The Best Thing

Codonopsis

Her apartment was small but impeccably tidy.

Shen Xifan tossed her bag aside and explained, "My roommate went to her host family’s for dinner. There’s chicken soup in the rice cooker, and maybe some leftovers in the fridge. If not, we can always go to the student cafeteria—though I’m not sure which one’s open."

He Suye simply smiled without a word, making her uneasy. Just as she was about to ask, her cheeks were gently pinched as he teased, "You really have put on some weight, little girl!"

Flustered, she turned her face away, only to be pulled back into a warm embrace. She tried to wriggle free, but a deep, weary voice murmured by her ear, "Be good, don’t move. Let me hold you for a bit. I’m exhausted."

A faint scent of lemon clung to him, yet it couldn’t mask his fatigue. She looked up to study his face—thinner than half a year ago, with faint shadows under his eyes.

With a soft sigh, her arms instinctively tightened around his waist. The question finally slipped out, "What are you doing here?"

He Suye chuckled lightly. "To see you, of course. I’m at the CVI Research Institute at Penn now."

"When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"I got to the U.S. in August. I wanted to see you right away, but I got tied up with a research project—barely had a moment to breathe. So it got delayed till now."

She muttered under her breath, "So, does this count as 'the husband follows the wife’s lead'?"

His fingers brushed through the long hair by her ear as he laughed softly. "Yeah, I suppose it does."

They cooked dinner together. The moment the oil sizzled in the pan, Shen Xifan panicked. "Oh no! I forgot I lent my apron to the neighbor! Fine, I’ll handle the stir-fry!"

He Suye stopped her. "It’s fine, I’ll do it. It’s been a while since I cooked—hope I haven’t gotten rusty." As he spoke, he cracked an egg into the pan. Oil splattered everywhere, dotting his white shirt.

Shen Xifan gasped. "The oil! Your shirt!"

"Always overreacting," he teased, picking up the chopped tomatoes. "It’s just a few stains. Everyone gets messy cooking. Go check if the soup’s ready."

She obediently ladled half a bowl of chicken broth, sprinkled in some salt, and handed it to him. "Taste it first—see if it needs more salt."

With a spatula in one hand and soy sauce in the other, he couldn’t take it, so she stood on tiptoe and carefully brought the spoon to his lips. He took a sip. "Mmm, just right. You can serve it now."

Suddenly, she burst into laughter, quickly pressing her lips together and turning away. He Suye blinked in confusion. "What’s so funny?"

She shook her head without answering, warmth blooming in her chest and tears pricking her eyes. She took a careful sip of the soup—perfectly seasoned, the rich flavor dancing on her tongue, leaving her craving more. The man before her truly loved her, willing to cook for her, even shielding her from the slightest chore.

The phrase "an old married couple" had flashed through her mind just then, and she couldn’t help but laugh.This is truly how it feels. Back when I was with Yan Heng, it was like two naive kids in the throes of youth, only thinking about making each day romantic and exciting. That way of loving was like fireworks in the sky—when the sparks fell, they traced dazzlingly beautiful arcs, yet no matter how splendid, it lasted only a fleeting moment before the wind blew and scattered them away.

But life is life. Romance and passion can never sustain love for a lifetime.

A love that thrives in the quiet and ordinary is more suited to me—like this tender man, who must be just my cup of tea.

He made three dishes: scrambled eggs with tomatoes, lettuce in oyster sauce, and beef with green peppers.

As she helped herself to the food, Shen Xifan sighed, "This might be the most authentic Chinese meal I’ve had since coming to the U.S. Someone as lazy as me never bothers to cook, so I always end up at the student cafeteria. Without realizing it, I’ve gained weight."

He Suye picked up a piece of beef and placed it in her bowl. "Eat more. You haven’t changed at all—where’s the weight? Your face looks pale and sallow. You must be staying up late every night."

"You just said I gained weight!" she retorted irritably, then turned to ladle him a bowl of chicken soup. "He Suye, I think you’re the one who looks unwell—with those dark circles like a panda’s. Aren’t doctors supposed to set an example?"

He took a sip of the soup and suddenly smiled. "No wonder the taste was so familiar. You added codonopsis root."

Shen Xifan pursed her lips. "I brought the codonopsis from home. Mom said it replenishes energy, promotes fluids, and nourishes blood. After finishing each course, I make a big pot of chicken soup to reward myself."

"Is it hard for you here?"

"Of course it’s hard. My advisor is kind but very strict. And soon there’s CareerTrack—my work experience is fine, but I can’t match the theoretical knowledge of classmates who majored in it. What about you?"

"I’m fine. It’s not hard, and my research is going smoothly."

