PDGUT - 29

Just as Yu Tian finished nodding, Jiang Yuming finally ended his phone call and returned to the table with a smile.

Jiang Yuming felt that this dinner had been well worth it.

After finishing his call, he returned feeling a bit apprehensive. However, to his surprise, Yu Tian was exceptionally warm toward him.

The two discussed plans for the orthopedic health education series, outlining several potential topics for educational content. They agreed that Jiang Yuming would draft an outline for each feasible subtopic once he returned, and they would later refine the details into a five-part orthopedic health education series.

Once the professional and work-related matters were settled, Jiang Yuming began worrying about how to steer the conversation toward personal life. To his relief, Yu Tian took the initiative in a considerate manner—

“Dr. Jiang, what are your hobbies?”

“Do you prefer outdoor or indoor activities? If outdoor, do you like running, hiking, or things like that? For indoor activities, what do you enjoy?”

Yu Tian not only asked detailed questions about Jiang Yuming’s interests but also directly inquired about his birth date and even boldly asked about the personality type of women he liked.

Though Jiang Yuming had originally planned to pursue her, he ended up being the one who felt embarrassed by Yu Tian’s questions.

“As for the type of woman I like, I’ve never been in a relationship before, but as long as she has a pure heart, understands my work, and doesn’t mind me being busy, that’s fine…”

Jiang Yuming was quite satisfied with his answer. It highlighted that he was a single, innocent man and indirectly conveyed that he wasn’t the playboy type. Additionally, wanting someone who could understand the demands of a doctor’s job perfectly aligned with Yu Tian.

He shyly glanced at Yu Tian: “Actually, someone from my inner circle would be ideal—someone we both know well, so there’s no need for formal introductions…”

After listening, Yu Tian nodded solemnly.

However, throughout the meal, the only person who seemed nervous was Jiang Yuming himself. Even when Yu Tian asked personal questions, she remained poised and graceful. Meanwhile, Yan Ming sat calmly sipping tea on the side, appearing composed and relaxed. Though usually reserved, Yan Ming’s lips now curved slightly upward in a subtle smile, seemingly in a good mood.

Jiang Yuming’s heart swelled with gratitude. He hadn’t expected Yan Ming to be so concerned about helping him find a partner while showing little urgency for his own romantic life. Seeing his friend’s prospects for happiness, Yan Ming even revealed genuine joy. This must be the legendary sentiment: as long as your friends are better off than you, you’re happy!

Jiang Yuming felt he had truly made the right choice in befriending Yan Ming!

Jiang Yuming was extremely satisfied with this dinner, and so was Yu Tian.

By introducing a girlfriend to Jiang Yuming, she had earned the opportunity for Yan Ming to collaborate on five episodes of her show, plus an additional five episodes of orthopedic health education videos from Jiang Yuming himself—it was a steal!

But where would she find someone suitable to introduce to Jiang Yuming?

Among Yu Tian’s close female friends who were still single, most were classmates from medical school, senior students, or juniors—all of whom were in the medical field, which didn’t meet Jiang Yuming’s criteria. Moreover, Jiang Yuming had emphasized that the person should ideally be someone Yu Tian knew well…

Someone single and eager to start a relationship…

While Yu Tian was racking her brain, her phone rang. The caller was Ren Yali.

Ever since meeting Yan Ming last time, Ren Yali had repeatedly pestered Yu Tian for his contact information, but Yu Tian hadn’t given it to her. To her credit, Ren Yali hadn’t gotten upset. Instead, she chatted casually with Yu Tian every day, sharing news about food, entertainment, and gossip. Over time, the two became friends.

Through their conversations, Yu Tian discovered that although Ren Yali had a somewhat spoiled and stubborn temperament, she was straightforward and pure-hearted. Having never been in a relationship, she had read countless novels where persistent women won over reluctant men, leading her to believe that as long as a woman was enthusiastic and persistent enough, she could succeed in pursuing a man.

Reflecting on her past behavior of chasing Qi Sihao, Ren Yali felt deeply ashamed. She had already apologized to both Yu Tian and Qi Sihao. Even after learning that Yu Tian wasn’t Qi Sihao’s girlfriend and that he was still single, she stopped pursuing him entirely.

