Side Story 3: Practice Makes Perfect

Although Yan Ming’s father and Yu Tian’s mother had known each other for a long time, Yan Ming still hoped to meet both sets of parents again—this time in a new capacity. However, plans often fall short of expectations. Even though both Yan Ming and Yu Tian had agreed on meeting their families, every attempt to schedule such a meeting was thwarted by unforeseen circumstances.

Of course, Yan Ming had no complaints because most of these disruptions stemmed from his own life. Sometimes there were emergency surgeries for patients; other times, colleagues in his department fell victim to the flu, forcing him to switch shifts. On yet another occasion, the hospital decided to push forward with a public welfare campaign involving eye surgeries in remote mountainous areas. Yan Ming volunteered to go and soon realized that the number of people needing surgery far exceeded his initial estimates, so he extended his stay beyond the original plan.

Despite these interruptions, Yan Ming and Yu Tian’s relationship remained stable. Their occasional business trips and busy schedules brought brief separations that fueled longing and gave them space, creating a sense of freshness akin to newlyweds after each reunion. To Yan Ming, life with Yu Tian seemed sweeter than ever.

But while Yan Ming and Yu Tian could afford to wait, Yan Ming’s father, Yan Wenhua, could not.

Lately, Yan Wenhua had been feeling particularly unlucky. His romantic life, once promising, had taken an unexpected turn. The woman he had been dating—a seemingly gentle and kind partner who showed concern for his well-being during their courtship—began subtly changing her attitude as their relationship progressed. When Yan Wenhua proposed remarriage and suggested starting with an engagement ceremony followed by a wedding, she started making requests that raised red flags.

Her demeanor remained as warm and caring as before, but now she frequently hinted at gaining control over some of Yan Wenhua’s finances. For instance:

“Wenhua, since we’re about to become a family, I see how busy you are with work and don’t have time to manage your accounts. Think about it—such a large sum sitting idle is a waste. My nephew works at a fund management company and knows investments inside out. Why don’t you let him handle your idle funds? He’ll guarantee satisfactory returns by year-end.”

“Also, Chen Xi just graduated and is looking for a job. She’s interviewed with several companies, but either the roles weren’t suitable or the interviewers treated her poorly. One even offered low pay despite high stress during the probation period. I was wondering if there might be any openings in your company for her?”

“She studied finance, so wouldn’t it make sense for her to help with your company’s accounting? It aligns perfectly with her expertise, and having someone trustworthy like family handle the books would give you peace of mind, right, Wenhua?”

The demands themselves weren’t outrageous. For Yan Wenhua, arranging a position for Chen Xi or giving her relative a small favor through investment opportunities wasn’t difficult. But after years navigating the business world, he understood that certain matters weren’t about size—they were about principles and boundaries.

If subtle hints for financial influence were already surfacing before marriage, what would happen once they became legally wed? Once appeased, her appetite would only grow. Conversely, firmly rejecting these requests upfront would inevitably sow discord in their future marriage. After all, this was a second marriage for both parties, each with children from previous relationships. At their age, having more children together wasn’t feasible. If money became a source of conflict early on, why continue a relationship destined for strain?

Yan Wenhua wasn’t one to dawdle. He foresaw a series of complications ahead. While having a confidante at his age was nice, he didn’t want to leave potential pitfalls for his son. A legal spouse with ulterior motives toward his wealth could cause trouble even if a will was prepared in advance. Should Yan Wenhua pass away first, leaving behind a widow without integrity, she could create significant problems for Yan Ming.

Moreover, Yan Ming was deeply dedicated to medicine and unlikely to resign from his hospital duties to take over the family business. Without Yan Wenhua around, the enterprise would need to be handed over to professional managers. Yet no matter how competent these managers were, unchecked power often bred greed and corruption. Entrusting oversight to a stepmother with no blood ties to Yan Ming seemed less reliable than finding a dependable wife for him.

A wife tied to Yan Ming through shared children would align their interests closely. Furthermore, a young and intelligent woman, even if inexperienced in business management, could learn quickly under guidance. Yan Wenhua envisioned providing training in corporate operations so she could supervise the professional managers effectively.

