The somewhat clumsy-looking owner revealed her face, standing amidst countless flowers, the true ruler of the kingdom. At first glance, no one would be struck by her beauty, for everything about her seemed so ordinary—both her figure and appearance.
The boss, or more accurately the boss's wife, had a huge cabinet behind her made of gray wooden planks stacked on top of each other. Inside were many bottles and jars, as well as countless trays. It was one of the trays that had just bumped into her head.
Compared to the enormous shelves, she was pitifully small, petite and only about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a white sweater and light blue jeans that tightly hugged her legs. The proprietress also wore black-rimmed round glasses and a sparkling earring. Upon seeing her, Luo Xiaoli could almost instantly tell that the woman was Chinese. Although not a stunning beauty at first glance, she possessed a quiet and pleasing beauty. Like countless wildflowers by the roadside, not enough to make one stop in awe, yet an indispensable part of this world.
"Hello, what would you like to buy?" The proprietress rubbed her head, a hint of annoyance on her face; it probably wasn't the first time she'd bumped her head with her tray. Even so, she still wore her signature business smile, a dimple appearing on her left cheek that made her look particularly cute. She wasn't young, probably thirty, but that dimple still gave her the appearance of an older woman.
She looked over and saw the three Chinese people who had suddenly arrived. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes. Perhaps it was because she rarely saw Chinese people in this area, especially such beautiful girls.
"Boss lady, I want to buy high-quality California poppy seeds. Do you have any that have already been cultivated?" Ke Bing asked hurriedly, unable to wait any longer.
"You have good taste," the delicate proprietress raised an eyebrow. "My shop is the only one in the entire northern region that sells mutated California poppies. I suppose you took them back to your hometown to grow."
"right!"
"Wait, I'll get it for you."
As she spoke, the proprietress turned around and searched the shelves. However, because she wasn't very tall, she had to stand on tiptoe to reach the items. At the same time, a hair clip with a cute cat pattern held her long, smooth hair upright at the back of her head. The ends of her hair swayed with her movements, exuding a mature and intellectual beauty.
Ke Bing quietly moved closer to Luo Xiaoli and whispered in her ear, "This woman has such a great presence, can't you feel it?"
I think so too.
The proprietress had a scent completely different from that of a young girl.
Ke Bing's eyes were full of hope; this was the life she dreamed of. She would open a flower shop, sit quietly at the bar surrounded by plants, and let the gentle sunlight stream down, warm and comforting. In the light, she would diligently work on designs and other things she loved. As long as the flower shop lived, she would live. In this corner amidst countless buildings, she had found a place where life could flourish.
So quiet, yet so vibrant.
Like vines climbing a wall, the ancient trunk blossoms with ten thousand flowers.
"Found it, there are only ten small packets left."
"It's okay, this is enough for me to grow for a very long time."
California poppy is a unique plant in this region, and the locals love it so much that they have set up a special festival for it and planted a sizable flower field. In addition to its ornamental value, it also has medicinal value, and its fragrance can calm people down for a short time.
After receiving the seeds, Ke Bing took out her card from her small bag and handed it over. Seeing that the proprietress was clearly stunned for a moment, she added, "Can I pay by card? I don't have cash."
"Uh...yes."
The proprietress took the card.
After buying what Ke Bing needed, the group looked at other flowers. Because the flowers grown in this shop were so beautiful, each of them bought a large bouquet and carried it in their arms as they left the shop.
Ke Bing's desires were nothing more than this; she had finally obtained the only thing she had ever longed for, and she was extremely happy.
Once in the car, Zhao Xuerou asked, "Where are we going next?"
"Let's go check out that domed building we just passed. I'm a little curious," Luo Xiaoli said. Her mind was still preoccupied with what they had just passed, and she wanted to see it to understand why she had such a real and familiar feeling about it. Zhao Xuerou tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Okay then. I wonder what that building that looks so cultured is for."
The driver slowly started the car and returned along the same route, heading towards the river.
There are moments when Luo Xiaoli feels disoriented, occasionally, like a thorn stuck in her throat. One morning, she would suddenly wake up and have the illusion of seeing flowing paintings; in her dreams, she would see buildings like small boxes under the interplay of light and shadow; she would stand atop the world's highest peak, looking down at everything below. She remembered a pair of gentle hands that pulled her back as she touched the edge of the rooftop, protecting her. When the cold wind blew, Luo Xiaoli also remembered the cold, hard, overlapping lines, existing somewhere she could see just by looking up.
Just like the lines that appear before her now as she gets out of the car, real and delicate, like plaster sculptures, these lines exist on every edge of the building, supporting the dome.
To this day, Luo Xiaoli knows that no hand she has ever touched is the same hand that once rested on her shoulder.
She told herself more than once not to care about these things. There are countless illusions in life. Remember the real reason for living. So she never asked why the intertwined dreams appeared, or why she was able to sketch a picture she had never seen before.
So what is the reason for living? It is to love someone.
When you're with this person, nothing in the world matters. People die or live, suffer or suffer, and all you can do is remain indifferent.
She wanted to be a snake clinging to Jiang Cheng's throne when he became powerful.
If he's not strong enough, then I'll become Medusa and make him a sickly, weak young master kept in the castle.
She wanted a little nest with him in the city, and now they have one. If possible, she hopes to stay forever entwined on the carpet in their little nest.
She wanted to be beautiful and alluring, or like a lotus flower, so that all the men in the world who were infatuated with her beauty would know that she already had someone she loved, and that every part of her body was made for him.
She wanted to ride the tallest Ferris wheel, and during those few seconds at the top when it stopped, she would make a wish to the sky, hoping that everyone in the world would die, while the two of them would love each other forever, and their souls would remain intertwined.
In May, facing this German-style building, Luo Xiaoli stroked the walls. She was confronting a colossal lie, and the one lying was the very person she loved to the extreme.
Jiang Cheng never told her that Luo Xiaoli's original surname was Shui Ting.
Her name should have been Shui Tingli.
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