Bonus Chapter 6: “Calling Him ‘Husband’“

Although Yan Wenhua was the one who first actively pursued blind dates in an attempt to resolve his single status, he never expected that his son, Yan Ming, would end up beating him to it.

After Yan Wenhua officially broke up with Chen Xi’s mother and returned to being single, Yan Ming managed to propose successfully. He then hastily organized a small engagement party for close friends and family. A month later, this clever young man took Yu Tian to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register their marriage. As for the wedding, since Yu Tian needed to focus on her studies and Yan Ming required time to prepare, they agreed to postpone it.

Even though the formal wedding banquet hadn’t been held yet, Yan Ming had been beaming with joy for days. His usually stern expression was now filled with smiles, and he radiated a carefree happiness. His mood was excellent.

Yan Wenhua, influenced by his son’s joy, was also in high spirits. Yan Ming, as a doctor, was busy with work, surgeries, and saving patients, and didn’t care much about ceremony. But Yan Wenhua wasn’t going to let his only son’s wedding be handled haphazardly. He saw just how outstanding Yu Tian was and couldn’t allow them to have a simple, perfunctory wedding. He was determined to give Yu Tian and Yan Ming the most perfect wedding memories.

With professional managers handling his business affairs, Yan Wenhua found himself with more free time. He reached out to several luxury wedding planning centers, reviewed numerous proposals, and finally selected one. Once they provided a draft plan, he intended to show it to Yan Ming and Yu Tian for approval.

However, it seemed that good things really do come in pairs. After Yan Wenhua stopped pursuing blind dates and became more relaxed about relationships, something unexpected happened. On the way to the wedding planning center one day, he came across a middle-aged woman who had been knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle. The area was sparsely populated, and she had injured her leg while her phone was broken, leaving her unable to contact anyone. Fortunately, Yan Wenhua passed by, helped her call the police, and accompanied her to the hospital, even paying her medical expenses before leaving.

After she recovered, she came to thank him, bringing homemade pastries. Through these interactions, Yan Wenhua got to know her better. Her name was Wu Xing, five years younger than him, and she had a 23-year-old son.

Wu Xing’s life had been tough. Not long after her son was born, her husband passed away, and she never remarried. She raised her child alone while working to support the family. Now, she ran a small dessert studio that had gained some recognition. That day, overwhelmed by last-minute orders and without a delivery person available, she had gone out herself to make deliveries when she was grazed by an illegally speeding truck.

Yan Wenhua didn’t think much of it; helping others was second nature to him. However, unexpectedly, Wu Xing fell for him at first sight. She took the initiative, inviting him to eat out and go shopping, sending him food, knitting scarves, and buying clothes. Over time, Yan Wenhua was touched and thought perhaps he could give it a try.

Though not as fashionably dressed as Chen Xi’s mother, Wu Xing was a clean and presentable middle-aged woman. She wasn’t as volatile as his ex-wife but was practical and diligent. Though quiet, she was efficient, considerate, and grounded. Most importantly, after getting to know her, Yan Wenhua realized she was sincere and someone you could build a life with.

After two failed blind dates, Yan Wenhua had been quite disheartened and considered spending the rest of his life single. But meeting Wu Xing, someone he clicked well with, came as a pleasant surprise, and he didn’t feel repelled by the idea.

He no longer had a strong desire to start another family. Regarding relationships, he preferred to let things happen naturally.

The Chen Xi family, shortly after establishing a relationship, began asking him for various benefits, feeling entitled to do so. This sense of entitlement made Yan Wenhua uncomfortable, making him feel the relationship was too transactional. In contrast, although Wu Xing’s family lived a more modest life than Chen Xi’s, they never asked him for any financial or networking help.

Ironically, the less they asked, the more Yan Wenhua wanted to help them. Wu Xing’s son, Shen Zhou, had just graduated from a university in Rong City with a degree in mechanical automation. Yan Wenhua had met the young man a few times—he was sunny, outgoing, hardworking, and very caring towards his mother. He didn’t shy away from hard work and was clearly industrious.

