Jingzhou, Hanzhi City.
Snowflakes fluttered down. Shen Fuji, holding an umbrella and carrying a scroll of orchid paintings, walked through a secluded alley, straightened his clothes, and stopped at the back gate of a mansion.
Tall and elegant, with a refined and serene presence.
A group of young men passed by, glanced at him, and teased with smiles, "Waiting for Miss Chongyun again?"
Shen Fuji smiled gently and said softly, "Yes."
"Hahaha," the young men said, "You come here every day, either to deliver orchids or orchid paintings. The whole of Hanzhi City knows."
Shen Fuji ignored their teasing and said with a smile, "Chongyun likes orchids."
The young men laughed and left.
Shen Fuji waited a while longer, when suddenly footsteps came from inside the gate.
The usually composed Shen Fuji finally panicked. He quickly straightened his hairband, checked his clothes to make sure everything was alright, and then turned to the door with a smile.
The door opened with a click.
Shen Fuji smiled and said, "Chong..." His gaze fell on the newcomer, his smile froze, and his voice trailed off as he said with difficulty, "Uncle Chong."
The newcomer was dressed in brocade robes, tall and imposing, with an indifferent expression.
Chongyun's father said coldly, "So it's you, boy, bothering my daughter every day?"
Shen Fuji's smile froze, and he said softly, "It's me."
Chongyun's father's eyes widened in anger, his imposing aura radiating authority: "How dare you! Who are you?! What's your name?"
Shen Fuji was still a young man, not yet of age, and somewhat overwhelmed by Chongyun's father's imposing presence. He immediately began to explain his family background in detail, like a child in a private school.
Chongyun's father sneered, "That brat from the Shen family..."
Just then, a crisp, light footstep sounded from inside the door, and soon a beautiful girl in a blue dress emerged. Her face flushed red, she grabbed her father's arm and dragged him inside.
"Father! What are you doing?!"
Her father, bewildered, still spoke gently, "My dear, didn't you say you didn't like this boy always bothering you? Father will help you get rid of him, and I promise he won't bother you again!"
Chongyun was both ashamed and angry, stamping her feet in frustration. She dared not look at Shen Fuji, and could only push her father into the house.
"Don't call me 'my dear'!"
Her father, confused, asked, "Why, my dear?"
Chongyun: "..."
Chongyun was about to cry from embarrassment.
She forcefully pushed her father into the house, closed the door, and only breathed a sigh of relief after he had muttered something and walked away.
When Shen Fuji saw her, his already gentle eyes softened even more, seemingly about to overflow with tears. He said softly, "Chongyun."
Chongyun stiffened, turning her head to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears, whether from shyness or anger, it was hard to tell.
Shen Fuji panicked slightly. He stammered, "Are you angry?"
Chongyun's pretty face flushed red. She huffed and said, "Don't come looking for me again."
Shen Fuji's eyes dimmed slightly. He asked softly, "Does Chongyun hate me?"
"I hate you!" Chongyun stamped her foot, her eyes reddening. "I hate you so much! I don't want to see you again!"
Shen Fuji felt he had never been one for womanizing, nor did he have any vices. He couldn't understand what the girl disliked about him. He didn't want to leave, so he could only try to make his beloved happy.
"What do you dislike about me?" Shen Fuji asked cautiously. "Tell me, and I can change."
Chongyun couldn't quite put her finger on it. She clearly liked the young man before her immensely, but for some reason, she didn't want to easily agree to be with him.
Chongyun racked her brains, finally finding Shen Fuji's flaw: "You're clueless about romance."
Shen Fuji quickly said, "I can learn."
Chongyun: "You love orchids too much."
Shen Fuji was taken aback, somewhat confused: "Huh?"
Chongyun glared at him, her ears turning red, and said, "You bring orchids every time you come back. I've heard you've loved orchids since you were little, planting them constantly at home—springtime, summer, and except for winter, you're always planting them! You… do you like me or orchids?!"
Shen Fuji: "…"
Shen Fuji stammered, "I… I thought you'd like them."
Chongyun retorted angrily, "With all that skill in orchids, you should be thinking about spending time with me!"
Shen Fuji's eyes widened suddenly.
