“BANG—”
The door slammed shut. The person in the driver’s seat swiftly pulled the seatbelt across and clicked it in. His eyes swept toward the hospital entrance. Gu Lingzhou reached out to adjust the rearview mirror, his eyes in the reflection gleaming coldly.
“What are you doing? You’re going to break the door.” Shi Yuxing frowned. Sure, they had money, but that didn’t mean they should waste it. Slamming the door that hard—this starship wouldn’t last long. “Don’t do that again next time. Let’s go home.”
Gu Lingzhou’s straight back stiffened even more. He started the starship and cleared his throat. “Not going home first.”
“Not going home? What do you want to do? I’m tired—I want to go back to sleep.” He still had the container of beef Lin Anran had given him on his lap. His stomach was full, but his sleep wasn’t.
Those black-and-white eyes darted toward him, brows slanting into his temples with an unyielding expression. Without needing to guess, it was clear he was in a bad mood, stewing in silence.
“What’s wrong with you?” Shi Yuxing was completely bewildered, having no idea why he was angry. Gu Lingzhou reached for his wrist bone, then turned his head away. “Nothing.” Shi Yuxing lightly patted his hand and pulled it off. “Keep your eyes on the road. What are you touching things for? Don’t ignore traffic rules—I’ll report you to the traffic department. Twelve points gone, just like that.”
The large hand returned to the steering wheel. The alpha’s lips curled upward—he was smiling.
Shi Yuxing: ?
What was he so happy about? Was getting his driver’s license revoked something to be excited about?
The scenery outside changed. Dr. Shi leaned back against his seat. A few minutes later, he sat up straight. “Where are you taking me?” This wasn’t the way home.
Gu Lingzhou: “Haven’t given you today’s flowers yet. Going to the flower shop.”
At that, Shi Yuxing settled back against his seat.
This guy—Shi Yuxing couldn’t help glancing toward the driver’s seat. I’d forgotten, but he remembered.
His heart felt sour and full, like a soda shaken on a summer day, about to burst through the cap and spray out.
The flower shop wasn’t far from the hospital—less than the time for a cup of tea. Gu Lingzhou pulled the handbrake. “Want to go in and take a look?”
His tea-colored eyes cleared, a spark lighting up in them.
The shop wasn’t large, but it had quite a variety of flowers.
A bell jingled as they entered. The girl at the counter smiled and welcomed them. She immediately spotted the tall man behind Shi Yuxing and recognized him, then understood. This one in front—was this the General’s wife?
The moment Shi Yuxing stepped inside, he was surrounded by flowers, the fragrance filling his nose. His attention was completely drawn to the plants on the ground, and he crouched down to play with them.
The shop assistant came out. “General, still a bouquet of magnolias today? You’re in luck—they just came in. I can wrap them up right away if you want.”
“Mm. Thanks for your trouble.”
Shi Yuxing looked up and met the girl’s eyes—stunned with amazement.
“So beautiful…” she murmured. The next second, her eyes froze, her cheeks flushing as she immediately bowed. “Sorry, sorry.” Shi Yuxing stood up. The girl’s ears were bright red too.
“I-I’ll go get the magnolias!” With that, she scurried away.
The space was small. Shi Yuxing followed her steps and walked over slowly. As he walked, Gu Lingzhou followed closely, stepping in his footprints.
The white magnolia petals were fully open, boldly releasing their subtle fragrance. Mixed with all the other scents, it reached Shi Yuxing’s nose with an indescribable quality.
Pure magnolia scent was much better, he thought.
The girl pulled out a few of the best-blooming ones, turned around, and nearly bumped into Shi Yuxing. She flinched, blinked, and her face grew even redder. “I-I’ll go around the other way! Feel free to look around!”
With that, she made a big detour back to the counter.
“See anything else you like? All the flowers here are fresh.” Gu Lingzhou leaned down and blew a warm breath by his ear.
Shi Yuxing looked around, taking two steps and stopping, then two more and stopping again. He waved his hand, his nose twitching. Gu Lingzhou was about to ask what he was looking for when Shi Yuxing called out toward the counter: “Do you have any flowers that smell like fir?”
The figure at the counter paused and shook her head. “No—fir is a scent no flower can replicate… However! If you’re looking for something refreshing, you could try camellias! They’re over here—also just arrived.”
A husky voice, uncertain: “For me?”
“Mm.” Shi Yuxing chuckled. “What’s with that look? Alphas can receive flowers too. You’re always giving me flowers—I should give something back.”
The red camellias were warm and brilliant, water droplets on the petals rolling off with the vibration of footsteps. There were also white petals, matching the color of the magnolias.
“Take a sniff—very fresh. Can’t compare to fir, but it’s unique in its own way.” The shop assistant, while promoting, pulled out a red one and handed it to Shi Yuxing.
He fanned it toward his nose—much better than the chemical smell in the labs. Shi Yuxing turned his head. “Do you like it?”
The latter lowered his gaze, his eyes landing on the flower in his hand. He nodded.
“I’m giving this to you.” Shi Yuxing continued. “I think it smells pretty good, even though it’s nothing like your pheromones.”
At those words, more of Gu Lingzhou’s eyes showed, his gaze burning.
“Camellias are also great for giving to lovers! I remember the flower language is—subtle, deep, and cautious love.”
That was completely different from what he’d intended to express. He’d just wanted to give Gu Lingzhou a bouquet in return.
After hearing the shop assistant’s explanation, Gu Lingzhou gladly accepted this subtle love, nodding. “Good. One bouquet, please.”
“Got it!”
