The Best Thing

Agarwood

Shen Xifan returned home to find her mother enthusiastically recounting the results of the blind date to her father.

She immediately called a halt. Her mother eyed her suspiciously. "You spent so much time laughing and chatting with him—was it really just for a free meal?"

"Does a blind date have to lead to romance? Can't we just be friends?"

Her mother let out a dry laugh. "Well, that’s a fresh take. A blind date is a blind date, not some social gathering. It’s about exploring a romantic connection—either it works out or it doesn’t!"

Shen Xifan looked puzzled. "What’s 'doesn’t'?" Her father peeked out from behind his newspaper and kindly reminded her, "She means 'pass'!"

Her mother slammed the newspaper onto the table. "No interruptions, no alliances! Let me finish!"

Her father’s head immediately disappeared back behind the paper. Shen Xifan sighed helplessly, inwardly cursing He Suye. What kind of useless Chinese herbal medicine had he prescribed? It clearly hadn’t worked on her mother!

He Suye, He Suye—what a strange name. Who names someone after Chinese herbal medicine?

Shen Xifan sprawled over her desk, a vocabulary book open in front of her, but her mind soon wandered. Before long, the draft paper beside her was covered with his name. Annoyed and slightly embarrassed, she scribbled over each one, then exhaled and walked to the window.

The night was serene, the moon bright, and countless lights twinkled in the distance. Everyone had their own path, their own time flowing steadily forward, events unfolding naturally before fading into memory. But was there any way to know what would happen next? For instance, between her and Yan Heng.

She shouldn’t think about him—it was pointless. Yet, how could she forget those memories? The intensity of love, the searing pain, the overwhelming tears, the futile hope that had ultimately shattered.

And now, was she still clinging to the foolish hope that he might return?

An idiot. Three years ago, she had been an idiot. Did she really want to become that same self-loathing fool again?

The next day, as soon as Shen Xifan entered the office, she spotted a bouquet of tulips on her desk. Surprised, she picked up the card—the handwriting was all too familiar: "Dai Heng." A surge of irritation rose within her, and she pushed the flowers aside, staring blankly.

Xu Xiangya noticed immediately, her eyes gleaming as she picked up the bouquet, admiring and sniffing it with self-indulgent delight. "How much did these tulips cost? Someone’s splurging!"

Shen Xifan stood to make tea, not even turning her head. "Take them if you like."

Xu Xiangya ignored the offer. "Huh? Who’s Dai Heng? Where did you dig up this golden catch, Xifan?"

With a wry smile, Shen Xifan deliberately deflected. "Catch? What catch? A Green-haired Turtle! One with moss growing on its back—should it be kept in a museum or an aquarium? How much per pound?"

Xu Xiangya sucked in a sharp breath. "Did I step on your tail? Director Cheng wants to see you—something about your thoughts on the banquet proposal. Go on. You really don’t want the flowers?"

Shen Xifan plucked out a single purple bud. "You can have them all. You know I don’t like flowers."

Xu Xiangya shook her head. "Nonsense. You love tulips. I bet this guy’s got some history with you, and now you’re taking it out on these poor, beautiful flowers. What a sin!"Shen Xifan was speechless. It wasn’t that she disliked Yan Heng as a person, but she was somewhat repelled by his actions. What was he trying to do? What was he trying to express? Was it an apology or lingering affection? Yet, inexplicably, she felt a faint sense of joy in her heart.

Suddenly, she felt utterly confused, as if tangled in a mess of threads—all she needed was a sharp knife to cut through it.

The only thing she was certain of, however, was that she wouldn’t play the fool anymore.

Yan Heng had sent her flowers for five consecutive days, each time a different color of tulips. Shen Xifan knew these flowers were airlifted in during winter and weren’t commonly found in flower markets. With such extravagance, she truly couldn’t fathom his intentions.

The Christmas gala proceeded smoothly. "Dongke" Software spared no expense, booking the grandest venue at the Gu Nanhua Court and reserving three villas and a golf course as raffle prizes for the guests.

The only downside was that the staff of Gu Nanhua Court could only watch as others enjoyed themselves on this sweet holiday.

Under the enormous crystal chandelier, every corner of the venue was bathed in bright light. Most of the men in attendance had brought female companions, and in such a glamorous setting, the women weaving through the crowd were mostly dressed in fragrant, elegant attire with meticulously applied makeup. As both a staff member and a guest, Shen Xifan had only applied light makeup and wore simple clothing. She felt out of place, as if covered in dust and unable to find her footing.

"Dongke" had invited many prominent figures from the electronic software industry, including several CEOs she recognized from IT summits. The top executives of Gu Nanhua Court were also in attendance.

