Flowers in the Hair

Sheng Nian and Yan Feizhuo turned past the flatbread shop before finally stepping onto Dream Capital's central avenue.

The whole avenue was as lively as it was during the day. Crowds bustled beneath warm yellow lights, festive lanterns and decorations filled every street and alley, and laughter rang through the throngs.

Sheng Nian was curious about everything. After finishing the flatbread in his hand, he unconsciously let go of Yan Feizhuo's hem and moved past him to explore the bustling stalls.

Afraid he really would get lost, Yan Feizhuo caught his hand, intending to hold it. But Sheng Nian remembered that he could not act out of character on camera, and recalled his somewhat erratic heartbeat earlier that day. Unwilling to let him hold his hand but also afraid of getting separated, he simply stuffed his wide pipa sleeve into Yan Feizhuo's hand.

"Hold this."

After saying that, he did not dare look at Yan Feizhuo's expression and continued walking ahead on his own.

A long row of warmly glowing, painted bamboo lanterns caught Sheng Nian's attention, and he led Yan Feizhuo into a small alley.

There was a stall selling lanterns and fresh flowers. The elderly woman running it was dressed as an ordinary commoner from ancient times and sat on a low stool, introducing her lanterns and flowers to the tourists around her. In front of her, she also held an adorable little child whose upright ponytail was tied with red cord.

Under the warm yellow glow of the bamboo lanterns, the scene was simple and heartwarming.

[Ah, it's Granny's flower stall. She's selling lanterns today too?]

[What? What flower stall?]

[Shop rents in Evernight Sky are really expensive, but there are lots of people like Granny who are elderly and have no other way to earn money. Evernight Sky provides stalls for them free of charge so they can sell homegrown vegetables, flowers, farm produce, handicrafts... It's a kind of targeted poverty relief.]

[I know, I know! This granny lives alone with her grandson, but she grows wonderful flowers, and they sell really well in Evernight Sky.]

The sharp-eyed little boy spotted them and greeted them first. "Hello, big brother! Hello, uncle~ Want to buy some flowers?"

[What a cute kid! Give big sister a kiss ＾3＾]

[Hahahahaha, one big brother and one uncle? That's brutal!]

[President Yan: Do I look that old?]

It was the elderly woman who noticed that the two had come together and were dressed like a couple. She gently corrected the little boy. "No, Yangyang, they're both big brothers."

"Why? Granny, didn't you say only the pretty ones are big brothers?"

Amused by the child's innocent words, Sheng Nian turned to tease Yan Feizhuo. "Big Brother Yan Feizhuo, you've become an uncle! Hahaha."

Yan Feizhuo reached out and pinched his nose in exasperation. "Little brat."

Seeing that neither of them minded, the elderly woman stopped dwelling on forms of address with her grandson and greeted her customers. "Would you gentlemen like to buy some flowers?"

Sheng Nian crouched down to look at the flowers on the little stall. Most were China roses, lilies, and roses, but there were even a few peonies, which were a rare sight.

"These flowers were all picked fresh from the greenhouse this morning. They're still fresh and dewy. Lots of people buy them to wear in their hair. Would you like one, young sir?"

Sheng Nian hesitated. He was wearing a full hanfu outfit and makeup today, but to save time, he had not had his hair styled. He still had his soft, smooth short hair. Could he wear flowers in that?

The elderly woman smiled and, after looking at his clothes, selected a cluster of winter jasmine in full bloom. With a couple of twists, she removed the excess twigs, tucked it beside his ear, and secured it with two small clips. Her movements were practiced and light; clearly, she did this often.

"There. Would you like a look, young sir?"

Sheng Nian took the little mirror from her hand and examined himself. The vivid yellow extended from behind his ear along the curve of his head. Rather than looking gaudy, it made him outshine the flowers beneath the warm yellow lights.

Little Yangyang was the first to praise him, his starry eyes shining brightly. "Big brother, you're super pretty!"

Children's feelings were the most direct and enthusiastic, and they did not lie.

Sheng Nian crouched to meet Yangyang's eyes and said with a smile, "Thank you for the compliment, sweetie."

Yan Feizhuo said nothing and simply took out his Light Brain to pay.

[He really is lovelier than the flowers. Whatever else you say, there's genuinely nothing to criticize about Sheng Nian's face.]

[President Yan, you look so handsome paying without hesitation!]

[Huff, huff, Sheng Nian, let me kiss you (ʃƪ ˘ ³˘)]

[I can get this matching look too ✓]

After receiving his compliments, Sheng Nian turned to Yan Feizhuo. "Would you like a flower too?"

