What had Xiao Xiao wanted them to close their eyes for?
Zhang Bo and the others were full of questions.
Was it to prepare for a magic trick?
"Hm?"
Zhao Luzheng let out a puzzled sound without thinking.
Zhang Bo and Zhuge Yun were just about to ask when, the next second, bewilderment appeared on their faces too.
"...It smells so good."
Zhuge Yun murmured.
"Why is it getting stronger?"
Zhang Bo secretly cracked open one eye.
Then his eyes widened more and more, and he gaped wordlessly.
Xiao Xiao smiled and reminded the other two, "You can open your eyes now."
The courtyard was utterly quiet.
A gentle breeze passed through, and the flawless white petals swayed lightly.
They rustled softly.
Every flower seemed to be filled with sunlight.
The petals were translucent.
They had a strange texture somewhere between mutton-fat jade and colored glass.
"...Plum blossoms?!"
Zhang Bo blinked hard.
Then he rubbed his eyes.
He wasn't seeing things, was he?
He looked at the other two. "Plum blossoms?"
"...Yeah."
Zhuge Yun nodded blankly.
"Plum blossoms."
Zhao Luzheng murmured.
"The plum blossoms... bloomed..."
"It's summer..."
Zhang Bo's mouth twisted into a crooked smile.
And besides...
"The plum blossoms weren't blooming just now..."
He looked at Zhuge Yun and Zhao Luzheng again.
He hadn't remembered wrong, had he?
"Yeah."
"They weren't."
Zhuge Yun and Zhao Luzheng confirmed it.
"This is incredible..."
Zhang Bo drew a deep breath.
"Third Brother..."
He looked up, past Zhuge Yun and Zhao Luzheng, toward Xiao Xiao, who was quietly admiring the blossoms. "Is this your magic trick?"
Xiao Xiao's brows lifted. "Do you like it?"
The question finally brought the others back to their senses.
"It's beautiful!"
Zhuge Yun tugged at his cheek.
He grimaced in pain.