Please Don’t Give Up On Treatment

In stark contrast to his impassive demeanor, the middle-aged man beside him was noticeably more affable.

Almost as soon as he laid eyes on Yu Tian, he instinctively adjusted his attire and rose to greet her. “Hello, Little Yu! Your mother has shown us your photographs, and you are even more beautiful in person than in those images!”

Yu Tian glanced at the person beside the middle-aged man and realized that her mother had indeed shared her pictures with them. It made sense that the man could call her by name, which had led to a series of awkward misunderstandings where she mistakenly identified him as a potential suitor.

The man before her smiled warmly. “Forgive my lack of introduction; I am Yan Wenhua. You may call me Uncle Yan.”

Just as Song Chunxiang had described, Yan Wenhua was well-groomed, lacking a beer belly, and with a lush head of hair. While he was quite handsome, if he was at an A grade, his son was surely an S grade. Fortunately, he shared a tall stature, making him a standout for his age.

With some trepidation, Yu Tian put on a compliant smile and replied, “Hello, Uncle Yan!”

Yan Wenhua responded with a cheerful nod before casting a glance at the man beside him, who appeared somewhat out of sorts. He cleared his throat lightly.

The man, who had been staring blankly out the window, finally turned his gaze towards them. He neither stood nor extended his hand, simply stating matter-of-factly, “Yan Ming.”

Yan Ming?

Yu Tian was momentarily taken aback.

Yan Wenhua seemed a bit embarrassed and explained, “Yan Ming just finished his night shift, so he’s a bit drowsy at the moment…”

Though there was not a hint of weariness or confusion in Yan Ming’s expression, Yu Tian had little time to ponder these thoughts.

She heard that he had come directly after finishing his shift…

Could it be…?

Her heart raced wildly.

She scrutinized his face and, with a quaver in her voice, managed to ask, “The character Yan for ‘language’ and the character Ming for ‘motto’?”

With a languid tone, he replied coolly, “Mm.”

“…” Undeterred, Yu Tian pressed on, “Aren’t you a doctor?”

Yan Ming casually adjusted the teacup on the table and nodded absentmindedly. “Mm, I am.”

“….”

Were it possible, Yu Tian believed she would go to great lengths to journey back in time and eradicate her former self from half an hour ago.

This was Yan Ming!

The very Yan Ming!

Yu Tian instinctively touched the scar on her right hand with her left, her previously dull fingertips now trembling slightly.

Her heart was in turmoil, a concoction of embarrassment, anxiety, and fleeting moments of exhilaration and relief.

Her mother was with Yan Ming’s father on a blind date!

This meant she and Yan Ming had the potential to become family!

And what had she done earlier?!

Yu Tian’s face flushed with a mix of colors, but Mrs. Song, oblivious, was engrossed with Yan Wenhua in selecting dishes from the menu, unconcerned about the interaction between Yu Tian and Yan Ming.

She who was never shy or reserved suddenly found herself feeling an overwhelming sense of intrepidness, akin to a homesick traveler. At that moment, she felt as though she had traded her voice for the fortune of meeting Yan Ming, robbed of her ability to speak by some deity, now rendered mute.

Her face burned crimson as her left hand instinctively clutched the hem of her skirt.

She became increasingly flustered and dazed, her mind moving as slowly as a rusty machine, incapable of functioning.

Outside, the cicadas sang unabashedly, refusing to bow to the awkward silence that hung heavily in the air.

The room was filled with ample cool air, yet Yu Tian felt an overwhelming heat engulfing her. Just as she started to feel as if she might evaporate, like the steam rising from Yan Ming’s tea cup, he languidly lifted his head.

“That was quick; you’ve changed your outfit already.”

“…”

He smiled slightly. “Didn’t you dress lightly just now? With the approach of noon and the rising temperatures, how is it that you’re wearing even more layers now?”

Yu Tian glanced down at her neatly put-together dress, then forced herself to explain, “Perhaps this is what one would refer to as kidney deficiency…”

Stealing a quick look at Yan Ming, she added, “Yang deficiency.”

Yang deficiency is sensitive to the cold, while yin deficiency is characterized by a sense of heat.

Very astute, indeed.

In the presence of Yan Ming, Yu Tian instinctively adopted the demeanor of a student poised for final exams.

Yet, Yan Ming seemed indifferent, offering a lackadaisical chuckle, “What about your cat? Wasn’t it having trouble giving birth?”

“…” Internally distressed, yet her exterior grew increasingly composed, she replied, “I just discovered it isn’t actually having a difficult time.”

Yan Ming observed her with an unreadable expression.

Yu Tian felt a pang of anxiety; staying silent and changing the subject was undoubtedly the best course of action. Yet the more flustered she became, the more she felt compelled to clarify and salvage his potentially poor impression of her.

“It was mistaken for being pregnant due to excessive weight. It’s actually just constipated, but given its struggles, I thought it was giving birth…”

Unfortunately, as Yu Tian reveled in her moment of wit, Mrs. Song turned her head, having seemingly caught onto some key phrase.

She looked at Yu Tian, her brow furrowing in confusion. “But you don’t own a cat, do you? Aren’t you allergic to cat fur?”

“…”

Yu Tian found herself utterly at a loss regarding how to manage her expression in this precarious situation. She bit her lip, opting for silence, feeling as though she was wholly superfluous.

