Chapter 27

Since she planned to return right after dropping someone off, Lu Jiu only brought her phone. 

However, just before leaving, she packed a small pot of “Douban Ruyi” into a paper bag. 

Wei Shian had no knowledge of plants before; he only started to learn about them after finding out his girlfriend liked peonies. 

But he couldn’t recognize the variety of this small green plant. 

Seeing that Lu Jiu had packed it up, he reached out to take it and asked, “What is this?” 

Lu Jiu informed the staff to remove the sign outside, then took her boyfriend’s hand and went out, saying, “It’s called ‘Douban Ruyi’. It’s very easy to care for; just water it occasionally. You can put it on your desk.” 

Wei Shian, like most men, had never cared for plants before. But since this gift was from his girlfriend, it held special meaning for him. He actually found the small green plant quite charming. 

The police station was very close to Lu’s department store. 

Wei Shian led her across the street and they arrived in just a couple of minutes. 

The police station was not open to outsiders, but the dormitory was accessible for a short while. 

Inside the room, Lu Jiu looked around with curiosity. 

Aside from the basic furniture, there were only two single beds in the room. 

It was much more spacious, bright, and clean than she had imagined. 

It was very different from the messy, untidy dorms she had heard about. 

“Do you want some water?” While he was focused on spending more time with his girlfriend, Wei Shian realized that apart from a few packs of instant noodles, there were no refreshments in the room. He felt a bit regretful, knowing that his girlfriend liked snacks. 

Lu Jiu shook her head and stopped him from getting water, “No need. I’ll be leaving soon. Do you live here alone?” 

Wei Shian took her hand and replied, “Luo Wei comes over occasionally.” 

“This place is quite nice, and it’s convenient for work,” she said. “You just walk out and you’re at work.” 

“It’s a bit noisy, so I don’t sleep well,” Wei Shian laughed softly, feeling a rare sense of wanting to be pampered. 

Seeing him so exhausted, Lu Jiu felt a pang of sympathy and looked up at him, “If it’s really bad, you can go home to sleep?” 

Liking the way she was concerned for him, Wei Shian smiled and teased, “No need. It’s a waste of time to go back and forth. Just hug me.” 

The initial awkwardness from not seeing each other for half a month disappeared instantly for Lu Jiu. However, seeing his clearly tired eyes made her heart soften. 

So, she pulled her hand away from his grasp, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around him. 

Unfortunately, her boyfriend was too broad and tall, making the hug a bit awkward. Her face pressed against his chest, and she breathed in his scent. 

Feeling her face warming up, she was glad it was winter; otherwise, her face would be pressed against his chest muscles. 

Clearing her mind of any further thoughts, Lu Jiu turned her head and buried her flushed face. 

Due to her sudden closeness, Wei Shian took a deep breath, his heart racing. He gazed down at her, overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her and hold her close. 

But in the end, he only placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. 

It was a cherished and sincere gesture. 

As his emotions threatened to overwhelm him, he bent slightly and embraced her tightly, “Peony, I…” 

“Oh dear! Sorry, sorry. You two continue,” Luo Wei, who had not expected to see such an intimate moment, covered his eyes with one hand and grabbed the kettle with the other, ready to leave. 

“Come back,” Wei Shian said, closing his eyes and releasing Lu Jiu, then shielding her behind him. 

Luo Wei reluctantly stepped back, showing an awkward smile, “Chief, sorry. But this can’t be entirely my fault, right? You didn’t close the door.” 

Wei Shian ignored him and opened the wardrobe to hang up his down jacket. 

The door was intentionally left open. Peony was precious to him, and he wouldn’t do anything inappropriate in the dormitory. 

Seeing that the chief wasn’t paying attention to him, Luo Wei playfully sat up and said, “Wow, the way you smiled at your girlfriend was something. I thought you were becoming more gentle after being in a relationship. Seems like you’re still grumpy with us.” 

“Should I be gentler with you in the future?” Wei Shian smiled at the noisy team member. 

Luo Wei shivered a bit and quickly replied, “No, that’s not necessary.” 

After changing into his pajamas, Wei Shian sat on the edge of the bed and sent a message to his older brother. 

After receiving a reply, he settled under the covers, ready to catch up on sleep. 

But just as he was about to lie down, he suddenly sat up again. 

Luo Wei looked over in curiosity and saw the chief take out a small potted plant from a white paper bag. 

It was clearly a gift from his girlfriend. 

Luo Wei smirked, feeling a bit sour, and decided not to ask about it to avoid giving the chief an opportunity to show off. 

However, it seemed Wei Shian didn’t need anyone’s help to boast. 

