Just completing surgery, He Su Ye finally relaxed his tense nerves and sighed, casually pushing open the window of his office.
A gentle breeze brushed his face, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus from not far away. He carefully identified it—it was osmanthus. Shen Xifan had always liked Osmanthus. Whether in the early morning, at midnight, or after a light rain, the clusters of golden osmanthus flowers, light or rich in fragrance, could deeply penetrate one’s heart, even without the wind.
Freshly picked osmanthus, preserved with honey, could be used to make sweet and intoxicating osmanthus dumplings in winter.
At this moment, a nurse knocked on the door. “Dr. He, please get ready. We’re going to take photos soon.”
Slightly taken aback, He Su Ye looked at the nurse’s badge and immediately understood. He had changed hospitals, and this was a necessary procedure. Taking off his white coat, he tidied his hair in front of the mirror and suddenly remembered something.
It was when they went to the department to distribute wedding candies before their marriage. When he came out, he found Shen Xifan standing blankly at the door of the department. Curious, he followed her gaze to the bulletin board and saw his photo.
She looked at the photo and then at herself, concluding, “Fortunately, you don’t photograph well, otherwise, most patients would probably be drawn to you.”
He found it strange. “Is it that bad? Why do so many people say you don’t photograph well?”
“It’s not!” She affirmed. “You just look handsome in person. Don’t be so dissatisfied, Dr. He. You’re already quite handsome.”
He chuckled. “Really? I don’t feel it!”
Shen Xifan smiled slightly, pursing her lips. “The first time I saw you, I was amazed. How could there be such a handsome doctor in the hospital? I couldn’t even believe my own eyes.”
“Heh, little girl, whenever you mention that I remember it,” he said. “When I was writing prescriptions, I kept glancing at you. I felt like you weren’t looking at what I was writing. What were you doing then?”
“Uh—looking at your name. But I didn’t see it then, only saw ‘Attending Physician.'”
“Isn’t it on the prescription?”
“How would I know? The doctor’s handwriting is always so illegible, but printed versions are clear. Besides, what if you prescribed the wrong medication? It’d be convenient for me to file a complaint.”
He was immediately speechless. Shen Xifan smiled and held his hand. “Just kidding. How could I doubt your medical skills? You said a bunch of professional terms that immediately stunned me. I felt that you were a reliable doctor.”
Seeing the dimples on He Su Ye’s face, she added, “But back then, you always had a serious expression. I thought you were going for the tough guy route, but I didn’t expect that you would lose your composure with just one smile, making you look so innocent.”
He Su Ye couldn’t help but laugh. “During my internship, my mentor always said I looked too young and couldn’t give patients a sense of security. So, he paired me with Qiu Tian, saying that Qiu Tian would complement my steadiness. But unexpectedly, that guy suddenly turned serious for a whole day, and even I dared not laugh. In the end, the two of us returned to the dormitory and laughed for a long time.”
Shen Xifan blinked. “So, your seriousness was trained like this. Indeed, behind every successful man, there is another successful man.”
Suddenly, the phone rang. It was Grandpa He reminded them to come back for dinner. As they were leaving, Shen Xifan couldn’t help but glance at the photos a few more times. Then, she quietly negotiated with him, “He Su Ye, next time when taking photos, try to look a bit ugly!”
He immediately agreed without hesitation, “I’ll try my best!”
After taking the photos, several doctors and nurses gathered around the computer to see the results. The photographer picked up the file and confirmed, then said to He Su Ye, “Dr. He, are you a soldier? The regulations here require photos in military uniform.”
He Su Ye looked embarrassed. “My military uniform is at home. I usually don’t wear it to work.”
The photographer smiled. “No problem. There will be another batch tomorrow. You can come back then for a reshoot.”
He nodded. “Thank you for your trouble. Thank you.”
When he returned to his office to pack up and prepare to go home, He Su Ye received a call from Shen Xifan. “He Su Ye, there’s a classmate gathering tonight, so I won’t be coming home for dinner.”
“Alright, then I’ll go to Grandpa’s house. After the gathering, call me, and I’ll come pick you up?”
“No need, we agreed not to bring family members. It’s okay, I’m not a child.”
He could only remind her, “Drink less, come back early. If you can’t find a taxi, call me, okay?”
On the other end, Shen Xifan burst into laughter. “I’ve had my ID for over ten years. I’m not a minor anymore, Dr. He!”
