PDGUT - 47

Yu Tian didn’t care anymore whether Yan Ming would get angry or not.

She mumbled some excuse with evasive eyes and a hesitant tone, then practically floated into the study like she was sleepwalking.

Originally, she had only intended to gather her laptop and notes, but upon spotting a half-watched surgery video, she became interested again. To calm herself down and distract her mind, she sat down and quietly resumed watching.

Unfortunately, the saying “There’s always someone trying to harm me” rang true once more.

Just as Yu Tian was engrossed in the video, Yan Ming knocked on the glass sliding door of the study.

When Yu Tian turned around, she saw Yan Ming casually leaning against the doorframe, looking relaxed.

“These videos were all filmed during my fellowship. They’re quite educational and worth referencing, right?”

When it came to professional matters, Yu Tian felt much more at ease and momentarily forgot the earlier awkwardness. She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. “Yes.”

“You really want to finish watching them, don’t you?”

Yu Tian nodded vigorously. “Actually, I’ve already watched two-thirds of it. There’s just one-third left to go.”

She was about to praise Yan Ming for his generosity in sharing when he interrupted her.

He looked at Yu Tian and smiled. “Internal materials. They can only be viewed here and cannot be taken out.”

Outside the window, Rong City’s night lights reflected on the glass. Due to the lighting, when looking at the glass, the silhouettes of the two people inside the brightly lit study stood out more vividly than the bustling traffic outside.

The warm light gave the autumn night a lazy, cozy texture. Dressed in soft, cotton loungewear, Yan Ming appeared less sharp and distant than usual. His tone was casual, as if stating the most obvious fact, yet there was an underlying hint of dangerous persuasion—

“So, if you’re planning to move out tomorrow, you won’t be able to watch them anymore.”

With that, the man stared at Yu Tian with his beautiful hazel eyes, which glowed under the warm light. He delivered his words with perfect subtlety.

“Goodnight.”

He quickly left the study and headed to his room.

Yan Ming appeared calm, but Yu Tian’s inner turmoil was the complete opposite.

She felt irritated and frustrated.

Why could he always remain so composed?

Yu Tian was annoyed—with herself for being unable to settle her emotions.

Qi Sihao’s actions had clearly affected Gao Mei, but Yan Ming seemed perpetually unruffled, like the sea. No matter how mischievous children tried to throw stones into the waves or how hard they splashed, aside from the brief ripples caused by the falling stones, everything quickly returned to calm.

The sea swallowed all restlessness and emotions, responding to everything with its unchanging vastness, swiftly returning to tranquility. No one could truly alter it.

Yan Ming was the same.

He might experience emotional fluctuations, but he quickly returned to his composed indifference.

Sometimes Yu Tian thought Yan Ming cared about her, but other times she felt he didn’t at all.

Because if he did care, why didn’t he just say something?

Subtle attempts to make her stay or faint hints of anger were like scratching an itch through a boot—never hitting the mark directly.

Yu Tian didn’t want vague ambiguity.

She was fuming.

She wouldn’t run away just because of Yan Ming, leaving behind precious surgical video materials unfinished.

Only one-third left?

Couldn’t she just pull an all-nighter and finish watching?

Then she’d move out tomorrow as planned!

In truth, Yan Ming hadn’t been in a good mood since last night.

He had declined invitations from several colleagues to attend gatherings and returned home early. However, Yu Tian hadn’t come back for a long time.

Yan Ming sat in the living room, waiting idly. Finally, at 9:37 PM, the doorbell rang. But when he opened the door, it was Gao Mei who stood there.

Yu Tian didn’t return until 9:41—and she wasn’t alone.

She brought Qi Sihao with her.

Although Yan Ming had long known that Yu Tian and Qi Sihao were close and understood that Qi Sihao had entered Yu Tian’s life before him, accepting Yu Tian meant also accepting Qi Sihao, just as accepting a new drug treatment often came with unavoidable side effects.

But this wasn’t the kind of acceptance he expected.

Qi Sihao’s intimacy with Yu Tian was far too excessive.

Moreover, wasn’t Qi Sihao supposedly pursuing Gao Mei? Then why was he being so ambiguous with Yu Tian in front of her?

Qi Sihao seemed completely oblivious, and Yu Tian made no effort to explain or clarify. In fact, Yu Tian acted quite unapologetically, showing no attachment to staying at Yan Ming’s place.

