai Xin’s sunny disposition matched his straightforward personality: “You’re very pretty. Showing your face would significantly boost your appeal. Though I’m in the review niche and not your direct market, much of the traffic overlaps. If you don’t mind, we can collaborate—I can help drive traffic to your channel…”

Why would she mind? It was clearly Yu Tian benefiting from this arrangement.

By now, they had exited the elevator and entered the restaurant’s main hall.

When Yu Tian thanked him, Dai Xin brushed it off casually, joking: “I just saw one of your recent live clips. Your latest episode was about making a low-calorie cheesecake.”

At that, he glanced at the cake box in Yu Tian’s hand and smiled: “I assume this is your handmade birthday gift for me. So, I must live up to it, right?”

Only then did Yu Tian belatedly remember to wish him a happy birthday.

Her nervous demeanor amused Dai Xin: “We might become family someday. No need to be so formal. Just call me Brother Xin.”

After saying that, Dai Xin suddenly slapped his forehead: “Look at my memory! I left the gift my dad asked me to bring for Ms. Song in the car. I’ll grab it after putting away these drinks.”

Yu Tian was thoughtful: “Don’t bother. I’ll carry the drinks for you while you go get it.”

Dai Xin considered it and didn’t hesitate: “Alright, thanks. See you in the private room later.”

With a smile, Yu Tian took the drinks and headed toward the private room, carrying items in both hands.

Today indeed seemed to be a good day. Besides the three private rooms hosting birthday celebrations, two large halls were hosting a full moon banquet and a wedding. The bustling hall was filled with people, especially playful children chasing and laughing.

Even though Yu Tian had been extremely cautious, she couldn’t prevent a child from suddenly darting out in front of her. The child, likely playing a chasing game with friends, was running at full speed and couldn’t stop in time when he noticed Yu Tian. With one hand holding the cake and the other carrying drinks, Yu Tian’s movements became clumsy and sluggish. Just as it seemed she would be knocked over by the child, a hand reached out from behind her and grabbed her arm.

Thanks to that pull, Yu Tian narrowly avoided being hit head-on by the child.

However, because of the abrupt tug, she lost her balance and began to stumble forward.

She was falling to her left. If Yu Tian had let go of the cake in her left hand, she could have braced herself against the ground, avoiding injury. But doing so would have certainly crushed the cake.

In a split second, Yu Tian made her decision—she not only held onto the cake tightly but instinctively pulled it closer to her chest, attempting to cradle it with one arm.

But the anticipated pain of falling never came. Before Yu Tian could react, she found herself tumbling into someone’s arms behind her.

She froze for a moment, quickly steadying herself, straightening up, and lifting her head to apologize. However, when she saw the person’s face, she paused.

It was Yan Ming.

His lips were pressed together, his brow slightly furrowed as he gazed at Yu Tian—calm and elegant as ever. His pale skin and sharp features stood out, and his hand was still gripping hers.

He had been the one to pull her away just now.

“Yan…” Yu Tian hesitated for a moment before saying, “Senior Yan Ming, thank you!”

Yan Ming glanced at her: “We’ve both graduated. Calling me ‘senior’ feels a bit forced.”

Then he shifted his gaze: “Just call me whatever feels natural.”

Oh…

Yu Tian obliged, politely saying, “Doctor Yan, thank you!”

“…”

Unfortunately, Yan Ming didn’t seem pleased. He looked displeased, his gaze dropping as he slowly remarked, “I’m already off work. You’re making me feel like I’m still on duty.”

Why did he have so many rules!

Previously, he wouldn’t allow her to call him “brother,” now he rejected “senior,” and even calling him “Doctor Yan” after hours wasn’t allowed!

Yu Tian began to suspect Yan Ming was here to pick a fight.

But thanks to his intervention, both she and the cake had remained unscathed…

After some mental preparation, Yu Tian awkwardly addressed him: “Mr. Yan, thank you!”

Surely there was no fault in this address now!

Indeed, the three words “Mr. Yan” left him speechless.

