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Yanming returned to his work in the afternoon, and after Ms. Song Chunxiang woke up from her nap, Yu Tian reheated the food and brought it to her mother to eat.
Xiao Ling also enjoyed the “imperial feast” brought by Chen Xi, clearly delighted.
The other empty bed in the three-bed ward was soon occupied by a girl around Xiao Ling’s age, surrounded by her parents and other family members. It was evident that she was the cherished star of the household. Even before the surgery, her parents were already heartbroken, practically bringing their entire home with them—snacks, toys, everything.
From the conversation between the family and the doctors, Yu Tian learned that the little girl was scheduled for strabismus surgery—a relatively minor procedure. However, since the surgery required general anesthesia, the parents’ anxiety and concern were understandable.
Xiao Ling’s parents were likely busy with work, as Yu Tian hadn’t seen them visit all day. Normally lively, Xiao Ling cast several envious glances at the new arrival, probably missing her own parents. By the afternoon, she seemed somewhat downcast.
An idea struck Yu Tian: “Xiao Ling, isn’t your birthday coming up soon? Is there anything special you want? I’ll give it to you as a birthday present!”
Unfortunately, Xiao Ling politely declined. “No, Sister, there’s no need to spend money on me.”
Mentioning her birthday perked her up slightly, and she shyly explained, “I don’t want presents. I just hope to have a big birthday party with a huge cake, inviting lots of people—including Wonder Woman. She’s my favorite! I’ll blow out the candles myself and then cut the cake to share with everyone!”
Yu Tian couldn’t help but ruffle the child’s hair.
What a kid.
Even though one of her eyes had been removed, Xiao Ling’s smile remained sunny and adorable, brimming with vitality and an indomitable will to live.
Ms. Song was recovering well but still needed to stay in the hospital for a few more days of observation. After her mother ate and grew sleepy again, Yu Tian decided to return to Yanming’s place.
However, before heading back, she stopped by her rented studio to gather some work materials and retrieved several dresses, along with her rarely used makeup bag.
After much deliberation, she chose a navy-blue velvet dress.
Though the velvet fabric was heavier and somewhat restrictive, it accentuated her figure beautifully. The neckline wasn’t the typical V-shape but rather a square, regal design that exuded restraint and propriety. Yet the carefully calculated exposure from the neckline to her collarbone highlighted her chest’s curves subtly, blending sensuality with modesty and elegance.
The dress featured a slit on the leg, allowing glimpses of her skin and lines as she moved.
Yu Tian knew her legs were pale and beautiful, making the slit a perfect complement to her assets.
The most striking aspect of the dress was its back—a cascading cross necklace in a matching navy-blue hue with a metallic sheen. The design cleverly balanced revealing and concealing, avoiding the emptiness of excessive skin exposure while playfully highlighting the details of her back with sophistication.
This dress had originally been purchased for her graduation ball. The fit was impeccable, but because it turned out far too stunning, Yu Tian ultimately lacked the courage to wear it.
It drew too much attention and felt overly flashy.
But tonight, Yu Tian gritted her teeth and decided to wear it anyway.
She paired it with stiletto heels, applied red lipstick, and styled her hair into soft curls with a curling iron.
Tonight, Yanming’s home would be her battlefield!
Although inexperienced in pursuing someone, Yu Tian quickly scoured the internet for a highly recommended “Love Bible” and crammed some last-minute advice.
According to the Bible , the first step in pursuing someone was to use subtle allure—don’t be too direct; instead, entice the other person to pursue you.
The first tactic was to make the other person feel needed, arousing their protective instincts. Approach your “prey” with a delicate yet glamorous “packaging.”
Yu Tian found this theory quite sound.
After all, Yanming seemed to respond well to coquettish behavior. Chen Xi had managed to get him to agree to let her stay over simply by using a sweet, girlish tone.
But how could she naturally act coy while showcasing her vulnerability and need for protection?
Fortunately, the Bible provided a recommended solution—watching horror movies together.
Yu Tian decided to follow this advice and enthusiastically downloaded a horror film set in an abandoned hospital.
Having worked nonstop from the previous night until today, Yanming had gone to bed early after returning home. By the time Yu Tian finished preparing everything and setting the mood, he had woken up, eaten something light, and sat down across from her at the table.
