“Bear with it. Be good,” he reassured her. He proceeded with the Chengshan, Sanjiaoshu, Shenshu, and Qihai points.
Though his hands were skilled, he hesitated slightly while treating Shen Xi Fan. Watching her faint frown, he worried about causing her pain, even though he knew the needles were rounded and minimally invasive. Still, he couldn’t help but feel concerned every time she flinched.
After about twenty minutes, Shen Xi Fan gradually regained feeling in her body. The cold, dragging pain in her lower abdomen eased, and color began to return to her face. He Su Ye gently removed the needles, pulled her clothes back down, and asked, “How do you feel now?”
Shen Xi Fan exhaled in relief. “Much better, thank you.”
He smiled, cleaned the needles with alcohol wipes, and put them away. “Rest for a while. I’m going out to buy something and will be back soon.”
After he left, Shen Xi Fan hugged the pillow and lay on the bed, her curiosity piqued as she looked around his home. It was neat and clean, just like him. She couldn’t sit still for long, so she slipped on her shoes and wandered around. She noticed his study, with a laptop on the desk, stacks of medical books, and an array of herbal specimens.
Walking over to the desk, she saw a stack of documents in English. As she skimmed through them, she recognized the logo of the University of Pennsylvania. Her expression shifted when she realized the papers were doctoral application forms. Was He Su Ye planning to study abroad?
* * *
Outside, He Su Ye realized in his haste he had forgotten to take an umbrella. Luckily, the rain had mostly stopped. As he approached the supermarket, his phone rang. Seeing it was Li Jie, he quickly answered.
Li Jie sounded exasperated. “Master, it’s nearly noon. Why haven’t you arrived yet?”
He Su Ye chuckled and explained, “Something came up. I won’t make it. Please apologize to Andy for me.”
Li Jie sighed. “He’s got his eye on you. How can you not show up? Oh well, I know you’ll handle it. Just make sure you explain things to the boss later. I can’t cover for you this time.”
After ending the call, He Su Ye’s thoughts returned to the previous day’s conversation with Andy and his boss about the overseas posting. A wave of unease washed over him. He couldn’t shake his ties here, and leaving felt impossible. Maybe it was better to stay.
* * *
Meanwhile, Shen Xi Fan was still exploring the apartment. Hearing the sound of a key in the lock, she quickly dashed back to bed and lay down obediently. He Su Ye entered with bags in hand, smiled at her, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Before long, the apartment was filled with a warm, sweet scent, slightly pungent yet comforting. Shen Xi Fan, curious, watched as He Su Ye came over with a cup in hand. He offered it to her. “Drink this—it should help.”
She peered into the cup of reddish liquid, catching a hint of spicy ginger in the aroma. Taking a small sip, she exclaimed, “It smells amazing! What is this, He Su Ye?”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gazed at her intently. “It’s brown sugar ginger tea. Brown sugar is warm in nature and sweet in taste, nourishing the spleen and improving circulation. It warms the stomach, alleviates pain, and helps with blood flow. Since you got caught in the rain earlier, this tea will expel the cold and prevent you from catching a cold.”
She laughed. “He Su Ye, you always have these remedies up your sleeve. It tastes great!” She drank it in big gulps, warmth spreading through her body, her eyes misting slightly.
Since childhood, her monthly pains had always been unbearable. Knowing there was little she could do, she would endure it silently. But she had never imagined someone like He Su Ye would react so earnestly, treating her with such care. Even his acupuncture had been gentle. She felt cared for, tenderly protected—something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
It was like a cozy scarf on a winter day or a refreshing iced tea in summer. He Su Ye always appeared precisely when she needed him most. Watching his smile, with that deep single dimple, brought her peace.
Suddenly, she found herself wondering about the warmth of his hands. Would it match the perfect twenty-four degrees of a sunny afternoon?
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