Since Yan Wenhua’s company didn’t have a relevant department for mechanical automation, he forwarded Shen Zhou’s resume to a friend, merely extending a favor without overstating the young man’s abilities. Nevertheless, Shen Zhou seized this opportunity, excelling through written exams and multiple rounds of interviews, eventually being hired by the company for a position in the R&D department.

Both Wu Xing and Shen Zhou were deeply grateful and insisted on treating Yan Wenhua to dinner to express their thanks. However, Yan Wenhua hesitated:

“I’m fine with it, but recently, whenever I’m free, I’ve been eating with my kids. I can’t easily tell you when I’ll have time apart from them…”

Lately, Yan Ming had been busier with work, and Yu Tian had her studies and self-media entrepreneurship underway. These two workaholics often forgot meal times while working. Yan Wenhua worried about them, and with wedding preparations to discuss, he had been gathering Yan Ming and Yu Tian for meals lately, having the housekeeper cook for them.

If Yan Ming were still single, he probably wouldn’t have come out for meals, opting for takeout instead. But now, with Yu Tian around, Yan Ming had become more cooperative. Whenever Yan Wenhua invited him, he rarely refused—after all, when he was single, eating poorly didn’t matter. But now that he had a wife… how could he let her eat unhealthy takeout?

Yan Wenhua was delighted. When he was alone, weekends had been lonely and difficult. But now, with Yu Tian in the picture, he could invite both kids over for lively meals.

Regarding his scheduling difficulties, Wu Xing felt a bit embarrassed. But considering she had already taken the bold step of pursuing Yan Wenhua, she decided there was no need to be shy about other matters. She directly invited them:

“If your children don’t mind, we can have a meal together. But don’t feel pressured—let’s treat it like friends catching up. Our family truly wants to thank you for helping our son find a job. It’s only right that we treat you to a meal.”

Yan Wenhua and Wu Xing were indeed currently in a friendship phase, which felt light and easy. As for what the future might hold, they left it to fate.

After consulting Yan Ming and Yu Tian, both children agreed to accompany Yan Wenhua for a meal with Wu Xing’s family.

“My dad is nothing like my mom. He has many hobbies and friends all over the world, and his mindset is youthful. He doesn’t lack companionship—it’s the opposite of my mom. Last time I visited home, I saw him sitting in the living room of that big villa, lights off, staring blankly at the garden,” Yan Ming recalled.

“Though we have a housekeeping aunt, she’s busy cleaning upstairs and downstairs and can’t chat with my dad or take him out for walks. So, if my dad finds someone he likes, I fully support it. My parents’ divorce wasn’t due to infidelity or major issues—it was simply because their personalities clashed too much. My mom is suited to a free-spirited life, but my dad, being alone, might feel lonelier than free.”

Understanding his father, Yan Ming didn’t hesitate to support Yan Wenhua’s slightly awkward request to dine together. He readily agreed:

“It’s fine to meet new friends. Plus, Ms. Wu has a son in his twenties, so maybe we’ll have common topics to talk about.”

With Yan Ming’s approval, Yan Wenhua felt much more at ease and promptly accepted Wu Xing’s invitation.

Yu Tian, having lost her father early, now considered herself part of Yan Wenhua’s family after registering her marriage with Yan Ming. Although their wedding hadn’t been held yet, she appreciated how Yan Wenhua treated her like his own daughter, sometimes even showing more concern for her than for his son. Whatever Yan Ming had, Yu Tian received as well—and sometimes even more.

Traditionally, people wait until after the wedding to receive a red envelope and formally address their in-laws. But Yu Tian didn’t want to be bound by such formalities. Relationships are built on sincerity, and since Yan Wenhua treated her like a daughter, she reciprocated by treating him like a father.

She had already started calling him “Dad” naturally, following Yan Ming’s lead. After all, Yan Ming, upon meeting Yu Tian’s family, had affectionately called her mother “Mom” even before they registered their marriage.

