Rosemary Bouquet
Time suddenly skipped past midnight, and Bai Yixia embarrassedly ended the brief stolen kiss, secretly glancing in Qi Wang's direction.
Thank goodness, he was playing on his phone.
The air conditioning was too strong where Zhou Qingchi was sitting. Bai Yixia saw his bare arm, reached out and touched it; it was ice cold.
She stood up and gently kicked her somewhat numb legs, her eyes searching the room for something that could be used to make a blanket. But as expected of a photography studio, there was nothing there except a few lighting panels.
Bai Yixia scratched her head, looked around, and then came up with the idea of using crepe paper. Compared to ordinary cardstock, this kind of paper was quite soft and wouldn't be a stiff, flat piece when draped over a person.
Qi Wang was still feeling sad when he suddenly heard a rustling sound. When he looked up, he saw Bai Yixia pinching a corner of a crumpled piece of paper and draping it over Zhou Qingchi.
Being caught off guard by such a silly scene, Bai Yixia was a little embarrassed. She smiled, quickly smeared the paper on Zhou Qingchi, and that was it.
Turning around, I realized that the face was covered, so I hurriedly lifted the creases of the paper.
Qi Wang found it amusing and asked her softly, "Are you a little cold?"
Bai Yixia nodded, pointed to the air conditioner vent, and replied in a very low voice, "It feels like this place is facing the air vent, I'm worried he'll catch a cold."
Qi Wang felt a bit of a heart attack, but also thought that Bai Yixia was a really good person, so he got up and went outside.
Bai Yixia followed him, puzzled. She poked her head out of the door and saw him rummaging through a cardboard box on the ground.
A short while later, Qi Wang pulled out a co-branded throw pillow. Bai Yixia recognized it, and it wasn't until he unfolded the pillow into a small blanket along the zipper that she remembered that Zhou Qingchi seemed to have given her an identical one before.
However, Bai Yixia rarely explored the uses of these practical items. After admiring them, she simply put them away on her own "pillow mountain".
After Qi Wang unfolded the box, he saw Bai Yixia's thoughtful expression and thought she thought the pillow was unclean, so he explained, "This box contains daily necessities, and it's usually covered."
Bai Yixia snapped out of her daze, completely not understanding what Qi Wang was talking about, but that didn't stop her from taking the small blanket, washing it, and giving him a grateful smile: "Qi Wang, thank you."
After saying that, she tiptoed into the room and carefully draped the small blanket over Zhou Qingchi.
Zhou Qingchi looks different when he's sleeping than when he's awake. Bai Yixia vaguely remembers that when she was little, the uncles and aunts in the neighborhood would always look at Zhou Qingchi and say that he looked just like his father.
Bai Yixia could no longer remember that shameless man, but as she grew older, the resemblance between Zhou Qingchi and her father gradually faded, and she grew into her own person.
When Zhou Qingchi is awake, he is undoubtedly gentle, but when he is asleep, his coldness becomes more apparent, making him seem particularly unapproachable.
But Bai Yixia didn't care about all that; she just felt that Zhou Qingchi was so handsome that it made her heart flutter.
As she watched, she thought to herself that it was a good thing Aunt Jiang divorced that man who didn't care about the family, otherwise not only Jiang Yinghua herself, but also Zhou Qingchi would be affected.
After grinning foolishly at Zhou Qingchi for a while, Bai Yixia finally had enough of moving around and sat back down to get busy.
Fortunately, her mood improved a lot, and the workload wasn't too heavy. She and Qi Wang finished getting all the flowers and branches they needed before 2 PM, and all that was left was to assemble them.
So college students seem to have inexhaustible energy. The two of them became increasingly excited at this point, carrying their boxes to the erected flower trellis and whispering amongst themselves, gesturing about how to best entwine the flowers.
The iron frame was difficult to control. Bai Yixia carefully held the flower branch and weaved it through the gaps, but she still accidentally slipped, and the iron frame scraped against the ground with a sharp sound.
The two people squatting in front of the shelf remained motionless like cats with their fur standing on end, and only after a long while did they slowly turn their heads to look back.
To everyone's surprise, Zhou Qingchi, who should have been sleeping soundly, was propping his chin up and looking at them, clearly indicating that he had been awake for a while.
Bai Yixia's eyes lit up when she saw him. "Brother Zhou! Come quick, come quick, lend a hand!"