Thus, Yan Wenhua cared far more about Yan Ming’s romantic prospects than his own. Unfortunately, his efforts proved futile because Yan Ming appeared entirely indifferent.

It wasn’t surprising, given Yan Ming’s upbringing. Despite his parents’ divorce, they parted amicably, ensuring minimal disruption to his life. Even post-divorce, Yan Ming’s mother regularly visited and maintained a friendly rapport with his father. As a result, Yan Ming grew up unscathed, excelling academically and physically blessed. With numerous admirers pursuing him, Yan Ming never felt pressured to rush into love.

Though medical school was grueling and Yan Ming skipped grades, Yan Wenhua refrained from pressuring him until graduation. Even afterward, he tried to respect his son’s choices. But now, years into a stable career, Yan Ming remained unfazed by his father’s repeated nudges—both direct and indirect.

He was nearly thirty!

Yan Wenhua married young and had Yan Ming by thirty!

Yet Yan Ming…

What infuriated Yan Wenhua most was that this year, Yan Ming changed tactics. Instead of outright refusing blind dates or skipping arranged gatherings, he began deceiving his father.

For example, not long ago, when Yan Wenhua was dining with Chen Xi’s family, Yan Ming didn’t show up, claiming he couldn’t attend because he was with a girl. Recalling the phone call, Yan Wenhua remembered Yan Ming sounding slightly embarrassed but oddly proud. Though his tone was calm, Yan Wenhua detected underlying excitement, suggesting he was with someone special.

At the time, this thrilled Yan Wenhua. Finally, progress! Perhaps soon, Yan Ming would introduce the girl to him.

But days turned into weeks, and Yan Ming showed no signs of moving forward. He continued his routine, diligently working day in and day out. On weekends, he stayed home, answering calls from his landline in his apartment.

Where was the behavior of someone with a girlfriend?!

Yan Wenhua fumed. His son had learned to stall and put on a performance.

Deception was worse than outright rejection because it created false hope. Now, just when Yan Wenhua thought he’d finally meet his son’s girlfriend, reality hit hard.

As Yan Wenhua prepared to confront Yan Ming about this charade, his son surprised him by announcing plans to arrange a dinner the next day—with his girlfriend and her family—for a formal introduction.

After an initial surge of excitement, Yan Wenhua quickly regained composure. This had to be fake. Absolutely fake.

Reflecting on recent weekends, Yan Ming had spent all his time at home. If he were truly in a serious relationship nearing the stage of meeting parents, wouldn’t he spend every moment glued to his partner?

Clearly, Yan Ming devised a new tactic to mislead him into thinking he was in a stable relationship, thereby avoiding further matchmaking schemes.

True to form, shortly after declaring intentions to introduce his girlfriend, Yan Ming always found excuses to delay—emergency surgeries, charity missions in rural areas, covering shifts for colleagues…

Yan Wenhua felt he had seen through his son completely. This supposed “girlfriend” was as fake as could be.

In hindsight, he marveled at how easily he’d fallen for the deception. Given Yan Ming’s demanding schedule, who could tolerate such a lifestyle? Even weekends were spent at home alone. If there had ever been a girlfriend, surely she was gone by now.

It was time to take matters into his own hands and arrange another blind date for Yan Ming.

First, however, he needed to expose Yan Ming’s ruse, preventing him from using the excuse of having a girlfriend to evade matchmaking altogether.

With determination, Yan Wenhua sprang into action. After wrapping up a board meeting on the weekend, he pretended to check in on Yan Ming via phone, confirming his presence at home. Then, with a stern expression, he drove straight to Yan Ming’s apartment complex, intent on catching him red-handed.

Yan Ming brazenly claimed he was home with his girlfriend, promising to formally introduce her to Yan Wenhua the next day. Yan Wenhua vividly remembered his words:

“When you meet my girlfriend and her mother tomorrow, try not to get too excited.”

Yan Ming chuckled lightly, his voice brimming with pride. “I’ll keep you guessing for now—I won’t reveal anything about her identity, but you know her.”

Despite expecting another lie, Yan Wenhua instinctively asked, “I know her? Who is it?”

