PDGUT - 40

Ah?

Yu Tian was stunned for a moment before she realized that the words she had just heard weren’t a product of her imagination, but were indeed spoken by the other person in the car.

She knew that Yan Ming might have said it casually, without any special meaning behind it, but…

Yu Tian felt like a helpless patient struck by a sudden heart attack. Her heart momentarily stopped, only to resume beating after an intense round of CPR. It was as if she had experienced a rollercoaster of extreme emotions and life-or-death urgency within just one minute.

What did he mean by “old brother”…?

Didn’t he outright forbid her from even pretending to be related, let alone becoming friends with him?

Yu Tian couldn’t help herself: “Didn’t you say not to call you ‘brother’…?”

“So, do you really want to call me that?”

This was clearly the perfect opportunity to show loyalty and flattery.

Yu Tian nodded repeatedly, her tone ingratiating: “Of course! I’ve always wanted to call you that. You’re absolutely right, Yan Ming-ge. The new is never better than the old. How can someone like Dai Xin, who works in self-media, compare to us medical professionals? In terms of personal qualities, intelligence, or stability, you’re undoubtedly far superior!”

However, Yan Ming didn’t respond to her flattery. Instead, he asked a completely unrelated question.

“Isn’t there a clear rule in our school’s Student Handbook that prohibits skipping classes?”

Ah?

Yu Tian was confused: “Yes…”

Yan Ming pursed his lips: “So, did you ever skip class during your time there?”

Yu Tian frowned, astonished by Yan Ming’s naivety: “Of course.”

She muttered: “While skipping class isn’t ideal, everyone has emergencies from time to time. Besides, some classes are just boring—like those overly formal ones. When exams are approaching and there’s no time to review, why wouldn’t you skip those? For instance, in classes like ‘Moral Education for College Students,’ the teacher just reads from the textbook without elaborating. Whether you attend or not makes no difference—you can just skim the book later on your own.”

Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian, his voice icy: “Exactly.”

“If you could break a rule explicitly stated in the Student Handbook without any guilt, why don’t you have any rebellious spirit when it comes to what I forbid?”

It took Yu Tian a moment to realize that Yan Ming was actually accusing her in a roundabout, passive-aggressive way.

The man remained utterly serious: “If someone truly wants to do something, they’ll do it regardless of whether it’s allowed or not.”

He pressed his lips together: “If you didn’t do it, it means you didn’t really want to.”

At this point, Yan Ming looked at Yu Tian expressionlessly: “So, you didn’t really want to call me ‘brother.’”

“If you truly wanted to, you wouldn’t care whether I allowed it or not.” Yan Ming lowered his voice: “It’s not like it’s against the law.”

“…”

Yu Tian was utterly dumbfounded by Yan Ming’s twisted logic.

Isn’t this entrapment?!

Fortunately, the car soon entered the garage, and Yan Ming dropped the subject. He led Yu Tian upstairs and into the house.

This wasn’t Yu Tian’s first time visiting Yan Ming’s home, but this time, her feelings were mixed and uneasy. She shouldn’t have felt guilty, yet she lacked the confidence she had the last time she entered the house.

Thankfully, Yan Ming acted naturally. He showed Yu Tian the guest room and the main functional areas of the house.

“There are disposable slippers and toiletries in the guest room. Feel free to use them.”

Following Yan Ming’s gaze, Yu Tian noticed that the guest room was spotless, fully equipped with everything needed, including travel-sized disposable toiletries. There were even skincare products and facial cleansers, as if someone frequently stayed over.

Could it be that a woman had stayed here?

A former girlfriend? Or…

Before Yu Tian’s thoughts could spiral further, Yan Ming interrupted: “Since I live close to the hospital, Jiang Yuming sometimes stays over after a night shift if he’s too tired to go home. Those skincare products belong to him—it’s not what you’re thinking.”

Yu Tian tucked her hair behind her ear, pretending to be indifferent: “What am I supposedly thinking? I’m not thinking anything, okay?”

“Rein in your facial expressions,” Yan Ming said flatly, glancing at Yu Tian. “Your face practically broadcasts your thoughts.”

“I’m too busy to bring women home.”

Yu Tian couldn’t help but mutter: “Then aren’t you making an exception by bringing me home? Thanks, by the way.”

“…”

Yan Ming looked exasperated but resisted the urge to rub his temples. He spoke concisely: “I often work night shifts, and sometimes I rush to the hospital for emergencies. I don’t stay home much. I’ll be here tonight, but not tomorrow or the day after. Make yourself comfortable. If you need to work, feel free to use the study.”

