Still hesitant, she asked, “But won’t the medicine take too long to work? I’ve been really busy at work lately.”
The doctor kindly suggested, “For colds like yours, TCM works faster. Why not register with the TCM internal medicine department?”
Shen Xi Fan followed his advice, but the TCM building was unusually crowded. Young expectant mothers and elderly patients filled the waiting area. After submitting her medical record at the front desk, she sat down to wait her turn.
The bitter scent of herbal medicine wafted from the pharmacy across the hall, mingled with warm steam. Already drowsy, Shen Xi Fan felt the heaviness in her body intensify. Her thoughts drifted hazily to her university days when she had been sick before.
Back then, she was still Dai Heng’s beloved. He doted on her, cared for her, and worried about her. A sniffle or cough from her would have him fretting for hours. One winter during her sophomore year, she caught a serious cold.
She remembered how Dai Heng skipped classes to accompany her to the hospital for IV drips. The icy liquid flowing into her veins made her arm cold, so Dai Heng used his hand to warm hers. She leaned against his shoulder, half-asleep, praying the IV would drip slower just so she could stay close to him.
When she had no appetite, he cooked vegetable porridge in the dormitory and wrapped it in warm clothes to bring to her, feeding her spoonful by spoonful while he made do with cold leftovers from the cafeteria. Before leaving, he would kiss her gently, unbothered by the risk of catching her cold.
But later, he didn’t want her anymore. He was with another girl, and she could no longer hold onto his heart. The day after their breakup, she ended up in the hospital again after being caught in the rain all day. This time, there was no one to accompany her. She paid the fees and went for the IV by herself, sending Dai Heng a message: “I’m sick. Can you come see me?” His reply was blunt: “Shen Xi Fan, we have no relationship anymore. Why are you still clinging to me?”
Tears fell onto her hand as the IV dripped into her veins. She told herself silently, It’s true. I’m alone now. But I have to live well on my own. Still, why do I miss the warmth of being sick by your side so much?
* * *
She jolted awake when someone called her name. Her vision blurred momentarily, and she realized her eyes were damp. Turning her head, she was startled.
“Dr. He…”
He Su Ye looked surprised, then spoke gently. “The nurse called you several times, but no one answered. It’s already noon, and everyone else is gone. I came out and found you here. Are you unwell?”
Sniffling exaggeratedly, she replied, “I have a fever!”
Dr. He chuckled. “A fever makes you cry? Come in, I’ll take a look at you.”
Shen Xi Fan stared at him blankly for a moment before getting up to follow him. His broad shoulders exuded a reassuring presence.
“It’s just a simple fever,” He Su Ye reassured her. “Not SARS. Can you stop crying now?”
She felt embarrassed. “I’m really sorry for troubling you, Dr. He.”
“It’s no trouble. It’s just an external fever. A couple of doses of herbal medicine will fix it.”
“External fever? Ma Huang Gui Zhi Tang?” she muttered to herself.
He Su Ye laughed out loud. “You can’t take that. It’s too strong. If it induces sweating, your body is too weak to handle it. How do you know about that prescription?”
She hesitated, slightly embarrassed. “I translated some TCM materials during university. I had to consult many books to find it, so it stuck in my memory.”
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