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It was a quiet morning as Jing Yuan sorted through the flowers and took inventory of what was available. A few flowers had begun to wilt so he took them and placed them in a vase in the back so they could live out the remainder of their lives out of view from customers. After looking through everything he went over to the computer to see what orders had been placed and if he had enough flowers in stock for them.
As he was comparing his inventory count to the orders, he heard the soft ring of the bell signaling a customer had arrived. He placed the clipboard down and made his way out to the counter to greet the customer.
A man stood in the center of the store observing the different types of flowers. His face was covered with a mask and sunglasses and only a few longer pieces of his hair showed from beneath his beanie. He was extremely well dressed in a long black coat covering his dress shirt and pants.
Jing yuan was no stranger to the types of people that came through his store but even he was taken aback by how covered the gentleman was. If he were a more paranoid person, he would have thought the person to be a fugitive of some kind.
“Is there anything I can assist you with?” Jing Yuan said as he leaned on the counter with a relaxed smile. The gentleman turned from where he was observing a carnation to face Jing Yuan. He walked over to the counter and handed a piece of paper to him.
As Jing yuan read the piece of paper, he realized that he was here to pick up an arrangement that had been ordered earlier this week.
“I’ll go grab this from the back for you.”
The man just nodded and went back to look at carnations. Jing yuan made his way to the back room and searched the floral cooler for the correct arrangement. Once he grabbed it, he made his way back out to the front and placed the arrangement on the counter. He entered the total cost of the arrangement into the register before calling the man over.
“Is there a particular color that has piqued your interest?” The man looked over and saw that Jing yuan had the arrangement already and went to the counter to pay. “Depending on the color of the carnation the meaning of the flower changes which has always been interesting to me.”
The man just went to pay before picking up the arrangement and leaving. “Not much of a talker that one.” He threw away the receipt before heading to the backroom to continue sorting out orders.
A week later the same man strolled into the store just as covered as the time before. Jing yuan was chatting with another customer about different flower arrangements and the meaning behind certain flowers.
“Although flowers were given a universal meaning, I like to think that flowers can hold an individual meaning depending on the intentions of the person.”
The Woman nodded in agreement. “My father always got my mother lily of the valley flowers even with their bad connotation. When I asked him why, he simply said they’re your mother’s favorite flower.” She held a soft smile on her face, reminiscing about her family.
Jing yuan also smiled at the sweet memory, “It sounds like your father set the standards for flowers very high.”
The woman laughed before nodding. “I think that’s why I'm struggling so much to find the perfect flowers for my husband.”
“Well, is there any particular color he likes or perhaps a message you would like for him to know?”
The Woman took a moment to think about it before finally deciding. “I want him to know that I’ll love him forever.”
Jing yuan immediately went through a mentally list of flowers that could mean forever. Baby’s breath would be a given as a filler flower but if he remembered correctly, it also held the meaning of forever. He opened one of the drawers behind the counter pulling out a book and skimming through trying to find different flowers that wouldn't clash but would also mean forever.
“I think I have an idea for an arrangement. It would contain four different types of flowers, Aster which symbolizes eternal love, alstroemeria which symbolizes support, Dahlia which means stability, and baby’s breath to fill in any gaps. They also mean everlasting love which helps pull the arrangement together.”
The woman scrutinized the flowers pointed out for a long moment before finally agreeing to the arrangement. Jing yuan gave a smile before moving around the store to gather the flowers needed for the arrangement. He cut a piece of ribbon and tied it around the vase before calling the woman over and checking her out.
Finally, Jing Yuan looked over at the man who had been patiently waiting while he dealt with that customer. “Sorry for the wait, how can I help you?”
The man walked up to him and pulled his mask down to speak. “Same as last week.” His voice was gruff and had a slightly deeper tone to it. Also, from what Jing Yuan could see his face wasn't bad looking either.
He went to the back to grab the arrangement before placing it on the counter and checking the man out. As Jing Yuan was about to leave to the back the man grabbed his attention.
“Is there a way I can have the flowers ready every week without having to call.”
Jing yuan thought about it for a moment before rummaging through one of the drawers in the front counter. He took out a notebook and pen and placed it on the counter before looking up at him.
“We usually have phone orders so they can get placed in the system but if you're going to have a weekly order, I can just input it on the system to reset weekly.”
The man just nodded.
“I'm just going to need your name and the flower arrangement.”
“It's Ren. White carnations.”
Jing yuan wrote that down before smiling up at Ren. “You’re all set.
As the weeks went by Jing Yuan got to know more about the mysterious man Ren. He learned that he was a direct and to the point type of person who didn't waste time on pleasantries. He also sometimes had doodles on his mask which he explained was from a highschooler he worked with. He once came in with a well-dressed woman who was very well spoken and said that Ren recommended the shop to her.
The more he found out about Ren the more he wanted to learn about him outside of their conversations in the shop. He wanted to know who the flowers were for, why he got them every week on the same day, what kind of work he does to be dressed so well and yet still have teenagers employed.
The more questions that piled up the more Jing Yuan knew that he was falling in love with a stranger.
The next week when Ren came in Jing Yuan decided to quell his curiosity and just ask the man out on a date.
The next week as Jing Yuan finished checking out Ren, he casually asked him, “Would you like to go on a date.”
Ren for his part didn’t show any visible signs of shock or even unease at the situation. Jing Yuan just lounged casually on the counter waiting for his reply. After a few moments Ren placed the flowers back on the counter. Even after seeing the man once a week, he was no better at reading his expressions though he hoped with time he would be able to tell what emotion he was displaying even from the most minute details.
“Next week. You can come with me to deliver the flowers.”
