They were talking about all sorts of trivial, everyday things: "What did you eat today? We had a really picky customer this morning... Remember to wear more clothes when it gets cold..."
He receives five or six such calls every day. No one knows how Sister Shengmiao manages to find the time to call, but the boss is clearly always happy. The feeling of being in love permeates the corners of her almond-shaped eyes, making anyone who sees her feel a surge of warmth.
Although she had only been working at the flower shop for less than half a year, Xiao Tang could clearly feel that the boss seemed to have changed. How should this change be described?
Xiao Tang thought and thought, racking his brains, when suddenly an idea struck him—
The original owner was probably like a bowl of lotus seed soup that had been left to cool down, with a faint, almost imperceptible bitterness from the lotus heart amidst its delicate fragrance. But now, two rock sugar pieces have been added to this bowl of lotus seed soup, masking the bitterness and leaving only a perfectly balanced sweetness...
The wind chimes at the shop entrance rang, and a woman wrapped tightly in a cotton-padded coat walked in. After removing her scarf, she had a face that was somewhat pretty, but the sorrow on her face overshadowed her natural beauty.
Xiao Tang couldn't help but lower her head and purse her lips. She knew this woman. Her name was Liu Chang. She was the boss's college roommate, a married white-collar worker with two children. She lived a so-so life, but whenever something went wrong, she would come to the boss to complain. She practically treated this place as a free emotional garbage can, dumping large amounts of negative energy.
Liu Chang: "...I said a long time ago that I'm not familiar with this kind of project, but he insisted on assigning it to me. I couldn't refuse no matter what. Now that I haven't done a good job, I'm being criticized in a company-wide notice. Isn't this just using me as a scapegoat?"
Xiao Tang brought her a glass of water expressionlessly. Liu Chang thanked her in a low voice, then looked at Xu Xingyan with envy and said, "You're so lucky. You can just stay at home and be a pampered young lady, protected from the wind and rain..."
Then she started her usual ramblings, talking about how she had to give up her dream of traditional Chinese painting because of reality and money, about her husband who left his socks lying around, about her child's kindergarten fees, and about the job she had to keep going...
When Xiao Tang first heard these stories, she felt a deep sympathy for her, because this was a life experience that most women had to face. But after listening to them seven or eight times, she inevitably grew tired of them.
But Xu Xingyan, who had heard the story far more often than she had, remained serious and looked at her classmate with a touch of pity for her, who had strived for her dream but ultimately failed. Her gaze was as if she were looking at a flower bud that had died before it could fully bloom.
Liu Chang couldn't help but shed tears, saying, "I went to see your gallery after get off work a few days ago. You've added a few new paintings, and you've improved so much, that's wonderful... I haven't had much time to paint lately, you know, I'm too busy with work, and my child is still young. You have to keep going, among our dormmates, you're the only one still moving forward..."
Xiao Tang then began to feel sorry for her again; perhaps... women are always more likely to feel sorry for other women.
Xu Xingyan has an art gallery in the city center. It's not very big, but the location is excellent, and every inch of land is precious. It's used to display the best of her recent paintings. She hasn't promoted it deliberately, but instead chooses to let time accumulate its depth. The tickets are inexpensive, and all the proceeds are donated to a congenital heart disease relief organization in the city.
Xiao Tang once visited the gallery by chance. His friend, who didn't know much about art, estimated the amount of money needed to maintain the gallery each year, which was indeed staggering.
Perhaps dreams and art themselves are expensive.
Liu Chang sat for more than half an hour. Before leaving, she bought a bunch of tulips. She held the glass of water that Xiao Tang poured for her in her hands but never drank it.
When she saw her off, Xu Xingyan took out two small bear toys from the cabinet as decorations and said gently, "These are for your little one to play with."
Liu Chang looked at the teddy bear and smiled for the first time that day. "You still like collecting these little dolls, just like when you were in school..."
Perhaps recalling her carefree student days was a pleasant thing for her, so she picked out another lily, as a way of supporting the florist's business.
The relationships between classmates after entering society are always like this: on the one hand, we miss the pure and simple past, and on the other hand, we consciously use the most worldly ways to get along.
"Sister Yan..." Xiao Tang watched as the boss slowly stretched his back and waist, his face showing signs of fatigue, and couldn't help but feel a little blaming Liu Chang.
She should deal with her own emotions, and if that doesn't work, she should see a therapist. Why is she always bothering her boss? Nobody owes anyone anything. This person is just taking advantage of the boss's good personality, gentle temperament, and fact that he rarely argues with people.
Easily reading through Xiao Tang's thoughts, Xu Xingyan chuckled: "Just think of her as a chatty guest. She has things on her mind but nowhere to say them."
The child is too young to understand his mother, and my parents are nearing retirement age, so I don't want them to worry unnecessarily. As for my husband, talking too much will affect our relationship... But keeping it all bottled up inside is also a form of intense self-depletion.
Liu Chang was quite clever to have been able to thrive in college. Her seeking out Xu Xingyan for advice didn't necessarily mean she trusted her old classmate; it was simply the most cost-effective option she had chosen after comparing various options.
