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The idea for starting a delivery service had been, like many of Gao Yingjie’s best ideas, born out of his relationship with Qiao Yifan.
Yingjie still remembers the vibrant smile on Yifan’s face when Yingjie had pulled up to the library on his broom and delivered Yifan’s forgotten bag with the keys to the archives. He remembers thinking, what if he could bring a happiness like that to the entire community?
“I think it’s a great idea,” Yifan had said when Yingjie told him about creating a delivery service. “It’s just like you to find a way to make everyone happy.”
Yingjie’s master, Wang Jiexi, had also approved. “If you can make this successful, then you will have fulfilled your witch’s trial and all the requirements to become a full witch.”
A witch’s trial was the final requirement to graduate from an apprentice witch to a full witch. It required using magic in some way to run a small business for a year. If, by the end of the year, the witchling failed to keep the business afloat, they would have to complete another year of training before being able to try again. The witch’s trial was considered a test of both skill and wit, and it was an important part of witching history and culture.
Currently, Yingjie is in his eighth month of his witch’s trial, and business is going great.
“Gao Yingjie’s delivery service!” Yingjie calls out as he touches down by the back door of Samsara bakery at sunrise. The weather has started to get colder, and Yingjie is glad he wore the warm woolen scarf Yifan knitted him for early morning deliveries.
He hops off his broom and unloads his precious cargo. He sees two of the bakers open the doors to meet him outside.
Yingjie hands the box over to Zhou Zekai. “Eighteen dozen eggs, fresh from Tyranny farms.” He hands the delivery slip to Jiang Botao as Zhou Zekai opens the box and checks for any signs of damage. When Zhou Zekai gives the thumbs up, Jiang Botao signs the slip.
“Thank you, Little Jie. You’re a lifesaver,” Jiang Botao says, smiling gratefully. “I don’t know what we would have done without you. Since the roads got flooded, we were worried about whether we’d be able to get our regular shipments. I’m glad we can rely on you until the problem gets resolved.”
Zhou Zekai nods emphatically.
“I’m just doing my job,” Yingjie replies with a pink blush dusting his cheeks. Even after all this time, he still gets embarrassed by how genuinely thankful his customers seem.
“Stop by in a few hours,” Jiang Botao tells him as Yingjie mounts his broom to start on his other deliveries for the day. “We’ll give you some treats to take with you.”
The rest of Yingjie’s morning consists of delivering vaccines to Thunderclap animal shelter, bolts of fabric to Hundred Blossoms tailor shop, and a birthday present from Huang Shaotian at Blue Rain Blacksmith to his little cousin. (“Wicked cool! Uncle Huang Shao is the best!” Little Lu shouts in excitement when Yingjie shows up at his doorstep with a real (and sharp!) sword with a blue ribbon tied around its hilt. The boy’s mother is much less enthused. “He gave my child a sword! A sword! Oh, Yu Wenzhou is going to hear about this,” she mutters darkly.)
Yingjie stops by Samsara again shortly before lunch to pick up the promised treats. The bakers are incredibly generous and give him a large assortment of fresh rolls and pastries. Yingjie practically drools at the divine smell as he sorts some out into different bags to give to his master and boyfriend.
He heads back to Tiny Herb for lunch before starting on his afternoon deliveries. Wang Jiexi is in the greenhouse, picking out some choice flowers for a small bouquet.
“I’m back,” Yingjie calls as he enters. He unwraps his scarf to keep from overheating in the warm greenhouse and places Wang Jiexi’s portion of baked goodies on the table next to the entrance.
“There’s soup in the cauldron,” Wang Jiexi tells him, snipping off a light purple bloom to add to the bunch.
“Are those for Ye Xiu again?” Yingjie asks.
Wang Jiexi hums in affirmation, too concentrated on making the perfect arrangement to answer fully.
“Master, I’m sure that Ye Xiu understands your intentions by now. You’ve been sending these daily for a month and a half. Maybe you should consider asking him out.”
“I can’t do that.” Wang Jiexi fusses with the flowers, tugging some stems up and other stems down to achieve the desired aesthetic. “You’ll understand when you’re older. Being a witch is about pining .”