Zhou Qingchi was awakened by the sound of paper rubbing together. He wasn't grumpy when he woke up and quickly became alert after opening his eyes.
But looking at the two people surrounded by roses under the white wall, he couldn't help but feel a great displeasure.
But when Bai Yixia turned around and smiled at him, that nameless anger in his heart still dissipated in a pathetic way.
Look, who can resist Bai Yixia smiling at you?
While Zhou Qingchi was tidying up the cushions, she sighed helplessly. When she looked up again, she had returned to her most normal self, with an impeccable smile on her lips. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Bai Yixia sat cross-legged on the ground without any pretense, with twisted wire flower branches draped haphazardly over her legs, and a flower wreath on her head, making her look like a rose fairy. Zhou Qingchi's heart softened at the sight, and he pulled her hand to help her stand up, "So fast, you finished in such a short time, no wonder you're Master Xia, your hands-on skills are extraordinary."
Bai Yixia laughed even more happily as she listened to Zhou Qingchi's words, "You were sleeping so soundly, that's why I didn't wake you. Anyway, we've almost finished getting ready."
Zhou Qingchi glanced at Qi Wang beside him, but Qi Wang didn't even look up. He was seriously twisting the flower branches around the iron pole, as if he had suddenly become very interested in his work.
The calmed emotions suddenly surged up again. Zhou Qingchi thought of the two heads huddled together when he woke up, and felt a little like saying something vicious to vent his anger.
But after thinking about Bai Yixia, he took a deep breath and rubbed Bai Yixia's head, "Alright, Master Xia, you give the instructions, we'll do it."
Tending to flowers and plants is Zhou Qingchi's forte, and under Bai Yixia's supervision, it was completed in about an hour and a half.
Bai Yixia wasn't just sitting idly by, of course. While the two of them were finishing the last piece, she also finished drawing the pattern on the background white wall.
Teacher Bai compared his painting with the actual scene with satisfaction, feeling that it was at least 80% accurate.
She set the painting tray aside, stretched languidly, turned to Zhou Qingchi and Qi Wang, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Done!!"
Seeing her happy, Zhou Qingchi felt a surge of tenderness in his heart. He smiled with his head down, his gaze peering out the window. A few pedestrians were scattered across the street, the streetlights casting dim or bright light that illuminating the road and casting sparse shadows of trees.
After he turned teens, he rarely spent this time alone with Bai Yixia anymore.
Only then did Zhou Qingchi belatedly realize what he had done in a moment of impulsiveness.
From their casual conversations, it's clear that Bai Yixia and Qi Wang have only known each other for a few days. How could she have followed him here so unguarded?
"Stay up all night, what if..." Zhou Qingchi frowned in annoyance and looked at Bai Yixia with a hint of reproach.
She's lost her initial excitement and now looks tired, stretching her arms and shoulders.
Zhou Qingchi's attention was instantly diverted, and he reached out and lightly pinched her shoulder. "Does it hurt?"
Bai Yixia hummed and nodded. "I didn't feel it until I relaxed, and now my back and shoulders hurt." She groaned, "And my neck is sore too!"
Zhou Qingchi chuckled softly, pushing her shoulders and pressing her into a seat. "Come on, let Master Zhou give you a massage."
Bai Yixia readily agreed, sat down in the chair, leaned back slightly, and raised her chin: "Granted."
Drawing requires sitting for long periods of time. Bai Yixia only mentioned it casually during the summer vacation, but Zhou Qingchi specifically learned the skill. However, before he could master it, school started.
Isn't this just a lucky opportunity for him to shine?
Master Zhou was very satisfied and silently recited the massage technique as he kneaded and pinched her shoulders.
The customer was clearly satisfied and gave him a thumbs up in satisfaction.
Zhou Qingchi smiled and didn't say anything more. After a while, he felt Bai Yixia's head droop slightly, so he quickly supported her chin, lifted it up slightly, and let her rest against his abdomen.
He couldn't see Bai Yixia's face, but there was no sound in the room at the moment. Only he, who was close by, could hear the gentle breathing coming from below.
After staying up almost all night, Bai Yixia quickly fell asleep after relaxing for a while.
Zhou Qingchi looked down and could only see the top of her head. He raised his hand and gently touched it; her hair was soft and fluffy. Memories instantly returned to his childhood.
