Chapter 42: Sigh! Sending flowers & Capitalism

A car slowly passed through the bustling commercial district before pulling into a parking garage.

Lin Zhiyan opened the car door, then glanced at Zefi. He sat beside her reading electronic documents, the blue glow casting a cold sheen over his pale gray hair.

Noticing her gaze, Zefi lazily lifted his eyes. “The round trip isn’t short. Don’t waste my time.”

“I’m going by myself?”
Lin Zhiyan stared at him.

Zefi curled his lips slightly without answering. His beautiful face practically spelled out three words: Or else?

“No, you have to come with me. I suffer from capitalist-phobia.” Lin Zhiyan looked utterly sincere, her round eyes especially earnest with how much black filled her pupils. “If I’m exposed to too much upper-class capitalist aura, I’ll die.”

—Especially entering those glittering luxury stores and seeing fashionably dressed employees. She would practically want to melt into the sewer on the spot.

Zefi glanced at her pale grayly, unconcerned. “Didn’t you survive perfectly fine at the United Military-Political Academy?”

He raised a finger and tapped the face of the watch on his wrist.

Lin Zhiyan understood the hint, but climbed back into the car in two quick steps and sat beside him. “I get it. You want to trick me into getting out, then drive away.”

Zefi frowned, mockery lingering at his lips. “Then I can also have the driver throw you out right now and leave directly.”

Lin Zhiyan choked.

Zefi raised a brow.

Sighing, Lin Zhiyan said, “I don’t have money.”

Zefi was about to refute her, but she cut him off first. “First, the money you transferred me is in a fixed-term account, so I can’t withdraw it early. Second, I don’t have much spending money right now. I might not even be able to afford flowers. And lastly… I don’t really understand flowers.”

Then she added, “Can’t you come with me? I’ll figure out a way to pay you back later.”

“You think I’d believe you?”
Zefi crossed his arms and looked at her sideways, one brow slightly raised.

They stared at each other for a few seconds before Lin Zhiyan sighed. The faintly weary and melancholy expression on her face disappeared.

“Fine, you figured it out.” Her tone relaxed as she got out of the car again, grumbling, “Just so you know, the commercial facilities in District 16 are really outdated. So if I get lost because I’m unfamiliar with this place, or take too long choosing flowers, you’re not allowed to scold me.”

Zefi fell silent for a few seconds.

He let out a breath, put away his terminal, and irritably opened the car door.

“You’re coming with me?” Lin Zhiyan asked.

Zefi’s expression remained icy as he said nothing.

Blinking, she asked again, “Then will you pay?”

The last thread of Zefi’s patience snapped. “Shut up and stop wasting time.”

Lin Zhiyan obediently shut her mouth and followed him into a glass elevator. The elevator moved in both directions, slowly ascending and turning as they traveled. Through the glittering colored glass, she could easily see towering buildings and pedestrians crossing the streets below.

The sun had nearly climbed overhead, its dazzling light creating a vibrant, flourishing atmosphere. But inside the shopping mall everything carried an eternal icy gloss. Perfume lingered in the air. There weren’t many people, yet every few steps revealed another elegantly dressed man or woman draped in luxury brands.

Just entering from the parking garage required multiple access scans, and people constantly approached them offering guided services. Lin Zhiyan suspected that even breathing here would put her a hundred thousand credits in debt to the mall.

Not long after, the two entered a flower shop.

Flowers and plants of every variety burned against the eyes like scattered sparks. Rich fragrance filled the air. The delicate tea sets and refined décor gave the place an elegant purity, while the two-story interior felt spacious and open.

Someone sat deep inside the store, leaning over his work. Soft light fell over tea-brown hair as he rolled up his sleeves and carefully revived flowers in water. The sound of flowing water drifted together with the floral scent.

“You can look around first and see if there’s anything you like.”

His voice carried a smile as he spoke. Then he lifted his head.

The instant he looked up and met Zefi’s gaze, Lin Zhiyan clearly sensed the atmosphere tighten for a moment before quickly easing again.

