In the morning, while having breakfast, Mr. Shen inadvertently asked, “Fanfan, the boy you were walking with last time is handsome. What’s his name?”
Mrs. Shen, who was ladling porridge, immediately brightened up at this gossip. Sensing trouble, Shen Xifan muttered to herself. Sure enough, Mrs. Shen began urging her, “Fanfan, who is he? Tell your mother.”
Shen Xifan was still holding a deep-fried dough stick, and with a mouthful, she mumbled unclearly to brush off the question, “Just a doctor…”
Shen’s Mom listened intently, or rather, at twelve-fold resolution. Was Li Jie really that handsome? He did have some character in his appearance, but according to her well-trained aesthetic sense, Li Jie couldn’t be considered handsome. She assumed that men viewed men differently from women. She didn’t realize that Shen’s Dad was referring to someone else.
Shen’s Mom felt a bit dazed. Just as she was about to continue, Shen Xifan dropped her chopsticks, grabbed her coat, and said, “I’m off to work. See you later!” Then she practically stormed out.
Shen’s Dad chuckled heartily, “Our daughter is not so young anymore. It seems she’s at the age of liking boys. Look, sorry about that.”
Shen’s Mom smirked, feeling victorious. “It’s all thanks to me!”
After the morning meeting, Shen Xifan walked out of the conference room with her notebook. Just as she was about to get on the elevator, Lin Yishen called out to her, “Manager Shen, wait! I need to talk to you!”
She found it strange but still walked over. Ding Wei and Xu Xiangya also joined them. Lin Yishen grinned, “What activities do we have for New Year’s?”
Ding Wei sighed, “I’m on duty exactly at that time. What activities? A party in the suite? A masquerade ball?”
Xu Xiangya chimed in, “We finish our shifts at ten, so we have plenty of time. Let’s just go to a bar, nothing too intense. Can our old bones handle it?”
Shen Xifan was astonished. “What do you mean by ‘intense activities’? Xiaoyan, what are you planning?”
Xu Xiangya pondered, “By ‘intense,’ I mean high physical activity, high consumption, high difficulty, like dancing. I’m old; I can’t keep up with the youngsters anymore.”
The others all nodded in understanding, especially Ding Wei, who had a look of “Oh, I see, it’s my impure thoughts.” He said, “Xu Xiangya, we all misunderstood you, but it’s not our fault. Your words were too ambiguous!”
Xu Xiangya sighed dramatically, looking on the verge of tears. “I also want a romantic date under the moon, but unfortunately, there’s no one!”
Before she finished, Lin Yishen and Ding Wei’s expressions twisted, barely holding back laughter. “Xu Xiangya, you can stop now. If you continue, it’ll be too suggestive.”
It took Shen Xifan a while to catch on. She leaned in and whispered four words to Xu Xiangya, who blushed and felt embarrassed, “You two scoundrels! The rogues of Chinese culture!”
The four of them were of similar age, belonging to the younger generation of high-level management in the hotel. Naturally, they shared similar interests: Shen Xifan and Lin Yishen were university alumni, although from different years and majors. Ding Wei entered society early due to family reasons, making him the most experienced and worldly-wise among the four. Xu Xiangya had left her hometown and ventured alone in the city after graduating from university.
Shen Xifan still remembers when she went for her job interview, Lin Yishen was sitting in the lobby, looking calm and composed, giving off an air of authority and approachability. It wasn’t until someone called out “Manager Lin!” that she realized he wasn’t there for an interview; he was already a high-level manager.
Then she encountered him again during orientation. He was holding his resume and smiling, “Little junior sister, don’t tell me you don’t recognize the former president of the Student Union’s Public Relations Department from our university?”
Only then did she realize that the “once campus heartthrob, Lin Yishen,” often mentioned by her roommate, was him—the one who walked with authority in the university and nobody dared to block his path. Afterward, the two became acquainted. He called her “Xiaofan” or “junior sister,” and when she was in a good mood, she called him “senior brother.” When she was not pleased, she just ignored him, but Lin Yishen was very easygoing and never took offense.
The four young people worked in the hotel, holding important positions, and worked tirelessly, day and night. Sometimes they stayed up all night working on a project, and if they disagreed, they might have a falling out but then make it without saying a word.
