Chapter 25.2 - Mandarin Orange Peel 陈皮
While He Shouzheng was doing his homework, He Suye sat in front of his computer checking his emails. Suddenly, he saw an unfamiliar address. After a moment’s hesitation, he clicked to open it, and the content surprised him.
“I heard from the professor that you’re going abroad, and I was quite surprised, but then I thought about it and understood. A talent like you staying in China would be a waste. Sincerely, congratulations!
A few days ago, Fang Kexin told me that you have a new girlfriend. That news surprised me even more, especially since you were the one who pursued her, and you worked really hard at it. I’ve been wondering what kind of girl could make you, of all people, so slow to react. She must be a very kind and gentle girl. When I thought about it, I couldn’t help but smile. Again, congratulations!
I’m currently studying biological engineering at Penn. If you need anything, feel free to reach out. By the way, I’m planning to marry my boyfriend next March. If you’re lucky, I hope you can come, and of course, I welcome you to bring your little girlfriend as well.”
It was from Zhang Yiling, and He Suye couldn’t help but smile. After carefully considering it, he replied with an email.
When he clicked “send,” the gloom he had been carrying for a long time seemed to disappear, and he felt an indescribable sense of ease.
Even after a breakup, it’s still possible to be friends, no matter who was wrong in the past. When the pain in our hearts is healed by happiness, we become forgiving of the past and eventually let go.
When we meet again, we’ll smile and greet each other, asking “How are you?” and that will be enough.
Two months later, He Suye arrived in the United States. He was picked up at the airport by a distant relative’s son who was studying law at the University of Pennsylvania. They were around the same age and lived together. They didn’t talk much, but got along quite harmoniously.
He Suye originally planned to settle in the U.S. before heading to Ithaca, but when he reported to the research institute, he was assigned a project. His Chinese colleagues from the same department were all envious of him, so he had no choice but to focus on his work.
His mentor was German, known for being strict and meticulous. He greatly appreciated the hard work and solid foundational knowledge of Asian students, so of the six students in his lab, three were from Germany and the other three were Asian. When He Suye first entered the lab, he was shocked to see a conspicuous sign on the door: “Researchers in this lab must work seven days a week, from 10 AM to 12 AM. During working hours, full focus is required.”
This was fine. He would just work hard alongside Shen Xifan.
He wasn’t sure if he was concealing it well or if Shen Xifan simply hadn’t noticed, but even though their schedules were synced, she hadn’t realized that the man on the other end of QQ lived just two hours away in Philadelphia.
Shen Xifan still left him messages at the same time every day, excitedly sharing stories from her school. She especially loved talking about her university’s hotel management program. Whenever she mentioned it, she was full of energy. “He Suye, did you know? Today I went to the hotel’s operations room and learned to make small pastries. I’m definitely going to show you when I get back!”
“Cornell is truly an incredible university. They actually built a hotel for the hotel management program, and it’s connected to the teaching building. We often have opportunities to intern there. However, I do have some regrets. Why wasn’t my entire college life spent here? Instead, I’m studying Operations Management, MMH, which is mostly theoretical knowledge.”
“The school has seven restaurants, and each dinner has at least twenty-eight main dishes. It’s so extravagant! I haven’t cooked for myself in a long time. For someone like me who loves food, it’s simply a huge blessing. If you come, I’ll make sure to treat you to what’s considered the best food at an Ivy League school.”
He Suye couldn’t help but laugh. Penn was also an Ivy League school, and its food was good too. After hearing her talk about it, he started to feel a little eager to try it, and his gaze inevitably drifted to the calendar.
It seemed the only time his mentor would let him off was around Christmas. Well, he had already waited this long; he didn’t mind waiting a little longer.
The next day, he went to the lab early. Just as he reached the entrance of the building, he heard someone calling his name in Chinese from behind in a low, feminine voice. His immediate reaction was—Zhang Yiling.
After all these years, that commanding presence hadn’t changed at all, and he couldn’t help but laugh, “Good morning!”
Zhang Yiling raised an eyebrow and joked, “He Suye, you’re really a big shot. You’ve been here for months, and I haven’t seen you look for me. Sigh, you’re still so slow to warm up after all these years. It really doesn’t make me angry.”
He shrugged and smiled, “I’ve been so busy with research, working day and night.”
Zhang Yiling was curious, “Who’s your mentor? But people like you are so efficient that you don’t need a mentor cracking the whip behind you.”
“Leonard—”
Her face immediately became exaggerated. “What—That crazy old man? Oh my God, how can you stand him? He’s so harsh!”
He Suye smiled, “Aren’t you cold? Why don’t we go to the restaurant and get some hot drinks, sit down, and chat?”
He ordered a cup of black tea and handed her a cappuccino. Zhang Yiling saw it and covered her mouth, secretly laughing, “He Suye, is it because your little girlfriend likes black tea that you’ve been infected?”
Why is it that everyone around him is so sharp and can see through things at a glance? He could only answer honestly, “Yes.”
Zhang Yiling explained, “I used to like black tea too, but you casually said, ‘Green tea is better,’ and that’s when I switched to green tea. I didn’t drink black tea again until I came to the U.S.” She sighed deeply, with a half-smile, “This is 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 though I left you, I didn’t feel like I lost anything, and neither did you.”
He suddenly didn’t know how to respond. Holding the cup, the black tea was still steaming hot, with its fragrant aroma rising.
It was true that he had been infected. He had always only drunk green tea in the past, but whenever he went out with Shen Xifan, she would always order a cup of black tea, holding it in her hands with a warm, happy look on her face. The first time he tried black tea, he didn’t quite like it, but later, just to match Shen Xifan, he ordered it. Eventually, he realized he couldn’t go without black tea.
He had gotten used to brewing a cup of black tea while working late at night and chatting with her, watching her avatar blink. Sometimes it showed a smiling face, other times a frown. No matter what it was, he always felt so happy.