Though Yu Tian had been raised by Song Chunxiang, her late father’s widow, who played both parental roles, she occasionally missed her father late at night. Those unfulfilled wishes to spend more time with her father unconsciously transferred to Yan Wenhua. Unable to repay her late father, she wanted to express her gratitude to Yan Wenhua.

After Yan Wenhua’s two failed relationships, Yu Tian felt regret but couldn’t do much to help. All she could do was firmly stand by him, just as Yan Ming did, supporting whatever decision he made.

She noticed that Yan Wenhua felt a bit embarrassed, fearing criticism from the younger generation for seeking a partner at his age. Though outwardly fearless, he was actually very sensitive to his son’s feelings. The support of his family was crucial for him to take the next step.

Yan Ming shared this sentiment, which was why he readily agreed to the dinner invitation.

What Yan Ming didn’t expect, however, was that his casual agreement would cause unnecessary trouble for himself.

To be honest, Wu Xing’s family felt far more genuine and reliable than Chen Xi’s. Unlike Chen Xi’s mother, Wu Xing wasn’t overly charming. In fact, she appeared nervous during their first meeting with Yan Ming and Yu Tian, like a student meeting a teacher.

Shen Zhou was tall, with bright eyes and a sturdy build. He exuded the vitality typical of men in their early twenties. His gaze was sincere, and as a recent graduate, he seemed unfamiliar with societal nuances. After Wu Xing introduced Shen Zhou, she lightly tapped his head, prompting him to greet Yan Wenhua’s group somewhat bashfully.

“This is my son, Shen Zhou. He’s a bit clueless, but thankfully, you helped him with his resume. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have found such a great job.”

Yan Wenhua waved it off: “It was nothing.” Clearly in a good mood, he pointed to Yan Ming and Yu Tian, saying warmly: “My son and daughter—Yan Ming and Yu Tian.”

This wasn’t the first time Yan Wenhua had introduced Yu Tian this way. At previous small gatherings with close friends and relatives, he always referred to her as his “daughter.” To him, the term “daughter” better captured the depth of his feelings for Yu Tian than “daughter-in-law.” He genuinely treated her as family.

Of course, Yan Wenhua’s close friends and relatives knew that Yan Ming and Yu Tian were already engaged, and understood that his use of “daughter” was just playful.

However, what Yan Ming didn’t anticipate was that this introduction caused significant misunderstanding for Wu Xing—and especially for her son, Shen Zhou.

The dinner went harmoniously, and Yan Ming had a favorable impression of Wu Xing and Shen Zhou. Despite not coming from wealthy backgrounds, this mother-son pair spoke politely and confidently. Shen Zhou appeared to be a studious type, grateful and respectful toward Yan Wenhua. He didn’t take Yan Wenhua’s assistance for granted, and his sincere, clear-eyed demeanor was refreshing.

It was a pleasant gathering overall. They exchanged contact information, and the atmosphere remained warm—except for one thing.

The day after the dinner, Yu Tian began frequently “running into” Shen Zhou.

Although Shen Zhou had graduated from a school across from Rong City Medical University, he suddenly started returning to campus frequently, despite already having a job. Sometimes he claimed to visit friends who stayed on for graduate studies, other times he said junior students needed his advice, and once, he even claimed to miss the taste of the school cafeteria and came during lunch break… Keep in mind, his workplace was nowhere near his alma mater.

And every time he returned to his old school, he would “coincidentally” drop by Rong City Medical University next door—and almost every time, he would “accidentally” bump into Yu Tian.

“Today, I ran into Shen Zhou again at school. He said he came to eat at our cafeteria because it’s delicious—but everyone knows their school’s food is better. Students from our school are the ones who secretly go over to theirs to eat.”

“On the weekend, I ran into him too. I went to school for an event, and I saw Shěn Zhōu playing basketball on our court. He said their school didn’t have enough space, but he was pretty good at it. A lot of girls from our school gathered around to cheer him on—he’s quite popular.”

“Today it was raining, and I didn’t bring an umbrella, but coincidentally, I ran into Shěn Zhōu. It was such a lucky coincidence—he walked me to the subway station under his umbrella.”

