Work Text:
Xianle Flowers 1 post 7 followers 48 following
@xianleflowers
Located in Puqi Village! Flowers of all kinds! Please stop by!
The sun is just starting to duck beneath the horizon by the time Xie Lian gets home from the flower shop, and Banyue has already been holed up at the kitchen table with her homework for hours.
“Hi there sweetheart.” Xie Lian greets her with a kiss pressed against the top of her head. “What are you working on?”
“Math homework,” she groans and gestures over to the kitchen “I’m almost done. Dinner will be done soon too. Is Hua Cheng going to be home soon?”
It had been a slow effort getting Banyue to start referring to her baba’s boyfriend in a more casual manner, but a valuable effort nonetheless now that he was living with them. She was nowhere near ready to start calling him a-die, but progress was still progress.
Xie Lian cards his fingers through her hair, taking care to gently work out any knots he comes across. “He just left the office when I was closing up so he should be here in about an hour.”
Banyue hums and turns her attention back to the equations in front of her. “Okay. I washed the towels, would you mind folding them?”
“Of course darling, thank you for doing that. Are they in the hall?”
She hums her assent and forces her focus to fall fully back onto the packet. There are only two problems left, then she can spend the rest of the night relaxing with her family. When she finishes, she leans back and her back lets out a satisfying pop. After rolling out her shoulders, she looks down to see that she has missed texts from Pei Xiu.
A-Xiu: Banyue
A-Xiu: Did your baba make an account for the shop?
Banyue’s brow furrows and she opens their WeChat text thread.
Banyue: uhhhhh what?
A-Xiu: On Instagram
A-Xiu: Look
A-Xiu: www.instagram.com/xianleflowers
The account is desolate; there is only a shaky close-up of a carnation posted with no caption and the bio is written in a way that is so Xie Lian that it almost hurts. It definitely looked like something that her father would put together.
A-Xiu: I just wanted to make sure it’s really him and not one of your weird fans being a freak
Banyue: I’ll ask him
Banyue: thank you
“Baba?” Banyue calls out, hesitant.
Xie Lian peaks his head out from the hall where he was folding the towels. “Yes sweetheart?”
“Why is Pei Xiu texting me about an Instagram account for your shop?”
“Oh!” Xie Lian practically lights up as he scrambles to pull his phone from his pocket. Once he punches the passcode in, he holds up the cracked screen to show her the same page Pei Xiu sent her. “Yes, I made an account! I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. It might even bring more customers in.” He smiles sheepishly and looks down at the screen. “Though I’m sure I won’t be nearly as good at running an account as you are.”
Banyue tries to keep her expression schooled into a supportive smile as her baba observes her face, but she must not do very well. Xie Lian deflates and looks back down at his battered phone.
“Okay, out with it. It’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Baba, you don’t even have a profile picture.” Banyue can’t help the giggles that escape her. “Here, give me your login.”
The next hour is spent selecting photos and drafting captions, and by the end of it, Banyue makes a plan to go into work with him the following day to take some new photos for posts. By the time Hua Cheng arrives and is shown the account, it looks far more like an official business page than it did at the beginning of the day. It isn’t perfect by any means, but Xie Lian looks so happy as she helps him, that she can’t help but feel like maybe perfection isn’t necessary for this particular endeavor.
Xianle Flowers 3 posts 28 followers 52 following
@xianleflowers
Family run and owned
Flowers for all events and occasions
China, Hebei Province, Puqi Village 800171
www.xianleflowers.com
For Fun: Sweet and Sour Soup
pickledbanyue | 12 minutes
Video Transcript
Timestamp: 9:32-10:47
[Banyue is stirring a pot on the stove. Steam is wafting up and obscuring her face.]
Banyue: You really can’t go wrong with a classic comfort food, you know? Baba and I eat this a lot since it’s so cheap and easy to make, but it also always tastes so good.
[Banyue knocks the stirring spoon against the edge of the pot and leans back.]
Banyue: By the way! I know you’ve all been missing him, and you have been relatively well-behaved in my comments, so you get a baba update. If you’ve been here for a bit, you’ll know that he owns and runs his own flower shop. You’d also probably know that he had literally no social media presence.
