PDGUT - 4

Even after sitting inside the movie theater, Yu Tian’s face remained flushed with heat.

Though she was usually adept at cracking jokes and never held back when teasing Qi Sihao, around Yan Ming, her normally quick wit seemed to have been sealed shut.

She didn’t know when Yan Ming had returned or how much he had overheard—she only felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

Even during closed-book exams for “Moral Cultivation and Legal Foundations,” when faced with completely unfamiliar legal questions, Yu Tian could still scrape together a few hundred words of nonsense in a desperate attempt to earn some sympathy points. But as soon as Yan Ming spoke, it was as if all her will to survive evaporated—before the enemy had even revealed their weapons, she had already surrendered and fallen apart…

In the end, she hadn’t managed to say a single word.

Like a novice diver whose oxygen tank had malfunctioned, her face turned bright red, her body sending out signals of suffocation and silent pleas for help.

Fortunately, Yan Ming didn’t press further on the matter of her casually offering him up for marriage.

Soon after, the movie they were waiting for began admitting audiences.

Yu Tian pretended nothing had happened, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor as she rushed into the screening room first.

Once the lights dimmed and the movie started, Yu Tian finally felt as though she had come back to life under the cover of darkness.

She likened herself to a moonflower that shuns sunlight, finally waiting for nightfall before daring to unfurl its leaves and bloom under the moonlight.

But even then, she remained cautious.

However, Yan Ming was seated far too close to her. His arm rested lightly on the armrest beside her. When Yu Tian slightly raised her hand to adjust the popcorn bucket, she accidentally brushed against his arm.

She didn’t dare move.

This was her idol!

Amidst her uncontrollable fluttering heart, Yu Tian couldn’t focus on the movie playing on the screen.

The theater seats were incredibly soft and comfortable, their ergonomic design tempting her to lean back. She had to exert immense willpower just to maintain an upright posture.

At the very least, she wanted to leave a good impression on Yan Ming at this moment.

But perhaps due to the phenomenon of “goal tremor”—the more you care about something, the harder it becomes to execute properly—Yu Tian desperately tried to remain poised and quiet, but no matter how she sat, she felt uncomfortable and kept shifting positions.

Yan Ming, on the other hand, was different.

Since sitting down, he seemed to have remained in the exact same position without moving at all.

This must be what they meant by “sitting like a pine tree.”

No wonder it was Yan Ming.

This was a man of composure!

Under the faint glow of the screen, Yu Tian stealthily observed the contours of the man beside her through the corner of her eye.

His long, elegant fingers rested naturally on the armrest, their appearance as refined as the man himself. Even in the dim lighting of the theater, his fair skin still stood out.

Yu Tian’s gaze traveled slowly upward along Yan Ming’s fingertips.

She saw his Adam’s apple, forming smooth, sensuous curves along his neck, followed by his sharply defined jawline.

To be honest, Yan Ming truly possessed an ethereal beauty untouched by worldly concerns. And among his features, Yu Tian found his eyes the most unforgettable.

They seemed to hold affection, yet also appeared indifferent.

It was as if he treated everyone with warmth, yet simultaneously maintained an impartial detachment.

Yan Ming seemed like the embodiment of perfection.

Beautiful, strong, elegant, and exuding an air of cold nobility.

He was like the bright silver moon on a snowy night—untouchable yet inspiring a sense of longing and stability in travelers. People willingly endured the biting cold and harsh winds just to journey toward the moonlight.

Yu Tian’s heart began pounding heavily once again.

A mixture of excitement, nervousness, and indescribable complexity coursed through her, much like a little girl finally meeting her idol.

Yu Tian carefully restrained her gaze. Though hidden in the dim light, where Yan Ming surely wouldn’t notice her staring, she was still so nervous that her eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings freshly emerged from their cocoon.

But when she finally gathered the courage to look at Yan Ming’s eyes, she discovered that those beautiful eyes had already closed at some point, as if an expensive exhibit had suddenly gone dark without warning.

Borrowing the sudden glow of the movie screen, Yu Tian realized that Yan Ming’s stillness wasn’t due to perfect posture—it was simply because he had fallen asleep.