This prompted a complaint. “What about Gao Mei? Such a lovely girl, yet you refused to give her a chance. She was so enthusiastic, undeterred by your busy schedule, visiting the hospital daily. And now? Thanks to those frequent visits, she’s fallen for another young doctor in your department. They’re inseparable and have already met each other’s parents!”

To which Yan Ming replied confidently, “Gao Mei and I truly weren’t compatible. Her happiness is a good thing—I sincerely wish her well. Meanwhile, I’ve found someone better suited for me. I’ll say no more—you’ll understand tomorrow. She’s busy with schoolwork, which explains why we haven’t met earlier.”

Tomorrow indeed!

Yan Wenhua smirked. He fully expected Yan Ming to concoct yet another excuse at midnight, claiming something urgent prevented them from meeting the next day.

However, Yan Wenhua couldn’t wait that long. Determined to catch Yan Ming in the act, he headed directly to his apartment, ready to expose his son lounging alone while pretending to have a girlfriend nearby.

Upon reaching Yan Ming’s door, Yan Wenhua discovered the electronic lock password had been changed. Yan Ming wasn’t home, nor did he answer calls or reply to messages.

Frustrated, Yan Wenhua retreated downstairs. Planning to wait in a café within the residential area, he pushed open the door and unexpectedly encountered someone familiar—Yu Tian, the daughter of a former matchmaking candidate.

Dressed casually in comfortable cotton clothing, Yu Tian exuded understated elegance. Her natural beauty shone through without makeup, her features strikingly radiant. This particular match had left Yan Wenhua deeply regretful. Despite his strong affection for her, she had politely declined, citing incompatibility. Even knowing his affluent background, her rejection remained resolute, reflecting a family neither overly concerned with nor blinded by wealth.

Though they hadn’t met many times, Yan Wenhua remembered Yu Tian vividly. Rarely did one encounter such stunning beauty paired with intelligence. Like Yan Ming, she graduated from the same prestigious university but chose entrepreneurship in social media instead of pursuing further studies.

Surprised yet pleased to see her, Yan Wenhua greeted Yu Tian warmly.

“Little Yu, what a coincidence!”

However, the usually poised and confident girl appeared somewhat awkward this time, even a little nervous. “Uncle Yan...?” she stammered.

Yan Wenhua realized his abruptness; after all, he and her mother had long parted ways. But at this moment, he felt a deep sense of melancholy. At his age, not only was his own romantic life in limbo, but his son’s love life seemed equally stagnant. Yan Ming was already nearing thirty, and if things continued like this, he would soon be approaching forty. Would he even live to see grandchildren?

“Little Yu, are you waiting for someone?” Despite his dejection, Yan Wenhua couldn’t resist seeking someone to confide in. “If you’re not busy, could you keep me company for a while?”

Yu Tian hesitated briefly but didn’t refuse. “Sure, Uncle Yan. I’m not waiting for anyone. Did something trouble you?”

Yan Wenhua himself wasn’t sure why, but in front of subordinates and employees, he always maintained the image of a decisive leader, unable to reveal his vulnerabilities. Now, facing Yu Tian, he felt an unexpected sense of ease.

“Ah, if only Yan Ming were as considerate and thoughtful as you, willing to spend more time chatting with me,” he sighed. “Having a daughter is better. My son has so many flaws.”

“But I think Brother Yan Ming is really great,” Yu Tian interjected earnestly, looking directly at Yan Wenhua. “He has so many, many strengths.”

Yu Tian genuinely believed this. Earlier that day, she had arranged to meet Yan Ming at his apartment, as they often spent weekends together there. Sometimes, while she studied, Yan Ming would pore over the latest ophthalmology literature. When they stumbled upon interesting discoveries or problems, they would discuss them. During their downtime, they would cozy up on the couch to watch movies.

Of course, certain things naturally unfolded in such private settings. When the movie featured a kiss, Yu Tian and Yan Ming would follow suit on the couch. Often, halfway through the film, the couple would have already retreated to the bedroom.

These moments always felt natural. When the atmosphere was right, intimacy followed seamlessly, and Yu Tian didn’t mind.