As soon as Chongyun finished speaking, she immediately regretted it. Her already flushed face turned even redder, almost bleeding. She stammered, "Ah! Ah! I was just joking! I didn't say that!"
Shen Fuji looked at her.
Chongyun stamped her feet anxiously, but the snowy road was slippery. She hurriedly stomped a couple of times, slipped, and fell straight to the ground.
Shen Fuji was startled and immediately rushed forward, catching Chongyun in his arms.
The two of them tumbled together into the snow.
The snow fell softly, and no sound could be heard in the quiet alley; the only sound they could hear was the beating of each other's hearts.
After a moment of silence, Chongyun suddenly stood up, shoved Shen Fuji aside, turned around with a flushed face, and cursed him, "You lecher!"
"Ah?" Shen Fuji was startled and quickly scrambled to his feet, saying softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
As he spoke, he noticed the painting on the ground and hurriedly bent down to pick it up. The painting had been damaged by the two of them and was no longer presentable.
Chongyun was expecting him to coax her, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw him looking at his tattered painting again.
Chongyun thought, 'I'm so angry! I'm so angry!'
She coldly stepped onto the stairs and said, "Don't come here again."
Shen Fuji hurriedly said, "Chongyun, Chongyun."
"Give up on that idea!" Chongyun was both angry and saddened. "If you want me to agree to your request, it will only be when orchids bloom all over the city in winter!"
With that, she pushed open the door and slammed it shut.
Shen Fuji: "..."
Clutching his tattered painting, Shen Fuji returned home, somewhat dejected.
Just as he stepped out of the alley, someone suddenly said behind him, "Did your confession fail?"
Shen Fuji turned around and saw a young man in red robes and white hair standing behind him, smiling broadly.
Shen Fuji blinked, confirming that he didn't recognize him.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yes." Shen Gurong, now in the form of a sixteen-year-old boy, smiled broadly. "I saw you got rejected."
Shen Fuji inexplicably couldn't feel any distance from him. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed softly and said, "I'm sorry you had to see that."
Shen Gurong skipped over to him, tilting his head and asking, "So, are you going to give up?"
"How could I?" Shen Fuji blurted out, then thought for a moment before explaining, "Chongyun is just a bit stubborn. I'll go again in a few days when she's calmed down."
Shen Gurong couldn't stop laughing; he never knew his older brother could be so easily humiliated.
Just as Shen Gurong was laughing his head off, Shen Fuji walked over, familiarly touching his cold hand, frowning, and said, "It's so cold, why didn't you wear more?"
Shen Gurong froze, his smile almost bursting out.
Shen Fuji took off his cloak and draped it over Shen Gurong's shoulders, saying helplessly, "Where is your home? I'll take you back."
Shen Gurong paused, then wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes, choking back sobs, "My home was seized by a tyrant, and a man surnamed Mu lusted after me, wanting to kidnap me as a concubine. I escaped with great difficulty."
Shen Fuji: "..."
Shen Fuji could tell he was lying at a glance, but he wasn't angry at all. He couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to pat his head, saying, "Since you have nowhere to go, come stay at my house for a few days, concubine."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong happily followed Shen Fuji home.
Perhaps it was fate, but Shen's parents were Shen Gurong and Shen Fuji's parents in their previous lives. Shen Gurong glanced at the mansion upon entering and almost burst into tears, barely managing to hold them back.
After their deaths, Shen Gurong's parents lingered in Huitang City for a long time until ghost cultivators entered the city to capture ghosts for cultivation, including Shen Fuji and his parents.
After rescuing them, Shen Gurong discovered that their souls were nearly torn apart, unable even to maintain their ghostly forms. He had no choice but to use his spiritual power to nurture their souls before sending them into reincarnation.
Looking at the two people who bore such striking resemblance to his past life, Shen Gurong's eyes filled with tears. He struggled to hold them back, looking utterly pitiful.
Shen Gurong's parents, playing chess, glanced at him and asked in surprise, "Fuji, where did this child come from?"
Shen Fuji closed his umbrella and said calmly, "I found him outside. He was almost kidnapped to be a concubine."
Shen Gurong: "..." Shen Gurong almost burst out laughing.
Looking at him, his mother felt a strange sense of warmth. She smiled gently and beckoned to him, saying, "Poor child, come here."
Shen Gurong rushed over, tears welling in his eyes.