Lin Yishen often said, “We are passionate young people striving for our lives and dreams. Nowadays, the waves of the Yangtze River drive the waves ahead; if we aren’t careful, the previous wave will die on the beach. So we must not slack off.”
Shen Xifan felt lucky to have met them. Whatever everyone pursued, having dreams meant having a continuous source of motivation, making her life vibrant.
And the only thing that had supported her all along was just a dream. Even though she had once lost everything.
At that moment, Shen Xifan was checking the room accounts. She had no concept of numbers, often feeling dizzy when faced with a long string of digits. If she lost focus for even a moment, she had to start over. While others could finish the accounts in one or two tries, she could spend a whole day on them.
She had never hated her math skills so much.
Just then, Supervisor Zhang knocked on the door and called, “Manager Shen.” She panicked, her eyes fixed on the accounts, afraid to look up. “What’s the matter?”
Zhang replied, “An American just checked in and said he’s not satisfied with the room. He wants you to handle it.”
She nodded reluctantly, glancing back at the ledger. She thought to herself that once she finished dealing with it, she would have to start over.
It was extremely cold outside in winter, but she was still wearing her uniform, a thin coat, and pants. Her heart shivered from the cold, but she walked steadily. She descended from the administrative building to the lobby. She was slightly surprised because the first person she saw was He Suye.
Then she noticed Li Jie and some middle-aged people surrounding an American. The American was a bit older, with gray hair, and lively eyes, wearing a shirt and carrying a travel bag. Someone beside him tried to help him carry it, but the American kept waving his hand to refuse. He Suye stood beside the American, explaining something to him in English.
张姐 stepped forward, “Mr. Yang, Manager Shen is here now. Please communicate any issues you have with her.”
As soon as she spoke, all eyes turned to Shen Xifan, especially He Suye, who looked momentarily lost in thought before smiling silently. Li Jie, on the other hand, seemed delighted, raising his hand and curling two fingers in a greeting gesture towards her.
A middle-aged man named “Mr. Yang” approached and shook hands with her, explaining, “Manager Shen, here’s the situation. We originally booked a Celebrity Suite, but Mr. Andy wasn’t satisfied. Now, we’d like to change rooms. Is that possible?”
She nodded, “Of course. What type of room would you like to change to?”
Unexpectedly, the American understood and cheerfully shouted, “Chinese style!”
Shen Xifan frowned and asked Zhang Jie in a low voice, “Are all the Chinese-style suites fully booked?”
Zhang Jie nodded, “That’s the problem we’re facing! We’ve already explained to them, but we’re still stuck here. I had to call you down to handle it.”
After a moment’s thought, she went to the front desk and said, “Please change this gentleman’s room to 1203. Thank you!”
The receptionist was somewhat surprised but quickly handed her the room key, although her expression was somewhat complicated. Shen Xifan ignored it, turned back to the American, and smiled in English, “Here’s your room key. Please keep it safe, and I wish you a pleasant stay!”
The American was very pleased, and the group rushed to the elevator. He Suye and Li Jie walked extremely slowly, obviously intentionally lagging. Li Jie turned back, clasped his palms together, and bowed exaggeratedly to Shen Xifan, his expression resembling that of Maitreya Buddha, with his thick eyebrows moving up and down. She smiled, and He Suye lightly tapped Li Jie’s head, smiling and waving at her.
She watched them until they entered the elevator, then called Mr. Cheng, “Mr. Cheng, the suite your daughter used to stay in has been changed today due to a guest’s need to switch rooms. How should we handle this?”
Mr. Cheng pondered for a moment, “Did she book that room?”
Shen Xifan hesitated, “No.”
“In that case, it’s fine!” Mr. Cheng’s tone was surprisingly relaxed. “Let her come and find me if she wants to throw a tantrum. You don’t need to take responsibility for this!”
Back in her office, she grabbed the accounts in frustration and sighed heavily. She had only read a few lines when her phone suddenly rang. She reluctantly checked it, only to find a message from an unfamiliar number: “It’s cold, wear more clothes. You might catch a cold.”
Her mood suddenly improved, unable to conceal her surprise and joy. She intended to reply after some restraint but couldn’t resist responding immediately, “Dr. He, do you always suffer from your professional habits no matter where you go?”
Dr. He’s reply came quickly, “You little chatterbox, I kindly remind you to prevent getting sick, and you tell me you’re already sick.”
