The Best Thing

Tangerine Peel

Finally, all the plaster casts on his hand were removed. His left hand felt foreign to him. He Suye frowned and said to Qiu Tian, "I've been feeling strange using my left hand these past couple of days. Even typing feels clumsy—probably just not used to it yet."

Qiu Tian rolled his eyes at him. "What, have you regressed or something? I remember you used to be able to write and hold chopsticks with your left hand!"

He Suye sighed. "Maybe I’ve lost some sensation in it." He picked up a pen with his left hand, tried writing a couple of strokes, then tossed it aside, shaking his head. "Am I getting old?"

Qiu Tian burst into laughter, accidentally knocking over a stack of medical records. "You? Old? Give me a break. I’m a whole year older than you. If anything, we were the youngest in our class."

He nodded, bending down to help pick up the scattered records. "Yeah, seven years just flew by. Now we’re already working. Back then, I never could’ve imagined what major I’d choose or who I’d meet."

Qiu Tian smirked. "Getting sentimental again? You were never this mushy before. What, did Shen Xifan leaving suddenly turn you into a poet? Save it for when you see her face-to-face. Don’t rub it in for us lonely souls."

He Suye thought seriously for a moment. "The thing is, when I see her, I can’t seem to say anything at all. It’s strange."

"Totally normal, totally normal!" Qiu Tian quickly concluded. "Just hurry up and go to America to find her already. Watching you two drag it out is painful."

He smiled. "Everything has to progress step by step. Moving too fast feels unreal. As the saying goes, 'Good things come to those who wait.'"

When he got home and turned on his computer, a message from Shen Xifan flashed on QQ: "Finally finished the two-week 'Management for Services' course. Three credits secured, but at the cost of half my brain cells. Even in my dreams, I’m still haunted by those dancing concepts."

He checked the time and immediately grew concerned, typing rapidly, "It’s so late—you shouldn’t be staying up. It’s bad for your health. Get some rest."

A crying emoji popped up instantly in response. "Right now, I’m in the middle of 'Operation Management.' The course requires us to 'use computer extensively,' so my laptop is practically glued to me."

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "No one’s asking you to push yourself this hard. Get some proper rest. It’s only 5 AM in Ithaca—have you pulled an all-nighter?"

There was no reply for a long time. He Suye understood—the little fool had indeed stayed up all night and was now hiding in shame. He quickly added, "I’m not scolding you. I’m just worried about your health. Come out—I won’t lecture you."

A line of text immediately appeared. "Okay, I was wrong. I promise I won’t pull all-nighters anymore."

Yes, she just wouldn’t admit to pulling all-nighters in front of him. He Suye sighed, absentmindedly picking up a teacup nearby before setting it down again—it was the one He Shouzheng had been drinking from, still half-full.

After dinner, He Shouzheng stared at the half-cup of tea with a twisted expression, on the verge of tears. "I don’t wanna drink this! It’s bitter and sour!"He Suye showed no compromise. "Kid, you're overweight. Eating junk food every day with no nutrition at all, obesity isn't good for your health. Since you don't like exercising, drinking some tea is the only solution!"

He Shouzheng sniffled, "Isn't there something that's not bitter or sour? Can't you add some sugar?"

He had no choice but to pull out a book and point carefully, "Standard weight = (height - 100) × 0.9. If your actual weight exceeds the standard by 20%, excluding factors like muscle mass or water retention, it can be diagnosed as obesity."

He Shouzheng stayed silent, touching his own face. He Suye then took out a book on traditional Chinese medicine and spread it open before him. "The tea I'm giving you is specially made with ingredients like bitter orange, tangerine peel, hawthorn, poria, lotus leaf, and alisma."

The kid grumbled reluctantly, "Why tangerine peel? Might as well just eat the orange."

"Tangerine peel is aged citrus peel—" He flipped to a specific page in the book. "The older the tangerine peel, the better. It's pungent, bitter, and warm in nature, regulating qi, strengthening the spleen, drying dampness, and resolving phlegm." He pinched He Shouzheng's chubby cheek. "Yours is simple obesity, so we need to eliminate food stagnation, promote qi circulation, and strengthen the spleen to drain dampness."

He Shouzheng sighed in resignation. "Fine, I'll drink it. Uncle, I think ever since Sister Shen went abroad, you've been finding ways to torment me. Why don't you just hurry up and chase after her? At least then I’d have some peace."

