On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Shen Xifan took her niece to the bookstore to buy some books. The little girl had just entered the fifth grade but seemed quite mature. She looked down on youth novels, saying, “Childish and boring. I don’t read them. Why are there so many older people crowding around to read them?”
Indeed, in the youth novel section, people were squatting, standing, and sitting, all in various postures. After browsing through the bookstore, Shen Xifan sighed, “I can’t find any books that suit me, even when I need something to read.”
However, when it came time to pay, her niece was puzzled. “Auntie, didn’t you say you had no books to read? Why did you buy so many?”
Her cover was blown, and she hurriedly picked up the books and pretended, “No, no, I’m about to go abroad, so these are all textbooks!”
Her niece looked at her incredulously and muttered under her breath, “All the books you bought are about Chinese medicine. Who are you trying to fool?”
As they left the store, the streets were crowded with people. Shen Xifan had bought so many books that she had to carry them in her hands. Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder. “Shen Xifan, do you need help?”
She turned around, feeling flustered, and stuttered, “Oh, Happy New Year, He Suyi. I’m fine, no need to trouble you.” After speaking, she didn’t dare to look at him and her face turned slightly red.
On the other hand, He Shouzheng interjected, “Sister looks so tired. How can Uncle just stand by and watch?”
Only then did she notice the little boy standing next to He Suyi, who was beautifully dressed. She brightened up at the sight of him and secretly sighed in her heart that the genes of He Suyi’s family were exceptional. The boy was as handsome as a golden boy, just like He Suyi must have been when he was a child, charming and likable.
She instantly took a liking to the child, and He Shouzheng didn’t avoid her fiery gaze either. He smiled and looked at Shen Xifan, “Sister, you’re so beautiful, just like the type I admire, Audrey Hepburn!”
He Suyi would never have been so sweet-tongued when he was a child. She was sure of that. But it was quite helpless for a 25-year-old woman to be so elated by a child’s compliment.
Unable to hide her emotions, she smiled, “He Suyi, he’s so cute!”
He Suyi ruffled He Shouzheng’s hair, then turned to look at the books in Shen Xifan’s hands. He picked out a book, helped her hold the others, flipped through a few pages, and asked, “This book is good. Can I borrow it for a few days?”
She nodded quickly, “Of course, take it to read! Keep it for as long as you like!”
On the bus, Shen Xifan was lost in thought, holding the books on Chinese medicine in her hands, furrowing her brow.
Would He Suyi discern her intentions? She aimed to grasp some knowledge of Chinese medicine to avoid embarrassment in his presence. Despite the validity of her shame, she yearned for more topics to engage him in conversation, despite his patient listening to her ramblings. She longed—longed to draw nearer to him, to comprehend his world.
The realm she had never touched before had beautiful names for medicine like Magnolia Flower, Semen Nelumbinis, and Winter Jasmine; miraculous uses—medicines could be made not only with water but also with alcohol and vinegar, and they could be steamed, frostbitten, quenched, and fermented; and medicines could cure all kinds of diseases—external, lung, gastrointestinal, and blood disorders. Traditional Chinese medicine was a magical field, a heritage passed down by the Chinese nation for generations.
Meanwhile, He Shouzheng was staring at Shen Xifan’s departing figure, lost in thought. “What’s the beautiful sister’s name?”
He Suyi was taken aback and bent down to pinch He Shouzheng’s chubby cheeks. “What? Did you forget to talk to sister earlier?”
He Shouzheng retorted, “Uncle, the way you’re talking makes me think you’re jealous!” Then he went to grab the book and asked curiously, “Huh, Grandpa has this book at home! Why did you borrow it?”
He chuckled and took He Shouzheng’s hand. “It’s none of a child’s business, Master Ho Shouzheng!”
This year, luck was really on her side. She didn’t have to be on duty at the hotel, so she could relax at home, preparing her application materials for studying abroad.
Although hotel management was a respectable profession, she didn’t hate it. She even enjoyed it to some extent. She liked standing on the grass of the hotel and looking up at the sky. The sunlight shone through the clear windows, the guests coming and going with various expressions. Despite the hard work and occasional complaints from picky guests, she felt satisfied every time she resolved an issue.
Shen Xifan applied to more than twenty schools, ranging from top ones like Las Vegas and Cornell to the University of California. She had dreamed of attending Cornell since college, but the admission requirements included three years of hotel management experience, so she had thrown herself into work without hesitation.
