Chapter 1133: Chapter 1133: Extra Story – Retirement Arc
Nian Shutong stepped aside to let the man enter on his own.
The man shook his head and refused quickly, but his eyes glanced into the flower shop, spotting the lilies. He pointed at the white one and said, "I want that one!"
"Perfume lily? The white one?"
Nian Shutong walked up to the lilies, pulled one out, and waved it at the man.
She saw the man nodding frantically.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
Nian Shutong prepared to wrap it for the man; the lily had three blooming flowers, very fragrant.
"No need, don’t wrap it."
Nian Shutong did not insist, accepted one Star Coin from the man, and watched as he left with the lily. Nian Shutong stood at the doorway watching, only to see the man didn’t go far before placing the lily at a nearby house’s entrance and staring at it.
But in the next second, the man seemed startled and hid behind a tree. Moments later, someone from the courtyard came out — a woman.
The woman looked around but didn’t see anyone; she did see the lily.
She seemed to look at it for quite a while but ultimately didn’t pick up the flower, instead closed the door and went back in.
After hiding for a while, the man walked out a bit dejectedly, stared at the lily on the ground, and then turned and left.
Nian Shutong guessed it might be another unrequited love story. What she knew was that the woman was married with two kids; she hadn’t seen the woman’s husband, though.
After watching the drama, Nian Shutong returned to the flower shop and continued to leisurely sip tea. After a while, bored, she simply closed up shop again.
She went into the yard to tidy up her flower garden. Once she was about done, Fu Yunhe called her for dinner.
A large pot of braised rice, a bowl of refreshing radish shrimp soup, and a serving of stir-fried greens.
A meal that left Nian Shutong feeling extremely satisfied, though inevitably stuffed.
"Can’t you eat a little less?"
"Can’t help it, the cooking is too good, I have to support it."
Fu Yunhe fondly looked at Nian Shutong and smiled, collected the bowls and chopsticks, then took out a pot of hawthorn tea and poured a bowl for Nian Shutong.
"With a husband like this, what more could one ask for?"
Being praised, Fu Yunhe quickly responded, "The fruit is in the back."
Nian Shutong gave Fu Yunhe a thumbs up, he’s too understanding.
After dinner and tea, the two didn’t go for a walk as outside was too waterlogged; they’d already waded through enough water today.
With nothing else to do in the evening, the two started gaming.
On an oversized and clear screen, each holding a controller, sitting on the couch.
"Ha Ha! Just overtook you."
"You even have a bomb!"
"Watch me!"
With the sound of crashing, the screen showed two racing cars crashing wildly on the road, police chasing behind.
The simplest racing game, yet the two played enthusiastically.
They played for who knows how long, in any case, Nian Shutong started feeling a bit hungry.
"Xiao He, want some late-night snack?"
"Madam, any thoughts?"
Nian Shutong set down the game controller, seriously contemplating this question.
"How about... some snail noodles?"
Upon hearing this answer, Fu Yunhe’s head buzzed with pain.
"Can’t we like something that smells better?"
"What, snail noodles don’t smell good?"
Nian Shutong’s sincere expression left Fu Yunhe helplessly pinching her nose. He put down the controller and went to cook the snail noodles.
"I want it with fried eggs."
"Got it!"
Fu Yunhe headed to the kitchen, Nian Shutong turned off the game, put away the controllers, and then mischievously followed into the kitchen.
"Add more fried bean curd."
"Need those peanuts too."
"More sour bamboo shoots, a lot more."
Nian Shutong leaned on the kitchen door, for each request, Fu Yunhe added a bit more to the pot for cooking snail noodles.
"Go wait in the living room."
"Received."
Nian Shutong went to the living room, obediently waiting for the large pot of snail noodles. Pairing it with rice should be pretty good too.
Soon, Fu Yunhe came out with an oversized bowl, and next to it a bowl of rice Nian Shutong had been craving.
"How did you know?"
"How could I not know."
Fu Yunhe arranged the rice and snail noodles then turned back to the kitchen to bring out a pot of instant noodles.
Nian Shutong’s eyes lit up a bit, and Fu Yunhe knowingly said, "Want some?"
Nian Shutong nodded frantically, she must have some.
Late at night, in the small two-story house, under the warm yellow lights, each holding a steaming large bowl, sipping the noodles.
Satisfying.
After finishing, it wasn’t quite the time to sleep yet, so they went upstairs, sitting on the balcony, sipping tea, and watching the stars.
On the balcony, a round glass table, Nian Shutong on the left, Fu Yunhe on the right.
They initially planned to star gaze, but it turned out to be just like that. After a couple of glances, one started reading, and the other started binge-watching dramas.
The drama’s background hum mixed with the chirping and calling of insects and birds outside, though a bit noisy, it was harmonious.
No words were necessary between the two, each engaged in their own task, letting time pass quietly.
The next day, it was still Fu Yunhe who woke up early to make breakfast — seafood porridge, steamed buns plus two small side dishes.
A very fulfilling breakfast.
Nian Shutong went to open the flower shop again, and once more saw the man who bought the lily, still paid with one Star Coin for another lily.
Just like yesterday, the same doorstep, the same woman, the same neglect.
Nian Shutong had a feeling this story wasn’t over yet.
She turned and walked inside, not long after, the girl who bought sunflowers returned, still buying nine sunflowers, but with a trace of sadness.
"Thank you, sis, he loved the sunflowers I bought. He said the scent is especially nice."
"That’s good."
The girl nodded and left the flower shop, continuing on her way to visit a friend at the hospital.
By noon, Nian Shutong sold five bunches of flowers, then closed shop.
Back in the yard, Fu Yunhe was tidying his vegetable patch, he plucked a cucumber, waved it at Nian Shutong and said, "The fruits have arrived."
"Impressive!"
Nian Shutong held back no compliment and gave a thumbs up.
She took a quick glance at her flower garden, everything was fine, feeling a bit restless again, she stood by the vegetable garden, watching Fu Yunhe.
"Thinking of doing something?"
"Not sure, just feel like going out for a stroll."
Fu Yunhe straightened his back, removed gloves and hat, walked a few steps to wash his hands, and changed his shoes. Turning back, he looked at Nian Shutong, said, "Let’s go."
"Yay!"
The two of them, each wearing a straw hat, set off on an electric scooter without any destination — Fu Yunhe in front, Nian Shutong at the back.
Moved with the wind, moved with the spirit, naturally.
Sitting behind, Nian Shutong raised her head to enjoy the natural breeze.
"My hat!"