Pushing back the little head with a finger, He Suye sighed. "Got it. Aren’t I already packing? But kid, isn’t it a bit much for you to reject me like this?"

He Shouzheng shook his head. "When my mom goes on business trips, Dad treats me the same way. So I’ve seen through the nature of men!"

While He Shouzheng was doing his homework, He Suye sat at the computer checking emails. Suddenly, he spotted an unfamiliar address. After hesitating, he clicked on it, only to be greatly surprised by its contents.

"I heard from my advisor that you're going abroad. I was quite surprised at first, but then it made sense—someone as outstanding as you would be wasted staying in the country. Sincere congratulations!

A few days ago, Fang Kexin told me you have a new girlfriend, which surprised me even more, especially since I heard you pursued her first and went through a lot of effort. These past few days, I’ve been wondering what kind of girl could make someone as slow as you fall in love. She must be very kind and gentle, and the thought of it makes me smile. Congratulations again!

I’m currently studying bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. If you need anything, feel free to reach out. Oh, I’m planning to marry my current boyfriend next March. If possible, I’d love for you to attend—and I’d be even happier if you brought your little girlfriend along."

So it was Zhang Yiling. He couldn’t help but smile and carefully composed a reply to her.

As he clicked "send," he felt the long-pent-up gloom dissipate, leaving him with an indescribable lightness.

Even after breaking up, we can still be friends, no matter who was at fault in the past. When the pain in our hearts is healed by happiness, we learn to treat the past with forgiveness and eventually let go.

When we meet again, we’ll greet each other with a smile and ask, "How have you been?" That will be enough.Two months later, when he arrived in the U.S., he was picked up by the son of a distant relative who happened to be studying law at the University of Pennsylvania. The two were close in age, lived together, and though they didn’t talk much, they got along quite well.

He Suye had originally planned to go to Ithaca once he settled in, but upon reporting to the research institute, he was assigned a project. His Chinese colleagues in the same department were all envious, so he had no choice but to throw himself into his work diligently.

His advisor was German, notorious throughout the university for his strictness and exacting standards. He greatly admired the diligence and solid foundational knowledge of Asian students, so among the students in his lab, apart from three from Germany, the other three were all of Asian descent. The first time He Suye entered the lab, he was shocked—a conspicuous sign was posted on the door: "Researchers in this lab must work seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. All working hours must be devoted wholeheartedly."

Well, that was fine. He and Shen Xifan could work hard together.

Whether it was because he hid it too well or because Shen Xifan simply had no time to notice, even though their schedules aligned, she never once realized that the man on the other end of QQ was living in Philadelphia, less than two hours away from her.

Shen Xifan still left him messages at the same time every day, enthusiastically telling him stories about school. She particularly loved talking about the university’s hospitality management program and would get excited whenever it came up. "He Suye, you know what? Today I went with them to the hotel’s kitchen and learned how to make cookies. When I get back, I’ll definitely show off my skills to you."

"Cornell is such an incredible university. They actually built a hotel for the hospitality management program, and it’s connected to the academic buildings. We often get opportunities to intern there, but I can’t help feeling a little regret—why couldn’t my four undergraduate years have been spent here? Now I’m studying Operations Management, MMH, which is mostly theoretical knowledge."

"The school has seven dining halls, and every dinner has at least twenty-eight main dishes. It’s unbelievably lavish. I haven’t cooked for myself in so long—for someone like me who loves good food and drink, this is practically a godsend. If you ever come, I’ll definitely make you try what’s considered the best food among the Ivy League schools."

He Suye couldn’t help but chuckle. The University of Pennsylvania was also an Ivy League school with excellent food, but after hearing her talk about it, he started feeling eager too, already making little plans in his head. His gaze unconsciously drifted to the calendar.

It seemed his advisor would only let him go during Christmas. Well, he had already waited this long—what was a little more time?

The next day, he went to the lab early. Just as he reached the building’s entrance, he heard someone call his name in Chinese from behind—a low female voice. His first instinctive thought was—Zhang Yiling.

After all these years, she still had that same overbearing air about her. Nothing had changed. He couldn’t help but smile. "Morning!"

Zhang Yiling arched an eyebrow and teased him, "He Suye, you really are something. You’ve been here for months—why haven’t you looked me up? Ugh, after all these years, you’re still so slow to warm up. It’s impossible to stay mad at you."

He spread his hands and laughed. "The research has been too busy. Working day and night."Zhang Yiling asked curiously, "Who's your advisor? But someone like you probably runs fast even without a mentor cracking the whip behind you."