He turned the small plant around to find the best angle, then said sincerely to his team member, “It’s great to have a girlfriend.” 

Luo Wei’s face darkened. It seemed the chief was still annoyed about him interrupting their moment. 

So petty. 

— 

After the New Year, the flower shop’s business gradually slowed down. 

Since she didn’t need to interview staff for now, Lu Jiu didn’t stay long at the shop and headed to the old district’s farmers’ market. 

After ordering peony seeds there last year, the boss would contact her about any special flower varieties. 

Lu Jiu’s shop had always been positioned as high-end. 

Now that half a year had passed, flower enthusiasts had affirmed the quality of her “One Flower, One World” blooms. 

So it was time to start selling the rare flowers that had been cultivated in the villa’s glasshouse. 

Having made the rare trip to the old district, Lu Jiu didn’t hurry home after buying the seeds. 

She bought many snacks and treats for her childhood friends and little niece, planning to deliver them to them. 

In the classroom office, the elegant and gentle Zhu Qian was chatting with the teacher across from her about a new outfit she had received, “I didn’t really want it, but he insisted on giving it to me. It’s so awkward, it cost over eight hundred yuan.” 

Fang Jingjing, sitting by the window, rolled her eyes repeatedly. 

Since last year’s blind date incident, they had completely fallen out. 

Seeing her reaction, Zhu Qian, who wanted to get the upper hand, frowned, “Teacher Fang, what’s your meaning? Are you jealous that I received a gift?” 

Fang Jingjing snickered and glanced at her, saying, “Jealous? Look at this necklace I’m wearing.” She pointed to her platinum necklace, “It’s over ten thousand yuan, a gift from my wealthy childhood friend. Do I need to be envious of you?” 

Zhu Qian was taken aback. When their relationship was still good, she had heard Fang Jingjing often talk about her wealthy friend who not only treated her well but was also very beautiful. 

But she didn’t expect the gift to be worth over ten thousand yuan. 

While feeling envious, Zhu Qian couldn’t help but retort, “Who knows if it’s really from a friend?” 

However, Fang Jingjing had already lost interest in dealing with the annoying person. 

She read the message, excitedly got up, and dialed a phone number, heading out, “You’re bringing me food? Already at the school gate? Wow, Peony, you’re so kind. I’m coming right now.” 

Her excited voice quickly faded as she went down the hallway. 

Zhu Qian bit her lip and, driven by curiosity, followed her out. 

Fang Jingjing jogged toward the familiar dazzling pink sports car, her steps lightening. 

Lu Jiu, sitting in the car, got out. 

“Why are you in the old district?” Fang Jingjing ran up and hugged her tightly, rubbing against her fragrant, soft friend before remembering to ask. 

Lu Jiu replied, “I came to buy flower seeds. By the way, these are for you.” 

Fang Jingjing looked at the two large bags Lu Jiu pointed to, “This is too much.” 

Lu Jiu gave her a sideways glance, “Then just take one bag?” 

Fang Jingjing quickly opened the car door, “No way, haha, thanks for the generous gift.” 

“Stop being so cheeky. By the way, I’ll be going to Shen Du next week and will bring back some local specialties for you.” 

“Local specialties aren’t that important. Are you going alone?” 

Lu Jiu replied, “Of course not. Even if I wanted to, my family wouldn’t agree. My parents will probably arrange for someone to accompany me.” 

Fang Jingjing was relieved, “That’s good. You definitely shouldn’t go alone.” 

“Got it. Everyone treats me like a child. I have to go now.” 

“Ah? So soon?” 

“Mm, I still need to deliver a gift to Xinxin in the high school department.” 

“There’s no need to rush. I still have an hour before I get off work. There’s a Northeast restaurant on Shuanggang Road. Let’s go have a meal of iron pot braised goose.” 

Lu Jiu felt But as for the small potted plant in front of him, he really couldn’t recognize its type. 

After his girlfriend finished packing, he reached out to pick it up. “What is this?” 

Lu Jiu told the store assistants to take down the sign at the entrance before holding her boyfriend’s hand and leaving. “It’s called ‘Douban Ru Yi.’ It’s easy to take care of. Just water it occasionally. You can keep it on your desk at work.” 

Wei Shian, like many men in some respects, wasn’t used to taking care of plants, but a gift from his girlfriend had a different meaning. He cherished it and even found the little green thing quite attractive. 

The city bureau was close to the Lushi Department Store. 

Wei Shian held her hand, crossed the street, and walked for another two or three minutes before they arrived. 

It was hard for outsiders to enter the police station, but the dormitory allowed a few minutes of stay. 

Standing in the room, Lu Jiu curiously looked around. 

Besides the basic furniture, there were only two single beds in the room. 

