AM Chapter 51

51. Secret Admirers

“Welcome… Oh, isn’t this…”

As Chen Mo entered the flower shop, Xu Yilin was bending over, carrying a flower bucket filled with purified water.

Seeing him, Xu Yilin set down the bucket and straightened up, reaching behind to rub his lower back. He greeted Chen Mo with a smile, “It’s been a while! What brings you here today? Do you have good news, or am I about to have bad news?”

“I’m not sure, haha, maybe both?” Chen Mo replied with a shallow, gentle smile, appearing very polite. Inwardly, however, he was sneering at the enthusiastic and hardworking flower shop owner before him: He’s already panting and needs to support his back after moving half a bucket of water. How could he possibly satisfy Liang Jingren?

Is he suffering from kidney deficiency?

Or erectile dysfunction?

Yes, otherwise, how could he have not found a single suitable partner in the two years since his girlfriend died? Chen Mo thought maliciously.

Xu Yilin, unable to see through Chen Mo’s handsome facade to the black heart beneath, still treated him like an old friend and valued customer. He even proactively brought out the round stool near the counter that Chen Mo used to sit on.

Xu Yilin sighed theatrically and said with a smile, “Ah~ You coming here and making a ruckus is already bad news for me. Just tell me the good news!”

“Let me guess, have you finally won over your crush?” Xu Yilin returned behind the counter, took a disposable paper cup from a shelf against the wall, and then turned around to pour water for him, saying, “Could it be that your move was to live with your quirky master?”

It seemed Xu Yilin had a deep and painful impression of “the master’s orders,” as he couldn’t resist mentioning it sarcastically.

However, his words didn’t offend Chen Mo. Instead, Chen Mo was quite amused, even thinking about how to make Xu Yilin believe that Liang Jingren was his master.

“Impressive, Boss Xu! Your brain hasn’t rusted after more than a month, still as sharp as ever!” Chen Mo widened his eyes in mock surprise, clapping for him.

“Stop flattering me. I should be the one applauding you. Anyway, congratulations!” Xu Yilin said, enthusiastically clapping for Chen Mo, who had supposedly “won over his master.”

After the six claps subsided, Xu Yilin handed him the slightly cooled tea and asked, “So, you came here today to show off? Or do you have wedding candies for me?”

Chen Mo sat on the round stool, took the paper cup, and said with a smile, “I’d like to eat my own wedding candy too, but I don’t think it’s very likely, not realistic…”

“Oh?” Xu Yilin had originally planned to return behind the counter and chat with him, but at this point, he became intrigued. He crossed his arms and leaned against the counter, standing next to him.

Chen Mo, like an old fisherman by the river, leisurely adjusted his posture, then held the paper cup with both hands and began to drink water, saying nothing.

From the slanted eyes peeking out from the paper cup, Xu Yilin knew he’d been hooked again.

He shouldn’t have had any expectations of Chen Mo.

No, he shouldn’t have been interested in Chen Mo’s gossip. After all, who knows what kind of nonsense he’ll come up with, Xu Yilin thought.

By the time Xu Yilin wanted to turn around and go back, it was too late. Chen Mo’s leg was blocking his path, his shoe pointing directly at a flower bucket filled with newly imported tulips.

“Let’s talk about something real. I’ve always been curious and interested in you, Boss Xu,” Chen Mo said, changing the subject from himself to Xu Yilin.

“What?” Xu Yilin turned to look at him.

Chen Mo put down the paper cup, gently rotating it with both hands along the rim. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Why did you continue to run her flower shop after your girlfriend died? This is her flower shop, right?”

Xu Yilin opened his mouth and said, “Can’t I?”

“It’s not that you can’t,” Chen Mo blinked innocently, full of curiosity, “It’s just… I don’t understand.”

“You weren’t married to her, right? This shop was just rented by her, right? And you originally had your own job, your own life, and definitely your own social circle… Then why give up everything and make such a huge change? Is it worth it for someone who’s already passed away? Or is this flower shop really that profitable?”

Although Chen Mo’s words were harsh, Xu Yilin still answered earnestly, “Chen Mo, it’s not that I made a change, but that she changed me.”

“It was because of her that I had fantasies and expectations about life and the future. That’s why I like these flowers that represent beautiful imagery. So even if she’s gone, I want to continue running the flower shop that she put her heart and soul into building.”