Compared to the others, she was far too quiet. Standing in a corner, she found the lights somewhat dazzling and disorienting. Suddenly, a line came to mind: "Happiness belongs to them, and I have nothing."

She had never liked noisy environments—they made her lose herself.

She often felt as if she didn’t quite fit in at the hotel. She lacked Xu Xiangya’s smoothness, Ding Wei’s worldly wisdom, and Lin Yishen’s decisiveness and drive. All she had was stubbornness and a bit of cleverness.

She longed to go home, brew a cup of jasmine tea, and chat with her parents, or perhaps take a walk outside—maybe she’d even run into He Suye. Her restless emotions were all too evident in her lively eyes, making them shimmer with unspoken thoughts.

The crystal chandelier scattered the light, sprinkling it like golden powder onto her jet-black hair, resembling golden jacquard woven into dark silk. This woman in white, standing quietly with her heels together in a secluded corner, seemed as though she had just stepped out of the brittle, yellowed pages of an old book—so out of place amidst the dazzling backdrop.

Men occasionally glanced back at her, though she remained oblivious.

Ling Yufan held a crystal glass, exchanging flirtatious banter with a beauty while sipping French cognac. His gaze drifted subtly toward Shen Xifan. He found her intriguing—sometimes rigid and businesslike, cold as a hotel machine, and other times childishly expressive, her eyes brimming with displeasure whenever he deliberately provoked her. Yet beneath it all, she exuded a quiet composure. She must be someone who preferred solitude, her solitary figure starkly contrasting with the jubilant scene.

And then, wasn’t she a bit too meddlesome?

When he had fallen ill, she had sent him Cold medicine tea. Though he appreciated the gesture, his wariness ran too deep. Perhaps her intentions were purely kind, but he couldn’t shake the feeling there was some ulterior motive.

He had been observing her for a long time. And suddenly, he felt the urge to tease her.There was a commotion at the entrance. Shen Xifan saw Director Cheng and other senior executives immediately step forward to greet the newcomers. Among the crowd, Yan Heng stood at the center, politely shaking hands, exchanging greetings, and sharing lighthearted banter.

Had anyone told her Yan Heng was coming? If they had, she would have gladly feigned illness to avoid this encounter.

Director Cheng waved her over, and she had no choice but to steel herself and approach. "Mr. Yan, hello!"

Yan Heng was dressed in a suit without a tie, his glasses lending him an air of refined intellect with a hint of rebelliousness. He extended his hand. "Manager Shen, you've worked hard. Thank you for your care these past few days. I’ll have to trouble you a while longer."

His fingers were slightly cold, just as she remembered—long and strong. Once, this hand had led her through the most beautiful years of her life, through times as radiant as blooming flowers. But she had never imagined they would clasp hands again under such circumstances.

A faint sweat broke out in her palm, though her expression remained composed. "You’re too kind, Mr. Yan. It’s my pleasure to assist you." She tried to withdraw her hand, but Yan Heng held on firmly, making it clear he had no intention of letting go.

Shen Xifan met his gaze with dignified poise, her eyes slightly stern. Yan Heng smirked mischievously before abruptly releasing her. Outwardly, she remained calm and stepped back gracefully, but something inside her was slowly crumbling. A moment longer, and she would have been utterly undone.

Yan Heng—she had never been a match for him, not even back then.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice cried out, "Hey! Watch where you’re going! You’ve spilled wine all over me!"

All eyes turned to Ling Yufan, who had just been drenched by a clumsy bartender. His white shirt was soaked across the chest, and the young bartender kept bowing in apology, visibly distressed. Someone directed, "Manager Shen, handle this."

What could she do? She gritted her teeth and nodded. "My apologies. Please come with me!"

Ling Yufan raised an eyebrow. "I’ll change. Manager Shen, have this sent to the laundry."

She nodded and followed him out of the venue. She could feel eyes boring into her back—Yan Heng’s, no doubt. She braced herself for the inevitable gossip later, but at least this gave her an excuse to escape.

Ling Yufan’s room was in disarray. Clothes were strewn haphazardly over the sofa, and newspapers lay open on the table. She thought to herself that Ling Yufan must have strong self-protective instincts—otherwise, why wouldn’t he allow housekeeping to clean regularly?

With just the two of them in the spacious room, the silence stretched uncomfortably until the atmosphere grew tense—yet somehow, it also carried a hint of ambiguity.

To her astonishment, Ling Yufan began changing right in front of her. Shen Xifan could only stare in disbelief, though she quickly composed herself. If she were to react awkwardly to his boldness, the embarrassment would only be hers. She lowered her gaze, focusing intently on the carpet, counting the floral patterns.

Suddenly, Ling Yufan spoke. "Shen Xifan, you don’t like parties, do you?"