Shi Yuxing’s gaze dropped and he spotted a red-and-white camellia deeper in the bunch. He pulled it out. “This one too.”
“Okay!” The shop assistant took the hybrid camellia he’d chosen and added it to the bouquet.
Gu Lingzhou had wanted to wrap the magnolias and camellias together in one bouquet, but Shi Yuxing refused. “If I’m giving it to you, it should be wrapped separately.”
The alpha curled his lips. “You’re giving it to me, but I’m still the one paying.”
Shi Yuxing paused. “Who said you’re paying?”
“Hic.” The shop assistant covered her mouth, suppressing her full-to-bursting emotions.
“I’m not broke—I still have seven figures in my bank account. Plenty enough to buy this for you.”
On the other hand, she was just a poor soul working at a flower shop.
The shop assistant quickened her pace and finally finished wrapping the second bouquet.
Shi Yuxing scanned the QR code and paid first. Gu Lingzhou stopped at the payment amount screen, and a bouquet was shoved into his hands. “Here. If you ruin it, you’re dead.”
He walked out first, holding the magnolias.
The bell jingled twice. The shop assistant watched them leave, patted her face, and prepared to get back to work.
Just then—
“Payment received: 88,888 yuan.” Her phone vibrated immediately. The shop owner sent a voice message: “What did you do?! Who paid over eighty thousand for flowers and added a thank-you message?”
Gu Lingzhou sat in the passenger seat, looking up from his phone. Shi Yuxing in the driver’s seat tapped his fingers on the steering wheel twice. “How about I drive you to work now? Not many people have ridden in my passenger seat.”
Gu Lingzhou asked with interest: “Who else?”
Shi Yuxing counted on his fingers: “My dad, my mom, my advisor, the director, and a few former academic colleagues.”
“I’m honored.” Gu Lingzhou’s eyes curved.
“Of course. I drive steady, obey traffic rules—unlike you, who does all sorts of reckless things.”
He slowly stopped before a yellow light. His peripheral vision caught Gu Lingzhou turning his head to look at him. He turned his head.
A shadow fell over him—a quick peck on his lips. Gu Lingzhou pulled back, his thin lips parting. “Is that so?”
Leaves fell, ripples spreading across the tea-colored surface.
“You know you’re still—” Shi Yuxing’s hand hovered over his lips, those beautiful eyes wide open.
“Green light.” Gu Lingzhou said this with a shameless smile. Shi Yuxing’s mouth twitched as he angrily turned his head away.
The scene felt familiar.
“I’ll drive you to work right now!” The words flew out of his mouth—but then he realized he had no idea where Gu Lingzhou worked. He sat there stubbornly, stuck, refusing to back down.
“Let’s go home first. Aren’t you tired?” Gu Lingzhou offered him a way out.
Shi Yuxing said nothing, silently pointing the steering wheel toward home.
…
As soon as they walked in, two people were already waiting at the door.
Xiao Zhou threw himself at him as soon as he saw him. “Wifey, are you okay? Why did it take so long?”
Gu Lingzhou, holding one bouquet in each hand, was immediately spotted. The cunning alpha curled his lips—half showing off, half mocking: “Bought for me.”
The head on his shoulder froze. Shi Yuxing thought, Oh no—he shouldn’t have given anything. He’d forgotten there were two more at home.
Unequal distribution among triplets could wreck the whole house!
“Um… I owe you both one,” Shi Yuxing said awkwardly as he crouched down to change his shoes. “I… don’t have any money left in my card.”
Gu Lingzhou looked at him deeply, his smile not fading.
Xiao Zhou’s pent-up frustration eased. “Hmph. You have no idea how hard wifey works to earn money—and you’re so shameless spending it.”
“Heh—a freeloader living in this house has no right to say that.” Gu Lingzhou’s attacks were just too vicious.
Da Ling spoke up: “You haven’t eaten, have you, Yuxing? I’ll heat something up for you.”
Shi Yuxing swallowed. “No, I’m too tired. I’ll eat after I wake up.” Leaving those words behind, Dr. Shi didn’t even take off his coat as he took the stairs two at a time toward the second floor.
Gu Lingzhou handed the magnolias and the beef Shi Yuxing had brought back to the two of them, then hugged the bouquet of vibrant red camellias. “I’m going to work.”
The door closed.
Xiao Zhou crumpled the flower wrapping paper in his hand. “What a show-off peacock.” He turned around, faced Da Ling’s stern expression while holding the box, and shoved the flowers into his arms. “Here—yours.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Shi Yuxing collapsed onto the bed, weakly pulling off his coat, then wriggled like a caterpillar into the covers.
A soft click at the door. A head poked in, whispering: “Wifey, I’m coming in.” Then he slipped his whole body inside and locked the door.
Shi Yuxing’s consciousness had already started to crumble the moment his head hit the pillow. Disturbed, he opened his eyes again. “Don’t—I need to sleep for a bit.”
The young face squeezed in. Shi Yuxing scrunched his face, eyes closed. “Don’t move.”
A straight nose nuzzled against his bandage-covered neck like a tickle—then soon stopped.
Shi Yuxing’s breathing steadied, and before long, he was asleep.
The eyes under the covers stared at his face, slowly pulling him closer. It had been so long since he’d been alone with Shi Yuxing—he treasured every moment.
Maybe the bed was too comfortable, or maybe it was the reassuring scent of Shi Yuxing that made the alpha’s eyelids grow heavy as well.
No one knew how long had passed.
The door lock was picked. The ring on his ring finger glinted. The man put away his tool, walked to the bedside, lowered his gaze, took off his shoes, and climbed in.
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