[She whispers under her breath.}
Banyue: Kind of stalkerish how much you guys tried to find it but I’ll let it slide.
[She speaks louder again.]
Banyue: Anyways, he finally made an Instagram account! I love him to death, but he’s not very good at running it so I’m helping him. The shop has been struggling a bit recently, so any support from you all is super appreciated.
[Banyue picks up the spoon and begins to stir the soup again.]
Banyue: I’ll leave the page linked below in the description. Please don’t be weird and make me regret it.
Comments:
Sandra Young HOT DAD IS BACK I REPEAT HOT DAD IS BACKKKKKKKKK
Libby Miles-Davis Does he have an online shop? I’d love to support but don’t live in the area
Adam Song Frothing at the mouth omg more dad contentttttttt
Siobhan Rikes DAD DAD DAD DAD DAD DAD DAD DAD DAD
Xiao Tong The account is so cute you can really tell he’s trying his best awwwwwwwww
More Comments…
Xianle Flowers 5 posts 5,562 followers 60 following
@xianleflowers
Family run and owned
Flowers for all events and occasions
China, Hebei Province, Puqi Village 800171
www.xianleflowers.com
“But gege, just think about it. It would be great promotion for your shop,” Hua Cheng pleads, blinking balefully at Xie Lian.
Banyue snorts. From her vantage point on the couch, she has a clear view of the kitchen table where Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are seated doing their respective paperwork together.
“I’m not a model San Lang, I wouldn’t even know how to pose properly,” Xie Lian replies, eyes glued to the document in front of him and pen moving steadily. “I’m sure there are much more qualified people that can pose with my flowers.”
This was a conversation that had been reoccurring in the house for the past week. Following the success of Xie Lian’s new Instagram account, Hua Cheng had brought up an idea that he had initially proposed months ago: a collaboration photoshoot between Xianle Flowers and the Crimson Rain Agency.
Truthfully, Banyue thinks it’s a great idea. It’s a way to get Xie Lian’s superb florets work out into the world while simultaneously satisfying Hua Cheng’s need to show off his boyfriend. Truly a win for everyone involved. The only hang-up in the arrangement is that Hua Cheng has been insistent that Xie Lian is the one to pose for the photos.
Hua Cheng had explained the vision to Banyue months ago when he first brought up the idea. He called it ‘The Flower-Crowned Martial God,’ and supposedly the only person who could fulfill his vision is Xie Lian.
“Baba, why are you really so against doing it?” Banyue asks. It’s the one thing she hasn’t been able to puzzle out about the situation. “Hua Cheng is a professional, he’d be able to pose you and get everything perfect. You’re already doing the florals for the shoot, why not also model?”
She watches as Xie Lian goes still at the table. Hua Cheng’s face shifts into something troubled.
“If it really bothers gege that much then I will drop it.” He tucks a stray hair behind his lovers ear. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.
Xie Lian deflates. “No, it’s not… I just don’t want to mess this up for you San Lang.”
Banyue pushes herself up off the couch and makes a beeline for the table to wrap her arms around him. The family sits in silence for a moment, and Banyue shoots Hua Cheng a pointed look over her fathers head.
“Gege,” he starts, “I promise you there is no way you could mess it up.”
“But this photoshoot is to important to you!” Xie Lian protests. His hand comes up to sift through Banyue’s hair, and the action serves to soothe them both.
“Baba, the photoshoot is important to him because he designed it with you in mind,” she says. “He cares about it so much because he made it for you. There’s no way you could mess it up.”
Xie Lian pulls away and looks up at them both. “You made it… for me?”
“It’s all for you gege.” Hua Cheng smiles at him.
Banyue takes that has her cue to leave before they got even more lovey-dovey. She pauses in the doorway and looks back to watch as a giddy smile took over her babas face, and she knows that everything will be alright.
xianleflowers
Puqi Village, China
[Image description: On a countertop, a fluffy white cat with bright blue eyes is shoving her face into a bouquet of sunflowers. Behind her, Xie Lian watches with a smile.]