The only thing that irked her slightly was Yan Ming’s insatiable nature. Just because she had once complained about never finishing a movie, the previous night, Yan Ming had lured her into an alternative way of “finishing” the film. The most infuriating part? Even as the credits rolled, Yan Ming still hadn’t had enough…

That afternoon, Yu Tian arrived at Yan Ming’s place as usual, wanting to discuss a case with him. However, craving dessert, she casually mentioned missing the coconut milk cake from the trendy bakery downstairs. Without hesitation, Yan Ming left to queue for it.

“Wait another fifteen minutes—I should be next in line,” his message read.

Seeing this, Yu Tian decided not to idle. She headed downstairs to buy two cups of coffee. The overly sweet coconut milk cake paired perfectly with coffee’s subtle bitterness and aroma, creating a balanced and layered experience.

She hadn’t expected to run into Yan Wenhua at the café.

Due to various mishaps, though Yan Ming had talked about meeting her parents for a long time, it had always been postponed. This time, they had finally planned for tomorrow—but Yu Tian hadn’t anticipated encountering Yan Wenhua early.

Once a potential stepfather candidate for her mother, Yan Wenhua had never made her feel nervous or flustered. But now, as her boyfriend’s father-to-be, Yu Tian felt utterly disoriented.

She wondered if she should reveal her identity but struggled to find the right moment. Yan Wenhua was deeply immersed in venting about his son’s perceived shortcomings.

In her role as a dutiful girlfriend, Yu Tian tried several times to defend Yan Ming. Each time, however, Yan Wenhua cut her off impatiently:

“Strengths? Little Yu, perhaps because you’re Yan Ming’s junior, you’ve heard plenty of his ‘glorious achievements’ and admire him as a top student. But in reality, once you get to know him, you’ll discover he has a mountain of flaws.”

“Do you think his grades were so good and he skipped grades just because he’s cold-hearted? He shows no interest in normal human pleasures. Thirty years old, and he doesn’t even have a girlfriend! He even lied, saying he spends weekends at home with his girlfriend. What kind of girl these days stays cooped up at home all the time instead of going out to eat, drink, and have fun? I think he’s raising a virtual pet! A girlfriend? Ha! No normal girl would do that!”

“...”

Yu Tian fell silent, ready to clarify that she was Yan Ming’s girlfriend.

Unaware of her internal turmoil, Yan Wenhua continued pouring out his grievances: “I’m not one of those traditionalists who insists on marriages between families of equal status. I just hope he finds a girl with decent education and some wit. But now, even I realize I’m asking too much. Why would a clever girl choose Yan Ming?”

“He only has a few sets of casual clothes at home, wears a white coat to work, drives an unremarkable car, and won’t let my driver bring the Lamborghini to the hospital for him. In this modern world, being low-key isn’t a virtue. With his doctor’s salary and busy schedule, what smart girl would marry him? He needs to flaunt the family’s wealth!”

Yan Wenhua grew increasingly agitated: “And then he lies, saying he’s dating a student! That’s actually believable—only a naive student would think marrying a doctor is a good idea.”

Yan Wenhua spoke sincerely, looking at Yu Tian. “Little Yu, I consider you almost like family. Though things didn’t work out with your mom, let me give you some heartfelt advice: don’t marry a doctor. They’re so busy they forget everyone else. There were times when I had diarrhea and acute gastroenteritis, and I asked Yan Ming to accompany me for an IV drip. But this brat abandoned me, saying his patient post-surgery complications were more urgent. He even had the audacity to tell me, ‘Dad, your gastroenteritis won’t kill you, but the patient might lose their eyesight without me.’”

“I understand the logic, but does that sound humane? If he said that to his girlfriend, who could tolerate it?”

Yu Tian couldn’t hold back any longer: “But Uncle, have you ever considered that someone who truly loves Yan Ming would understand and support his work, not minding these things?”

Here, Yu Tian began dropping heavy hints: “For example, take someone like me—a medical student, practically his colleague. I understand him deeply and appreciate him even more because we’re in the same field. The dedication he shows to his patients is extraordinary—it’s true professionalism...”

