Chapter 110 The Language of Flowers and Lost Love
Li Xin went to the flower shop after work. Even though her partner, Yan Ruozhe, probably wasn't the romantic type, that didn't stop Li Xin from wanting to give her flowers.
"Excuse me, what kind of flowers are you looking for? And who will be receiving them?" the flower shop attendant asked kindly. She thought the woman in front of her was as lovely as a red rose. It was true, women were like flowers.
"Eleven red roses, for my partner," Li Xin said, gesturing towards the vibrant blooms. She still believed red roses were the most beautiful.
The attendant looked at Li Xin with a hint of surprise. So she was a lesbian, and quite open about it. Maybe it was her beauty, or perhaps her straightforwardness, but there was something undeniably appealing about her.
"Eleven roses represent the most beloved," the attendant said with a smile, speaking the symbolic language of the flowers.
"Yes, she is my most beloved," Li Xin replied, returning the smile. Yan Ruozhe was everything to her.
"She'll be very happy to receive these," the attendant said as she wrapped the bouquet.
"Not necessarily, she's not a very romantic person," Li Xin said, shaking her head. Yan Ruozhe had a knack for deflating romantic gestures.
"Then she must be a very special person," the attendant cleverly replied.
"Indeed," Li Xin said, a proud look on her face. Yan Ruozhe was truly unique.
As Li Xin left the flower shop and headed towards her sports car, someone called her name.
"Li Xin." The voice came from behind. Li Xin turned and was slightly taken aback to see a once-familiar face. This was someone she had once cared for deeply.
"Long time no see," Yang Ting said, smiling at Li Xin. After their breakup, she had moved to the United States. She'd often thought about returning to find Li Xin, but never had the chance. Running into her as soon as she was back in China felt like fate. They must still have a connection.
"Long time no see." Li Xin hadn't expected to run into her like this. Yang Ting looked even more beautiful than before, probably because she had refined her style. Her makeup was also much more noticeable. Yang Ting rarely wore makeup back then. When Li Xin was in love with her, she had been blind to any of Yang Ting's flaws, seeing only her good qualities.
"Would you like to grab a coffee?" Yang Ting asked.
Li Xin nodded.
Li Xin silently stirred her coffee, then handed the mixed cup to Yang Ting. She wasn't sure what former lovers were supposed to talk about when they met up to make it feel natural.
"You still remember that I only take one sugar in my coffee and don't like it too hot," Yang Ting said happily, taking the cup. Did Li Xin still harbor feelings for her?
"People's habits are usually hard to break." Li Xin had always been attentive to the women she was with, even if those relationships were in the past.
"That's true, just like your habit of giving red roses to women. I remember you used to give me three every time," Yang Ting said, glancing at the roses beside Li Xin before looking back at her. Li Xin seemed more mature and captivating than before, possessing a natural allure. Her personality was like her appearance, always intensely passionate, sometimes overwhelmingly so. But after that initial excitement faded, Yang Ting realized she hadn't found anyone else who could offer her that kind of passion.
Li Xin didn't know how to respond, so she simply smiled. This woman had also played a significant role in her life. She still felt a lingering fondness for her – the second woman she had ever loved, and the one she had spent a year trying to forget.
"Li Xin, you were too good to me back then. It made every relationship afterwards pale in comparison, leading to nothing but loss and regret," Yang Ting said, subtly counting the roses Li Xin was holding. Eleven. Not three. Did Li Xin have a most beloved now?
"What's past is past." Perhaps she hadn't loved Yang Ting deeply enough, even though she had given it her best and had been heartbroken after their split. It wasn't like her relationship with Yan Ruozhe, which had been so agonizingly difficult to let go of. Li Xin believed that people might have many relationships, but only one truly stayed with you. If Yang Ting hadn't left, her heart wouldn't have been open for Yan Ruozhe.
"If she wasn't in the picture now, would you come back to me?" Yang Ting asked, unwilling to give up. This woman had once been hers.
"Maybe." Li Xin wasn't sure. Only she knew how vulnerable she was when it came to love. If she had known that Yang Ting still had feelings for her before she fell for someone else, she would have definitely tried her best to save their relationship. But now it was too late. Her heart was already filled with another woman, and that affection could only remain a memory.
"If I pursued you again this time, would you give me a chance?" Yang Ting asked hopefully. She was convinced that Li Xin still had feelings for her.
"Between someone who loves me and someone I love, I will always choose the person I love." That had been true then, and it was true now. It wouldn't change. She would rather go to any lengths for the person she loved than settle for someone she didn't. Some people, once their love fades, it's simply gone.
