Coix Seed
He Suye hung up the phone and couldn't help but smile, standing there in a daze for a long while until a little child tugged at his sleeve, "Big brother, I have something to ask of you."
Startled, he nearly dropped his phone. An elderly woman nearby chuckled, "Young man, were you calling your wife?"
Before he could explain, a middle-aged man chimed in, "Young folks, it must be hard getting used to this place, huh? Leaving your wife and kids behind at home—must be tough! You're really making a sacrifice!"
Immediately, someone else exclaimed, "Doctor He is married?! When he came two years ago, he was still single. How come he didn’t mention it all this time? We should’ve thrown a celebration!"
Those who knew him joined in the teasing, while a few familiar doctors snickered quietly. He stood there dumbfounded, opening his mouth several times only to swallow his words each time.
Never mind, he thought. Let them misunderstand. He was quite enjoying it, actually.
The mountainous region was poor, but traditional Chinese medicine was highly valued here—a deeply rooted tradition over the years, affordable and believed to cure all ailments.
Poverty also brought many hardships and suffering. The little boy’s mother had been bedridden for months, plagued by persistent dizziness, deteriorating eyesight, forgetfulness, and insomnia. Too ashamed to speak openly, she privately pleaded with He Suye, "Doctor, my family has no money. Could you prescribe cheaper medicine? My child still needs to go to school."
His heart ached at her words. Just as he was about to cross out "deer antler glue," "turtle shell glue," and "donkey-hide gelatin," he paused, circled them carefully, and made a note to tell the pharmacist that he would cover the cost of these medicines himself.
Outside, the little boy studied the prescription intently, pestering He Suye tirelessly to explain the effects of each herb, his eyes wide with naive curiosity. "Big brother, I want to go to medical school too someday, study traditional medicine, and become a doctor."
He smiled and continued explaining, "Coix seed promotes urination, reduces swelling, strengthens the spleen, and clears heat and toxins. Your mother has spleen deficiency with damp stagnation, causing edema and abdominal bloating, so coix seed is used with white atractylodes and astragalus. Besides that, your mother also has moderate anemia."
The boy’s eyes reddened, but he said nothing, just staring blankly at the high threshold. He Suye forced a smile. "You’re still lucky. No matter what, I’ll help cure your mother’s illness."
When He Suye returned to his lodgings, a familiar colleague told him the villagers had sent over several fish, a pot of chicken soup, and a few jars of rice wine. They said they had nothing worthy to gift Doctor He for his marriage, so they hoped he wouldn’t mind these humble offerings. Amused and exasperated, he could only shake his head. His colleague seized the moment to tease him further, mentioning that several young nurses at the hospital had had crushes on him for a long time.
He chuckled noncommittally, while Fang Kexin joined in the banter, "Big Brother was always popular back in school. During his internship, multiple departments fought over him, saying they wanted to take his photo for promotional material."
He Suye remained unfazed, as if it had nothing to do with him. "I’ll go check if the medicines are packed properly. I’ll deliver them later."
Fang Kexin explained, "I’ve already sent out the prescriptions we brought back earlier. Some families said they’d come pick them up themselves later. Also, we’re giving the children vaccinations tomorrow—all the injections are with the team leader. I’ve already taken inventory."
Just then, He Suye noticed a bandage on Fang Kexin’s hand, with a faint trace of red seeping through. Concerned, he asked, "What happened to your hand? Did you fall?"Fang Kexin hesitated for a long time before saying, "I accidentally brushed against a nail while moving the medicine box and got scratched."
"Remember to get a tetanus shot. Preventing infection is important no matter what." He sighed, carefully examining the wound. "Girls shouldn't do such strenuous tasks. Tomorrow's vaccination—I'll go instead."
A colleague who was recording nearby overheard and chimed in, "Dr. Fang, you've been working hard enough these past few days, doing just as much as us men—even handling meals. Take a break. Don't push yourself too hard."
