Chapter 49 Chapter 49

The store Xibai chose is different from most of the flower stalls on the street. It does not focus on traditional potted orange trees, orchids, anthuriums, and other varieties that are suitable for festivals and are more popular among middle-aged and elderly people. Instead, it takes a novel route, such as Nandina domestica, iris, and imperial lily, to attract young people who are curious.

Many customers have already entered the store, but those who stayed to carefully select are basically the same age as Xibai and Gu Chi.

Xibai's favorite is a pot of miniature kumquats. The pot is a circle larger than his palm, and it seems smaller when placed in Gu Chi's palm.

Two or three sturdy main stems are inserted in the moist soil. Between the thick round petal-shaped green leaves, there are a few dark green kumquats. Some mature earlier, and half of them have already turned golden orange. The off-white pottery pot is wiped very clean. A square red paper with rounded corners is pasted on it, with a circle of gold borders. In the middle, four words are written in golden fonts: cat and dog.

Not only this pot, but other flower pots also have various small ideas to please people. For example, only a few traditional pots of kumquats have Q-version animal ornaments hanging on them instead of decorative red envelopes.

"Which of these two pots do you think is better?" Xi Bai pointed to the left and right sides of himself.

The pot of kumquats on the left has more fruits and looks fuller; but the pot on the right has straighter branches and looks more energetic.

"Why don't we buy both, one for each person?" said Gu Chi.

Anyway, there are two desks in the dormitory, and one pot is just right for each desk.

"I bought it for you originally."

Xibai was attracted by a pot of Nandina domestica on the shelf next to it. This pot of kumquats was originally intended to be placed on Gu Chi's desk.

"Buy it for me?" Gu Chi was slightly surprised.

Xibai hummed, turned around and continued to compare the two pots of kumquats, staring at them and bending down.

In order to avoid accidentally meeting Gu Chi's eyes.

Gu Chi stared at Xibai's back for a long time, and finally couldn't help but approach and ask: "Why do you suddenly want to buy something for me?"

Xibai pretended not to hear and didn't answer.

Gu Chi reached out again and touched Xibai's arm with the back of his hand.

"Just, put some things, it's good for the eyes." Xibai touched his nose without raising his head and said.

Gu Chi said softly.

There was a hint of disbelief.

Xibai pretended not to understand and raised his hand to touch his nose again.

Ahem...

the golden kumquats and the like are more in line with the temperament of the smiling big dog.

He looked around and finally decided to choose the more energetic pot.

After all, it is a large dog, so it must be matched with a more upright temperament.

Xibai was holding the kumquat and wanted to pay the bill, but when he picked it up, he found that it was lighter than he thought, and he could almost lift it with one hand.

He weighed the weight of the potted plant, and heard a boy holding a camera next to him said in a greasy voice, "Come on, baby, pout, okay, that's it!"

Xibai followed the sound of shutter clicks and saw a pair of young lovers.

The girl was wearing a very beautiful cheongsam, holding a pot of Chinese roses smaller than a palm in her hands, posing in various poses, while her boyfriend was in charge of directing the shooting movements beside her. The bag on his back was full of equipment of all sizes. He must be an internet celebrity who does self-media.

"Sorry, it's needed for the shooting. We'll leave after taking a few more shots." The girl saw someone looking over and nodded to apologize to other guests.

The shopkeeper who had rushed over after hearing the commotion gave up his intention to provoke her.

"It's okay, take the photos, just don't disturb other customers."

The flowers in the store were not placed very closely together, the space was relatively large, and the couple's photos were also very quiet, so soon no one paid attention to them.

Only Xibai, who was selecting her own potted flowers in front of the Nandina domestica shelf, heard from a distance that the boy was holding a camera, instructing his girlfriend to pose, and complimenting her: "The baby is so cute!"

Cute.

These words immediately penetrated Xibai's ears.

Since going out today, Xibai has been determined to stimulate Gu Chi more, hoping to hear other thoughts from the other party besides praising him for being "cute", so as to guess what Gu Chi thinks of him.

But Xibai tried his best, not only did he not gain anything new, but he couldn't even hear the word "cute".

He glanced at the tall figure beside him who was also helping him with reference, and quietly changed his position on the shelf.

Standing opposite to the original position, Xibai happened to see the young couple who were being filmed there.

The girl walked to the shelf where Xibai had just gone, picked up the pot of the most lush mini kumquats that Xibai didn't buy, put it in front of her, and made a heart-holding gesture.

"Okay, kiss with your mouth..." The boy continued to instruct, "...Okay, so cute my baby!"

Xibai observed silently.

So this is actually what boys think of as cute?

He rarely compliments others on their cuteness in his heart, let alone says it out loud, so he has no experience in this regard.

So, he was troubled again.

Xibai didn't come to his senses until the internet celebrity couple finished the photo shoot and left quietly. Gu

Chi, who came back with a pot of Nandina domestica, called him several times in a row, and Xibai turned around abruptly.

"..."

"Oh!" Xibai immediately took the potted plant from Gu Chi's hand, holding the pot of fiery red Nandina domestica and nodding continuously, "The pot you picked is very good, the roots are strong like a black-bellied lily, the branches and leaves are lush but not messy... Well, this is the one!"