Xiao Tang thought about it and realized that Ms. Liu Chang never left empty-handed; she would always buy a few flowers to take home, so he could treat her as a special customer.
But deep down, she couldn't help but become more cautious about marriage. It was better not to step into the "walled city" of marriage without being fully prepared.
In just a short while, when I looked up again, I found that Xu Xingyan had tidied up the table and was watching a video on her phone stand, with her index finger knuckle resting on her lower lip, giving off a strange feeling of studying and thinking.
Out of curiosity, Xiao Tang glanced at her phone screen. It was a video of a figure skating competition. Even though Xiao Tang didn't follow sports much, she felt that the athlete's power and movements were crisp and smooth. Despite her slender figure, she was full of muscle and power.
I've heard that most people who like competitive sports have a tendency to admire the strong. Xiao Tang took a closer look at his boss, and... well, he couldn't really tell.
"Ding-dong!"
When the notification sound for special attention rings out, leaving a trace of your lover's message is a silly thing that every couple in the throes of new love would do, and Xu Xingyan was no exception.
Just then, Baiyun received a phone call.
"Hello, Sister Yun," Xu Xingyan answered the phone.
Baiyun: "Yanyan, didn't you say last time that the dried longan from Xiamen is the best? I'm on a business trip here recently, do you want me to bring you a few pounds back?"
“Sure,” Xu Xingyan smiled and said with interest, “It’s perfect for distributing to each family during the New Year. How many can you bring?”
Bai Yun laughed and scolded on the other end of the phone: "You really want me to be your personal shopper? If you buy ten or eight pounds, do you expect me to carry it all back for you? Dream on!"
Xu Xingyan laughed along, deliberately using a spoiled tone to say, "Then I want eighteen pounds. Send it to me by express delivery, cash on delivery is fine..."
After chatting briefly with Baiyun and hanging up the phone, Xu Xingyan immediately opened the photo Lin Shengmiao had sent her—a large yellow maple leaf covered with writing.
Upon closer inspection, it is a very old poem.
When You Are Old – Yeats
Xu Xingyan was taken aback and covered her eyes shyly, but a bright smile still spilled from the corners of her lips, more stunning than any flower in the world.
These past few days, she has often sent Lin Shengmiao some beautiful flower photos. This morning, on a whim, she took a picture of a somewhat withered rose for her.
She admitted that she had some ulterior motives at the time. Flowers, like people, go through a process from birth to budding, from full bloom to withering, until the day they finally fade away.
So, when I'm old, and the beauty I once scoffed at is covered by wrinkles, and the youth I squandered is gone forever, will you still love me as you did at the beginning?
Lin Shengmiao's answer was obvious—
My dear, don't worry. Love that has been tempered by time will remain fresh and steadfast. When our hair turns gray and we grow old, the firelight from the fireplace will illuminate the wrinkles on our faces, and that will be a testament to our love.
--------------------
Author's Note:
Xu Xingyan: Spinning around happily!
Chapter 35 The World of Gossip
"Sweet oranges on sale! Bargain sale! Six pounds for ten yuan, or your money back..."
Vendors riding electric tricycles passed by the hotel, and the approaching New Year atmosphere in Kyoto began to emerge, making this year's Spring Festival particularly anticipated.
"Are you all packed? Time to go to work..." Tao Jie from the next room knocked on the door and asked.
Lin Shengmiao opened the door and let her in, then put on the remaining earring. The two of them were old partners and were very familiar with each other's style and skill level.
"It's so different when you're in a relationship. Before, I was never the one to knock on your door. I was always woken up by the noise of you going out to work out early in the morning."
Tao Jie leaned against the dressing table and yawned, pointing to the faint dark circles under her eyes and asking, "What time did you video chat with her until last night? You have such dark circles under your eyes..."
"Around one in the morning," Lin Shengmiao said, looking more energetic than Tao Jie, who hadn't stayed up all night. "...I didn't really pay attention to the time."
Young couples are so engrossed in their sweet chatter that they hardly notice how quickly time flies by.
However, when Lin Shengmiao saw the chat duration this morning, besides worrying about Xu Xingyan's health from staying up late, another thought popped into her head: if Luo Jing found out, she'd probably have another reason to be hunted down. But let her be; she needs to learn to care for her sister…
As their relationship progressed, Lin Shengmiao felt he had become much more tolerant of Luo Jing.
Moreover, whether it was because she was in high spirits or just her imagination, she felt that the colleagues she met on this project were all very easy to get along with. Even a very arrogant senior colleague had become amiable this time.
But when she told Tao Jie how she felt, she was met with ridicule.
"You really don't know?" Tao Jie laughed so hard she almost fell to the ground.
"What a waste of the outfits Xu Xingyan picked out for you! That woman, Ge Luoyu, is such a snob. Haven't you noticed she's been staring at your clothes and jewelry these past few days? The day before yesterday, she was even asking me about your family background, all all smiles. It's hilarious..."