Now, on the other end of the line, Ren Yali complained again about her mother’s authoritarian and high-pressure policies: “My mom really wants me to work at a TV station or radio station, but I don’t want to. The atmosphere there is too stifling, and all the colleagues are much older.”

“A lot of my classmates are doing live-streaming or self-media, and they seem to be thriving. Some have even become emcees or voice actors for audio dramas. There are so many different lifestyles to explore. I really want to try starting my own self-media venture and becoming a host—I can put my voice to good use. But my mom looks down on those influencers who sell products and strongly opposes it…”

Despite her mother’s focus on her career, Ren Yali herself yearned for love.

“And I really, really want to fall in love. I’ve always wanted a boyfriend who’s a doctor. Since I was little, I’ve thought doctors were incredibly cool and heroic for saving lives. Unfortunately, my grades weren’t good enough to become one. Now, I just hope to have a doctor boyfriend. It’s okay if he’s busy—I’m willing to be a supportive partner…”

Yu Tian was about to comfort Ren Yali when she suddenly paused.

Wait… A sudden realization struck her. Wasn’t Ren Yali the perfect match for Jiang Yuming?

Ren Yali was attractive, pure-hearted, and had toned down her spoiled nature significantly. She was eager to find a doctor boyfriend and held doctors in high regard. Who could be more suitable?

An idea instantly formed in Yu Tian’s mind: “Would you like to help me as an assistant for a period of time? My self-media platform focuses on medical knowledge dissemination, unlike those product-selling influencers. Even if you tell your mom, it’s a respectable and meaningful job.”

The more Yu Tian spoke, the more convinced she became. Recently, she had a lot of science communication projects in mind, but her energy was limited. She had been considering finding a reliable helper.

“I happen to have several thematic science communication topics lined up. I’ll handle the ophthalmology part myself, but if you’re interested, you can help me coordinate the orthopedic topics. The doctor is from the First Affiliated Hospital—he’s great, one of my seniors, good-looking, and single!”

Excitedly, Yu Tian continued: “You can also use this opportunity to get a feel for self-media work and see if it’s the career path you want.”

Ren Yali was immediately intrigued and quickly confirmed the timing with Yu Tian.

With Ren Yali handling Jiang Yuming’s orthopedic series, Yu Tian would have more time to focus on Yan Ming’s ophthalmology content. She decided to take charge of it herself.

Since Yan Ming mentioned the severe consequences of blindness caused by cosmetic hyaluronic acid injections, Yu Tian had been paying attention. By searching with relevant keywords on social media platforms, she found over a dozen similar cases of botched cosmetic procedures in Rong City within the past three months alone.

Similarly, the number of patients visiting Yan Ming’s clinic due to cosmetic procedure complications was increasing, with younger and younger patients.

Yu Tian began reaching out privately to victims on social media who were exposing or seeking justice against unscrupulous cosmetic clinics.

Though Yan Ming was busy, he still made time to meet Yu Tian at a café the following evening.

Yan Ming was puzzled by Yu Tian’s efforts to contact patients: “As a doctor at a top-tier hospital, couldn’t I simply appear in the video to explain the risks and precautions related to these cases and the potential dangers of cosmetic surgeries to the eyes? Why do you need to contact the patients?”

Yu Tian understood Yan Ming’s point.

Indeed, for short-form medical science communication videos, clearly explaining the risks, causes, and preventive measures, then editing the footage to make it entertaining and easy to share, would constitute a perfectly adequate video. But Yu Tian felt that stopping there wasn’t enough.

She knew that some medical science communication videos, especially those about rare diseases, featured real case studies. These videos tended to garner higher viewership compared to standard educational content because of their sensational appeal.

Before meeting Yan Ming, Yu Tian had spoken with Dai Xin about the topic. As a major influencer, Dai Xin suggested that she find girls who had gone blind due to failed cosmetic procedures to speak on camera.

Yu Tian still vividly remembered Dai Xin’s words—

“From a communication perspective, others’ misfortunes naturally evoke voyeuristic curiosity.”

“These girls are already exposing their struggles online for help. They likely wouldn’t mind you using your self-media account to amplify their voices. Plus, having them speak firsthand would make your content more convincing, impactful, and trustworthy…”

“For before-and-after photos, especially failed cosmetic procedures, blur the eyes and reveal the rest. The stark contrast will instantly grab public attention.”