His eyes were closed, his lashes casting shadows, leaning quietly against the chair back, his diamond-shaped lips slightly pursed. He looked peaceful and harmless, making Yan Ming appear less distant and giving Yu Tian the illusion that the moon itself had descended to shine upon her.

The movie was showing a farewell scene between the protagonists, and many female viewers in the audience began to sob uncontrollably.

Yet amidst these sounds, Yan Ming remained as detached from the world as ever, sleeping soundly.

There was a hint of vulnerability and exhaustion in his slumber, unguarded and human.

In all the rumors surrounding Yan Ming in medical school, he had always been portrayed as a distant, almost mythic figure. But in this moment, he was merely an ordinary person who had grown tired after pulling an all-night shift.

Yu Tian suddenly felt as though she had grown closer to Yan Ming.

Though he had fallen asleep while accompanying her to the movie, she wasn’t angry at all. On the contrary, she felt a secret sense of responsibility—as if she were guarding his rest.

If he slept well, he could return to work with renewed energy, saving even more patients.

Back and forth, Yu Tian even began to feel as though this otherwise unremarkable movie had become sacred.

She didn’t want to disturb Yan Ming’s sleep.

Yan Ming woke up ten minutes before the movie ended.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Tian watched as his gaze shifted from drowsy confusion to clarity, and finally settled into its usual rational calm, tinged with a bit of unspoken relief.

He acted as though the person who had dozed off just moments ago wasn’t him at all.

Yu Tian decided to play along and pretend she hadn’t noticed, not exposing Yan Ming’s nap.

After leaving the theater, Yan Ming checked the time and then glanced at Yu Tian. “Where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

Yu Tian waved her hands frantically. “No need, really! You’ve already wasted enough time today. My place isn’t far—I can take the subway easily.”

Yan Ming frowned slightly but remained insistent. “I’ll take you.”

Yu Tian knew full well that Yan Ming’s insistence likely stemmed from Yan Wenhua’s expectations. While he didn’t need to go above and beyond for her, he still had to meet the bare minimum.

But Yu Tian genuinely didn’t want him to escort her. “I’m not being polite—it’s really unnecessary!”

Yan Ming glanced at her. “Are you feeling awkward now?”

Yu Tian paused, realizing he was referring to her earlier bold declaration of trying to marry him off to Ren Yali. But…

“Not particularly awkward,” Yu Tian said after a moment’s thought, deciding to gently remind him. “It’s just that I’m rather afraid of death… Since you’re a doctor, you must understand that life is precious and irreplaceable. Surely you can see why I’d prefer to take the subway home…”

Yu Tian forced a laugh. “Safety first, always.”

She earnestly suggested, “Senior Yan Ming, let me call you a designated driver!”

Yan Ming furrowed his brow, his lips pressing into a straight line. “Why would I need a designated driver? My driving skills are excellent, and I always follow traffic rules.”

Yan Ming didn’t want anyone to know he had slept through the entire movie, so Yu Tian refrained from directly pointing it out. Instead, she hinted, “So, what was the story of today’s movie about?”

Having slept through it, Yan Ming naturally had no idea.

Yu Tian expected him to give up, but to her surprise, he solemnly replied based on his past movie-watching experiences: “The male and female protagonists overcame countless hardships and finally came together.”

Before Yu Tian could refute him, a passing couple nearby inadvertently provided feedback to Yan Ming’s answer—

“Waaah, so tragic! How could both the male and female leads die in the end…”

Yu Tian stared blankly at Yan Ming.

Yan Ming remained calm. “The male lead died, the female lead died—they finally died together. That’s also being together.”

“…”

He glanced at Yu Tian impassively. “What does this have to do with my driving?”

Yu Tian was well aware of the on-call system at the First Affiliated Hospital. A night shift nominally lasted 24 hours, but after completing those 24 hours, doctors often had to continue working the next day’s morning shift.

Especially for doctors like Yan Ming, who were responsible for managing their hospitalized patients, by the time they finished their shifts, they had often worked for over 30 consecutive hours.

This time, Yan Ming had come directly after finishing his night shift. Based on his arrival time, it was likely he had encountered an emergency surgery or a sudden patient complication, extending his working hours beyond 30 hours…

Even during hospital shifts, when there were occasional lulls allowing for intermittent naps, and despite catching a bit of sleep in the theater, such fragmented rest was neither restorative nor sufficient to compensate for a full night’s sleep.

