Striving for Science C84

"What?!" Shen Chang'an exclaimed, "This... this is what the flower sender told you to say?"

"Of course…"

Everyone in the Civil Service Department was staring at the flower delivery guy and Shen Chang'an.

"Of course not." The flower delivery guy took a dramatic pause. "Our 'Century of Harmony' flower shop treats every customer with sincerity. Mr. Nian generously ordered 99 roses, making him a VIP among VIPs. So, we sincerely hope that he and his beloved can have a century of harmony."

"Wait, you mean... a man?!" Chen Panpan was good at catching the key points. She looked at the flower delivery guy. "You said the roses were for a man who's in love with Chang'an?"

"Yes." The flower delivery guy smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth.

Chen Panpan looked at Shen Chang'an, then at the bouquet of roses in the delivery guy's hand, her mind in a daze. After a long pause, she looked at Shen Chang'an seriously. "Chang'an, don't keep things bottled up inside. We're friends, we'll respect your choices, and we'll respect your love. Wishing you happiness."

Shen Chang'an: "I'm not, I don't..."

"Brother, this path might be tough, but your courage is admirable." Ding Yang walked over and patted Shen Chang'an on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll keep your secret."

Xu Ze nodded solemnly in agreement.

"Please rest assured, our customers are more important than our own lives, and we will never reveal anything." The flower delivery guy shoved the heavy bouquet into Shen Chang'an's arms. "Any beautiful love deserves to be blessed."

"It's great that you have such a good attitude, little brother." Chen Panpan clapped her hands.

The flower delivery guy scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Oh, nothing special."

Shen Chang'an: "..."

No, is there some kind of misunderstanding here?

"No wonder you rejected Zeng Yi so firmly. I understand now." Chen Panpan looked at Shen Chang'an with a sense of responsibility. "Don't worry, we'll protect your secret and your love."

Shen Chang'an tightened his face and said, "Stop it, everyone, let's go home." He quickly signed his name on the delivery slip.

"Thank you, Mr. Shen." The delivery guy put the signed slip into his jacket pocket and said to Shen Chang'an, "Feel free to order flowers from our 'Century of Harmony' flower shop and send them back to Mr. Nian. We can offer you a VIP discount, 8.8% off, and free delivery within the city."

"No, no need, thank you." After Shen Chang'an said this, the flower delivery guy didn't press further, and his smile didn't change, but Shen Chang'an somehow felt that the other person was looking at him like he was a scumbag.

Carrying the large bouquet of flowers downstairs, Shen Chang'an heard a mumbling voice coming from nearby.

"As a human, you should be monogamous in your relationships."

"Did you see the news a few days ago? A man cheated on his girlfriend, and she stabbed him 24 times, each stab avoiding vital organs."

Shen Chang'an stopped and waited for the nagging tree spirit. "Shut up, be quiet!"

"We trees talk, but you humans can't hear us, so how can it be considered noise?" The tree yao watched Shen Chang'an come and go every day, and since it hadn't actually harmed him, it had become bolder. "You don't count as a normal human, so you're not included."

"I'll have you sawed down tomorrow."

"It's illegal to damage ancient trees." The tree yao was smug.

"I have connections." Shen Chang'an snorted, "I'll take care of you."

"Are you being childish?" The tree yao was actually a little afraid. This afternoon, the King of Hell came and left, but Shen Chang'an was perfectly fine. What did that mean?

It meant that Shen Chang'an had a good relationship with the King of Hell.

He... couldn't afford to offend him.

Thinking about this, the tree yao shut its mouth resentfully, and after a while, said, "If those who like you knew that you could communicate with the yin and yang, that you could talk to yao and ghosts, wouldn't they think of you as an outsider?"

"Those who can do these things and still harm humans are the ones who are considered outsiders." Shen Chang'an emphasized, "Someone like me wouldn't."

The tree yao: "..."

How could he forget that humans are a very realistic species? As long as it's useful, they'll praise it, regardless of its beauty or ugliness. Having a lot of skills but being useless to humans, that's what would be rejected by humans.

In terms of turning their backs on people without a second thought, what species could compare to humans?

Ninety-nine flowers were a bit heavy. Shen Chang'an hadn't driven his car today, so he was holding the flowers at the entrance, ready to take out his phone to call a car.

"Chang'an." Xu Ze parked his car next to him, "Get in, I'll give you a ride."

Usually, Shen Chang'an would be embarrassed to trouble his colleague like this, but today was different. He was holding such a large bouquet of flowers, and he had been standing at the entrance for less than two minutes, and the heads were already turning 100%.

"Thanks." Shen Chang'an put the flowers in the back seat, sat in the passenger seat, and said, "Go... go to my friend's villa."

Although he didn't understand what had stimulated Dao Nian to suddenly start sending him flowers, because of this little thing, he inexplicably didn't want to go back. If he didn't go back because of such a small thing, it would become an awkward situation.

"The flowers... are from your friend?" Xu Ze wasn't surprised at all.

"Yeah." Shen Chang'an nodded.

The roses were adorned with tiny water droplets, making them even more beautiful. Shen Chang'an felt like he should refuse them, but such a large bouquet wasn't cheap, and it was Dao Nian's heartfelt gesture...

