Please Don’t Give Up On Treatment

Yan Ming’s voice was calm and composed as he interrupted Yu Tian. “Stop talking.”

With the compassionate and gentle eyes inherent in a healer, he looked at her. “I understand. There’s no need to say more. It’s all in the past now.”

While his tone retained a hint of coldness, it was fundamentally gentle. “It’s all over.”

Yu Tian hadn’t shed a tear when she was injured and taken to the hospital. She hadn’t cried upon awakening from her coma in the ICU, nor when she learned that her right hand could no longer perform delicate tasks. She hadn’t wept when she abandoned her plans for further studies at Rong Medical University or when she was forced to alter her dreams and career path.

But at this moment, she felt like a dull-witted child finally realizing the consequences of the punishments she had previously ignored—only now did the weight of her situation overwhelm her with pain.

Although Yu Tian tried to suppress her emotions, by the time she realized it, tears were streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

Becoming somewhat self-conscious, she awkwardly cleared her throat and began to explain in a slightly hoarse voice, tinged with the remnants of her tears. “It’s just the wind by the lake that made me tear up.”

“If it’s the wind, it might be due to viral or bacterial conjunctivitis, or perhaps a corneal abrasion. It could also be an ulcer of the cornea or conjunctiva…”

“…”

Yan Ming turned his gaze to the lake. “If you need it, you can come to my office to get checked.”

“…”

“But my appointments are hard to come by. I won’t allow you to cut in line. You might have to wake up early to grab a spot.”

“…”

Yu Tian had initially felt regretful, but now, she was puzzled. “Senior Yan Ming, it seems unusual to provide such consolation at a moment like this. If you don’t want to comfort me, you could just change the topic…”

Yan Ming was taken aback, looking somewhat serious and troubled. “I’m not very good at that.”

“But you’re a doctor! With so many patients, surely you’ve grown accustomed to offering comforting words…”

Yan Ming pursed his lips. “I’m adept at comforting patients, but are you sure you need that kind of consolation?”

Yan Ming hardly seemed like the person to provide her solace, particularly since he would soon be delivering a speech as a guest representative.

Yu Tian felt at a loss, her heart flickering with an underlying fire.

She bit her lip and regarded Yan Ming, giving a slight nod. “Yes, that kind of consolation would be fine.”

“I usually tell my patients, ‘It’s okay; your eyesight is intact, and it will remain so,’” Yan Ming paused. “But saying that to you doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“?”

“Don’t you think your judgment might be a bit cloudy?”

“…”

Yan Ming pressed his lips together. “As for your boyfriend, aside from questionable character, don’t you think his appearance is rather underwhelming? He’s younger than me, yet his hair coverage is already thinning. Don’t you consider hair loss a significant genetic disadvantage for someone in the medical field?”

“How was I supposed to know he was thinning on top?!” Yu Tian exclaimed, feeling exasperated. “I’m shorter than him; I can’t see the top of his head!”

Yu Tian suddenly lost her melancholic mood, feeling slightly irked. “I must clarify, Zheng Tingfu is *not* my boyfriend!”

Yan Ming complied readily. “Oh, my apologies, I forgot. He’s your ex; your current boyfriend is Qi Sihao.”

“……”

Yu Tian massaged her temples. “I must clarify further: Zheng Tingfu is not my ex either! And Qi Sihao isn’t my boyfriend!”

Yan Ming paused for a moment. “Have you switched boyfriends that swiftly? Has Qi Sihao been dismissed as well?”

“……”

Yu Tian felt a wave of frustration. “Have you considered that neither of them is actually my boyfriend or ex-boyfriend?”

Unable to help herself, she muttered, “How could my judgment be so poor? I at least know who is worthy of you; it wouldn’t make sense for me to end up with someone inadequate.”

“Zheng Tingfu was merely harboring his own unreciprocated feelings; Qi Sihao is just a friend and neighbor. Last time, I pretended to be his girlfriend merely to dissuade his suitor. Asking Qi Sihao to be my boyfriend? I’d refuse even if he offered me money; he has an insatiable appetite and always mooches off me—he’s nearly driven my family to the brink of financial ruin…”

“……”

“But really, thank you for earlier.”

Her gratitude was genuine, and she cautiously glanced at Yan Ming. “But can I still call you ‘Brother Yan Ming’ from now on? Calling you ‘senior’ might lead me to harbor biases thanks to Zheng Tingfu. It feels like a term reserved for jerks…”

Yan Ming frowned. “What do my name and that of a scoundrel have in common?”

Yu Tian chose her words carefully. “Do you want to hear the truth or a lie?”

Given her demeanor, Yan Ming surmised that whatever she said wouldn’t be flattering.

He replied calmly, “It’s probably best if you don’t say anything.”

Yu Tian felt somewhat reluctant. “But I haven’t said anything yet!”

Yan Ming maintained his expressionless demeanor. “You’re likely going to say I look like a jerk.”

“……”

Yu Tian felt awkward, struggling. “That could be interpreted as a compliment about your appearance! Do you want me to say you look like a nice guy? In modern society, ‘nice guy’ isn’t necessarily a compliment!”

Yu Tian tugged on her shirt nervously. “And honestly, between a nice guy and a jerk, which would you choose? Undoubtedly, you’d prefer being a jerk.”

Yan Ming looked steadily at her. “I’d choose to be a normal person.”

After saying that, he glanced at his watch. “It’s almost time for me to go onstage. I’ll be leaving now.”