Liked by @sungeneral and 386 others
xianleflowers Our shops assistant Ruoye is hard at work inspecting our fresh bouquets! Stop by to get a custom bundle perfect for any occasion.
(3 hours ago)
Comments:
mimisneezed._. awwwwww she’s so cute!! Such a hard worker
jing-yuan when he knows flowers !!!
runawaybride @jing-yuan no shit?? he’s literally a florist????
jing-yuan @runawaybride damn, you must be fun at parties
red.dreamer.forgotten DAD HAS SOCIAL MEDIA RAHHHHHHH
lilly-jean I would die for Ruoye
More…
The Spot @spotnewschina
The hottest flower shop in Hebei Province: the Xie family and what you need to know about them. Read more below:
www.thespot.com/localflowershoprisestofame
2.2k Retweets 6.4k Likes
Nana NA NA NA @nananananah
Replying to @spotnewschina
AHHHH I’m literally so proud of the Xie family you don’t even know
Micha @laststopbeforeforever
Replying to @spotnewschina and @nananananah
Ikr!! Both Banyue and her dad have come so far in the past few months!! SO happy to see them getting the recognition they deserve
Xianle Flowers @xianleflowers
Hello all! We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their support as we start to build our presence on social media.
104 Retweets 2.1k Likes
Xianle Flowers @xianleflowers
We appreciate each and every one of you, whether you have come from Banyue’s channel, news coverage, or are a long-time customer.
Uncomfortable interactions in public have long since become part of Banyue’s day-to-day life since her channel blew up a few months ago. No matter how much she pleads with her viewers and reminds them that she too is just a regular person—and a minor, at that—it never really stops the handful of obsessives that just don’t know when to quit.
It was something she had worried about when Xie Lian started the new Instagram page for his shop. She had already made the mistake in her early days of internet fame of letting people know the vague area of where she lived, and once she started sharing about her baba’s little flower shop it only was a matter of time before people connected the dots.
School had just gone on break which leaves Banyue with the freedom to spend as much time as she wants in the flower shop with her father as he works.
She was currently camped out beneath the counter searching for a new recipe for her next video while listening to her father move around the shop. It was soothing, just being in the same space as him while they both did their own thing. Unfortunately, the quiet peace did not last for long.
“Hello?” a shrill voice called out, cutting over the soft jingle of the bells on the door. “Is this Xianle Flowers?”
“Yes, it is! How can I help you?” Xie Lian replied.
Banyue leaned back against the inner wall of the corner, content to stay obscured from view as her baba helps the customer with whatever they are looking for.
“Oh my goodness,” the woman says. “You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to come. I’m such a fan.”
“Oh, well, we thank you for your support. Is there anything I can help you find today?”
“Well handsome, I’d love to learn more about you.”
Banyue can hear the rigidness in her father voice when he speaks. “I’m afraid I don’t understand ma’am.”
The woman giggles. “Come on, I’m sure you could take some time out of your busy day to spend with a loyal fan.”
“I’m sorry ma’am, but I am not interested.”
“Aww, don’t be like that! Why don’t you join me for a drink after you close up?”
Mind made up, Banyue stands from behind the counter. “Hey, back off. He said he’s not interested.”
“Oh my gosh!” the woman squeals. “You’re here too! You have to let me get a picture.”
Banyue crosses her arms and glares at the woman, thoroughly unimpressed. “Maybe you could have gotten a picture if you didn’t decide to harass my dad in his workplace.”
“What?” The woman pulls a face and tries to reach out for Xie Lian. “Oh no sweetie! I wasn’t harassing him, we were just getting to know each other, weren’t we handsome?”
“I won’t ask you again,” Banyue warns.
Xie lIan pulls away from her grasp and moves to stand behind the register with Banyue. “I think it’s time you leave. You are no longer welcome here.”
The woman’s mouth falls open and she begins to splutter. “What? You can’t do that! I was just being friendly!”
“This is my shop,” Xie Lian tells her calmly, “I can do whatever I want. Please leave before I have to involve the authorities.”
