Chapter Text
The sun is out, the sky is blue, and soft, fluffy clouds dot the skies. A gentle breeze threads through the clear spring air. By all means, it’s a good day. But not for Shen Yuan.
It was just another ordinary day for Shen Yuan, haggard university student, professional web novel critic, and part-time shut-in. That morning, as per usual, he had gotten up, had his breakfast from the random miscellaneous Tupperware container of takeout leftovers, and left to take his bike to campus. All was well.
It was only in the middle of his route that he realized something crucial: he forgot about Mother’s Day!
It is the duty of a dedicated and loyal child to show their faith and love to their parents! If they do not, they have a high probability to get disowned!
So instead of appreciating the beautiful weather, Shen Yuan finds himself preoccupied with various panicked thoughts regarding his position in his family and the small remaining amount of credit his mother still gives him. His siblings probably all got fantastic gifts! So preoccupied, in fact, that he doesn’t see the fire hydrant until he’s ramming into it and sprawling onto the pavement. Ouch.
“Whoa! Are you okay?”
Shen Yuan groans and gropes around for his glasses. When he finally manages to grab ahold of them and shove them back on his face, he raises his weary head to lock eyes with an inordinately beautiful man. An inordinately beautiful man straight out of a xianxia novel wearing a bright green apron that says “Sunny Days Flower Shop.” It’s a sign.
Said xianxia protagonist man extends a hand, and Shen Yuan takes it. He is then effortlessly lifted to his feet.
Luo Binghe, as the small badge pinned to his chest says, smiles. “That was quite a fall!”
Shen Yuan nods, wiggling the now crooked frame of his glasses, then gestures vaguely to Luo Binghe’s apron. Awkwardly, he asks, “You work at a flower shop?”
Xianxia protag flower shop worker grins even wider and winks at him. “Why, are you interested in what I do?”
Shen Yuan blinks. Tentatively, he replies, “Yeah… do you take last-minute orders?”
For a split second, Luo Binghe gives him a blank look. Then, he returns to his bright grin. “Of course! We’re right over there!” He points to a small store, nestled between a bakery and a cafe. Through the glass, Shen Yuan can see a myriad of greenery, tucked cutely in a variety of pots.
Shen Yuan parses out a small smile. Maybe he isn’t completely fucked after all! “Thanks,” he says, “I had a bit of a predicament.”
Luo Binghe tilts his head. “If you’re not in a rush, I can help you now!”
“That would be great.” Letting out a sigh of relief, Shen Yuan picks up his poor, mangled bike. Together, they walk to the store, and he props it next to the glass display, in front of two adorable little succulents. Smiling wearily, he walks past the door Luo Binghe holds open for him, then gets distracted by the sheer amount of color that assaults him as he goes in. On the right, there are an assortment of potted plants, ranging from huge, leafy giants to tiny little twigs. On the left, a display of pre-cut flower arrangements, and hanging from the ceiling from hooks are various pots brimming with vines and petals. The last time he witnessed this sheer amount of vegetation was when his sister forced him to go on that short-lived but torturous diet! (Shen Yuan can not and will not subsist on pure greens!)
Luo Binghe strides behind the counter and beams at him. “So! Is there anything particular that you’re looking for today?”
Shen Yuan shrugs. “Er… not really, I just need a bouquet for Mother’s Day. Is there anything you’d recommend?”
Luo Binghe nods. “Carnations would be a good choice! They last a while, and they’re very beautiful!” He gestures cheerily at a cut of carnations to his side. Then, quieter, he leans in, and with one corner of his mouth quirked up, he adds, “I can think of someone else who deserves some roses, though…”
Shen Yuan gives him a blank stare. “Oh? Who?”
Luo Binghe’s smirk seems to deflate a bit as his face collapses ever-so-slightly. He laughs and scratches the back of his head, saying hastily, “Ah… haha… never mind! Do carnations sound good?”
“Mn. Yes, they do.”
“Fantastic! If you’d like, we have several pre-arranged bouquets of carnations for you to choose from!”