Few people remember the smaller things. Zhou Qingchi could only remember that when she was a little over three years old, her mother took her back to her maternal grandparents' house, and they were gone for a whole summer.
Two months later, the first thing she did after taking his hand wasn't to go back to her own home, but to knock on the door across the street.
His mother placed her hand on his shoulder, smiling as she pointed to a little girl, "Xiao Chi, look, that's Xia Xia. Don't you remember?"
Zhou Qingchi never liked to smile back then. Even at such a young age, he always had a stern face and would avoid people and remain silent.
Little Xia was fussing for her mother to hold her, but after hearing Aunt Jiang's voice, she became well-behaved, hugging her mother's leg and looking curiously in that direction. When she saw Zhou Qingchi, she immediately smiled and called out in a clear voice, "Brother Qingchi!"
No one can resist Bai Yixia, not even three-year-old Zhou Qingchi, who will only smile back when his younger sister smiles at him.
"Um..." Interrupted from his reverie, Qi Wang walked up to Zhou Qingchi without him noticing and said in a low voice, "How about I wake my sister up and let Xia sleep in the lounge?"
Zhou Qingchi glanced at the time; it was just past five o'clock. He looked at Qi Wang speechlessly: "You really are your sister's good brother."
"Thank you, but no need. She won't be able to sleep outside for long," Zhou Qingchi said with a smile, declining the offer.
After speaking, he carefully examined Qi Wang. He had been in a hurry and anxious yesterday and hadn't paid any attention to him. Qi Wang was about the same height as Zhou Qingchi, but looked a bit more slender, and seemed to have a very cheerful personality.
Zhou Qingchi silently wondered: Is this the type of girl Xia likes?
He was just about to chat with Qi Wang when he saw the boy in front of him avoid his gaze, then turn around and walk away, saying, "I'm going to buy some breakfast."
Zhou Qingchi was speechless: What are you feeling guilty about? Is there really any breakfast being sold at this hour?
His gaze suddenly sharpened. It wasn't hard to see that Qi Wang liked Bai Yixia. Could it be that he had also realized that he liked Xia Yixia?
Zhou Qingchi suddenly felt a little flustered. He wasn't afraid of his feelings being revealed, but he was afraid of Bai Yixia's rejection and estrangement.
"If... I'm not what you think, would you still be willing to be friends with me?" Zhou Qingchi murmured.
Bai Yixia hadn't expected to fall asleep like this; her mind was a blur, and her eyelids were heavy. She screamed inwardly, feeling a buzzing sound in her ears, and mumbled, "Who's talking?"
The sound paused for a moment, then Zhou Qingchi's familiar voice came through: "Awake?"
Bai Yixia then realized that she seemed to be leaning against Zhou Qingchi. Her muddled mind immediately started working: at this height, she should be leaning against Little Zhou's abs!
Bai Yixia slowly closed her eyes, her expression impassive, but inwardly she was overjoyed. "Bai Yixia, oh Bai Yixia, you're so lucky!" she thought. She tilted her head back, feeling something hard against the back of her head, and desperately pressed her lips together.
"It's okay, I was just still sleepy, it wasn't intentional," Bai Yixia thought dishonestly. After dozing off for a few more minutes, she opened her eyes and immediately saw Zhou Qingchi looking down at her. Bai Yixia grinned, "Thank you, Brother Zhou, for being my backrest."
After she finished speaking, Zhou Qingchi tapped her forehead and said, "Alright, this isn't comfortable. Get up and sit properly."
Bai Yixia felt she had gotten the better deal, so she obediently sat up straight, her eyes following Zhou Qingchi. Only when he sat down at the table in front of her did she smile and negotiate with him, "Don't tell Mom, okay? If Mom finds out I stayed up late again, she'll definitely scold me."
"You knew you'd get scolded, yet you still did it." Zhou Qingchi was both amused and exasperated.
Bai Yixia shook her head. "Actually, I also think it's quite sudden. It could have been done today, but—" she drawled, winking at Zhou Qingchi, "Don't you think this is interesting?"
"What does that mean? Does it mean you're sleepy?"
Bai Yixia could tell that Zhou Qingchi was teasing her. She seriously stretched out her index finger and shook it, "nonono." After saying that, she paused for a moment, "Actually, I can't explain it either."
Zhou Qingchi: "?"
Bai Yixia looked away somewhat guiltily. "It's like, out of nowhere, in a big way, on a whim, I did something really amazing."
