Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Luo Mingjing woke up and sat on the edge of his bed, sighing.
Outside the window, the sky was overcast, and the autumn wind swept fallen leaves across the ground. It was easy to predict that this would be a gloomy day.
The room was scattered with drafts. Last night, amidst his chaotic emotions, inspiration had surged, and he’d stayed up late sketching a pile of design drafts.
Luo Mingjing tidied them up casually, found his slippers, tied back his hair, and tossed the alarm clock into the washbasin.
He squeezed out some toothpaste, brushed his teeth.
As he looked up at the mirror, Luo Mingjing suddenly froze, his face blank but his inner self screaming: Was that my first kiss last night?!
Mr. Fairy had finally realized it—ten hours had passed since he lost his first kiss.
After quickly finishing his morning routine, he picked up his phone and paced around the studio. He wanted to find someone to shout at: I finally kissed a girl! But after scrolling through his contacts, he couldn’t find anyone to talk to.
Luo Mingjing put down his phone: “Forget it, I’ll deal with it myself.” It wasn’t exactly something to brag about. As a dashing, upright, and kind-hearted handsome man, he’d stubbornly remained single for twenty-seven years before tasting a girl’s lips last night. Thinking about it made him feel embarrassed.
Moreover, perhaps because of his “playboy” looks or how unreliable he seemed, everyone around him assumed he had a rich romantic history and ex-girlfriends everywhere.
Thinking about this, the joy he’d felt about successfully giving his first kiss faded again.
“Forget it, forget it. Losing is gaining, and it’s all in the past.”
He tied on an apron, pulled back the curtain, opened the door, and swept the fallen leaves.
Because of the weather, everything outside was bathed in a dim yellow light, making the fiery red roses stand out even more. There were more than yesterday, spilling out of the bike basket and forming a small mountain of roses.
Luo Mingjing laughed bitterly: “This is such a textbook move in pursuing someone…”
He wondered how long the CEO planned to keep sending flowers. After roughly calculating the cost, he thought: Ouch, that must hurt her wallet.
“Brother!” Xu Qianqian arrived. Seeing the roses in Luo Mingjing’s arms, her eyes widened. “Who sent you these flowers?”
“A friend.”
Xu Qianqian blurted out bluntly: “The friend who wanted to keep you last night?”
This girl.
Luo Mingjing gave a cold chuckle. He tilted his chin toward Xu Qianqian, signaling her to grab a broom while he carried the roses back into the studio, tossing out one last remark: “Come in after you’re done sweeping.”
Xu Qianqian swept a couple of times but suddenly realized something was off. She threw down the broom and rushed inside to confront him: “I’m the only daughter of the Xu family, the precious pearl of the household! Even though we’re only cousins, as your older brother, not only do you not treat me like royalty, but you also make me sweep like Cinderella!”
Luo Mingjing put on his glasses and calmly trimmed the flower stems: “Sister, stop with the drama.”
“I came because I was worried about you…” Xu Qianqian sat down and said, “Otherwise, would I have dragged myself out of my warm bed so early in the morning, taking the subway and bus just to see you? Tell me what happened.”
She pulled out her phone and showed him a Weibo post: “I was so worried last night. I spent hours scrolling through Weibo to figure out what was going on.”
It was a recording from the live stream.
—Educational content: Turns out this is how third-rate influencers negotiate prices with their sugar daddies [video].
Xu Qianqian turned up the volume. Luo Mingjing heard his own voice coming from the video.
“If it’s keeping… then there’s money… what’s your price… how much…?”
The video was black-screened the entire time, faintly showing the light from the outer studio. It lasted only two minutes, and the only clear parts were those few sentences. Other sounds were muffled, and the content unclear, though it was obvious that two people were talking.
Xu Qianqian’s face crumbled: “Last night, I watched this at least thirty times to confirm it was your voice… How could you say something like that?”