However, on this topic, Yan Ming was steadfast. His lips nearly formed a straight line, and his expression turned serious.

“For my patients, I cannot disclose any private information due to professional ethics. If you manage to contact some patients through social networks, that’s your ability. But I strongly advise against persuading these patients to publicly disclose their failed cosmetic experiences.”

“Young patients who undergo cosmetic procedures are often more susceptible to appearance anxiety or lack confidence in their looks. Regardless of the reason, they’re unlikely to want to expose their scars on camera.”

Yan Ming paused: “Of course, some have exhausted all means of seeking justice and reluctantly turned to social media to share their painful experiences to gain attention. But even these women may not realize the consequences of widespread exposure.”

“When they post on their own accounts, they typically don’t receive massive attention. Even if they do, their audience is mostly friends and family who sympathize with them. But posting on other accounts, like yours, would be different.”

Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian: “Especially on your self-media account, which already has significant reach and influence. These patients are very young girls. Even if they initially agree to appear on camera, they may not withstand the overwhelming public scrutiny.”

“Public opinion can sometimes be harsh toward victims of failed cosmetic procedures—Why did you get plastic surgery? Why didn’t you spend the money improving your grades or career skills instead of getting surgery? Would you die without plastic surgery? You got what you deserved. While others can barely afford food, you spent money on plastic surgery—you deserve the misfortune.”

Yan Ming’s tone was calm, but his explanation was thorough and considerate: “Cosmetic procedures have already caused these young people significant physical suffering. If they face cyberbullying on top of that, these fragile young souls might not be able to bear it. It’s unfair to these patients.”

“Victims of failed cosmetic procedures are already in a fragile mental state. They might view your self-media account as a way to seek justice in desperation or impulsively agree to appear on camera. While it might help expose malicious cosmetic clinics and aid their cause, they may not fully grasp the negative impact of going public.”

When Yu Tian received Dai Xin’s advice, she was tempted. Since these patients were already exposing their struggles on their own social media, wouldn’t they mind appearing on her account? With real-life examples, her educational content would carry more weight. But she hadn’t considered the broader implications that Yan Ming pointed out.

Now, after his guidance, Yu Tian realized her oversight.

Though reluctant to admit it, beneath Yan Ming’s cold exterior lay meticulous care and consideration for his patients.

He truly was an excellent doctor.

Yes, many of these patients were teenagers—immature and vulnerable, easily swayed by appearance anxiety into impulsive cosmetic procedures.

At their age, many couldn’t fully take responsibility for their decisions. If Yu Tian interviewed them for her self-media channel, even with pixelation, their identities could quickly be exposed.

Yu Tian would never exploit patients’ suffering for clicks and views.

However, after some thought, she decided to continue contacting patients—but with a different goal in mind.

“Rather than exposing victims and placing their tragic experiences under public scrutiny, we should focus on exposing the perpetrators. I want to contact these patients to uncover the illegal cosmetic clinics behind these incidents and expose them.”

“Rong City has suddenly seen so many young victims. As long as these unlicensed cosmetic clinics remain in operation, the number of victims will only increase. Besides educating people on how to avoid risks through my self-media platform, I feel it’s also my responsibility to expose these unethical establishments and warn others.”

The messages Yu Tian had sent to the victims began to receive replies one by one.

Looking up from her phone after reading some of the responses, Yu Tian’s expression grew heavier: “It seems these unregulated cosmetic clinics are part of a larger industry chain.”

She held her phone screen up for Yan Ming to see: “Look at this girl’s response. She says not only is she facing the risk of blindness due to complications from the procedure, but she was also tricked into applying for something called a ‘beauty loan.’ Now, she’s being harassed by debt collectors and is physically and emotionally exhausted.”

Yan Ming was familiar with beauty loans—these predatory loan apps were often tied to unregulated cosmetic clinics. These clinics would first lure young girls, who typically lacked savings but were highly concerned about their appearance, with promises of “free cosmetic experiences” or “low-cost procedures.” Once hooked, the clinics would pressure them into spending beyond their means and push high-interest loans onto them. Many women ended up unable to repay these loans.

As Yu Tian scrolled through the private messages from victims, her anger grew.