“This afternoon, after my class ended, I was heading to the studio and bumped into Shěn Zhōu again at the subway station. He said he was running errands nearby. We chatted for a bit, and he even gave me a cake from that popular bakery nearby. Here, I brought it back after thanking him. Do you want some? Their cakes are really good, but the lines are always long—students are always rushing to buy them. Shěn Zhōu said he bought too many and gave one to me. It felt like winning the lottery...”

...

Once or twice could be considered a coincidence, but after so many encounters, even someone as slow to notice things as Yú Tián started to feel puzzled: “I’ve been running into Shěn Zhōu way too often recently, haven’t I?”

Shěn Zhōu was clearly the type who preferred to take things slow, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water. Each “coincidental” meeting with Yú Tián was perfectly calibrated—not too obvious, not overly enthusiastic. Like a reliable older brother, he kept appearing naturally in her life.

Yú Tián’s thick-headedness might not have caught on, but how could Yán Míng not understand what Shěn Zhōu was up to?

“Have you been wearing your wedding ring lately?”

“Yes!” Yú Tián blinked. “Why?”

“Nothing.” Yán Míng tightened his lips, his expression darkening. “It’s just that some people have such poor eyesight—they see a married woman wearing a wedding ring and still think they can poach her. They should come to my ophthalmology department for a checkup.”

“Huh?”

He kissed the side of Yú Tián’s face: “It’s nothing. I just realized I should come pick you up more often, especially on rainy days to hold an umbrella for you. That’s what a husband is supposed to do.”

Yú Tián didn’t think there was anything unusual about it. She had been busy translating medical literature and didn’t give this little episode much thought. However, true to his word, Yán Míng showed up the next day when it drizzled again. On his day off, he brought an umbrella and waited outside Yú Tián’s classroom early.

Since she was still technically a student, Yú Tián hadn’t publicly announced her marriage. Aside from Qí Sīhào, Gāo Méi, Jiǎng Yùmíng, and Rén Yàlì, only the class monitor Chén Gāng among her classmates knew about her relationship with Yán Míng. While a few other classmates eventually found out, most medical students were buried in their studies, and a large portion didn’t know about Yán Míng and Yú Tián’s relationship. Some students, who weren’t originally from Róng City Medical University, didn’t even know that Yán Míng was a famous alumnus of the university.

Now, seeing Yán Míng standing tall in casual business attire outside the classroom naturally drew attention.

The moment Yú Tián spotted Yán Míng, she waved with a smile, packed up her bag, and ran out joyfully—

“Yán Míng, you actually came to pick me up just like you said!”

Just then, another female classmate passing by overheard Yú Tián and couldn’t help but interject curiously—

“Yú Tián, is this… your brother? He’s so handsome!”

Yú Tián, who disliked trouble, was about to nod, but Yán Míng stopped her. He smoothly took over the conversation: “Although Yú Tián calls me ‘brother,’ legally, I’m her husband.”

“Wow!!!”

The classmate gasped in shock: “You’re married?! Wow, you two look so perfect together!” Her eyes were wide with disbelief. “I saw you wearing a ring before, but I thought it was just for fun—it turns out it’s a wedding ring! Oh my goodness, congratulations! Your husband is such a hottie. Wishing you both happiness!”

After throwing envious and congratulatory glances, the girl dragged a few others who had just heard the juicy gossip, chattering excitedly while looking back repeatedly as they left.

Yú Tián frowned slightly: “I’ve been wearing my wedding ring all along, so why did everyone think I was just wearing it randomly? Who would wear a wedding ring without meaning it?”

“It’s probably because you don’t look like a married person,” Yán Míng said naturally as he took Yú Tián’s bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and then held her hand. “Of course, it’s not entirely your fault—it’s mine. I’ve been too busy with work lately. Otherwise, I should’ve made our marriage more visible so people would realize we’re newlyweds.”

Yán Míng paused and looked at Yú Tián: “You don’t mind, do you? Me making our relationship public like this?”

“No, not at all.” Since they were already married, there was no reason to be shy about it. Yú Tián didn’t mind going public; she was simply lazy and didn’t see the need to make a big announcement. They hadn’t held a wedding banquet yet only because both of them were busy, and planning one would take a lot of time.

