Chapter 95: After the Flowers Bloom, We Will Embrace
“The mine problem?” President Maya gently spun a feather pen between her fingers. A hint of surprise and approval flashed in her eyes.
“That’s an angle I didn’t think of. Thank you, Miss Peiya. But you just came back from a mission, so take a few days to rest first. Compared to the mine, how is your preparation for the party I mentioned before? This time, you’re a big hero. As for the party… I don’t think you can avoid it~”
Maya’s expression became playful, as if saying, Trying to run away?
“That activity hasn’t been canceled? I thought it wouldn’t happen anymore.”
“Of course not. It’s a celebration for the Adventurers’ Guild. Don’t be fooled by how lifeless everyone looks now, when the day comes, they’ll still come and enjoy it.”
“I see… but I don’t really like crowded places.”
Peiya was a bit socially anxious. When there were many people around, she would instinctively avoid it. If others were talking, she wouldn’t want to join in.
Seeing her like this, Maya sighed. “You may not want to go, but have you thought that Elise might actually be looking forward to it? Miss Peiya, I don’t know everything about Elise. But you are definitely one of the few people I’ve seen who are truly close to her. I’m not trying to pressure you. I just think… if your relationship could go a step further, that would be something special.”
“President Maya, why did you suddenly bring her up?” Peiya’s eyes suddenly lit up.
The light in her eyes was almost impossible to hide, making Maya smile warmly like an aunt.
As a mind-type mage, she clearly understood what that expression meant.
“Miss Peiya, you know, whether a girl is shy or outgoing, most of them like someone who is a bit more proactive.”
Peiya blinked. “Why should I know that? And you keep hinting that I should do something. Every time Elise is mentioned, you seem more anxious than me.”
“Of course.” Maya raised her head and smiled meaningfully. “Actually, you know… the relationship between girls can also go further.”
“Further?”
Peiya froze for a moment. She had a feeling that what Maya was about to say would be strange, but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to hear it.
This feels weird… but I still want to hear it.
How could a relationship between girls go further? Peiya tried to deny the possibility.
But slowly, she realized she couldn’t suppress that feeling. Deep inside, she really did want to become closer to Elise.
Before, she didn’t understand it. But now that she did, she couldn’t hold it back.
“Yes, further. Do you want to hear it?”
Maya leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing, a meaningful smile on her lips. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table as she looked straight at Peiya, her eyes full of teasing.
Peiya waved her hand. “I wanted to hear it at first, but you’re making it too mysterious. I think I won’t listen anymore. It doesn’t sound like something proper.”
“It is very proper, Miss Peiya. You know, a girl’s hands are not only for holding hands. For example…”
“Huh?” Peiya was confused. She didn’t understand what Maya meant. But seeing Maya’s hand gesture, she instinctively turned her face away.
She didn’t even know why she was avoiding it.
But when she saw Maya put two fingers together and move them slightly, Peiya couldn’t help but avoid the topic.
It felt like some instinct deep inside her was warning her to stay away from that gesture.
Annoying!
She didn’t even know what it meant. There was no way she could show that to Elise later.
No, that would be way too strange.
Just imagining it felt ridiculous.
She would probably be treated like a weirdo.
After all, when Peiya used to play with stray dogs, she liked to curl her fingers to call them over. If she did that to Elise, it would be very rude.
“Oh my, sorry. I didn’t expect you to be even more innocent than I thought. Then I’ll say it clearly. Miss Peiya, if you keep delaying and never make your feelings clear, it can lead to a bad ending. These days, I can tell, you care about Miss Elise. So don’t make her wait too long.”
“I understand.” Peiya placed her hand on her chest. “Thank you for your kind reminder. But I want to handle this myself. Since this is something between the two of us, I should be the one to reach out and hold onto this future.”
“I’m glad you understand. Since you already know where your future is, I won’t say more. Go for it. If you ever feel tired, you’re always welcome to come rest at the Adventurers’ Guild. The door here is always open for you.”
“Mm…”
Peiya stood up and left the room. It was easy to speak boldly just now, but as the moment passed, her nervousness slowly came back.
What would Elise think of her?
She remembered that night in the Calamity Forest, when Elise quietly looked at her and said they would find each other.
Could something like that really happen?
Peiya’s steps became slower and heavier. When she came back to her senses, she realized she had arrived at a flower shop.
“Little girl, do you want to buy some flowers?”
An old voice spoke. An elderly woman holding a flower pot walked out from behind a wooden shelf.
“Flowers? What kinds do you have?”
“A lot. Recently, we got many flowers from outside the city. This one, Xiangfran, is very popular. How about buying one for someone you like?”
“I don’t have someone I like…” Peiya bit her lip. “But maybe I will soon?”
“Then buy a seed and give it to her.” The old woman slowly climbed a ladder and took down a bag of flower seeds.
“You can plant it together with the one you love. Maybe when the flower blooms, you will be together. Xiangfran means hope. May your future bloom like this flower.”
“Grandma, be careful.” Peiya took the seeds. In her mind, she imagined planting them together with Elise.
And then, on the day the flowers bloom, they would embrace.
But what comes after that?
Peiya remembered what Maya had said. It would be a lie to say she didn’t care about Elise.
If that day really came, and their relationship went further…
What would she do?
Avoid it?
Pretend not to know?
Or face it bravely?
All these thoughts felt unclear, rising and fading in her mind.
She couldn’t decide.
Peiya held a flower petal, thinking of using the “pluck the petals” method to decide.
But it felt too careless, like she wasn’t taking it seriously.
She didn’t want to be someone who made random choices. But she also didn’t want this beautiful feeling to be worn away by endless waiting.
Her eyes slowly became clear again. She took the seeds from the old woman.
“I’ll take it. How much is it?”
“No need to pay. These seeds were given to me by a friend who traveled far away.”
A distant look appeared in the old woman’s eyes. Her voice was gentle but full of life experience.
“If you can make them bloom, that’s enough for me.”
Her old hand gently rested on a flower bud on the wooden shelf, warm like spring sunlight.
“Look, they’re blooming so well. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Xiangfran flowers bloom like this.”
As she spoke, her eyes became slightly wet. Her fingers lightly touched the petals, as if touching a distant memory.
“It’s the flower of hope. As long as it blooms, its blessing has already been passed to us.”
The old woman smiled softly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes relaxing.
“Young people these days like to argue about the meaning of flowers. They ask me, and I often mix up the meanings. I’m old now. My memory isn’t as good as before. But I still know one thing, no matter what the meaning of a flower is, it can’t compare to the words between you two…”
“...That is the true meaning that belongs only to you. Beautiful flowers bloom when you least expect it. Don’t miss the most beautiful moment… and don’t miss the person you are waiting for.”