I started to give up in a daze. The days that Wen Heng had been doing everything for me, serving me hand and foot, had given me a lot of bad habits. I would never think of cooking unless I was starving.
But when it was mealtime, Wen Heng would prepare the food methodically, as if waiting for me to call him at any time. As soon as I smelled the aroma of the food, my stomach would start to rumble loudly.
Ah Hua, Ah Hua, how did you also learn to be so sentimental about love and to make things difficult for your stomach?
I tapped my head and started to despise myself.
Look at you, so easily fooled. It was just a fleeting glance from a stranger.
Who does that bastard Wen Heng think he is to sway your emotions!
After I had come up with all sorts of reasons to convince myself, I finally opened the door. At that moment, Wen Heng was crouching down, watering the lone plant in front of my window.
I squinted and clicked my tongue: "That trick really takes a long time to work!"
"Gurgle." My stomach rumbled as if by perfect coincidence.
When Wen Heng saw me, before I could even speak, he smiled and walked up to me, pulling a steaming hot sweet potato from his pocket: "Ahua, here you go."
I shamelessly reached out and took it, but the sweet potato was so hot that I hissed. I quickly wrapped it around my sleeve and shook it. Are you an idiot to carry such a hot sweet potato in your clothes?
I picked up a sweet potato and took a bite. "It tastes good, you should try some too." I then held it to Wen Heng's lips, and he obediently took a bite as well. He seemed quite pleased with my praise, chewing and grinning foolishly.
What a complete idiot.
I reflected on it, and I realized I've been too idle, which is why I've started to feel anxious and insecure. So I think it's time to take Wenheng to Mr. Yuan's pharmacy to find something for him to do.
When Wenheng and I arrived in town, we happened to pass by a flower and bird shop. I saw a white bird with a clear, bright voice and beautiful plumage. I remembered the black bird in Mr. Yuan's yard, which was quite cute but a bit lonely. So I readily bought it as a thank-you gift for Mr. Yuan.
Seeing the dazzling array of vibrant flowers displayed nearby, I nudged Wen Heng's arm, pointed to a stunningly beautiful peony in full bloom, and declared righteously, "Ahua promised before that she would buy you lots and lots of flowers when she had money. What do you think of this flower? It's the king of flowers. Or you can pick whichever one you like. Today, Ahua will pay for everything."
Wen Heng pursed his lips but shook his head at me: "The flowers that Zhou Lang likes are at home."
"Are you sure you don't want it?" I asked again, feigning reluctance.
Wen Heng nodded firmly, but I didn't believe him. Just keep pretending; you'll show your true colors sooner or later.
When they arrived at Changsheng Pharmacy, the sun was already high in the sky, but the shop assistants were dozing off at the counter.
I tapped the table with my index finger, and the waiter rubbed his sleepy eyes and glanced at me. Since we had met before and he recognized me, he pointed towards the backyard before I could even speak: "Mr. Yuan is in the backyard, miss, please feel free."
He then lay down on the table and fell asleep again. Well, I didn't want to disturb his rest any longer, so I picked up the birdcage and took Wen Heng straight to the backyard.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, I could see Mr. Yuan fast asleep in the armchair under the plum tree, in the same lazy pose I often use.
Hey, this is the first time I've ever seen a boss and his employees sleeping around and doing nothing.
With a wicked grin, I quietly walked behind him, lifted Mr. Yuan's goatee, and brushed it in front of his nose.
"Achoo!" A loud sneeze rang out.
I chuckled, and Mr. Yuan snapped out of his daze upon hearing it.
"Little Flower, my niece?" He was overjoyed when he saw me.
Mr. Yuan's way of calling me "Little Flower" was in line with his naturally humorous style. I didn't care what he called me, and I casually waved to him with a smile: "Uncle Yuan, good morning! I've brought Zhou Lang to report for duty!"
I casually hung the bird I was holding on the plum tree next to the black feathers.