“That’s good.”

Yán Míng smiled: “Let’s go. Hold onto me tightly later.”

Yú Tián was momentarily confused, but soon she realized what Yán Míng meant by “hold onto me tightly”—he had brought a small umbrella.

There were plenty of larger umbrellas at home...

Perhaps he had been in a hurry and grabbed a small one by accident.

But soon, Yú Tián realized that Yán Míng had done it on purpose.

When they reached the school gate, huddled close under the small umbrella, they “coincidentally” ran into Shěn Zhōu again, who was also waiting outside the gate with an umbrella, seemingly lying in wait.

Seeing Yú Tián and Yán Míng appear together, Shěn Zhōu was visibly startled but still approached under his umbrella to greet them.

“Yán Míng, Xiao Yu, what a coincidence. Are you two heading home together?”

“Mm-hmm.” Yán Míng’s voice was calm. “Yes. Did you come to Róng City Medical University after work? Would you like a ride? It’s raining heavily now, so it’s inconvenient to hail a taxi. I happen to have nothing else to do anyway.”

Yán Míng was already considerate enough toward his patients, but he was a man who kept his professional and personal lives separate. He rarely invited strangers into his life.

So when he offered to drive Shěn Zhōu home, Yú Tián was somewhat surprised. From what she knew, Shěn Zhōu’s mother and Yán Wénhuà were still in the “friendship” stage and hadn’t taken their relationship further.

Shěn Zhōu was almost ecstatic at Yán Míng’s offer. He followed them eagerly to the parking lot, holding his umbrella. Along the way, Yán Míng kept his arm around Yú Tián.

To Yú Tián’s surprise, Yán Míng was driving Yán Wénhuà’s car today—a rather ostentatious Lamborghini.

As a guy, Shěn Zhōu was obviously fascinated by the luxury car. He couldn’t help but glance at it several times and was visibly excited after getting inside.

Shěn Zhōu showed great respect for Yán Míng, addressing him as “Brother Yán” repeatedly. Though he was primarily chatting with Yán Míng, Yú Tián finally noticed that half of Shěn Zhōu’s attention was focused on her. The topics he discussed with Yán Míng often circled back to her—

“Does Xiao Yu have any favorite foods?”

“Does Xiao Yu want to become a medical professor in the future?”

“What does Xiao Yu usually do on weekends when she has free time?”

“I adopted a stray cat. If you like cats, Xiao Yu, feel free to visit and see it sometime...”

Yú Tián hadn’t thought much about these “coincidences” before, but now, faced with Shěn Zhōu’s obvious attempts to win her favor, she finally understood. And with that realization, she also figured out why Yán Míng had chosen the small umbrella and deliberately driven the Lamborghini.

Jealousy, executed so subtly. Claiming ownership, done so covertly.

How childish this man was.

But...

But she was already wearing her wedding ring!

Yú Tián felt a bit helpless, unsure how to clarify things. Someone like Shěn Zhōu likely wasn’t doing this intentionally—he probably didn’t know about her relationship with Yán Míng and had misunderstood.

But if Shěn Zhōu didn’t say anything outright, Yú Tián couldn’t exactly clarify either.

In the end, she shot Yán Míng a pleading look, only to receive a mournful glance from him that seemed to say, “You sure know how to attract attention.”

Still, Yán Míng always provided Yú Tián with a sense of security. He was someone she could rely on to solve any problem, and in this awkward situation, he naturally had a solution—

Yán Míng patiently answered every question Shěn Zhōu asked.

Sure enough, Shěn Zhōu chuckled: “Brother Yán, you and Xiao Yu have such a great relationship!”

Yán Míng looked completely at ease, as if he had anticipated Shěn Zhōu’s comment. He simply replied calmly: “Mm-hmm. After all, she’s my wife.”

Shěn Zhōu, who had been smiling, suddenly froze. His eyes widened as he looked at Yán Míng, then at Yú Tián.

“Brother Yán, are you joking?”

