Chapter 12.2 - 白薇 Cynanchum atratum
He could only squat there foolishly, ignoring the pain in his hands and feet, and softly comforted Zhang Yiling, "Alright, I won't climb over. Don't cry anymore, or I'll want to dig a hole and hide."
Then, they walked back together under the moonlight. Zhang Yiling's eyelashes were still glistening with tears, and He Suye felt a pang of guilt. However, he couldn't understand her motives and finally asked, "Why didn't you let me go?"
Zhang Yiling composed herself slightly, "The school has issued a notice. If you leave, wouldn't you be seeking your own doom?"
He sighed, "Then it would be perfect, no one to compete with you for the first-class scholarship."
She snorted coldly, looking down at He Suye, "I don't care for it. If it's just handed to me, I don't want it!"
He could only smile awkwardly, finally managing to say after a long pause, "Thank you."
Actually, He Suye had known back then how strong-willed she was. She never relied on others for what she wanted. But he was truly slow; such a proud girl was worried for him, and he hadn't delved into the reasons.
He was thoughtful, but unfortunately, he was notoriously slow when it came to matters of the heart. Only straightforward and direct confessions could make him understand; subtle hints were completely ineffective. At that time, everyone could see Zhang Yiling's admiration for him, but He Suye remained oblivious. He had always lived carefree and at ease.
Until news about his mother came, and he was completely lost in the darkness of the night. It was Zhang Yiling who reached out and pulled him out.
He always felt he owed her a lot, thinking of repaying her for a lifetime, but that day never came. She had already told him, "He Suye, we're even now."
From then on, his world no longer had her in it.
Perhaps, he should have known earlier that Zhang Yiling wasn't his cup of tea. Whatever feelings he had for her might have been out of indebtedness, dependency, or gratitude, but true love was rare.
Time really can make one understand some things.
Entering the cafeteria, just as he got in line, pondering how much rice to eat today, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, and he hesitated before answering. The voice on the other end was also hesitant, "He Suye, is that you?"
He immediately recognized it, "Qiu Tian?"
The other end burst into laughter, "Yes, it's me. Your old friend Hu Han San has returned from abroad. Let's have a meal together, how about roast duck?"
When he arrived at the restaurant, there were already five or six people there, all old friends from his postgraduate days. They started teasing He Suye as soon as they saw him, "Little He has just shown his talent, and already a beauty stands above him!"
He Suye punched them one by one, paused when he saw Qiu Tian, and asked with a smile, "Back? How was the United States of America?"
Qiu Tian was He Suye's classmate and close friend, opposite in temperament—lively and active, with a tongue that could twist black into white, charming girls left and right. Just by looking at him, no one would associate this smooth talker with an MD from Baylor College of Medicine.
He had switched to clinical studies during his postgraduate years, then was sent abroad on a public scholarship, and only returned this year after earning his doctorate.
He and Zhang Yiling were the two sent abroad that year.
At the dinner, everyone was in high spirits, especially Qiu Tian, who had seemingly forgotten his proper American English and was spouting hometown dialect, telling all sorts of stories, red and yellow alike.
He Suye couldn't hold his liquor but was forced to drink a few cups. When he went to the restroom, Qiu Tian, quite drunk, put his arm around He Suye's shoulder and asked, "Want to know how Zhang Yiling is doing now?"
It would be a lie to say he didn't want to know, so he nodded, "How is she now?"
"Not good!" Qiu Tian seemed very sober, his words firm, "Originally, we were on a public scholarship, supposed to return after two years. She was determined to stay in the U.S., but the school here wouldn't provide the necessary documents, and Baylor didn't recognize her medical undergraduate degree. She had to switch to bioengineering, which isn't her field. I heard she's struggling."
"Oh?" He Suye raised an eyebrow slightly, "Seems like you're not very clear about it either?"
Qiu Tian splashed water on his face, took a deep breath, "We were all crazy busy back then, who had time to care about others? Besides, you know my relationship with Zhang Yiling, it's like we're enemies."
He Suye sighed, "Her personality will always be her downfall."
Qiu Tian stared at He Suye's reflection in the mirror for a while before deciding to continue, "If you still liked Zhang Yiling, you wouldn't have come to see me today. I knew long ago that you two wouldn't work out, but back then you almost broke off our friendship over her."
His throat felt like it was blocked, a bit irritated. He turned his back to Qiu Tian and sincerely said, "Thank you!"
Qiu Tian came over and pinched him, laughing, "When are you going to find a wife for me to see, and have your son call me godfather!"
Leaving the restaurant, the weather suddenly turned gloomy, as if it was about to snow. Pedestrians hurried on the streets. He straightened his collar, using the cold wind to sober up.
He had drunk a bit too much today, and remembering that he had to grade exams and that Shen Xifan would come over to deliver some materials in the evening, he stopped by the supermarket to buy some green beans, black beans, and red beans, planning to cook porridge at night.
Cooking porridge is an art, divided into boiling and simmering. First, boil vigorously until it rolls, then reduce to a low flame to slowly thicken the soup. The porridge must not leave the heat, simmer until tender, then let it sit for about two hours. When cooking bean porridge, add cold water several times before adding the rice, as the beans need to be "shocked" a few times to easily bloom, then add the rice.
He simply stayed in the kitchen to grade the exam papers, sighing incessantly. These students really left him speechless. As he graded, he chuckled, thinking about posting on Tianya forum after finishing, to stir up the students who needed to retake the exams.
It was already dark outside. He looked out the window and saw large snowflakes falling. Unable to contain his joy, he opened the window to get a closer look. The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, rushed in and vanished instantly upon meeting the rising steam.
He wondered if Shen Xifan had brought an umbrella, hoping she wouldn't end up with a pile of snow on her head, pitifully calling out, "He Suye, it's snowing!"
But his premonitions were always accurate. Just as he was about to serve the porridge, the doorbell rang. There stood Shen Xifan, smiling at him, covered in snow from head to toe, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement, "He Suye, it's snowing!"
He let her into the living room, where she immediately pulled out a large stack of documents, well-wrapped in plastic bags, carefully checking them. She smiled, "Good, they're not wet. Look, I've translated everything, only the technical terms are left for you."
He was both annoyed and amused, so he asked her, "Have you eaten? I made some porridge, would you like some?"
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