However, he still didn’t look happy—in fact, his mood seemed worse than before.

Yu Tian didn’t bother pondering why Yan Ming was here or why he seemed upset. Her priority was to return to the private room as soon as possible. She assumed that after exchanging polite greetings, they could part ways and each go about their business—but that scenario didn’t materialize.

Yan Ming appeared to have plenty of time and nothing urgent to do.

His gaze swept over the cake in Yu Tian’s hand, and the somewhat gloomy expression on his face gradually faded, like the sky clearing after a snowstorm, making his entire face radiant.

For some reason, his mood seemed to instantly improve again.

“You almost fell just now—all to protect this?”

Yu Tian didn’t have time to analyze his emotional shifts; she simply nodded cautiously and in confusion.

“This kind of thing doesn’t require lying.” The corners of Yan Ming’s previously hard-to-please lips curved upward slightly, revealing a faint smile. Then he looked at Yu Tian, his expression turning serious again as he averted his gaze. “I’m not that petty, nor am I that childish.”

Yu Tian was utterly baffled, completely unsure what Yan Ming was talking about.

It wasn’t until Dai Xin’s voice rescued her from her confusion—

“Little Yu! Why are you still in the hall? Did you forget which private room?”

Dai Xin, holding a bouquet of flowers, ran toward Yu Tian with a smile.

When he saw Yan Ming, he paused and looked at Yu Tian: “Is this your friend?”

Yu Tian dared not imply any familiarity between them. Yan Ming seemed unpredictable, alternating between cold and warm, so she quickly denied it: “We just happened to meet—he’s Mr. Yan! He’s an ophthalmologist!”

The moment she said this, Yu Tian turned to give Yan Ming a polite smile, only to find his expression darkening.

Yan Ming had indeed been moody lately. Hadn’t his mood just improved? Why did his face visibly darken again?

Better hurry through the formal introductions and leave!

That was Yu Tian’s thought, and she acted accordingly.

She laughed dryly twice, gesturing toward Dai Xin to introduce him, but under Yan Ming’s glare, she inexplicably felt guilty. In her nervousness, she forgot Dai Xin’s full name and stumbled: “This is… Xin… Brother Xin…”

Dai Xin took the initiative to continue: “Hello, Mr. Yan. I’m Little Yu’s brother.”

Dai Xin wanted to say more, but his phone rang at that moment. He apologized to the two of them: “Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

As soon as Dai Xin left, Yu Tian also wanted to leave. She gave Yan Ming a strained laugh: “You must have plans tonight, so please go ahead. Your free time as a doctor is precious.”

“I’m not as busy as you are,” Yan Ming said expressionlessly. “You’ve already found a new brother.”

“…”

How could anyone respond to that? Yan Ming truly excelled at saying things that left others speechless.

Yu Tian pointed to the private room behind her: “My mom is waiting for me inside. Today is Brother Xin’s birthday.”

Yu Tian’s explanation was straightforward, but something about it clearly irritated Yan Ming again. His face darkened further, his gaze piercing at Yu Tian, his voice tinged with gritted teeth—

“You’re celebrating his birthday? You made this cheesecake for him?”

Yu Tian nodded, confused: “Yes.”

Yan Ming’s expression was grim.

For a moment, Yu Tian was at a loss: “Yan…” She no longer knew what to call him and skipped addressing him altogether. “Are you feeling unwell? You look terrible, just like the last time I saw you. It seems this has been going on for a while. It might not just be fatigue—it could be related to your liver or kidneys…”

Just as Yu Tian was about to urge Yan Ming to get a full medical check-up, Gao Mei’s voice came from behind her—

“Yu Tian?”

Gao Mei looked very puzzled: “Didn’t you go on a business trip to a neighboring city? Why are you here today too?”

She glanced at Yu Tian and the cake in her hand, then at Yan Ming, and immediately realized something: “So you came to surprise your brother with a birthday cake, right? But you kept it such a secret! Even tricked me! Your poker face is impressive!”