“And I didn’t make this decision on a whim and can’t go back. You might be that kind of person, but I’m not. I was already helping manage the flower shop while she was in the hospital. I was seriously treating this as a job, so I just changed jobs and careers…”

Xu Yilin took a deep breath and looked down at the person sitting on the chair drinking water, saying, “Can you understand what I’m saying?”

Chen Mo looked up at him, the paper cup still pressed against his lips, so the words that came out sounded soft and muffled:

“It seems she really had a big impact on you… Why didn’t you die with her…”

“…”

“If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t live alone… I couldn’t live on…”

Although Chen Mo’s voice was soft, there were only the two of them in the flower shop. The Bluetooth speaker wasn’t playing music, and it was cool enough that there was no need to turn on the air conditioner. In the quiet flower shop, Chen Mo’s views were clearly conveyed to Xu Yilin’s ears.

He was very surprised that Chen Mo was this kind of person, a complete love-struck fool, and a bit of a moron, so he also looked down on Chen Mo’s ideas.

“Coward,” Xu Yilin said, frowning at him.

How can dying for true love be considered cowardly? Chen Mo squeezed the paper cup and stared back at him.

Recently, he had been indulging in Liang Jingren’s world of desire and love, and now, believing that he had obtained the only true love he had been searching for, Chen Mo thought: I can die for Liang Jingren now!

He thought: As long as Liang Jingren gives the order, if he wants me to die, I’ll immediately…

Uh… Hmm…

Brother Ren wouldn’t want me to die, would he?

Chen Mo secretly twitched the corner of his mouth behind the paper cup.

Seeing Chen Mo, who had been glaring at him, suddenly shift his gaze inexplicably, as if thinking about something, suddenly reveal a timid expression, Xu Yilin once again felt unprecedented surprise and doubt.

However, he didn’t plan to pry into Chen Mo’s gossip anymore.

Xu Yilin took advantage of the person sitting on the stool with his legs stretched out being distracted, and lifted his foot to step over the makeshift “pole” in front of him.

Returning behind the counter, Xu Yilin gathered a large pile of packaging materials that had somehow scattered on the ground and began to sort them.

“I really don’t know what you came here for. If you say you haven’t seen me in a while and came to visit, but you don’t speak properly and didn’t bring a gift, you wouldn’t want to freeload on my flowers, would you?” he said, juggling his own work while verbally sparring with Chen Mo.

As long as they didn’t discuss topics that needed to be taken seriously, like just now, this could barely be considered his comfort zone, since he was used to it before.

Chen Mo came back to his senses and was immediately drawn to this familiar tone and manner.

He turned to look at the person behind the counter, and seeing Xu Yilin working and talking to him, he felt that this scene was familiar and nostalgic.

It had only been a month, and he had come to find Xu Yilin to ask him something clearly and then “settle accounts.”

Perhaps after the accounts were settled, he really wouldn’t step into this flower shop again, and if he wanted to see Xu Yilin again, he could only rely on fate and luck, those ethereal things.

Thinking about this, Chen Mo felt inexplicably sad.

Liang Jingren really understood him—he really had liked Xu Yilin.

“Hey, Little Xu,” Chen Mo suddenly called out towards the counter.

Xu Yilin didn’t even bother to look up at him, and said with a grunt, “Call me Brother Xu! No respect for seniority!”

Chen Mo opened his mouth and asked, “What am I in your eyes?”

“Huh?” Xu Yilin looked up.

“It’s just… um… maybe not even a person, haha~” Chen Mo said, laughing halfway through.

Xu Yilin also laughed and said, “You’re pretty self-aware!”

“But I should be better than a fly, right? After all, I’ve treated you to so much coffee and milk tea!”

“Damn, what kind of identity recognition are you suddenly looking for here? Besides, I said it a long, long, long time ago—no one asked you to treat me!”

“Hmph~ I just want to, so what!”

“Alright, alright, then fine, then… what about afternoon tea today?”

“… Um… what do you want to drink? I’ll order takeout.”

“Order from Old Zhao’s shop across the street!”

“Hahahaha! You have Old Zhao’s number, right? Call him, place an order, and have him deliver it! I’ll transfer the money to you later.”