His mother touched his hand, her voice filled with heartache. "It's so cold. Come here and warm yourself by the fire. It's heartbreaking, how could someone harm such a good child?"
Shen Gurong couldn't hold back his tears, which fell in a steady stream.
His mother, thinking she had touched a sore spot, quickly comforted him, "Alright, don't cry. It breaks my heart to see you crying."
His father, standing nearby, said slowly, "What are you heartbroken about, a stranger's child? You should be heartbroken for Fuji, always running around, unable to even find a wife."
Shen Gurong turned his head blankly to look at his father.
His father: "..."
He choked on his words, as if something had struck a nerve. He snorted and turned his head away awkwardly, saying, "Heartbroken? Go ahead and feel heartbroken."
His mother laughed.
Shen Gurong was doing better than ever before, successfully securing his position in the Shen family thanks to Mu Zhe's disgrace.
The Shen family's guest room lacked underfloor heating, so Shen Fuji had to make do with him for the night.
Shen Gurong happily slept with his brother.
Shen Fuji tucked him in and softly asked, "Who else is in your family?"
Shen Gurong blinked and said, "I have a younger sister and a little nephew. I'll have them come over in a few days."
Shen Fuji was both amused and exasperated: "What for? To freeload off everyone?"
Shen Gurong smiled brightly: "Brother will definitely like it!"
Shen Fuji inexplicably felt that this kid had cast some kind of spell on him; he couldn't refuse him at all.
Shen Gurong pulled him down and tucked him in, smiling as he said, "Brother, go to sleep."
Shen Fuji said helplessly, "Don't call me that."
Shen Gurong could only ask, feeling wronged, "Then what should I call you?"
Seeing his expression, Shen Fuji felt a pang of sadness and sighed, "Never mind, call me whatever you like."
Shen Gurong happily said, "Brother!"
Shen Fuji: "Mm."
"Brother, brother!"
"Mm."
"Brother, brother..."
"Go to sleep."
"..." Shen Gurong cowered, "Yes."
Before going to sleep, Shen Gurong leaned close to Shen Fuji's ear and whispered, "Brother, you have to get up early tomorrow."
Shen Fuji: "Hmm? Why?"
Shen Gurong said mysteriously, "I have a big gift for you, brother."
Shen Fuji was puzzled, but seeing Shen Gurong's childish expression, he smiled helplessly.
"What grand gift? A child this age, his favorite things are nothing more than sweets and candied fruit."
Shen Fuji didn't take it to heart and quickly fell asleep.
The next morning, Shen Fuji woke up on time, washed up, and planned to continue waiting for Chongyun.
Shen Fuji thought, "I'll just leave it at home this time."
After he got up and washed, Shen Gurong was still sleeping on the bed.
Shen Fuji went over and familiarly lifted a corner of the blanket, revealing a fluffy little head inside.
"Get up," Shen Fuji said. "Didn't you say you were going to give me a grand gift today? Are you planning to give it to me while you're asleep?"
Shen Gurong, still sleepy, mumbled, "Please, brother, let me sleep a little longer."
Shen Fuji: "No, get up now."
"Waaah, I want to sleep, just a quarter of an hour more."
Shen Fuji was both amused and annoyed. Seeing how sleepy he was, he had no choice but to pull the blanket back over him.
“I’ll make an exception this time.”
Shen Gurong immediately said, “Thank you, brother!”
Shen Fuji sighed and got up to go outside.
It wasn’t snowing today, but a peculiar, somewhat familiar fragrance filled the air.
Shen Fuji pushed open the door in confusion, glanced at the courtyard, and suddenly froze.
In the snow-covered courtyard, countless orchids had bloomed, still in full bloom despite the bitter cold.
Shen Fuji: “…”
Shen Fuji: “!!!”
This is unbelievable!
He hurriedly ran out of the courtyard, but everywhere he went, the ground was covered with orchids.
Before he even stepped out, Shen Fuji heard a servant excitedly shouting, “Young master! Something amazing! Today, the entire city of Hanzhi is filled with blooming orchids, and the news has spread everywhere! Do you want to go out and admire them?!”
Shen Fuji: “…”
The whole city?!
Chongyun’s words suddenly rang in his ears.
"If you want me to agree, the city will only be filled with orchids in winter."