Yan Ming tried very hard to act indifferent, and seemingly succeeded, because Yu Tian didn’t seem to care about his feelings at all. This made him even angrier inside.

However, the next morning, when he woke up for work and saw the guest room door closed, indicating that Yu Tian was still sound asleep, his mood improved somewhat.

It was just a childish tantrum.

Like when kids fight and shout, “I’ll never play with you again!” But before the day is over, they’re laughing and playing together again.

Yu Tian wouldn’t leave.

Her rented apartment was occupied, and the living conditions at her studio were far inferior to those here. More importantly, even if Yan Ming wasn’t entirely confident about himself, he was confident in the precious medical resources in his study.

Before finishing those, Yu Tian wouldn’t leave.

And besides, Yan Ming himself lived here.

Yu Tian definitely wouldn’t leave.

Yan Ming still remembered the stormy, glaring expression Yu Tian had when she heard Chen Xi would also be staying here. She didn’t strike him as someone who gave up easily.

She was like an immature tiger cub—not yet strong, but fierce enough, full of presence, and quite adorable, making one want to tease her.

Yan Ming had never been sensitive about the time he finished work, but today he kept glancing at his watch.

After finishing work, instead of lingering in the hospital cafeteria as usual, he immediately drove home. On the way, he stopped at a popular milk tea shop and queued to buy a recommended milk tea and dessert that the nurses had been talking about.

This trendy milk tea shop not only sold beverages and desserts but also doubled as a flower shop.

The server was very enthusiastic. “Today is our store’s anniversary! If you buy milk tea and flowers together, you can get the flowers at half price. Are you buying the milk tea for your girlfriend? Why not consider getting a bouquet of flowers too?”

Yan Ming hesitated for a moment, unusually not rejecting the suggestion outright. He pursed his lips and said, “I don’t know what kind of flowers she likes.”

“Then choose the ones you think best match her personality! After all, every girl is like a flower!” The server smiled. “If she receives both milk tea and flowers, she’ll definitely be delighted.”

Even without the server’s suggestion, Yan Ming could already imagine the sparkle in Yu Tian’s eyes when she received the milk tea.

Unlike other pretty girls who seemed delicate and high-maintenance, Yu Tian appeared easygoing and low-maintenance.

She wasn’t picky, and her interests were different from other girls’.

People often compared girls to flowers, but Yu Tian was surely a unique bloom.

Others were roses, carnations, or freesias, but Yu Tian was…

A sunflower.

It was rush hour, and the roads were congested, but Yan Ming’s mood wasn’t affected by the traffic jam. Beside him sat the milk tea, and on the passenger seat lay a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers, blazing like the embers of summer, burning away all hidden emotions until the very end.

Yan Ming carried the milk tea and held the sunflowers, maintaining a natural and calm expression as he opened the door—

Only to discover that Yu Tian wasn’t there.

The guest room showed no signs of anyone having stayed there. Everything was cleaned spotlessly, and Yu Tian’s luggage was completely gone.

A moment later, Yan Ming finally realized that Yu Tian had actually moved out.

It was her freedom, and Yan Ming shouldn’t have questioned it. But before he realized it, he had already dialed her number.

After a few moments, the call connected—

“Hello?”

Yan Ming forgot all pretenses of casual conversation, all his usual composure, and all efforts to appear indifferent. “Why did you leave?”

A moment later, he tried to cover up his slip. He cleared his throat lightly. “What I mean is, there’s still one-third of the materials in the study left unread. Don’t you want to continue watching them?”

From the other end of the line came Yu Tian’s immediate and cheerful response. “I’ve finished them!” She spoke proudly. “I stayed up all night last night and finished everything!”

“…”

The background noise on Yu Tian’s end was loud, as if she were dining out with a group.

“You stayed up all night, and you’re still out now?”

As if to confirm Yan Ming’s guess, a stranger’s voice calling Yu Tian came through the phone—

“Xiao Yu, we haven’t added each other yet! Come on, let’s exchange contacts!”

“Xiao Yu, add me too—your brother Zhang!”

“Qi Sihao, you’re such a bad friend! How could you not introduce us to this friend of yours sooner?”

Yan Ming felt like he couldn’t pretend to be calm anymore.

