By the time the banquet concluded, Fang Jinshi had successfully executed a total reversal of how Haicheng’s high society viewed him.
As the centerpiece of the evening, he had not disappointed a single guest. Throughout the entire event, he had undeniably been the most dazzling presence in the room—resembling the pure, flawless moon in the high heavens, continuously radiating a smooth, gentle light. As for the utter devastation, heartbreak, and emotional ruin the onlookers had secretly anticipated, not a single trace had manifested on his face.
An individual like him was viewed in one of two ways: either he possessed a terrifyingly deep mind and a masterful knack for camouflage, or he possessed a fiercely expansive soul and absolute magnanimity. The former commanded deep caution, while the latter earned profound respect. Ultimately, his conduct was entirely beyond reproach.
Furthermore, Li Jin’s various antics at the dining table had effectively served as concrete confirmation of the rumors. In this messy romantic dispute, the blame lay squarely with him. No matter how much intense devotion he now paraded with his new companion, it could never erase the factual reality that he had cheated first and brought an unprovoked provocation directly to the banquet second.
Not to mention, Gu Tuo’s intervention had subtly proven another crucial point: on this matter, the titan was firmly standing on Fang Jinshi’s side.
When an individual held both the moral high ground and the backing of absolute logic, leaving absolutely zero room for criticism, what else could the gossip mills possibly say? The socialites who had previously spent weeks dissecting his personal life tightly closed their mouths, choosing a hushed silence as they waited to see how the future would unfold.
Yet the sudden shift in the upper crust’s attitude failed to ripple the calm, tranquil waters of the Fang family’s daily life. Before anyone knew it, nearly a month had quietly slipped away since the day Fang Jinshi returned to the country.
One fine morning, as the family of four gathered around the table for breakfast, Father Fang abruptly brought up a corporate dilemma, looking directly at his eldest son, Fang Jinchen, for a strategic solution.
Taking a delicate sip of her milk, Madam Fang shot her husband a mildly reproachful look. “Didn’t we establish a firm agreement? No corporate shop-talk at the dining table.”
Father Fang had merely been so consumed by the company’s affairs that the question had slipped out entirely by reflex. Reminded by his wife, he realized he had flatly violated their “dining table protocol” and promptly went silent.
Fang Jinchen, however, chose to set his chopsticks down, smoothly hijacking the topic to offer a proposal to his younger brother. “Jinshi has been back for nearly a month now, and his physical recovery has been going exceptionally well lately. Why don’t you head over to the office to start working tomorrow?”
Fang Jinshi blanked for a second, completely bewildered by how a corporate problem had suddenly been tethered to him. His mouth was currently stuffed with fried egg; swallowing the food down completely, he replied, “Big brother, I didn’t study corporate management, and my skills in luxury jewelry design are anything but masterful. I’m afraid heading to the company won’t be of much help to you.”
Detecting the clear notes of refusal in his voice, Fang Jinchen’s brows knit together slightly. “You aren’t willing?”
He was typically an incredibly warm and deeply indulgent older brother when dealing with Jinshi. Yet the moment his brows furrowed, he seamlessly transformed into the formidable, universally feared Managing Director Fang of the corporate world. His powerful aura was so overwhelming that it made uttering a single “no” to him an agonizingly difficult task.
Fang Jinshi, however, didn’t fear him in the slightest. He stated his mind with absolute bluntness: “Yes, I really don’t have much of a desire to enter the company.”
Hearing this, Father Fang also placed his chopsticks down, his eyes filling with fatherly concern. “And why is that, Jinshi?”
Fang Jinshi offered a bright smile. “Because I have something else I genuinely want to do.”
When he smiled, he looked like a radiant, clear moon hung in a cloudless sky—devoid of a single shred of shadow. It was entirely obvious his words were born of absolute sincerity.
Curiosity piqued, Madam Fang leaned in. “What is it you want to do?”
Was he planning to return to school for advanced studies? Or perhaps breathe new life into his old teenage dreams and form a musical band?
It was neither.
Fang Jinshi stated clearly, “I want to open a flower shop.”
To be fair, in the past, he had never harbored any particular obsession with flora, viewing them merely as a dispensable, superficial embellishment to daily life. The singular event that had fundamentally rewritten his mindset had occurred back during his stay at the Fix Sanatorium.
The Fix Sanatorium was a premier, top-tier recovery estate located in California. The interior architecture was flawless, and the surrounding environment was exceptionally peaceful and serene. Yet as a long-term patient, spending years staring relentlessly at four sterile white walls while tracking the lush green world outside solely through a pane of glass was a process that could slowly grind away a person’s hope for living.
Fang Jinshi had genuinely assumed he would simply have to endure that hollow existence until the day of his official discharge.
He hadn’t expected that on one perfectly ordinary, tranquil morning, his attending physician, Dr. Samuel, would suddenly present him with a magnificent bouquet of fresh flowers. Pristine white lilies unfurled their delicate petals beneath the shimmering rays of the dawn sun, diffusing an incredibly pleasant, soothing fragrance through the sterile air.
