On her way back, Shen Xi Fan stopped by the library to look up some materials. By the time she realized how much time had passed, over an hour had gone by. Remembering her promise to call, she hurried back.
The sweetness in her heart made her steps lighter as she walked along the path.
Suddenly, a sharp, loud sound echoed behind her, startling her in the quiet campus. Turning around, she saw a man and a woman. The man was holding his face in shock while the woman ran off.
Initially, she wanted to laugh it off, but as the man approached, her smile faded. A glaring red handprint stood out vividly on his face. Alarmed, she called out, “Lin Yi Shen, what happened?”
Lin Yi Shen gave a wry smile. “This is embarrassing… and now you’ve seen it. Well, no point hiding it now. Do you have some ice? If I don’t cool this down, I won’t be able to show my face tomorrow.”
Sighing, Shen Xi Fan replied, “I do. But I’m not helping you without an explanation. Spill it.”
Back at her dorm, as she dug through the freezer for ice, she pressed him again, “So, what happened?”
Waving it off, he replied, “It’s nothing—just a minor incident. My family arranged a match for me without asking, and I refused. The ‘lady’ involved didn’t take it well and gave me a slap, saying we’re done for good. Honestly, if it’s over, at least I got my slap’s worth.”
Shen Xi Fan laughed. “How do I know whether it was your family’s fault or if you brought this on yourself? Men’s words can’t be trusted!”
Lin Yi Shen glared at her. “I’m telling the truth! Every word of it. If I lied, may I be struck down where I stand!”
She raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Isn’t that what liars always say?”
Just then, her phone rang. Jumping up, she exclaimed, “That’s my call!”
As she answered, Lin Yi Shen teased, “Slow down—it won’t run away. Is it your boyfriend? You’re so eager!”
Shen Xi Fan chuckled but didn’t respond. Picking up the call, she heard a familiar voice on the other end.
“I’m back at my dorm. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No, I just got back myself.” Realizing the situation felt off, she quickly explained, “I ran into an old senior and chatted for a bit, so I got delayed.”
The voice on the other end was calm. “Don’t be so nervous. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to check on you. Sleep early, okay? Goodnight, little one.”
She mumbled a quick “Goodnight” and hung up. Then a wave of regret washed over her—she wanted to talk longer but didn’t know what to say. Letting out a sigh, she thought to herself, It’s true—love really lowers a woman’s IQ.
From behind, Lin Yi Shen quipped, “Junior, you only smile for your new flame, leaving the old one in tears. Now that you’ve got a boyfriend, you’ve completely forgotten me. So unkind.”
Raising an eyebrow, she replied, “Oh, you knew? Funny, I didn’t think I was that blunt when I turned you down.”
“I saw you two at the supermarket. Hand in hand, all lovey-dovey.” He smirked but seemed resigned. “I knew back then, and seeing it again today confirmed it. Everyone knows—except you.”
Ignoring him, she took the towel. “Do you need a fresh one?”
Standing up, Lin Yi Shen affectionately ruffled her hair. “Junior, take care of him properly. You’re not that young anymore. If you don’t start thinking about marriage, you’ll be joining the ranks of ‘older single women.’”
Blushing, she turned away. “You never say anything serious!”
Laughing, he asked, “What’s that smell from your kitchen? It’s so fragrant.”
She suddenly remembered. “Oh! It’s red bean soup. Want a bowl?”
As he inhaled the aroma, he sighed in satisfaction. “In a foreign land, having such an authentic taste—it’s a blessing.”
Shen Xi Fan quietly replied, “Sometimes, it feels like everything is too good to be true. But I still want to hold on tightly. My heart tells me to go with the flow. If I have it, I’m fortunate. If I lose it, it’s fate. They say love is like sand—the tighter you grip, the faster it slips away.”
“Nonsense!” Lin Yi Shen gently tapped her head. “It’s not sand; it’s red beans. Hold them firmly, and they won’t slip away. Sure, they’re a bit rough, but they’ll always remind you they’re there. When the time is right, boil them, and you’ll have sweet red bean soup—love brewed to perfection. And then, the two of you will have your happy ending.”
Shen Xi Fan smiled softly. She realized that love and marriage, like everything else, came naturally when the time was right. It was all a matter of fate.
Even if she’d met him at the tail end of her youth, she didn’t feel it was too late. Because when the timing was perfect, the result was flawless.
As for her answer, she had quietly made up her mind.
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