“I cannot believe this!” she huffs, but ultimately relents. The door slams shut behind her and the father-daughter pair watch as she retreats down the street.
Banyue looks up at Xie Lian who is still staring out the door, posture stiff. “Are you okay baba?”
He shakes himself, and after a moment, his smile returns. “Yes, I’m alright sweetheart. I’m sorry you had to see that. Are you alright?”
She leans into his side and lets her head fall against his chest. Xie Lian wastes no time in wrapping her in a gentle hug. “Yeah, I’m alright.”
Beijing Daily
OVERNIGHT FAME STRIKES TWICE
Jiang Liyou
In Hebei Province, a father-daughter duo have risen to fame. The small village of Puqi resides just an hour out from Beijing and has recently garnered public attention from an unlikely source.
Just five months ago, Xie Banyue rose to internet fame with her cooking videos that she posted on Youtube for class assignments. While her cooking skills were nothing to gawk at, the real meal that caught the eye of the public was her endearing father, Xie Lian.
Over the past week, the duo have received a new surge in support from the global community as they open up about their struggling family business: a flower shop that has kept them afloat for years.
Read more below:
Xianle Flowers 9 posts 10.1k followers 64 following
@xianleflowers
Family run and owned
Flowers for all events and occasions
China, Hebei Province, Puqi Village 800171
www.xianleflowers.com
xianleflowers
Puqi Village, China
[Image description: Two cats, one fluffy and white and the other scraggly and black, are curled up together on the floor of the flower shop. Around them are buckets filled with various types of flowers.]
Liked by @lastwordsofwisteria, @pickledbanyue and 529 others
xianleflowers Ruoye was thrilled to guard the flowers with her best friend E’Ming today while we prepped orders! Visit us Tuesday-Saturday from 8am-5pm to say hello to our ferocious guardians.
(8 hours ago)
Comments:
silby.knits.and.draws AHHHHH did you guys get a new cat?
sannaelane @silby.knits.and.draws e’ming is hua cheng’s cat!!
allegroangels @sannaelane THEY KNOW HUA CHENG???
sannaelane @allergoangels girlllll you are LATE to the party
runrunrunning GOD I NEED ME A MAN WHO HAS CATS
_.redrum._ they’re so cute I’m going to die omg
More…
“Thank you for stopping by Xianle Flowers!” Banyue waves to the customer as they leave. Once the door closes behind them she turns to the back room and shouts, “They’re gone, you can come out now Hua Cheng!”
It’s almost infuriating how put-together the man still looks even when wearing a plain button-up, slacks, and a brown linen apron with the shops logo embroidered across his chest. Since he moved in, Banyue had still never seen him look anything less than effortlessly runway-ready. Scratch that, it was infuriating.
“Can you go through the flowers along the wall and pick out any that are staring to wilt? We can put together a bout to bring home to baba so we don’t just throw them out.” Banyue watches him perk up at the mention of Xie Lian. It’s sickeningly endearing. “Having something pretty and colorful might help him feel better.”
In the few hours that they had been running the shop together, Banyue had learned that Hua Cheng was a terrible assistant. If he wasn’t busy waxing poetic about Xie Lian to anyone who walked him, he was cowering away from the delicate flowers that were littered around the shop as if he was afraid to break them. This had resulted in Banyue taking over most of the actual work while he sat around. Regardless, with Xie Lian sick and a large order scheduled for that evening, she needed him there so that an adult was present if anything went wrong.
He did serve as a wonderful customer magnet, but after the third rabid fangirl of the day, they decided it would be best for him to stay in the back to catalogue inventory when anyone was stopping by.
Hua Cheng nodded, looking comically serious about the task he had been assigned. “Where should I start?”
“Start at the front and work your way to the back.” She bends down and procured a red 5-gallon pail from behind the counter. “Put them in here. Once you’re done finding all of them you can go through and pick out the ones you want for the bouquet.”
Once he takes the pail, Banyue leans against the counter and turns her back to the store. Somewhere behind her, Hua Cheng has begun rustling around in the flowers, but she pointedly pays him no mind. It has taken far to long for him to shake off the fear of breaking anything he touches in the shop, and she is not about to startle him when he’s finally doing something to actually help.