"I don’t believe that. Studying medicine in the U.S. is tough—just look at how thin you’ve gotten." A pang of sorrow struck her heart, and she couldn’t bear to look at his gaunt face. Instead, she ladled him another bowl of soup and forced a teasing tone. "Drink up. This is a rare treat!"

The warmth of the bowl lingered on her fingertips, and suddenly, she felt the urge to cry. Only one thought filled her mind—she couldn’t wait for this long year to end, so that no matter what, she would never leave him again.

After the meal, her sweet tooth acted up again. She grinned and said, "Eating at your place is the best. It’d be perfect if there were dessert afterward!"

He Suye checked the cupboard and smiled. "There’s still some red bean left. I’ll make sweet red bean soup."

She jumped up excitedly. "I’ll help! The rock sugar is in a small box in the corner—I’ll find it."

Once the red bean soup was simmering and the dishes were washed, Shen Xifan called her family while He Suye chatted online with Qiu Tian. However, Qiu Tian’s typing speed had suddenly slowed to a crawl, taking forever to produce a single line—and even then, each message was barely ten words long.

He Suye lost patience with the sluggish exchange and casually clicked on a bookmark. To his surprise, it led to a blog—and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Shen Xifan’s little corner of the internet.

He silently repeated the URL and memorized it instantly. Checking the dates, he saw she had been writing for a long time. He clicked on the most recent entry."Gradually, I learned to embrace tolerance and understanding, kindness and compromise.

There are only two kinds of emotions in the world that can be called romantic: one is mutual devotion through thick and thin, and the other is letting go and moving on. What we should strive for is to share unwavering devotion with the one we love most and to gracefully part ways with those we love less.

And mutual devotion—what a beautiful phrase it is. Boundless tolerance and patience, endless care and protection, infinite forgiveness and adoration, along with years of mutual support, are needed to write those four square characters—mutual devotion through thick and thin."

Mutual devotion—such a blissful and beautiful phrase, He Suye silently repeated in his heart, staring blankly at the screen until a noise from behind startled him. He hurriedly closed the webpage and found Shen Xifan standing by the window, smiling at him.

A sudden surge of joy and impulse overwhelmed him—he wanted the whole world to know that he had her, that he was incredibly happy now.

He Suye stood up and walked over to her, asking earnestly, "Would you like to meet my friends? I want to introduce you to them."

Shen Xifan laughed, "You have friends at this school too? He Suye, you really have friends everywhere!"

"One of my close high school friends is in the College of Agriculture, commonly known as the 'Cow College.' Two of my college classmates are at Weill Medical College, and another is at the College of Veterinary Medicine—all of them are remarkable people."

Nodding solemnly, she replied playfully, "The meat and dairy supply in the school cafeteria all come from the Cow College. I must go and pay my respects to these extraordinary individuals!"

The night in Ithaca grew even quieter. The vast campus was nearly empty, with the colleges standing isolated from one another, the only signs of life coming from the streetlights. Shen Xifan walked ahead of him, skipping and humming a tune.

He Suye watched her with sweetness filling his heart. Her long hair danced in the wind, its fragrance seeming to linger in the air, creating an ethereal beauty—so perfect, so worthy of being cherished by him.

He softly called her name. Shen Xifan turned and slowed her steps, only to see He Suye standing in the shadows of the lamplight, his tall and strong frame still bearing that gentle, smiling face. Yet, it felt unreal to her, as if she were dreaming, surrounded by shimmering light.

This encounter was like a dream—so perfect it brought tears to her eyes.

She flashed a radiant smile that pierced straight into his heart. Their eyes locked, and the atmosphere subtly shifted.

Suddenly, something shiny slipped from her—a scarf pin. Shen Xifan bent to pick it up, but a strong gust of wind blew past, lifting the scarf from her neck. Just as she reached out to grab it, the scarf fluttered straight onto He Suye's face, and she burst into laughter.

She ran up to him to retrieve the scarf, but he held it tightly, refusing to let go. Suddenly, she felt his familiar, refreshing scent envelop her forehead, followed by a feather-light touch at the corner of her eye.

The next moment, his warm fingers brushed her lips, his eyes burning with passion. The sudden kiss swept over her like a storm, leaving her breathless. The sweet, intoxicating taste of him mingled with hers as their tongues entwined. Her mind went blank, and she closed her eyes obediently, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

She stopped thinking—didn’t want to think—only instinctively wanting to hold him tighter, closer.

Just one thought flickered in her mind, distracting her despite herself—He Suye was such a reserved man.

But who asked her to like him?She had once read a post saying that if a man took his girlfriend to meet his circle of friends, it was a public acknowledgment of their relationship and, of course, a great affirmation of her.

But when she actually met his group of friends, she was startled. There were four decks of cards and a mahjong table in full swing, and even stranger, there were Americans present who occasionally shouted, "Continuous dealer! Pure suit! Full win!"

