The Best Thing

Longan

It seemed like a long time had passed before he opened his eyes. The white walls, the hum of the air conditioner—before he could even process his surroundings, a round little head buried itself into the snow-white sheets, crying pitifully. "Uncle, you're awake! I thought you'd never wake up! You scared me to death!"

Then came Qiu Tian's voice, half indulgent, half exasperated. "Kid, your uncle just has a mild concussion. He’s just a heavy sleeper, that’s all."

He Suye let out a sigh of relief. "So I'm in the hospital? Which one?"

Qiu Tian rolled his eyes. "Your dad’s hospital. When you had the accident, the first ambulance they called was from the Military General Hospital. Want some water? I’ll get you some." He turned to look for a cup.

He Shouzheng’s eyes were red-rimmed, his face full of grievance as he stared at him. He Suye wanted to reach out and pat his head but found his left arm in a cast and his right wrapped in bandages. He muttered to himself, "Must’ve taken a bad fall—Qiu Tian, let me see my emergency observation report."

He Shouzheng handed it to him, and he skimmed through it. "Physical examination: Blood pressure—left arm 105/60 mmHg, right arm 110/60 mmHg. Pulse 50 bpm, respiration 13/min, temperature 35.7°C. Patient in mild coma, multiple wounds on limbs with bleeding present. Bruising on the right lower limb. Physiological reflexes intact, pathological reflexes absent. X-ray reveals a fracture 7 cm above the right radial styloid process of the left forearm. MRI confirms mild concussion. Treatment: Oxygen (5L/min), 5% glucose IV drip (250 ml), monitor blood pressure and adjust drip rate, clean wounds, immobilize fracture."

Not too serious, but still the worst luck he’d ever had in his life.

It was rare to see Qiu Tian so chatty, as if he hadn’t spoken in three days. "Do you know how long you’ve been asleep? A whole night! We only told your dad—didn’t dare inform the elders. The kid came this morning, saw you, and burst into tears. Nothing could console him—he even skipped school. And Fang Kexin, she was so exhausted from bringing you here that she collapsed and is resting in the on-call room."

He stood up to pour himself some water and kept rambling. "Li Jie and Su Shan are still on their honeymoon, but they were so scared they almost flew back. Your boss came to see you too. Wait!" He held up a finger. "What’s this?"

He Suye frowned. "One!"

Two fingers. "And this?"

"Two!"

Three fingers. "What’s one plus one?"

Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, though his voice lacked strength. "Two! Qiu Tian, are you seriously this bored? I just woke up, and instead of calling a doctor or notifying my family, you’re wasting time with this nonsense. What’s your problem?"

Qiu Tian jumped in alarm. "I—I’ll have you know, don’t hit me! And no retaliation later. I told Shen Xifan about this. I know you’ll scold me to death, but I couldn’t help it. If I didn’t tell her, I’d go crazy, I’d be tormented by guilt, I’d despise myself, I’d become a sinner for all eternity. Don’t get worked up—don’t sit up! She’ll probably be here any minute. I’ll go find a doctor for you first!" With that, he bolted out the door.Only the bewildered He Shouzheng and the emotionally complex He Suye remained. The child muttered to himself, "Uncle Qiu Tian is so mean. I almost fell for it. One plus one obviously equals two, so why did I think of saying three?"

The head of the neurology department came by for rounds. After assessing the situation, he concluded, "Xiao He, it's nothing serious—just superficial injuries. The MRI showed no issues, but it's better to stay for observation." Then he shrugged with a smile, "The dean's orders—no choice." With that, he led his entourage of students out in a grand procession.

Qiu Tian leaned against the coat rack and teased, "Lucky your face wasn’t hurt—that would’ve been troublesome. Oh, and you’ve got some scrapes on your legs too, so walking might be difficult for a while." He was rambling on when he suddenly noticed the abrupt change in He Suye’s expression. Following his gaze, he turned to see Shen Xifan standing at the door, drenched in sweat, unsure whether to enter or leave.

What happened next left him stunned. Seeing He Suye staring blankly at her, Shen Xifan hesitantly stammered, "Who... who am I? Do you still recognize me?"