However, now she prayed to be accepted by the University of Pennsylvania.
Was it okay to be like this? She had reservations about his past she told herself not to get too deeply involved, clearly, she deliberately avoided He Suyi, but she still couldn’t suppress her thoughts about him, she still had a keen interest in studying Chinese medicine.
She was such a clueless person, her emotional life was a mess, and she couldn’t figure out what to do with her broken head. What was she going to do?
Her recommendation letter for studying abroad was written by Director Cheng, and somehow the news had leaked out, and everyone in the management knew about it.
Lin Yishen was the first to come find her, his face grim. He asked bluntly, “Why didn’t you tell anyone before you decided to go abroad?”
At that moment, Shen Xifan was having an extra meal in the employee cafeteria. Accidentally, a piece of bone from the sweet and sour ribs got stuck in her teeth, and she winced in pain. “Senior brother, it’s not too late for you to know now!”
Lin Yishen sat down in front of her and sighed, “Little junior sister, you’re always so willful. You do whatever you want.”
Shen Xifan rubbed her cheek, picking the big bones out of the dish, “Senior brother, I’m serious. Studying abroad is my dream. I will never rest in peace if I don’t achieve it. I’m not fooling around. Trust me, I’m not wrong!”
He smiled helplessly, “I’m not angry, it’s just that, your suddenness caught me off guard, making things a bit difficult for me…”
Finally, she shifted her gaze away from the spare ribs. “…Um… well, senior brother, what’s troubling you?”
Lin Yi stood up, ruffled her hair, and decisively concluded, “Little junior sister, you’re a troublemaker!”
As she finished eating the spare ribs and picked up the mung bean soup, before it reached her mouth, Xu Xiangya’s voice drifted faintly, “You, with your ambitions, leaving us behind to pursue your brilliant future!”
She chuckled, “The mung bean soup is delicious, Manager Xu, you’ve worked hard.”
Xu Xiangya said with a mix of envy and regret, “It’s a pity to let go of such a high position just like that. I feel sorry for you.”
Shen Xifan shook her head. “Xiangya, let me ask you when I was appointed as the manager of the Guest Room Department a year ago, to be honest, were you impressed?”
Xu Xiangya nodded straightforwardly. “Of course not impressed. Not just me, many were waiting to see you fail!”
“That’s right!” She narrowed her eyes. “I wasn’t impressed myself. So—I want to learn more and improve further; nowadays, China’s hotel management model is aligned with international standards. The services offered by major chain hotels will become more personalized. The trend in hotel management is not in China but in the US, in Switzerland.”
After a moment of silence, Xu Xiangya slowly asked, “What’s going on between you and Yan Heng?”
“Hmm?” She was caught off guard with a mouthful of mung bean soup. “Nothing’s going on! It’s just that thing!”
“Nonsense! At the dance party, everyone could tell something was up between you two. You didn’t show up for work for several days during the New Year, and rumors were flying all over the hotel. Some were outrageous, saying you were his kept woman…”
She choked on her soup, unable to swallow it down. “He’s my first love. Clear enough now?”
Xu Xiangya widened her eyes. “Wow, so your first love is now so wealthy—um, I mean, that guy is outrageous!”
She sighed, setting down her spoon. “I don’t want to discuss Yan Heng. I only care about whether I can go abroad. In other words, the future is the main contradiction; everything else is not a problem.”
Xu Xiangya considered for a moment before finally speaking, “Xifan, you have to be careful. Rumors are dangerous. Working in a hotel is like walking on thin ice. The former guest room manager was fired because of involvement with a guest, and both you and I are aware of the hotel’s regulations. There are plenty of troublemakers out there. Although you plan to go abroad, if something like this happens before you leave, your future career path will be very difficult.”
A warmth flooded her heart, and she sincerely said, “Thank you.”
Days passed slowly. March was no longer bitterly cold; there was a hint of spring in the air. The hotel entered its off-peak season. The original plan called for renovating the new wing of Gu Nanhuating in the latest executive suite style from Singapore. She thought this might be her last major project.
On the day of completion, General Manager Cheng specially brought a few colleagues for a tour, and the feedback was unanimously positive. During the banquet, Shen Xifan drank a lot and felt dizzy when she returned to the office. She had delegated all the routine work to her subordinates, preparing herself to step down.
