Chapter 24

Xiang Feiran froze for only a brief moment before tightly holding onto Shang Mingbao’s hand without hesitation.

The feeling of his hand enveloping hers was unfamiliar—his hand was large, the palm burning hot, making her hand seem softer and cooler in contrast. Holding her hand felt like he was grasping a piece of water-soaked silk.

Shang Mingbao coughed lightly, took a step closer to Xiang Feiran, and said awkwardly, “This way, we won’t be exposed, right?”

“Even if we don’t hold hands, we won’t be exposed. And if we were, it wouldn’t matter.”

His expression remained calm and composed, showing no sign of emotion. He held her hand with one hand, while with the other, he opened a drawer in the counter and took out a piece of amber.

Shang Mingbao pressed her lips together. “Then let go.”

As she was about to pull away, Xiang Feiran tightened his grip. “Don’t give up halfway.”

Shang Mingbao really did stop moving, leaning in to look at the piece of amber with him. “What is this?”

Shang Mingbao had studied colored gemstones and diamonds, but she was less familiar with these types of jade and cultural stones that are less commonly used in high-end jewelry. She only noticed that it was golden and translucent, with something solidified inside—upon closer inspection, it seemed to be a flower.

Xiang Feiran answered her, “Burmese Jinpo.”

“So it’s amber? Is it real?”

“It’s real.”

“And what’s inside? A flower?”

“It’s a very complete flower,” Xiang Feiran naturally took out a magnifying glass from his coat pocket and showed it to her piece by piece. “You can see its stem, receptacle, sepals, here are the petals, and this is the pistil and stigma.”

Under this thumb-sized golden amber, the flower was as fine as silk and as thin as a cicada’s wing, yet its form was intact and lifelike. The surrounding dust and fragments of leaves, also trapped within, formed a pattern, like an ellipsis marking the unfinished story of life.

Shang Mingbao examined it carefully and couldn’t help but ask, “How old is this?”

“From the late Cretaceous, over a hundred million years ago.”

“Over a hundred million years?” Shang Mingbao was stunned.

“Yes, in the early Cretaceous, there was a vast grove of dawn redwoods growing in this valley. Perhaps during some natural disaster, the injured trees oozed resin, enveloping everything along the way, including this flower. This was when it was in full bloom, its vibrant form unexpectedly frozen. After enduring a hundred million years of high temperature, high pressure, and darkness underground, it finally resurfaced during another geological event, crossing oceans from Myanmar to appear before your eyes at this very moment.”

He spoke at an even pace, his tone flat, as if he were discussing something trivial.

Just then, the bartender came out with two cocktails. Xiang Feiran put the amber away in his hand and returned to the counter with Shang Mingbao.

Having taken fever and anti-inflammatory medicine, he had to decline the bartender’s expensive drink, so both glasses were pushed toward Shang Mingbao.

“Are you okay?” Before Shang Mingbao could drink the second glass, Xiang Feiran lightly covered the rim of the glass, studying the color of her eyes.

Shang Mingbao didn’t feel particularly tipsy; her face was just a bit rosier. She responded with a soft “Mhm,” her voice slightly nasal, “Men can’t say no, and neither can women.”

Xiang Feiran: “…”

Maybe it’s better if she doesn’t drink anymore.

But in the end, Shang Mingbao drank both glasses, rounding up the value and feeling like she just earned herself six thousand dollars.

Before leaving, Xiang Feiran showed the amber to the bartender and quickly paid for it by card. He didn’t ask the price, and Shang Mingbao didn’t see how much he actually paid.

“I believe she’s your girlfriend now because you’ve never been this generous before,” the bartender teased.

Shang Mingbao felt a bit embarrassed. She guessed that the amber must be expensive, and since Xiang Feiran hadn’t said it was a gift for her, the bartender’s teasing put him in a difficult spot.

So she explained, “This isn’t a gift for me.”

Xiang Feiran shoved the gift box into her arms, looking at her as if she were a fool. “If it’s not for you, then who else would it be for?”