Yu Tian guessed that Chen Xi had probably gone home to pack her things and hadn’t returned yet.
For now, only Yanming and Yu Tian were in the house.
It was perfect timing!
As soon as Yanming sat on the couch, Yu Tian gracefully walked over, took a seat next to him, and deliberately struck a pose that showcased the navy-blue velvet dress to its best advantage. Then she projected the horror movie onto the TV screen.
“Brother Yanming, could you keep me company while I watch this movie?”
Yu Tian’s voice was soft, and she subtly leaned closer to him.
But Yanming shifted slightly to the side.
“...”
Yu Tian discreetly leaned closer again.
This time, Yanming didn’t move. He glanced at her with a faint, amused smile. “There’s plenty of space on the other side of the couch.”
Yanming chuckled lightly. “Move a bit that way.”
“...”
How utterly clueless!
He had been so cooperative when she fed him earlier!
Reluctantly, Yu Tian scooted over a bit.
The movie was still showing the opening credits, and Yanming glanced at her again.
Feeling his gaze, Yu Tian straightened her posture, subtly pushed her chest forward, and adjusted her legs into the most flattering position.
“Are you really dressed like this at home?”
Was it too over-the-top?
Yu Tian felt awkward, but why was Yanming being so oblivious? She had chosen this dress specifically for him, yet he seemed completely unaware, calmly observing her as if he didn’t notice how radiant she looked in it.
Frustrated, Yu Tian retorted, “I’m going out later!”
Fine, I’ll show it off to someone else, not you!
All her effort felt wasted.
Yu Tian felt utterly dejected, as if a precious gem had been left to gather dust.
When Chen Xi spoke in that sweet, girlish tone, Yanming seemed to instantly understand her underlying implications. Why, when it came to her, did he seem so oblivious most of the time?
And whenever he did catch on, it was always at the wrong moments.
Yu Tian recalled how she had fed him throughout lunch, enduring countless curious stares, and felt a surge of frustration.
Thankfully, the movie soon transitioned to the main feature, capturing Yu Tian’s attention and distracting her from her anger.
This horror film was highly recommended recently, known for its atmospheric buildup and haunting score. The director paid meticulous attention to cinematography, creating a chilling ambiance.
At the start of the film, a group of fearless young people livestreaming challenges entered the haunted, abandoned hospital. Yu Tian quickly found herself immersed in the first-person perspective, her heart racing.
While watching, she occasionally stole glances at Yanming out of the corner of her eye.
His expression remained calm as he watched the screen.
Yu Tian began inching closer to him again, thinking it was time to prepare. As the plot unfolded, one of the reckless supporting characters was about to meet their demise.
As the supporting character met his gruesome end—accidentally stabbed in the abdomen by a panicked companion—this was supposed to be Yu Tian’s big moment. She was ready to act, leaning weakly into Yanming’s arms to showcase her vulnerability!
Soon enough, the supporting character met his fate—a knife plunged into his abdomen during a chaotic scuffle.
But…
Yu Tian furrowed her brows, unable to hold back: “This doesn’t make sense! The location of the stab wound wouldn’t damage any organs. So why, when they pulled the knife out, did his intestines spill out?”
“The first aid treatment is also wrong. They shouldn’t have pulled the knife out! It should’ve stayed in place while they called for professional help. This character didn’t have to die—it’s just forced drama! His companions might even count as intentional homicide!”
As the plot unfolded, Yu Tian grew increasingly restless.
“This reaction isn’t right either. The victim was hit on the head—why is he suddenly coughing up blood?”
“The angle of that bent finger after being stomped on is incorrect…”
“This kind of wound should bleed in spurts, not gush out like that!”
Yanming clearly agreed with her observations—
“Indeed, this kind of knife wound shouldn’t look like that.”
“The color of the blood bag is off—it’s too dark.”
What was supposed to be a horror movie had turned into a medical student seminar.
Still, it was terrifying—but mostly because Yanming kept throwing out professional critiques about the plot. Yu Tian, afraid she wouldn’t be able to answer, felt incredibly tense, which made the atmosphere feel even scarier.
By the time the movie ended, Yu Tian finally realized she had completely wasted a golden opportunity to play the role of a delicate damsel in distress!
