Her apartment was small but impeccably tidy.
As Shen Xi Fan dropped her bag, she explained, “My roommate went to her host family’s for dinner. There’s chicken soup in the rice cooker, and maybe some vegetables in the fridge. If there’s nothing, we could always try the student cafeteria, though I’m not sure which ones are open.”
He Su Ye simply smiled without responding, which made her uneasy. Just as she was about to question him, he gently pinched her cheek and teased, “You really have gained some weight, haven’t you, little one?”
Flustered, she turned her face away, only to find herself pulled into a warm embrace. She instinctively tried to wriggle free but froze at the sound of his low, tired voice murmuring near her ear, “Don’t move. Let me hold you for a moment—I’m so tired.”
There was a faint lemony scent on him, mixed with a quiet weariness that tugged at her heart. She raised her head to look at his face, noticing that he seemed thinner than he had six months ago. Dark circles framed his eyes.
Sighing softly, she tightened her arms around his waist. Finally, she voiced the question that had been pressing on her mind, “Why are you here?”
His lips curled into a gentle smile. “To see you. I’m working at Penn’s CVI Institute now.”
“When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“I arrived in August. I wanted to see you right away, but I took on a project and couldn’t find the time. So it kept getting delayed until now.”
She muttered under her breath, “Isn’t this what they call following your spouse’s lead?”
He laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from her ear. “I guess you could call it that.”
They prepared dinner together. As soon as the oil started heating in the pan, Shen Xi Fan frowned.
“Oh no! I just remembered I lent my apron to someone in the next dorm. Never mind, I’ll do the cooking!”
He stopped her. “It’s fine. Let me handle it. I haven’t cooked in a while—I’m curious if my skills have gotten rusty.”
As he spoke, he cracked an egg into the pan. Immediately, the oil sputtered, sending tiny droplets onto his white shirt.
Shen Xi Fan gasped, “Oil! Oil! Your shirt—it’s ruined!”
“You’re always making a fuss, aren’t you, little one?” he said with a chuckle, picking up the diced tomatoes. “It’s just a little oil. Anyone who cooks gets some on them. Go check if the soup in the rice cooker is ready.”
Obediently, she ladled half a bowl of chicken soup, added a pinch of salt, and brought it to him.
“Try this and tell me if it’s seasoned well.”
With the spatula in one hand and soy sauce in the other, he leaned down slightly to taste the soup she held up to his lips.
“Hmm, it’s just right. Go ahead and serve it.”
She suddenly broke into a smile and quickly turned her head to hide it. He noticed and asked curiously, “What’s so funny?”
She shook her head, saying nothing, but her heart felt warm, and her eyes moistened slightly. The chicken soup tasted perfect—its saltiness balanced, its flavor dancing on her tongue, leaving a lasting impression. The man in front of her loved her enough to cook for her and wouldn’t even let her touch anything messy.
The word “old married couple” had flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.
It really did feel that way.
Her past relationship with Yan Heng had been like that of two naive children, chasing romance and excitement every day. Their love had been like fireworks streaking across the sky—brilliant yet fleeting. A single gust of wind could scatter it.
But life was life. Romance and passion alone could never sustain a lifetime of love.
Loving someone quietly and steadily, like this gentle man, was more suited to her. He was, she realized, her perfect cup of tea.
They made three dishes: tomato and egg stir-fry, lettuce with oyster sauce, and beef strips with green peppers.
As she picked up a piece of food, Shen Xi Fan sighed.
“This is probably the most authentic Chinese meal I’ve had since coming to the U.S. I’m too lazy to cook for myself, so I always eat at the cafeteria—and I’ve gained weight without realizing it.”
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