She examined the shop owner carefully. He had long brown hair draped gently over his shoulders and amber eyes filled with warm light. When he stood, his tall figure and broad shoulders became apparent, along with the muscle visible beneath his rolled sleeves.

He spoke unhurriedly. “Long time no see.”

Then he smiled again. “If you’re buying flowers, I can give you a discount.”

His smile made him seem even gentler and more approachable.

—Unlike Zefi. Even when Zefi smiled, it never made people feel closer to him.

Lin Zhiyan compared the two silently.

Curving his lips, Zefi asked, “Why are you here?”

The shop owner replied leisurely, “The others wanted to go have fun, so they asked me to help out. No choice.” Then he sighed helplessly. “Young people are too restless.”

Zefi laughed too.

Lin Zhiyan instinctively felt Zefi and the shop owner didn’t get along very well. Yet strangely, standing together, they looked more like brothers than Zefi and Li Siheng did.

Maybe because they both smiled so much?

Or maybe because they were both ridiculously beautiful?

Zefi was the type with overwhelmingly striking features—

Lin Zhiyan’s thoughts started wandering again.

Fortunately, after only a brief exchange of pleasantries, the shop owner returned to reviving the flowers.

During the process, neither Zefi nor the shop owner asked about Lin Zhiyan’s identity. Apparently, when it came to “unnecessary questions,” they were alike too.

Lin Zhiyan circled the flowers and plants for quite a while without making a decision. Zefi originally stood off to the side reading his terminal, but after watching her hesitate endlessly, he raised a brow.

“What exactly are you hesitating over?”

“I’m thinking about what suits Lemang.” Lin Zhiyan pointed at a yellow flower. “This one feels right for him, but I’m worried he won’t like the color.”

Then she pointed at a cluster of pink flowers. “But this color might be too tacky.”

Zefi took a deep breath. “With his brain, he’d like anything you gave him.”

“But whether someone was sincere or not always shows eventually.”
Lin Zhiyan remained completely serious.

“Hibiscus.”

Zefi suddenly spoke.

Lin Zhiyan blanked for several seconds. “Whose funeral?”

Zefi paused, then pointed at the red hibiscus flowers nearby. “The flowers he gave you that day were hibiscus.”

After speaking, his gaze turned cold, though he smiled faintly. “Also the bouquet you smashed into me.”

“Looks like you’re still angry,” Lin Zhiyan remarked. “But I’m not apologizing. After all, that day you probably came intending to deal with me.”

“Wow.” Zefi’s tone remained utterly flat. “What a valuable apology.”

Lin Zhiyan felt that lately Zefi had completely stopped pretending around her. He constantly sneered at her with a cold face now. She almost missed the version of him who acted gentle and saintly before getting pissed off by her.

At least that version was less deadly.

Picking up her terminal, she said, “Let me check the flower language of hibiscus.”

“It symbolizes purity, shyness, subtle love, and beauty.”

A gentle voice sounded behind them.

Turning around, Lin Zhiyan realized the shop owner had returned with a smiling expression. “I’m done now. I can help you choose. Who are you giving flowers to?”

Then he joked, “At least it’s probably not Zefi.”

Zefi smiled too. “You care a lot about whether I receive flowers?”

Lin Zhiyan: “…”

Wait, why does this suddenly feel like a battlefield again?!

Quickly, she said, “I think hibiscus is good. Now let’s think about Li Siheng’s bouquet.”

“Oh?” The shop owner’s tone stretched teasingly. “So you’re giving flowers to more than one person.”

After speaking, he glanced at Zefi.

The shop owner’s eyes were slightly narrow, and that sideways glance carried a strangely alluring feeling.

Before Lin Zhiyan could react, Zefi suddenly said, “Even if you haven’t decided on the main flowers yet, you could use climbing plants as decoration.”

There was obvious meaning beneath his words.

“After all, he wishes he could cling to you like vines.”