Instead of leaning into Yanming’s arms, she had spent the entire movie discussing the characters’ injuries and debating emergency treatments and surgical procedures. By the end, it had even turned into a Q&A session, with Yanming asking questions and Yu Tian answering. Her originally alluring pose had unconsciously transformed into that of an upright elementary school student, ready to answer at any moment…
Yu Tian was utterly stunned.
Compared to her feeling of utter defeat, Yanming, who had used the horror movie as a test of sorts, seemed to be in a great mood. With a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he walked into the kitchen.
Regardless, Chen Xi still hadn’t returned, so there was still a chance!
Yu Tian gave herself a mental pep talk and quickly followed him into the kitchen.
Yanming was drinking water, and on a whim, Yu Tian poured herself a cup of hot water.
While Yanming wasn’t looking, Yu Tian pretended to burn herself with the hot water, letting out a pained “Ah!”
She pinched her thigh to bring tears to her eyes, then looked pitifully at Yanming: “Brother Yanming, I burned myself. It hurts so much. Could you blow on it for me?”
Yanming glanced at her, his handsome face calm as ever, still resembling the moon breaking through the fog of night. Unfortunately, his words were anything but comforting.
“Yu Tian, as a medical student, how should you handle minor burns in an emergency?”
Even dressed casually, Yanming exuded an air of seriousness and authority.
Almost instinctively, Yu Tian replied—
“Run it under cold water immediately.”
“Does blowing help?”
“Not really!”
Yanming chuckled, gesturing toward the faucet: “Then go ahead and rinse it.”
“...”
Yu Tian was furious.
Plan A, pretending to be weak to elicit sympathy, had officially failed.
Fortunately, there was still Plan B!
Yu Tian went to the bathroom to freshen up, retouched her makeup, adjusted the neckline of her velvet dress lower, and raised the slit of her skirt slightly.
If playing vulnerable didn’t work, then seduction would have to win the day.
Looking at her radiant reflection in the mirror, Yu Tian felt confident in this approach.
Sure enough, the moment she stepped out of the bathroom and stood beside Yanming in the living room, his gaze immediately shifted toward her.
However, there was no trace of infatuation in his eyes. Instead, he appeared composed and disciplined, as if suppressing worldly desires.
His voice remained calm and steady: “The neckline of your dress is too low.”
Yu Tian secretly rejoiced—so he had noticed after all.
The closer to the endgame, the more composed she needed to be. Pretending innocence, she explained: “It can’t be helped. It’s so hot today—I feel suffocated…”
Before she could finish, Yanming stood up and walked over to the nearby thermostat, lowering the temperature from 25°C to 20°C.
The central air conditioning in his house was powerful, and soon Yu Tian felt not only emotionally cold but physically shivering as well.
She realized Plan B had also failed before it even began.
Yet Yanming seemed intent on watching her embarrassment unfold. Flipping through a newspaper, he coolly asked: “Still hot?”
Yu Tian was seething.
“Yes! Still very hot!” she declared, tugging the neckline even lower.
Instinctively, Yanming glanced up, his gaze landing on Yu Tian’s exposed collarbone. However, this time, he lost his usual composure. His eyes darted away almost immediately after making contact with her neckline.
Then, Yanming quickly stood up and left the living room.
Yu Tian wanted to scream.
She was freezing, but having claimed she was hot, she could only grit her teeth and sit stiffly on the couch, even as she shivered.
Just as she mentally cursed Yanming for the thirty-eighth time, a blanket descended upon her like a gift from the heavens.
Yu Tian was enveloped by the warm scent of sunshine-dried fabric.
Then came Yanming’s voice—
“Wrap yourself up.”
His tone carried a hint of exasperation: “Stop fooling around.”
Through the blanket, Yanming gently patted her head: “Behave.”
After a brief moment of shock, Yu Tian felt an electric jolt run through her heart.
He knew!
He had known all along!
This man had seen through her schemes from the very beginning!
It wasn’t that he hadn’t understood—he simply hadn’t been moved.
Yu Tian felt like an inflated balloon, newly filled with air, only to discover a leak. Left alone, it might have held its shape, but the slightest touch—even the gentlest pat—revealed her true state.
From afar, she might have looked like a perfectly inflated ball, but one touch revealed her as a deflated, hollow imitation. Even if hurled at someone, she couldn’t cause any harm.