A man was slapping down his cards in a manner strikingly similar to the "producing four copper coins" described in Lu Xun's novels. He was especially excited to see He Suye. "Xiao He, come quick! My luck's terrible today—help me turn it around!"

The others laughed and jeered, "No way! Play your own hand—no calling for backup!"

He Suye whispered to her, "This is my roommate. He's a really good guy."

Someone with sharp eyes immediately spotted Shen Xifan and whistled. "Beauty! Xiao He, is this your wife?"

She couldn’t help but laugh, finding it heartwarming to see so many Chinese people in a foreign land. Most of them were free-spirited, much like Li Jie and Qiu Tian’s crowd, so she quipped, "No, I haven’t been promoted yet!"

He Suye looked at her fondly. "Sometimes I really doubt you studied hotel management—more like communication and eloquence!"

Shen Xifan grinned slyly. "You’re pretty funny yourself... sometimes!"

Instantly, several voices chimed in, "Xiao He, you’re too much! If I had a girlfriend like her, I’d have married her and kept her at home ages ago. How dare you leave her here while you run off to UPenn? That’s just cruel!"

He Suye was left speechless and could only reply, "I’d love to, but I don’t know if she’d agree."

The group egged them on. "Beauty, take this as Xiao He’s roundabout proposal—you should think about it!"

Embarrassed, Shen Xifan turned her face away, prompting someone to add, "Silence means consent! We’re all witnesses here—we’ll be expecting wedding drinks later!"

She shot a pleading look at He Suye, but instead of clarifying, he just held her hand and smiled, introducing his friends one by one. "These two are from Weill Cornell—college buddies, Ben and Chris." After making the rounds, he added to the group, "Oh, I forgot to mention—my girlfriend, Shen Xifan. She’s studying MMH now, so please look out for her!"

The room erupted in laughter, and someone immediately vowed, "We’re all fellow countrymen here—just say the word if you need anything. Whether it’s shopping or moving a fridge or sofa, we’ll come running. Don’t be shy!"

Another round of louder laughter followed. "Old Song, you couldn’t even be bothered to carry a box of juice upstairs last time—why so eager now?"

The man hastily replied, "She’s Xiao He’s wife—of course I’ll be extra attentive! Besides, I’m counting on him to help me turn my luck around in cards today!"

They played cards until late before finally preparing to leave. The group saw them off for quite a distance, with the two of them walking side by side at the back. Shen Xifan asked curiously, "He Suye, I’ve noticed you’re good at almost everything—even cards."

He chuckled. "The best gamblers are mathematicians. My math isn’t bad, so I can hold my own against them. But against professionals? No chance."Shen Xifan pouted, "I can't do it, and I probably never will. My hobbies are 'sleeping until I wake naturally and counting money until my hands cramp.' I did learn art and calligraphy when I was younger, but I’ve pretty much forgotten all of it now."

"My grandfather really likes calligraphy. He often practices at home. Maybe I can take you to meet him next time?"

"Don’t make me embarrass myself! My handwriting is awful!"

"Actually, I meant something else," He Suye hesitated for a moment. "About what they mentioned earlier tonight..."

Shen Xifan froze for a second before catching on, though she still pretended to be clueless and giggled. "What thing? Be clearer—how would I know if you don’t say it outright?"

He was suddenly at a loss for words, unsure how to phrase it. The usually composed He Suye actually seemed flustered. Steeling himself, he blurted out, "I meant the marriage thing. Have you ever thought about it?"

She hadn’t expected him to be so direct. Shen Xifan’s face flushed instantly, and she could only lower her head, speechless. His palm was slightly sweaty as he held her hand, but his smile remained gentle. "I know it’s sudden, but I’ve thought it over myself. That’s why I took the chance to ask you today."

Her heart pounded wildly. After stammering for a moment, she managed, "Um, can I think about it?"

Before she could finish, his roommate ahead called out, "Hey, He, we’re leaving! Keep it short, or just call her later!"

Everyone burst into laughter, egging him on. "Come visit when you’re free! If you miss your wife, just say so—feel free to ignore us if you want a goodbye kiss!" Despite their teasing, they tactfully scattered.

Shen Xifan was too embarrassed, her face burning red. He Suye gently brushed aside a stray lock of her hair and whispered, "I have to go now. Think it over—I’ll need an answer by March at the latest. And take care of yourself, don’t overwork."

She nodded solemnly. "I understand." Then she added, "Call me when you get home. There’s no need to hide things now, right?"

He Suye laughed, his brows relaxing, making him look even more dashing. "I wasn’t trying to hide. Alright, I’m off now!"

Releasing their clasped hands, Shen Xifan watched with a smile as he got into the car. The vehicle soon disappeared beyond the campus gates, but she remained standing there, still smiling. She thought to herself that her smile during their farewell must have looked carefree and happy.

