He said it seriously, showing no trace of the sarcastic tone he used just seconds ago.
His voice was calm: “So if you really want to see me, then make an appointment. A doctor’s principle is to treat patients without discrimination. Selecting patients isn’t appropriate.”
“…I don’t have to see anyone but you…”
Like a stray dog who’s lived long enough in a stable environment, eventually their expression softens.
Ying Yun, who once always wore a scowl, was probably moved by Yang Xueyi’s timely help.
Though still a bit awkward now, his attitude was clearly more human.
Encouraged, Yang Xueyi said a few more words: “What Li Junxin said is false. I didn’t actually go to a hotel with him last time. It was purely because your uncle was harassing me. Your cousin isn’t a good person either, so that’s why I…”
“Yang Xueyi, I know,” Ying Yun cut her off, a little embarrassed as he added, “You made quite a scene last time. It was hard not to notice.”
“Sorry for the misunderstanding then. But I’m not as black-and-white as you think. I wouldn’t help Li Junxin at a time like this.”
It seemed Ying Yun’s words confirmed Yang Xueyi’s guess.
He smiled faintly, taking the bag she had hooked on his arm—full of the creative items she had just bought.
He also picked up several items Yang Xueyi had dropped during the scuffle with Li Junxin, collecting them meticulously like a scavenger.
Yang Xueyi hadn’t thought she’d bought that much, but when Ying Yun returned, she saw the large bag in his arm and felt a little embarrassed.
She explained to herself, “I usually don’t buy so much. Mostly small creative trinkets—they’re just so cute, I couldn’t help it. But even though it’s a lot, it’s not expensive…”
“Buy as much as you want,” Ying Yun said without much care.
“I don’t mind carrying the weight. You can buy even more; I can still carry it.”
He glanced at her meaningfully and said, “I’m not as stingy as Li Junxin.”
Ying Yun’s sudden good mood made Yang Xueyi think it was because she had just pulled him away from Li Junxin, easing his embarrassment.
So he was reciprocating her kindness.
She cleared her throat: “It’s nothing. You don’t have to thank me. It’s all understood without words. After all, I should be the one thanking you. If you hadn’t appeared and interrupted Li Junxin, I might have been beaten.”
Unexpectedly, Ying Yun hesitated, then frowned: “You thanking me for what just happened, I can understand. But why should I thank you?”
Ying Yun’s expression was calm, clearly his question wasn’t sarcastic or provocative. He genuinely didn’t know why he should thank her, looking at her with innocent confusion.
“You’re thanking me for pulling you away? Li Junxin got so close to your face; you must have been furious. If I hadn’t pulled you away, you probably would have hit him. But Ying Yun, even though you’re bigger than him and have gym muscles, you’ve never really fought. Li Junxin looks like a thug turned gang member—surely has plenty of fight experience. If it came to blows, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Ying Yun rubbed his brow, tone sharp: “How do you know I wouldn’t win in a fight with Li Junxin?”
Yang Xueyi smiled and said, “Fine, fine, you’re just stubborn.”
She teased, “Even if you won, it’d still be losing! You’re a doctor. If Li Junxin posted a video online saying a doctor beat someone up, it’d affect your work! Before, you could still go home and inherit the family business, but now, your livelihood depends on your medical career!”
Honestly, Yang Xueyi felt sorry for Ying Yun.
A powerful figure reduced to a fallen wolf—it was not just humiliating but heartbreaking.
Yang Xueyi had read in psychology books that people undergoing major life changes often act calm on the surface but feel repressed pain inside.
They bite their tongues, swallow their suffering, and that internal negativity festers, eventually causing illness and warped behavior.
People who are hurt also develop avoidance mechanisms—they change the topic to escape pain, thinking that will protect them.
Ying Yun was clearly one of them. Even after being insulted so openly, he remained calm, only looking at Yang Xueyi once: “Li Junxin said that about you. What punishment do you want for him?”
Yang Xueyi sighed, sympathizing even more: “What good is hoping for punishment?”
“You’re good at wishing, aren’t you?”
Ying Yun’s voice was calm.
“The wish you made back then really backfired on me. Don’t be partial—make a wish for Li Junxin too.”
Yang Xueyi felt a little guilty.
Who would have thought Ying Yun could actually bring such bad luck?
But since wishes don’t cost money, she might as well help Ying Yun relieve some of his negative energy.
She pressed her hands together: “Then I wish Li Junxin gets slapped ten big slaps and then disappears from Rong City!”
“Just that?” Ying Yun looked at her and after a moment, smiled slightly, “Got it.”
Yang Xueyi was momentarily stunned, then couldn’t help but laugh a little, feeling like a boss who says “got it” but does nothing.
What good is “got it”?
But then she thought maybe this was Ying Yun’s mental victory ritual.
Looking at him again, Yang Xueyi felt sympathy once more.
She patted Ying Yun’s shoulder.
“Don’t be too sensitive. Don’t take Li Junxin’s words too seriously. Two slaps won’t make you lose flesh. As long as you keep going, you’ll be fine. Being poor is okay; poor men can still be loved.”
She glanced at Ying Yun’s face.