Gu Chi silently watched Xibai's obviously exaggerated reaction.

But Xibai didn't notice Gu Chi's eyes, his mind was on other things.

After returning the Nandina domestica to Gu Chi, he took the pot of lighter kumquats and stared at the "cat and dog" on the pot for a long time...

Xibai's mouth twitched.

After all, he was too embarrassed to pout, so he held the pot of mini kumquats with both hands and put it next to his face - just like the action of the internet celebrity girl when she was taking the photo just now.

Xibai: Stare.

Gu Chi: ...?

It didn't work!

Xibai immediately handed over the steps that he had prepared: "Are you satisfied with this pot?"

Gu Chi nodded slowly.

"Okay." Xibai uttered a word briefly, hugged the kumquat, turned around, and strode forward, "Let's check out."

He left Gu Chi with a crisp and neat back view.

His ears were burning all the way back to the dormitory. Xibai felt extremely embarrassed whenever he thought of the way he had deliberately acted cute in front of Gu Chi just now.

And he didn't know if Gu Chi had discovered his thoughts. On the way back by car, he would always turn his head to look at him from time to time, with an expression that seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Back to the dormitory, Xibai finally calmed down a little. He

opened the back compartment of the car and took inventory. It turned out that they had bought a lot of things.

In addition to Nandina domestica, kumquats, and Spring Festival couplets, Xibai also bought some small ornaments, gifts for the two brothers of the Zhuang family, and some nuts, snacks, and drinks, in preparation for watching the Spring Festival Gala or watching dramas and movies on New Year's Eve...

I didn't realize it when I bought it, but it became too much when I put it together.

"Move it in several trips." Gu Chi said.

Xibai nodded, "Yeah."

In fact, the pots of kumquats and Nandina domestica were relatively heavy. Xibai was still a little nervous about Gu Chi carrying the flower pots with one hand just now, so he specifically reminded him: move it in two trips, one pot per trip.

While Gu Chi was moving the flowers, Xibai sorted out some scattered small items downstairs, such as wolf hair brushes and cinnabar stones, which were all packed in boxes and could be put together with things like Spring Festival couplets that were also packed.

Snacks and nuts are also packaged and can be put into another bag.

After Xibai finished counting, he nodded. Gu Chi was strong, so after he put the potted plants down, the two of them took the remaining things together. It would take about two trips.

There was a sound of footsteps behind him, and it seemed to stop suddenly when it reached his back.

There were not many people in the school at this time. Xibai turned around, but he didn't expect to run into someone he knew - barely an acquaintance.

"Hey!" Xibai nodded to the man, "...hello."

"Cough." Wu Xiang coughed, twisted his neck and walked forward unnaturally, "Well, let me ask you something."

It was actually less than half a month since the two met for the first time.

Wu Xiang is still so thin, and his complexion always makes people feel that he is a little weak and sick, but anyone who has seen him and Gu Chi playing in the school game that day will clearly recognize that under this seemingly sickly skin, this man actually hides terrifying physical strength and explosive power.

"What's the matter?" Xi Bai stepped back a little calmly.

Although Wu Xiang now looks not as gloomy as he did when he went to get medicine for Gu Chi, that is, when the two met for the first time, Xi Bai is still a little wary.

"..." Wu Xiang took in all his little movements, and was silent for a while. Remembering that he still needed help, he swallowed back the words of ridicule that were about to come out of his mouth.

"Well." Wu Xiang asked, "Can you contact Zhuang Shu?"

"Oh! Zhuang Shu..." Xi Bai laughed out loud after he realized what was happening.

Wu Xiang: ...

After being glared at by Wu Xiang, Xi Bai immediately restrained his expression, "Well, I can contact him."

He tagged Zhuang Shu in the group and soon, there was a response.

[Shu Shang Qi Ge Hou: What's up, little Xi Zai, Happy New Year! ]

New Year, new atmosphere, Zhuang Shu even gave him a new nickname.

Xi Bai replied to him with a Happy New Year and told Zhuang Shu that Wu Xiang was looking for him.

[Shu Shang Qi Ge Hou: Yes, I was so busy these days that I almost forgot about that guy]

The Lunar New Year is a rare auspicious day in the year, which means saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, and everything is renewed. So at this time of year, the disciples of the Zhuang family are always very busy. As a young and outstanding Zhuang Shu, he is even busier, running around to perform rituals, look at feng shui, open altars to worship ancestors, set up spirit tablets...

[Shu Shang Qi Ge Hou: You let him come to me]

Xi Bai was communicating with Zhuang Shu about the meeting place, and suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him.

He turned around and saw a crescent-shaped sharp golden light passing in front of him like a knife, but when he came to his senses, he felt that the moment just now seemed to be just his illusion.

But Wu Xiang did retreat.

He was standing next to Xi Bai, looking down at the chat box between him and Zhuang Shu on Xi Bai's screen.

But now he was two or three meters away from Xi Bai.

Instead, Gu Chi, who appeared out of nowhere, stood next to Xi Bai.