Yan Feizhuo declined. Flowers in the young master's hair looked lovely and natural, but he was an Alpha, so he would pass.

The elderly woman smiled kindly and picked up another cluster of the same winter jasmine from her stall. Rather than putting it in Yan Feizhuo's hair, she helped pin it to the front of his robe.

Yan Feizhuo stiffened a little. His experiences had left him unaccustomed to having an unfamiliar elderly woman so close.

Fortunately, her hands were very deft. She quickly threaded a pin through the stems, fastened the flowers to the front of Yan Feizhuo's robe, and stepped back.

"With a sprig of winter jasmine on you too, sir, anyone can see that you and this young gentleman are a couple."

Yan Feizhuo reached up and gently brushed the flowers on his chest. Something so soft and bright rarely appeared on him. Once in a while, it seemed rather nice.

He said nothing and took out his Light Brain to pay again.

[Hahahaha, Granny's a marketing genius. She knows exactly how to get a domineering CEO.]

[But Granny has amazing taste! Both the flowers in Sheng Nian's hair and the ones on President Yan's robe are the perfect finishing touch!]

[Young couples just have to have everything in matching pairs, hehe~]

After paying, they said goodbye to Granny and little Yangyang and continued strolling.

Since it was Evernight Sky's celebration today, and Dream Capital was also holding a night tour, the heavenly streets were packed with people and incredibly lively, making the quiet places stand out all the more.

That was how a tall tower caught Sheng Nian's eye. Pointing toward it, he asked a passerby, "Hello, may I ask what that place is?"

"Oh, that's the Pagoda. It's a Buddhist tower. Everyone who comes to Dream Capital goes in to draw a fortune stick from that big wooden cylinder. The readings are free, and everyone says they're very accurate."

After thanking the passerby, Sheng Nian tugged Yan Feizhuo along, wanting to join in too.

"Are you sure? The line's pretty long. If we queue up, you won't have time to get styled for the night tour."

Sheng Nian wavered for a moment, but he still wanted to see what those supposedly accurate fortunes were like. "It's fine. We can just wear these outfits for the night tour later. We'll fit right in."

With that, he went to join the queue.

Although the line to draw fortune sticks at the Pagoda was long, this was sacred Buddhist ground, and everyone kept good order. Soon it was their turn.

Sheng Nian looked at the densely packed wooden sticks. If there were not ten thousand, there were at least several thousand. Dazzled by the selection, he deliberated for a while before choosing one that caught his eye and pulling it out.

[You kindly ask what lies within my heart; to you these thoughts are best imparted. The inner spirit shines clear as a mirror, just as the bright moon hangs high in the sky.]

Sheng Nian asked, "Master, what does this mean?"

"Congratulations, benefactor. This is an auspicious fortune. It means that your past luck was poor, but once the past has passed, everything will gradually go smoothly."

Sheng Nian thought the fortune seemed quite accurate. After meeting the system, things really did seem to have started going smoothly.

He nodded to the monk, then looked at Yan Feizhuo. Seeing no wooden stick in his hand, he urged him, "Go pick one! We queued for so long."

Yan Feizhuo had never believed in such intangible things. He shook his head. "I don't need one. Have you finished getting your fortune read? Then let's go."

"No, no. Oh, come on, it's free anyway. Hurry up and give it a try."

Unable to withstand his pestering, Yan Feizhuo could only take a random stick from the cylinder and hand it to the monk.

The monk took the fortune and glanced at it, pausing in surprise before continuing. "All appearances are illusory; what you sought in the past shall at last be fulfilled. This is a blessed fortune. I hope you will cherish your blessings, benefactor."

"Wow~ Are blessed fortunes really rare?"

The monk smiled. "Yes. The abbot himself placed this fortune in the cylinder. There is only one in this entire large cylinder. You are a blessed man, benefactor."

Hearing that it was such a rare blessed fortune, the people around them gathered to marvel at it. Only Yan Feizhuo remained utterly calm, as though he were not the one who had drawn a one-in-ten-thousand blessed fortune.

Sheng Nian was far more excited than he was. He spent a good while sweet-talking the monk until he managed to buy the blessed fortune stick, then put it in a brocade pouch and handed it to Yan Feizhuo.

"This is your good luck. Take it and keep it safe."

Yan Feizhuo gazed steadily at the person before him. Only after a long while did he reach out to take the brocade pouch, thinking to himself, You're my greatest good fortune.