Awakening pain
After get off work, Zhou Jianxing walked into "Weiran Flower Shop" exhausted.
The shop was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers. Chu Wei was standing at her workbench, concentrating on creating a large flower basket for the grand opening. Delicate roses, graceful lilies, and vibrant lisianthus gradually took shape in her deft hands.
"Xingxing is here?" Chu Wei looked up at the sound, a warm smile on his face, "Wait a moment, it will be here soon!"
"Sister Wei, there's no rush." Zhou Jianxing forced a smile, trying to make her voice sound less downcast. She looked around at the vibrant flowers and plants in the shop, trying to absorb a bit of vitality.
Chu Wei neatly secured the last bird of paradise flower, freeing his hands to lead Zhou Jianxing to the small storage room at the back of the flower shop. "Look, everything you want is right here! Hostas, sage, sweet alyssum, clustered phlox, and astilbe. Absolutely top-notch quality!"
She pointed to several pots of plants with their roots wrapped in moist moss and bundles of bare-root seedlings wrapped in moisturizing peat. These varieties were indeed rare in ordinary flower shops, and she had obviously ordered them from the nursery specifically for Zhou Jianxing.
Zhou Jianxing squatted down and carefully examined each plant.
The leaves of the hosta are broad and bright, the stems of the sage are strong, the inflorescences of the sweet alyssum are full, the clustered phlox is a pink 'Tundra' variety with a well-developed root system, and the astilbe flower spikes are already large and oily.
She admired Chu Wei's professionalism and dedication in her heart and nodded: "Sister Wei, that's great. I want all of these."
Chu Wei helped her move the flowers to a ventilated area at the door while apologetically saying, "I'm so sorry, Xingxing. I've recently taken on three weddings and a shopping mall opening, and the flower basket orders have piled up. I really can't spare the time to deliver them to you."
"It's okay, Sister Wei, you've already helped a lot." Zhou Jianxing looked at the fatigue in Chu Wei's eyes and offered, "Let me help you make the flower basket? I have nothing to do when I go back anyway." She would rather numb herself with physical labor than go home alone and fall into the endless quagmire of thoughts about Wen Lingyi.
Chu Wei's eyes lit up: "That's great, I won't be polite if you say that!"
She deftly brought a small stool for Zhou Jianxing, then handed her a pair of floristry scissors, a roll of green tape, and a few lumps of soaked floral clay. The two of them began working in the bright light at the flower shop's entrance, as the sun set.
Zhou Jianxing took the hemispherical flower basket frame and neatly cut floral clay to secure the base. He then trimmed eucalyptus leaves as a base, inserting them at a 45-degree angle to define the framework. Champagne roses were then placed interspersed as the focal point, with pale purple lisianthus and white baby's breath interspersed to fill the space. Finally, delicate fern fronds and emerald green pine trees filled the gaps, adding a sense of layering and flexibility.
However, in sharp contrast to her swift movements, she was unusually silent. She concentrated on processing the flowers, her eyes focused but empty. The enthusiasm with which she would chat with Chu Wei when helping out in the past had disappeared without a trace.
Chu Wei's hands kept moving, steadily inserting a flame lily into the flower mud, but he kept an eye on Zhou Jianxing. From the forced smile she had put on when she entered the room to her absent-minded and taciturn appearance now, Chu Wei's heart was beating fast.
"Xingxing," Chu Wei said casually, trimming the stem of a carnation. "What big project are you busy with recently? You look thinner."
Zhou Jianxing paused holding the floristry scissors, then continued to trim the thorns of a rose: "I'm not busy, just... going to get off work and coming home, the same as usual." His voice was flat and no emotion could be heard.
This answer was too perfunctory, and Chu Wei felt more and more that something was wrong. Zhou Jianxing was like a wilted flower, dejected.
This is not the optimistic Zhou Jianxing she knew. In the past, Zhou Jianxing was always cheerful no matter what happened. Even when he was in a bad mood, he would talk to her. They have known each other for several years and have always had a good relationship.
It was obvious that Zhou Jianxing was hiding something from her now.
She decided to change direction, her eyes scanning the pile of perennials waiting to be picked. "By the way, you need so many flowers at once. Your small balcony won't be able to accommodate them all, right? With this setup, you'd need at least a decent-sized garden with both shade and sun, right?"
Garden... Zhou Jianxing's thoughts were instantly drawn back to the exquisite garden in Lanyue Bay.