“Ah, I have a suggestion.” The shop owner smoothly continued, pointing toward a shelf deeper inside where vines wrapped around the frame. “How about ivy? Also known as evergreen ivy. It means ‘where it exists, spring exists too.’ It symbolizes loyalty and influence.”

Loyalty? She was choosing flowers for two people.

Half-smiling, Lin Zhiyan looked at the shop owner. “And what does ‘influence’ mean?”

Still smiling, the shop owner instead looked toward Zefi. “Legend says Dionysus blessed ivy so that anyone who received it could influence the person they loved, causing even someone who didn’t love them to eventually fall in love.”

—Damn, that was way too accurate.

It wasn’t strange that he knew Li Siheng. He was probably in the same social circle as Zefi.

But did he also know about her relationship with Li Siheng?

Testing cautiously, Lin Zhiyan asked, “How are you so sure I need that blessing? Or that the recipient does?”

“Maybe because Zefi and I are very close?” The shop owner still wore a gentle smile. “He and his younger brother are exactly alike, so it’s not hard to guess what kind of plant suits Siheng.”

Lin Zhiyan: “…”

Seriously, could this guy stop starting wars?!

Faced with the provocation, Zefi’s expression didn’t change at all. He stroked his chin thoughtfully. A few seconds later, his pale gray hair shimmered silver beneath the light as he smiled.

“Ivy may not suit me, but golden dodder definitely suits you.”

Well. Karma.

She used to treat Zefi as part of some game, and now she’d become part of their game instead.

Playing along immediately, Lin Zhiyan asked, “Golden dodder… you mean parasitic vine?”

“Mhm.” Zefi nodded. “It symbolizes elegance, overcoming hardship, mutual love, and mutual support. Don’t you think it suits him?”

He suddenly looked at Lin Zhiyan.

Grinding her teeth with a smile, Lin Zhiyan turned toward the shop owner. “Suitable… probably? It sounds powerful. And elegant.”

The shop owner smiled faintly. “Your taste isn’t very good.”

“Likewise.” Zefi glanced at the time. “I was clearly complimenting you, yet you got angry.”

He tapped the face of his watch, his eyes briefly sweeping over Lin Zhiyan.

Despairing, Lin Zhiyan sighed and lifted her face seriously. “Maybe because parasitic vines imply parasitism? A lot of movies and novels say dodder vines strangle the plants they cling to.”

“Ah, so that’s it.” Zefi smiled, sympathy appearing on his gentle face. “Sorry.”

The shop owner smiled too. Brushing aside the hair near his ear, he bent to pick up flowers. Lin Zhiyan caught the scent of flowers, grass, and nutrient solution tangled together on him.

Holding several bouquets, he turned to her. His light brown hair made his skin appear even paler. Smiling softly, his warm eyes carried a pure beauty moving enough to shake people emotionally.

Softly, he asked, “Have you chosen the main flower yet?”

Lin Zhiyan blinked.

The smile on his face deepened slightly as he glanced over her head toward Zefi.

Finally, Lin Zhiyan said, “Sunflowers.”

Then she added, “One bouquet is enough.”

“I’ll pay,” Zefi said.

“It’s not about the money.” Smiling at the shop owner, Lin Zhiyan said, “Sunflowers and… ivy.”

Hearing this, the shop owner smiled too. “Favoritism isn’t good. But if that’s what you want, of course.”

They left the flower shop and got back into the car.

Zefi stayed silent while the car drove steadily forward. Hugging the bouquet, Lin Zhiyan sat as far from him as though a galaxy separated them, yet she still couldn’t resist sneaking glances at him.

“What’s so interesting?”
Zefi asked calmly.

“You seem a little angry.” Resting her chin on the sunflowers, Lin Zhiyan said, “Your relationship with the shop owner looks awful.”

Zefi looked at her. Her face reflected golden-orange beneath the sunflowers, as if one of the flowers had come to life. He looked away again.

“What? Does this affect your flirting with him?”

Lin Zhiyan froze, looking innocent. “When did I flirt with him? I don’t even know him, okay? The only reason we talked was to mock you together.”