He glanced at the time: “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”

Just as Yan Ming turned to head to his room, his phone rang at an inopportune moment.

Yu Tian happened to glance at the screen.

Chen Xi.

The daughter of the woman Yan Ming’s father was currently dating.

Yan Ming looked surprised, then answered the call.

After a brief exchange, his expression grew serious: “Send me your location—find a well-lit area with streetlights. I’ll be there soon.”

Hanging up, Yan Ming grabbed his coat and prepared to leave.

Curious, Yu Tian asked: “What’s wrong?”

“After Chen Xi and my dad finished their gathering, they went to a nighttime concert at the grand theater. She couldn’t find a taxi afterward, wandered aimlessly through several streets, and ended up being followed by a stalker. She’s now not far from the neighborhood—I’m going to pick her up.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Tian also became serious: “I’ll come with you.”

Yu Tian thought she was being considerate. If a woman encounters a stalker late at night, she’d surely be terrified. As another woman, Yu Tian believed she could better comfort her.

However, when Yu Tian followed Yan Ming to the designated location and saw Chen Xi, she immediately regretted coming.

Because Chen Xi barely noticed Yu Tian. Upon seeing Yan Ming, she ran toward him tearfully, her expression both pitiful and fearful—

“Yan Ming-ge! Thank goodness you live nearby!”

Her voice carried a slight sob, as if she were utterly helpless: “I didn’t expect to be followed. I called several classmates, but they were all busy and couldn’t make it. Then I suddenly remembered that Uncle Yan mentioned you lived around here. I took a chance and called you—and thank goodness you answered.”

With tear-filled eyes, she looked at Yan Ming: “Thank goodness for you. I don’t know what I would’ve done otherwise.”

The temperature in Rong City varied drastically between day and night this month. By this hour, it was necessary to wear a thick coat. Yet Chen Xi was still wearing an ultra-short skirt, impeccably dressed, and even wearing towering heels.

Yu Tian had attended concerts at the nearby grand theater before. The venue was old, and its air conditioning was notoriously unreliable. With large crowds, the interior became stifling, and people usually emerged looking disheveled and sweaty.

But Chen Xi appeared perfectly fresh, her hairstyle meticulously styled. According to her story, she had gotten lost and wandered for half an hour, yet her hair remained immaculate despite the strong night breeze.

However, while Yu Tian observed carefully, Yan Ming didn’t pay much attention to Chen Xi’s appearance. He simply pulled out his phone and began calling a ride: “Where do you live? Give me the address, and I’ll call a car for you. I’ll wait until you’re safely in the car before leaving.”

But Chen Xi quickly stopped him: “No, Yan Ming-ge. My mom has been struggling with insomnia these past two days. Earlier, I tried contacting her, but she didn’t reply—she must be asleep. Then I realized I forgot my house keys. If I go home now, I’ll have to wake her up, which will disturb her sleep. I’d rather not return.”

“Then I’ll book you a nearby hotel.”

At Yan Ming’s new suggestion, Chen Xi’s eyes welled up again, her voice trembling: “Yan Ming-ge, I’m scared.”

She looked up at him with deer-like eyes, appearing fragile and helpless: “I was so frightened by that stalker tonight. I don’t dare to stay alone…”

Yu Tian now understood clearly.

So this sister Chen Xi had set a trap for Yan Ming.

She had said she didn’t care about being step-siblings and had planned to pursue Yan Ming. Clearly, she was a woman of action.

“If you’re so afraid of staying alone, then I’ll keep you company!”

Yu Tian didn’t know where this impulse came from, but before she realized it, the words had already left her mouth.

At this point, Chen Xi seemed to notice Yu Tian standing not far behind Yan Ming. She appeared timid, gazing nervously at Yu Tian with an innocent and puzzled look: “Yan Ming-ge, who is…”

Before Yan Ming could answer, Yu Tian jumped in: “Oh, I’m Yan Ming-ge’s old little sister. You must be his new little sister, right? I think we have quite the connection. Let’s take this opportunity to organize a little sister meetup. We can start building the team now—who knows, maybe newer little sisters will join in the future.”

After finishing, Yu Tian glanced at Yan Ming: “It seems that while I was off finding a new big brother, my old big brother didn’t waste any time finding a new little sister, huh?”

“…”

Yan Ming looked somewhat exasperated, but before he could say anything, his phone rang again.