“Uh...” Yingjie pauses awkwardly, thinking about his relationship with Yifan. In the end, he changes the subject. “I’m going to go eat now. I’ll deliver the flowers when I’m done with lunch.”
When Yingjie has eaten and Wang Jiexi is finally satisfied with his arrangement, Yingjie zips over to the library.
He parks his broom by the entrance and climbs up the granite steps, flowers and pastries in hand.
Yingjie wonders if he should tell Ye Xiu that Wang Jiexi has feelings for him. He feels a bit sorry for his poor pining master, but he’s glad he has an excuse to see Yifan working hard at the library every day. Whether it’s helping Yifan read picture books to small children or accompanying him in the archives, Gao Yingjie loves watching Qiao Yifan shine with passion.
Ye Xiu is there by the front desk. “Little Jie,” he greets fondly. “Has it been busy today?”
Yingjie nods. “Delivery for you,” he says, holding out the bouquet and the delivery slip.
Ye Xiu signs the slip and then takes the flowers. He gives the bouquet a sniff. “Mm, how fragrant,” he murmurs. He turns around and places the bouquet into an empty vase he had prepared.
“I’ll go call Yifan for you,” Ye Xiu volunteers. “He’s in the archives right now. He can get pretty absorbed when he’s in the midst of research.”
“He really does,” Yingjie agrees. Yingjie is so immensely proud of Yifan for becoming Ye Xiu’s apprentice. He thinks that Yifan is incredibly suited to being a librarian. After all, for all that Yifan praises Yingjie for wanting to serve the community, Yifan is equally or even more so invested in helping others.
Yifan arrives soon after and they head to a table to spend some time together before Yingjie has to leave for the rest of the afternoon deliveries.
“Have you eaten yet?” Yingjie asks Yifan, who shakes his head. “Here, special delivery, just for you.”
Yifan lights up seeing the pastries from Samsara. Yingjie can’t help but smile in front of his boyfriend’s cuteness.
They end up sharing a sweet berry tart between them as Yifan tells him about the latest progress in his research on magic literacy. Yingjie likewise shares how his day at work has been and mentions what Wang Jiexi said to him earlier.
“He says that being a witch is about pining. Do you think we should tell him that we’ve been dating for the past two years?”
Yifan laughs. “Let’s wait until we both graduate from apprenticeship. Maybe we can save him some face. If those two still haven’t gotten together, we can tell him then.”
“Good idea.”
When Yifan is ready to hit the books again, Yingjie passes by the front desk on the way out. Maybe he should step in and help Wang Jiexi after all, he thinks. Yifan and Yingjie are so happy together. What if their masters could find the same kind of happiness?
Yingjie stops by the front desk. “Ye Xiu?” he asks, and the librarian pauses from what he’s working on. “Yes?” Ye Xiu responds amiably.
“You do know that my master fancies you, right?”
Ye Xiu smiles and picks up the bouquet of flowers that Wang Jiexi just sent him. He fingers the velvety petals, pointing to each bloom. “Lilies for purity of heart, soulgrass for soul connection, and lavender for unwavering devotion. I think it’s pretty clear.”
Yingjie tilts his head, puzzled. If Ye Xiu knows all this, then what are they both waiting for?
Ye Xiu chuckles at Yingjie’s obvious confusion. “Yingjie, when you graduate, make sure you ask for payment from that Big-eyed Wang. Don’t let him get away with deliveries for free in the future.” Without quite answering Yingjie’s question, he speaks with a fond amusement. “Tell your master that I’ll be looking forward to the day when he delivers his flowers in person.”
Suddenly, everything is clear.
“Okay, I’ll tell him,” Yingjie says.
When Ye Xiu’s message is relayed later that evening, Wang Jiexi’s eyes go wide. There’s a spring in his step as the witch hurries back to the greenhouse, whispering to himself, “This one must be grand .”
When the day is done, Yingjie tucks himself into bed thinking of all the smiles he’s delivered. He’s already looking forward to what happiness he can bring tomorrow.