Shang Mingbao was about to say something, but he pulled her along, causing her to stumble. The bartender called out from behind, “You didn’t even say thank you for the ten percent discount!”

Xiang Feiran didn’t turn around but raised his hand in acknowledgment.

Once outside, he tightened his grip on her hand for a moment, then let go without any trace of reluctance or struggle.

They both instinctively stuffed their hands into their pockets, as if trying to keep the warmth from dissipating too quickly in the cold wind.

Shang Mingbao also put the gift box into the pocket of her corduroy jacket and, in an attempt to make conversation, asked, “Does that flower have a name?”

She hadn’t expected that it actually did.

“Lachnociona terriae,” Xiang Feiran replied.

“What?” That’s quite a mouthful.

“It’s the Latin scientific name. There isn’t a Chinese name for it yet.”

“How about calling it the Mingbao Flower?” Shang Mingbao asked, her imagination running wild.

“I’m afraid not,” Xiang Feiran glanced at her with amusement, “because according to the established timeline, it appeared in the Cretaceous period. Currently, the hypothesis and fossil evidence supporting the origin of angiosperms place their emergence in the Cretaceous period, with a proliferation at its end, so…” He paused, the smile in his eyes deepening, “It’s like the grandmother of angiosperms. Are you, babe?”

Shang Mingbao blushed, “If it’s not okay, then it’s not okay, but why call me grandmother…”

She cleared her throat, her cheeks tingling as if ants were crawling on them, “Why did you suddenly give me a gift?”

Xiang Feiran casually responded, “It’s just a reunion gift, don’t think too much of it.”

Shang Mingbao kept her hand in her pocket, rubbing the edges of the gift box with her fingertips.

This is a gift from a hundred million years ago, a flower from a hundred million years ago—how could she not take it seriously? He was breaking the rules by saying that, knowing full well she couldn’t possibly do that.

“You’re well aware that I would take it seriously,” Shang Mingbao complained softly.

Xiang Feiran lowered his gaze. “Take which thing seriously?”

Shang Mingbao was shaken by his question, met his eyes, and was left speechless.

She didn’t respond, and the atmosphere subtly grew tense.

As they turned the corner, the noise of the market once again intruded into their world.

“Why did you think of setting up a stall?” Xiang Feiran calmly resumed the conversation.

Shang Mingbao explained all the metaphysical matters one by one, fearing he would laugh, and preemptively said, “You’re not allowed to laugh.”

But Xiang Feiran was already smiling, his slightly hoarse laughter muffled by his mask.

“And what about you? Those paintings hanging in the shop, did you do them?”

The botanical illustrations had a unique, serene style, making them highly aesthetic and tactile decorations. Xiang Feiran initially only posted them online, but the shop owner reached out to him first. He was happy to let the shop sell them on consignment. When Shang Mingbao learned that each painting sold for $500 to $1000, she was stunned. “How much?”

Xiang Feiran repeated, “Many of the seeds in those paintings are from protected plants around the world or species with limited distribution, making them difficult to collect and somewhat rare.”

He didn’t mention a word about the exquisite botanical scientific illustrations he created.

Shang Mingbao didn’t ask him to teach her but quickly realized something: the income from setting up a stall was a drop in the bucket. If her father hadn’t promised her a hundredfold return on their bet, she wouldn’t have been able to earn enough to buy even a hair clip after a whole day of selling. Perhaps she needed to find something truly unique that she was skilled at and target an audience that could afford to pay, to sustain herself.

Oh my god, making money is so hard! Why isn’t she a business genius? Then her big brother and sister could share some of their business with her, she’d be in the spotlight, creating a business legend, she’d pull her big brother off the board of directors’ seat, and she’d become the powerful, influential CEO of a small company, and… and…

“What are you thinking about?” Xiang Feiran’s cold voice interrupted her thoughts.

Shang Mingbao, feeling guilty, blushed. “Nothing… just daydreaming.”

“What kind of dream?” Xiang Feiran sipped his coffee, asking casually.

