Chapter 46 Part 1

The air fell silent.

Zhang Ge had never felt that hanging from the pull-up bar for a workout was so grueling. That one minute dragged on endlessly.

Had Bo Ting… seen it?

It was over!

Bo Ting was simply curious. He didn’t know why, after he asked, the other side suddenly went quiet again.

Though Zhang Ge’s guess that he and Mr. Xu were in a romantic relationship was a bit far-fetched.

He had no idea how the misunderstanding had arisen.

He and Mr. Xu were clearly the best of friends. Wasn’t it normal for friends to exchange gifts?

Even if this gift was a bit extravagant.

Bo Ting turned to look at the box on the coffee table. He’d almost forgotten about it.

While waiting for Zhang Ge’s reply, he reached out and opened the box.

Doudou and Tang Yuan on the balcony seemed to catch a scent and curiously shuffled over.

Bo Ting picked up the dog and the cat, moving them farther away, and gave them a serious lecture.

“You can’t touch the stone inside, got it?”

Doudou let out a “woof-woo” before it was allowed to poke its head closer.

Inside the black square box of unknown material sat a ring with an emerald gem, perfectly centered.

The moment it was opened, it nearly blinded him with its sparkle.

Bo Ting paused, not expecting a ring. But his attention was quickly captured by the beautiful gem.

It was just the right size for a man’s finger—neither overly flashy nor stingy.

It looked perfect at a glance.

Bo Ting wasn’t one to like wearing rings; he found them troublesome.

But—this emerald ring was simply too stunning!

He, Doudou, and Tang Yuan sprawled out together, admiring it for a good while before he remembered to check the group chat.

The group was still dead silent. Zhang Ge was as quiet as if he’d dropped dead.

Bo Ting was a bit baffled.

Was this question really that hard to answer?

A few minutes later.

Zhang Ge’s hands trembled as he apologized in the group.

“Hahaha, Little Bo, I was just talking nonsense earlier. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I was doing too many pull-ups and got a bit dizzy. Must’ve been my brain short-circuiting.”

“Don’t hold it against me, bro.”

Bo Ting seriously pondered if there was water near where Zhang Ge hung from the bar.

He realized… there really was a pond.

But Zhang Ge’s excuse…

He shook his head slightly.

Even with water in his brain, no one would come up with such an outlandish guess.

Bo Ting regretfully sent a message in the group.

“The guy who delivered my package is a man.”

Bo Ting felt this cleared up Zhang Ge’s earlier weird speculations.

After all, Zhang Ge had gossiped so enthusiastically that everyone in the group must have seen it, even if they hadn’t chimed in.

To avoid misunderstandings, Bo Ting thought it necessary to clarify.

Zhang Ge: …

So what if it’s a guy? Couldn’t he still be a romantic interest?

Guys could be even more dangerous.

Zhang Ge wanted to say something but held back hard.

With Bo Ting’s message, people finally started popping up in the group one by one.

“It’s a friend, right? I said Xiao Zhang was just guessing wildly.”

“All day watching TV dramas and thinking he’s some master detective.”

Boss Zhu spoke up first in support.

Wu Ge followed right after.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Last time I saw you picking up a package, Little Bo, it seemed like this same friend delivered it.”

“It’s normal for guys to exchange gifts.”

The group chat heated up. Everyone was extremely understanding toward Bo Ting.

Bo Ting breathed a sigh of relief, a smile finally appearing on his face.

“Good to know there’s no misunderstanding.”

Everyone had good judgment; he’d worried for nothing.

The words stuck in Zhang Ge’s throat finally went down with difficulty. He hadn’t expected everyone to spout such blatant lies with straight faces.

But the next second, he pathetically chimed in with the crowd in the group, his sincerity shockingly genuine.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. I overthought it.”

Fine, whatever.

Bo Ting saw that Zhang Ge had recognized his mistake and magnanimously forgave him.

“Alright.”

“Everyone keep chatting. I’m going to message my friend.”

As soon as Bo Ting’s words went out, the group went quiet for three seconds.

Then they all watched weirdly as Little Bo called it “just a friend” one second and acted so intimate the next.

But with Zhang Ge’s recent lesson fresh in mind, even those itching to roast swallowed their words.

They all giggled amiably, waiting for Bo Ting to leave.

Bo Ting rubbed his wrist and, after exiting the chat, contentedly scooped up the cat before finally messaging Mr. Xu.

“Mr. Xu, the emerald is absolutely gorgeous!”

He sent a photo of the exquisite gem ring. Thinking back to what happened, Bo Ting found it amusing.

“But guess what.”

“A neighbor saw me getting the package and actually thought I was dating someone. Isn’t that ridiculous?”

The orange cat clutching its belly laughed until tears nearly formed.

Xu Qinglai’s fingertips paused.

Misunderstanding that he was dating?

Shouldn’t that be the natural assumption?

After all, who wouldn’t overthink receiving a ring?

But… He frowned at the chat on his screen.

Bo Ting hadn’t overthought it at all?

How did this guy’s brain work so differently from normal humans—or even the weird ones?

Xu Qinglai pondered.

“Maybe everyone was just surprised you made a new friend.”

He paused briefly, feigning puzzlement.

“Will the new ring fit right? It might not match the size.”

Oh, that?

He hadn’t tried it yet.