The dazzling bright yellow of golden privet and the deep purple-red of purple-leaved barberry create a strong color contrast and a strong sense of structure, forming a striking skeleton.
Her original idea was to densely plant hostas with broad leaves and varied leaf colors in the semi-shaded area outside the golden leaves, using their soft and stretched leaf shape and texture to soften the harsh edges of the shrubs and form a natural transition.
The plan is even more perfect with the presence of astilbe. In summer, these astilbes sprout slender flower stems among the hosta bushes and bloom light, fluffy, feathery pink and white gradient inflorescences that sway in the wind, adding a dreamy romantic atmosphere and an indescribable sense of air to the garden.
The color of purple-leaved barberry is deep and mysterious, and it needs bright-colored flowers to brighten and balance it. Plant blue-purple sage in clusters or strips in open areas with plenty of sunlight in front of the purple-leaved barberry. The cool blue-purple and warm purple-red can form a clever collision, which is both conflicting and harmonious.
In the sunny area in front of the golden leaves and purple leaves, you can plant clumping phlox. This low, creeping perennial flower can quickly form a dense carpet of flowers. In spring, it will burst into dense pink, white, purple or mixed-color flowers, like colorful clouds spread on the ground.
And after the flowers of the clustered phlox or in the gaps between the plants, you can decorate them with sweet alyssum. Sweet alyssum can bloom continuously from late spring to autumn, which coincides with the flowering period of phlox. The tiny white or lavender flowers, which are fine and dense, can form a soft cloud-like effect, blending the dazzling gold leaves and the deep purple leaves.
The flowers provided by Chu Wei almost perfectly matched the plan that had not yet been fully formed in her mind. Zhou Jianxing thought about it in her mind and the effect was beyond her expectations.
Professional matters really require professionals.
However, the next second, the joy brought by this perfect conception froze instantly. Did he really have to go to Mrs. Wen's house again and tell her like a treasure that he had found a batch of flowers that could help her garden enhance the level and enrich the colors?
The other party had never asked her to do this. What was the point of her being so attentive?
Zhou Jianxing pursed his lips, and a very forced smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He avoided Chu Wei's inquiring gaze and said vaguely: "Nothing, just helping a... friend, um, her garden needs some adjustments." His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible.
"Oh? Friend?" Chu Wei keenly caught the unnaturalness in her tone and her instantly flushed cheeks, and his doubts grew even stronger.
She paused her work, raised her eyebrows slightly, and deliberately stretched out her tone, "When did Xingxing make such a 'new friend' with a garden? How come I didn't hear anything about it?"
After saying that, he reached out his hand, with a mischievous smile, and gently touched Zhou Jianxing's burning cheek: "Oh, why is our Xingxing's face so hot? It's like he has a fever! Could it be..."
Could it be that - this idiot has finally come to his senses?
Zhou Jianxing remained silent, still lost in the word "friend." She thought to herself, how shameless was she to call herself Wen Lingyi's friend? In reality, their relationship was merely one of employment, not even friendship, let alone... a more intimate one.
"Oh." An indescribable bitterness surged in her heart, and she couldn't help but sigh.
Chu Wei saw this and the playful look on her face quickly faded. She knew Zhou Jianxing well; she was a thin-skinned and shallow-minded girl. Her current expression was definitely not just shyness.
She softened her voice and looked intently at Zhou Jianxing's slightly red eyes: "Xingxing, what's wrong? Tell Sister Wei."
Zhou Jianxing lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting a fallen rose petal. After a long moment, she hesitated and whispered, "Sister Wei, I want to ask you something." She paused, as if struggling to form her words, and finally gritted her teeth and asked, "Tell me, what does marriage... mean?"
"Ah?!" Chu Wei opened his eyes wide in surprise, and the carnations in his hand almost fell to the ground.
This question came too suddenly and was too sudden.
"Get married? Xingxing, marriage is a major event in life. You must consider it carefully and not get married on impulse." She looked at Zhou Jianxing worriedly, wondering if this silly girl had been cheated.
Careful consideration... Yes, marriage is always a carefully considered decision and must be a well-thought-out choice.
"Sister Wei, it's not what you think," Zhou Jianxing quickly shook his head, his voice lowering, "I just want to know what marriage is."
In fact, she didn't know what the hell she was asking.
"Ah? What is marriage?" Chu Wei was stunned and asked her. The problem was that she had never been married. At most, she had only come into contact with wedding flowers.
