PDGUT - 52

Every word Yan Ming wrote was like a tiny yet forceful raindrop in an unavoidable spring shower, falling onto Yu Tian’s eyes and striking her heart.

Yu Tian felt as though the entire world had become moist and gentle, with some wondrous and secretly amorous seeds quietly sprouting and growing wildly.

It was hard for Yu Tian to imagine that the cold and aloof man who had scolded her and shown her no kindness during their first meeting could write such poetic love words.

Although the notebook for romantic messages had already been closed and returned to its place, Yu Tian’s heart still felt like it had been sprinkled with Pop Rocks—bursting with small explosions that couldn’t be suppressed. They weren’t fatal, but in a way, they were overwhelming.

Yu Tian suddenly felt an urgent need to see Yan Ming, even though they had only been apart for a few minutes.

But paying the bill shouldn’t have taken this long, should it?

Though Yu Tian desperately wanted to see Yan Ming, she didn’t want to appear too eager or clingy. So, she deliberately turned her back to the cashier, resisting the urge to look at what was happening near the payment counter, not wanting to seem overly attached.

After what felt like an endless wait to Yu Tian, Yan Ming finally walked up to her side.

However, while Yu Tian’s heart leapt with joy at seeing him again, Yan Ming’s expression remained calm.

They say the beginning of a relationship is the honeymoon phase, where the love in both partners’ eyes is as hard to hide as a cough. Yet, how had Yan Ming cooled down so quickly?

Just before dinner, his gaze toward her had carried a hint of bashfulness, like someone returning home after a long absence. How could he revert to his usual composure just after one meal?

Yu Tian felt a bit unhappy, especially since Yan Ming showed no signs of affection. Other couples in the honeymoon phase were always holding hands.

They say that when you feel less love from your partner during a relationship, you tend to become more “needy,” indirectly seeking proof of their love through small gestures. Yu Tian used to scoff at this idea, but now she found herself agreeing with it.

When it came to love, she was no different from anyone else—she couldn’t escape the clichés.

If Yan Ming didn’t seem to love her enough, then she would seek reassurance by making her presence known.

Yu Tian took a step forward and tugged on Yan Ming’s sleeve.

As expected, Yan Ming stopped and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

Though there was no overt display of intimacy, his tone was gentle. “What’s wrong?”

This was why it was essential to date someone handsome. With Yan Ming’s face, Yu Tian’s frustration melted away significantly.

Some things were just too embarrassing to nitpick over.

So maybe a little flirtation would suffice.

She shook Yan Ming’s hand. “I want a kiss.”

She had already given him an easy way out, but instead of playing along, this guy seemed flustered. He lowered his voice. “Here? Let’s wait until we get home.”

Yu Tian had already mentally prepared herself, but Yan Ming’s response infuriated her.

What was the problem? Was kissing her in public really something shameful? Hadn’t he just said before dinner that he couldn’t resist kissing her?

Seeing Yu Tian on the verge of anger, Yan Ming finally got the hint. He pulled her close and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

Could there be anything more perfunctory than that?

Yu Tian started to take it seriously.

“Do you not like me?” she asked unhappily. “You don’t seem excited at all. I’ve heard about people who are ‘romantically single-minded’—they go crazy during the暧昧 (ambiguous) phase, but once the relationship is official, they cool off and start avoiding things.”

Yan Ming looked somewhat helpless. “That’s not me. I’m not cooling off, and I’m not avoiding anything.”

“Then why, when I ask you to kiss me, do you not kiss me properly? It’s not like we’re living in the old days, where public displays of affection could get you labeled as a流氓 (hooligan).”

Yu Tian pointed to her lips. “Kiss me properly.”

Yan Ming hesitated but eventually seemed to throw caution to the wind. He cupped Yu Tian’s face and kissed her deeply.

It was a passionate, intense kiss.

“Are you satisfied now?”

When Yan Ming released her, Yu Tian was still slightly breathless.

It was too much.

Either don’t kiss at all, or kiss like this.

Clearly, Yan Ming had been moved too. He averted his gaze slightly and reached out to take the sunflower bouquet from Yu Tian’s hands.

“But you already gave it to me! Why are you taking my sunflower!”