He Suye laughed. "Fang Kexin, so what Qiu Tian said about you working yourself to death is true! No wonder your academic performance was so outstanding. First, take care of that hand injury properly, then we'll talk."
She nodded lightly, pondering for a moment. "I’ll go check on the medicine and see about dinner." She stood up and left, keeping her head down so no one would notice her slightly off expression.
A single nail, a tiny wound—it earned her the same concern he showed any ordinary patient, but not the treasured care he reserved for Shen Xifan. Perhaps she should just give up.
She knew who that phone call was from. There was only one person who could make him wear that expression—a look of focus and tenderness he never even showed in front of Zhang Yiling.
So even a gentle man like him could foolishly fall head over heels in love, unable to extricate himself.
And she, too, had foolishly been poisoned by this thing called love. She had always believed that He Suye’s heartbreak was just temporary pain, and that she, always standing closest to him, could forgive him for not loving her—because he wouldn’t love anyone else either. But how could he now love someone else?
Fate—what she had with him was a cruel twist of it.
The mountain area’s signal was indeed poor. He sent a message to Shen Xifan, but after waiting a long time without a reply, he reluctantly tossed his phone aside and went to sit in the courtyard.
Outside, the air was oppressively humid, clinging to the skin like melted syrup—sickly sweet and thick. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind flung the wooden door open, sending dust flying, followed by a dense patter of raindrops. A neighbor immediately called out, "Doctor, heavy rain’s coming! Hurry and bring in those herbs from your yard!"
He Suye thought, This isn’t good. This rain was just the prelude—tomorrow it would pour nonstop, making their work much harder.
Then he remembered his promise to Shen Xifan—to get her an Amulet of safety before he left.
He hoped to secure a lifetime of peace and happiness for her. Having witnessed too many partings in the hospital and tasted the pain of losing loved ones, nothing in this world moved him more than the word "safety." He could disregard or ignore whom she loved—he just genuinely wished for her to be safe and sound.
He didn’t know when his feelings would be noticed. No matter how well he hid them, that book had already betrayed him.
So what if she was studying in America? He had that opportunity too. Since she always liked to walk ahead, he would stay one step behind, giving her freedom and space. If she ever needed him, he’d be within reach.
Sure enough, the next day, the rain continued relentlessly, growing heavier by the hour. The original plan had been for the children to come to the clinic for vaccinations, but now the doctors had to make house calls instead.
The team leader joked, "With straw hats and first-aid kits, we really look like we’re marching off to war."
Someone else added, "We’re the field army—Liu Deng’s forces, advancing into the Dabie Mountains."Fang Kexin helped prepare tea for them and reminded, "The roads are slippery in this heavy rain, so be careful."
He Suye quietly pulled aside an intern doctor and said, "How about we switch places? The rain makes the journey difficult, and we have to cross a mountain. I’m more familiar with the roads here. What do you think?"
The intern was flustered. "Ah—sure, sure."
The rain was so heavy that umbrellas were barely enough. Soon, his shoulders were completely soaked, his pants splattered with mud, and he looked as if he had been drenched in water, barely able to catch his breath.
The mountain terrain was unstable, each step feeling unsteady. The rain had washed away the soil, exposing loose gravel, and muddy water rushed downhill. He moved cautiously, taking over half again as long as usual to reach his destination.
By the time he had visited all the households, it was already pitch dark. A local young man offered to escort him back. He tried to decline, but the young man insisted, "My mother-in-law lives over there, and I’ll be staying the night anyway."
As they walked, they chatted. He Suye kept asking about local health conditions, and the young man answered everything he knew. Suddenly, halfway up the mountain, they heard a child’s scream, "Help! Help!"
The desperate cry pierced the night sky, startling both of them. The young man hesitated, then said, "Sounds like it’s coming from the east. Should we check it out?"
The voice grew weaker and hoarser, even more harrowing in the rain, but they were getting closer to the source. With the flashlight’s beam, the young man shouted, "Here, here! A child!"