“Oh, really?” Zefi tapped his fingers against his knee, icy gray eyes reflecting the scenery outside. “You weren’t the only one staring blankly several times.”

“That sounds like jealousy.”

Lin Zhiyan fiddled with the bouquet.

Her words genuinely irritated Zefi. “I already told you not to say weird nonsense like that to me.”

“…Then I just won’t say anything at all!” Completely baffled, Lin Zhiyan huffed angrily, burying her face in the flowers. Her voice came out muffled. “You two had an argument and now you’re taking it out on me.”

Zefi: “…”

He slowly exhaled.

“You’re the one lacking boundaries,” he said.

Lin Zhiyan raised her face and glared at him coldly, returning to the prideful sharpness she used to confront him with. “How am I lacking boundaries? Fine, I admit I stared a few times. But accusing me of flirting with him is way too unfair, isn’t it? I just said you sounded jeal—”

“Stop talking.” Unable to bear it anymore, Zefi cut her off and turned toward her. “This topic can end he—”

His voice stopped abruptly.

Then he suddenly laughed. “Forget it.”

Lin Zhiyan looked confused. “What are you laughing at?”

Zefi pulled out his terminal again. “Too lazy to argue with you.”

Lin Zhiyan found this even stranger, but the moment she looked up, she clearly saw her own reflection in the rearview mirror—

The sunflower center had imprinted faint reddish grid patterns onto her face, and several wet petals stuck to her nose.

—Like a little idiot.

Furiously wiping away the petals, Lin Zhiyan tried to stay calm. “Would it have killed you to warn me?”

“Too lazy to remind you,” Zefi replied.

Lin Zhiyan: “…I should’ve sided with the shop owner earlier just to piss you off.”

“You could have.” Zefi looked at her, his smile carrying another meaning. “But unfortunately, parasitic vines only cling to plants worth parasitizing. Not little kids like you.”

Lin Zhiyan had skipped grades and entered early.

Among all these young adults, she really was younger than most.

But hearing Zefi say it still made her roll her eyes. “Emotional value is value too.”

Zefi thought she was being ridiculous and shook his head, too lazy to continue.

Soon, they arrived at the airport.

As Lin Zhiyan stepped out holding the flowers, Zefi suddenly called, “Lin Zhiyan.”

She turned back.

Zefi remained inside the dim car, his face obscured in shadow, making him seem even more like some vine creeping through the night. He wore that same gentle social-mask smile, though curiosity and probing remained undisguised in his eyes.

“The one who wanted flowers most was Lemang. So why aren’t you giving them to him?”

Touching her chin, Lin Zhiyan replied, “Maybe because I have a better gift for him.”

Zefi raised a brow. “What?”

Smiling, Lin Zhiyan said, “Too lazy to tell you.”

With that, she turned and strode into the airport, black hair flying behind her while droplets on the flowers glimmered beneath the sunlight.

Zefi paused for a moment before returning to his terminal.

What did it matter anyway? It wasn’t something important to begin with.

Lin Zhiyan went to see Li Siheng first.

When such a bouquet appeared before him, he looked startled.

“I have to get back to school soon, and the flower shop was really far away, so I barely had any time.” Leaning forward and panting dramatically, Lin Zhiyan held out the bouquet with the expression of someone about to die from exhaustion. Looking up at him, she said, “But there’s still something I have to say.”

Li Siheng accepted the flowers and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Can you rest first?”

Lin Zhiyan shook her head and looked up seriously. “I didn’t have time to look up the flower language for sunflowers. But I wanted to give you sunflowers because I think they’re dazzling.”

In that instant, all the suspicion filling Li Siheng vanished.

Like whether she was secretly still contacting Lemang.

Whether she and Lemang had actually broken up.

Whether she had been lying to him from beginning to end.

At that moment, every doubt disappeared like smoke.

Li Siheng had no reason left to suspect her. His eyes grew moist as he kissed her forehead.

“You’re the dazzling one.”