Yán Míng kept his eyes on the road, his tone as steady as his driving skills: “No joke. Yú Tián and I are already married—we just haven’t held the banquet yet. Do we really not look like a married couple?”

A crack-like expression appeared on Shěn Zhōu’s face: “But... but isn’t Xiao Yu your sister? I heard her call you ‘Brother Yán’ and heard Uncle Yán introduce her as his daughter and you as his son. I assumed your different surnames were because Uncle Yán remarried, and the son followed his surname while the daughter followed their mother’s...”

“The terms ‘son’ and ‘daughter’ were jokes my dad used, but they’re not wrong either. Yú Tián and I are indeed family. She calls my dad ‘Dad,’ and he treats her like his own daughter. As for her calling me ‘Brother Yán,’ it’s because she’s a few years younger and has always called me that. So she’s both my sister and my wife.”

After a brief moment of shock, Shěn Zhōu accepted reality and quickly adjusted his emotions.

Yán Míng didn’t volunteer any explanations or declarations. All the truths about his and Yú Tián’s relationship came out through Shěn Zhōu’s questions and Yán Míng’s passive answers, ensuring Shěn Zhōu wouldn’t lose face.

But that didn’t stop Shěn Zhōu from feeling awkward. He laughed wryly: “The other day, I noticed the ring on Xiao Yu’s finger looked like a wedding ring. I originally thought some women just wear rings wherever they think it looks nice without considering the meaning behind each finger. I never imagined it was actually a wedding ring.”

“Mm-hmm, yes. Are you single right now?”

Shěn Zhōu scratched his head: “For now, yes.”

“Then let Yú Tián introduce you to some suitable girls when she has time,” Yán Míng said kindly. Turning to Yú Tián, he added, “Look through your medical school classmates and see if there’s anyone suitable for Shěn Zhōu. After all, you mentioned running into him at school often. Given how frequently he comes to Róng City Medical University, dating someone from the medical school would be a win-win.”

At that moment, Shěn Zhōu finally realized why Yán Míng had come to pick up Yú Tián today.

When he first saw Yán Míng and Yú Tián walking closely together under the umbrella, with Yú Tián lightly holding onto Yán Míng, he had the illusion that “no third person could fit between them.” Though he knew some siblings were close, the intimacy between Yán Míng and Yú Tián carried a strange, ambiguous vibe.

At that moment, Shěn Zhōu realized his earlier thoughts weren’t just an illusion.

There truly was no room for anyone else between Yán Míng and Yú Tián.

They weren’t siblings—they were...

And he smartly picked up on Yán Míng’s subtle but firm reminder: Yú Tián belonged to him.

Yán Míng had kindly but decisively revealed the truth about his relationship with Yú Tián and gently hinted to Shěn Zhōu not to continue misunderstanding, sparing all three of them further awkwardness.

Shěn Zhōu was perceptive and tactful. Aside from feeling a bit frustrated at his own obliviousness, he immediately distanced himself from Yú Tián once Yán Míng clarified their relationship. He stopped talking about topics related to her and redirected his attention entirely to Yán Míng, discussing workplace relationships instead.

In the end, they parted ways amicably. Yán Míng dropped Shěn Zhōu off at the entrance of his residential complex.

Shěn Zhōu thanked them as usual and waved goodbye—

“See you, Brother Yán!”

Holding his umbrella, he glanced at Yán Míng and then turned to Yú Tián: “See you, Sister-in-law Xiao Yu!”

The term “sister-in-law” seemed to satisfy Yán Míng. He smiled faintly and waved sincerely at Shěn Zhōu.

Once they were alone in the car again, Yán Míng paused before finally speaking—

“I’ve been thinking. To avoid more misunderstandings like Shěn Zhōu’s, from now on, you shouldn’t call me ‘Yán Míng Brother’ in public.”

He seemed to have given it careful thought: “It really is easy to misunderstand. From now on, you can save ‘Yán Míng Brother’ for use at home.”

Yú Tián bit her lip: “Then what should I call you in public?”

Yán Míng kissed her: “Call me ‘husband.’”