The child’s hands were gripping the gravel and mud tightly, blood streaming down his arms. The slope was steep—one misstep could be fatal. The child was clearly terrified, staring wide-eyed at them, unable to even cry for help anymore.
He Suye carefully approached the edge and spoke gently, "It’s okay, big brother will pull you up." He reached out, grabbed the child, and hauled him to safety. The young man quickly took the child and examined him under the flashlight, sighing in relief. "Luckily, it’s just superficial wounds, nothing seri—"
Before he could finish the word "serious," He Suye suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way. An unstoppable force drained all strength from his body, lifting him into the air. The young man turned around in alarm. "Doctor He, watch out!" He reached out to grab him, but in an instant, He Suye was swept away by the torrent of mud and rocks, vanishing into the relentless downpour.
The night was deep, and the rain gradually eased. The medical team members returned one after another, each drenched from head to toe, rainwater dripping from their sleeves and pant legs. One doctor laughed, "Even a sauna isn’t this thorough! Feels amazing!"
Fang Kexin handed them towels and hot tea, urging, "Go take a hot shower. I’ll ask the kitchen auntie to prepare some red date and ginger tea to ward off the cold. We’ll also have some coix seed porridge tonight—the humidity here is terrible, so this’ll help with water retention and swelling."
The others sighed in appreciation. "Having a female doctor along is really nice—so thoughtful, treating us like her patients."Fang Kexin smiled awkwardly, her eyes constantly darting outward. The strong wind carried fine raindrops, thoroughly soaking her bangs. She reached up to touch them, her palm meeting icy coldness, while the freshly bandaged wound on her forehead seeped with traces of blood.
Helping in the kitchen, she couldn't sit still or stand steadily. A growing sense of foreboding rose in her chest, her stomach churning with nausea. Forcing down the urge to vomit, she took a couple of spoonfuls of porridge before dropping the spoon and fishing out her phone to dial a familiar number.
The unanswered call only heightened her fear. She kept reassuring herself—she was just being overly sensitive. As the saying goes, "Care brings chaos." He Suye was fine; he must have been delayed by something. Maybe in the next second, he would push the door open and walk in.
The coix seeds in the pot bubbled away. One minute, ten minutes, twenty minutes—she felt she couldn't hold on any longer. Restlessness, unease, and panic wove into a dense net, suffocating her breath and thoughts.
Suddenly, commotion erupted outside the courtyard. Someone shouted loudly, "Doctors, something's happened! Call 120!"
Her body trembled violently as a chill shot from her feet straight to her brain. Frantically, she threw off her apron and rushed out of the kitchen. In the courtyard, two or three locals were pulling the doctors outside. "Doctor He, we found him, but he's unconscious now, with several bruises. We didn't dare move him, afraid we'd make it worse. We just had a few people stand guard."
For a moment, the pain was so intense she couldn't breathe, but her medical instincts snapped her back to clarity. "I'm coming too!"
The few hundred meters from the clinic to the village entrance had never felt so endless. The path stretched interminably ahead, everything around her blurred by the misty rain. She could only run as hard as she could, as if missing even a second would mean missing a lifetime.
Her vision swam, her mind fixated on one thought: He Suye, as long as you're okay, I just need you to be okay. If heaven demands I give up everything, I'd be willing.
A small crowd had already gathered at the village entrance. Spotting them, they cried out in relief, "The doctors are here, they're here!"
The lead doctor rushed forward, and she followed. The sight before her nearly brought her to tears. An experienced doctor assessed the situation. "Concussion, contusions. Superficially, no major injuries, but we don't know if there's internal bleeding or brain displacement. We can't assume the best yet."
That person—his eyes closed as if in deep sleep—gave her the illusion he might never wake. Fear, despair, a cold so piercing she couldn't breathe, her consciousness barely clinging on. Her blurred vision filled with a hazy gray.
All they could do was pray for the ambulance to arrive quickly.
After what felt like an eternity, the blare of a siren jolted everyone to attention. The ambulance doors swung open, and several medics swiftly brought out a stretcher, expertly lifting He Suye onto it. She jumped in after them. "I know him best. I should go."