“…” Luo Mingjing snapped a flower stem with a snap . His expression was icy, but when he spoke, his voice was soft: “Here we go again.”
This again.
Xu Qianqian heard him. She lowered her head and stayed silent for a long time before saying: “Oh, if it’s all a misunderstanding… how are you planning to explain it?”
“Let things take their course.” Luo Mingjing smiled again, jokingly asking, “Will being cute help?”
“Well… can you tell me who this ‘friend’ was last night?”
“An executive from a gaming company I met at the comic con a few days ago.” Luo Mingjing said, “Last night, I invited her over for dinner, and we joked around a bit.”
“…A guy?” Xu Qianqian asked nosily.
Luo Mingjing slammed the table: “A woman!”
“A woman?”
Seeing her disappointed expression, Luo Mingjing mimicked scissors with his fingers: “You girls really won’t spare even your own brother when you’re into BL, huh?”
Xu Qianqian: “Nope, not sparing you.”
After finishing with the flowers, Luo Mingjing asked her: “Have you eaten?”
Xu Qianqian: “No.”
Luo Mingjing washed his hands and started making soup, directing Xu Qianqian to help tidy up the studio.
Xu Qianqian groaned, reluctantly getting up to clean the room in exchange for breakfast.
After a while, Xu Qianqian called from the inner room: “Brother, when did you draw these design drafts?”
“Last night.”
“For next season’s clothing?”
“No.” Luo Mingjing came over with a spoon, pointing to the sketches to explain. “Just rough ideas. I want to create a Chinese-themed series—full outfits, including hairstyles, accessories, and makeup. Based on the twenty-four solar terms, each term will have its own style, highlighting traditional Chinese elements in colors and patterns. For example, this one…”
As he talked about his creative ideas, Luo Mingjing’s eyes sparkled with excitement that couldn’t be hidden: “This is White Dew, part of the autumn collection. The main color is indigo blue. I’ve initially set the style as elegant, with embroidered white cranes as the motif. I’m drawing inspiration from the ancient, rustic feeling of ‘The Reed’ poem—’The reeds are lush, and the dew turns to frost.’”
“One solar term, one poem, one outfit. Four seasons, six terms per season, six series. Including hair accessories, earrings, makeup… And we can create both a retro festival series and a daily wear series based on the twenty-four solar terms.” Luo Mingjing said, “What do you think?”
Xu Qianqian nearly bit her tongue. Her hands trembled slightly as she nodded vigorously: “Amazing! Are you planning to work with your current collaborator on this?”
“No.” Luo Mingjing said, “Their market positioning wouldn’t accept something like this. Besides, if I propose collaboration, the designs might get stolen… For now, I don’t plan to. I’ll just keep sketching. I’ve only just finished the initial drafts for the six autumn solar terms. There’s still a long way to go. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Luo Mingjing ruffled Xu Qianqian’s hair: “You know how unlucky I am. Maybe these will just remain as drafts forever. But… it doesn’t matter.”
After breakfast, Xu Qianqian eyed the roses on the windowsill: “You don’t have enough vases for all these. Can I take some back to my dorm?”
“What for? Pretend they’re from your boyfriend? Is He Xi not sending you flowers?”
He Xi was Xu Qianqian’s boyfriend, two grades below her—a programming major who idolized her and treated her like a goddess every day.
“Nope.” Xu Qianqian said, “No romance from him. So I’ll borrow a few of your roses to impress my roommates.”
Luo Mingjing thought for a moment and nodded: “Take them.” He went to wash the dishes while Xu Qianqian stood by the windowsill, picking out the freshest ones.
While sorting, she chatted: “Streaming today?”
“Yeah.”
“The comments might sting a bit today. Don’t let it bother you too much.” Xu Qianqian said softly, “If you want fame, you have to pay the price…”
“I know.”
“Oh, right—I almost forgot. Where did you get your haircut?” Xu Qianqian said, “Finally decided to trim it, and it looks great.”