Where had she gone? Why were there so many men in the background? And why were they all asking her to add their contacts? Was she giving her contact information to everyone without hesitation?

He was utterly exasperated by Yu Tian.

On the other hand, Yu Tian was in a great mood.

This morning, because she stayed up late, by the time she woke up, Yan Ming had already gone to work. Thus, she luckily avoided the awkwardness of moving out.

So, Yu Tian first went to the hospital to visit her mother and confirmed that she would be discharged tomorrow. Then, she dragged Qi Sihao, who was on his day off, to help her move and tidy up her studio.

Qi Sihao was beaming with joy. Almost as soon as he met Yu Tian, he dropped a bombshell—

“Gao Mei and I are together!”

This man couldn’t stop bragging and started piling on drama, shoving dog food down Yu Tian’s throat.

“Do you know? Last night, Gao Mei drove me home but didn’t drop me off. She stopped midway and couldn’t hold back anymore. She demanded to know if I was with you. If I didn’t answer clearly, she wouldn’t take me home.”

While helping Yu Tian sweep the floor, Qi Sihao seemed to be reminiscing about last night: “I was thinking about how to build up the mood and hint at this silly girl. Unexpectedly, she was the one who confronted me first. She doesn’t play by the rules at all.”

He feigned complaint but clearly enjoyed it: “What a fool. Doesn’t she know that in a relationship, if a girl shows her hand too early, she’s easy to pin down and ends up in a passive position? With just a little provocation from me, she burst into tears and confessed to me incoherently. I felt so sorry for her crying like that.”

The more Qi Sihao talked, the sweeter he became, but the angrier Yu Tian got.

Gao Mei, with her gentle personality, could react like this with just a little stimulation, while Yan Ming was as calm as still water.

Jerk!

And yet, this guy Qi Sihao, who cared more about the opposite sex than humanity, decided to deal another blow to Yu Tian: “By the way, today I’ll help you move, and then introduce you to some senior and junior students. That’ll settle our debt. Although I explained my relationship with you to Gao Mei repeatedly yesterday, and she understood, I’m afraid our little fool might still misunderstand and distance herself from me. So, Xiao Yu, keep your distance from me for now. At least recently, I need to avoid any suspicion with you. It’d be best if you quickly found someone, so Gao Mei won’t get the wrong idea and think I really have feelings for you.”

Yu Tian was utterly amused by his arrogance. But Qi Sihao, newly single, was already lost in his own world—

“I know I’m excellent. Being around someone like me for so long, it’s hard for you to find someone who matches me. High standards lead to a high chance of being single, but it’s okay, Xiao Yu. Tonight, we have a gathering of rotating doctors. You can check out some prospects.”

Qi Sihao was on cloud nine since he started dating.

Yu Tian was speechless. She instinctively retorted: “Aren’t you overestimating yourself? Are there no better people around me? Isn’t Yan Ming better than you?”

“Yan Ming is indeed slightly better-looking than me,” Qi Sihao said matter-of-factly, “but his personality is terrible! He’s so cold and detached from worldly affairs. Can he even like someone? I can hardly imagine him in a relationship. Would he ever lower himself for anyone? I can’t picture it. Whenever I think of Yan Ming, my mind automatically replays scenes of him scolding me...”

As an ophthalmology resident, Qi Sihao naturally received his fair share of criticism from Yan Ming. Thinking about it, his face showed a hint of fear: “Yan Ming is the most terrifying person in the entire hospital. He scolds you without using dirty words. A single icy glance makes you feel like your actions were those of an idiot. Instantly, you feel belittled, and your dignity trampled and crushed...”

However, Qi Sihao quickly cheered up: “But it doesn’t matter. After all, I’m the man who defeated Yan Ming. Look at our little fool. She used to foolishly like Yan Ming, but in the end, she realized that Yan Ming, the unreachable flower on a high cliff, looks good but isn’t practical as a boyfriend. Someone like me, the charming neighbor type, is much better.”

Yu Tian couldn’t take it anymore.

She snatched the broom from Qi Sihao’s hands: “You should leave.”

“?!”

Yu Tian looked expressionless: “Aren’t you so excellent that you defeated Yan Ming? I’m afraid if I keep seeing such an outstanding you, I’ll never get married in this lifetime.”

“...”

Despite his boasting, Qi Sihao always kept his promises.

That evening, he dragged Yu Tian to their rotating doctors’ gathering.