“Feiran gege, what do you think about… about those handsome young men who get kept by rich women?”

Xiang Feiran glanced at her. “Never encountered it, so I don’t think much of it.”

“You’re not against it?”

“It has nothing to do with me, so there’s no need for me to be against it.”

“But what if a rich woman wanted to keep you?”

Xiang Feiran choked on his coffee and calmly wiped his mouth. “Keep me… to ghostwrite her papers? We can charge per paper.”

“Of course not!” Shang Mingbao huffed, then whispered, “Being kept means that kind of keeping…”

Xiang Feiran, holding the coffee cup by its rim, looked at Shang Mingbao with amusement. “Shang Mingbao, let’s talk about when your worldview started to go off track.”

Shang Mingbao was mortified. “I didn’t say it was me…”

But since the conversation had already gone this far, she started making things up. “I’m asking for a friend, a friend.”

Xiang Feiran leisurely propped one hand against the wall, trapping her in his arms. “Then tell me, which of your troublesome friends is so bold as to want to keep me?”

Shang Mingbao’s face turned beet red, but she tried to stay composed. “A pretty friend.”

“Oh, a pretty friend.” Xiang Feiran raised an eyebrow slightly. “How pretty?”

Shang Mingbao: “…”

“As pretty as you?”

“…”

Xiang Feiran’s gaze dropped to her lips. “Then how about we meet up? Who knows, I might end up bankrupting myself to spoil her instead of her needing to keep me.”

The atmosphere became too intense, and Shang Mingbao, cursing him for having his worldview dictated by his looks, fled in a panic.

She ran back to Liao Yunuo’s stall, where Liao Yunuo asked, “Where’s your Dr. Xiang?”

Xiang Feiran had some data to process, so he left first and planned to meet her later on 56th Street.

Liao Yunuo, full of curiosity, asked, “Any progress? Like… kissing?”

Shang Mingbao reverted to her usual defense mechanism. Liao Yunuo called her out directly, “Stop fooling yourself. His eyes don’t exactly scream innocence. If he kissed you, you’d probably lose track of the days and just surrender.”

Liao Yunuo used some explicit terms, which Shang Mingbao chose to ignore, asking her to speak more quietly since Cantonese wasn’t a secret language here.

Shang Mingbao pressed her hand against her face. “But if we break up, we wouldn’t even be friends anymore.”

“You’re thinking too far ahead,” Liao Yunuo chuckled at her preparedness. “Then just be friends with him for life and watch him marry and have kids with someone else.”

“Maybe I don’t like him that much,” Shang Mingbao thought about Xiang Feiran dating and marrying someone else and found her heart rate remained steady. “I have a good impression of him, but I don’t like him to the point of needing him. If we dated and broke up, I’d lose a good friend.”

Liao Yunuo was surprised by her calmness and clarity, which contrasted sharply with her usual carefree and cheerful demeanor.

“So, you mean…” Even Liao Yunuo seemed unsure, “He’s important to you, but he doesn’t necessarily need to be a boyfriend or someone you’re in love with.”

Shang Mingbao nodded. “Yes.”

“Then I’ll go after him,” Liao Yunuo said playfully.

“If another girl pursues him, I wouldn’t mind. I won’t stop you because you’re not sincere, and it would make things awkward for the three of us.” Shang Mingbao said with great clarity.

Liao Yunuo pondered, “Wait, let’s consider this: if he starts dating someone, what’s your reaction?”

“Give a gift and keep my distance,” Shang Mingbao replied without hesitation.

Liao Yunuo was speechless and gave her a thumbs up. “I underestimated you, babe. You’re on top of things.”

“I can’t like him,” Shang Mingbao said as she started packing up. “There’s no point in pursuing something destined to have no outcome.”

Liao Yunuo looked at her and asked, “Why are you packing up so early? It’s not even six.”

“This isn’t profitable,” Shang Mingbao replied, then took a marker, crossed out the prices, and wrote a big $1. She decided to clear out her stock.