Before he even stopped the car, he smelled a faint floral fragrance. It turned out that the osmanthus at Grandpa’s house was blooming. The rain-washed emerald green branches looked especially vibrant, with tiny golden osmanthus flowers not yet in full bloom, some resembling grains of rice, or small buds, which made his heart suddenly feel cheerful.
Just as he got out of the car, he saw He Shouzheng in the yard. After a few days of not seeing each other, he seemed to have grown taller. Seeing He Su Ye, he immediately ran over, still as sticky as ever. “Uncle, come here quickly, help me pick that bigger flower bud. I can’t reach it.”
He Su Ye was curious. “What are you picking it for?”
“To make osmanthus honey, my mom taught me.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll help you pick it, and you help me get a basket.”
“Is Uncle also going to make it? There’s still some made last time in Grandpa’s kitchen cabinet.”
“YeAh your aunt likes to eat osmanthus honey with dumplings.”
He Shouzheng pouted. “It’s Sister Shen, calling her ‘aunt’ makes her seem so old.”
He Su Ye teased, “But you’ve always called me Uncle. Why don’t you feel that I’m old?”
Shouzheng nodded solemnly. “You were never young to begin with. Marrying Sister Shen is like an old cow eating tender grass!”
A large bottle of osmanthus honey emitted a graceful fragrance even through the gaps.
The family ate together, and somehow the topic turned to children. He Su Ye had been concentrating on eating, and was caught off guard by the elders’ question, “Su Ye, when are you and Xifan planning to have children? Both of you aren’t young anymore.”
He choked on his food, forcing himself to swallow it down, and awkwardly replied, “We’re both very busy, so we haven’t considered it yet.”
Grandpa He chuckled, “That’s what you say, but having a child completes a family. Look at your cousin’s family, it’s so nice. He Shouzheng is so clever and likable.”
He Shouzheng looked delighted. “Uncle’s child, then I’ll be older than him. That’s great, I can finally take charge.”
It’s not that they hadn’t considered the issue of having children, but Shen Xifan had never wanted to have them so soon. And although he valued family, he was extremely busy with work. Before he was transferred to the military hospital, it was either surgery or overtime every day, and even his sleep at night was often disturbed by emergency calls. Because of this, he wasn’t very eager to have children either.
Since they got married, had a family, and had children, he always believed he needed to take responsibility.
Now that both of them had settled down, this matter should be put on the agenda.
He planned to find a chance to discuss it with her. If she wasn’t willing, then so be it. Such matters should follow their natural course.
On the way home, it began to rain lightly. Due to traffic, it took him more than half the usual time to get home.
From downstairs, he could see that the lights in the house were already on. The warm yellow light spilling out made him feel cozy inside, just like always. He knew she was waiting for him at home.
When he opened the door, a faint smell of alcohol greeted him. He frowned slightly, realizing that Shen Xifan had likely drunk a lot again.
However, the living room lights were on, but she was nowhere to be seen. He called out a few times but got no response. He then turned the bedroom doorknob and found Shen Xifan sitting on the bed, staring at the wardrobe with a slight smile on her face.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, her face was a seductive shade of pink. Her vibrant expression was evident in her eyes and eyebrows. Seeing him enter, she pouted and sweetly whined, “Hubby, try this outfit on for me.”
He looked closely and was surprised. “A military uniform? What for?”
“Just put it on—” Shen Xifan squinted her eyes. “I’ve never seen you wear it. Why don’t you wear your military uniform at the hospital anymore?”
He took the uniform from her hands and explained, “Only the chiefs wear it, or the interns. Nowadays, the military hospital has a lot of external hires, so it’s hard to tell the professionals from the non-professionals.”
After changing into the uniform, he reached for a tie, but Shen Xifan stopped him. “This tie doesn’t look good with the uniform. Next time, I’ll buy you a deep blue one. I saw a nice VERSACE one recently. It would go perfectly with this.”
He chuckled, “Have you seen enough? Can I change back now? But can I ask out of curiosity, why suddenly the urge to see me in a military uniform?”
