“It’s not like it’s actually infectious.”

“But it’s ugly. Don’t look at me like that.”

“It’s not ugly.” He tilted the umbrella all the way to her side. “Even if there’s a small problem, it doesn’t hide anything. Who would dare call you ugly?”

When he spoke in a low voice, his manner was grave and serious. Even his every pore seemed to be trying to prove that to her.

Lan Tian snatched the umbrella from his hand, turned, and ran.

That night, Shi Jin received a call from Lan Tian.

“Sis, you said you could treat me. Can I try?”

“Have you discussed this with your parents?”

“I’ll discuss it with you first, then with them.”

Shi Jin smiled. “If you’re willing to try, I’ll do my best.”

“Then I’ll go convince my parents.”

For the next few days, Shi Jin did not hear from Lan Tian.

Clearly, Lan Tianwas stymied on her parents’ side.

Shi Jin could understand their feelings. If they did not use Shi Jin’s treatment, although Lan Tian’s situation was repeated, it could still be controlled in a way that did not worry them too much. Whereas using Shi Jin’s method would lead to one of two extremes.

Shi Jin was not in a hurry. They had to figure this out themselves.

***

Madam Lan sent Lan Tian to school.

Lan Tian was still mad.

“Okay, daughter, don’t be angry,” she said. “Although Shi Jin studied medicine, the other doctors all said that this illness of yours can’t be cured. It’s not that Mom doesn’t trust Shi Jin, but we have to believe in science.”

Lan Tian still didn’t say anything. Madam Lan continued to persuade her. “Shi Jin is very good, but we can’t blindly listen to her. You know what Mom means, right?”

“Since we can’t make sense of each other, we’ll keep it to ourselves for now,” Lan Tian said with a sigh. “I’m not angry anymore, but I’ll reserve my opinion.”

Madam Lan saw her out of the car and said, “If she really has that kind of ability, Mom will definitely agree, but this is unprecedented in the medical world. Mom definitely won’t dare.”

“I told you not to mention it for now, Mom,” Lan Tian whined.

“Auntie, Tiantian,” came Meng Yizhou’s voice.

Madam Lan looked up at Meng Yizhou with distant eyes. “Oh, Yizhou. What’s the matter?”

“It’s a coincidence. I came to say hello,” Meng Yizhou said. “Come to send Tiantian to school?”

“Yes.” Madam Lan’s attitude was cold.

“Is Tiantian feeling better?” Meng Yizhou asked. He looked at Lan Tian and realized that she was still dressed like before. He knew that her illness was still the same.

Madam Lan said calmly, “Did you come here specially to ask this?”

“I didn’t come here especially. I’m here to pick up my girlfriend. She’s doing her PhD here,” Meng Yizhou said with a smile.

A girl ran over. “Yizhou!”

She approached and saw Madam Lan. She smiled and said, “Auntie Lan.”

“It’s Ruhui?” Madam Lan recognized her. She was also the daughter of an old acquaintance.

It seemed that Meng Yizhou had not been idle. He had a new girlfriend so quickly.

Meng Yizhou had gotten into trouble previously and was scolded by the outside world. Mother Meng felt that her son was dignified. Why should he suffer that kind of anger?

Someone introduced Ding Ruhui to Meng Yizhou, and Mother Meng immediately agreed.

After the two of them met, they really liked each other and immediately confirmed their relationship.

Since Ding Ruhui could get to know Madam Lan, her family background was naturally not bad. Mother Meng was extremely satisfied with this relationship.

“Auntie Lan, I heard that Tiantian’s health isn’t very good. You have to take care of yourself,” Ding Ruhui reminded her with a smile.

“That’s for sure.” Madam Lan suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Meng Yizhou had only caused trouble a few days ago, but he had already found a replacement.

After he got a replacement, they really did not not mind his character and actions at all. Madam Lan was really angry.

However, Ding Ruhui had nothing to do with her, so she could not say anything.

Meng Yizhou said, “Then Ruhui and I will leave, Auntie. Goodbye, Tiantian.”

“Tiantian, take good care of your body.” Ding Ruhui did not forget to remind her before she left.

When Madam Lan heard this, she felt angry again. What did this woman mean? She was really picking on the wrong topic.

“Mom, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Didn’t he just find a girlfriend? What’s the big deal? It doesn’t matter.” Lan Tian wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she comforted her mother.

“What kind of person is this!” Madam Lan said angrily.

“Never mind it, never mind it,” Lan Tian assured her.

Before Madam Lan could vent her anger, the news of Meng Yizhou and Ding Ruhui’s engagement spread.

The Ding family had even sent her an invitation.

She was really extremely frustrated.

However, in the spirit of magnanimity, she went anyway.

After that, she returned with pent-up anger.

“Sis, do you have any special medicine to calm my mother down?” Lan Tian sent Shi Jin a WeChat message.

“What happened to her?”

“It’s because of the Meng family. Meng Yizhou and Ding Ruhui got engaged and invited my mother over. My mother was too embarrassed to not go, so she rushed over. In the end, that Auntie Meng praised Ding Ruhui all kinds of things at the engagement banquet. She praised her so much that there was nothing in the world that she could not do. She even kept stepping on my illness in the open and in the dark. Although my mother retorted with a sharp tongue, people said that my illness was the truth. She was so angry that she couldn’t eat even when she came back.”

“I’ll give you a prescription. Get someone to buy medicine according to the prescription and have her take it for a couple of days.”

“Sure thing!”

Lan Tian bought the medicine and took it upstairs to her mother.

“Time for your medicine, Mom.” Lan Tian handed her the water and medicine.

“I’m not sick.”

“I said eat!”

Madam Lan couldn’t dissuade her daughter. She ate it in one go before saying, “I’m so angry.”

“I told you, it doesn’t matter what other people say.”

“But what right does she have to say that my daughter is ill and no one wants her?” Madam Lan was so angry that she cried and hugged Lan Tian. “What right does she have? My daughter is so good that no one else can compare to her. Why? Even if someone wants to marry you, I can’t bear to marry you off.”

Lan Tian felt terrible, too. Her own illness had taken a lot out of her mother.

She endured the discomfort. “She’s just complaining the grapes are sour because she can’t eat them herself. Besides, she lost face with us before, so now she’s looking to rebuild it. Mom, you’re really upset over such a small matter.”

Madam Lan was actually not upset by these words, but her heart ached for her daughter.

If even she could hear these ugly things, wouldn’t her daughter hear more when she was outside?

They would say that her illness was contagious and deliberately distanced themselves from her. They always wanted to find out why she was wearing long clothes and pants. They said that there was something wrong with her face and neck.