Yan Ming’s tone was a bit unnatural. “Let me hold it for you.”

But the sunflowers were light, and Yu Tian didn’t mind carrying them herself. She extended her hand toward Yan Ming. “No need, I can handle it.”

However, her hand quickly retracted.

Because as her eyes wandered, she suddenly realized why Yan Ming needed the bouquet.

He had reacted to that kiss.

He needed the flowers to block prying eyes.

Yu Tian’s gaze swept over his lower body, then darted away like startled fish fleeing in all directions.

Her heart felt like poor mushrooms floating aimlessly in a boiling hot pot, tossed up and down without direction. The spicy oil scent seemed to invade her brain, making her face flush, her heart race, and her palms sweat from nervousness.

Yu Tian opened her mouth, about to say something to break the awkwardness, when she noticed several people approaching from behind Yan Ming, greeting him and bringing even more discomfort—

“Xiao Yan, I’m leaving.”

“Yan Ming, see you next time.”

“When you have time, come visit the school.”

Yu Tian watched as the dean of the medical school, the university president, several vice presidents of the First Affiliated Hospital, and a few renowned medical researchers from Rong City filed past. Behind them trailed a group of graduate students. Their gazes swept over Yu Tian like searchlights.

Yu Tian froze completely.

How could she run into these people here!

Even after they had left, Yu Tian was still in a state of chaos and disbelief. “They didn’t see anything, right?”

“They saw everything.” Though Yan Ming had been the one who seemed flustered earlier, he was now the one calmly stating the facts. “They were already behind me when you asked me to kiss you.”

“When I was paying the bill, I noticed they were all there, so I greeted them. They followed me out, and I was planning to introduce you as an alumna from our medical school who’s doing science communication on social media.” Yan Ming spoke with an expressionless face. “Didn’t you mention several times that you wanted to invite some authoritative experts for a few episodes? I thought this would be a good opportunity.”

“...” Yu Tian was filled with regret, her face flushed red. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier!”

No wonder Yan Ming had acted so composed and hadn’t shown any affection earlier—it turned out he had encountered these big names from his workplace and industry.

Yu Tian groaned. “It’s all over now…”

“It’s not over. It counts as an introduction, just under different circumstances.”

Yan Ming regained his composure. “I think they’ll remember you quite well. These deans, vice deans, and professors have good relationships with me. If you visit them next time using your current identity, I don’t think there will be any issues. They’ll at least give me some face.”

What kind of identity!

In their eyes, Yu Tian thought, she must appear as a femme fatale—a vixen who hindered Yan Ming’s dedication to medicine, ensnaring him in worldly distractions. And not just any vixen, but one who was overly affectionate and spoiled.

“Why didn’t you warn me!”

“My restraint and decorum toward you weren’t enough of a hint?” Yan Ming sounded a bit helpless. “I did say we could kiss when we got home, but you got upset.”

“You kissed me because I got upset? Yan Ming, a person needs principles and boundaries! Couldn’t you have just insisted on ignoring me?”

Yan Ming pressed his lips together. “There are always exceptions to principles and boundaries.”

He glanced at Yu Tian and handed the sunflower bouquet back to her. “Here, it’s yours again.”

Yu Tian discreetly glanced down. Good, Yan Ming and his body had both calmed down.

Perhaps her gaze had been too obvious, because Yan Ming looked somewhat annoyed. “What exactly are you looking at?”

Yu Tian muttered, “Well… wherever feels strange, I look there.”

Yan Ming didn’t dwell on it further, pulling Yu Tian out of the restaurant.

The night breeze was gentle. Yu Tian looked up at the sky, where stars peeked through the clouds, appearing and disappearing like scattered flecks of gold spilled on a canvas wrinkled by the wind.

Gazing at the vast night sky, her mood finally began to settle.

But some people seemed determined to make her uncomfortable.

“Don’t let me kiss you in public again.”

The man beside her spoke earnestly. “Always behaving like this is a strain on my health.”

Yu Tian paused, then realized the implications of Yan Ming’s words.

Her face instantly turned red, and she felt like stomping her feet in frustration. “How can you be like this? I used to think you were aloof, but it turns out you’re always thinking about things like this!”