Surprised by the question, she let out a soft laugh. "It’s work. When it comes to work, I don’t think in terms of liking or disliking it."

A curious expression crossed his face. "Why wouldn’t you have an opinion about such work?" His demeanor softened, and under the light, his gaze held an almost disarming sincerity. His eyes locked onto hers, compelling her to answer."Perhaps I don't particularly enjoy this kind of work, but since I have the ability to do it well, this job is a compromise—at least it provides stability and a livelihood."

He laughed, then abruptly shifted his tone back to playful banter, "Shen Xifan, does working at a hotel mean you can snag a wealthy husband?"

Shen Xifan knew that women in the hotel industry were often viewed with suspicion. Many girls ended up either as kept mistresses or married to guests, so the job carried a somewhat mercenary reputation.

But she had never entertained such thoughts. All she wanted was to become a competent hotel manager—nothing more.

Now, she was being misunderstood.

Well, whatever. People like him had grown up steeped in distrust, always fearing others might take advantage of him, finding joy in suspicion and belittling others. A classic case of childhood calcium deficiency leading to adult love deficiency—warped and twisted. The more she explained, the messier it would get. Better to just shut up. She felt annoyed at herself for inexplicably feeling any goodwill toward him earlier.

Picking up his clothes, she met his gaze fearlessly, her eyes now laced with disdain. "Mr. Ling, I don’t believe the relationship between a guest and staff is appropriate for such profound discussions. Here are your clothes. I’ll take my leave now. Someone will deliver them to you tomorrow. Goodnight, and Merry Christmas!"

Ling Yufan was taken aback, then chuckled. He found Shen Xifan’s fiery expression just now utterly adorable. What if he had backed her into a corner or made a move? Would she have bitten him, slapped him, and cursed him out?

At least that would be better than her usual icy demeanor.

After dropping off the clothes at the laundry department, she left the hotel and walked home alone.

The bustling city shimmered with dazzling lights on Christmas Eve, surreal and kaleidoscopic. Everyone wore smiles—girls clinging to their boyfriends, parents holding their children, kids clamoring for candy from Santa, flower girls weaving through the crowd.

Suddenly, her phone rang. An unfamiliar number, but the voice wasn’t. "Shen Xifan, guess who this is?"

Curious, she replied, "Li Jie, how did you get my number?"

"Aw, no fun," he groaned on the other end. "You guessed too fast. Anyway, what are you up to now?"

"On my way home."

Li Jie sighed. "How boring—no plans for tonight? Want to join us? My senior and some others are hanging out at the teahouse bar 'Erya' on Guangyuan Road."

Was He Suye there too? Shen Xifan hesitated, but before she could ask, Li Jie added, "There are others, but don’t worry. I’ll introduce you—they’re all easygoing. Don’t overthink it. Senior would be really surprised to see you!"

That convinced her. She agreed, though soon she began to second-guess herself. Would showing up unannounced be too abrupt? But deep down, she really wanted to go.

"Erya" was one of those trendy bars favored by white-collar workers and the bourgeoisie.

As soon as she stepped inside, she spotted a group at a carved wooden table in the back, chatting animatedly. Her eyes immediately landed on He Suye—refined, handsome, his crescent-moon eyes and deep single dimple making him stand out effortlessly in the crowd.Li Jie spotted her and waved her over, "Over here, over here!"

She walked over, and Li Jie began introducing everyone, "These are all the senior brother's juniors, plus one junior sister."

Shen Xifan noticed that among so many guys, there was only one girl—very pretty, with a striking beauty. The girl stood up and said, "I'm Fang Kexin, the only junior sister here. I study imaging and am currently a trainee doctor."

Shen Xifan sat beside Li Jie. She was naturally sociable, and working in the open environment of the hotel industry made her witty and polite in conversation. Before long, she had gotten familiar with everyone.

He Suye watched her with a faint smile, not deliberately striking up a conversation, but his gaze never left her.

A shorter guy suggested, "Let's play something. How about a word chain game?"

Another chimed in, "Great! Let's do Chinese herbal medicine formulas. The loser has to drink—Chivas Regal 12-year-old, quite the treat!"

Shen Xifan immediately froze. What were "formulas"? She had never even heard of them. She shot a pleading look at He Suye.

He Suye stood up, motioning for Li Jie to scoot over, then sat beside Shen Xifan and whispered reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll help you!"

Li Jie watched them with a sly grin, while Fang Kexin's expression shifted slightly, lost in thought.

"Starting with four strokes. Senior brother, you go first!"

"Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria—cinnamon twig, white atractylodes, poria, polyporus, alisma. Zhang Ming, your turn with six strokes."

"Peony and Licorice Decoction—white peony root, honey-fried licorice. Seven strokes—Shen Xifan."