After stepping aside to finish the call, his expression turned serious: “One of my patients at the hospital suddenly had an emergency. I need to rush back for an urgent surgery.”

“Chen Xi, this is Yu Tian. Let her take you back to my place.”

After addressing Chen Xi, he pulled Yu Tian aside: “I may not be able to return home tonight. Since you’re both here, you can stay together. There are two extra guest rooms—you don’t need to check into a hotel. I don’t have time to take you there anyway.”

Yu Tian felt inexplicably upset: “You’re using me as a convenient favor to accompany your new little sister? I’ve been replaced as your old little sister, and now I’m stuck with this temporary job. Will I even get paid for this?”

“I’m not worried about her.”

Yan Ming glanced at Chen Xi, who was standing farther away at the intersection, looking in his direction. Then he turned his gaze to the ground in front of Yu Tian.

His voice softened, almost blending into the night breeze.

But Yu Tian still heard him.

He said—

“I’m worried about you.”

Yu Tian’s heart suddenly felt ambushed by the night wind, pounding rapidly and restlessly beneath the enveloping gusts.

Yu Tian bit her lip: “What’s there to worry about with me? Why don’t you worry about your new little sister instead?”

Yan Ming glanced in Chen Xi’s direction: “She’s not worth worrying about. She seems sharper than you.”

“…”

Yu Tian was just about to express her disagreement when Yan Ming cut in—

“You just went through everything with your mom today. It’s good to have someone around so you don’t overthink things.”

He fixed his gaze on Yu Tian and instructed, “So don’t cause trouble, don’t make a fuss, and stay here quietly. I’m leaving.”

The night wind carried a chill, the early autumn air tinged with desolation. Beneath the dim yellow streetlights, the streets felt lonely and cold. Chen Xi, still wearing her ultra-short skirt, began shivering uncontrollably as she tried to generate warmth by moving her legs.

But Yu Tian only felt her cheeks burning. Inside, it was as if a dormant volcano filled with scorching magma had begun to stir, showing signs of an impending eruption.

However, just ten minutes later, the volcano inside Yu Tian cooled down again.

She and Chen Xi sat silently in Yan Ming’s living room.

The two “sisters”—the old and the new—stared at each other awkwardly. Having someone around did make the unfamiliar environment feel more lively, but since they weren’t close, Yu Tian felt a bit uncomfortable. She realized she had overreacted earlier and come off as too hostile.

To ease the tension, Yu Tian took the initiative: “I’m feeling a bit hungry. I was thinking of having a late-night snack. Would you like something? I’m planning to make some snow pear tea. Want a cup? If you’re hungry, I can also cook some millet porridge—I’ll make you a bowl too.”

Chen Xi paused for a moment, then smiled sweetly: “No, thank you. I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll rest first.”

Yu Tian didn’t dwell on it. She placed an online order for snow pears, green olives, honey dates, dried tangerine peel, and some millet, then headed to the kitchen to start preparing.

Cooking always calmed Yu Tian. After all, she’d been through a lot that day and needed a distraction. Plus, her appetite hadn’t been great earlier, and only now did she realize how hungry she was.

As she worked, she filmed the entire process, planning to edit it later into a wellness video featuring a soothing throat tea and a stomach-nourishing porridge recipe.

Yu Tian made a large portion. She had always had a big appetite, and after finishing her late-night snack, there was still enough left for one more serving—perfect in case she got hungry again before bed.

Once everything was done, she returned to her room to rest.

However, Yu Tian wasn’t used to sleeping in unfamiliar environments. Insomnia struck, and after tossing and turning and pulling at her hair several times, she decided to go to Yan Ming’s study to find a book to read. Maybe that would help her fall asleep faster.

What Yu Tian didn’t expect was that instead of feeling sleepy upon entering the study, she suddenly became wide awake.

Yan Ming’s study had an entire cabinet filled with recorded surgical footage!

There were also many valuable medical materials and case records.

Yu Tian returned to her room almost giddy with excitement. Lying on the bed, she waited impatiently for Yan Ming to return home after his surgery so she could get his permission to dive into these precious resources.

Unbeknownst to her, in the other guest room, Chen Xi was experiencing the same restless mood.

Tonight was a do-or-die attempt for Chen Xi.

Chen Xi had fallen head over heels for Yan Ming at first sight. Later, as her mother grew closer to Yan Ming’s father, she had a few more chances to see Yan Ming. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Yan Ming remained as unresponsive as an insulator.