Because with the slightest contact, she collapsed—her air escaped entirely.
It was as if Yanming had pressed a button, and all her earlier bravado dissipated.
Blushing, she remained wrapped in the blanket, feeling both warmth and safety.
Perhaps hiding was the right choice.
Suddenly, she felt like a clown, pouring her heart into what she thought was a sophisticated performance, only to realize the plot was so predictable that the sole audience member had silently figured everything out long ago. He had merely refrained from commenting out of politeness or curiosity, and she had mistaken his silence for engagement.
How embarrassing…
Thankfully, Yanming saw through her but chose not to call her out, sparing her further humiliation.
Nevertheless, Yu Tian was thoroughly defeated.
She remained draped in the blanket, floating back to the guest room like a ghost, her legs limp beneath her.
When she emerged again, she had changed out of her “man-slaying” velvet dress into plain pajamas. Her carefully styled hair, now tousled from the blanket, was left unkempt.
She had barely sat down on the couch when Yanming’s teasing voice rang out.
“Didn’t you say you were going out? Why are you in pajamas now?”
He knew exactly what he was doing.
Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
Yu Tian huffed: “I’m not going anymore. It’s boring. The dress doesn’t look good on me anyway—pajamas are better.”
No sooner had she spoken than a steaming cup of milk was placed on the coffee table in front of her.
“Drink it,” Yanming said succinctly. “Finish it and go to sleep.”
He smiled at her, patting her head as if she were a child. “Stop thinking nonsense. Getting more rest is good for your physical and mental health.”
This man seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, treating her like a little sister.
Yu Tian stared at the warm milk, her feelings complex.
Did he see her as a child?
Or had calling him “Brother Yanming” so many times made him genuinely think of her as a younger sister?
To be honest, Yu Tian hadn’t rested properly these past few days. Her mother’s hospitalization and surgery had left her worried and emotionally drained. Now that the surgery was over and things were slowly returning to normal, she felt genuinely tired.
But…
But Chen Xi still hadn’t returned!
If she went to bed now, wouldn’t she be handing Chen Xi an easy victory?
People were most vulnerable late at night when fatigue set in, emotions ran high, and defenses were lowered. After spending half the evening wearing Yanming down, leaving him alone with Chen Xi would mean handing over the fruits of her labor. What if Chen Xi returned and took full advantage of the situation?
Absolutely not!
Yu Tian shook her head, forcing her drooping eyelids open. Staring at the glass of milk, she began to power through.
She glanced at her watch and couldn’t help complaining: “Why hasn’t Chen Xi come back yet?”
It was already this late! Didn’t she have basic manners? This wasn’t a hotel!
After waiting another ten minutes, Yu Tian started to feel drowsy.
Unfortunately, Chen Xi seemed determined to keep her awake.
Yanming, flipping through medical literature on the couch, spoke indifferently: “Maybe she’ll be back in a bit.”
It was nearly ten o’clock!
Yu Tian was extremely frustrated: “Why is she so late?”
Yanming glanced at her.
Clearing her throat, Yu Tian tried to justify herself: “I was just thinking—didn’t she mention someone following her a few days ago? Coming home this late, isn’t she worried about her safety?”
Yanming closed the book, looking thoughtful: “You’re right. Maybe I should go pick her up. It’s not safe for a girl to be out alone this late.”
That wouldn’t do!!!
Almost instinctively, Yu Tian grabbed the hem of Yanming’s shirt: “Then I’m coming with you!”
Under Yanming’s amused gaze, Yu Tian had no choice but to continue her act: “W-well… She’s a girl, and so am I! If she can’t be out alone at night, why can I? I’m scared too. I just watched a horror movie, Brother Yanming. I don’t want to be alone.”
Soon, Yu Tian found her rhythm in playing the coquette. Looking up at Yanming with tear-filled eyes from yawning, she pleaded: “I want to stay with you.”
Yanming had seemed composed all evening, as if he always had everything under control. But Yu Tian’s simple display of affection seemed to press a hidden button. His ears turned red, and his expression faltered ever so slightly.
He averted his gaze but didn’t shake off Yu Tian’s hand or leave.
Yu Tian felt the couch dip slightly as Yanming sat closer, nearer than when they had watched the horror movie together.
“If you don’t want me to leave, then I won’t,” he said softly.
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