"Leonard—"

Her expression immediately turned exaggerated, "What—that eccentric old man? Oh my, how can you stand him? He's so harsh!"

He Suye smiled, "Are you cold? How about we go to the café and grab some hot drinks while we chat?"

He ordered a cup of black tea for himself and handed her a cappuccino. Zhang Yiling covered her mouth and giggled when she saw it, "He Suye, did your little girlfriend infect you with her love for black tea?"

Why were the people around him so sharp, able to see right through him at a glance? He had no choice but to answer honestly, "Yeah."

Zhang Yiling explained, "I used to like black tea too, but back then, you casually mentioned, 'Green tea is better,' so I switched to green tea—until I came to the U.S." She sighed deeply, her smile tinged with something bittersweet, "That's the difference between how you treated me and how you treat her. I could change for you, but you only change for her. So even when I left you, I didn’t feel like I lost anything, and neither did you."

Suddenly at a loss for words, he gripped his cup. The black tea was still steaming hot, its fragrance curling upward.

He really had been influenced. He used to drink only green tea, but whenever he went out with Shen Xifan, she always ordered black tea, cradling it in her hands with a blissfully warm expression. The first time he tried it, he found it unfamiliar, but later, he started ordering it to match her. Eventually, he realized he couldn’t go without it.

He’d grown accustomed to brewing a cup of black tea during late-night work sessions, holding the mug while chatting with her online. Her avatar would blink—sometimes a smiling face, sometimes a frown—but no matter what, it always made him happy.

This must be what they meant by "love me, love my dog." First, you fall for the person, then all their habits, quirks, and preferences. Before you know it, you’re in too deep, and even your breath carries the taste of longing.

Seeing He Suye lost in thought, Zhang Yiling suddenly burst out laughing, "He Suye, are you just now feeling guilty about me? Don’t worry, I’ll give you a chance to make it up to me—just give me a bigger red envelope at my wedding."

He nodded readily, "Sure, if I bring my girlfriend along, I’ll naturally have to give an extra one."

Zhang Yiling’s eyes widened, "Wait, hold on—get to the point. Is your girlfriend in the U.S. now? Fang Kexin didn’t tell me that. He Suye, don’t tell me you came abroad for her!"

He smiled sheepishly, "That’s right, but we’re not at the same school."

Zhang Yiling looked utterly defeated, "He Suye, I’m devastated! If only you’d been half as devoted to me as you are to her, I could’ve died without regrets."

He Suye found this odd, "I wasn’t bad to you before, was I?"

She chuckled softly, taking a sip of coffee, "That’s not what I mean. There are many ways to be good to someone. To me, you were indeed good, but you’re a principled person. You never changed for me—or rather, you never gave so wholeheartedly."

Women’s definitions of love are so complicated, he thought to himself, but he also had to admit Zhang Yiling wasn’t wrong.He had never thought about giving wholeheartedly and without reservation before—he just acted on instinct. He had also feared that his efforts might go unrewarded, but all his worries vanished the moment she admitted she liked him.

Well, he was a bit slow and silly when it came to emotions, but perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.

After Zhang Yiling left, he hurried to the lab, arriving late. Strangely, his German advisor, who was usually strict, greeted him with a smile and left without saying a word.

His labmates told him that only his report and one German student’s had passed, while the others had to work overtime even during the Christmas holiday. He Suye simply smiled politely, turned on his computer, and got back to work.

Truthfully, he was in a great mood. The thought of seeing her at Christmas made him smile involuntarily.

As he walked back to his dorm, sycamore leaves drifted down every second, landing softly on the ground—deep brown, light tan, burnt orange, and muted yellow, their final moments layered in a beautiful tapestry against the earth, while above, the sky stretched clear and blue.

Somehow, his old friends from Cornell, where he had studied abroad, had learned about his current studies and sent him invitations. So, He Suye mentioned his Christmas travel plans to his roommate, who turned out to be very interested. “I have a car—why don’t we go together?”

Once the plan was settled, he decided to ask Shen Xifan about her Christmas plans. But the moment he opened QQ, her little avatar kept blinking incessantly. Clicking on it, he was met with a flood of messages: “He Suye, what should I do? Even though I’m sleep-deprived here, I’m still gaining weight!” “Is it true that even drinking water makes you fat here? The school food is too good—I’ve gained weight! I’m going crazy! I can’t take it!” “I need to lose weight, I need to lose weight!”

