Da Mai was carried away, and Tian Jing slapped her forehead, seriously suspecting Ouyang Mei Hua was doing it on purpose.
She had always felt a strong connection with Ouyang Mei Hua.
Only just now did she realize that all along, she had been the one overthinking things.
So, when Ouyang Mei Hua returned, she asked, "Which channel were you tuned to?"
Ouyang Mei Hua blinked and replied, "The Little Trumpet has started broadcasting."
Li Min immediately took it personally. "Sister-in-law, are you accusing me?"
"You actually know that?"
Ouyang Mei Hua poked Li Min's forehead with one finger. "Tian Tian was just about to introduce potential partners to the two children, and you barged in to babble what? Huh?"
"If I don't seize the opportunity to settle Da Mai now, how much longer do we have to wait? Xiao Mai will just have to wait for things to calm down. Having a sister-in-law like you is truly our misfortune."
Li Min was unwilling to take the blame. "This is you burying your head in the sand. If I don't say it, does the problem cease to exist?"
"Exactly!"
Ouyang Mei Hua nodded. "If you don't say it, we'll introduce partners to the two children first. Once they have partners, who will dare to babble?"
"It's not me burying my head in the sand; it's that the two children are shy. If they knew, they wouldn't immediately agree to meet someone."
Xiao Mai tugged at Ouyang Mei Hua, who was rolling up her sleeves. "Mom, I'll meet them. Don't worry."
"Really?"
Ouyang Mei Hua's expression changed faster than flipping a book. She looked at Xiao Mai with a smile.
"Really!"
Xiao Mai nodded vigorously. "Stalling will also lead to criticism from others. Having a partner will solve everything. I just don't know if the other party will dislike me after hearing the gossip?"
Ouyang Mei Hua winked triumphantly at Tian Jing.
Tian Jing: "..." Had Ouyang Mei Hua returned after cultivating in some mountain for a thousand years?
She coughed lightly. "Xiao Mai, regarding this matter, I need to discuss it with the other party. I also need to explain what happened to you both. If the Xiao family intentionally orchestrated this, it can't be hidden."
Xiao Mai was very frank. "Okay, thank you, Auntie."
This frankness reassured Tian Jing; the two foolish girls hadn't been taken advantage of.
...
In the clinic, an awkward atmosphere permeated the air.
Da Mai looked down at the ground. She didn't understand why her mother had lied. Should she expose her mother's lie?
If she didn't expose it, what illness should she claim to have?
Looking at the two swirls on the head of the person across the examination table, Yuan Man's usually stern expression softened slightly.
"Extend your hand."
"Huh?" Da Mai looked up. "What?"
"Take your pulse."
"Oh."
Da Mai placed her arm on the pulse pillow. As she watched the slender fingers about to land on her wrist, she immediately retracted her hand.
This retraction knocked the pulse pillow off. She squatted down to pick it up. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I... Ah."
But Yuan Man also lowered his head to pick up the pulse pillow, and their heads inevitably bumped together.
The one who spoke was at a disadvantage. She bit her tongue.
The pain made tears stream down Da Mai's face, along with a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.
Yuan Man immediately squatted in front of Da Mai. "Open your mouth and let me see."
Da Mai shook her head and stood up to leave.
Yuan Man sighed, followed her, and pulled her back.
"Don't be stubborn. Let me see if the wound is big. Do you need medicine?"
Facing the face she had admired in her youth, which had hardly changed in ten years, Da Mai couldn't refuse. But to open her mouth...
At some point, a handkerchief appeared in Yuan Man's hand. He used it to wipe the blood from the corner of Da Mai's mouth.
To Da Mai's shocked gaze, he tentatively asked, "I, I, can I pursue you? Would you think I'm too old?"
"You... Cough, cough, cough."
Da Mai opened her mouth, and blood flowed out, causing her to choke.
Yuan Man's movements were quick. The handkerchief completely covered Da Mai's lips, while his other hand gently patted Da Mai's back.
After the violent coughing stopped, the flush on Da Mai's face did not subside.
As she retreated to avoid Yuan Man's patting, she raised her hand and rudely wiped the blood from her mouth.
"My tongue is fine, I'm going home."
How could Yuan Man let her leave the clinic like this? He grabbed the startled Da Mai.
"If you go out like this, it will cause all sorts of rumors. You can't speak clearly, it's impossible to be fine. I'll help you apply medicine, don't be stubborn."
This time, Yuan Man forcibly pushed Da Mai onto a stool by the operating table.
He personally prepared the medicinal powder. "After applying this powder, don't spit it out or swallow it. Hold it for over ten minutes, then spit it out."
"Your tongue will sting and feel a bit numb. It will be fine in a while. Eat carefully these few days; no salty, spicy, or flavorful foods."
"Be careful when chewing; it's best to drink porridge. Rinse your mouth frequently, and don't let the wound..."
"Pfft." Faced with the cold and now verbose Dr. Yuan, Da Mai couldn't help but laugh. "Are you very nervous?"
Yuan Man's hands paused, then he continued his work. "Yes, I, I don't know if you mind my..., uh, no."
"I, I actually, it's my master urging me for a grand-disciple..., uh, that's not right either."
"I, it's me, my feelings for you have changed. If, if you..., alas~ forget it, I'm too old, I'm not qualified."
Listening to Dr. Yuan's incoherent rambling and watching the mess of medicinal powder under his hands, Da Mai felt worried.
"Dr. Yuan, is the medicinal powder you're mixing usable?"
Yuan Man then realized he had spilled powder all over the operating table.
"Wait a moment, I'll mix it again."
Watching the flustered Dr. Yuan tidy up the operating table, Da Mai said, "My aunt said she wants to introduce me to someone."
The slender hand on the operating table froze, then continued tidying. "That's good. Just pretend I didn't say anything. I apologize."
Looking at Dr. Yuan, who had quickly resumed his cold, protective demeanor, Da Mai regretted her probing. "After my aunt said that, my mother brought me here."
Yuan Man trembled all over, then turned to stare at her. "You mean?"
"My aunt said that eighty percent of the person she's talking about is you. Because my mother always agrees with her."
Yuan Man's gaze fixed intensely on Da Mai. "And what is your meaning?"
Da Mai pointed to her mouth. "Aren't you going to apply the medicine?"
"Apply, apply."
Yuan Man turned to prepare the medicine. "After my feelings for you changed, I started to care a lot about my age. I've used products to maintain my face."
"I, I saw those two young men. Neither of them is suitable for you. You, would you consider me?"
"Honestly, the person who has the courage to say this to me is none other than you."
"I know how you felt that year, and I also know it wasn't love. But I still want to hope, to give myself a chance."
The innocent feelings from ten years ago, spoken out loud by the person involved, made Da Mai both shy and annoyed.
"Are we going to apply the medicine or not?"
"Apply."
Yuan Man held the bowl of mixed powder and bent down. "Open your mouth."
Da Mai mustered her courage and opened her mouth wide.
Seeing the two-centimeter cut on her tongue made by her teeth, Yuan Man sighed. This girl was too stubborn; even like this, she said she was fine.
"It will hurt a bit, bear with it."
Da Mai felt like laughing again. Today, she had seen a completely different Dr. Yuan.
"Tsss~"
The stinging pain on her tongue made her forget about overthinking.