Holding her through the flowers, he pressed kisses to her face and neck, repeating softly:

“You’re the dazzling one.”

After barely muddling through things with Li Siheng, Lin Zhiyan found herself with almost no time left before boarding.

Having no other choice, she sprinted all the way to see Lemang.

Yet instead of feeling tired, she wanted to laugh.

Wonderful wonderful wonderful!

Finally—finally she was going to be free!

At the moment, Lemang sat inside a café, stirring his coffee so much it was practically foam. Only when a familiar figure appeared did he finally look up in shock.

He stood immediately. “…Aiven?”

Aiven looked somewhat awkward.

Behind her, Lin Zhiyan stepped out.

Frowning, Lemang ignored Aiven and stared only at Lin Zhiyan. “What are you doing?”

Looking toward Aiven, Lin Zhiyan asked, “Can you wait here for me a little while?”

Aiven nodded.

Walking over to Lemang, Lin Zhiyan once again looked like someone who had just plowed ten acres of land. In a hoarse voice, she said, “I originally ran around forever trying to buy flowers. But after thinking about it, I realized flowers aren’t what you really need.”

Lemang frowned harder. “Why did you bring her here?”

He still didn’t know how his relationship with Aiven had been exposed, but he suspected it had something to do with her. For all this time, the two of them had completely avoided interacting.

His green eyes filled with irritation. “Why are you meddling so much?! I have nothing to say to her. I hate this. We could’ve met alone!”

“Really?” Tilting her head, Lin Zhiyan asked, “Back then, when you stopped her from hanging out with me, were you actually targeting me? Or were you worried she’d be taken advantage of?”

Lemang choked. “I—”

“Aiven told me you always say awful things to her, but that you’re not actually a bad person.” Lin Zhiyan pinched his cheek. “So being nice means your cruel words magically cancel out?”

Holding her hand, Lemang protested, “I’m not cruel! And I’m definitely not nice to her!”

Lin Zhiyan smiled. “Then at least let her apologize to you?”

“No.” Lemang lifted his chin stubbornly. “I don’t care.”

Ignoring him completely, Lin Zhiyan turned to Aiven. “The rest is your time together.”

Lemang’s eyes widened. “What about you?”

“I need to go to class.” Raising her terminal, Lin Zhiyan smiled. “Remember to tell me the results of your negotiations.”

Inside the café—

Aiven hesitated for a long time with her head lowered before finally speaking.

“Stop wasting time already,” Lemang snapped impatiently. “You interrupted my time with her, so at least say something.”

Aiven paused, then lifted her tearful eyes. “I’m sorry.”

Then she added quietly, “I was just a little jealous of you.”

“What’s there to be jealous of?” Lemang exploded. “You don’t get beaten by your mother all the time like I do! You don’t get forced into endless stuff every day either! What’s so bad about your life?”

Aiven sniffed. “But you always pick on me.”

Then she added softly, “You said my red hair was ugly.”

“When did I—” Lemang froze. “You mean in the car that time?”

Aiven nodded.

Lemang looked like he was about to collapse. Pointing at her, he sputtered for several seconds before finally yelling:

“Idiot! You looked miserable, so I was trying to say you’d look good no matter what! You—you seriously couldn’t understand that?!”

“That’s not my fault!” Aiven suddenly shouted back angrily. “You’ve bullied me since we were kids! The way you talk is awful. How was I supposed to think you were comforting me?!”

Lemang grew even angrier. “You always looked so easy to bully, so I had to talk like that so you’d stop being so timid!”

“I can’t read minds! If you have something to say, why can’t you just say it properly?!”

Inside the café, everyone watched the red-haired siblings yell louder and louder over tiny ridiculous issues, both their faces turning even redder than their hair.

But after several rounds of arguing, nobody knew who softened first.

“I just… I just thought you were stealing my friend…”

“Are you crazy? I’m not even friends with her!”

“You’re the crazy one. You kept monopolizing her time.”

Aiven accused.

Lemang scoffed, then looked away. “Well now you’re the one monopolizing it.”