“Today, someone mentioned that men look the most handsome in uniforms, and it reminded me of my dad. He looked so dashing in his military uniform back in the day.” She leaned close to his face, her breath tinged with a teasing whiff of alcohol. “I never thought you’d look even more handsome. Already so charming, and now even more so, hehe—”
He smiled, meeting her intense gaze. “Honey, you flatter me. Now, can I—”
Before he could finish, she unexpectedly pressed her soft, slightly possessive lips against his. The taste of wine lingered in her kiss, intoxicating him. Their breaths quickened, bodies intertwined, like a stormy sea, their kisses fiery and passionate, a vibrant and intense battle.
Suddenly, he remembered something important and asked breathlessly, “Today…”
Her eyes sparkled with unspoken temptation, and Shen Xifan smiled mischievously, “Forget it, let’s just let things take their natural course…”
Alright then, he let his last string of rationality snap. Let it be.
It seemed like the bright yellow sunlight was dancing before his eyes. He couldn’t help but open his eyes, propping himself up to check his watch. The person beside him moved slightly, then lazily asked, “What time is it?”
“It’s still early. You don’t have to work today. Sleep a little more.”
Shen Xifan snuggled into her pillow, pulling the blanket tighter, murmuring dreamily, “Tired—” before drifting back to sleep.
He gazed at her lovingly for a while, couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her lips, then got dressed and went to make breakfast.
Sweet osmanthus rice dumplings, though not a seasonal treat, made for a luxurious breakfast with their fragrance. Sadly, such a delicious meal could only be enjoyed by himself.
He left a bowl in the microwave with a note for her about breakfast, then returned to the bedroom to retrieve the military uniform.
Perhaps it was the alcohol last night, but the little girl was unexpectedly forward. Thankfully, they retained enough sense to avoid disrespecting the uniform.
He took the uniform, folded it neatly into a bag, and remembered the receipt Shen Xifan’s cousin had asked her to buy something with a few days ago. He gently woke her up, “Where’s that receipt? Cousin has been asking for it several times.”
Shen Xifan groggily replied, “In my wallet, go get it yourself.”
The wallet was stuffed with various cards. He rummaged through it for a while before finally spotting the receipt, wedged between two credit cards. Carefully extracting it, he noticed that a photo had slipped out along with it.
Picking it up, he couldn’t help but laugh. It was an old work ID photo of himself from the hospital, one that Shen Xifan had jokingly dubbed “unphotogenic and distorted.”
This girl, always saying one thing but meaning another. If she thought it was so bad, why did she keep it with her? And secretly, too.
If she had told him earlier, he could have given her a much better photo to carry around, like the most handsome one he had. After all, the photo he kept in his wallet was her best one.
Oh well, he’d confiscate this one for now.
The second batch of photos taken that day was for military doctors. A sea of dark green uniforms filled the room, and several intern nurses couldn’t help but exclaim, “So handsome! Men do look best in uniforms!”
He was the last to be photographed. After his turn, the photographer pointed to the computer screen and asked, “Dr. He, how about this one?”
He smiled, “Let’s go with that one. But could you give me a private copy of this one?”
The photographer puzzled and feeling his aesthetic judgment was being questioned, insisted, “I think this one looks better than that one.”
He Suye politely smiled, “Yes, exactly, that’s why we’ll use the other one.”
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Opening it, he saw a message from Shen Xifan: “He Suye, did you see a small photo when you were getting the receipt?”
He decided to tease her, “What photo? I didn’t see anything.”
A moment later, another message arrived. He could almost imagine her panicking, “Oh no, maybe some girl stole it yesterday, or I lost it. Are you sure you didn’t see it?”
“What photo? Is it important?”
“Of course it’s important, it’s your photo! Oh no—”
He laughed inwardly and reassured her, “I’ll give you a new one when I get home. We’re taking new work photos at the hospital.”
“Make sure to give me the most handsome one, and use the less handsome one for the work ID.”
He chuckled, putting on his white coat. As he picked up his phone to reply, another message came in—
“Come home early tonight, I’m making sweet osmanthus lily lotus seed soup. Don’t forget to come back early!”
“Got it, I will.”
He made his way from the outpatient clinic to the inpatient department, passing through a green area. The rich fragrance of osmanthus filled the air. Looking up, he saw tiny flower petals falling gently like rain. The osmanthus trees were in full bloom, their scent permeating the air around him.
Reaching out to catch some of the delicate petals, he looked forward to the next blooming season. Maybe by then, he would have a complete family of three.