Liao Yunuo, who was out just for fun, stayed with her. After seeing her serve a couple of customers, she continued, “Did you think about this when you were with Zhong Ping? Even though he’s a celebrity, your mother would probably never allow you to marry him. You should know that.”

Shang Mingbao hesitated and lowered her lashes. “Yes.”

“Then why did you start it? Did you like him so much that you were willing to walk into a flame?”

Shang Mingbao was taken aback. “Before the surgery, I put all my focus on him. No joke, I could recite his speeches and interviews by heart. I thought he was very inspiring and brave; he motivated me positively. After the surgery, when he pursued me, I didn’t think much about it. It felt like a dream and like I was favored by destiny. I didn’t think about anything else.”

And Zhong Ping, being an experienced player in the world of fame and fortune, had long mastered the art of performance and deception. Manipulating an eighteen-year-old girl was easy for him.

Shang Mingbao laughed self-deprecatingly again and said, “My little brother is particularly disgusted with him. Maybe at that time, I was still a bit rebellious, willing to go against the whole world for him. Isn’t that funny?”

“Funny,” Liao Yunuo replied flatly, giving three dry laughs. “So, you could have casually fallen in love and simply enjoyed the experience, but you just couldn’t change the object of your affection to your Feiran brother. Have you noticed that?”

When customers came to inquire, Shang Mingbao had them pay for themselves. She stared blankly at Liao Yunuo for a while, then smiled and said, “Maybe it’s because he’s too good, and I don’t like him that much.”

She was so insistent on “not liking him that much” that Liao Yunuo was convinced. “Alright, you’re the person involved, so you get to decide.”

Under the magic of “everything together, all at once,” the goods were quickly sold out. Shang Mingbao called the driver, and the stall equipment was directly given to a nearby Chinese family. She and Liao Yunuo returned home feeling light and carefree.

Liao Yunuo had made plans to go out for drinks, and Shang Mingbao dropped her off halfway, asking the driver to take her to her apartment on 56th Street.

With forty minutes remaining before her meeting, Shang Mingbao took out her keys and felt nervous as she pushed open the door.

What’s the matter? He’s not waiting inside for her. There’s no reason to be so nervous.

She removed her clothes, took a quick hot shower, and changed into comfortable loungewear.

The outfit had no curves; although the pink heart embroidery was sweet, it wasn’t sexy or glamorous.

Should she change into the pure white lace one? Although not glamorous, it might be more elegant.

She barely thought about it before stopping herself. Xiang Feiran was coming to help her set up her new home, not to admire her loungewear. The new mattress and desk were being delivered today, and she couldn’t handle those.

After doing her skincare routine, Shang Mingbao hung her coat on the rack and reached into her pocket—

Empty?

Her expression changed, and she quickly checked the other pocket—still empty.

Impossible. Did she put it in her pants pocket? No, she was wearing yoga pants today.

The anxiety overwhelmed her without giving her a moment to breathe. She blankly stared and immediately called Liao Yunuo: “Cheese, did you happen to find a white paper box, a jewelry gift box with printed text—”

Liao Yunuo answered crisply, “No.”

“Nothing? Have you seen it? Was it during the clearance sale—”

“No, I don’t remember seeing it at all.” Liao Yunuo asked, “Is it something very important?”

It’s a flower from a billion years ago.

Quiet and beautiful, with a strange Latin name she couldn’t remember.

Shang Mingbao swallowed and forced herself to breathe: “It’s not that important. It’s okay, I’ll look for it.”

She sat on the floor with her back against the wall, closed her eyes, and tried hard to recall. She called the driver, trying to stay calm, and instructed clearly: “Search carefully, check every corner of the car, especially under the seats and in the door gaps.”

The driver agreed and was about to hang up when Shang Mingbao said, “Don’t hang up. Just keep looking and let me know if you find anything.”

The driver had to hold the phone with one hand while bending over to start a detailed search from the back seat, even lifting the carpet.

During the minute and twenty seconds of the call, Shang Mingbao dared not let her heartbeat be too loud, as if suspended by a thin thread. A loud heartbeat might make her miss the first response from the driver.

