He took out his phone to check, and it was a message from Xia Chaoyang, asking, “Shidi, can we eat a meal together after work?”
Tao Ling: “I already have an appointment with someone.”
Half a minute later, the other party said, “I have something that I want to ask you.”
“What does Teacher Xia want to ask about? You can ask right now.” Tao Ling gazed towards the door of the flower shop, and replied carelessly.
He didn’t dare to care.
When he left the window of the corridor and headed towards the staircase, a message came again: “It’s nothing, let’s just discuss it next time. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.”
Tao Ling: “Have a safe trip.”
He got closer and closer to the flower shop, then Tao Ling was able to verify his sudden discovery. The flowers on the stand were the same as the last two days, and the arrangement hadn’t changed. The middle two rows were still daisies, but they were all light green.
The flowers were densely packed together, giving this relatively large space a lively yet monotonous appearance.
Tao Ling approached the door. Wen Qingying was currently handing over a bouquet of flowers to a customer. It could be seen that he had put effort into wrapping, making it look a lot better than it did a few days ago. The customer fervently thanked him. He slightly bent over, and very faintly smiled.
His small tiger tooth wasn’t shown.
Tao Ling cleared his throat and walked in front of the flower stand, trying to choose a bouquet of daisies. But in fact, the flowers were all almost identical, each one equally uniform.
He stretched out his hand and happened to see Wen Qingying smiling, just like a moment ago.
It was just as polite. So polite that it didn’t seem like a smile.
Tao Ling retracted his gaze, unconsciously pursed his lips, and randomly grabbed two bouquets of daisies.
He was about to scan the QR code at the door when Wen Qingying blocked the glass door first. He took the flowers in his hand and untied the thin rope that was loosely bound to the flower stems.
Tao Ling also didn’t urge him, only watching his movements.
A minute later, Wen Qingying handed over the bouquet that had been disassembled and tied again. A smile was suddenly shown on the corners of his lips, displaying his unique vitality.
Tao Ling was stunned, asking, “What’s the meaning of this?”
The questioning expression was obvious. Wen Qingying raised his right index finger.
Tao Ling couldn’t hold back his laugh and said to himself, “I told you that your flower shop would close down sooner or later. What kind of flower shop gives away free flowers every day? Aren’t you losing money?”
He took out his phone, and Wen Qingying moved away, looking at him.
When he was about to pay, his hand hesitated a little. Tao Ling looked up, and saw Wen Qingying’s eager expression. After thinking about it, he finally only paid for the amount of a single bouquet.
He raised his hand to take the flowers, and their fingertips touched. Wen Qingying lowered his hand. Tao Ling held the flower stems, and his eyelashes quickly trembled a little before it was quickly concealed.
He typed in the memo app: “Why do today’s flowers only have a single color?”
Wen Qingying picked up his phone in response, and his fingertips rapidly jumped across the screen, looking very flexible. “The boss I buy from said that only light green ones were left. I didn’t go to the flower market today, so I sent him a message, and the flowers were directly sent here. I think it looks very good. Sir, do you like other colors? I’ll pay attention when I restock next time.”
Tao Ling shook his head.
Today, the flower shop’s business was particularly good. The two only exchanged a few words before someone came to buy flowers again. Wen Qingying had to take care of work, and after he handed the flowers to the customer, he turned his head to find that Tao Ling had already left.
He walked to the streetside with a bunch of dried flowers, looked back and forth, but didn’t see his figure.
He stood there for a while, then turned around and entered the store.
Half an hour later, when Wen Qingying was preparing to tie up roses that a customer had preordered, Tao Ling came in.
He pushed a cup of juice toward Wen Qingying, then sat down on a chair to the side.
Wen Qingying looked up in surprise, but Tao Ling didn’t mind him and drank another cup, not returning his gaze. He seemed bored, poking the bouquets on the side.
Roses match up well with a night full of stars, a simple yet classic style. Wen Qingying’s actions seemed smooth and successful when he inserted the flowers into the dirt, but as soon as he started wrapping it, his actions became flustered.
Tao Ling saw this and smiled. He used a hand to help him hold down the paper, so Wen Qingying’s hands were free to tear off some tape.
