Striving for Science C85

"I heard... a lot of humans hate being deceived." Liu Mao spoke again in a small voice, "After you're with Chang'an, he might slowly age. Fifty or sixty years later, you'll still be so young. Even if Chang'an trusts you and loves you, he might start to have doubts."

"I can grow old with him." Dao Nian's voice was heavy, "When he becomes a ghost, I'll teach him the art of ghost cultivation."

"What if Chang'an doesn't want to?" Liu Mao, perhaps having been a bull who spent time in the snow, was a master at throwing cold water.

Dao Nian glared at him, unwilling to speak.

"Sir, I shouldn't be saying this, but I told you about this when you first became friends with Chang'an. You didn't take it seriously then. Of course, back then, you might not have cared about Shen Chang'an as much as you do now. I just want to ask, do you still feel the same way, not caring about this issue?"

"Liu Mao..." Shen Tu saw Dao Nian's expression change and couldn't help but glare at him, "Say less."

"I know what you're worried about." Dao Nian looked at Liu Mao, "You're worried that Chang'an won't want to be with me in his next life, and I'll be lonely forever."

"But what does it matter? I've lived like this in the years without Chang'an. If I can have even a second of happiness with him, it's a gift in my endless years."

How could the loneliness of never having had anything compare to the pain of gaining and losing?

Liu Mao hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.

"Liu Mao." Old Zhao, who usually seemed gentle and easy to get along with, was more daring than Liu Mao in certain situations, "You need to understand one thing. Some emotions, even though they bring a mix of sweetness and bitterness when you get them, at least you've experienced them. If you give up out of fear, no matter how long your life is, it won't have any meaning."

After Old Zhao finished speaking, he turned to Dao Nian, "Besides, why do you all assume Chang'an wouldn't want to stay with you? Maybe after he develops enough feelings for you, he'll also want to be with you forever?"

"I understand." Dao Nian remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up at everyone, "At least right now, there's something very important."

"What is it?" Shen Tu leaned forward and asked.

"You must protect the secret of my identity." Dao Nian paused, looking at Shen Tu specifically, "Even if you're suspected, you can't reveal me. Understand?"

Shen Tu nervously pulled his head back.

Understood. Even if we're flamboyant and outrageous, you sir have to maintain your innocent and pure image. I get it.

"Understood, you can rest assured, we'll definitely keep this secret…"

"What secret?" Shen Chang'an walked in carrying a large bouquet of flowers, sat down next to Dao Nian, "When I was entering the neighborhood, the security guard kept staring at the roses in my arms. It was like I wasn't holding roses, but gold bars I'd robbed from a bank. He was so shocked."

"Mr. Shen, you're back so soon?" As a seasoned Star God of the Kitchen, Old Zhao had a strong mental fortitude. So even though Shen Chang'an had heard their conversation, he didn't change his expression at all.

"If I didn't come back early, how would I know what you were secretly discussing?" Shen Chang'an placed the flowers on the table, "Dao Nian."

"Hmm?"

"I think the flowers in our yard are prettier. Don't spend this kind of money in the future."

"Okay." Dao Nian lowered his head, not letting Shen Chang'an see the nervousness on his face.

"This year is our first Christmas with you. We were planning to give you a surprise, but you came back so early." Uncle Zhao sighed, "Now that you've heard, any surprise we prepare will lack that element."

"Christmas?" Shen Chang'an laughed, "It's okay, I don't really celebrate it anyway."

"I see you young people like this holiday quite a bit."

"We young people don't like a specific holiday, we like celebrating holidays." Shen Chang'an smiled, "So you don't need to worry about preparing anything."

"Oh, I see." Uncle Zhao looked enlightened, "Then for New Year's Day, I'll prepare a table full of good food, and we can all have a good time together?"

"That sounds good." Shen Chang'an nodded, remembering that he had mentioned to Dao Nian that he would go to the provincial zoo with him during the New Year's Day holiday, "Dao Nian, are you busy on New Year's Day?"

"Not busy."

"Then let's go to the zoo together." Shen Chang'an said, "We can't go back on our word."

"Okay."

Dao Nian's eyes looked at the bouquet of roses on the table, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Chang'an saw that Dao Nian was staring at the roses, unable to tear his gaze away. He suddenly had a guess: Could it be that Dao Nian was envious of others sending him flowers, but he was too embarrassed to say it, so he first sent him flowers, and then waited for a return gift?

If it were anyone else, Shen Chang'an would never believe they could do such a thing, but Dao Nian was different. Dao Nian hadn't interacted with people much in recent years, and the things he did couldn't be judged by ordinary logic.

Although he often cut flowers from the garden and put them in the vase in Dao Nian's room, Dao Nian seemed to want someone to order a bouquet of flowers for him from outside?

It's true, flowers from your own garden aren't as exciting as flowers from outside.

Shen Chang'an finally understood what Dao Nian wanted and secretly resolved not to disappoint him.

The next morning, he left early. He happened to see a flower shop opening, so he went in and said to the shopkeeper, "Hello, which flowers represent friendship, brotherhood? I want to buy a bouquet."

