That evening.
The sky was still half-lit, but the sun was nearly setting.
Dong Xuebin checked the pair of Pink Diamonds again and again, then carefully tucked them into his breast pocket before quietly leaving the Central Party School compound.
There was a flower shop diagonally across the street.
Dong Xuebin spotted it and quickly walked inside.
"Hello, sir." A female clerk smiled. "What kind of flowers are you looking for?"
"Do you have roses?" Dong Xuebin swept his gaze around. "Red roses."
"Yes." The clerk pointed toward a corner. "Are they for your girlfriend? How many would you like?"
Dong Xuebin estimated the little money he had left on him. "Um, nine hundred and ninety-nine. Please wrap them up for me. Oh, right, how much is each one?" Dong Xuebin had never bothered asking prices when he bought things before, but buying the diamond rings had drained all his savings, and he had even borrowed a great deal of money. At this point, including the loose change he had withdrawn from his bank card and the cash in his wallet, he had only a little over three thousand yuan left. Dong Xuebin, who had once spent money without batting an eye, had never imagined he would end up like this. He was broke.
The clerk replied, "Our roses are three yuan each."
"Three yuan? That expensive?" Dong Xuebin was depressed.
"This is the cheapest season for roses in our shop. On Valentine's Day and during winter, they cost more than ten yuan each."
"No discount?"
"We can give you a basket for free."
Dong Xuebin waved his hand. "Fine, get them for me."
"Nine hundred and ninety-nine roses, correct? Please wait a moment." The clerk quickly wrapped them up, placing all the roses into a large, beautiful flower basket.