Shen Xifan laughed as she held her phone, feeling a warm sense of happiness spreading from her hands. Her face, which had been red from the cold, instantly brightened. Sensing a warmth on her face, she quickly regained her composure, got up to pour tea, and prepared to continue looking at the accounts. However, she inadvertently glanced out the window at the sky. The sunlight was just right, warm and gentle. She pursed her lips, smiling gently, with a soft glow of happiness in her eyes.
In the evening, when it was her shift, she was having dinner in the staff canteen. Xu Xiangya was animatedly describing what she saw in the Chinese restaurant today, “He’s handsome. Not only is he refined, but he also has an extraordinary demeanor. What’s annoying is that he’s still so cute when he smiles. It’s maddening! There’s just no justice in the world!”
Shen Xifan casually picked at her food, “Xiangya, can you eat more calmly?”
“I’m not hungry. I’ve absorbed so much spiritual food today that it’s enough to sustain me for a while!” Xu Xiangya said as she reached for the slices of meat on Shen Xifan’s plate. Shen Xifan smiled, “You’re not hungry yet, but I am. I still need to have supper later.”
After dinner, they saw Lin Yishen and He Suye standing together in the lobby, chatting and laughing without restraint. The two extremely eye-catching men standing together garnered a hundred percent attention. Finally, Lin Yishen patted He Suye on the shoulder. He nodded, then left the lobby and got into a black car.
Xu Xiangya was one hundred percent nervous and excited, her hands fidgeting everywhere, “Xifan, it’s that handsome guy! Isn’t he handsome?”
Shen Xifan laughed sincerely, “Very handsome, really handsome! He and Lin Yishen are equally impressive when standing together.”
Seeing the two of them swooning in the corner, Lin Yishen walked over and asked, blinking, “Is it me who’s handsome, or was that man just now handsome?”
Without hesitation, Xu Xiangya replied, “Of course, it’s the other guy!”
Lin Yishen put on a hurt expression, and Shen Xifan seized the opportunity to tease him, “You’ve become aesthetically tired from seeing him every day. It’s normal to want a change of taste. But he is quite special, with a unique temperament!”
She was about to ask Lin Yishen how he knew He Suye when his secretary called him away. She sighed, realizing that she had previously thought there were so many people in the world that it didn’t matter if they passed each other without notice. But now, it seemed that knowing one person somehow affected everything around them, which was truly strange, with a hint of fate.
As He Suye left, his smiling face remained in her mind, making her feel even more like a love-struck fool.
Recently, Ding Wei has been busy with the launch of “Zhongyu”‘s new product. It was said that the female director of marketing at “Zhongyu” was extremely demanding, changing one plan after another. When the final draft was completed, he thought it was over, but the director herself was hands-on and personally went to inspect the venue. He had no choice but to accompany her, and after a week, he was completely exhausted.
Shen Xifan secretly rejoiced that she didn’t have to deal with that guy, Yan Heng. She was already very happy to be able to lie comfortably in the suite, warm and cozy, instead of standing outside in the cold for hours. Faced with the accounts, she felt for the first time the importance of contentment and happiness.
However, Ling Yufan had come to bother her several times, complaining about drainage problems and cleanliness issues. Fortunately, Shen Xifan had mastered the skill of looking at things from a distance. Her two big eyes stared at Ling Yufan motionlessly, without focus, which frightened him and made him behave better in the future.
On New Year’s Eve, the four of them went to have a hot pot and then went to a bar. Initially, everyone was drinking well, but Ding Wei was particularly disgruntled, drinking aggressively and quickly. Later, Xu Xiangya suggested playing cards, and the loser would have to tell everyone their past stories.
If the best gambler is a mathematician, then the worst gambler is someone like Shen Xifan, a mathematical ignoramus. She played cautiously, often holding strong cards but not daring to play them. As a result, she lost miserably after just a few rounds.
The others teased her, “Shen Xifan, tell us about your first love!”
Feeling embarrassed, she begged, “Let’s forget it. I’ll just drink!”
Lin Yishen wouldn’t let her off, “Did your teacher teach you to play the victim like this back in college, little junior?”
She had no choice but to reluctantly recall her romantic history, “In my sophomore year, I developed a crush on a guy. He was very outstanding and quite famous in school. His major was engineering physics, and he was incredibly smart. Then, I ended up being with him somehow, and later, we broke up for some reason.”