Tonight’s family dinner? Yan Ming had outright canceled.

If you’re unwilling to risk your child, you won’t catch the wolf. Since fate hadn’t handed her an opportunity, Chen Xi decided to take matters into her own hands.

She had deliberately rushed to Yan Ming’s neighborhood late at night, calculating that Yan Ming—despite his cold exterior—wouldn’t ignore her plea for help after being “followed.” Even if he were dealing with a stranger, his sense of morality would compel him to assist. Not to mention, they might soon become family.

Chen Xi thought her plan was foolproof.

What she hadn’t anticipated was that there would be another woman in Yan Ming’s house.

The daughter of Yan Ming’s father’s ex-girlfriend.

Chen Xi was puzzled by this woman’s presence and immediately went on high alert.

After all, this girl, Yu Tian, was stunningly beautiful.

But after a brief period of observation and interaction, Chen Xi gradually relaxed.

Though Yu Tian was undeniably beautiful, she seemed completely clueless about seducing men—a total amateur.

For instance, when Yan Ming left, she merely said an indifferent “Oh,” told him to hurry, and walked away without a second glance. Meanwhile, Chen Xi herself had clung to Yan Ming, showering him with concern and affection, repeatedly reminding him to take care and expressing sympathy for his hard work.

Chen Xi might not be the most beautiful, but when it came to handling men, she believed few could surpass her.

A woman’s beauty was undoubtedly an advantage, but a gentle and considerate personality, paired with just the right amount of fragility, could evoke pity. The complete trust she displayed when relying on a man, the occasional vulnerability she revealed, and her admiration for him—all combined like a childlike innocence—were weapons that could make any man fall.

The best hunters always knew how to disguise themselves as prey.

Having successfully entered Yan Ming’s house tonight, Chen Xi was determined not to leave without making significant progress. She wouldn’t rest until she had secured his heart.

Although the romantic tête-à-tête she had envisioned hadn’t materialized—Yan Ming had rushed to the hospital, and an extra human-shaped light bulb (Yu Tian) was now in the house—Chen Xi remained confident.

Turning advantages into victories wasn’t skill; flipping disadvantages into advantages—that was true mastery.

Yu Tian’s beauty might be striking, but her naivety was equally glaring.

In the middle of the night, she had gone out of her way to prepare a late-night snack. Eating such heavy food at this hour would surely cause puffiness the next day. Moreover, using someone else’s kitchen so casually? Yan Ming, who valued clear boundaries, would likely disapprove once he returned.

And when Yan Ming left for an overnight shift, she didn’t even show a hint of concern or offer words of comfort. Instead, she ate her snack and retreated to the guest room to sleep.

It was as if she treated Yan Ming’s house like a hotel.

But that suited Chen Xi just fine.

The worse Yu Tian appeared, the better Chen Xi would shine in comparison.

Goodness, after all, was often highlighted through contrast.

Chen Xi was confident that after a few days together, Yan Ming would realize that compared to Yu Tian—a pretty face who lacked emotional intelligence and showed no genuine care for men—Chen Xi, who stayed up late waiting for him, would be far more touching.

Yu Tian, in Chen Xi’s eyes, existed solely to highlight her own virtues.

Chen Xi put on a sheet mask, applied it carefully, and lay in bed, waiting for Yan Ming to return.

When the sound of the password lock echoed at the door, Chen Xi leaped out of bed. She wanted to quickly fix her appearance, aiming for a look that was slightly weary yet still charming, before greeting Yan Ming.

But before she could finish grooming, she heard the door of the adjacent guest room open, followed by the sound of someone rushing out like a rocket.

What was going on?! Hadn’t Yu Tian gone to sleep?!

Chen Xi panicked.

With no time to fix her hair or makeup, fearing that Yu Tian would steal the spotlight, Chen Xi bolted out of her room with her hair flying everywhere.

But she was too late.

Yu Tian had already reached the entrance, looking at Yan Ming with eyes brimming with enthusiasm and affection, like an excited puppy greeting its master.

Her hair was slightly messy, but the messiness carried a hint of laziness, and within that laziness lingered a calculated charm.

Before Chen Xi could make her move, Yu Tian stole her lines, her eyes sparkling as she greeted Yan Ming—

“Yan Ming-ge, you’re back! I’ve been waiting for you for so long! I haven’t slept at all!”

“…”

Yan Ming, who had just stepped off the operating table, looked a bit weary but was surprised to see both Yu Tian and Chen Xi still awake.

