"Not good!" Qiu Tian looked unexpectedly sober, his words firm and clear. "Originally, we were supposed to return to China after two years of government-sponsored study. But Zhang Yi Ling was determined to stay in the U.S. Unfortunately, the school here wouldn’t provide the necessary documentation, and Baylor didn’t recognize her medical undergraduate degree. She had no choice but to switch to studying bioengineering. Since it wasn’t her field, I heard she really struggled."
"Oh?" He Su Ye raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you’re not too clear on the details either."
Qiu Tian splashed water on his face, took a deep breath, and replied, "Back then, I was so busy I could barely think about anyone else. Besides, you know how things were between me and Zhang Yi Ling—we were practically enemies."
He Su Ye sighed. "Her personality always gets in her way."
Qiu Tian stared at He Su Ye’s reflection in the mirror for a long moment before deciding to continue. "If you still had feelings for Zhang Yi Ling, you wouldn’t be here today. I’ve always known you two wouldn’t work out, but back then, you almost ended our friendship because of her."
A lump seemed to form in He Su Ye’s throat, an uncomfortable heat rising. Turning his back to Qiu Tian, he sincerely said, "Thank you."
Qiu Tian grinned and playfully pinched him. "When are you going to find a wife so I can meet her? Let your future son call me godfather!"
As they left the hotel, the weather had turned gloomy, with snow seemingly imminent. The pedestrians hurried along the streets. Pulling up his collar, He Su Ye let the cold wind clear his head.
The slight buzz from the alcohol reminded him of the stack of exams waiting for correction and that Shen Xi Fan would be coming over later to deliver the documents. On his way home, he stopped by a supermarket and bought green beans, black beans, and red beans, intending to make porridge for dinner.
Cooking porridge was an art—a balance of boiling and simmering. First, it needed to be boiled on high heat until bubbling, then reduced to a low flame to thicken gradually. The pot couldn’t be left unattended. After cooking until tender, the porridge needed to rest for two hours to achieve the perfect consistency. When making bean porridge, water should be added to the boiling beans several times before the rice is added. This “shock” method helped the beans bloom properly before combining them with the rice.
Settling into the kitchen, He Su Ye began grading papers, sighing repeatedly at the students’ submissions. They left him both exasperated and amused. He contemplated writing a post on a forum later to "motivate" the students who would inevitably face make-up exams.
Night had fallen, and when he glanced out the window, large snowflakes were gently drifting down. Overcome with excitement, he opened the window to get a better look. The cold wind, mixed with snow, rushed in and vanished in the warm kitchen steam.
He wondered if Shen Xi Fan had brought an umbrella. She’ll probably show up with snow all over her head and complain pitifully, "He Su Ye, it’s snowing!"
His premonition was spot on. Just as he was about to ladle the porridge, the doorbell rang. When he opened it, there she stood, grinning from ear to ear, her entire body dusted with snow. Her bright, dark eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "He Su Ye, it’s snowing!"
He ushered her into the living room, where she immediately pulled out a neatly wrapped stack of documents from a plastic bag. Carefully inspecting them, she smiled. "Thankfully, they didn’t get wet. Look, I’ve finished translating everything—just need your help with the technical terms."
He couldn’t help but chuckle. "Have you eaten yet? I made porridge—want some?"
After dinner, Shen Xi Fan took the remaining documents, pulled a large bag over, and retrieved a tiny laptop. She began typing rapidly, the sound of her fingers dancing across the keyboard filling the room. Her speed was impressive, as if the letters and words were eager to leap onto the screen.
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