“And maybe Yan Ming seemed distant before because he hadn’t met the right person. If he falls deeply in love with someone, he wouldn’t leave her alone during sickness...”

Unfortunately, Yu Tian’s words failed to comfort Yan Wenhua. He sighed wistfully: “So am I not the right person? Does he save his care and attention for the right girl, leaving his old father to fend for himself?”

“...”

Yan Wenhua forced a smile: “Little Yu, thank you for listening to this old man’s ramblings. You’re kind, smart, and understanding of a doctor’s hectic life. Don’t mind my nonsense. It’s just... it’s such a pity. If only you were my future daughter-in-law.”

Yu Tian’s eyes lit up. This was the perfect opportunity to confess!

Without hesitation, she declared: “Then I’ll be your future daughter-in-law!”

Her bold statement stunned Yan Wenhua momentarily, but his expression quickly dimmed. Gratefully, he looked at Yu Tian: “Little Yu, thank you for comforting me this way. I’m already very happy.”

“But I know you and Yan Ming don’t click.” Ignoring Yu Tian’s shocked expression, Yan Wenhua sighed again: “Though I don’t know if Yan Ming is your type, he works in ophthalmology yet seems blind himself. Once, I asked him what kind of partner he wanted. He said he preferred someone with average looks, thinking they’d make a better homemaker. He assumed beautiful girls liked to go out and play, so they wouldn’t accept his busy lifestyle...”

What?!

Yu Tian was genuinely perplexed: “Isn’t that discriminatory against beautiful girls? Not all pretty girls enjoy going out and partying!”

Yan Wenhua glanced at Yu Tian, feeling embarrassed: “That’s why I say his judgment is poor. Anyway, when I tried introducing him to potential partners, he strongly resisted dating pretty girls. So, most likely, my future daughter-in-law will be a gentle, ordinary-looking girl...”

“...”

This was utterly absurd!

Yu Tian was at a loss for words, unsure how to proceed with revealing her identity as Yan Ming’s girlfriend.

Just then, the café door opened again. Yu Tian turned to see Yan Ming, who had returned with the coconut milk cake after seeing her message about being at the café.

“Why did you come downstairs yourself when there’s a storm warning?” Yan Ming didn’t immediately notice Yan Wenhua sitting behind him. He quickly took the coffee takeaway bag from Yu Tian’s hands and said gently, “Next time, just tell me if you want coffee. After buying the cake, I could have brought it upstairs for you...”

“Yan Ming?”

Startled by the familiar voice, Yan Ming turned to see his father: “Dad? What are you doing here?”

Yan Wenhua’s eyes widened as he looked at Yan Ming, then at Yu Tian: “Little Yu, you arranged to meet Yan Ming?”

“Uncle...”

Before Yu Tian could respond awkwardly, Yan Ming stepped forward, taking her hand and gently guiding her closer: “We planned to introduce you tomorrow, but since you’re here today, let’s meet properly under new circumstances.”

“Yu Tian, my girlfriend—and your future daughter-in-law.”

What?!

Yan Wenhua’s eyes filled with genuine confusion, as if he hadn’t processed the situation: “What are you talking about? Little Yu isn’t...”

Yu Tian blushed, but Yan Ming remained calm: “She’s not my blood-related sister, nor have I ever treated her as one.”

Yan Wenhua froze for a moment, but instead of joy, anger flickered in his eyes: “You dared to bring Little Yu here to fool me! I don’t understand—what’s wrong with arranged meetings? Do you want to grow old alone without children?!”

“...”

“Dad, Yu Tian is my real girlfriend, not an act,” Yan Ming said helplessly. “Is it really that hard to believe? All my friends think we’re a great match.”

Yan Wenhua quickly found a loophole: “But didn’t you say your girlfriend was a student? Isn’t Little Yu running a social media business? Can’t you even lie convincingly?”

“Yu Tian went back to school. She’s pursuing academia and is currently a graduate student.”

Still in disbelief, Yan Wenhua stared at Yu Tian, then scrutinized Yan Ming, searching for signs of deception: “Didn’t you say you didn’t want someone pretty?”