“No wonder there’s been a sudden surge of cosmetic victims. Their modus operandi is to trap unsuspecting students with these ‘beauty loans.’ When the victims can’t repay the exorbitant interest rates, the clinics then ‘graciously’ offer a way out: if they refer a certain number of customers each month and meet their quota, the clinic will cover that month’s interest.”

These young girls had no idea they were walking into a carefully designed trap. Once ensnared, the mounting pressure forced them to transition from victims into accomplices.

Their social circles mostly consisted of classmates, friends, and relatives. Leveraging the trust inherent in close-knit communities, they unwittingly dragged more and more young people into the same predicament.

Yu Tian searched online further and found alarming reports—not just cases of retinal artery occlusion, but also numerous botched rhinoplasties and even simple double eyelid surgeries gone wrong.

“It’s unacceptable not to expose these unethical beauty clinics!” Yu Tian exclaimed indignantly. “Brother Yan Ming, let’s do an episode exposing their operations!”

Caught up in the moment, Yu Tian didn’t notice her slip of tongue. It wasn’t until she realized what she’d said that she froze, realizing she had just called him “Brother Yan Ming.”

She pursed her lips and muttered under her breath: “So petty…”

Back when she thought they might one day become family, Yu Tian had maintained some decorum. But now that they were practically strangers, she didn’t bother pretending anymore.

“Was I wrong? I fired you because you were too harsh on me. Are you saying yelling at me was for my own good?”

She didn’t expect Yan Ming to respond—he usually seemed indifferent to anything unrelated to his patients or friends.

However, to her surprise, Yan Ming raised an eyebrow and swiftly countered: “When did I yell at you? You unilaterally attacked me, then fired me.”

His expression was calm, genuinely appearing innocent.

This prompted Yu Tian to dredge up old grievances: “That day during the free clinic, I made the correct diagnosis and wanted to save the patient, but you scolded me harshly. And it was all because I’m not a doctor…” Recalling the incident, Yu Tian still felt wronged.

Yan Ming paused, then averted his gaze: “I wasn’t scolding you. Nor was I harsh.”

He pressed his lips together, losing some of his earlier confidence. His tone became unnatural: “Yu Tian, are you really that naive?”

“You know that even licensed doctors must be extremely cautious when dealing with patients. They need to watch their words and maintain professional boundaries, avoiding any private interactions. While most patients are honest and kind, trusting doctors completely, there are some who harbor hostility, believing doctors are trying to swindle them. Others may act grateful during treatment but turn hostile afterward, even attempting to evade medical fees or extort money.”

“And you’re not even a licensed doctor. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation falls under emergency care, so as a medical school graduate, you wouldn’t bear legal responsibility for issues arising during an emergency rescue. That doesn’t constitute illegal practice.”

“Your pneumothorax diagnosis was correct, but you weren’t a licensed doctor, nor did you make this diagnosis within a hospital setting. Directly proceeding with treatment for pneumothorax could be considered illegal practice. Did you ever consider that if the elderly man hadn’t recovered and passed away, his family might have sued you?”

“Our free clinic was properly registered, and all participating doctors were licensed. Leaving it to us was the safer choice for everyone.”

So…

Yu Tian’s heart raced: “So… you yelled at me back then to stop me from putting myself at risk by directly intervening?”

Yan Ming avoided her gaze, his tone returning to its usual detachment: “I didn’t yell at you. I simply raised my voice to stop you in an urgent situation.”

Yu Tian’s voice softened as she muttered: “But couldn’t you have explained it nicely? Your tone was so easy to misunderstand.”

“When people are in a hurry, it’s hard to consider tone and approach meticulously.” Yan Ming turned his head toward the window. “At that moment, I had no time to think of anything else. You moved too quickly. I was afraid I wouldn’t make it in time.”

Recalling the scene at the free clinic, Yu Tian finally realized why Yan Ming had seemed unusually urgent back then.

He was worried she’d put herself at risk.

Only now did Yu Tian feel embarrassed about her previous misunderstanding: “I’m sorry… I didn’t realize… I thought you were upset because I wasn’t a doctor…”

Her emotions were complex as she fidgeted nervously with her fingers: “You know, because of my hand injury, I’ve always been overly sensitive about not being able to become a doctor. So I misjudged your actions based on that bias…”

At this moment, Yu Tian felt both guilt and regret. She glanced at Yan Ming: “But you never explained it to me…”

“How could I explain?” Yan Ming’s expression remained calm, his tone steady, but his words carried a hint of accusation: “After being fired, where exactly was I supposed to go and defend myself?”