The bar was dimly lit, and Sade’s “Somebody Already Broke My Heart” was playing in the background— “I’ve been torn apart so many times， I’ve been hurt so many times before. So I’m counting on you now， Somebody already broke my heart， Somebody already broke my heart……”
Xu Xiangya was unwilling to give up and asked, “When did it end? Why did you break up?”
Shen Xifan felt the atmosphere suddenly turn cold. The laughter around them seemed distant, and the hazy lights gave the place a dreamlike quality. The alcohol was clouding her mind, and she relaxed, smiling gently. “At the beginning of our senior year. The reason? He found another girl he liked, so he broke up with me.”
She paused, lightly swirling her glass. The amber liquid shimmered under the light, adding to the sense of melancholy. She continued, “Back then, I felt like my world was falling apart. The pain was so intense that even crying felt like a luxury. For a month, I lived like a zombie, suffering from insomnia and feeling nauseated at the sight of food. Then I threw myself into my internship, job hunting, and my graduation project, keeping myself so busy that I gradually stopped thinking about him.”
Her voice drifted, “Looking back, I realize how foolish I was. What’s the point of longing for a man like that? I lost all my dignity and self-respect, groveling and promising to change everything he disliked about me. But what did I do wrong? He stopped liking me, and suddenly all my strengths became flaws.”
She still remembered the first day of senior year. She went to the library to return some books and saw Yan Heng. He was just coming out of the library. Shen Xifan looked at his familiar face and felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity. Yan Heng merely smiled at her before walking away. In the past, he would have stopped and waited for her, even pitifully calling out, “Xiaofan, hurry up, I’ve been waiting for you forever!”
They had quarreled once during the summer break. Shen Xifan initially thought it was just a normal tiff, and she continued to joke around with Yan Heng afterward. But gradually, his messages and calls became fewer and fewer. Sometimes, a whole day would pass without a response, and she would stare at her phone, unable to leave it for a moment.
That summer felt like a year to her.
She had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but she never expected Yan Heng to break up with her that night and start dating Gu Ningyuan, the beauty from the chemistry department, the next day.
She felt like a discarded toy, finally thrown into the trash.
Desperately, she bombarded him with messages and calls, all saying the same thing: “What’s wrong with me? Tell me, I’ll change. I won’t make you unhappy anymore.” Finally, one day, she got Yan Heng’s answer.
He said, “All the qualities that attracted me to you have turned into flaws. I hate how clingy you are, and how you bother me all the time. You make me feel trapped. In short, you annoy me now.”
She was heartbroken, feeling pain with every breath. Her skin, her bones, every part of her body screamed in sorrow—”I just loved you too much. I wanted to be with you, never apart.”
To this day, she couldn’t understand why the one who loved first and deepest was the one who lost the most.
Shen Xifan’s eyes showed a hint of emotion as she continued to smile, drinking water in large gulps and playing cards as if nothing was wrong. Lin Yishen watched her, feeling a sudden pang of sadness.
He had known this junior for a long time. Her ex-boyfriend, Dai Heng—also known as Yan Heng—was quite famous at their school. He had seen them together a few times, but since he was two years their senior, they probably didn’t know him. He often saw couples around the campus and usually just smiled and walked by, but this couple had left a lasting impression on him.
When they were together, the girl always smiled brightly, exuding sweetness and genuine happiness. Even as an outsider, he could feel their joy.
The next time he saw her was in the interview hall. Her smile was more restrained but still serene. When the HR manager asked how she balanced work and relationships, he remembered her clear response, “I don’t have a boyfriend, so there’s no need to balance. I just want to focus on my work.”
Only then did he understand why that happy smile had disappeared?
When Yan Heng arrived, Lin Yishen recognized him immediately. Driven by personal motives, he had handled many matters related to Yan Heng, even though many were beyond his authority. He had also strongly advocated for Ding Wei in cooperation with Zhongyu.
He didn’t want to see Shen Xifan suffer again. She had already been hurt once; there was no reason for her to go through it again.
Yan Heng did not deserve her love.
Shen Xifan became much bolder in her card playing, winning several rounds. Meanwhile, Ding Wei, now drunk, was losing repeatedly, and Xu Xiangya kept pestering him to talk about his first love.