The rain stung her eyes, making it hard to keep them open, but she forced herself to watch as the medics checked his blood pressure and pulse. A cacophony of noise buzzed in her head. She desperately told herself, Stay calm, stay calm. Call Qiu Tian now.
Fumbling for her phone, she struggled to dial the number. Qiu Tian answered promptly. "Fang Kexin, what's wrong? I'm on duty."Like duckweed in a vast river finally finding roots to cling to, she had someone to rely on at last. A sharp, intense pain erupted from every part of her body, pushing her to the brink of collapse. She trembled violently, her teeth chattering audibly. "Qiu Tian, hurry—get to the Military General Hospital right away. He Suye—something's happened. Superficial injuries aren't obvious, but he's temporarily unconscious. Further diagnosis is needed. Also, notify his father."
Qiu Tian, ever composed, responded, "Understood. Stay calm—I'm heading there now. Don’t panic!"
Being a military hospital, emergency response was swift. After confirming He Suye only had a minor concussion and fractures, he was immediately transferred to a VIP ward. All they could do now was wait for him to regain consciousness.
By then, Fang Kexin’s strength had completely drained away. Leaning against the wall, she slid down slowly, telling herself not to cry—not to cry—but she was utterly exhausted, unable to hold on any longer. Her heart ached with every beat, everything around her a blur as tears streamed down her face.
The pain she had endured for so long dissipated like smoke the moment she received news of his safety.
As long as he was safe, as long as he was happy, there was nothing she wouldn’t compromise or yield. Wasn’t this the essence of loving someone? Only his safety and happiness could bring her own.
Then, a voice called softly to her, "Fang Kexin, Fang Kexin, stop crying. He’s fine, really."
She refused to lift her head, her voice hoarse. "I know. I just can’t help it. Qiu Tian, let me be alone for a while."
Qiu Tian sighed but said nothing more, standing quietly beside her. The empty hallway held only the two of them. The door to He Suye’s ward opened and closed, but no one paid them any attention.
After a long silence, Fang Kexin spoke again. "Qiu Tian, does Shixiong... like Shen Xifan?"
"Yes."
"Call her, then. Tell her Shixiong’s had an accident. Right now, he’d want to see her most. Maybe knowing she’s here will wake him up. I just want him conscious again. After that... even if he ignores me or keeps treating me like just a junior, I don’t care anymore."
"Miss, it’s already midnight. I’ll call her first thing tomorrow."
"Qiu Tian—"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think Shen Xifan likes Shixiong? Could she end up hurting him like Senior Zhang Yiling did?"
"Hard to say. But your Shixiong has it rough pining for her."
"Qiu Tian, if I call Shen Xifan here, Shixiong won’t blame me, will he? Knowing him, he’d never want her to worry. What if he gets angry and stops acknowledging me?"
"Who knows? He might even be secretly pleased. No telling."
"Qiu Tian, if Shixiong likes Shen Xifan and she likes him back... that’d be wonderful."
"And what about you?"
"Me? What can I do? In a love story between two people, there’s always room for a supporting character—but never a need for one. You make your entrance, the curtain falls, and all you can do is exit with a smile. No other choice."
"Fang Kexin, don’t say things like that. It hurts to hear."
"Qiu Tian—"
"Yeah?"
"I’m hungry..."That's enough, she told herself. There was no point in waiting any longer. How many years of a woman's life could be spent waiting for someone who would never turn his gaze upon her? The recklessness of youth had passed, and her prime years had been squandered on a love so profound yet unrequited. What remained was scarce, but her life stretched long ahead—there would surely come a man who would love, cherish, and care for her.
Unrequited love is the most painful thing in the world, yet also the happiest. After all, in those days, none of us regretted having loved someone so deeply—someone utterly irreplaceable to us.
In the end, we smile and wish them well. No matter how reluctant we are, how our hearts ache, or how forced our smiles may be, we must let go.
Yet we all know that loving them was the finest thing we ever did.
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