With the help of the alcohol, she lay down on the sofa for a while. Her sleep was restless, always felt like someone was calling her name. Upon closer listening, it was Yan Heng’s voice.
That kind of call felt like a farewell, indefinite, never to meet again.
The ringing of the phone, cheerfully singing “Two Tigers,” awakened her from sleep. She immediately realized—it was Li Jie.
Only he deserved such a cute, somewhat childish ringtone.
Today, Li Jie seemed hesitant, his speech stumbling, hesitating for a while. “Shen Xifan, today is my birthday. I don’t know if you could grace us with your presence?”
She laughed, “Oh, is that so? I’ll come. What? Afraid I’ll refuse?”
Li Jie breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, the thing is, I’ve decided to introduce my girlfriend to you guys. After all, you were my last blind date, and I’m afraid you’ll turn it into a soap opera at the last minute!”
She laughed heartily, “Li Jie, you’re not being fair. How come, mixing old and new flames?”
Li Jie immediately spoke smoothly, “Yes, yes, if my wife doesn’t mind, I might consider letting you be the side dish!”
“Pah!” Shen Xifan spat at him, “You’re dreaming!”
Birthdays are truly grand occasions, once a year for each person. She went to the mall and happened to see that Zhou Dafu’s jade was on sale. She thought of buying a pair of jade pendants—both a birthday gift and a token of meeting, something that couples would like.
On the way, she couldn’t help but think, she had known He Suye for so long, yet she didn’t know his birthday.
Li Jie reserved a private room in the most characteristic Sichuan restaurant in the city. Although there weren’t many people, it was still quite grand. As soon as Shen Xifan walked in, she saw a petite and pretty girl, holding Li Jie’s arm, smiling and chatting with Qiu Tian.
Li Jie’s sharp eyes spotted her immediately, and he waved enthusiastically, “Over here, over here!”
The girl turned around. “Li Jie, is this Miss Shen? She’s quite beautiful and elegant!”
Having worked in hotels for so long, she immediately figured out the girl’s background—a Sichuan girl, speaking boldly and bluntly, but straightforward and easy to get along with.
She smiled, “Hello, I’m Shen Xifan, Li Jie’s last blind date.”
Everyone laughed. The girl’s eyes sparkled. “I am Li Jie’s blind date terminator. My name is Su Shan, Shan as in the tree, not the ‘Su San left Hongtong County’ Su San.”
More laughter ensued. After taking her seat, Shen Xifan looked around. Huh—where was He Suye?
Qiu Tian chuckled secretly. “The sharp-cornered one is in the lab. The boss scolded the graduate students and asked them to supervise. He’ll be here soon.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why do you call He Suye ‘sharp-cornered’?”
“Little He is just showing his edge. There are already beautiful women interested in him! By the way—speaking of which, he’s here. With a radiant face, he doesn’t look like he’s been through worldly experiences at all. It’s enviable!”
It seemed like she hadn’t seen He Suye for a long time. He seemed thinner, but his high nose and firm chin were more prominent. He seemed spirited, with a commanding presence.
She felt a bit annoyed. Why did He Suye seem more handsome the more she looked at him? Despite warning herself to maintain distance and avoid getting too involved, she found herself forgetting everything when she saw him, silently scolding herself.
He Suye didn’t seem to notice. “Hey there, long time no see. I’ve been really busy lately. So tired!”
Li Jie, beside them, teased, “Oh, I’m so insignificant! Big brother, at least greet me first. I’m the one treating you to dinner today!”
The dinner was lively. Shen Xifan only found out that Li Jie and Su Shan were getting married. They toasted each other at the table. They used bowls as units of measurement for drinking, and Su Shan especially liked Shen Xifan, drinking with her the most.
But when they got to He Suye, Qiu Tian intercepted, “He Suye can’t drink. If he does, none of us can make it back!”
Li Jie realized and explained to Su Shan, “Big brother doesn’t have a high tolerance for alcohol. If he gets drunk, there won’t be anyone to volunteer anymore. So, he’s just using tea instead of alcohol to express his wishes!”
Qiu Tian still wouldn’t allow it. He filled a bowl with Wuliangye and handed it to Shen Xifan, grinning cunningly, “You still have to drink, but find someone to drink on your behalf!”
The people at the table started teasing, but Fang Kexin looked at them coldly, her smile inscrutable. Shen Xifan immediately caught the emotions in her eyes and thought to herself, “Uh-oh, I have to drink this wine with gritted teeth.”