In the face of overwhelming awkwardness, the human mechanism for self-preservation often causes reactions to be delayed by a beat or two.

Yu Tian retreated into the shell of her consciousness, wrapping her numbness around her fried and battered heart like a sauce packet.

She resolved to disregard the subtly mocking gaze that Yan Ming directed her way.

Originally, Yu Tian harbored hopes that this Yan Ming was indeed the one she had idolized for so long, but now her heart held a flicker of false hope and prayer that he was merely a stranger sharing the same name and profession.

With so many Yan Mings in Rong City, it was possible…

Yet this fleeting expectation, as ephemeral as the bubbles that erupt upon opening a soda, was soon shattered by reality.

After ordering their meals, Yan Wenhua eagerly began to share details of his son’s accomplishments.

“Our Yan Ming, while a bit reticent and not very talkative, is quite intelligent. He skipped several grades in middle and high school, was admitted to Rong City Medical University at just sixteen, and pursued his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate continuously. Now, at twenty-eight, he has already worked in the ophthalmology department of Rong City First Hospital for four years.”

It was truly him…

For countless nights, Yan Ming’s résumé had been a fixture on the front of Yu Tian’s desk, accompanying her through each weary, determined study session.

Her heart felt like a lemon soaked in honey; surrounded by the intoxicating sweetness of dreams coming true, she could not dissolve the sour, swollen ache within.

Yan Wenhua obviously took great pride in his son. “If you ever have any eye discomfort in the future, just seek him out!”

Yu Tian instinctively wanted to alert her mother, but it was too late.

“What a coincidence! Our Little Yu also graduated from Rong City Medical University!”

Yan Wenhua’s interest piqued as he exclaimed, “Little Yu must have just finished her undergraduate degree, right? Is she planning to pursue further studies or heading directly to the hospital for residency training? If there’s anything unclear, feel free to consult our Yan Ming; what a fortunate coincidence, he can be considered your senior!”

Mention of Rong City Medical University caught Yan Ming’s attention, making him turn slightly toward Yu Tian.

This was the very encounter Yu Tian had so long yearned for.

However… it was not the right moment.

Regret and heartache crossed Song Chunxiang’s face.

Fortunately, before she could speak, Yu Tian quickly took the lead, asserting, “I don’t plan to pursue further studies or go to a hospital.”

A look of confusion spread across Yan Wenhua’s face.

“I intend to switch careers and start my own venture in media,” Yu Tian explained with a smile, exposing her dimples, her tone light and playful. “It’s just too exhausting for a girl to study medicine; I’d prefer a more leisurely path.”

“True enough,” Yan Wenhua chuckled, “Yan Ming is absolutely overwhelmed with work. He hasn’t even found a girlfriend yet.”

Yan Ming merely lifted his eyelids slightly, offering a neutral expression, but did not refute the statement.

Fortunately, the conversation soon shifted away.

After all, this gathering was primarily a blind date between Song Chunxiang and Yan Wenhua; they engaged in lively dialogue, and the atmosphere remained delightful.

It was evident that Yan Wenhua found Song Chunxiang quite appealing. After the meal, he invited her to accompany him to a nearby cinema to catch a newly released art film.

However, Mrs. Song expressed little interest in art films, preferring instead to visit the newly opened open-air market nearby. Upon hearing this, Yan Wenhua readily agreed to accompany her.

He passed the movie tickets to Yan Ming. “You don’t have anything else to do this afternoon, so don’t waste them. Please take Little Yu along to the movie, and afterward, ensure she gets home safely, understood?”

Yan Ming glanced briefly at the tickets, then his eyelashes fluttered as he shot an indifferent look in Yu Tian’s direction.

Yu Tian braced herself for him to refuse, but surprisingly, he accepted the tickets.

“Mm.”

With that, Yan Wenhua and Song Chunxiang took their leave.

Yan Ming approached the counter to settle the bill.

Yu Tian stood a short distance away, watching the tall and handsome figure at the register, and her sense of reality began to return.

Her heart began to race uncontrollably once more.

Unable to resist, she secretly picked up her phone and snapped a candid shot of Yan Ming’s profile, sending it to Qi Sihao.

He virtually instantaneously replied, “? Are you crushing on him?”

“He’s not bad-looking; I’ll concede that he’s almost my equal.” The guy had the audacity to jest, “I approve of this match!”

Yu Tian felt her spirits lift somewhat as she chuckled and replied, “Stop joking around and get on your knees to beg.”

“?”

Yu Tian teased him, “Do you know who this is?”

Qi Sihao sent a wide-eyed emoji in response. “As my brother, I’d have to kneel to someone of your standing… Is he your future father?”

“…”

Yu Tian’s exasperation only solidified Qi Sihao’s suspicions. “Is this your mother’s blind date? He’s so young! Little Yu, you’d better tell me you recently won a lottery or something. Has money tarnished your values, leading even Aunt Song to become a wealthy woman who’s now on the prowl for a toy boy?”

“…”

Yu Tian concluded that the tale of Meng Mu moving her residence thrice was indeed inspirational, for had Mrs. Song relocated sooner, she might not have encountered a neighbor like Qi Sihao.

“This is Yan Ming!”