Her chest felt empty, as if there was a draft. Her pulse seemed to be lost.

“I found it.”

It was like a sharp knife cutting through the plastic wrap over her face; she could breathe again and instinctively said, “Great.”

Unbeknownst to her, the driver clearly heard and said, “Miss, don’t cry. I’ll bring it to you right away.”

Crying? Shang Mingbao instinctively wiped her cheek.

She wasn’t crying; it was just the overwhelming relief of getting something back that made her voice sound like she was crying tears of joy.

The amber was delivered to her door only after Xiang Feiran arrived.

Xiang Feiran, who was punctual, arrived fifteen minutes early. Shang Mingbao, thinking it was the driver, greeted him with a smile, but froze when she saw it was him.

Xiang Feiran noticed her change in expression: “Meeting someone else? Did I arrive at an inconvenient time?”

He naturally stepped aside, as if to avoid.

Shang Mingbao quickly opened the door: “No, I thought it was the driver. Really.”

Xiang Feiran nodded. The room was filled with a strong yet slightly fresh floral scent, and the steam from the bathroom wafted into the corridor leading to the bedroom, making it easy to guess she had just showered.

Xiang Feiran changed out of his basketball shoes and took off his mask. Just as he was about to ask what help she needed, the doorbell rang again.

The delivery driver, dressed more formally than Xiang Feiran in a suit, handed over a familiar white hard paper box and said, “It was stuck in the mat and door gap in the back seat. Luckily, you asked in time, otherwise, it might have rolled away and been lost.”

Shang Mingbao took the box, thanked him, and, upon turning, saw Xiang Feiran leaning against the white wall of the foyer with his legs crossed.

“Lost it so soon?” He smiled, but his expression was flat, his eyes deep, showing a distinct coldness on his sharp and distant face.

Shang Mingbao stammered an explanation: “No, I always keep it in my pocket, but the pocket was too shallow, and I didn’t bring a bag today…”

“It’s fine.” Xiang Feiran stood up straight and turned towards the living room. “Once the item is delivered to you, it’s yours.”

The delivery continued, with a stream of items: mattress, desk, vanity, and armchair. Shang Mingbao had purchased high-end solid wood furniture that didn’t require her to assemble it herself. Most of it was pre-assembled, and even the disassembled parts were put together by the delivery workers.

The room was bustling with activity, the sound of workers’ shoe covers on the floor making the small apartment feel even quieter.

Shang Mingbao took bottled water from the fridge and handed it to each worker, finally offering a bottle to Xiang Feiran with her usual coquettish tone: “Don’t be angry.”

Xiang Feiran smiled and said calmly, “I’m not angry. Don’t overthink it. This item isn’t expensive. Don’t treat it as a burden. An item given out of happiness, if it ends up being a burden that you don’t know how to handle, would be counterproductive.”

After the last group of workers left, the room was completely quiet. Through the thick balcony glass, the sound of a bright yellow taxi driving over the asphalt road could be faintly heard from the corner downstairs.

Xiang Feiran twisted the cap onto the water bottle and asked, “Is there anything else you need help with? If not, I’ll be going now.”

He had only been here for an hour, overseeing the work and subtly reminding the workers that this apartment wasn’t just occupied by a single woman.

“Anything else…” Shang Mingbao racked her brains but couldn’t think of anything. She had never moved before and didn’t know what else needed to be done. It seemed that everything was already prepared, just waiting for her to move in and gradually arrange things.

In short, the areas where she needed help had already been completed.

“I’ll treat you to a meal; we haven’t had a proper meal together yet,” Shang Mingbao said. “I’ll have Sophie make a reservation.”

“Another time. I have a slight fever and need to rest. Tomorrow is Monday, and there’s a meeting.”

He was speaking seriously, but for some reason, Shang Mingbao felt his words were cold.

“Your fever hasn’t gone down? It didn’t subside when we were shopping this afternoon?”