Chu Wei put down the flowers, closed his eyes and thought hard, not knowing how to answer Zhou Jianxing's words. After a long time, he slowly spoke.
"From the perspective of a layman like me, marriage might be... a contract of the highest order." She chose her words, her expression becoming serious and solemn. "It means that two once independent souls have decided to share the same sky and weather the same storms."
"It's not a momentary passion, but a shackle that you put on the other person with your own hands after careful consideration - a shackle that you are willing to put on. Use commitment to tightly bind the destiny of yourself and the other person together."
"Willing shackles"...Wen Lingyi...is she willing to wear them too? Zhou Jianxing clenched his palms, completely unaware that the sharp thorns of the cut rose in his hand had already pierced deeply into his palm, oozing tiny beads of blood.
Chu Wei didn't notice her abnormality, immersed in his own thoughts, his tone was almost sacred and solemn.
"It means overlapping responsibilities. From now on, your joys and sorrows no longer belong to you alone, and your painful struggles naturally become the burden of the other person."
"What you share is not just your possessions and your bed, but also each other's most vulnerable, most vulnerable, and most reluctant sides, as well as your determination to support and face each other through good times and bad, in sickness and in health. How much courage and trust does this determination require?"
My heart is bleeding, and a feeling of bitterness and pain spreads.
Would Wen Lingyi surely show her vulnerability to her husband? Would that husband...feel sorry for her? And how much courage and trust did Wen Lingyi pour into her husband?
Chu Wei's voice continued to flow, clear and calm.
"It signifies absolute loyalty. It's not something that can be fully defined by legal provisions, but rather an unspoken understanding and bottom line. When you say 'I do' in front of everyone, the moment the ring is slipped onto your ring finger, you automatically give up the right to love someone else. In other words, you direct the verb 'love' solely and exclusively towards that one person."
"The core of marriage is commitment. It's a heavy commitment that takes a lifetime to fulfill. It requires you to give up some of your freedom and restrain some of your self in exchange for that unique sense of belonging and security."
"Absolute loyalty"... "exclusivity"... "giving up the right to love others"...
Zhou Jianxing felt a lump in her throat and could no longer suppress it. A slight whimper came from her throat, which made Chu Wei notice her shaky body and bleeding palms.
"Oh! Xingxing! Your hand!" Chu Wei was startled and hurriedly grabbed Zhou Jianxing's wrist. She saw that her clenched palm was pierced by rose thorns in several places, and bright red blood was oozing out, staining the green flower stem red.
Chu Wei was anxious and distressed. He was about to blame her for being so careless, but when he looked up and met her red eyes filled with tears, all the words were stuck in his throat.
"Sister Wei, would you marry someone you don't love?" Zhou Jianxing let Chu Wei carefully help her find faults and disinfect. Her voice was heavily nasal and her eyes were as fragile as a lost deer.
Chu Wei paused, alarm bells blaring in his heart: "Why are you asking this? Did your uncle and aunt force you to get married? No way!"
"No," Zhou Jianxing quickly shook his head and lowered his eyes, "I was just... asking casually."
Chu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, but her doubts deepened. As she gently wiped the wound with an iodine swab, she answered firmly, "I wouldn't necessarily marry someone I love, let alone someone I don't love. That would be like sentencing myself to life imprisonment. What's the point? Money? Stability? The price is too high. I'm sacrificing my entire life."
Yes, how can one marry someone they don’t love?
Zhou Jianxing's heart sank to the bottom. "Seal the Heart and Lock Love" had indeed been a lie. Wen Lingyi... must be in love with her husband.
The more Chu Wei thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. Zhou Jianxing's condition and problems today were too abnormal.
After bandaging Zhou Jianxing's hand, she said earnestly, "Silly Xingxing, marriage is a trap you can't jump into simply because you love someone. You have to clearly see the responsibilities involved and understand the price you'll have to pay. Think it through before jumping in. Don't be like those flowers in my shop that I bought on impulse and then couldn't keep alive. They wasted their lives and betrayed their original love."
"Think it over carefully before jumping..." Zhou Jianxing repeated these words blankly in his mind.
Did Wen Lingyi think clearly before jumping into the "pit" of marriage? What price did she pay?
And what about herself? Now she stood on the edge of a cliff, harboring the most inappropriate thoughts about the person in that "pit" who didn't belong to her. Had she thought it through?
This is more than just "jumping into a pit", this is simply...seeking death.
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