He subconsciously ignored the fact that when Zeng Yi sent him flowers, he had no regrets at all when he refused them.

Xu Ze chuckled.

Shen Chang'an sighed in his heart. If he deliberately explained the situation, it would seem too deliberate. If he didn't explain, it seemed a little off.

Just as Shen Chang'an was about to find a topic to make Xu Ze and himself ignore this matter, Dao Nian called. He hesitated for less than three seconds before answering the phone.

"Dao Nian?"

"Chang'an." Dao Nian had finished arguing with his online friend about whether Shen Chang'an and the girl he saved were a match made in heaven. He leaned back on the sofa, his expression serious, "Did you receive the flowers I sent you?"

"I did."

"That's good." Dao Nian's expression became even more serious, "You have to remember, don't trust those who casually send you flowers. As long as you like something, I can send it to you. Stay away from those people whose depths you don't know."

Shen Chang'an: "..."

"You sent me such a big bouquet of flowers, just because of this?" Shen Chang'an laughed, unable to believe it.

Dao Nian's breathing could be heard through the phone, but he didn't speak.

Time seemed to pass for a long time, but it was only about ten seconds. Shen Chang'an heard Dao Nian softly say "Hmm" on the other end of the phone.

"Why are you wasting money on this? Just tell me what you want to say." Shen Chang'an laughed helplessly and asked Dao Nian, "Is there anything you want to eat? I'll bring it back for you."

"It's good enough that you're coming back." Dao Nian said, "I'll wait for you at home."

"Dao Nian?" Shen Chang'an frowned, "What happened this afternoon? Your voice sounds strange."

Dao Nian: "..."

"Why aren't you talking?"

"I don't want to." Dao Nian said expressionlessly, "Wait for me to come back for dinner."

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Shen Chang'an tilted his head in confusion. Did he say something wrong?

"Sir?" Shen Tu and Old Zhao saw Dao Nian hang up the phone with a sullen face and asked with concern, "Did Chang'an dislike the flowers you sent?"

"He said it was a waste of money."

"Being practical is good, it shows he's a good manager." This was Old Zhao's comment.

"Our Chang'an is a down-to-earth good young man." This was Shen Tu's comment.

Dao Nian looked up at them: "Do you mean I'm not good enough for Chang'an?"

"When it comes to feelings, there's no such thing as good enough or not. The key is mutual affection." Old Zhao quickly changed his words, "Sir, you are so outstanding, Chang'an will definitely like you."

"What if he doesn't like me enough?"

"Then find a way to make him like you enough." Shen Tu said, "I've been worshipped by humans as a guardian deity for so many years, and I've seen many humans' methods of pursuing their loved ones. Your approach just now…"

"What?"

"Was a little awkward."

Dao Nian's face darkened slightly.

"Of course, you realizing you like him and wanting to pursue him is already a huge step forward." Shen Tu was afraid of discouraging Dao Nian's enthusiasm, so he quickly changed his words, "Chang'an seems like he hasn't figured out his feelings yet. You're older than him, so you need to be more tolerant and patient with him…"

"What if he doesn't like me?" The Heavenly Dao Lord, who never worried about anything, showed a worried and fearful expression for the first time, "I can't bear to force him, but I don't want to see him with someone else."

Shen Tu: "..."

Old Zhao: "..."

They hadn't really considered that question.

Chang'an and the sir exchanged their house keys, going in and out together frequently. They weren't a couple, but they were almost like one. They couldn't imagine what it would be like if a third person suddenly appeared between them.

"I think that possibility is unlikely," Shen Tu whispered. "That girl who pursued Chang'an, by human standards, was already a rare beauty with wealth and status. But Chang'an remained unmoved by her pursuit. This proves that Chang'an is not easily swayed by others."

"So, he won't easily be swayed by me either, right?"

Shen Tu: "..."

How could he answer that?

"Sir, how can you compare yourself to those ordinary mortal people? You at least have Mr. Shen's house key. Throughout the entire world, who else besides you could possess Mr. Shen's house key?" Uncle Zhao saw that Shen Tu was speechless, so he quickly stepped in. "Comparing yourself to others not only lowers your own standards, but also wastes Chang'an's sincere affection for you."

"You mean Chang'an will definitely like me, right?"

Shen Tu secretly glanced at Old Zhao with his peripheral vision, watching how he would respond.

"Yes, you have to believe that you are definitely the most special to Chang'an." Old Zhao gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and nodded.

Shen Tu: Old Zhao is a ruthless one. No wonder he was the first among them all to follow the sir.

"What if I'm overthinking it?" Dao Nian shook his head. "Is there any way to determine if I'm special to him?"

Old Zhao: "True feelings are revealed in times of crisis?"

Dao Nian: "Chang'an has saved many people. Are those people all special to him?"

Old Zhao: "..."

How could he have forgotten that?

"But sir, you've forgotten one thing," Liu Mao reminded softly. "Chang'an still thinks you're just an ordinary person."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room fell silent.

Yes, whether Chang'an finds the sir special or not, in Chang'an's eyes, the sir is an ordinary person who needs his companionship and care.

What if one day Chang'an discovers that the sir is not only not ordinary, but also incredibly powerful?