She looked at the flower stand, the roses were so lifelike, two or three meters long, and every part was made by hand. Just looking at it was incredibly satisfying.
Zhou Qingchi followed her gaze and was captivated by the lush flower trellis.
Bai Yixia needed this opportunity. Taking advantage of Zhou Qingchi's inattention, she searched under the layers of folded paper for her hidden feelings, and presented the bouquet to him when he turned around.
She was restless when she first woke up, rubbing against Zhou Qingchi's abs several times. Her hair was a bit messy. Even though she had stayed up all night and only rested for ten or twenty minutes, she was still full of energy. The bouquet of flowers in her hand was practically shoving directly into Zhou Qingchi's face.
Zhou Qingchi was taken aback by this sudden surprise. "What is this?"
It was just a small bouquet, but the attention to detail showed that it had been carefully prepared. Zhou Qingchi was about to reach out to take it when he saw Bai Yixia tilt her head and peek out from behind the flowers with a smile, saying softly, "It's a climbing rose, your favorite."
The Zhou family's balcony was covered with walls of yellow climbing roses. When they were in full bloom, the air was filled with their fragrance, and the sunlight shone on the bright yellow petals, making them look especially lively and unrestrained.
Just like the person in front of me.
Zhou Qingchi's eyes welled up with tears. He reached across the bouquet and placed his hand on Bai Yixia's face, gently tapping the tip of her nose. His voice was a little hoarse: "Thank you, Xia, I like it very much." But the flowers were planted because of you, and I love you too.
He opened his mouth slightly, the words almost on the tip of his tongue.
The door opened at that moment, and Qi Wang stopped at the doorway carrying a bag of things.
Zhou Qingchi couldn't see him, but Bai Yixia noticed. A little embarrassed, she shoved the flowers into Zhou Qingchi's arms and stood up to greet Qi Wang, "You're going out?"
Qi Wang glanced at Bai Yixia, then at Zhou Qingchi. Even without seeing his face, he sensed something was off from his back. He hesitated and asked, "I... I'm back?"
Bai Yixia: "?" Bro, did you get sick from staying up all night?
Zhou Qingchi, with his back to Bai Yixia, felt a mixture of regret and relief. He carefully arranged the flowers, then turned to Qi Wang and asked indifferently, "Is the breakfast stall open?"
Qi Wang finally regained his senses and shook his head. "No. But the convenience store was open, so I bought some bread and milk."
It was still early, but the atmosphere between the three of them suddenly became a little tense, so they could only silently nibble on their bread.
Qi Wang finished eating first. He looked at the two of them and asked, "My cosplay outfit is still at home. I have to go back. Are you two staying here?"
Bai Yixia said, "No rush, let's shoot tomorrow. You've been up all night, go back and get some rest so your makeup won't be too difficult. Oh, by the way, have you found a makeup artist yet?"
Qi Wang scratched his eyebrows. "Um... Bai Yi'an."
Bai Yixia felt relieved. "It's you again, Bai Yi'an." But it's easier to get things done with someone you know. Bai Yixia nodded, "That's perfect. I'll bring her along tomorrow. We can finish filming in one day."
Zhou Qingchi chimed in, not to be outdone, "Can I come again tomorrow? I've never seen you take this type of photo before."
His smile was so alluring to Bai Yixia that she readily agreed, nodding before realizing she hadn't asked the person in question. So she turned to look at Qi Wang.
What can Qi Wang do?
I had no choice but to agree.
The three rested for another half hour before finally dragging their tired bodies outside at six o'clock.
Zhou Qingchi hailed a car and gestured for Bai Yixia and Qi Wang to get in, but he didn't get in himself. He looked at Bai Yixia earnestly and said, "I'm going home for a bit, I'll come back tomorrow. Remember to let me know when you get to school." He then nodded to Qi Wang.
Bai Yixia felt quite reluctant to part, but since the school was closer, she didn't want to go through the hassle of going home. So she leaned against the car window and looked at Zhou Qingchi, saying, "Then you have to remember to let me know."
Zhou Qingchi smiled reassuringly at her, "I know." He paused for a moment, then said, "Xia, see you tomorrow."
This time, Bai Yixia understood what he meant; "see you tomorrow" was the literal meaning.
She smiled and replied cheerfully, "See you tomorrow."
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