"Once, I was also the person you loved," Yang Ting said with a touch of self-deprecation. She had always found the word "once" to be the most brutal, representing something irretrievably lost. "Once I was young, once I was rich." The person saying it had already lost it and could only speak of the past with helpless nostalgia.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't keep waiting for you, and I couldn't stop myself from loving her more," Li Xin said gently. Perhaps this explanation would make it a little easier for Yang Ting to accept.
"Is that why you're giving her eleven roses instead of three?" Yang Ting suddenly felt a strong desire to know what kind of woman would inspire Li Xin to give eleven roses.
Li Xin nodded. "It's getting late, I need to get back. She's waiting for me at home," Li Xin said to Yang Ting, glancing at her watch.
Yan Ruozhe looked at her watch. Li Xin had said she would finish work at six o'clock. Given the short drive, she should have been home in ten minutes. But it was now seven-thirty, and she still hadn't arrived. Yan Ruozhe wouldn't admit that she was deliberately waiting for Li Xin; she was just particularly sensitive about time. She disliked being late, although Li Xin's delayed return didn't exactly count as being late.
Just as Yan Ruozhe was frowning for what felt like the hundredth time, she heard a sound at the door, and Li Xin walked in holding a large bouquet of red roses.
"For you," Li Xin said, handing the roses to Yan Ruozhe. Yan Ruozhe's expression remained blank. Li Xin sighed inwardly. This woman truly didn't understand romance.
"Why do you insist on giving me flowers when you know I'm not really interested in them?" Yan Ruozhe didn't quite grasp Li Xin's actions. Since Li Xin knew perfectly well that flowers wouldn't surprise her, why did she still bother with such pointless gestures? In the past, when Li Xin gave her flowers, Yan Ruozhe had never given it much thought. The flowers and the intentions behind them were always overlooked.
"Because I want to, that's why!" Li Xin retorted, a rare hint of annoyance in her voice. Even if Yan Ruozhe wasn't interested, she didn't have to be so blunt about it. This woman definitely didn't know the meaning behind eleven roses.
"Actually, are you hinting that you want me to give you flowers?" Although Yan Ruozhe wasn't particularly perceptive, she wasn't stupid either. While she didn't care much for things without practical value, Li Xin was always drawn to flashy displays. People's seemingly ineffective actions usually had some underlying purpose.
Li Xin looked at Yan Ruozhe with some surprise. Actually, when Yan Ruozhe focused her mind on something, she could be quite astute. Yang Ting, at least, had never realized that Yan Ruozhe looked forward to receiving flowers; she had always simply accepted whatever Li Xin gave her.
But Li Xin didn't answer Yan Ruozhe's question. If she said yes, it would feel like she was begging for flowers. But if she remained silent, and Yan Ruozhe suddenly gave her flowers, it could be considered a moment of realization.
Seeing that Li Xin didn't reply, Yan Ruozhe knew she had guessed correctly. She made a mental note. Since Li Xin liked it, she would do it once if the opportunity arose in the future, but only once. Yan Ruozhe still considered it a frivolous and impractical gesture.
"Did you spend an hour buying flowers? You said you finished work at six," Yan Ruozhe said casually, looking at the vibrant red roses. No matter how beautiful they were, they would only last a few days. They were truly useless, not as practical as cash.
Li Xin thought of Yang Ting and suddenly looked at Yan Ruozhe strangely.
"If I told you that someone stopped me today and confessed their love for me," Li Xin asked, watching Yan Ruozhe's expression. She wanted to see the reaction she desired on Yan Ruozhe's face.
"Oh." Although Yan Ruozhe's expression didn't change outwardly, she felt a slight pang of unease inside.
Li Xin looked at Yan Ruozhe in frustration. This woman really didn't seem to care.
"I'd rather walk a thousand miles towards you than take a single step back and be with someone else. I'm really afraid that one day I won't be able to hold on anymore," Li Xin said stubbornly. In fact, she had already walked nine hundred miles, so naturally, she wouldn't give up now, especially when she felt that the destination was just a little further ahead. But it always felt too slow, making her anxious.
"If someone gives up that easily, then it's better not to have them in the first place," Yan Ruozhe said, frowning slightly.
Li Xin saw Yan Ruozhe's frown and suddenly felt a surge of happiness. Yan Ruozhe was indeed jealous. If it had been her in the past, she would have wished that Li Xin wouldn't bother her, so why would she be afraid of her giving up now?
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