Reminded by Mr. Xu, Bo Ting instinctively slipped on the ring and found… it fit perfectly.

It matched his finger size exactly!

“Mr. Xu, your eye for size is spot on!”

Xu Qinglai: …

Here we go again.

That helpless feeling returned. After a slight frown, Xu Qinglai’s upturned phoenix eyes suddenly closed lightly.

“Most people would find a ring a bit ambiguous.”

“But the moment I saw this gem, I knew it’d look stunning as a ring.”

The ambiguous words would make anyone with half a brain skip a heartbeat.

But Bo Ting clearly wasn’t.

“Hm?”

“Is that so?”

“Rings should be fine, though.”

It wasn’t like matching underwear sets; Bo Ting thought it was totally acceptable.

Plus, setting it as a ring really maximized the gem’s beauty—best value for it.

Still, it was too valuable.

Bo Ting had originally planned to tell Mr. Xu not to send it, but since it’d already been made into a ring and shipped, returning it right away would hurt feelings.

Just keeping it made him uneasy, though.

After some thought, Bo Ting decided to store it away for a few days as a placeholder. When he met Mr. Xu in person later, he could return it face-to-face.

That way, handing it back in person shouldn’t strain their friendship.

With that in mind, Bo Ting nodded.

He jotted down the “meet-up” plan in his notes.

He’d wait until Miss Du’s flower shop opened, scout the outside situation, then bring it up with Mr. Xu.

A little “surprise” for him!

The two chatted like chickens talking to ducks for a while.

Xu Qinglai opened his eyes and reread the conversation. After a moment’s silence, he actually laughed in frustration.

Fine. The other guy really was like a chatbot.

But did people like this exist—empty-headed, never overthinking anything?

Even during the afternoon meeting, Xu Qinglai couldn’t help turning to his secretary.

“If someone gave you a ring, wouldn’t you overthink it?”

The middle-aged, married secretary with kids: …

“Hard not to.”

So, the gem ring President Xu sent had zero effect?

The secretary quickly connected the dots, feeling oddly amused.

Xu Qinglai just gave him a faint glance, and the secretary immediately smiled.

“President Xu, I have files to deliver. I’ll head out now.”

The conference room fell quiet.

Xu Qinglai paused, then decided not to dwell on it anymore.

…

The next day.

Bo Ting enthusiastically greeted him as usual.

“Mr. Xu, the flower shop in our neighborhood opens in just a couple more days!”

After the last few pots bloomed, Miss Du’s “desk diary” finally stopped, letting Bo Ting breathe a huge sigh of relief.

If he’d kept reading, he’d have fully uncovered the terrifying secret of Xiu Xiu, A Zhen, and Miss Du merging into one.

Luckily, he hadn’t finished—just a rough guess.

But Bo Ting figured he was close. So when facing Miss Du, he adopted three different attitudes daily, perfectly adapting to her shifting personalities. He got along great with his boss now, with no workplace drama.

While Miss Du and the others prepared at home.

Bo Ting excitedly shared with Mr. Xu.

“The flower shop has totally transformed.”

“These wooden shelves are all fully stocked today.”

He panned the phone camera over all the flowers in the shop.

Some were ordinary blooms, others subtly mutated. Together, they filled the little store, giving it a cozy, warm vibe.

Xu Qinglai’s eyes flickered.

“Congratulations.”

Since the flower shop was Bo Ting’s part-time gig, congratulating him wasn’t wrong.

Bo Ting scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.

“I didn’t really help much.” Just tended a few pots.

Those little wildflowers had thrived on their own, growing vigorously each day until their branches and leaves encircled the whole shop. From afar, the light blue-green vines wrapping the roof looked like a green python.

Sister Han had jumped when she first visited.

Xu Qinglai lowered his gaze, intrigued.

“Doesn’t the flower shop do outside business?”

“Mengjia City should have plenty of demand for fresh flowers.”

Wrong.

As the central hub for surrounding city-states, Mengjia City’s flower market was already saturated. New shops nearby folded in days.

But Taiping Luxury Garden’s flower shop might be different.

Bo Ting thought it over. He hadn’t discussed it with Miss Du yet—shop had just opened, no online promo either.

That was a hassle. Their neighborhood had spotty internet; even deliveries barely got through. Advertising and shipping outward seemed tricky.

That’d have to wait.

After chatting a bit with Mr. Xu, Bo Ting sighed, worrying about the neighborhood’s future.

They couldn’t stay isolated forever.

He still had instant noodles daily—who knew how the other neighbors managed.

Lost in thought, Bo Ting pulled out his other phone to check, only to see the Rebirth of Fire group was disbanding?

Wait, he’d only skipped a day—how was it disbanding already?

Hadn’t he just infiltrated?

…

After two failed operations in a row, even Rebirth of Fire realized there was a mole.

Unsure if it was in the group, but better safe.

The usually quiet little group posted a statement and disbanded swiftly.

Bo Ting stared blankly as he was “released,” his brows furrowing.

Without the group messages, how would he know if they’d harass the neighborhood again?

He was totally in the dark now.

He glared at his phone for ages. But kicked out, he could only watch the pinned message vanish.

His face expressionless, a touch of anger rising.

Damn it!

…

News of the Rebirth of Fire group disbanding didn’t just reach Bo Ting.