“I’ll go with you, Brother Yan Ming!”

Yu Tian cast aside her reservations and decided to tag along with determination. “Honestly, I’ve always dreamed of having an older brother.”

This was genuinely Yu Tian’s heartfelt sentiment.

For some unknown reason, she had always felt a touch of stiffness around Yan Ming.

But perhaps because he had knelt to tie her shoelaces, it felt like a key had been turned in a lock.

Suddenly, she realized that despite his almost otherworldly appearance, Yan Ming was indeed a real person in her life—not unattainable—and could genuinely become a friend or brother.

Naturally sociable, Yu Tian’s attitude grew increasingly amiable and bold, and their conversation flowed more freely—

“I used to think that if I had an older brother, my mom would definitely strike him first when she was angry, giving me a chance to escape; if I ever got into trouble, I could always betray him for secrets, like sneaking into a relationship, to draw attention away from myself and get my mom to focus on scolding him instead; if I ran out of pocket money, I could just ask my brother; if he needed a favor, I could ask him for a fee; if there was a tough problem to solve, he could tutor me…”

Yan Ming initially hadn’t intended to pay much attention, but he couldn’t help but find her chatter entertaining as she babbled on like a little talkative child.

He had hoped to ignore her, but it became too amusing to bear—

“Given all you’ve described, what does your older brother gain from this arrangement?”

“He gains a loyal sycophant!”

Yu Tian beamed with pride. “I’d unconditionally praise him! Support him! Encourage him spiritually! Help him build confidence! Make him strong enough to withstand greater setbacks once he’s out in the world! My brother would become the most resilient champion, capable of weathering any storm!”

“…” Yan Ming felt at a loss for words. “So he should be grateful to you?”

“Not necessarily; siblings don’t concern themselves with such formalities. We’re family, and these small favors aren’t worth mentioning.”

After finishing, Yu Tian offered an appealing glance toward Yan Ming. “However, Brother Yan Ming, if you were my older brother, I would definitely treat you differently. I wouldn’t steal your allowance or let you be punished by my mom, nor would I betray your secrets. I would genuinely be a good little sister to you…”

“Today’s favor—I’ll surely repay you!”

Yu Tian asserted earnestly, “From now on, I’ll regard you as my true older brother! Even though I can no longer become a doctor and have a disability certificate, I’m still a very capable person!”

Yan Ming had intended to reassure Yu Tian that even with an injured hand, decent people wouldn’t look down on her and that she didn’t need to be overly sensitive about her disability.

Instead, she proudly announced, “Boyfriends might be fake, but the disability certificate is real! So, Brother Yan Ming, if you ever need parking in a place where spaces are hard to find, you can ask me to join you because I have a disability certificate providing access to handicapped spots! All parking lots in Rong City now have designated spaces for people with disabilities!”

“……”

“And honestly, I do want an older brother!”

Transitioning abruptly, Yu Tian continued to flatter him fervently. “I’ve fantasized about having an older brother for years and have envisioned a perfect image of him.”

“The older brother in my mind is in a life-saving profession, tall, handsome, and with a slow-to-warm personality. However, that slowness shows he has principles and wouldn’t be just another ‘nice guy’ or a generalized ‘air conditioner’ type. My older brother has principles, possessing a cool demeanor with an approachable charm. Once you truly understand him, you’ll be captivated by his charismatic personality.”

As she spoke, Yu Tian slyly hinted at Yan Ming, hoping for some feedback.

“Ultimately, this has always been my vision of an ideal older brother.”

Unfortunately, Yan Ming appeared unfazed.

Having reached this point, Yu Tian began to feel parched. She looked up at him, pressing on. “He is genuinely the only type of older brother I’ve ever envisioned. I haven’t considered anyone else for this role, nor could I accept any other type to fill it.”

Yan Ming raised an eyebrow. “What if your mother finds a partner in a blended family who isn’t this type?”

Yu Tian immediately pledged her allegiance. “Only this kind of brother is what I want and can accept. Any other type… honestly, I wouldn’t be able to accept them so quickly as my brother. Given my age, if someone else comes along, they’d merely be a familiar stranger. But if they fit my ideal brother’s image, it would feel naturally close.”

Having said this, she noticed that while Yan Ming was nodding along, indicating he was genuinely listening, his expression was filled with amusement.

While she hadn’t realized it at the time, Yu Tian felt her earlier statements had been somewhat exaggerated.

Clearing her throat, she admitted, “I know that when I say this, people might not believe me, but it’s truly heartfelt…”

“You’ve preemptively called it into question,” Yan Ming chuckled lightly. “So perhaps it’s best left unsaid.”

“……

In the end, Yu Tian chattered incessantly as she followed Yan Ming back to the sports complex.

Almost as soon as they arrived, they were intercepted by someone.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you; I thought you slipped away. Come on, the guest speaker is about to take the stage.”

As Yu Tian looked up, she realized the newcomer was the same companion of Yan Ming’s who had appeared amused when he tied her shoelaces.

He stole several curious glances at Yu Tian before turning to Yan Ming, seemingly waiting for an introduction. “Who’s this?”

Without diverting his gaze, Yan Ming replied calmly, “No need for an introduction. We’re not that familiar, and you won’t meet her again.”

“You’re not familiar yet you tied her shoelaces?”

“……”

Yan Ming was momentarily speechless, while Yu Tian eagerly seized the opportunity to introduce herself. “Hello! I’m Yu Tian, Yan Ming’s younger sister. You can call me Xiao Yu.”