With that he grabbed the flowers and left the shop. Jing yuan lounged in a bit of a stunned silence trying to process the words he just heard.
He had a date.
He spent the rest of the day taking care of orders that were due that day and then sent a message to Fu Xuan.
All Mighty Seer
Can you do me a favor?
Depends does this have to do with that
mafia looking stranger?
D:
How did you know?!
You don’t have me in your contacts as
all mighty seer for no reason.
):
You could have at least pretended to not
know for my sake
So, what did you need my help with?
Did you ask him out?
Do you need someone to watch the shop?
It's like I don't even need to text you when I
have news anymore
So what day am I watching the shop?
Tuesday
Have fun on your date.
Soon the day of the date came, and he met Fu Xuan at the shop. She was dressed in proper business attire looking like she was going to a corporate office instead of running a small flower shop. When she spotted him, she immediately started with her questions.
“So where are you two going?”
Jing yuan thought it would be fun to tease her just a little after she had predicted his plans the week before. “The great Fu Xuan doesn't know? With all her correct predictions from before I expected better.”
She gave him an unimpressed look knowing exactly what he was trying to do. “Ha Ha you know I get you more than I don’t”
They walked inside the shop continuing their discussion. “He said he would be taking me to deliver the flowers with him.” Which Jing Yuan admitted was a very unusual first date but perhaps there was a reason for it?
“A real charmer, this one you sure he isn't a mafia member.” They had made their way to the back room at this point and Jing yuan went to fetch the list he had made for Fu Xuan. Hopefully she approved of it and went easy on him.
“No, but if he is, I'll have the great Fu Xuan to save me.”
Fu Xuan turned away indignantly, “Keep being embarrassing and I'll predict this date ending horribly.”
Jing yuan laughed before showing Fu Xuan the preparations he made the week before. He gave her a list of flower arrangements with the name of the customer and the location of the arrangement listed on it.
“That should be all the pre-ordered flowers done and organized so you’ll only have to worry about walk in customers.”
Fu Xuan looked at the list very thoroughly, nodding her head in approval of the organization. “So you’ll be leaving with him once he comes to pick up the flowers?”
“I suppose that’s the plan.”
Fu Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Did you not plan it out? No wait let me guess you asked him out on a whim, and he agreed and just left you to pick yourself up off the counter.”
Jing yuan gave a smile, “You know me too well.”
Fu Xuan just turned towards the door to open up the shop. The hours passed by peacefully with Fu Xuan handling all the transactions while Jing Yuan relaxed, refilling a few flowers here and there.
Soon Ren appeared in the shop. He as usual waited in front of the checkout as Jing yuan went to fetch the flowers. They continued the transaction as usual. The only difference this time is that Jing Yuan would be following him to wherever he took these flowers.
“Are you ok to leave?”
Jing yuan smiled and said he had a friend covering the shop for the day. Ren just nodded and picked the flowers up before leaving the shop with Jing Yuan trailing behind. They walked along the sidewalk taking a path that was very familiar to Ren.
Soon after ten minutes they arrived, it was a children’s hospital. Jing Yuan knew there was one in the area but he never expected to be going into one especially on a first date. He took a glance at Ren and grew even more intrigued. This man took flowers to a children’s hospital every week and thought it would be an appropriate date.
It was clear to Jing Yuan that this first date was to showcase something. Perhaps Ren had a child? Or perhaps a sibling? Whoever they were visiting, Jing Yuan knew he would have to impress them because they meant enough to Ren to get them flowers every week for months.
Ren spoke with the receptionist who seemed to be very familiar with his visits. They got their visitor badges before making their way down the halls. Soon enough they stopped in front of a room and finally Ren acknowledged him.
“Do not pity her.”
He then opened the door and went inside. Jing Yuan followed right behind, finally understanding what Ren meant. There laying on the bed was a girl probably no older than 15 reading a travel book.
“Ren. How is everyone? Oh, and you brought me flowers again today.” She said cheerfully.
“They’re fine.”
The girl let out a sigh like she was used to such an answer. “Well, you can at least tell me about the guy you brought to meet me.”
Ren had gone to put the flowers on the bedside table, “Ask him yourself.”
The girl rolled her eyes before turning to face Jing Yuan and introducing herself. “I’m firefly. I know Ren from work.”
Jing Yuan gave a smile, “I’m Jing Yuan. I know Ren from selling him flowers.”
Firefly’s eyes lit up like she finally had the missing piece of the puzzle. “Oh! You’re the flower shop guy that Silver wolf and Kafka were telling me about. Ren why didn’t you tell me you were bringing your crush over I would have facetimed Silver wolf.”
Ren for his part didn’t say anything, just turned to look out the window.
“Don’t mind him, he's just embarrassed. Kafka told me you were handsome when she first met you.”
Jing Yuan laughed and moved closer to Firefly. “Well, I happened to believe she was a very dignified woman when I first met her, it seems we were both singing each other's praises.”
Jing Yuan and Firefly talked idly about their respective experiences with Ren. Some are funny stories or cute ones from when Firefly used to work with him. When Firefly wondered how Ren asked him out, he corrected her by telling him the whole interaction of asking him out. She giggled at the story but said that it was very much like him.
Soon visiting hours were up and they had to leave Firefly. Jing yuan bid his farewells to Firefly while Ren waited in front of the hospital room. Once they were outside the hospital building Ren turned to Jing yuan and asked him a very important question.
“Would you be ok with dates like this?”
Jing Yuan finally understood why this had been their first date, this was probably the only free time Ren had. He smiled at the thought of getting to know firefly better as well as Kafka and Silver wolf who seem to be equally important. If it meant being able to go on dates with Ren, he didn't mind going on a date like this over and over again.
“I would never mind dates like this.”