Mr. Yuan stroked his beard and squinted: "I thought you weren't coming."
Taking this opportunity, I slipped the bag of silver that Mr. Yuan had given me that day into his sleeve.
"How could that be? Uncle Yuan is our family. We would like to take this opportunity to show our respect to you."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Yuan smiled meaningfully: "Look, this girl knows how to talk, unlike your father, who's such a blockhead."
Mentioning Old Man Zhou, Mr. Yuan's expression suddenly darkened again. Seeing this, I quickly changed the subject: "Uncle Yuan, what kind of work do you think we need to do?"
Mr. Yuan stroked his beard and thought for a long time: "Can you read?"
I nodded: "Yes."
"When someone comes to get medicine, I'll help them get the medicine, clean the shop, dry the herbs, pound the medicine, anything is fine with me."
After casually making arrangements for Wen Heng and me, Mr. Yuan lay back down in the armchair, looked up at the cage of birds I had just brought, and murmured sadly, "Even my little black bird has a companion now... but I'm still all alone."
Um... well... I gave a wry smile. I bought this bird to keep it company because I thought it was a bit lonely, but I didn't take into account Mr. Yuan's recent grief over the loss of his dearest friend and loved one...
Upon arriving at the pharmacy, I expected it to be busy.
Who knew that from then on, the pharmacy would have two more people who were just loafing around.
Because I found that hardly anyone came to buy medicine. Forget about getting medicine filled, the shop was practically filthy from all the sweeping. Drying medicine? Grinding medicine? That was out of the question.
Wen Heng, on the other hand, was like a little tail growing behind me; he followed me wherever I went.
Will you only ever play with me?
"Of course, you are my best friend, and that will never change."
"Let's pinky swear!"
"Pinky promise, for a hundred years, no take-backs, stamped!"
Wenheng and I sat on the threshold of the pharmacy, our hands supporting our faces, staring blankly at two little children on the roadside who were making a vow by hooking their little fingers together and then putting their thumbs together.
"Tch, won't the pinky promise change?" I scoffed from the side.
“Yes, if you pinky swear, whoever changes their mind will turn into a puppy. Mom says it’s really effective.” One of the little girls turned to me with a serious expression after hearing what I said.
I didn't believe in these children's tricks, but out of sheer boredom, I suddenly had the urge to use Wen Heng to amuse myself.
"Zhou Lang, did you hear that? If you change your mind after making a pinky promise, you'll turn into a little dog. Do you dare to make a pinky promise with Ahua?"
Wen Heng extended his little finger without hesitation, looked at me with clear eyes, and nodded: "Pinky promise."
I grinned wickedly and held out my little finger: "Pinky promise, one hundred years. No, we are immortals and gods, our lifespan is more than one hundred years, it should be forever."
"You and I say it together: pinky promise, Ah Hua and Zhou Lang will be together forever."
"Pinky promise, Ah Hua and Zhou Lang will be together forever, stamp it." Wen Heng clumsily repeated after me.
But when it came to stamping, Wen Heng was too slow to react and always just stuck out his index finger.
"No, let's try again!"
Perhaps because we were so bored, Wenheng and I spent the whole afternoon fiddling with our fingers at the door.
In the end, he still couldn't stick out his thumb and always extended his straight index finger instead.
"Zhou Lang, you did this on purpose!"
I was just teasing him, but I started taking it seriously, which made me furious. I kept thinking that Wen Heng was doing it on purpose, and I was afraid that I would change my mind and become a puppy.
Wen Heng, after being scolded by me, put on an innocent look, his face darkening as if he was about to cry.
Seeing his pitiful, tearless expression, I softened and reluctantly gave in. Fine, we are gods and immortals, we should be different from them, so it's just an index finger.
"Pinky promise, Ah Hua and Zhou Lang will be together forever, forever and ever!"
The setting sun cast a shadow where my index fingers and Wen Heng's were pressed together.
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