Instantly grasping her implication, Qiu Tian cried out in protest, "I never told Shen Xifan you had amnesia! Seriously, it wasn’t me! I only said you had a concussion. I’ll leave now—Shen Xifan, you’ve got to back me up here!" With that, he dragged He Shouzheng out, scolding, "What are you doing, standing there like a third wheel? Remember the socialist core values—shame on being a third wheel!"

He Suye was torn between laughter and exasperation. "Silly girl, have you been watching too many Taiwanese soap operas? You think every minor concussion leads to amnesia? The hospital gets plenty of concussed patients every year, and hardly any lose their memory. At most, it’s selective amnesia."

Shen Xifan stepped closer, her voice trembling. "You remember me, right? You’re not lying to me?" Her fingers lightly traced the cast on his left arm as tears spilled uncontrollably, dripping onto the pristine white plaster. Her body shook uncontrollably. "You scared me to death... I was so afraid to come. What if you’d forgotten me? What would I have done...?"

Every slight tremor in her body seemed to etch itself into his vision. So he sat up and wrapped his good arm around her, carefully, as if cradling fragile crystal. The tenderness of the moment stirred memories, warming his heart—only for it to shatter again under the weight of her tears.

He Suye soothed her, "Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m right here, safe and sound. It’s okay. I promised to take you to get an Amulet of safety, didn’t I? I won’t break my word. See, I’m back now. Stop crying..."

This only deepened her sorrow. At his words, Shen Xifan’s tears fell harder. "You liar... You promised you’d come back, promised you’d return safely. You wanted to scare me to death, didn’t you...?"

"Don’t cry... silly girl, please..." For once, he found himself at a loss for words, utterly inept at comforting her. He fell silent, simply holding her quietly as she wept.

After a long while, Shen Xifan finally cried out all her fear, regret, and grievances. Red-eyed and flustered, she looked up at He Suye. "I... I lost control... I’m sorry..."He smiled reassuringly, though the blood loss had left his face somewhat pale. "I know, I understand. Stop crying now. I'm sorry—I shouldn't have broken my promise."

Her face quickly warmed with embarrassment. Just as she was at a loss for how to respond, a nurse pushed the door open and called out, "Bed 3, time for a dressing change."

Shen Xifan hurriedly broke free from his embrace, turning away to wipe her tears. After watching the nurse finish changing his bandages, she stammered, "He Suye, have you eaten? Are you hungry? Should I go buy something for you? Patients should have congee, right?"

Qiu Tian peeked through the door crack and snickered, "I want seafood fried rice from Shui'an and borscht."

He Shouzheng thought carefully for a moment. "Actually, I'd prefer a McDonald's Happy Meal—it comes with a toy. Sister, remember to get one for me. And while you're at it, grab me a Viennetta ice cream, chocolate and vanilla flavor."

He Suye cleared his throat, signaling that He Shouzheng was pushing his luck. Shen Xifan pressed down on him with a smile. "He's just a kid—no need to fuss. Besides your orders, who else wants something? I'll bring everything back in one go."

"And Fang Kexin," He Suye added with a grin. "I'd like some red date and goji berry congee. Could you make that for me?"

Qiu Tian burst out laughing, winking mischievously at the two of them. "Ohhh—a love-packed meal! Shen Xifan, I can teach you how to arrange the goji berries into a heart shape. How about it?"

"Thanks, but no need!" Shen Xifan retorted indignantly. The lingering moisture in her eyes and the mix of annoyance and shyness in her glare at Qiu Tian left He Suye momentarily spellbound. It wasn't until she had left the ward and He Shouzheng called his name several times that he snapped out of it.

He Shouzheng looked up at him with innocent, aggrieved eyes. Qiu Tian quickly reassured him, "Your uncle's fine—it's just a side effect of the concussion."

Soon, visitors began arriving one after another.

His grandmother clutched his hand, still shaken. "Even though it's just a mild concussion, we were so afraid you might not wake up or have lasting effects. Thank goodness you're alright now."

He Suye felt a pang of guilt. "Grandma, I'm fine now. I'm sorry for worrying you all."