“Hey, I’ve seen this in other flower shops before. Can’t those tape dispensers all be used with only one hand?” Tao Ling said.
Wen Qingying lowered his eyelashes, not knowing that he was talking, only seriously fixing the wrapping paper.
Tao Ling glanced at him, then continued saying, “Isn’t your flower shop opening too early? You didn’t even learn the necessary skills, but the store is already open. Don’t tell me you’re planning to learn from online videos while you run the business?”
Wen Qingying was quiet as always. Tao Ling chuckled.
The silk ribbon was tied bumpily. Wen Qingying took the flowers to a shelf and, after washing hands and coming back, saw that a straw had already been inserted into the juice.
“Thank you, sir.” He took some pen and paper, and only took a sip after writing down his thanks.
Tao Ling observed him, yet he didn’t see the expression he was waiting to see.
The passion fruit drink didn’t include any sugar, but Wen Qingying didn’t seem to taste its sourness. He raised his eyes to meet Tao Ling’s curious expression, smiled, and once again revealed his small tiger tooth.
Shit.
Tao Ling’s mood was irritable for a while. After sitting for another two minutes, he got up and prepared to go home.
Before he had time to lift up his feet, a sudden sound came from the outside: “Boss, how much are those flowers? Are there other colors?”
Tao Ling turned his head, and the one who stood at the door was Xia Chaoyang.
The two of them just happened to meet each other’s gaze. Xia Chaoyang was surprised: “Tao shidi?”
The hand that Tao Ling held flowers with loosened, and the daisies were placed back on the table. He responded, “What a coincidence, Teacher Xia. Buying flowers? The one you’re holding in your hand is ten yuan a bunch.”
“Your shop?” Xia Chaoyang asked.
Wen Qingying stood up, and Tao Ling pointed behind himself: “Friend’s shop.”
Xia Chaoyang smiled: “No wonder you said you already have an appointment.”
Tao Ling briefly hooked the corner of his mouth without saying much.
Xia Chaoyang picked up two bouquets. Tao Ling and Wen Qingying pointed to the QR code on the door at the same time.
After paying, Xia Chaoyang didn’t rush to leave, but stood there in place, looking like he had something to say. Wen Qingying also stood by the side. The three people formed a triangle, and the shop was extremely quiet.
After half a minute, Tao Ling asked, “Teacher Xia, do you need to buy anything else?”
Xia Chaoyang shook his head. “Nothing.” After a long while, he finally asked, “Tao shidi, your ge… is he at the western suburbs?”
Tao Ling hummed.
“See you.” Xia Chaoyang said.
Before he turned around, he looked at Tao Ling deeply, his eyes gentle. Wen Qingying clearly saw his face, but felt that his eyes held a layer of tears.
Almost as if he wasn’t looking at Tao Ling at all.
After the person had walked out for a long time, did Tao Ling take the flowers and wave goodbye to Wen Qingying.
Now, the shop was completely silent. Wen Qingying took two sips from that cup of juice and frowned gently.
The wind outside was strong, and the scattered leaves on the ground fluttered. After a while, they gathered together, around an invisible center.
Like a mad dance, like a sacrifice.
Wen Qingying got up and walked to the door, leaned on the side of the flower stand, and looked up at the accumulating clouds on this cloudy day.
It rained heavily that night. The next day, the air suddenly cooled down, and even wearing a long-sleeved shirt in the office was barely enough.
After more than half a week, the two bouquets of daisies finally showed defeat, then quickly died within two days.
That pot of China roses was still growing well, still with flowers to view.
On Saturday, Tao Ling got up early.
It was Tao Jun’s anniversary. He headed to the cemetery.
After taking his usual route to work, he turned the corner and saw a luxury car parked on the street side facing the flower shop. He originally didn’t think of Wen Qingying, but after getting closer, Tao Ling saw a strange man standing in the store.
That man wore a black suit, with his back facing the door of the store, and was currently gesturing something at Wen Qingying.
Wen Qingying tightened his lips, frowning slightly. His mood seemed a little unstable.
When the man stopped, he also gestured skillfully, and just when the man was about to continue gesturing, he held out his palms, quickly pushing towards the outside.
If Tao Ling didn’t guess wrong, this kind of action should mean refusal.