To this accusation, Yan Ming remained calm and matter-of-fact: “Do you think Yu Tian is pretty? I don’t.”

Not only Yan Wenhua but even Yu Tian furrowed her brows, feeling a bit offended.

What did he mean by that?

Just as Yu Tian prepared to protest, Yan Ming calmly added: “Yu Tian isn’t just pretty—she’s extraordinarily beautiful. I didn’t plan to date someone pretty, which is why I chose someone extraordinarily beautiful.”

Yan Wenhua was nearly driven mad by Yan Ming’s audacious logic: “You clearly said you wanted someone with plain, ordinary looks!”

Yan Ming simply raised an eyebrow, coolly responding: “Dad, you’re also a man. Do you really believe such nonsense?”

“...”

Watching Yan Ming’s gaze toward Yu Tian, the undeniable intimacy in their body language, and the evident traces of her presence in his life, Yan Wenhua gradually came to terms with the truth.

Yan Ming was telling the truth.

He and Yu Tian were indeed a couple.

Thus, encountering Yu Tian at the café near Yan Ming’s apartment wasn’t entirely unexpected.

The fact that Yan Ming had a partner made Yan Wenhua ecstatic.

That the partner was Yu Tian made him a hundred times more satisfied.

The boy had hidden it so well. While his relationship with Yu Tian’s mother hadn’t worked out, this sneaky rascal had successfully won over her daughter.

Yan Wenhua felt a mix of irritation and amusement. He no longer worried about his son. No wonder Yan Ming excelled in ophthalmology—his vision was sharp, especially when it mattered.

His certainty about Yan Ming and Yu Tian’s relationship solidified further when, upon returning to Yan Ming’s apartment, he saw Yan Ming enter Yu Tian’s birthday as the door’s password.

Yan Wenhua was meticulous. During his past relationship with Yu Tian’s mother, he had memorized her and her child’s birthdays.

Once inside, there was no need for further explanation.

Traces of Yu Tian were everywhere: her pink notebook carelessly left around, neatly arranged slippers, and a prominent photo of her and Yan Ming in the living room...

Everything spoke volumes.

Finally, Yan Wenhua brightened with joy.

Almost immediately, he found an excuse to leave: “Tomorrow’s meeting can’t be delayed any longer. I need to hurry and buy gifts for Little Yu and her mother. We’ll soon be one big family again. I must consult my friend who knows feng shui and astrology to pick an auspicious date for your wedding and research the ceremony procedures...”

With that, Yan Wenhua strode out, radiating pride and satisfaction.

Once he left, only Yu Tian and Yan Ming remained in the apartment.

Yan Ming was curious about their earlier encounter: “Before I arrived, what did my dad say to you?”

Yu Tian thought for a moment and summarized concisely: “Uncle said you have a lot of flaws.”

“Only someone blind would date you.”

“He warned me not to marry a doctor.”

“And that you dislike pretty girls.”

...

Yan Ming chuckled, feeling both amused and speechless: “Is he really my father? Does he want me to get married or stay single for life?”

“He’s definitely your dad,” Yu Tian teased, rolling her eyes affectionately. “He’s already planning the wedding details. Thinking so far ahead!”

“Not too far,” Yan Ming leaned closer, kissing her cheek. “Honestly, he hasn’t thought as far as I have.”

“He only thinks about marriage, but I’ve already envisioned our life after marriage—how many children we’ll have, what to name them if they’re boys or girls, what extracurricular activities they should join, and which primary schools they should attend...”

After saying this, Yan Ming scooped Yu Tian into his arms: “Alright, cake eaten, coffee drunk, fully satisfied. We’ve consumed a lot of calories, so we should exercise a bit after the meal.”

With a straight face, he added: “As for my vision of the future, especially having children, though I’m not in a rush and respect your opinion, we won’t start now. But that doesn’t stop us from practicing some preliminary steps to prepare for the process later.”

“After all, practice makes perfect.”

Yu Tian blushed furiously, burying her face in this shameless man’s embrace.

She regretted eating that cake.

But since she had enjoyed the dessert after waiting in line for so long, she couldn’t exactly leave without reciprocating.

Well...

It seemed she had no choice but to return the favor.