He suppressed a chuckle, thinking to himself that it wouldn’t hurt for the little girl to gain a bit of weight. When they held hands before, her wrists had felt so delicate, as if they might break with the slightest squeeze. Maybe a little extra weight would be good for her.

Honestly, it’s best for girls to just go with the flow—as long as their weight stays within healthy limits, there’s no need to obsess over being thin. During his hospital internship, he had seen several girls rushed in for hypoglycemia due to extreme dieting. Back then, all the male interns had silently vowed that if they ever got girlfriends, they’d first teach them not to diet recklessly, then guide them toward healthy weight loss.

But it was strange—Shen Xifan had always had a good appetite back home, with no signs of restrictive eating. How had she gained weight abroad? Maybe it really was true that different environments shaped people differently.

With that in mind, he quickly typed to soothe his girlfriend’s agitation, “Hey, gaining a little weight isn’t bad. You were so thin before—sometimes I worried the wind might blow you away. Don’t rush to lose weight, okay?”

A sad-faced rabbit emoji popped up in response. “No way, no way! If I go back like this, I won’t dare face you. My face has gotten chubby! By the way, how much is pork per pound back home? At this rate, I might count as an export commodity!”

He Suye was both exasperated and amused. He quickly replied, “I’m a doctor, you know. Would you like to hear a professional’s opinion?”Sure enough, the other side calmed down, eyes sparkling with anticipation. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about I prescribe you a weight-loss tea? You should drink it consistently, but don’t deliberately skip meals or eat too little, okay?"

Shen Xifan eagerly agreed. He only wrote down a few digestive Chinese herbal medicines for her to steep in water, figuring that this would make the young girl feel much more at ease—even if those herbs might not have any substantial effect.

Before Christmas, the temperature in Pennsylvania unexpectedly rose, unusually snowless. His experienced roommate told him that after Christmas, it might drop rapidly, recalling past instances of snowstorms even in April.

This was his first time leaving the University of Pennsylvania campus, stepping into the atmosphere of a completely different university town.

Ithaca was a quiet little town, with hardly anyone coming and going. His roommate mentioned the Greek poet Constantine Cavafy’s long poem "Ithaca": "As you set out for Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge."

He couldn’t help but smile. The Ithaca he was heading to had the person he loved, filled with hope and happiness.

Last Christmas, they had spent it with a group of friends. When he walked her home at the end, she had smiled and told him, "I’m just so happy when I’m with you—no reason." He still remembered how he had felt then—surprised and flustered.

He must have unknowingly fallen for her back then. In that neon-lit city, bustling with crowds, her white dress had seemed especially ethereal in the night. And now, how would she appear before him?

In this quiet town, in this distant country, as everything around became unfamiliar, the long nights seemed endless. Only by leaning on and warming each other could they make it through.

His roommate parked the car in front of the host family’s house and pointed to a building not far away. "That’s the Cornell Library. Just follow this road straight and turn left to get there."

He checked his watch—it was almost five. "Thanks," he replied quickly. "I’ll catch up with you guys later."

His roommate teased, "Make sure to bring your girlfriend along when you do. We’re all Chinese students—let’s get to know each other."

Waving, he laughed. "Sure! I’ll head off now then!"

Every day at five sharp, she would leave the library to return to her dorm—a fixed part of her routine.

He had originally planned to wait at the library entrance, but as he turned the corner, he spotted a familiar figure carrying a thick stack of reference books, walking briskly.

Her attire was still simple and unadorned—a pale lilac cotton coat that made her face appear even fairer. Her hair now reached her waist, and the sharp, imposing aura of the workplace had been replaced by a scholarly gentleness, making her seem even more serene and composed.

Shen Xifan didn’t notice him standing at the corner at all, walking straight ahead. He Suye had no choice but to catch up and lightly tap her shoulder, calling softly, "Shen Xifan!"

Turning at the sound, she gaped at him in shock before finally managing to ask, "You—He Suye—what are you doing here?!"

He smiled, though he could feel his heartbeat quickening. "I came to see you."Taking another step forward, he reached out to take the book from her hand. Shen Xifan stared fixedly at him, struggling to contain her surging emotions. "Why are you here?" she asked. When she tried to speak again, she found her heart trembling—overwhelmed by joy, excitement, surprise, and emotion beyond words.

The man before her gently took her hand and smiled faintly. "I'll tell you when we get back."