As he changed his shoes, he walked straight to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. There, he spotted a portion of snow pear tea and millet porridge neatly prepared.

Even someone as stoic as Yan Ming couldn’t help but smile faintly: “I just came off the operating table, and I’m thirsty and tired. Perfect timing. Can I have this?”

Yu Tian grinned like a cunning little dog vying for attention: “Of course! I made it!”

Watching Yan Ming sit down to eat the porridge while Yu Tian chatted animatedly across from him, Chen Xi felt a wave of regret so strong it turned her insides green.

So this was the real situation!

Yu Tian was truly clever!

Pretending to make a midnight snack for herself, she had actually prepared it for Yan Ming!

Claiming she was going to sleep, she had lulled Chen Xi into complacency, only to rush out the moment Yan Ming returned!

This was a high-level player.

But Chen Xi refused to admit defeat. She vowed to remove this woman from Yan Ming’s life entirely.

Although Yan Ming mistakenly ate the midnight snack Yu Tian had prepared for herself, he generously allowed Yu Tian unrestricted access to the materials in his study. Satisfied, Yu Tian decided not to dwell on the mix-up.

Almost immediately, she rushed back to the study and turned on the computer, diving into the materials with unwavering focus.

Wasn’t staying up all night waiting for Yan Ming precisely so she could gain his approval and access his study as soon as possible?

Giving her midnight snack to Yan Ming by mistake wasn’t a big deal—it was a reward for his hard work in surgery!

Yu Tian stopped overthinking and quickly immersed herself in the bliss of studying the vast array of literature and videos in Yan Ming’s study.

Many of the surgical videos were recorded during Yan Ming’s overseas fellowship—they were rare treasures that couldn’t be found online.

However, some of the discs were placed high up on the shelves, and no matter how hard Yu Tian stretched, she couldn’t reach them.

Frustrated, she jumped up and down like a rabbit, determined to grab the disc she wanted.

Just as she considered fetching a chair, she heard footsteps behind her. Before she could react, she felt another person’s presence closing in. Then, above her head, she saw a hand with distinct knuckles reaching for the disc.

Yan Ming effortlessly retrieved the disc Yu Tian had been struggling to reach.

“Is this what you wanted?”

Fresh from his meal, Yan Ming seemed in a good mood. He leaned casually against the bookshelf, idly playing with the disc in his hand.

Yu Tian stared at Yan Ming, unsure what he was up to.

This posture… was he about to make a request?

But just as Yu Tian was speculating, Yan Ming simply handed her the disc.

“Here you go, shorty. Next time, just ask me to get it for you.”

After saying that, he lightly tapped Yu Tian’s head with the disc, handed it back to her, and turned to walk toward his room.

However, Yan Ming’s attempt to rest was soon interrupted by another phone call.

Not long after, he emerged from his room, his expression serious: “There’s an emergency patient. I need to go.”

Yu Tian was puzzled: “What about the ER staff?”

“They can’t handle it,” Yan Ming explained. “It’s a worker from the seafood market. While handling fish late at night, a sea fish broke free and jumped, and its dorsal fin pierced her eye. There’s internal bleeding and pus accumulation. Many sea fish have venomous spines. If not treated promptly and accurately, the infection could cost her the eye.”

Ophthalmology was a highly specialized field, and ocular surgeries required extreme precision. The on-call ophthalmologist might lack the experience, and the hospital’s chief on-duty doctor might not specialize in ophthalmology.

It was normal for Yan Ming to be called in under these circumstances.

Without complaint, despite his fatigue from working through the night, Yan Ming grabbed his coat and hurried out the door, resolute and without hesitation.

As Yan Ming prepared to leave, Chen Xi called out to him.

Looking shy but determined, she volunteered: “Yan Ming-ge! You’ve been rushing around all night. I happen to be awake anyway—let me drive you to the hospital. Fatigued driving is dangerous. You can rest in the car, and you’ll need your energy for the battle ahead!”

Yu Tian echoed Chen Xi’s suggestion: “Fatigued driving isn’t safe. He’s been awake all night.”

Though Yan Ming initially refused, he eventually relented under Chen Xi’s persistence and his own exhaustion. Together, they left.

Yu Tian understood that this was for Yan Ming’s benefit.

But once they were gone and she was left alone, a wave of loneliness and sadness washed over her.

If only her hand hadn’t been injured, she could have driven Yan Ming herself. But ever since her injury, the flexibility in her right hand had greatly diminished, and it was safer for her to avoid driving.