Ding Wei downed a drink and said, “My family was poor, and I didn’t go to college. In high school, a rich girl living in a mansion and driving a BMW fell for me. I initially thought of it as a game, but I truly fell in love. Our relationship lasted several years. Her family naturally opposed it and confined her at home. We planned to elope but got caught. Three days later, she married someone else, and I left my hometown, never to return. During those years, whenever I closed my eyes, I saw her tearful face and heard her heart-wrenching cries calling my name…”
Things got out of hand, and they stopped playing cards. Xu Xiangya started sharing her own romantic experiences, while Ding Wei kept drinking. Shen Xifan listened intently, sighing frequently, and Lin Yishen’s emotions also became unstable.
The last night of the old year, the eve of the new year, felt unusually heavy.
Suddenly, Shen Xifan glanced at her watch and snapped back to reality. “It’s already 9:30! Ding Wei, you need to go for your shift!”
Lin Yishen smiled wryly at her, “Ding Wei is drunk…”
Xu Xiangya chimed in, “I’ll go for him!” She tried to stand up but stumbled back into her seat, feeling dizzy. She patted her head and tried to stand again, using the table for support.
Shen Xifan held her down and turned to Lin Yishen. “Senior, you should take them both home. I’ll cover the hotel shift.”
Lin Yishen thought for a moment. “No, I should go instead.”
She gave a bitter smile. “I can’t lift Ding Wei, so I’ll leave the tough job to you. I’ll go now.”
The winter night was cold, and the wind was biting. As soon as Shen Xifan stepped outside, she felt completely awake. She sensed raindrops falling on her face, and soon, a light mist covered the entire city. Streetlights and neon signs blurred in the rain, casting a melancholic glow in the darkness.
Singles walked by the bar from time to time, couples kissed openly on the streets, and young, beautiful women clung to elderly men, cooing and flirting. A charming woman walked past her, leaving a lingering scent in the air—a scent of youthful fire.
The air was thick with an atmosphere of flirtation, frivolity, and decadence.
She wanted to ask herself if love in the city could ever last.
The receptionist looked surprised to see her return for the room key. “Manager Shen, isn’t it Manager Ding’s shift tonight?”
She forced a smile. “Manager Ding is not feeling well, so I’m covering for him.”
After taking the key and opening the door, she set her bag down and felt a dull pain in her abdomen. She knew it was bad news—the thing girls dread had arrived on schedule.
After taking care of it, she was in no condition to move due to the pain. She lay on the bed, put a pillow under her waist, and, with the alcohol still in her system, fell into a deep, hazy sleep.
She dreamed a long dream.
In her dream, Yan Heng appeared as he did in their junior year, smiling at her. “Xiaofan, I need to earn a lot of money to support you, my little pig, so I have to study hard now.”
Just as she was about to reply, another girl said, “Yan Heng, didn’t you say you broke up with her a long time ago?” She recognized the voice as Gu Ningyuan’s and turned to shout at her, “What are you talking about? When did he break up with me? It was you who came and took him away; otherwise, how could he have liked you?”
Gu Ningyuan, furious, reached out to push her. Caught off guard, Shen Xifan tumbled down the stairs. Just as she was about to hit the ground, a pair of hands caught her. She looked up to see He Suyue, who frowned and scolded her, “Little girl, how could you be so careless!”
Yan Heng stood at the intersection with Gu Ningyuan beside him, looking at her coldly. His voice was devoid of emotion or inflection, “Shen Xifan, we have broken up! Stop pestering me!”
She woke up immediately, drenched in cold sweat, her bangs clinging to her forehead. She reached up to brush them aside, feeling each strand like needles against her skin.
At that moment, her phone rang. It was someone from the engineering department, their voice urgent, “The Zhongyu advertising board and promotional panels are shaking in the wind, and some have fallen, damaging some equipment. Manager Ding needs to come immediately!” Without giving her a chance to explain, they hung up.
She sighed, knowing nothing about the project, but she had no choice but to face it. Fortunately, Ding Wei’s secretary was still around and found some documents for her. She didn’t have time to put on extra clothes and read through the materials as she walked to the site. By the time she arrived, she had grasped most of the situation.
It was still raining, and the wind was fierce. Shen Xifan’s face was drained of color from the cold. Her waist ached so much she felt she might collapse. She could even feel the blood flowing, pounding in her lower abdomen, causing a dull pain.