“…”

That tone…

Yu Tian ventured cautiously: “Then… can I keep calling you ‘Brother Yan Ming’? There’s no firing or anything like that—I just don’t want you to mind…”

After all, it was Yan Ming who had seemed particularly sensitive about it before…

Facing Yu Tian’s proposal, Yan Ming pursed his lips, said nothing, but appeared to have accepted.

Relieved, Yu Tian seized the opportunity to flatter him: “In my heart, you’ve always been like a brother. What I said during that meal… it wasn’t sincere. I was just angry and misunderstood you at the time. But honestly, both you and Dai Xin are like brothers to me…”

Yu Tian was about to continue showering him with compliments when Yan Ming, who had momentarily relaxed, abruptly interrupted her—

“You shouldn’t call me brother. I truly don’t deserve it. Besides, new replaces old—it’s natural.”

“…”

Yan Ming cleared his throat, his ears slightly red, and quickly changed the subject.

“In any case, I understand your urgency to save lives, but no matter what profession you’re in, protecting yourself comes first. Including this exposure of unlicensed cosmetic clinics you’re planning—you need to understand that the other party is likely part of a profit-driven organization. If you name them directly, you’ll definitely receive a cease-and-desist letter accusing you of defamation. Your video will likely be reported and removed, potentially affecting your entire self-media account.”

He glanced at Yu Tian: “Aside from protecting the patients, for your own sake, I don’t recommend directly exposing them. You could file a complaint with the relevant authorities, requesting a thorough investigation.”

Yan Ming assumed his words would make Yu Tian reconsider exposing the clinics. However, to his surprise, she didn’t hesitate at all, simply smiling.

“If everyone stayed silent because speaking up might lead to trouble, then when injustice happens to us, no one would speak up for us either.”

Yu Tian’s eyes shone brightly, her porcelain-like face framed by rosy lips, exuding the aura of roses. Yet, despite her delicate beauty, she radiated strength, not fragility.

Her tone was resolute: “I’ll do my best to avoid legal risks, not provoke trouble, but I won’t shy away from it either. These illegal organizations can try to take down my videos through complaints, but every time they do, I’ll just repost them.”

“While filing complaints with the authorities is the proper channel—and I’ll do that too—before the process concludes and these illegal clinics are shut down, how many more victims will there be if I don’t expose them?”

“Some things carry risks, but someone has to do them.”

Yu Tian’s tone was light, her smile soft yet earnest as she looked at Yan Ming: “I may not be able to become a doctor, but my wish to help patients and reduce suffering hasn’t changed. Medical school was tough—how could I not do something meaningful after all those years of studying and losing hair?”

What could have been a risky and troublesome endeavor sounded as casual as ordering a cup of milk tea in Yu Tian’s mouth.

Yan Ming found himself staring at her face involuntarily.

He wasn’t eloquent or poetic, but at this moment, using an old-fashioned description, Yu Tian’s face seemed to glow—beautiful and radiant.

The girl in front of him slyly turned her round, bright eyes toward Yan Ming: “You can lecture me all you want, but if you were in this situation, could you really stand by and do nothing?”

Yan Ming paused.

Before he could answer, Yu Tian feigned seriousness: “I won’t fire people recklessly, but if you really stood by and did nothing, I’d definitely fire you.”

She was clearly bluffing, delivering what sounded like ultimatums with awkwardness. Her face and ears flushed with nervousness.

Unexpectedly, Yan Ming couldn’t help but laugh.

He hadn’t considered the question before, but imagining himself in that scenario, he knew he couldn’t remain indifferent.

Still, he decided to tease her a little. Calmly, he said: “Well, I’d probably just stand by and watch. Go ahead and fire me.”

Yu Tian hadn’t expected Yan Ming to respond like that. She froze, then stamped her foot, her frustration evident. She let out a small “Ah,” her beautiful round eyes glaring at Yan Ming.

“That’s not acceptable. You can’t do that.”

Yan Ming’s mood brightened. His voice was light and teasing: “What are you going to do about it if I do?”

He smiled faintly: “There’s nothing to fear anyway—I’ve already been fired.”

“…”