These emotions intensified even more when Chen Xi returned an hour later.

Though she had driven the car and acted as a chauffeur, Chen Xi’s face radiated excitement: “We talked so much in the car! Yan Ming-ge shared so many interesting stories from the hospital and even said he’d take full responsibility for my eyes in the future!”

Chen Xi teased: “It’s hilarious how someone talks like that. Who wants to visit the hospital unless they have to? I certainly don’t want to see him there.”

“But he really treats me like a sister—he’s so caring. He was so angry about the stalker incident tonight, angrier than I was myself.”

Casually, she added: “Oh, I heard you’re the daughter of Uncle Yan’s ex-girlfriend.”

“But your mom and Uncle Yan broke up a while ago, right? Though I don’t mind, my mom is quite particular. Tomorrow, she and Uncle Yan are coming here to pick me up…”

At this point, Chen Xi bit her lip, feigning embarrassment: “I won’t overthink it, but my mom will probably argue with Uncle Yan, thinking he’s still attached to his ex. My mom can be quite dramatic…”

She sighed: “I don’t know how to explain things to her in advance. I’m afraid she’ll misunderstand Uncle Yan and start another fight.”

“But since your mom and Uncle Yan broke up long ago, you suddenly staying at Yan Ming-ge’s place does seem odd. According to our family’s principles, if my mom weren’t dating Uncle Yan, I definitely wouldn’t stay at his house…”

The inevitable confrontation had arrived.

Unexpectedly, Yu Tian felt remarkably calm.

If it weren’t for all the stressors converging at once, leaving her with no choice, she wouldn’t have stayed at Yan Ming’s house either. But even so, the favor she owed belonged to Yan Ming—what right did Chen Xi have to boss her around or speak ill of her?

Yu Tian took a sip of tea and feigned enlightenment: “Ah, so there are rules like this.”

She smiled: “So, is your mom about to marry Uncle Yan? Have they booked the wedding venue? Planned the honeymoon destination? Picked an auspicious date for registering their marriage?”

Chen Xi paused, then regained her composure: “It’s not that fast. Our family doesn’t rush things—we’ll keep getting to know each other before deciding.”

“Since they haven’t registered yet, legally speaking, what’s the difference between your relationship with Yan Ming and mine?”

Yu Tian smirked: “Your mom and Uncle Yan aren’t married yet, so you’re not legally his stepsister. Relationships are unpredictable. Your mom seems meticulous and demanding of her partner—if Uncle Yan doesn’t meet her expectations, it’s not surprising if they break up, right?”

“And my mom is single now. She and Uncle Yan dated before—they have a foundation. If Uncle Yan becomes single again, it’s not impossible for them to reconcile.”

Yu Tian’s smile didn’t reach her eyes: “So, what’s the difference between you and me in Yan Ming’s eyes?”

Chen Xi’s face twisted with anger, but Yu Tian wasn’t done.

“Oh, I forgot—there is a difference. I’m the one Yan Ming brought home voluntarily.”

“And you? You suddenly appeared late at night in high heels, perfectly made up after attending a concert, claiming to be stalked but not even calling the police. When Yan Ming offered to take you to a hotel, you refused to stay alone and insisted on following him home.”

Yu Tian disliked being overly aggressive, but that didn’t mean she’d tolerate baseless accusations or veiled insults.

“The owner of this house isn’t you—it’s Yan Ming. Even if you become his legal stepsister someday, does that mean he needs you to speak for him? Is he deaf or mute?”

Chen Xi hadn’t expected Yu Tian to retaliate so bluntly. Trembling with anger, she nonetheless stayed in character, her eyes welling up with tears: “I was just kindly warning you about tomorrow when my mom and Uncle Yan come. How could you misunderstand me like this…”

“What warning? Weren’t you just trying to kick me out?”

Yu Tian was done pretending: “Who knows who’ll end up kicking who out. I’m not Yan Ming’s sister right now—who says I won’t become his wife in the future? Life’s full of surprises, isn’t it?”

“I stayed here yesterday, I’m staying here today, and maybe I’ll stay here forever.”

Initially, Yu Tian had stayed at Yan Ming’s house out of desperation—she couldn’t afford a hotel, and Old Dai’s threats had genuinely frightened her. Her original plan was to leave early the next morning after spending one chaotic night. But Chen Xi’s actions had ignited her competitive spirit.

She decided: if Chen Xi didn’t leave, neither would she!

Besides, she hadn’t finished watching all the surgical videos in Yan Ming’s study!