“It hasn’t gone down, but it’s not contagious.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Xiang Feiran had already passed by her, his demeanor objective and calm. “Babe, we’re both going to be in New York for a while, so there’s no rush for meals or anything today.”

Shang Mingbao impulsively grabbed his arm. “You recognized me that day; why didn’t you call me out? Why did you just leave?”

As soon as she grabbed his hand, she could tell that his fever was still there.

She had intended to pull him, but he ended up holding her hand. Her heart trembled, unsure whether it was due to his feverish touch or his assertive demeanor.

Xiang Feiran tightened his grip on her hand. “Do you really want to know?”

Shang Mingbao dared only to lift her gaze halfway. In the face of his sudden assertiveness, she felt her own resolve weaken and became timid.

“Because I thought you didn’t want to have any further interaction with me.”

“What?” Shang Mingbao was stunned. “How could that be? No matter what, I wouldn’t… Are you not going to ask anything before leaving?”

“Because your approach was too ridiculous, too idiotic, and too insulting. Do you understand?” Xiang Feiran looked down at her with a condescending gaze. “With such a foolish display, I can only assume you’re clearly telling me that we don’t need to have a reunion. Shang Mingbao, I respect you.”

His words were aggressive, and his gaze was unfamiliar. Shang Mingbao was locked in his dark, heavy stare and swallowed. “If there’s a next time, you can be less respectful to me, at least—”

Her “at least” was abruptly cut off by Xiang Feiran’s cold smile.

Xiang Feiran squinted slightly. “Less respectful to you?” His tone inexplicably softened. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

He had been reflecting on himself since this morning, thinking that their recognition yesterday could be considered a true reunion. Given his persistent fever, his behavior and speech might have lacked decorum and crossed boundaries.

He had spent the entire morning in reflection.

Until he went to the pharmacy to buy medicine, skipped lunch, and unexpectedly ran into her again at the market—

All his reflections fell apart. It was all paper-thin, hypocritical, and self-deceiving.

Angry? How could he be angry about almost losing an amber piece he had given her?

He just needed to leave.

Because his fever had not gone down today.

And now she dared to say, “You can be less respectful to me?”

She was too naive to imagine what he wanted.

Xiang Feiran pressed his thin lips together, his gaze seemingly tangible on Shang Mingbao’s face. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, “Yesterday, due to the fever and my excitement, I may have offended you. Please don’t take it to heart. I’m not the kind of person who would be casual with a girl, especially not with you. I regard you—”

Without ulterior motives.

Shang Mingbao’s breathing was as light as a cicada’s wings, or rather, as fragile as spider silk. She let out a doubtful “Mm” through her nose, her voice trembling lightly.

Xiang Feiran didn’t finish his words. Instead, he suddenly and quietly added, “I still haven’t taken my fever medicine today, to be honest.”

A fine sweat broke out on Shang Mingbao’s body beneath her loungewear.

She tilted her head back, lifting her face toward him, meeting his gaze with hers, which fluttered as if unable to endure, closing her eyes. “Then did you… take the fever medicine?”

Xiang Feiran tightened his grip on her slender wrist, the mineral water bottle creaking in his hand, unnoticed by anyone.

The creaking suddenly stopped.

With a thud, the water bottle was casually tossed onto the latex mattress that had just been unwrapped. His free hand moved to support Shang Mingbao’s waist.

Her waist was so slender, so fragile under his palm, it nearly gave way, struggling to support her upper body.

Yes, she couldn’t stand. Supported by Xiang Feiran’s grip on her waist, it was as if she was offering herself to his hands.

Xiang Feiran lowered his face, his nose tip brushing lightly against her cheek, his warm breath gently touching her face. “No, I forgot to take it because I rushed to see you.”

Those words were crucial. Shang Mingbao opened her lips, wanting to say something, but the next moment, she was abruptly bent over by Xiang Feiran and pressed against the windowsill.

She was finally kissed by him with determination and assertiveness.

Her pupils were momentarily stunned and scattered, but in one second, Shang Mingbao closed her eyes, unable to resist, obediently opening her lips to accept his fierceness.