Ms. Xu prepared a very complete set of luggage for her girlfriend, consisting of clothes, accessories, bags, etc., all neatly matched. Half of the items were unique handmade products, and the other half were designer brands that a discerning person could easily recognize. It was truly a thoughtful and meticulous effort.
Unfortunately... Lin Shengmiao is a person with very low material desires. Apart from a few necessary outfits to make a good impression, she has no interest in clothes and jewelry, and of course, she failed to notice her girlfriend's good intentions.
"..." Lin Shengmiao took a deep breath: "So what did you tell her?"
She had a vague sense of unease, because since yesterday, the way the group led by Groyu looked at her had changed significantly.
She had been so focused on her work that she hadn't thought much about it until she heard Tao Jie's words today, and then she realized that something was amiss.
Tao Jie suppressed a laugh and said, "I told her that your boyfriend is a top-tier rich second-generation heir. His father is rich, his mother is powerful, and he is the apple of the family's eye. However, he can't forget you, his first love, and has been begging for you for many years. Finally, you got back together. Because he was worried that things might change if he waited too long, he proposed as soon as you got back together. Now you're going to be a rich family's young mistress."
"..." Lin Shengmiao's gaze involuntarily fell on the platinum ring on her middle finger.
Um... it does look a lot like an engagement ring.
She finally understood what those strange looks meant; it was clearly a message: "I didn't expect you, who seemed so quiet, to be so shrewd."
"Did I say something wrong? No, I didn't..." Tao Jie was still laughing, clutching her stomach.
Tao Jie, who had previously interrogated Lin Shengmiao about his love life, couldn't help but smile whenever she thought about what those people had imagined.
Hilarious! If Lin Shengmiao really had that kind of skill in stringing people along, she wouldn't have dragged it out for ten years before finally getting a girlfriend. With her experience, anyone who hears about it would have to sigh and say, "She's lucky." And it's true, she's lucky to have ended up with Xu Xingyan. If it were someone else, forget about having a girlfriend, they'd probably just become her godmother.
These two are like two idiots meeting, one daring to take risks and the other daring to wait – a match made in heaven, putting to shame all the tragic stories of separation throughout history.
...
There are only four days left until Lunar New Year's Eve. Since Fang Yi had mentioned wanting to meet Lin Shengmiao during the Spring Festival, the two of them had already discussed it and decided to take two days off on the third and fourth days of the Lunar New Year to visit Xu Xingyan's parents.
Xu Xingyan was still preparing for her girlfriend to meet her parents when she received a call from her aunt.
"Yan Yan, don't come over tomorrow. The village entrance is blocked off," the old lady said calmly, seemingly unaffected.
Xu Xingyan frowned and quickly asked, "Do you have enough rice, flour, vegetables, oil, and other daily necessities at home? Should I have someone deliver them to you from the village entrance?"
Before they could answer, they asked again, "Has anyone said when the lockdown will be lifted?"
"Judging from this, it won't be until around the fourth day of the new year. No problem, I have everything here, chickens and ducks, land and vegetables, enough to last a year with leftovers..."
"Okay, I understand. Take care of yourself. If you need anything, ask your neighbor for help. Don't be shy, I'll give her a call later."
Luo Jing sat opposite her, separated by a steaming, fragrant old duck stew.
In the past few days, Nancheng has organized several rounds of nucleic acid testing for all residents. Luo Jing was worried that there would be too many people at the epidemic prevention checkpoints and that someone with a headache or fever might infect Xu Xingyan. Getting sick in winter is very taxing on the body, so she specially took time out of her busy schedule to bring the reagents to Xu Xingyan's home to do a nucleic acid test for her alone, and also get a free meal while she was at it.
Listening to her gentle and polite phone call to her aunt in the village, I was suddenly lost in memories.
I had heard her mother say before that Yan Yan was in great danger when she was born. The elders were so desperate that they brought over a master who was good at fortune telling and asked him to predict Yan Yan's fate. Although this is feudal superstition, Luo Jing knew that there were quite a few people around who believed in this.
The elder looked at Yan Yan for a long time, and then told them that this was a gift from heaven, a priceless treasure, who would benefit her elders the most in her life and would be a filial daughter who stayed by the bedside of the sick for a long time...
It's hard to say whether the doting affection that the two families showed to Yan Yan later was related to this prophecy, but looking back now, it seems to have been proven true.
Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu were both cared for by Yan Yan in their later years. Grandpa Xu was also cared for by Yan Yan until his death. Even Aunt Xu was visited by Yan Yan from time to time to show her filial piety.
"...Okay, thank you so much, Auntie... Just check on him a few more times, he's getting old, I'm really worried about him... Yes, yes, has Xiaohui finished his practice problems? Or should I send him some more after the New Year... It's alright, it's alright, we're all family, no trouble at all..."
After hanging up the phone, Xu Xingyan checked the surveillance footage of her aunt's kitchen and saw that the old lady was cooking, with plenty of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Only then did she feel relieved.
Xu Xingyan stretched and said, "By the way, what were you trying to say to me just now?"