Tonight, as she told Shi Che about the divorce, everything would end, wouldn’t it? Three years of a mistaken marriage, three years of misguided entanglement. All was to be set right, returning to the beginning.
This was what she had been longing for, what she had been insisting on.
Yet, when it truly came time to put the final period in place, her heart felt as if a chunk had been viciously scooped out, causing her such pain that she involuntarily bent at the waist.
After five in the afternoon, all social engagements had been canceled. Shi Che closed the last document, stood up, reached for his coat hanging nearby, and slipped it on. He straightened his clothes, adjusted his hair, and checked his reflection in the window to make sure everything was perfect. Only then did he pick up the jewelry box from the desk, slip it into his pocket, grabbed his wallet and car keys, and stepped out of the office.
Shi Che did not ask Old Zhu to drive him; he drove himself towards Silver Sea Restaurant.
Passing through the commercial street, the red light came on, and Shi Che applied the brakes to stop. The stoplight on this street was unusually long. Resting his chin on one hand, he pondered how he would confess his feelings to Ling Chuxia tonight. His gaze unintentionally swept over to a flower shop on the street side.
His eyes fixed on that flower shop, lingered for quite a while, narrowing slightly as if struck by an idea. When the green light came on, he started the car, but with a turn of the steering wheel, he headed towards the flower shop.
Parking in front of the flower shop, Shi Che opened the door and got out of the car, walking into the shop.
The florist, bored and daydreaming, suddenly heard the chime of the wind bells by the door. She looked up instinctively and saw a tall figure entering against the backlight.
The man was handsome and elegant, with deep-set features, and especially those black eyes, profound and tender. As he gently pushed open the door, it was as though a spring breeze had wafted in, instantly flooding into her heart, causing her to stare wide-eyed at Shi Che, utterly transfixed and unable to react.
It was Shi Che who stepped forward, his dark eyes looking towards her, and his lips parting slightly. His voice was as deep and magnetic as she had imagined, extremely pleasant to the ear, "Hello."
The florist suddenly snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing involuntarily as her voice softened, "Hello, sir. How can I help you?"
Shi Che’s eyes lifted slightly, scanning the various vibrant blooms around him. A hint of shyness seemed to touch his handsome face as he spoke slowly, "Could you tell me, what flowers are suitable for a confession?"
The florist almost thought she was seeing things. Such a good-looking guy, actually showing shyness?
My god, men capable of being shy, in modern society, they’re almost extinct, she thought. She couldn’t help staring at Shi Che, her heart feeling as if it were melting, "For a confession, of course, it’s red roses. They represent passionate love."
Speaking so, she led Shi Che towards a large array of red roses. However, Shi Che’s gaze fell on the champagne-colored roses next to them. He nodded towards them and asked with an elegant voice, "What is the meaning of these flowers?"
She followed his gaze and replied, "Champagne roses mean, ’You are my one and only love in this lifetime.’"
"You are my one and only love in this lifetime..."
A faint glimmer passed through the depths of Shi Che’s eyes as a smile curved on his lips. He pointed to the champagne roses and said, "I’ll take the champagne roses. Please wrap them up for me."