“Just... when a person is truly exhausted, they might involuntarily fall asleep while doing certain things—you understand, right? If you drive now, it would count as fatigued driving. And if I were to ride with you under those conditions...”

Yu Tian blinked. “Besides, you haven’t purchased additional personal accident insurance.”

“...”

“So, I’ll just take the subway home.” Worried that Yan Ming might still insist on driving himself home, Yu Tian preemptively called a designated driver for him. “I’ve already arranged a designated driver for you. Since I don’t know your home address, just tell the driver once you get in the car.”

Though Yan Ming’s expression remained impassive, he seemed emotionally stable and silently accepted Yu Tian’s arrangement.

“Then let’s exchange WeChat contacts?”

Yu Tian thought this was a good opportunity. She took out her phone and pulled up her QR code. “Scan me.”

However, Yan Ming declined.

“No need.”

“...”

Yan Ming’s lips pressed into an unapproachable line. “I’m afraid you’ll try to marry me and my WeChat off to more people.”

His tone was calm but firm. “I’m quite scared—after all, bigamy is illegal these days.”

“...”

Up until now, Yu Tian had never actively asked a man for his WeChat.

She had never needed to—more often than not, she was the one rejecting others’ requests.

But she hadn’t expected that her first-ever attempt at casually asking for someone’s WeChat, mustering all her courage to appear natural, would end in rejection.

Although Yan Ming was indeed her idol, Yu Tian wasn’t an obsessive fan. While getting closer to him and learning more about him would be great, she didn’t feel the need to infiltrate every aspect of his social circle. Her request for his WeChat stemmed partly from her own selfish reasons and partly from plans related to her mother.

But...

She had been rejected.

Rejected outright.

The unexpected shame and awkwardness hit her like a tidal wave, catching Yu Tian completely off guard.

Almost instinctively, she tried to mask her embarrassment and unease.

She refused to acknowledge or face the awkwardness of being rejected.

Perhaps it was a stubborn attempt to save face.

By the time Yu Tian realized what she was doing, she had already spoken naturally and lied.

“Actually... have you considered that my reason for wanting to add you on WeChat isn’t entirely selfish? It’s mainly so I can conveniently ask you about the designated driver fee after I pay it...”

“...”

A faint crack finally appeared in Yan Ming’s otherwise composed expression. “Have you considered that the designated driver fee can be paid directly by the passenger? Adding WeChat isn’t necessary?”

The moment she uttered the lie to save face, Yu Tian immediately regretted it.

But now, there was no turning back.

So, despite her inner turmoil, she forced herself to remain outwardly calm and collected.

She said earnestly, “While that’s true, many passengers forget to pay, leaving the person who placed the order responsible for the final payment.”

“...”

Yu Tian wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and disappear.

What on earth was she saying?! Did that even make sense?!

Why was she so nervous around Yan Ming?!

Feeling utterly defeated, she wanted to cover her face. “That’s not what I meant...”

Yan Ming didn’t respond, but he took out his wallet, pulled out several bills, and handed them to Yu Tian.

Yu Tian could only laugh bitterly. “You really don’t need to do this. I didn’t mean it like that—I just wanted...”

Her unfinished phrase—”contact information”—was abruptly cut off by Yan Ming’s cool interjection.

“Take it. It’s only fair.” He glanced at Yu Tian. “Your compliments were well-deserved.”

Yu Tian paused, realizing what Yan Ming was referring to.

He had indeed overheard her gushing praise of him in front of Ren Yali...

Looking at the thick stack of cash in her hand, Yu Tian felt a deep flush of embarrassment creep up her cheeks. She quickly tried to push the money back to Yan Ming. “Even if this is a red envelope for praising you, you’ve given way too much...”

“Not too much. The rest is for changing your wording.”

Changing her wording? Did he mean what she thought he meant?!

Yu Tian’s eyes lit up slightly, though she looked bashful. “You’re agreeing to let me call you ‘Gege’ now? That’s genuinely how I feel—I don’t need any fee for calling you that...”

Yan Ming’s voice was icy. “No. It’s for you to change your wording—stop calling me ‘Gege.’”

“...”