“Damn it! How can someone be this lazy?!”

That afternoon, Chen Mo didn’t get any other emotional information from Xu Yilin in the two years after his ex-girlfriend’s death, as he had planned.

He didn’t even ask.

Although he subconsciously felt that the relationship between Xu Yilin and Liang Jingren was unusual, or to be precise, that Xu Yilin’s feelings for Liang Jingren were unusual, Chen Mo preferred to believe that he was being overly suspicious and guessing wrong.

Liang Jingren is straight, and Xu Yilin is also straight. What kind of sparks can two straight men create? Tch.

However, Chen Mo did accomplish something: he took photos and videos of the Monstera deliciosa at the entrance of the flower shop, which was said to be prepared to be sent to the Villa.

In the evening, Chen Mo and Liang Jingren were sitting on the sofa relaxing after dinner. He showed his phone to Liang Jingren and advised Liang Jingren to move this Monstera deliciosa to the company lobby or conference room.

“The flower shop is close to your company building. Why do you have to transport it to the house!” Chen Mo said.

He was also thinking the same thing, which was why he was burning with jealousy and lost control last night.

Fortunately, Liang Jingren suppressed his anger immediately, and even extinguished his other kind of fire.

Liang Jingren looked at the variegated Monstera deliciosa in his phone, which was nearly two meters tall and had leaves longer than his arms, and said, “Maybe he wants to come and see my Villa.”

Hearing this, Chen Mo became alert again.

He supported himself on the sofa with one hand, leaning his upper body infinitely closer to the person next to him, “Did you tell him where you live?”

“No, I just mentioned in the chat that I live in a big Villa alone, with a yard and a garage. He was so envious, jealous, haha! He kept saying that he must see the place where the group chairman lives, to open his eyes!” Liang Jingren said with a smile.

“I guess he might be more interested in my yard. He said that if he had a yard, he might not open a flower shop, and spend all day guarding the yard, planting and raising flowers…”

“Huh???”

“Hmm?”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Chen Mo pursed his lips, staring intently at Liang Jingren, and asked, “Xu Yilin said he wouldn’t open a flower shop?”

Liang Jingren blinked and said, “It’s if…!”

Chen Mo suddenly leaned in and kissed him, interrupting his words.

Chen Mo didn’t cling to Liang Jingren for kisses and affection like before. He only kissed him once, and after confirming that Liang Jingren was stunned by it, he backed away.

“Brother Ren,” Chen Mo said, staring earnestly at the lover in front of him, “You really should keep your distance from Xu Yilin.”

“Wh-why?” It was Liang Jingren who asked these three words.

At this time, Liang Jingren was truly ignorant and innocent.

Chen Mo didn’t say anything. He lowered his eyes, feeling a little down, and reached out to hug him.

Liang Jingren gently accepted his embrace and hugged him back.

“What is our little young master worried about? Tell me, and I’ll help you analyze it?” Liang Jingren spoke to him in a teasing tone like four years ago, no, like even earlier.

Chen Mo nestled against his shoulder, inhaled deeply on his neck, and then said in a muffled voice, “Brother Ren… I’m definitely the one who loves you the most…”

“More than anyone else…”

“You love me too, right?”

“Hahaha…” Liang Jingren chuckled lightly as he hugged him, saying, “I know.”

A few days later, Chen Mo had a sudden idea to go to Liang Jingren for a cafeteria meal to recall the difficult road to pursuing him, thinking of the past and tasting the present.

He was worried that Liang Jingren still cared about those paparazzi, so he also made a special phone call to ask Liang Jingren for instructions, and Liang Jingren agreed to him coming.

But unexpectedly, he took leave early and arrived at Daxing Group early, and accidentally ran into Xu Yilin on the third floor cafeteria, holding a pot of purple plants with unique colored leaves – and Liang Jingren, who was already standing at the cafeteria door for some reason before the end of the workday.

Chen Mo watched Xu Yilin personally hand over the pot of purple plants to Liang Jingren, with a smile that was quite different from usual.

Although the angle wasn’t that good, he could still discern two kinds of pure emotions from Xu Yilin’s eyes, which were smiling gently and reservedly – a pure admiration, and a pure infatuation.

Just like him when he was still in junior high and high school.