“Almost all the rotating doctors from Rong City are here. Most are young, many are single with no family, and they come to gatherings during their free time.” Qi Sihao winked at Yu Tian, “Seize the opportunity. I’ll help you warm up the scene, then leave early. I still have a date with Gao Mei.”

It must be said that Qi Sihao has always been good at keeping his word.

When they entered, Yu Tian realized that most of the participants in this gathering of rotating doctors were young male doctors with decent looks and good temperament, from various departments.

Qi Sihao was popular and introduced Yu Tian to everyone. Soon, Yu Tian exchanged contact information with most of the doctors. Many were either her alumni or from other medical schools in Rong City, basically part of the same circle. Conversations flowed easily, full of familiarity, and being mostly peers or semi-peers, there was no shortage of topics to avoid awkward silences.

All were junior doctors recently starting their rotations. The venue chosen for the gathering wasn’t an expensive restaurant but a modest, cozy place where young people could relax after work and watch sports games. The atmosphere was pleasant.

Since the restaurant was in a rather remote location, apart from this group of rotating doctors, there were no other customers tonight, making it feel like a private booking.

Sitting among them, Yu Tian found it amusing to listen to several male doctors vividly complaining about their supervising doctors.

Just as Yu Tian began chatting with one male doctor about her self-media science communication venture, the wind chime by the restaurant door suddenly rang as it opened.

Instinctively turning towards the sound, Yu Tian saw an unexpected visitor.

It was Yan Ming.

Wearing a dark coat, he stood tall and exuded an aura of aloof elegance. Without his white coat, he appeared not as a doctor but simply as a cold, handsome man.

For some reason, Yu Tian instinctively felt guilty and flustered.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Had Yan Ming come to see her?

She lowered her head, wanting to hide, unsure how to face him.

However, Yan Ming quickly proved her worries unfounded with his actions.

Without sparing a glance at Yu Tian, he walked straight in, found an empty seat, and sat down. He called a waiter and ordered tea.

Was it a coincidence? Passing by? A fortuitous encounter?

Yu Tian couldn’t tell.

She decided to remain composed.

Straightening her back, she redirected her gaze to the male doctor in front of her: “Anyway, my science communication account…”

Just as Yu Tian began explaining her proposal, she noticed a female resident from the Second Affiliated Hospital, nudged by another female doctor, shyly and nervously approaching Yan Ming.

Her expression was unmistakably one of nervous excitement, her intentions clear.

There was nothing to think about.

It was normal for someone like Yan Ming to be approached, but given his personality, he probably wouldn’t casually give out his contact information.

Yu Tian ignored it, turned her head away, and continued discussing the operation of her science communication account with the male doctor.

Still, her peripheral vision involuntarily glanced towards Yan Ming—

Indeed, the female resident was asking for his number. Nervously looking at Yan Ming, she took out her phone and said something.

But contrary to Yu Tian’s expectation of a cold rejection, Yan Ming smiled faintly. Very naturally and smoothly, he took out his phone from his coat pocket. From Yu Tian’s angle, she could see his well-defined jawline. His expression remained unchanged, but his actions clearly indicated…

Was he going to exchange numbers with someone else?!

Yu Tian almost jumped up.

Why was it so difficult only when she asked for his contact information? It felt like she was being treated differently.

She was furious.

Extremely furious, almost boiling over with anger.

Before she realized it, she had already abandoned the conversation with the male doctor and stormed over to Yan Ming’s table.

Only then did Yan Ming seem to notice her. He looked up, his deep eyes like two wells. The restaurant played elegant piano music, the background noise feeling both near and distant, hiding some elusive emotions. Every musical note seemed to conceal secrets, as if their gazes would uncover them.

Yu Tian and Yan Ming looked at each other, trying to probe each other’s hidden thoughts. Yet almost instantly, both uncomfortably averted their eyes, with the same intention—neither wanted to be seen through.

Their eyes barely met; it was more about the emotional touch, the tentative probing.

Wanting to lure the opponent deeper, yet only daring a shallow taste.

Though the restaurant was large, Yu Tian felt it was small, too small to hide the minutiae of emotions.

That brief minute felt stretched and slowed countless times.

Finally, unable to bear the anxiety any longer, Yan Ming glanced at Yu Tian again. He lowered his gaze and put away his phone, addressing the female resident asking for his number: “Sorry, it’s not convenient to add contacts right now.”