When He Suye tried to take the bowl, he was stopped by Shen Xifan. She took a deep breath and exclaimed dramatically, “He Suye, the revolution can’t go on without you, so please stay sober throughout. Whether I can make it home depends entirely on you!” While everyone was laughing heartily, she picked up the bowl, gulped it down in one breath, then turned it over, not a drop left.
Everyone cheered, and Shen Xifan’s head started to feel dizzy. One bowl after another, she slowly became confused. By the end of the dinner, she found herself leaning on He Suye’s arm with her left hand, barely able to stand.
Finally, only He Suye was completely sober. After taking care of everyone, he turned to help the drunken Shen Xifan. As they left the hotel, her eyes were still slightly open, but by the time they hailed a taxi, she had fallen asleep lightly.
Seeing her smell of alcohol, He Suye felt sorry for her. Why did she drink so much and even help him drink most of it? She was indeed a girl who liked to show off, but he also felt sweet and satisfied. He couldn’t help but put his arm around her shoulder, letting her lean on him, thinking that she would sleep more comfortably like this.
When they got out of the car at the entrance of the community, He Suye tried to wake her up, but she squinted at him, completely unconscious.
She was drunk, lost her sense of direction, and could only cling tightly to He Suye’s clothes. As she walked, she stumbled, not afraid of accidentally stepping on the flowerbed’s edge and falling. Suddenly, he heard her ask, “He Suye, what’s your birthday?”
He stopped and turned to look at her in confusion. In the moonlight, her flushed face stood above him on the flowerbed, staring blankly with a smile on her lips. “You didn’t tell me! You didn’t tell me, how dare you not tell me!”
Immediately freezing, he instinctively caught Shen Xifan as she fell. Holding the drunken Shen Xifan, He Suye felt both amused and helpless. Sitting on the edge of the flowerbed, he cradled her sleeping form, observing her features with care, her long hair slipping through his fingers, smooth as satin.
After his heart rate finally calmed down, he sighed deeply, unable to help but pinch her nose with a hint of annoyance. “You’ve made me angry. What were you doing just now? What am I supposed to do with you?”
This year’s birthday gift seemed a bit overwhelming.
He held Shen Xifan’s hand, gently kissing it, thinking, since she wouldn’t know anyway, he might as well earn some points back.
However, he didn’t know that there was someone, smoking a cigarette in the darkness, quietly observing everything. Afterward, they drove away, leaving only the spark of the cigarette butt on the ground, extinguished by the wind.
Shen Xifan slept until 10 o’clock the next morning, feeling hungry. She took a deep breath and immediately ran downstairs to open the window. “Oh my God! Where’s this strong smell of alcohol coming from?”
Shen’s mother pushed the door open, holding a bowl of porridge. “Why did you drink so much yesterday? Luckily, someone kindly brought you back. Otherwise, we might have had to go to the police station to pick you up!”
She blinked. “Mom, who brought me back?”
“A tall and handsome young man with a dimple on his right cheek when he smiles. He said you drank too much and that Kudzu flower and sour jujube soup could cure hangovers. Luckily, there was some Kudzu flower left from your father’s last hangover remedy! Hurry up, drink it after washing up!”
Shen Xifan held the bowl of soup, with a Chinese medicine book open in front of her. “Kudzu flower, the unopened buds of Artemisia, sweet and mild in flavor. Functions include detoxification, and awakening the spleen and stomach. It is mainly used for excessive drinking, headaches, dizziness, irritability, thirst, and vomiting. When combined with sour jujube, the usual dosage is 3-15 grams.”
So that was it. Theory needed practical application.
She flipped back to the first page and suddenly noticed a note on the table. She picked it up and saw He Suye’s handwriting: “Rest well after drinking too much. When you wake up, send me a message. Also, my birthday is on February 17th, but this year has already passed.”
She smiled. So He Suye’s birthday was in February, which explained why he seemed outwardly friendly but still somewhat aloof deep down. Quite smart, with excellent academic performance, which was undoubtedly a common trait among those born under that zodiac sign.
But how did He Suye know she wanted to know his birthday? Did this doctor have telepathy?
She sat bewildered at the table, trying hard to recall the events of last night, but it was all a blank. She mocked herself for fretting over nothing and seriously picked up her phone to message He Suye.