Grandpa He remained stern-faced. "Focus on recovering. Let's not disturb his rest, dear. Suye, you did well in this situation. We don't blame you."

He Suye frowned slightly. "Where's Dad? I haven't seen him since I woke up."

"He's still in the operating room—there was a coronary artery bypass surgery this morning," Grandpa He explained. "Your father's work keeps him extremely busy. Also, I heard from him that you're planning to go abroad."

He nodded. "That's the plan."

Grandpa He sighed. "Professor Gu mentioned you've chosen cardiology."

He Suye chose his words carefully. "I've discussed it with Dad. He read my postgraduate thesis and agrees that specializing in atherosclerosis through integrated Chinese and Western medicine has great potential."

Grandpa He seemed thoughtful. "If your father approves, then there shouldn't be any issues. The tension between you two must have eased, then."

He Suye smiled faintly. "Yes, I suppose so."

Long after his family had left, Shen Xifan reappeared, carrying an assortment of food containers. Qiu Tian and He Shouzheng were both slumped in chairs, fast asleep. He Suye looked apologetic. "They must be exhausted. Have you eaten yet?"She nodded, "I ate after I got home. This is red date and goji berry porridge I made, though it's not as good as yours. I'll bring you something else tonight—chicken soup or bone broth?"

He Suye smiled, "Either is fine, I'm not picky." Taking the spoon, he found the red date and goji berry porridge thick and sweet, whetting his appetite. After tasting it carefully, he couldn't help but laugh, "There's longan and honey in it too, right?"

"This—" Shen Xifan nervously explained, "I looked it up specifically. Longan nourishes the heart and spleen, enriches blood, and calms the nerves. Since you lost blood, I thought of ingredients that could be cooked into porridge. Did I get it wrong?"

He praised repeatedly, "Mmm, delicious. You've learned your Chinese medicine well, kid. You can basically connect theory with practice now."

Shen Xifan sat beside him, resting her chin in her hands with a faint smile. The midday sun filtered through the trees, casting half her shadow over him, covering his hand.

He felt as if she was still in his arms.

In the afternoon, he had just woken up when he saw a familiar figure standing by the window, gazing intently at the scenery outside.

He called out, "Fang Kexin?"

Fang Kexin turned around, slightly surprised, "Senior, you're awake. Did I disturb you?"

"No," he replied, struggling to sit up with a soft laugh. "I should thank you. You worked hard that day."

Fang Kexin looked embarrassed, "Actually, I didn't do much. I'm just glad you're okay."

Her smile was open and bright, her eyes clear. He Suye vaguely sensed something different about her today, though he couldn't pinpoint it. In the past, there had been a complex emotion in her gaze when she looked at him, but now it was completely gone.

"Senior—" Fang Kexin blinked, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, of course."

"Do you like Shen Xifan?"

"Ah—" He Suye was taken aback, not expecting such a question. Then he chuckled sheepishly, "How did all of you figure it out?"

She covered her mouth, laughing, "Qiu Tian was right—you two really are exceptionally slow. Never mind, I was just asking. By the way, I heard you're going abroad?"

"Yeah, did Qiu Tian tell you that too?"

"Mm-hmm. He's even worried you'll steal his job. He said lately, in his dreams, someone keeps whispering in his ear, 'Little Tian-Tian, your talent is spent. Step aside for Comrade He.'"

He Suye was utterly speechless, "That guy... Our research fields aren't even the same. What nonsense is he spouting?"

"Senior, does Shen Xifan know you're leaving?"

"She probably doesn't. You all haven't told her, right?"

"Who would dare say a word without your permission? Oh, I have to head back to campus now—my advisor is looking for me."

"Alright, get some rest. I'm fine now. Thank you."

Fang Kexin gave a light laugh and turned to leave. At the door, she suddenly paused, her hand on the knob but not turning it.

"Senior, I'm leaving now. Be happy."

Her voice was low, her tone light, yet it carried the relief of a heavy burden lifted, tinged with a hint of playful reluctance. He Suye suddenly understood—she stood before him, yet it felt like they were worlds apart. That feeling was called letting go.