"Are you preparing to give it to a friend?" The shopkeeper was a quiet-looking girl. She skillfully pointed out a few types of flowers, "These all represent the purest friendship. Which ones do you need?"

Shen Chang'an randomly pointed out a bunch: "Do you have a flower delivery service?"

"Of course." The quiet shopkeeper smiled, "Our 'Century of Harmony' flower shop has always served every customer with sincerity."

'Hundred Years of Harmony' flower shop...

Hearing this name, Shen Chang'an's expression instantly changed. He remembered the look the delivery guy gave him yesterday, as if the guy also called himself from the 'Century of Harmony' flower shop?

"In Wuming City, are there many flower shops called 'Century of Harmony'?"

"There should be quite a few." The shopkeeper said as she arranged the bouquet, "The mainstream of buying flowers now is still couples. They all want to get a good omen, so many flower shops pay attention to this when choosing their names, so there are 'Forget-me-nots', 'Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious', 'Century of Harmony' flower shops all over the city."

"Oh." Shen Chang'an felt relieved, as long as it wasn't the same shop.

Just as he was thinking, a young man walked in, swaying slightly, carrying a bag of breakfast. He saw Shen Chang'an and froze for a moment, then flashed a standard smile: "Mr. Shen, welcome."

"You know each other?" The shopkeeper looked at the delivery guy, "This gentleman just ordered a bouquet of flowers representing friendship. You'll go deliver it later. By the way, what should we call the person receiving the flowers?"

"Dao Nian." Shen Chang'an thought for a moment, but still didn't say Dao Nian's full name. Information leaks were becoming increasingly serious these days, and he didn't want to send flowers to Dao Nian only to have him harassed by salespeople every day.

The delivery guy's expression was a little off. Was Mr. Shen's actions a bit too heartless? The guy sent him roses, and he didn't want to accept the feelings, so he just sent back a bouquet of friendship flowers. And he didn't go to any other shop, he came to their shop.

How would that Mr. Nian feel about this?

Although he felt that Shen Chang'an's actions were a bit too heartless, the delivery guy was a professional and highly qualified florist, so he not only smiled warmly at Shen Chang'an, but also welcomed him to come again.

Once the bouquet was tied up, the delivery guy handed the covered breakfast to the manager: "Eat it while it's hot. There are fewer customers in the morning, so warm your stomach while you can."

"Did you eat?" The manager reached out and touched his cheek, which was cold from the wind. She quickly took out a scarf from the drawer: "It's starting to get colder these days, put this on."

"I've already eaten." The delivery guy smiled and put the scarf around his neck, then quickly left with the flowers. When he saw the delivery address, which was the most mysterious and upscale residential area in all of Wuming City, he felt a little intimidated, afraid that the guard would give him a hard time.

However, the guard's reaction surprised him.

"What? What did you say?" The guard spoke with a northern accent. "Someone actually sent flowers to... the gentleman?!"

Is it strange to send flowers to Mr. Nian? Why is the security guard reacting so strongly?

"Yes, a Mr. Shen asked me to deliver these." The delivery guy glanced at the lush greenery of the residential area. "If Mr. Nian isn't able to come out, could you please help me deliver them inside?"

"So it's Mr. Shen," the guard chuckled, relieved. "I knew it! Besides you, no one else could have done it. Just wait here a moment, I'll call and let them know."

Less than two minutes later, the delivery guy saw a man of extraordinary beauty walk out. He took the flowers expressionlessly, "What's the meaning of these flowers?"

"The purest and most sincere friendship?" The delivery guy looked at him with sympathy, "You see him as a lover, but he just wants you to be his brother."

What kind of heart-wrenching modern-day brotherhood is this?

"I know." Dao Nian signed his name on the slip and carried the bouquet back to his room.

"Sir?" Old Zhao looked at Dao Nian placing the newly bought flowers next to the ones Chang'an brought back last night. "Didn't you promise Chang'an you wouldn't buy these flowers anymore?"

"These flowers are from Chang'an."

"No wonder it blooms so beautifully and vibrantly, it makes you fall in love with it at first sight."

"The florist said the message of this bouquet is the purest and most sincere friendship."

Old Zhao: "..."

"I gave Chang'an roses, and he gave me flowers that represent friendship. Does this mean he knows my feelings and is trying to reject me subtly?"

Old Zhao: "Perhaps you're overthinking it. If Chang'an didn't like someone, he would have rejected them directly, he wouldn't use this kind of method to keep things ambiguous."

"Are you saying that Chang'an rejected my feelings, but not decisively enough?" Dao Nian furrowed his brow.

Old Zhao: "..."

What logic is this, is that what he meant?!

His phone rang. Dao Nian glanced at the caller ID and answered.

Dao Nian, did you receive the flowers I sent you?

“Yes.”

"Do you like them?"

Dao Nian's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, "I like them."

"I understand. I'll send you fresh flowers often from now on." Shen Chang'an laughed heartily on the other end of the line. "I have to go to work. We'll talk later at noon. I'll hang up now."

Dao Nian hung up the phone and said to Old Zhao, "You were right. Chang'an didn't mean it that way."

Old Zhao: "Heh."