If she couldn’t bring herself to say "goodbye," then maybe it was better left unsaid.

She made a quick stop at the library to look up some materials. By the time she snapped out of it, over an hour had passed. Remembering their phone call arrangement, she hurried back.

As she walked along the path, her heart brimmed with sweetness, and her steps grew lighter.

Suddenly, a sharp, loud sound pierced the quiet campus, startling her. She turned quickly and saw a man and woman not far away—the man stood frozen, covering his face, while the woman turned and ran off.

She had meant to walk past with a smile, but the sight of the man’s face wiped it away. The glaring red handprint was shocking. "Lin Yishen, what happened?" she asked urgently.

Lin Yishen gave a bitter smile. "This is so humiliating, especially since you saw it. Whatever—do you have any ice I can use for my face? Otherwise, I won’t be able to show myself tomorrow."Shen Xifan sighed, "There is, but I can't just take you in without any reason. You’ll have to tell me what’s going on first!"

Back in the dorm, Shen Xifan searched for ice while asking, "What happened?"

Lin Yishen waved his hand, "A minor incident, a small story—it’s actually quite simple. My family arranged a marriage for me without my consent." He took the cold towel Shen Xifan handed him and pressed it to his face, hissing from the chill. "I refused, and then some young lady slapped me, saying we’d sever all ties. Well, if it’s really over, at least I got my money’s worth from that slap."

Shen Xifan laughed, "Who knows if it’s your family’s doing or if you brought it on yourself? Men’s words can’t be trusted!"

Lin Yishen glared at her, "Every word I say is true. If I’ve lied even half a sentence, may heaven strike me down."

Shen Xifan shook her head skeptically, "There’s no such thing as half a lie—clearly you’re just bluffing!"

Suddenly, the phone rang. She jumped up, exclaiming, "I’ll get it—it’s my call."

Lin Yishen teased, "No need to rush; the phone won’t run away. Is it your boyfriend calling? You’re so eager!"

Shen Xifan smiled and picked up the phone. A familiar voice came through, "I’m back at the dorm. Did I wake you?"

"No, I just got back too!" The moment she said it, she sensed something off and quickly explained, "I ran into an old senior and chatted for a bit, so I got delayed. That’s why I just got back."

The voice on the other end just chuckled, "Don’t be so nervous. I wasn’t scolding you—just worried about your safety. Get some sleep early, little girl. Goodnight then."

She mumbled a "goodnight" and hung up, suddenly feeling a pang of regret—she wanted to talk to him more but didn’t know where to start. She sighed softly, thinking to herself, A woman’s IQ really does drop when she’s in love.

Behind her, Lin Yishen’s voice drifted over, melancholic, "Little junior, only the new love gets smiles while the old is forgotten. Now that you have a boyfriend, you’ve tossed this senior aside. So heartless."

Shen Xifan raised an eyebrow, "How did you know? I don’t think I was that direct when I turned you down."

"I saw you two at the supermarket, holding hands and all lovey-dovey." Lin Yishen smirked, though his expression was relaxed. "I knew back then, and I saw it again today. The whole world knows—only you don’t realize we know."

She stayed silent, taking back the towel. "Do you want me to get you a fresh one?"

Lin Yishen stood up and affectionately ruffled her hair. "Junior, cherish what you have. You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t start thinking about settling down soon, you’ll be crossing into the territory of ‘older single women.’"

Shen Xifan turned her face away. "Not a single serious word from you!"

He laughed, "I’m not joking. By the way, what’s that delicious smell from your kitchen?"

She suddenly remembered, "Oh, it’s red bean soup. Do you want a bowl?"

A steaming bowl of fragrant red bean soup was served. Lin Yishen took a deep breath and sighed appreciatively, "To taste such authentic soup in a foreign land—that’s a blessing in itself."Shen Xifan sighed softly and murmured to herself, "Sometimes it all feels too perfect, unreal, yet I desperately want to hold onto it, while my heart warns me to let things take their course. To gain it is my fortune; to lose it is my fate. Perhaps, as many say, love is like sand—the tighter you grasp, the faster it slips away."

"Nonsense!" Lin Yishen patted her head. "It's red beans—firmly held, impossible to spill. Though they might feel a bit rough in your hand, they keep you mindful. When the time is right and the water boils, toss them in to make red bean soup—a brew of longing. Then the love between two people finally bears fruit."

Shen Xifan smiled faintly. She suddenly felt that many things came naturally when the time was right—love, marriage—they should arrive when they're meant to, and all of this could be attributed to fate.

Even if she had met him at the tail end of her youth, she didn’t think it was too late. Because when the timing was perfect, what blossomed would be the right outcome.

As for that answer, she already had a quiet thought in her heart.