Chapter 5: Smells Like Flowers
The old lady’s expression was complicated.
Just as she was about to say something, she heard Fu Sizhuo say, “Someone with a beautiful smile, who likes to wear dresses, and who has a floral scent on her.”
Zhou Qinglan didn’t react right away. “What?”
Fu Sizhuo raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you asking me about my ideal type?”
“A beautiful smile, likes to wear dresses, and has a floral scent…” The old lady repeated the description, then picked up a pillow and threw it at Fu Sizhuo.
“Are you trying to steal an empress from Emperor Qianlong? Didn’t I tell you to watch less of My Fair Princess when you were a kid?”
Despite her words, for the sake of her grandson’s lifelong happiness, Grandma Zhou diligently set out to find a girl who had a beautiful smile, loved to wear dresses, and had a floral scent.
The result of her excessive diligence was—
Xiao Chun used her hands to sign to Xiao Tao, “Why is this old lady following our boss around so much these past few days? It’s so weird!”
Xiao Tao nodded heavily in full agreement, but she signed, “But she’s also so rich!”
The flowers she’s bought these past few days are almost worth 100,000 yuan.
“What kind of body wash do you use, little girl? It smells so nice,” Zhou Qinglan asked with a beaming smile.
“Grandma, this is the third time you’ve asked,” Shen Zhuying said helplessly. She had no choice but to repeat, “It’s not body wash. It’s the scent of the flowers.”
“Oh, the scent of flowers,” the old lady’s smile grew even wider.
“That’s great. What kind of flowers? I’ll buy some to take home today.”
“Grandma, the flowers you’ve bought over the past few days are enough to last a long time. Buying more would just be a waste. Can we sell them to you next time?”
Zhou Qinglan waved her hand. “You don’t need to save my money for me. I have plenty.”
She pointed to the most expensive magnolias in the store. “Wrap this up for me. Wrap up as many as you have.”
Shen Zhuying had been going back and forth with her for days and knew she couldn’t win, so she just did as she was told.
Xiao Chun and Xiao Tao saw that they had made another big sale and excitedly high-fived each other before quickly starting to wrap the flowers.
Shen Zhuying’s shop doesn’t just sell flowers.
It operates as a “flower shop + bookstore” and also sells a few simple kinds of coffee.
The old lady saw that Shen Zhuying was busy, so she didn’t disturb her. Instead, she put on her glasses and sat at a wooden table and chair to read a book.
After finishing her work, Shen Zhuying looked over and saw large clusters of violets hanging down, with sunlight spilling onto the old woman’s silver-white hair.
She looked like a noble and elegant Persian cat.
Shen Zhuying took out her phone and quietly pressed the shutter.
Although this old lady liked to pester her with questions like, “Do you like to wear dresses?”, “What kind of body wash do you use?”, and “Young lady, you have such a beautiful smile,” she never bothered her when she was busy. She only waited until she was free to talk to her.
For some reason, Shen Zhuying really liked her.
Then, very suddenly, Shen Zhuying thought of Fu Sizhuo.
He had sent her a WeChat message a few days ago, saying he had to go on a last-minute business trip and might not be able to pick up his clothes for a few days.
She remembered his current profession, a diplomat.
It was, of course, a job that required frequent business trips.
But Shen Zhuying also remembered that in her senior year of high school, the school required every student to write their future ideal profession on a wish wall.
He had written “band drummer and lead singer.”
Not everyone can have their ideal career.
This was indeed a completely normal thing.
But… why was he a diplomat now?
Shen Zhuying remembered that his worst subject used to be English.
Realizing her mind was wandering again, Shen Zhuying rubbed her temples, picked up a watering can, and began to water the flowers.
After Shen Zhuying finished watering, the old lady came over again.
“Young lady, I know a young man who’s super, super handsome,” the old lady said with a beaming smile. “Do you want to meet him? You two would be a perfect match.”
Shen Zhuying couldn’t believe that besides being pressured to marry by Mrs. Shen, she was now also being pressured by a grandma she had just met.
She couldn’t help but start to reflect—
Was she getting old recently?
It seemed like she’d have to put on two more face masks tonight.
She naturally and flatly refused the old lady’s kind offer.
The last blind date had left her with a huge psychological scar.
She never wanted to deal with blind dates again in her life.
Fu Sizhuo’s business trip lasted for almost a month.
When he returned to the country, the Wu Tong street was already covered with fallen sycamore leaves, making the ancient street look even more desolate.
Only the flower shop on the corner was an exception, with its bright and brilliant flowers blooming in a riot of color, full of life and vitality.
It was as if spring had taken up permanent residence there.
He pushed the door open, and the purple wind chimes tinkled as a girl’s cheerful and lively voice called out, “Welcome to Hua Jian Ji—”
Shen Zhuying’s long hair was tied into a scorpion braid with a light blue silk scarf, and her eyes were curved into crescents as she smiled at the person entering.
Then, Fu Sizhuo watched as the girl’s smile quickly froze in her eyes the moment she saw him.
Tsk.
Fu Sizhuo looked at her, his voice containing a hint of teasing. “What’s wrong? Am I not welcome?”
“Of course you are.” Shen Zhuying put down her scissors and went to wash her hands.
“It’s been so long. I thought you had forgotten…”
“…that you left a piece of clothing with me.”
“Clothing?” Fu Sizhuo was noncommittal.
He had actually forgotten.
He had just gotten off the plane, saw someone selling flowers at the airport, and suddenly had a strong desire to see her.
“Wait a moment.” Shen Zhuying shook the water from her hands.
“I’ll go get your clothes.” After Shen Zhuying left, only two young girls were left at the front desk, staring at him excitedly.
There was also a ginger cat, lounging lazily on a cat tree, which gave him an arrogant glance before looking away.
One of the young girls handed him a piece of paper with shaky handwriting that read: “Are you a blind date or the boss’s husband?”
A blind date or the boss’s husband?
Did he have to choose one?
Fu Sizhuo wrote: “Neither.”
“Ah…”
The two young girls were visibly disappointed.
Fu Sizhuo thought for a moment, then wrote: Do you ask every customer who comes here that question?
The two girls shook their heads like a drum, and wrote: “Only you.”
Fu Sizhuo was visibly pleased. He paused his pen and added the word “temporarily” before the phrase “neither of them.”
After Fu Sizhuo got his clothes, Shen Zhuying thought he would leave right away, but she didn’t expect him to show any intention of leaving. Instead, he found a book, sat on the sofa, and started reading slowly.
The man was tall and elegant, meticulously dressed from his hairstyle to his clothes. It looked completely out of place for him to be curled up on a small sofa reading.
Most importantly—
He attracted more attention than the flowers in the shop. After only about ten minutes, several girls came to chat with him.
Shen Zhuying endured until the fifth one, then couldn’t hold back anymore. She pulled the man over and told him to go read in her usual resting place.
Fu Sizhuo had flown to almost half the globe in the last month and was extremely exhausted. Now, half-lying on the swaying rattan chair, listening to the girl’s occasional cheerful “Welcome,” and basking in the warm autumn sun, he fell into a daze and drifted off to sleep.
