When Shen Xi Fan returned home, her mother was gleefully boasting to her father about the success of the blind date.
She quickly interrupted, and her mother gave her a skeptical look. “You spent so much time talking and laughing with him. Was it really just for a free meal?”
“Can’t a blind date just result in friendship instead of a relationship?”
Her mother gave a dry laugh. “Ha! That’s a fresh perspective. A blind date is a blind date—it’s not a networking event. It’s about pursuing a romantic relationship. If it works, you move forward. If it doesn’t, you pass!”
Shen Xi Fan was puzzled. “Pass?” Her father peeked his head out and helpfully corrected, “She means ‘pass’!”
Her mother slammed her urban newspaper onto the table. “No interruptions! No forming alliances! Let me finish!”
Her father’s head retreated immediately, and Shen Xi Fan sighed in defeat, lamenting inwardly. What kind of useless medicine did He Su Ye prescribe? It clearly didn’t work on my mom!
She mulled over his name—He Su Ye. What an odd name. Who names their child after traditional Chinese medicine?
Resting her head on the table, she opened a vocabulary book in front of her, but her thoughts wandered uncontrollably. Soon, the scratch paper beside her was filled with He Su Ye’s name. Frustrated and embarrassed, she quickly scribbled over them, trying to compose herself as she moved to the window.
The night was serene. The moon shone brightly, and countless lights twinkled from homes where everyone was busy with their own lives. Time trickled by, and everything unfolded as it should—happening, ending, and becoming memories.
But was there a way to know what would happen next? For example, what might happen with Yan Heng?
There was no point thinking about him—it led nowhere. But how could she forget those memories? The intense love, the excruciating heartbreak, the tears that turned her world upside down, and the slivers of hope that ultimately shattered.
Even now, did she still secretly hope he would come back?
Fool. Three years ago, she was a fool. Was she about to become a fool she despised all over again?
* * *
The next day, Shen Xi Fan arrived at the office to find a bouquet of tulips on her desk. Surprised, she picked up the card. The handwriting was all too familiar: Dai Heng.
A wave of inexplicable irritation washed over her. Pushing the large bouquet aside, she sat in a daze.
Xu Xiang Ya noticed and practically turned green with envy as she picked up the flowers to admire. “How much would this bouquet cost? So extravagant!”
Shen Xi Fan got up to make tea without even turning around. “If you like it, you can have it.”
Xu Xiang Ya ignored the comment and teased, “Who’s Dai Heng? Where did you snag such a rich suitor, Xi Fan?”
Shen Xi Fan smirked mischievously and changed the subject. “Rich? What kind of rich? A green-haired turtle? Does it belong in a museum or an aquarium? How much per pound?”
Xu Xiang Ya gasped dramatically. “Wow, did I hit a nerve? Manager Cheng is looking for you to get your thoughts on the banquet proposal. You better go. Are you really giving up the flowers?”
Plucking a single purple bud, Shen Xi Fan handed over the rest. “All yours. You know I don’t like flowers.”
Xu Xiang Ya shook her head. “Nonsense! You love tulips. I bet this Dai Heng person did something to upset you, and now you’re taking it out on the flowers. Such a shame!”
Shen Xi Fan said nothing. It wasn’t that she hated Yan Heng as a person—she was just annoyed by his actions. What was he trying to do? Express regret? Rekindle something? Yet there was a small, inexplicable flicker of joy in her heart.
She felt conflicted, as if tangled in a mess of threads, needing a sharp blade to cut through it.
One thing, however, was clear: she wouldn’t be a fool again.
For five days straight, Yan Heng sent tulips of different colors. Shen Xi Fan knew these flowers were air-shipped in winter, as they weren’t commonly available at local markets. His grand gestures left her wondering about his intentions.
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