Everyone looked at Shen Xifan curiously as she stammered, "Galangal and Cyperus Pill—galangal, cyperus."

Someone immediately laughed, "Senior brother, you're helping her cheat! No way, you have to drink a penalty shot!"

Li Jie waved it off, "Let the senior brother help her. He can answer two, and Shen Xifan, you’d better memorize them well. Everyone, step up your game and take down the senior brother!"

She had no idea there were so many Chinese herbal medicines, and some names were downright bizarre and tongue-twisting. She could only mumble, "Aquilaria Qi-Subduing Powder—aquilaria, licorice, amomum, cyperus... and... I can't remember the rest..."

She blinked helplessly at He Suye, who wasn't annoyed at all and just kept smiling at her.

Everyone burst into laughter. Li Jie pushed a small glass of liquor toward her. Shen Xifan frowned, but a hand beside her took it and downed it in one go. She gasped, "He Suye, I was the one who lost!"

The whole group caught on and started teasing He Suye, "Senior brother's being chivalrous!" Only Fang Kexin seemed uncomfortable, deliberately turning away to take a sip of water.

Shen Xifan felt embarrassed but secretly grateful. He Suye acted as if nothing had happened and reminded her, "Looks like I’ll have to pick simpler names for you. The long, complicated ones are too hard for you to remember."

She could only offer an awkward smile.

They played until past eleven. Shen Xifan hadn’t expected to get along so easily and happily with this group. Perhaps most doctors were meticulous and considerate by nature, and those studying Chinese herbal medicine were even more attentive and thoughtful. Talking and interacting with them gave her a sense of being cared for.

The earlier unhappiness from the banquet vanished instantly. Now, everything seemed wonderful.

Walking ahead, Shen Xifan occasionally turned back to chat with He Suye, "He Suye, the formulas you mentioned today all seem to include aquilaria. Why is that?"

He Suye smiled, "Because I think you’re a lot like that herb!"She was curious and turned back to wait for him, then carefully tugged at his sleeve. "Why?"

"Agarwood, also known as aloeswood or 'daughter's fragrance,' is both a premium type of wood and a Chinese herbal medicine. Its aroma is rich and fragrant, primarily pungent and dispersing, entering the kidney, spleen, and stomach meridians. It's the finest among qi-regulating herbs. The mysterious and extraordinary scent of agarwood gathers the essence of heaven and earth over centuries—luxuriant, subtle, and mellow. I feel it resembles you, in that both your qualities become more appreciated over time, the more one discovers, the more delightful they find."

As he spoke, He Suye's face turned slightly red, perhaps due to the alcohol. His words were bolder than usual; normally, he wouldn't have been so direct.

But in truth, he hadn't drunk much and was still quite sober. It was just that the moment he saw Shen Xifan today, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Watching her radiant smile, her cunning during their shared mischief, her playful frustration when losing the game—his mood soared endlessly, like a balloon swelling with happiness.

The streetlight cast a halo around Shen Xifan. Dressed in a white blouse and skirt with a long coat, she seemed to fear the cold, hopping around incessantly, her dark hair dancing up and down.

A strange thought struck He Suye: being with her always lifted his spirits. Whether it was her sharp, capable side or her dazed, helpless expressions, he found her endlessly fascinating. The deeper he delved, the more there was to uncover, the more surprises she held.

Christmas Eve was indeed exceptionally sentimental.

After much hesitation, Shen Xifan finally spoke up, "He Suye, I realize I’m inexplicably happy whenever I’m with you."

He smiled—it was expected. How could he not notice her darting glances, the way she stole looks at him before pretending nonchalance, or how her words sometimes tangled when she spoke to him? After just a few meetings, she’d shown clear fondness for him, and surprisingly, he didn’t mind. Sometimes, he even secretly wished she’d be more obvious.

Tonight, she was obvious enough.

Sometimes, while heading downstairs to buy groceries, he’d wonder if Shen Xifan might be at the supermarket. She should eat more fruit instead of those biscuits. Sometimes, midway through writing his thesis, he’d glance out the window, curious about where she lived in the vast neighborhood—last time, he’d only seen her heading toward Zone F. Would she suffer insomnia again or come up with some new ailment, whimpering her way back to the clinic?

He was startled by these thoughts but quickly brushed it off. Why overanalyze whether he should keep her in mind? Since she was already there, he might as well let her stay.

Only, he wasn’t sure what kind of feeling this was.

With Zhang Yiling, he’d felt dependency—she’d pulled him from the abyss and given him warmth. In that relationship, they’d both grown accustomed to accepting each other’s kindness, though comparatively, she hadn’t loved him.

Strangely, with Shen Xifan, he felt something new: responsibility.

Was it simply because she was younger than him?