“Yu Tian, I’m not constantly thinking about these things, but I am a normal man. As a medical student, you should understand this better than anyone.”

Yan Ming’s tone remained aloof. “Alright, let’s change the subject. Let’s talk about something else.”

“...”

Yu Tian gave Yan Ming a small glare. This man couldn’t take a joke; he was too serious.

But perhaps he didn’t realize that someone who spoke so seriously about such matters was the most captivating and lethal of all.

However, it wasn’t long before Yu Tian came up with another mischievous idea to tease Yan Ming—

“Why did you give me sunflowers earlier? Everyone else gives red roses.”

“What did you write in the romantic message book?”

Without hesitation, Yan Ming immediately denied it. “What could I have written? Just the usual stuff. Nothing special.”

At this point, he glanced at Yu Tian. “Certainly not as unique as what you wrote.”

Yu Tian froze, then reacted with wide eyes, incredulous. “You didn’t actually go and read what I wrote, did you?”

Yan Ming tightly pursed his lips and didn’t respond.

Which meant he had.

“Was it... was it during that time? Did you read it then?”

Yan Ming’s expression remained blank. “Let’s change the topic again.”

Yu Tian almost burst out laughing.

She teased him. “Did you know about the romantic message book last time and couldn’t wait to go and read it?”

And you said you weren’t plotting against me all along.

This time, Yan Ming couldn’t hold back. “I didn’t go and read it. The waiter shoved your ‘love poem’ into my hands while I was paying, saying you wrote it for me.”

He glared at Yu Tian. “Think about what nonsense you wrote. How embarrassing.”

“...”

This answer caught Yu Tian off guard.

She never expected that after that meal, the love poem she had written casually would end up in Yan Ming’s hands…

“So when you received that strange thing, why didn’t you mention it or ask me to confirm?” Yu Tian was both collapsing and confused. “Who in their right mind writes random things like that and gives them to others?!”

Yan Ming shot Yu Tian a sidelong glance. “Are you a normal person?”

“...”

Yu Tian protested. “Birds of a feather flock together. If I’m not normal, how can you, who’s dating me, be considered normal?”

To her surprise, Yan Ming shamelessly replied, “I’m a kind-hearted person with a high concentration of normalcy, specially here to neutralize your high concentration of abnormality.”

“...”

Yu Tian wasn’t ready to give up. She wanted to gain the upper hand and tease Yan Ming a little more. “So did you really not write anything special for me this time?”

She didn’t want to tell Yan Ming that she had already sneaked a peek earlier and pretended to know nothing.

“No.” Yan Ming was almost indignant. He gave Yu Tian a warning glare. “There was no special meaning behind giving you sunflowers. It’s just practical—when the flowers wilt, you can eat the seeds from the flower head.”

“Really?” Yu Tian deliberately looked at Yan Ming with a disappointed gaze, then changed the subject. “Then I need to go back and see what you wrote. Was it really as bad as you claim? Why didn’t the waiter hand me your love poem this time? It must be because you wrote something embarrassing, and the waiter didn’t dare to show it.”

As soon as she pretended to turn around, Yan Ming grabbed her.

“Yu Tian, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Hmm?”

Yan Ming’s face turned unnatural, looking both helpless and completely unwilling to get angry at Yu Tian.

“I wrote something.”

He confessed as if admitting defeat. “I wrote a romantic message.”

Yan Ming added, “Not as messy as what you wrote.”

After speaking, he calmly pulled Yu Tian forward, his face composed but his ears slightly red. “So you don’t need to go back and check. It’s late, the streets are dark, and I should hurry up and take you home.”

Yu Tian looked at the bright, bustling street scene and couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated.

She deliberately opposed Yan Ming. “Since you wrote something, I definitely need to go back and see it!”

“I did write something, but it wasn’t anything special. Just the usual stuff. Not worth seeing.”

Though he had written the romantic message himself, he was the first to feel shy and uncomfortable.

Fine, she wouldn’t go back.

After all, Yu Tian had already sneaked a peek.

Looking at the sunflowers in her hand, Yu Tian suddenly found that these once unremarkable flowers now looked exceptionally pleasing. Their brilliance burned brightly, full of life.