The female doctor looked disappointed: “But you just took out your phone… Why won’t you add me now?”

Yan Ming remained calm, his gaze shifting to Yu Tian: “I ran into someone who owes me money. I plan to collect the debt first. I’m staging a silent protest. I took out my phone to send her a message.”

“...” Who owes you money!

Utterly bored!

Yu Tian didn’t want anything to do with him. She regretted walking over and decided to turn back to the male doctor she had been talking to.

Unfortunately, Yu Tian underestimated Yan Ming’s attractive face. Even after a failed attempt, other female doctors still approached him for his contact information.

Every time, Yu Tian couldn’t help but steal glances, as if monitoring a married man suspected of infidelity.

Even though Yan Ming rejected every proactive female who sought his contact information, whenever another approached, Yu Tian couldn’t help but shift her attention and gaze towards him.

Though Yan Ming ultimately didn’t add anyone, Yu Tian’s originally smooth social event was disrupted into pieces. She only managed to discuss collaboration ideas with a few male doctors and didn’t have time to chat casually to build rapport.

When Yu Tian took out her phone hoping to exchange contact information, she encountered the second rejection in her life—

“Forget it, no need to exchange contacts. I’m interested in the science communication project. Regarding that, just email me directly.”

The other party looked awkward: “It’s not that I don’t want to add you, but your boyfriend is watching too closely.”

The poor resident pointed behind him: “That man, your boyfriend, right? I leaned in a bit to talk to you, and he nearly glared me to death. I saw him staring at me the whole time. I’m scared he might do something rash. I’ve worked so hard to study medicine and support my parents. I need to protect myself...”

“...”

Yu Tian was utterly infuriated. Yan Ming, always Yan Ming. Why does everything involving Yan Ming become so complicated!

She angrily retorted: “He’s not my boyfriend, I don’t know him!”

They weren’t in any kind of relationship, not officially acknowledged at all!

Unfortunately, the other party clearly didn’t believe her and advised: “It’s normal for couples to have tiffs. If you argue, make up later.”

In the end, Yu Tian’s social outing was declared a failure.

At 9:30 PM, the rotating doctors’ gathering began to disperse. As Yu Tian stood up, she saw Yan Ming also rise from not far behind.

Sure enough, wherever she went, Yan Ming followed.

Unbeknownst to her, it had started raining outside. Initially a light drizzle, it now showed signs of intensifying.

Several male rotating doctors quickly arranged rides for the female doctors. Unfortunately, Yu Tian wasn’t included in these plans because Yan Ming loomed behind her like a large roadblock, causing the male doctors to bypass her entirely.

As the crowd gradually dispersed and the rain outside intensified, the taxi app predictably offered no good news in such weather.

She had no choice but to turn and look at Yan Ming: “How do we get back?”

“I drove.” Yan Ming kept his hands in his pockets, his tone calm. “But my car doesn’t carry strangers.”

He glanced at Yu Tian: “Don’t we not know each other?”

He averted his gaze: “I heard.”

Yu Tian didn’t understand how Yan Ming could be so childish.

Normally aloof and difficult to approach, why did he act like a sulky elementary school student in front of her?

She couldn’t figure out what Yan Ming was doing or what he wanted.

He kissed her, was unhappy about her moving out, and became moody about her attending gatherings. Yet he said nothing, merely appearing near her, disrupting her emotions.

In the night, the rain fell densely, slowing the bustling city’s rhythm. The sound of rain drowned out all other noises, making the city tranquil. The neon-lit streets looked like watercolor paintings blurred by rain.

Yu Tian gazed at the rain outside. Though heavy, running to the subway station wasn’t impossible.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to spend another minute with Yan Ming.

If he won’t offer a ride, fine.

Ignoring Yan Ming, Yu Tian took a deep breath, held her bag above her head, and prepared to run into the rain.

But just as she took a step, Yan Ming forcefully pulled her back.

“How impatient.”

Yan Ming’s voice was low and sexy. Yu Tian looked up, meeting his eyes in a fluster. Then she watched as he cupped her face with his hands.

He kissed her.

“Now we know each other.”

After kissing her, Yan Ming confidently and calmly took Yu Tian’s hand amidst her shocked gaze: “Now you can ride in my car. I’ll take you home.”