On the counter, her phone lights up with a text.
Baba: How are the two of you doing? Is everything running alright?
Banyue sighs and opens WeChat. It is honestly impressive that they have managed to last this long without Xie Lian checking in on them.
Banyue: we’re doing fine baba
Banyue: you should be resting
Baba: I have been! I feel much better, I’m sure I could come in and finish the day.
Banyue: baba
Banyue: no
Banyue: I’ve run the shop plenty of times before, you worry too much
Banyue: and I’m keeping Hua Cheng in line
Banyue: we’ll be fine, I promise
“Is everything alright?” Hua Cheng looks up from where he is arranging a bouquet. “Is gege texting you?”
“Yeah.” Banyue snorts as another message comes through.
Baba: I just worry about you working too hard!
“He’s trying to convince me that he’s feeling good enough to come in and send us home. Can you try to get through to him?”
Hua Cheng abandons his pail of flowers and makes a beeline to the backroom. “On it.”
“Wait, I didn’t mean—” He is already gone with the door closed behind him before she can even finish her sentence. “Ugh, fine. Lovesick puppy.”
At the front of the store, the bel on the door jingles merrily as a customer enters. BAnyue plants a smile on her face, straightens her apron, and pockets her phone.
“Hi, welcome to Xianle Flowers. How can I help you today?”
Xianyuan—busy with college @dancerwithpassion
Guys call me crazy but I’m pretty sure I just saw Hua Cheng (he’s a model right?) working in a flower shop in Puqi????
12 Retweets 235 Likes
Silby [comissions are: OPEN] @rockpapercrush
Replying to @dancerwithpassion
If it was @xianleflowers then you’re definitely not crazy!! He’s dating the owner of the shop
Xianyuan—busy with college @dancerwithpassion
Replying to @rockpapercrush
Holy shit wait is that @pickledbanyue dad?? For some reason I didn’t realize they were in Puqi
Silby [comissions are: OPEN] @rockpapercrush
Replying to @dancerwithpassion
Yes her dad owns the shop!! She helps out sometimes so it’s pretty common to see her there, but I didn’t know Hua Cheng helped out too
Xianle Flowers retweeted
Crimson Rain Agency @CRIMSONRAIN
We are happy to announce our newest partnership with @xianleflowers for an upcoming shoot. Follow @CRIMSONRAIN for updates.
7.1k Retweets 15.9k Likes
Xie Banyue @pickledbanyue
Replying to @CRIMSONRAIN
So so excited for this! You all are going to be blown away with this shoot
Lizzy Farmer @farmerwithnotractor
Replying to @CRIMSONRAIN and @pickledbanyue
Holy shittttttt are you going to be in the shoot? Is your dad?????
Xuyi @starshotfar
Replying to @CRIMSONRAIN
When the boyfriends do a collab omg
“I’m almost finished with dinner, I’ll call you back later tonight,” Banyue says. On the other end of the video call, Pei Xiu sits up.
“Sounds good. Am I still good to come over tomorrow?”
Banyue shoots him a look. “Of course you are. You don’t even have to ask anymore, you can just show up and no one would care.”
Her best friend snorts. “Sure. I’ll talk to you later. I hope dinner is good!”
With the call finished, Banyue turns her attention back to the vegetable beef soup on the stovetop. She turns down the heat and is just about to pull bowls out when someone clears their throat behind her.
“Hua Cheng,” she greets, “what’s up? Dinner is just finishing up, is baba home yet?”
“Not yet. He texted me a few minutes ago so he should be home soon.”
Banyue hums her assent and turns back to dish out the soup. The pair stand in an awkward silence as she finishes, and when she turns back, Hua Cheng is looking at her.
“Banyue.” He fiddles with the silver bracelets that adorn his wrists, a nervous tic that she has never seen him perform before. “I have an important question for you.”
“Okay. What’s up?”
He runs his fingers over the silver bands again. “Your baba and I have been together for about two years now, and they have been the best two years of my life. He has made me happier than anyone else, and so have you. I can’t imagine my life—”
“Hua Cheng.” Banyue cuts him off with a hand on his shoulder. She smiles at him, the same sweet and knowing smile that she inherited from her baba. “Can I see the ring?”