Rain lashed her body, and the cold seeped in insidiously.
She was in agony, wishing she could just faint.
Manager Zhang from the engineering department was surprised to see her. She explained that Ding Wei was sick. She didn’t care whether they could fix everything before the press conference; what mattered to her were the inconsistencies in the project plan’s diagrams.
Sure enough, half an hour later, the marketing director from Zhongyu arrived in a flurry. A woman in her thirties immediately started with a stern tone, “Manager Zhang, I have serious doubts about your hotel’s construction quality!”
The director watched as the workers rehung the signs and inspected them carefully. Shen Xifan was equally tense, climbing up and down with Manager Zhang, checking and confirming everything repeatedly.
During this time, Yan Heng came in person. He spoke harshly to Manager Zhang and only glanced at Shen Xifan briefly before shifting his gaze away.
She knew that Yan Heng was completely professional at work and would not show any personal bias. If it had been her mistake, he would have criticized her just as severely.
But she still felt miserable, her heart heavy. It wasn’t the scolding that upset her; it was the realization that Yan Heng seemed so distant, unable to see her physical discomfort even when he was close by.
Finally, by six o’clock, the venue was restored. The signs were relocated to safer positions, and everything looked more secure.
She breathed a sigh of relief, touching her numb face. She could barely move her legs, not just from the cold but from the excruciating pain that made it hard to stand.
But she had to keep going.
In the office, Zhongyu’s director firmly blamed the engineering department for the damage. Shen Xifan, biting her lip, her face pale, spoke almost word by word, “Didn’t Manager Zhang discuss the construction details with Zhongyu? For example, the height of the advertising panels and how the promotional signs were to be secured. Manager Zhang has been in charge of this hotel’s engineering for many years; how could he make such a basic mistake?”
With that, everyone realized it was Zhongyu’s pursuit of aesthetic effects that led to unauthorized changes in the construction plan. The situation quickly reversed, and people started discussing it animatedly.
However, the matter would still need to be resolved by Ding Wei. She called him, and fortunately, he was already on his way to the hotel, easing her mind.
She almost staggered to the back door, ready to catch a taxi home when Yan Heng followed her out, calling, “Xiaofan, why do you look so pale? Are you sick?”
In the drizzle, Shen Xifan stood in the misty rain, her green woolen coat making her face look even paler. She frowned, “Mr. Yan, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. Goodbye.”
Yan Heng wanted to stop her. He sensed something was wrong. But just as he reached out, she got into a taxi and drove away.
A few raindrops hit his outstretched hand, chilling him to the bone. He felt a vague sense of foreboding. Shen Xifan was no longer the naive girl she once was. In three years, some things had changed beyond retrieval.
Like once intense love, now turned to dust.
Leaning against a roadside tree, she panted heavily. The thought of calling home for a ride crossed her mind, but her parents were away visiting her grandmother until the next day. Struggling to walk, she moved slowly, hands on her waist, legs feeling like lead with each step.
Suddenly, she felt a gentle tap on her back, followed by He Suyue’s familiar voice, “Shen Xifan, what’s wrong with you?”
He turned her body around and saw her pale face, lips white from being bitten, water droplets clinging to her bangs, and a hint of distress in her eyes. Seeing her bent over and curled up, he felt a sense of panic.
Shen Xifan grabbed onto the hem of He Suyue’s clothes, her eyes silently pleading as she looked at him, a mixture of restraint and helplessness evident. She felt that He Suyue was her lifeline, and her body involuntarily leaned towards him as she whispered brokenly, “Pain… I can’t bear it…”
Having seen thousands of patients, He Suyue immediately knew what was wrong with her. He took her bag, supported her with one hand, and held an umbrella with the other, gently asking, “Can you stand? Are you okay?”
Shen Xifan nodded weakly, mustering a strained smile tinged with vulnerability, “He Suyue, is there anything you can do to make the pain go away? I’m dying!”
He Suyue helped her lie down first, then took out a box from the study containing several needles. Some were long with round or pointed tips. He carefully wiped them with alcohol before turning to Shen Xifan. She immediately lowered her face when she saw them, pitifully saying, “He Suyue, I don’t want acupuncture…”
Ignoring her protests, he said, “Lie down on your stomach with your clothes pulled up.”