It was more spacious and bright than she had imagined, and much cleaner too. 

Not at all like the dirty and messy men’s dormitory she had heard about. 

“Would you like some water?” He wanted to spend more time with his girlfriend, but when he brought her back, he realized he only had a few packs of instant noodles in the room, nothing suitable for a guest. Officer Wei regretted it, knowing his peony girl was someone who enjoyed snacks. 

Lu Jiu shook her head and gently pulled the officer’s hand, who was about to pour water. “No need, I’ll be leaving soon. Do you live alone?” 

Wei Shian held her hand back. “Luo Wei comes by occasionally.” 

“This place is quite nice, and it’s convenient for work.” It was right next to his workplace. 

“It’s just a bit noisy, hard to get a good night’s sleep.” Wei Shian chuckled softly, feeling a strange urge to be pampered for the first time. 

As expected, Lu Jiu felt sorry for him and looked up. “If you really can’t sleep well, you can go home to rest.” 

He liked seeing her care for him. Wei Shian curled his lips and teased her, “No need. Going back and forth wastes time. Just give me a hug, and I’ll be fine.” 

It had been half a month since they last met, and she had felt a bit distant, but that feeling completely vanished now. 

However, when she met his tired eyes, all the shyness Lu Jiu felt turned into softness. 

So, she withdrew her hand and took a step forward, reaching out to hug him. 

But her boyfriend was too broad and large, making it a bit difficult to embrace him fully. Her whole face pressed against his chest, and his scent filled her breath. 

As her ears started to warm up, she couldn’t help but feel relieved. Thank goodness it’s winter. 

Otherwise, wouldn’t her face be right up against his chest muscles? 

Cough cough, can’t think about that. Lu Jiu turned her head, burying her now warm face into his chest. 

Hiss. 

Wei Shian sucked in a sharp breath because of his girlfriend’s sudden closeness. 

He lowered his eyes and stared at her intensely. 

He wanted to kiss her, to merge her into his very being. 

Countless thoughts about her galloped wildly through his mind. 

But in the end, Wei Shian only placed a tender and devout kiss on the top of her head. 

Then, when the overwhelming emotions threatened to break free, he slightly bent down, embracing her tightly. “Peony, I…” 

“Oh my! Sorry, sorry, please carry on.” Luo Wei hadn’t expected to walk in on the couple being affectionate. Covering his eyes with one hand, he grabbed the kettle with the other and was about to leave. 

“Come back.” Wei Shian closed his eyes and released his struggling girlfriend, shielding the easily embarrassed girl behind him. 

Luo Wei, with a bitter smile, retracted his escaping foot and offered an awkward grin. “Boss, sister-in-law.” 

Wei Shian said, “Come in. I’ll take Peony home.” 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lu Jiu quickly refused, “No need. I can go back by myself.” 

Wei Shian insisted, “I’ll take you.” 

Lu Jiu sighed, “Then should I bring you back afterward?” 

“Silly girl, you can’t spoil men.” After all, men are prone to taking advantage. 

Wei Shian left quickly and returned just as fast. 

Luo Wei had just crawled into bed when he saw the captain return. Apologizing once again, Luo Wei said, “Boss, I’m really sorry about earlier. But you can’t entirely blame me, right? You’re the one who didn’t close the door.” 

Wei Shian couldn’t be bothered with him. He opened the wardrobe and hung up his down jacket. 

The door was left open on purpose. Peony was a treasure in his heart, and he would never do anything inappropriate in a place like the dormitory. 

Seeing the captain ignoring him, Luo Wei cheekily sat up again. “Tsk tsk tsk, the way you smiled at sister-in-law just now was priceless. I thought love had made you softer, but you’re still giving us cold faces.” 

“Should I start being gentle with you?” Wei Shian shot a chilly smile at the chatty team member. 

Feeling a chill, Luo Wei rubbed his arms and quickly replied, “No, no need.” 

After changing into his pajamas, Wei Shian sat on the bed and sent a message to his older brother. 

Once he received a reply, he pulled up the covers and prepared to catch up on sleep. 

But just as he lay down, he remembered something and sat up again. 

Curious, Luo Wei looked over and saw the captain take out a small potted plant from a white paper bag. 

It was clearly a gift from his sister-in-law. 

Luo Wei pursed his lips, sulking. He absolutely wouldn’t ask about it, not giving the captain a chance to show off. 

But it turned out that some people didn’t need others to cooperate to feel proud. 

Wei Shian turned the little green plant a few times, finding the best angle, before sincerely commenting to his teammate, “Having a girlfriend is great.” 

Bachelor Luo Wei’s face darkened. The captain was still upset about him interrupting his moment earlier.