“…A friend’s place.”
“Expensive?”
Luo Mingjing chuckled: “Not cheap.”
The shoulder-length cut was neat, layered, and far more refined compared to his previously wild, split-end-filled hair.
“Brother…”
“Hmm.”
“It’s like… I mentioned the other day that I wanted to apply to schools in Italy, right? My dad said he’s not helping, and I need to figure it out myself…”
Luo Mingjing turned off the faucet and fell silent.
“I’m thinking of applying for scholarships, but living expenses there add up fast—rent, materials… Design school isn’t cheap.” Xu Qianqian fiddled with the dried petals on the windowsill, twisting nervously. “My dad told me to ask Uncle for help…”
Luo Mingjing stared blankly at the sink: “How much?”
“I’m not sure, but for two years…” Xu Qianqian hesitated, “…Maybe three or four hundred thousand yuan…”
Xu Qianqian waited for a response, but all she saw was Luo Mingjing’s back.
Summoning her courage, she said: “Brother… Could you… talk to Uncle for me? I’d feel too awkward asking directly. He barely keeps in touch with us, and I can’t bring myself to ask…”
“You focus on getting the offer first.” Luo Mingjing finally spoke. “Once you have it… I’ll ask him.”
She said ask , not borrow .
Luo Mingjing took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
________________________________________
In the office building of Dongshi Technology, Fiona received a message from Shi Min: “Come to my office.” She hurried over, panting.
“Boss, any instructions?”
Shi Min pulled out a bouquet of roses from under her desk: “Take it.”
Fiona accepted it, confused: “Boss, who’s this for?”
Shi Min set down her pen, picked up her coffee, and leaned lazily back in her chair: “For you.”
Fiona’s mouth dropped open in shock: “…Huh? Boss? For me?!”
“The other day, you said no one ever sent you flowers.” Shi Min smiled, “So I’m sending you some. Fiona, you’ve been doing great work.”
Fiona stood there, clutching the flowers, tears streaming down her face: “I… I’m so touched!!”
“Which would move you more,” Shi Min asked, “seeing flowers at your doorstep every morning, or receiving them in person?”
“In person!” Fiona sobbed, “I almost fell in love with you, Boss! Oh… I’m so embarrassed… If you’d left them at my desk, I wouldn’t have cried this much… I’m so moved, my heart feels so warm! It’s still burning hot!”
The assistant pounded her chest, overwhelmed to the point of incoherence.
Hearing this, Shi Min understood.
She put on her trench coat, patted Fiona’s shoulder to send her back to work, and instructed her special assistant, Xiao Pi, to prepare the car.
Xiao Pi held up a bunch of car keys, following her closely: “Chairman Shi, do you need a driver?”
“No, give me the keys.”
As she entered the elevator, Shi Min suddenly remembered something. She stopped the doors and asked: “Would boys be as emotional as Fiona if they received flowers in person?”
Xiao Pi replied: “Not sure. I’ve never received flowers.”
Shi Min chuckled: “What, you want me to send you flowers too?”
Xiao Pi shivered: “If Chairman Shi sent them, I’d probably cry after I got home.”
“Oh?”
Xiao Pi trembled: “At home… kneeling on the washing board.”
________________________________________
After Xu Qianqian left, Luo Mingjing rolled up his sleeves and gave the studio a thorough cleaning. Just as he finished, the wind chimes jingled.
He turned around and froze for a long moment.
“For you.” Shi Min leaned against the doorframe, one hand in her pocket, holding a huge bouquet of roses. The red blooms were bold and unrestrained, almost aggressive.
“Under your name…” Luo Mingjing said, “Do you own acres of rose fields?”
Shi Min’s red lips curved into a smile as she walked over gracefully. She lifted a strand of his hair, gently blew on it, and whispered: “These aren’t roses. This is love.”
Google Sites
Report abuse