Lin’s Side Story
The coffee on the desk had gone cold long ago. It wasn’t until his fingers touched the cold rim of the cup that he realized it. Without looking up, he called out to his secretary, “Lucy, a cup of coffee, thanks!”
But no one responded. Lin Yishen looked around in confusion, realizing the office was empty. Checking the clock on his desk, he saw it was two hours past closing time. He had been completely absorbed in numbers and reports.
With a wry smile, he stood up to pack his things. A wedding invitation lay quietly in the corner of the desk, its red hue stirring feelings of envy. Glancing out the window, he saw the city lights twinkling. It was the beginning of spring, but there was no hint of desolation. The city’s bright lights and reflections in the water created a dazzling scene.
Forever awake, yet forever alone.
Back then, Wen Wei often stayed late at the office, and then would go up to the rooftop. The bustling commercial district lay below, a sea of lights and endless prosperity. She enjoyed watching the city lights at night; it gave her a sense of peace and tranquility.
That night seemed no different from any other. Wen Wei, holding her coffee, was about to stand up when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Lin Yishen standing in the shadow of the lights. His tall, strong figure exuded a rare warmth and solitude, making him seem both unreal and more distant to her. Or perhaps, closer than ever.
He sat down beside her and said, “This city, so lonely and desolate, yet so beautiful.”
Wen Wei smiled, “Finding hope in despair!”
Lin Yishen laughed heartily, and Wen Wei joined in. She spread her fingers, letting the tiny rays of light seep through. She squinted and smiled, and he watched her, both sensing a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
They eventually went out to eat together, choosing classic Shanghai dishes: crab roe with chicken kidneys, chrysanthemum yellow fish soup, Songjiang perch, and scallops with lettuce.
Wen Wei took a bite of the fish and smiled, “Manager Lin, are you from Shanghai?”
He shook his head, “Aren’t you from Shanghai?”
She paused for a moment, then nodded, “Yes, I grew up in Shanghai and only moved here when the head office transferred me.”
Lin Yishen smiled warmly, “Do these dishes taste like home? I’m not from Shanghai, so I wouldn’t know.”
A wave of warmth surged through her. She paused, her chopsticks in mid-air, and murmured, “It’s very authentic, thank you.”
In truth, she had been paying attention to this well-known general manager for a while. In his early thirties, a handsome, eligible bachelor with a PhD in Business Administration from Cornell, he had no scandalous rumors and was known for his upright character. Many people said they felt respected when talking to him, and his mere smile made them feel like they were basking in a spring breeze.
Later, she found out that before studying abroad, Lin Yishen had been a public relations manager at a hotel, a job that required handling all sorts of difficult guests. Now, dealing with well-trained subordinates and courteous clients was a piece of cake for him. However, he did have moments of anger, where his icy expression alone commanded respect.
She had only seen it once. It happened when there was a mistake in the finance department. On her second day at the company, she walked into the office to find Lin Yishen standing with his hands behind his back, glaring at the finance department manager. The room was so silent that the tension felt like snow in midwinter.
No one knew how they got through that day, everyone was on edge and barely daring to breathe. Less than half an hour after Lin Yishen left, she was summoned to his office. He stood with his back to her in the morning light. On the desk, she noticed a resignation letter and an appointment letter, the latter bearing her name as the new finance department manager.
She was immediately taken aback and tried to compose her thoughts, “General Manager, I’m here.”
He turned, his expression softening as if nothing had happened. He simply pointed to the appointment letter, “Miss Wen, can you accept this position?”
Without hesitation, she shook her head, meeting Lin Yishen’s inquisitive gaze. She spoke solemnly, “Based on my education and experience, I don’t deserve this position. Besides, I just arrived and am not familiar with the situation here.”
Lin Yishen smiled, his brow relaxing, enhancing his handsome features, “What’s unfamiliar will become familiar. A finance manager doesn’t need to do everything personally, just needs to delegate tasks. Moreover—” he paused, “the company needs dedicated employees, and I trust Miss Wen because—” He didn’t finish his sentence but looked at her with sincere eyes.
Such “trust” immediately won her over. Holding the appointment letter, she nodded solemnly, “Alright, I accept.”
Later, she learned that Lin Yishen had an instinct for judging people. His four years in the hotel industry had honed his keen eye. According to the company’s receptionist, “He’s seen it all, and to him, we’re all too simple.”