Having spent far too long trapped in a hospital ward, Fang Jinshi had grown to utterly detest the color white. Yet, staring at that vibrant bouquet brimming with silent blessings, a profound, absolute affection bloomed in his heart.
Dr. Samuel had told him that the bouquet of white lilies was a special medication he was prescribing him—asserting that as long as his emotional state remained bright and joyful, his physical illness would heal at a significantly faster rate. The doctor had noted that while he was deeply reluctant to see him leave, he desired nothing more than to see him achieve total recovery, and that those lilies carried his most earnest blessings.
Recalling those distant memories, Dr. Samuel’s warm, gentle smile felt as though it were flashing right before his eyes. On the day of his official discharge, that man hadn’t come to see him off. He had stated that he would keep the sorrow of parting entirely to himself, leaving only the purest blessings to accompany Jinshi on his journey.
Fang Jinshi had indeed received those blessings in full, and a brand-new inspiration had taken root in his soul because of it—he, too, wished to transform vibrant blossoms into a healing remedy, bringing happiness and pure joy to others!
One could say it was precisely that bouquet of lilies from Dr. Samuel that had driven him to arrive at this absolute decision.
He wished to establish a flower shop, living his life as an ordinary, simple florist.
As Fang Jinshi voiced his true desires, he had fully anticipated that his father and brother—who were clearly dead-set on steering him toward the family conglomerate—would manifest a wave of profound disappointment.
To his complete surprise, Fang Jinchen’s expression smoothed out instantly. “Have you settled on a location for the shop yet? Our family currently has a few premium, highly lucrative commercial spaces sitting vacant over at Guangyao
Mansion, Changshun Avenue, and right by Lisu Bridge. You can take your absolute pick.”
Fang Jinshi was caught thoroughly off guard. He instinctively turned his eyes toward his father.
Father Fang was typically a stern, rigid patriarch, yet his face was currently softened by a gentle warmth. “Jinshi, your brother understands you best, and it’s truly a rare joy to see you look this vibrant. In reality, Jinchen only pushed for you to enter the firm because he was terrified you would find yourself idle, losing your direction and purpose in life. Since you already possess something you genuinely wish to pursue, go ahead and do it with everything you’ve got. The entire family supports you.”
Hearing those words, Fang Jinshi felt an immense, swirling wave of warmth flood his chest.
Madam Fang turned out to be far more impatient than him, already diving headfirst into analyzing potential locations: “Jinshi, why don’t you open the shop over by Lisu Bridge? Your Auntie Su and Auntie Yang frequently invite me out to that district for spa treatments. If you establish your shop there, we can constantly drop by to support your business.”
Fang Jinshi was genuinely stunned by how staggeringly good his family was to him, acting completely without fear of spoiling him rotten. Just as his heart was overflowing with raw emotion, Father Fang chimed in with sudden urgency: “Jinshi, the commercial spaces on Changshun Avenue boast an exceptional location as well. Furthermore, it’s incredibly close to our corporate headquarters. When your brother and I have a free moment during the day, we can easily stroll over to your shop for a coffee.”
Fang Jinshi found it highly difficult to believe that his terminally workaholic father would ever possess a “free moment” during business hours to casually lounge in a flower shop.
Madam Fang’s reaction was even more explosive than his own. In the blink of an eye, she had launched into a full-blown debate with her husband. The elegant matriarch refused to yield an inch on this matter, while her usually fiercely indulgent husband surprisingly dug his heels in, refusing to back down.
Watching his parents bicker like children, and catching sight of the utterly petrified, wide-eyed look on Fang Jinshi’s face, Fang Jinchen couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. Pulling out his smartphone, he prepared to shoot a message to his executive assistant, intending to clear out the Changshun Avenue commercial property immediately to have it ready for his precious younger brother.
After all, from a purely selfish standpoint, he also desperately preferred Jinshi’s flower shop to be on Changshun Avenue. His father might be constantly swamped with meetings, but he could always find a way to carve out time to check on his brother.
Just as he was about to hit the dial button, Fang Jinshi spoke up: “Mom, Dad, would it be alright if I made the ultimate decision regarding the location myself? I want to implement some specific design concepts—I’m envisioning a cozy space that doesn’t just sell fresh blossoms, but also allows people to browse books and enjoy a premium cup of coffee. Because of that, I want to personally inspect the foot traffic, the commercial districts, and the specific layouts of the spaces myself.”
Fang Jinshi had possessed an incredibly strong, independent mind since childhood. Once he laid down his stance in this manner, there was absolutely no room for negotiation.
The bickering couple instantly halted their debate, seamlessly pivoting to join him in a lively discussion regarding the shop’s aesthetic and design. They enthusiastically pitched ideas to help him flesh out his vision. By the time breakfast officially concluded, the structural blueprint of the flower shop had fully crystallized in Fang Jinshi’s mind.
There was no time to waste.
Just as Father Fang and Fang Jinchen prepared to depart for their corporate offices, Fang Jinshi instructed the butler to have a vehicle readied at the front doors. He was heading out to personally inspect the commercial spaces, determined to find the absolute perfect home for his new venture.