She complied reluctantly, asking in a small voice, “Do I need to take off all my clothes?”
He Suyue glared at her, “Of course, otherwise, how would it work?” Then, realizing his face was turning slightly red, he hastily explained, “You’re the patient, and I’m the doctor…”
He started with the first needle at the bladder meridian, then slowly inserted the second needle into the governing vessel point, and swiftly pierced the third needle into the third lumbar vertebra, rotating it downwards. Shen Xifan winced in pain and let out a soft cry. He comforted her, “Bear with it, be obedient!” He then used fine needles on the governor’s vessel, triple energizer, kidney, and sea of qi points.
His technique was proficient, but he hesitated when it came to Shen Xifan. Seeing her slight frown, he knew even the dullest needle would cause some pain. Nevertheless, he was still worried when she cried out in pain.
After about twenty minutes, Shen Xifan gradually began to feel sensation returning to her body, and the dull cold pain in her lower abdomen subsided. Her face regained some color, and he gently removed all the needles. Helping her pull down her clothes, he asked, “How do you feel now?”
Shen Xifan sighed in relief, “Much better, thank you.”
He smiled, wiped the needles with alcohol pads, and put them back. Then, he instructed her, “Lie down for a while. I’ll go buy something and be back soon.”
After he left, Shen Xifan hugged the pillow and lay on the bed, curiously observing He Suyue’s home. It was neat and clean, reflecting the personality of its owner. She couldn’t stay still, so she put on her shoes and wandered around. In the study, she saw a laptop and a stack of medical books, as well as various specimens of Chinese herbs.
Approaching the desk, she noticed a pile of documents in English. With a glance, she recognized them as application forms for the University of Pennsylvania. Her expression changed slightly as she realized—they were Ph.D. application forms. Was He Suyue planning to go abroad?
Meanwhile, Suyue realized he had forgotten his umbrella in his hurry. Fortunately, the rain was almost stopping. Just as he reached the entrance of the supermarket, his phone rang. Seeing it was Li Jie, he quickly answered.
Li Jie sounded resigned, “Senior, it’s almost noon. Why haven’t you arrived yet?”
He Suyue smiled apologetically, “Something came up suddenly. I won’t be able to make it. Please apologize to Mr. Andy for me.”
Li Jie sighed, “They’re counting on you. It’s not good to not show up. Anyway, I understand you must have something urgent. Just explain to the boss after you finish your task. I can’t help you with this one!”
Feeling a sense of annoyance, He Suye recalled the previous day when Andy and his boss urged him to consider an official assignment abroad. He felt tied down by his attachments, considering it better not to go.
Meanwhile, Shen Xifan was wandering around the house when she suddenly heard the sound of keys unlocking the door. With a start, she jumped onto the bed and obediently lay down. He Suyue came in carrying a large bag and went straight to the kitchen with a smile.
Soon, the room was filled with a sweet fragrance, slightly pungent but very warm. Shen Xifan was puzzled when she saw He Suyue approaching with a cup in hand. He offered it to her, saying, “Drinking this might make you feel better.”
Shen Xifan looked at the reddish liquid, catching a hint of spicy aroma, and took a small sip from the cup. She exclaimed, “It smells so good! He Suyue, what is this?”
He Suyue sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her intently. “It’s brown sugar ginger water. Brown sugar has a warm nature and sweet taste, entering the spleen meridian. It helps invigorate qi, nourish the blood, strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach, relieve pain, activate blood circulation, and disperse blood stasis. Since you got caught in the rain earlier, drinking brown sugar ginger tea can dispel the cold and prevent a cold.”
She smiled, “He Suyue, you always have these remedies. It tastes great!” She drank the tea in big gulps, feeling a warmth spreading in her heart, her eyes moistening involuntarily.
Since she was young, she had suffered terribly during these days. She knew it wasn’t a big deal and could only endure it silently. However, she had never expected He Suyue to be so nervous, even handling the acupuncture needles very gently. She felt cared for and protected with extreme caution. For a long time, she hadn’t experienced such love and care.
Like a warm woolen scarf in winter or a refreshing iced tea in summer, Suyue always appeared just when she needed him the most. Seeing his smile, the dimple on one side of his cheek, she felt a deep sense of peace.
Suddenly, she wanted to know the warmth of his palms, whether it was just right, like the twenty-four degrees of the afternoon sun.