Shen Fuji: "..." Was he still dreaming?
Shen Fuji pinched himself expressionlessly, his grip a little too hard, and he hissed in pain.
It wasn't a dream.
Shen Fuji was stunned for a long time, then suddenly took off running.
Hanzhi City was indeed filled with orchids, all kinds of varieties, and countless people gathered along the roadside to admire them.
But Shen Fuji, who always loved orchids, had no interest in looking at them. He ran quickly to the Chong residence.
Chongyun, dressed in a blue robe, stood at the gate, staring blankly at the orchids blooming all over the city.
Shen Fuji ran over excitedly: "Chongyun!"
Chongyun was startled, instinctively blushing upon seeing him, but quickly recovered, angrily exclaiming, "Shen Fuji! What kind of sorcery did you use?!"
Shen Fuji feigned innocence: "N-no, it wasn't me."
Chongyun was furious: "Since it wasn't you, then it doesn't count."
Shen Fuji grew anxious: "But it's true that orchids bloomed all over the city in winter, Chongyun..."
Chongyun snorted: "Blooming orchids is nothing. Since you're so capable, bloom a Misty Evening Flower for me to see tomorrow."
Shen Fuji: "This..."
He still had no idea where the appearance of the city full of orchids came from.
Could it be...
The concubine?
Shen Fuji found this thought both laughable and exasperating, but Chongyun had already stormed into the mansion, ignoring him.
Shen Fuji could only return home disappointed.
The next day, the Misty Evening Flowers bloomed throughout Hanzhi City.
Shen Fuji: "..."
Chongyun: "..."
Chongyun was about to cry from anger.
"You bloom an epiphyllum for me!"
Shen Fuji exclaimed in surprise, "This...this really won't do!"
The next day, epiphyllum bloomed throughout the city for a single day.
Chongyun: "..."
Shen Fuji: "..."
Shen Fuji was astonished. How did they manage to do that?
Shen Gurong sat atop a high tower in Hanzhi City, swinging his legs, chin propped up, a surge of spiritual energy flowing from his fingertips, his eyes filled with a rare tenderness.
This year's winter in Hanzhi City was the most peculiar, because amidst the heavy snow, the entire city bloomed with a different kind of flower for two whole months, only ceasing when spring arrived.
Everyone had long since become accustomed to it.
On the spring equinox, Shen Fuji handed a handful of orchids to Chongyun.
Chongyun glared at him, but this time she didn't throw a tantrum like before. Instead, her ears flushed red as she reached out and accepted the flowers.
A sudden, overwhelming joy spread across Shen Fuji's face.
He was about to hug Chongyun when someone suddenly grabbed his leg. He froze, looking down.
Shen Wanglan looked at him expectantly, calling out in a childish voice, "Daddy!"
Shen Fuji: "..."
Shen Fuji: "???"
He was shocked. His first instinct was to clear himself of any involvement, not wanting Chongyun to misunderstand: "You, you shouldn't call me that! I'm not your father!"
Shen Fuji looked at Chongyun in a panic, waving his hands frantically: "Chongyun, let me explain! I, I really don't know him!"
Chongyun pointed at the child, angrily saying, "He looks so much like you, you're practically identical! And you still say you don't know him?!"
Shen Fuji almost cried: "Chongyun..."
Chongyun threw the orchid back into Shen Fuji's arms, angrily lifting her skirt and storming off.
Shen Fuji stood frozen in place.
Shen Wanglan asked in confusion, "Oh, why did Mother go back? Wanglan misses Mother so much!"
Shen Fuji: "..."
Shen Fuji felt a sense of despair.
What kind of world is this? Why are all these strange things happening around him?
At the Shen residence, Shen Gurong was tending to his elder brother's courtyard.
As Shen Gurong watered the orchids, someone suddenly pressed against his back, a hand gripping his wrist with a slight pull.
Shen Gurong turned around and saw Mu Zhe looking at him with a wronged expression.
Shen Gurong raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong?"
Mu Zhe bit Shen Gurong's nape, mumbling, "You should go back now, you've been out for quite a while..."
Shen Gurong chuckled, about to speak, when he heard Mu Zhe softly utter two words.
"Concubine."
Shen Gurong: "..."
The one who should be ruined... is himself.
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