So, this girl had finally moved on from the past, growing up overnight."Fang Kexin!" he called out urgently, "Actually, Qiu Tian—"

Before he could finish, she responded with a light laugh, "Stop! Stop! Someone as emotionally dense as you has no right to comment on others. Senior, I'm leaving." With a gentle pull of her hand, the door softly closed.

From now on, we will all be happy. I believe that, always have.

In the evening, Shen Xifan came to see him. He Suye was browsing the internet, the webpage displaying the University of Pennsylvania. Curious, Shen Xifan leaned in to look but immediately recoiled, "Goodness, English again. If I keep looking at this, I'll go completely mad."

He Suye seized the opportunity to grab her hand, "There's something I need to tell you."

She froze, then hesitated, "Um, He Suye, could you not hold my hand while saying it? It puts pressure on me."

He Suye gently let go, looking straight into her eyes, "Hey, could you, seriously consider me?"

A confession devoid of any creativity, not even a simple "I like you," plain and straightforward yet sincere.

But for Shen Xifan, no one else's confession could move her heart as much as his simple request. He asked earnestly, with a tentative tone, respecting her wishes. Such respect carried the sentiment of "If I gain it, I’m fortunate; if not, it’s fate." No matter the outcome, this man would silently accept it.

A man like this should give her the long-lost sense of security she craved.

Yet suddenly, Shen Xifan felt an urge to tease him. This man, who kept his emotions so deeply hidden, always so composed, never once seen flustered or at a loss.

She lowered her eyelids, her gaze evasive, hesitating for a moment, "Consider what? There's no need to consider..."

He Suye's expression subtly changed. He had rehearsed this line in his mind countless times, his heart fluctuating wildly even as he spoke. He disliked doing things without certainty, but this time, he had no choice but to gamble. Shen Xifan's response made his already uncertain heart grow cold.

Unexpectedly, she then laughed, "Consider what, Doctor He? After crying my eyes out today, you still didn’t realize I like you? That’s just too pathetic of me! Do you really need me to spell it out for you?"

He Suye's mouth slightly parted, feeling as though thousands of flowers were blooming in his heart. He wanted to speak but didn’t know where to begin, "I..."

Shen Xifan turned her face away, feeling she had been unusually bold just then. She had never spoken so bluntly in her life—today was an exception, all because of this oblivious man.

The atmosphere suddenly turned ambiguous, the air thick with sweetness.

His fingers gently encircled her palm, firm and warm, as if silently pledging an unspoken vow.

"He Suye, I thought you already understood. You made me happy for nothing."

"I didn’t mean to. At noon, Qiu Tian and the others were around, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Besides, if you didn’t say it outright, how could I know?"

"He Suye—"

"Hmm?"

"I saw that book. When did you write those prescriptions?"

"Ah—oh, I wrote them last time when I brought you home. I have all your past medical records here. Some of those prescriptions I’m certain about, others I marked with a question mark. If you’re going to take the medicine, we’ll need to adjust it based on your actual condition."

"By the way, you were really nervous earlier, weren’t you? Such a lame confession!""I'm sorry, this is the first time I've said this, so I don't have much experience..."

Walking through the hospital's back garden, He Suye noticed Shen Xifan's hand felt slightly cold. He knew this was her natural constitution—no matter the season, her hands and feet were always chilly.

Longan, goji berries, and red dates were all foods that nourished blood and energy. She had personally cooked congee for him before, and after he was discharged, he would make a bowl for her too. Perhaps there would only be a few such opportunities left, because even if they both went to America, they would still be far apart.

In this bustling city, as the neon lights flickered on, the streets at night resembled a massive black-and-white sculpture. Countless street lamps illuminated the scene, towering buildings stood in contrast, and ambiguous figures moved about, forming a flowing spectacle of the marketplace. Yet the two of them walked quietly, hand in hand, warming each other in a quiet corner of the city.

Just one more year, he thought. He wanted to hold her hand in a season of blooming fireworks and singing orioles, to say those words—"I do"—to her, to the heavens, in front of everyone.

Yes, I do. To accompany you through the long years, to witness life's fleeting changes by your side—that would surely be the best thing of all.