After several minutes of pondering, Shen Yuan selects a bouquet containing a centerpiece of light pink carnations, some pale lilies ringing around them, and the finishing touches of a few bold stalks of forget-me-nots.
He brings it to Luo Binghe, who takes it and tells him, “$24.99, please.”
As Luo Binghe accepts his credit card and busies himself for what might be a strange amount of time to mess with a receipt, Shen Yuan peers around the store again. Surely, just being in here must be good for his health, right? Natural osmosis of plant… nutrients. The air is probably fresher than outside.
Then, he checks his watch.
He has twenty minutes to get to class.
Fuck! Wait, where can he even put the bouquet?
“Sorry, I just realized I need to go!” Shen Yuan says hurriedly, hopping from one foot to the other like a kid in dire need of a bathroom, “Can you hold onto that for me? I’ll send someone to pick it up later- thanks!”
Luo Binghe nods, slightly frazzled, as Shen Yuan takes the receipt he hands him and tucks it haphazardly in the depths of the bouquet, planning on bullying Shang Qinghua into picking it up for him later. “Thank you very much!” He calls out as he leaves.
“Ah,” Luo Binghe says as he watches the man go, heart still beating up his throat, “you’re welcome!”
☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
Later, Shen Yuan receives his chosen bouquet from a mildly disgruntled Shang Qinghua and takes the three hour-long commute to his mother’s work, where he leaves it at reception and flees, not wanting to confront his mother and the judgement bound to be on her face at his inferior-to-his-sibling’s-personal-and-meaningful-gestures gift. On the way back, he texts her, hey ma, check reception for a surprise :) happy mother’s day!
When he finally gets back to his dorm, the sun is beginning to set. He immediately collapses in his bed. Who knew Mother’s Day was such a hassle?
_(´ཀ`」 ∠)_
The next day, Shen Yuan receives a call from his mom. He lets it ring for five seconds while staring placidly at the caller id before he finally picks up. “Ah, uh, hi, ma! What ya calling for?”
“Good morning, Xiao Yuan. I’m calling about the gift you gave me yesterday.”
Immediately, he starts to panic. “Oh, damn, did you not like it? I’m sorry, it was sort of a rush job and I didn’t really think it through, if you don’t mind I can get you something better, haha, shit-”
She interrupts, a hint of amusement in her voice as she says, “No, nothing like that, I liked the flowers. I was just confused by the note you left. Was this bouquet meant for someone else?”
Shen Yuan stops rambling and squints in confusion. “N-note?”
“The note on the receipt that says, ‘You could never be ice cream, because you’re so hot… and a person.’ Were you referring to me in this? I rather doubt it, Xiao Yuan.”
“I didn’t write that…” Shen Yuan replies, utterly perplexed, “...I think I need to call you back.”
“I see. Thank you for the gift, Xiao Yuan. Have a nice day.”
“You’re welcome, mom…”
He hangs up and immediately facepalms.
((((；ﾟДﾟ)))))))
Shen Yuan walks back into the flower shop, the gentle tinkling of the bell ringing through the cozy building. That Luo Binghe fellow is still the one manning the counter, and he immediately perks up at the sight of Shen Yuan.
Internally, Shen Yuan sighs as he walks up to him, ready to politely inquire why Luo Binghe decided to prank him like this- when the man gives him a look and loudly asks, “So… did you get my message ?”
He says message with an accentuated wink and a slight smirk.
“Huh-”
“Are you a fart? Because you just blew me away!”
Shen Yuan’s eye twitches, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. “What.”
Luo Binghe grins evilly at him. “You know, I never caught your name.”
Shen Yuan squints at him, momentarily speechless. “I- I’m- a fart?!”
“Yeah, because you b-”
Shen Yuan’s mouth flops open, and he needs to physically restrain himself from yelling “ Why, I never!” like a pretentious old lady.
Biting his lip, he just closes his eyes, breathes in several times, and slowly strides out of the store in complete silence. Fuck it. What is with people these days.
Luo Binghe once again watches as the mysterious cute man leaves the store, this time considerably madder. Maybe that could’ve gone a little better.