Then he looked back at her. “Keep a close eye on her. If she ends up with someone else, they won’t tolerate your weird nonsense the way I do.”

Biting her lip, Aiven muttered, “I wouldn’t do something like that.”

Lemang snorted. “Whatever.”

Aiven spoke again. “I’m sorry, I—”

“Stop apologizing already. It’s annoying.”

Lemang shouted.

Aiven covered her ears.

A white streak flashed across the sky.

Soon, an aircraft slowly descended.

As Li Siheng exited the terminal passageway, he immediately spotted Lemang.

Lemang strode forward while Aiven followed behind him, the two continuing to talk about something.

Who knew when they’d suddenly gotten along this well?

Then again, both Lemang and Aiven were awkward to the extreme.

Li Siheng looked away, suddenly enlightened.

Ah.

So Lemang had actually been chatting with Aiven all this time?

That explained why things had been so awkward.

Both Aiven and Lemang noticed Li Siheng waving toward them.

Stopping, Aiven said, “I can only walk you this far.”

“Who asked you to?” Lemang replied casually before frowning. “Wait, why’s he holding flowers?”

Aiven’s eyes flickered.

Then, with complete righteousness, she declared:

“We gave them to him.”

Lemang blinked. “What?”

“Zefi wanted us to send him off in the group’s name, but none of us are really close to him.” Repeating the script Lin Zhiyan had drilled into her, Aiven stumbled a little nervously. “So he asked me to come. The flowers were from me too. But don’t ask questions because your mouth—”

Hearing this, pity flashed through Lemang’s heart.

Li Siheng always kept to himself. Everyone knew that.

Soon after, the aircraft lifted off again and disappeared into the sky.

Aiven slowly let out a breath while walking outside, then called Lin Zhiyan.

The moment the call connected, she said, “Thank you.”

“For what?” Lin Zhiyan laughed. “I should be thanking you for helping me lie. Sorry, but Lemang’s way too suspicious. Even if Zefi told me to give the flowers, I was worried he’d overthink things.”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Aiven paused before continuing softly, “But without you, I probably would’ve kept thinking I was terrible. I also never would’ve realized that I misunderstood Lemang this whole time.”

“He talks way too harshly. He deserves to be misunderstood.” Lin Zhiyan sounded amused. “Didn’t I tell you? Next time just yell back at him. He gets furious but can’t actually stay mad at you.”

Aiven’s lips curved slightly. Tears glimmered briefly in her eyes before disappearing again.

Holding the terminal, she whispered, “You’re really nice.”

Originally, Lin Zhiyan never needed to get involved in any of this.

Hearing that evaluation made Lin Zhiyan want to laugh.

Her eyes curved too. “I’m not that nice.”

Nice? Please.

She had only dragged Aiven over as cover for both sides while conveniently getting a free ride back to school. Honestly, she couldn’t understand how the siblings managed to turn such an obvious misunderstanding into such a massive issue.

Then again, if they weren’t this simple and awkward, how could she have tricked them so easily?

Tilting her head up, Lin Zhiyan watched the aircraft streak across the sky with a shrill roar.

She smiled as the wind lifted her hair.

No matter what, things were finally much quieter now.

Stretching lazily, she pulled out her terminal and checked it again.

The likes and comments on her short video were still climbing rapidly.

Delighted, Lin Zhiyan opened the comments section—

Only to immediately see that the insulting comment calling her a “country bumpkin poor ghost” had become the top trending comment.

The number of likes actually wasn’t that high.

But it had over a hundred replies.

The hell?! Why?!

Clicking into it, she realized the person had been intensely fighting with everyone in the replies.

[There’s no need to attack people right away, right?]

[.: Just stating facts.]

[Don’t you think the way you speak is awful?]

[.: high pitch No opera voice I bass voice don’t harmony]

[People driven by jealousy are pathetic.]

[.: Delete the videos flexing your cheap idol group meals before talking to me.]

Lin Zhiyan: “…”

She clutched her faintly aching chest.

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