As spring arrived in March, the weather took an unusual turn. The air grew exceptionally humid, and a persistent mist hung in the sky, making it difficult even to breathe.
Lately, Shen Xi Fan had been dealing with itchy bumps on her arm that no ointment seemed to cure.
It had been a while since she’d seen He Su Ye. Qiu Tian mentioned that he was busy working on a new drug, pushing himself to exhaustion. “Even a mule has it easier than him,” Qiu Tian had said. Holding her medical record, Shen Xi Fan sighed. She didn’t want to bother him and decided to go straight to the dermatology department instead.
* * *
At the dermatology department, she regretted her decision. The doctor barely glanced at her arm before scribbling out a prescription in seconds. Staring at the prescription, Shen Xi Fan felt uneasy. Can this medicine really work?
Lost in thought at the payment counter, she suddenly heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw Qiu Tian in a white coat, holding a stack of medical files. He looked the part of a benevolent healer, though he was still a far cry from He Su Ye.
“Got a cold? Fever? Or just the usual headache?” Qiu Tian teased as he approached.
Shen Xi Fan shook her head and rolled up her sleeve. “Take a look at this—what is it? It’s so itchy!”
Qiu Tian frowned. “Why not just go to Jian Jian Jiao?”. “It’s eczema. Three doses of Chinese medicine will fix it right up. These hormone-based creams aren’t great, and you can’t use them for long.”
“Can’t you prescribe it for me?” She handed him the medical record. “He Su Ye is so busy right now, I didn’t want to trouble him!”
Qiu Tian’s face twitched. “Miss, I’m a cardiologist. My knowledge of Chinese medicine is sketchy at best. If I prescribe something for you, I’ll just embarrass myself. Jian Jian Jiao is in the university lab across the street. Send him a text, and he’ll come running.”
Shen Xi Fan laughed. “If he scolds me for disrupting his work, I’m coming back to blame you!”
Qiu Tian blinked mischievously. “Go ahead—he’ll be thrilled.”
* * *
It was her first time visiting He Su Ye’s university. The old campus was run-down, with weeds growing along the paths. A few aging school buses were parked by the roadside, where elderly professors sat inside chatting and laughing. She wandered around, curious, moving from the Baicao Pavilion to the dormitory area.
But when she finished exploring, she was stumped. None of the old buildings were labeled, and two of them looked like potential labs. Which one is it? Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to He Su Ye but received no reply.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in the corridor. Spotting her, Fang Ke Xin stopped, looking slightly surprised. “Do you need something?”
Feeling awkward, Shen Xi Fan gestured to the two buildings. “Fang Ke Xin, which one is the lab?”
Realization dawned on Fang Ke Xin. “Are you here to see Senior Brother? The lab is in the building on the right, but it’s not open to just anyone. Did you call him?”
“I sent a message, but he hasn’t replied,” Shen Xi Fan explained.
“I’ll go call him for you. Wait here.”
Before long, He Su Ye appeared, walking out with Fang Ke Xin. He looked exhausted, his once-bright eyes shadowed by dark circles.
Shen Xi Fan wanted to laugh at first, but as he stood before her, smiling, an inexplicable wave of sadness hit her.
“What’s up?” He Su Ye asked with a gentle smile.
“Oh—well…” Shen Xi Fan quickly pointed to her arm. “I went to the dermatology department, and then I ran into Qiu Tian. He said Chinese medicine would work better and told me to come to you. Also, I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.”
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