Chapter 26.3 - Red Bean 红豆
Unexpectedly, He Suye’s answer was so direct that Shen Xifan’s face immediately turned red. She lowered her head, unable to say anything. He held her hand, feeling a slight sweat in his palm, but still smiled faintly. “I know this is sudden, but I’ve thought it through, so I took this opportunity to ask you.”
Shen Xifan’s heart was pounding. After hesitating for a while, she stammered, “Can I think about it?”
Before she could finish, one of the roommates who had been walking ahead called out, “Xiao He, let’s go, keep it short. If not, we can talk on the phone when we get back!”
Everyone burst into laughter, teasing him, “If I had such a girlfriend, I would have already married her and kept her hidden at home. How can you leave her here and go off to study at Penn? Not very considerate!”
He Suye was left speechless and couldn’t say anything, so he replied, “I wish I could, but I don’t know if she would agree.”
The group continued to tease, “Xiao He, this is practically a proposal. You should consider it! We’ll all be witnesses, so we’re expecting a wedding invitation!”
Shen Xifan, feeling embarrassed, blushed, and He Suye gently brushed her loose hair aside, softly reminding her, “I’m leaving now. Think about it, but please give me an answer by March at the latest. Also, rest well and don’t overexert yourself.”
She nodded seriously, replying, “I got it.” Then, she added, “Call me when you get home. No need to hide it now, right?”
He Suye smiled, his expression softening further, “I didn’t mean to. Alright, I have to go!”
He let go of her hand, and Shen Xifan smiled as she watched him get into the car. The car soon left the campus and disappeared in an instant. She stood there, smiling slightly. She thought to herself that the smile she had when parting from him must have been carefree and happy.
The unspoken “goodbye” was better left unsaid.
She casually went to the library to search for some materials. By the time she regained focus, over an hour had passed. She remembered their phone call agreement and hurried back.
As she walked along the small path, her heart was filled with sweetness, and her steps became lighter.
Suddenly, a sharp, loud sound broke the quiet of the campus, startling her. She quickly turned her head and saw a couple not far away. The man was standing still, covering his face with a blank expression, while the woman quickly turned and ran off.
She was about to laugh it off, but when she saw the man’s face up close, her smile immediately faded. The red handprint on his face was striking and unsettling. She quickly asked, “Lin Yishen, what happened?”
Lin Yishen gave a bitter smile. “I must really look pathetic, and you saw it all. Forget it. Do you have any ice packs or something to put on my face? Otherwise, I won’t be able to go out tomorrow and face anyone.”
Shen Xifan sighed. “I have some, but I can’t just take you in without a reason. You’ll have to tell me what happened!”
Back in the dorm, as Shen Xifan searched for some ice, she asked, “What happened?”
Lin Yishen waved his hand dismissively. “Just a small accident, a little story. It’s actually quite simple. My family arranged a marriage for me without asking me.” He took the cold towel Shen Xifan handed him, pressing it to his face and hissing as the coolness seeped in.
“So, I didn’t agree, and then I got slapped by a certain young lady, saying she wanted to cut ties with me. Well, if she really cuts ties, I guess I’ll have earned back the cost of that slap.”
Shen Xifan laughed. “Who knows if it was your family’s doing or if you caused it yourself? You can never trust what men say!”
Lin Yishen glared at her. “I’m telling the truth. If there’s a single lie in what I’ve said, let heaven and earth be my witnesses.”
Shen Xifan shook her head, skeptical. “There’s no such thing as a half-truth. It’s obvious you’re just trying to fool me!”
Suddenly, her phone rang, and she jumped up, shouting, “I’ll get it, my phone.”
Lin Yishen teased, “Take it easy, it’s not like the phone’s going to run away. Could it be your boyfriend calling? You’re so eager!”
Shen Xifan smiled at his teasing as she answered the phone. On the other end came a familiar voice. “I’ve returned to the dorm, hope I didn’t wake you.”
“No, I just got back myself!” she replied, but then realized the atmosphere felt a little off. She hurriedly added, “I ran into an old senior and chatted for a bit, so I just got back.”
The voice on the other end chuckled. “Don’t be so nervous. I wasn’t going to say anything, just worried about your safety. Get some rest and sleep early, little one. Goodnight.”
She murmured a vague “goodnight” and hung up, suddenly feeling a bit frustrated. She wanted to talk to him a little more, but wasn’t sure where to begin. Letting out a soft sigh, she thought to herself that women really did seem to lose their intelligence when they were in love.
Behind her, Lin Yishen’s voice came with a hint of amusement. “Little junior, now that you have a boyfriend, you’ve completely forgotten about your old senior. So unloyal.”
Shen Xifan raised an eyebrow. “How did you know? I don’t think I was so direct when I rejected you.”
“I saw you two holding hands and being all sweet in the supermarket,” Lin Yishen replied with a grin, though his expression seemed more resigned than anything. “I figured it out then, and saw it again today. Everyone knows, except you.”
She didn’t respond, just took the towel from him. “Do you want me to change it for you?”
Lin Yishen stood up and affectionately ruffled her hair. “Junior, you better make the most of this. You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t start thinking about serious matters soon, you’ll be entering the ranks of older single women.”
Shen Xifan turned her face away, not wanting to hear it. “You’re not saying anything serious!”
He laughed. “I’m not joking. By the way, what’s that delicious smell coming from your kitchen?”
She immediately realized. “Oh, it’s red bean soup. Do you want a bowl?”
The fragrant red bean soup was served up, and Lin Yishen took a deep breath, praising, “It’s a blessing to get such authentic soup in a foreign country.”
Shen Xifan sighed lightly, speaking to herself more than to him. “Sometimes, everything feels too perfect, too unreal, but I desperately want to hold on to it. Yet, I keep reminding myself to let things flow naturally. If I get it, it’s my luck; if not, it’s my fate. Maybe, like many people say, love is like sand. The tighter you grip, the faster it slips away.”
“Bullshit!” Lin Yishen tapped her on the head. “It’s red beans, hold them tight, they won’t slip out. Though, it might feel a little rough, it’ll always remind you. When the time comes, the water boils, and you toss the red beans in—then, you’ll have red bean soup, a love that’s been slowly simmered, and two people’s love will have finally come to fruition.”
Shen Xifan smiled slightly. She suddenly felt that many things in life unfold naturally. Whether it was love or marriage, when the time came, it was meant to happen. It all boiled down to fate.
Even though she met him at the tail end of her youth, she didn’t think it was too late. When the time was right, the outcome was always meant to be.
As for the answer, deep down, she had already made up her mind.