“You’re actually pretty good-looking. Lots of girls have a crush on doctors. As long as you’re not too picky, you’ll definitely find someone.”
Her words were like medicine, soothing Ying Yun.
He raised an eyebrow: “Really?”
Though still calm in tone, his expression showed he cared a little.
At that moment, Yang Xueyi suddenly understood Ying Yun’s logic behind deliberately wearing the couple outfits to sabotage her love life.
“Ying Yun, I know why you deliberately wore the couple outfits to ruin my prospects.”
At those words, Ying Yun’s previous casual demeanor vanished.
He withdrew his gaze, avoided looking at Yang Xueyi, and seemed flustered, no longer his usual calm self.
Sure enough, she guessed right!
“I know your life has changed drastically all at once, you’re a little panicked, and seeing me possibly in a relationship makes you anxious, giving you this feeling of being left alone.”
“But don’t worry, even if I have a boyfriend, I won’t ignore you. Starting today, I’ll introduce you to someone! I’ll make sure you find a partner too. Maybe one day we’ll even have double dates!”
For some reason, after saying this, Ying Yun’s face suddenly darkened.
He looked up and locked eyes with Yang Xueyi.
“You want to introduce me to someone?”
“Just kidding.”
Yang Xueyi comforted him, “I know your first love was a failure. That must have been a huge blow since you used to be unstoppable. But Ying Yun, normal life isn’t always smooth. No one succeeds at everything. It’s normal to be looked down upon sometimes.”
“You didn’t used to think highly of me either, right? Like being associated with me lowered your status. Li Junxin and others even joked that I was your childhood betrothed. Look at your expression every time—they’re all super ugly.”
“So I accepted it. People aren’t like money; not everyone can like you.”
Mentioning first love, as expected, Ying Yun’s expression faltered.
His face darkened; he clearly still held a grudge.
He looked at Yang Xueyi, biting back words, then finally said: “Yang Xueyi, they get mad about the ‘childhood betrothed’ thing not because they think being connected to you lowers my status, but because they think saying that is disrespectful to others. ‘Childhood betrothed’ isn’t a good term.”
“You know my family has some foul-mouthed relatives. If I didn’t put on a stern face, they’d keep teasing.”
Oh… so that was it.
For some reason, Yang Xueyi became a bit nervous.
Maybe it was the aftershock from being frightened by Li Junxin.
Only now, her delayed awareness hit.
“As for my first love, don’t worry, it’s not necessarily a failure in the end. Who knows what the future holds.”
Good grief.
Yang Xueyi was utterly dumbfounded.
“You’re still not giving up?”
How many years ago was this first love?
Not fresh anymore; even preserved food would have expired.
Besides, he didn’t cling to the girl after rejection.
So how would it be a success?
Success where?
While others are on the subway to spring, Ying Yun was on the subway to failure!
This young master really couldn’t accept failure and was trying to bury his head in the sand.
If you don’t admit failure, does it mean it didn’t happen?
Why didn’t someone give Ying Yun a lesson!
“Ying Yun, no one succeeds all their life. You have to learn to accept failure!”
“I know just now I got more attention and was hit on more than you. That probably made you jealous and unwilling to accept it, so you subconsciously did something that hurt both you and me, and even you didn’t realize what you were doing.”
“But when facing setbacks, one should learn to adapt. If one doesn’t like this person, you find another. There are so many people on Earth; surely you can find someone who suits you! No need to hang yourself on one tree. What type do you like? Tell me.”
Yang Xueyi was very magnanimous.
“I forgive you for the couple outfit thing! I’ll keep an eye out and help you find love early, so you don’t turn into one of those twisted single dogs who burns their couple shirts online.”
But as expected, no gratitude came from Ying Yun.
“Forgive? Then don’t forgive me.”
Ying Yun twisted his mouth into a smirk, full of sarcasm: “I didn’t even apologize humbly, so you can’t forgive me so easily. Yang Xueyi, principles matter. I haven’t changed, so don’t introduce me to anyone.”
After saying that, he got up and walked away.
Yang Xueyi was baffled.
But how did Ying Yun know what she said to Qiao Qianqian on the phone?
No wonder they had split up and wandered separately.
Even though she was on such a remote path, Ying Yun appeared swiftly…
So that annoying guy had actually been following her all along?
Yang Xueyi wanted to ask, but Ying Yun gave her no chance, leaving with his back to her.
Sigh!
But that wasn’t the most important thing now.
Although she had just shaken off Li Junxin, who knew if he was still roaming the garden fair, trying to take revenge?
Ying Yun had left her alone and walked away.
Yang Xueyi’s heart was uneasy.
Unexpectedly, just minutes later, Ying Yun returned with a dark expression, standing beside Yang Xueyi, somewhat gruffly asking, “You’re still not leaving?”
Yang Xueyi was puzzled: “I thought you were angry and didn’t want to walk with me?”
Ying Yun’s face was cold: “My heart is wicked, my character low, and I have no intention of reforming. Of course, I’ll keep standing by you, ruining your love life.”
“And aren’t you still going to keep buying creative items? You don’t want me to carry them all the way, do you? Otherwise, if you dislocate your shoulder again habitually, I’d have to explain to Aunt Yang, and that means even more time carrying your stuff.”