Chapter 27.3 - Ginseng 当归
The boundless darkness and loneliness surrounded her, the sound of the howling wind and falling snow filling her ears. Time seemed endless in her drowsy consciousness. In her dream, the figure walked through the heavy snowfall, his beautiful face unchanged, yet an icy aura emanated from him, pushing her away from a distance, lifeless and distant.
She desperately ran towards him, a cold fear gripping her thoughts. She felt the distance between them was so close, so close that she could almost reach out and touch him; yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reach him. She watched helplessly as he slowly faded away, his footprints vanishing as if he had never been there at all.
She called out his name, begging him not to leave her alone. Desperate longing filled the space around her.
The world seemed vast and empty, with no response. The only thing in front of her was the deep white snow still falling, and the harsh, rasping sound of the wind that pierced her ears. She was left standing alone in the snow, with no idea where to go.
She didn’t even know how to cry, it felt as though she had become numb.
Gradually, word by word, she heard the anxious, deep voice calling her, “Girl, wake up, what’s wrong?”
A warm tear slid down from the corner of her eye, falling into her hair. In her blurry vision, she saw the man frowning, his eyes full of worry and concern.
She couldn’t say anything, only tears uncontrollably flowed down her face, not just because of the nightmare, but because all the depression and longing from these days poured out. His embrace was as warm as ever. At that moment, she had only one thought—why was she always so fragile and so prone to crying in front of him?
Outside the window, the heavy snow turned the entire night sky into a beautiful shade of blue, like the finest feathers of a white bird’s wings gracefully falling. It was so beautiful it couldn’t be described.
Everything in the world became vivid and beautiful, all because of the man in front of her. In that instant, she finally understood how important he was.
When she had calmed down, He Suye asked, “How many days has it been since you slept? You have a fever due to exhaustion. When Lin Yishen described your condition on the phone, it really scared me.”
“Lin Yishen?” Shen Xifan widened her eyes, “He called you? How does he know you?”
“Because I’m his maternal uncle’s third aunt’s son’s cousin’s younger cousin—” Lin Yishen pushed the door open and entered, smiling as he finished the sentence, “Surprised? Turns out we’re actually somewhat related.”
Shen Xifan turned to He Suye for help, and he nodded. “Actually, I’m not really sure how we’re related, but that’s the gist of it.”
No wonder she had seen them chatting so closely at the hotel before, and when Lin Yishen mentioned “your boyfriend,” he always had a sly smile. Now it all made sense—she carefully examined the two men in front of her. “You really do resemble each other!”
Lin Yishen smiled. “Now that the real boyfriend has arrived, I’ll leave so I don’t end up as the third wheel.”
He Suye held Shen Xifan down. “You lie here; I’ll go see him off.”
At the stairway, Lin Yishen waved his hand. “No need to send me off. Take good care of her. Don’t thank me too much!”
He Suye smiled, a little apologetic and a little relieved, and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
Lin Yishen pursed his lips, seemed to hesitate, then sighed lightly. “Forget it, forget it. We made everything clear before I went abroad. I just hope you don’t forget it.”
His eyes were bright, his voice soft but firm, “I will make her happy.”
Lin Yishen squinted at the heavy snow outside, a smile lingering on his lips, deep and lasting, as if he had just let go of a heavy burden.
After returning, Shen Xifan asked, “How did Lin Yishen find you? Doesn’t your dorm have no phone?”
He casually replied, “He found someone who knew me and came straight to the research institute.”
Shen Xifan lowered her head. “I’m sorry, He Suye. I really am such a troublemaker. I’m really sorry.”
Unexpectedly, a soft kiss landed on her forehead, full of warmth. He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked directly into her eyes. “I should be the one saying sorry.”
It was a peaceful, intimate moment, yet suddenly, her stomach growled loudly. She felt incredibly embarrassed. He Suye laughed, ruffling her messy hair, and said, “Put your clothes on, it’s time to eat.”
Perhaps because she had just had a fever, the plain porridge had no taste at all when it entered her mouth. She only ate half a bowl before she could no longer swallow any more. He Suye wouldn’t allow it. “Eat a little more. You still need to take medicine later. If your stomach is empty, the medicine won’t be absorbed well.”
She was immediately curious. “What medicine? Do I really need to take medicine? Isn’t the fever already gone?”