Gao Mei looked at the cake in Yu Tian’s hand: “Did you make this yourself?”

“…”

Gao Mei continued chattering enthusiastically, but Yu Tian felt her scalp tingling.

Yes, she finally remembered.

Today, Wednesday, was also Yan Ming’s birthday.

Cheesecake—apparently Yan Ming’s favorite flavor.

Which meant that among the three people celebrating birthdays in the restaurant, besides Dai Xin, one of them was Yan Ming…

Because she’d been so busy, Yu Tian had completely forgotten about this.

Gao Mei was unaware of the situation. Seeing Yu Tian holding drinks in one hand and a cake in the other, she enthusiastically said: “Let me take the cake for you—I’ll bring it into the private room…”

Yu Tian clutched the cake tightly, refusing to let go.

How could she possibly let go?

This was a disaster waiting to happen!

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Tian saw Dai Xin finishing his call, holding the flowers he intended to give Ms. Song Chunxiang, and walking back toward her.

This was chaos incarnate!

Yu Tian stammered: “This cake… this is for…”

As she spoke, she looked pleadingly at Yan Ming.

Their relationship had nearly turned into step-siblings due to their parents’ matchmaking, but Yan Ming had used that excuse to avoid a blind date with Gao Mei, and Gao Mei remained unaware of the truth. After Yan Ming’s father and Yu Tian’s mother broke up, Yu Tian hadn’t updated Gao Mei, so Gao Mei genuinely believed Yu Tian and Yan Ming were relatives connected by marriage.

But Gao Mei didn’t know the truth. Both Yan Ming and Yu Tian were fully aware they no longer had any sibling-like relationship, and Yan Ming surely knew the cake was for Dai Xin…

Therefore, Yan Ming would surely understand her desperate hints and come up with some excuse to help her out of this predicament, right?

Yet, in response to her helpless and insistent glances, Yan Ming deliberately turned his face away.

Yu Tian froze for a moment, and in that instant, Gao Mei enthusiastically and kindly took the cake box from her hands.

Gao Mei grabbed the cake box, pulled Yu Tian along, and began leading her toward their private room.

Yu Tian was on the verge of tears: “Um… actually… this cake…”

“Yu Tian, you’re busy today. Very busy.”

Thankfully, at the critical moment, Yan Ming finally spoke in his slow, deliberate tone. His composed gaze flickered back to Yu Tian before shifting away.

So the cake…

Even as Yu Tian’s smile became increasingly strained, Yan Ming didn’t say anything about getting the cake back.

“Oh, Little Yu, you’re busy! It’s already great that you came all this way to surprise your brother with a cake! Let’s eat together another time! We’ll gladly accept your cake!”

With that, Gao Mei carried the cake and turned to walk toward their private room.

What could Yu Tian say? She could only look pitifully at Yan Ming.

“Yan…”

Before she could finish, Yan Ming cut her off.

“There’s nothing I can do. They’ve already taken it inside.”

He shrugged: “Regrettably, it seems your new brother won’t get to taste the cake you made by hand.”

However, despite his words, Yan Ming’s expression showed no trace of regret or apology.

In a short span of time, his emotions seemed to have gone through another rollercoaster. His previously grim expression relaxed again, as if his mood had improved once more.

But how could she face Dai Xin without retrieving the cake? This wouldn’t do!

Yu Tian took a deep breath, steeled herself, and hurried after Gao Mei. Before Gao Mei could fully enter the private room with the cake, Yu Tian intercepted her.

“Gao Mei, this cake isn’t for… my brother.”

Though it was awkward, Yu Tian summoned her courage: “I made this cake for someone else!”

“Since the other person already knows I made this cake by hand, I can’t give it to you. I’m so sorry. My brother’s cake is a different one—I ordered another one, and it will arrive later! I have something to do, so I’ll talk to you another time! Goodbye!”

Under Gao Mei’s bewildered gaze and Yan Ming’s cold stare, Yu Tian resolutely carried the cake and walked out of Yan Ming’s private room.