It’s a simple thing, a silver band engraved with delicate butterflies and peonies. It is perfect for Xie Lian.
Banyue smiles and leans into Hua Cheng’s shoulder. “He’s going to love it.”
crimsonrain
Beijing, China
[Image description: Xie Lian stands int he center of the frame holding a sword in one hand while the other reaches up to grasp a white peony. He is wearing elegant white robes with yellow, red, and blue accent. His hair is pulled up into a silver guan and there are peonies forming a crown on his head. Various floral arrangements decorate the space around him. There is a carved silver band on his left ring finger.]
Liked by @pickledbanyue, @xianleflowers and 45,961 others
crimsonrain The Flower-Crowned Martial God collaboration with @xianleflowers
(1 hour ago)
Comments:
pickledbanyue THATS MY DAD YOU GUYS!!!!
treeluvr @pickledbanyue HE LOOKS SO GOOD TELL HIM I SAID CONGRATULATIONS
xianleflowers It was an honor to work with the Crimson Rain Agency to create these beautiful photos! Thank you for the support!
mileylostit HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT IS THAT A RING??????
sunburnsundance @mileylostit it might just be part of the outfit????? (please don’t just be part of the outfit)
forged-knight @mileylostit @sunburnssundance none of the other models had any rings and it really looks like an engagement ring, it doesn’t match the time period they were going for with the shoot
nananabanana AHHHHHHH DAD IN XIANXIA OUTFIT IM GONNA DIE
More…
pickledbanyue
Beijing, China
[Image description: Banyue takes a selfie with Xie Lian. They are in a dressing room and Xie Lian is wearing his makeup from the photoshoot with his hair down. His left hand is resting on her shoulder and a silver ring is visible. They are both making silly faces.]
Liked by @crimsonrain and 1,827 others
pickledbanyue Behind the scenes from the @crimsonrain shoot with my dad! I have the coolest family
(24 minutes ago)
Comments:
mileylostit THE RINGGGGGGGGG
peijunior It looks like you had a great time!
runrunrunning HES SO CUTEEEE I LITERALLY CANT
baixian.draws omg did your dad get engaged????
suzanna-cox @baixian.draws omg wait who is he dating?
sunshinebby @suzanna-cox he’s dating Hua Cheng!!
More…
For Fun: Preparing Hot Pot with the Family
pickledbanyue | 21 minutes
Video Transcript
Timestamp: 18:12-20:01
[Banyue is standing between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng who are both sitting at the table. She leans against Xie Lian’s shoulder as she dresses the camera.]
Banyue: Alright, food is done and being eaten and I think we’ve been cruel enough everyone already. Spill the beans you two.
[Xie Lian and Hua Cheng look at each other and smile. They both begin to speak at once, and laugh at each other. Hua Cheng looks up at the camera.]
Hua Cheng: I am happy to announce that your beloved Xie Lian is now officially off the market.
[He reaches down and pulls Xie Lian’s left hand up into view of the camera. Banyue smiles at them.]
Banyue: I know that most of you guys guessed it already when you saw the ring in the pictures, but we thought since you all have been so sweet you should get some official confirmation.
[She crosses her arms at looks sternly into the camera.]
Banyue: And this is your reminder to keep being good and nice because there are just a few too many of you out there who are absolute creeps. We are real people, believe it or not.
Xie Lian: I wanted to thank you all for your support with the Flower-Crowned Martial God photoshoot. It turned out better than I could have possibly imagined and I’m happy you all liked it.
[He smiles at Hua Cheng.]
Banyue: Alright, that’s enough sappiness for one video. Finish your food!
Comments:
Tong Deishi I can’t believe they’re engaged oh my godddddddddd
Mandy Lark You all look so happy!
Brandy Louis tell them both congratulations on the shoot and the engagement for us!!
Wang Xuan whoever was being a creep better count their days
Marcela Bardoua SO SO HAPPY FOR YOU ALL!!
More Comments…