“You have a condition called virtual fatigue fever. Didn’t I tell you not to push yourself so hard? Your body was already weak, and now it’s worse after all this stress!” He Suye became a little anxious whenever the topic of her illness came up, his brows furrowed even deeper.
She was curious. “What kind of medicine do I need to take?”
“Gui Pi Decoction. It nourishes the heart and spleen, benefits qi, and helps blood production. It contains astragalus, poria, white atractylodes, licorice, longan, angelica, polygala, and goji berries.” He Suye sighed. “Go lie down for a bit. When you’re feeling better, I’ll wake you up to take the medicine.”
“But where did you get these herbs? Does America have Chinese medicine?”
“There’s a Chinese medicine store in Chinatown. Traditional Chinese medicine is very popular with the Chinese community there. By the way, today is the third day of the Chinese New Year. When I went to Chinatown today, it was very lively.”
She smiled lightly, somewhat childishly. “Did they have candied hawthorn, hot dumplings, and tangyuan? Were there dragon and lion dances, couplets, and Fu characters?”
“Missing home, huh?” He Suye pulled her hand over. “If you want to go, I’ll take you, but the atmosphere of the New Year is better in China.”
Shen Xifan felt a slight movement in her heart. The words were on her lips but she didn’t know how to express them. She gently picked up the herb called angelica, held it in her palm, and softly said, “In another six months, I’ll be like this. What about you?”
“Silly girl!” He Suye smiled to comfort her. “What do you think?”
Angelica, angelica… “The traveler is weary and longs to return home, missing the old house and high hall.” She couldn’t help but fall in love with the name.
Who, after all, gave this name to the herb? Was it the loving mother who waited day and night for her child to return, or the wife who longed for her husband to come back? But no matter who it was, that kind of feeling, that longing, went straight to the heart.
Maybe it was because she was truly exhausted, or maybe it was due to the effects of the Chinese medicine, but soon the drowsiness overtook her. In her hazy state, she felt someone softly kiss her lips. She chuckled faintly and fell back asleep.
And so, a dreamless night passed.
The next morning, she was awakened by the morning light.
The world was a blanket of white. The sun shone on the snow, casting a faint glow, so pure and elegant, so flawless. Shen Xifan exhaled gently, feeling an indescribable sense of lightness.
But with such heavy snow, how did He Suye make it here last night?
The scent of rice filled the kitchen, breaking her thoughts. She quickly shuffled to the kitchen, where she saw He Suye holding bowls and chopsticks. He asked, “You’re up? How do you feel now?”
She touched her forehead and sighed with relief. “I’m fine now. I feel much better. What are you making? It smells so good!”
“It’s vegetable porridge.” He Suye casually lifted the lid, and the fragrant aroma filled the air, making Shen Xifan take a few deep breaths. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Little girl, don’t get too absorbed in it. Go wash up first.”
The vegetable porridge tasted fresh and savory. One bowl wasn’t enough, so she refilled it. He Suye just smiled at her. “You don’t have to eat so quickly. Be careful, your stomach might feel uncomfortable.”
Because he made it himself, it tasted even better.
He had done so many things for her, but still felt it wasn’t enough. He was always concerned, always worried, always anxious about their future. This illness had come from those inner fears.
All those heavy academic tasks weren’t really a problem. The self-destructive lifestyle was just the loneliness plaguing her. It turned out that she had been suffering from homesickness because she missed someone. That’s why she felt lonely, afraid, restless, helpless, and out of control. And he was the medicine that healed her.
If she owed him so much love, she would spend her entire life repaying him.
She put down her chopsticks and looked at him with determined, honest eyes. She gently said, word by word, “He Suye, I want to be with you forever.”
His hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly, and then there was the crisp sound of the bowl and chopsticks clinking together. A complex emotion surfaced in his eyes—joy, touched, or something else. Shen Xifan couldn’t tell what it was, but she allowed him to stand up, walk in front of her, and gently embrace her.
He Suye whispered just one word in her ear, but it felt more moving and sincere than any grand promise.
He said, “Okay.”
A lifetime of commitment.
This winter, in a foreign land, she finally understood. In the world of love, happiness will always follow, and in the world of love, there will always be everlasting companionship, supporting each other.
She met him in the prime of her life, fell in love with him, and then decided to stay with him.
At this point, her life was complete, and there were no more regrets.
(End)
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