Crystal Rose

A flash of amazement flickered across the lovely attendant’s radiant face, and her gaze lingered on Liu Yunqi for a couple of seconds, almost against her will.

“Welcome. I am Qi Lingyu, your guide here at the Flower Sea. How may I assist you?” Her composure returned in an instant after that brief moment of surprise—truly the mark of a consummate professional. With poise and grace, she introduced herself.

“I’m looking for a particular variety of camellia. Could you tell me which area it’s in?” Zhong Yun glanced at the electronic map on the wall. The entire place was divided into dozens of sections, like a labyrinth. Who knew how long it would take to find anything on their own? It was clearly faster to ask for directions.

“It’s in Section Thirteen,” Qi Lingyu answered without hesitation, displaying her solid expertise. “Please, follow me.”

As a guide who interacted directly with clients, Qi Lingyu had been professionally trained to read people. Although she was still quite young, her discerning eye had already been honed. At a glance, she could tell that Liu Yunqi was no ordinary person.

It wasn’t just her breathtaking beauty, but also her attire. At first glance, her outfit seemed simple and understated, yet upon closer inspection, the style was fresh and unique. From experience, Qi Lingyu judged it the handiwork of a renowned designer.

Then there was the sea-blue clip in the girl’s hair. Qi Lingyu had seen this very design in a magazine before—a masterpiece by Davos’s most celebrated designer, handcrafted, with only ninety-nine pieces in existence worldwide.

That little hair clip alone was worth five years of her own salary.

Of course, this didn’t particularly surprise her. The Flower Sea’s central hall was not a place just anyone could enter; only the refined and wealthy passed through these doors.

She had seen more than her share of affluent patrons; extravagant jewelry and outlandish prices were nothing new. Yet girls with such elegant poise and unforgettable beauty—she had only encountered a handful, all of whom were women of high pedigree and illustrious reputation.

She must hail from some illustrious family, Qi Lingyu concluded privately.

As for the boy, Qi Lingyu found herself puzzled. He looked utterly ordinary, wore popular brands, and his demeanor was unremarkable.

A regular person, nothing more.

And yet, walking so intimately beside a girl of such dazzling beauty, he seemed anything but ordinary.

As they entered the main hall, Liu Yunqi naturally withdrew her hand, though this didn’t escape Qi Lingyu’s notice. The two had been holding hands before they arrived.

The girl stood close to him, suggesting a certain intimacy. She kept a half-step behind him, and when questions arose, the boy answered without consulting her, while she showed no sign of objection. Clearly, he took the lead in their relationship.

Of course, these were merely Qi Lingyu’s conjectures, not established facts.

Could they be siblings? The thought flashed through her mind.

But upon further scrutiny, the gap in their looks was simply too great—a marvel of genetics if they truly were brother and sister. She dismissed the idea.

More likely, they were a couple—a notion that, while improbable, was not impossible upon reflection.

A girl of noble birth and stunning beauty, accustomed to the finest food, the most exquisite designer clothes, the rarest adornments—her desires would surely differ from those of an ordinary person. Material abundance would lead her to seek fulfillment on a spiritual level.

After meeting countless elegant and handsome heirs and scions of powerful families, she might well be weary of such suitors. To be drawn to an average-looking but exceptionally talented young man wasn’t so strange.

Thus, in Qi Lingyu’s eyes, Zhong Yun became a youth of considerable talent.

They were just about to head further inside when a voice rang out desperately from the main hall: “Quick, someone, please—my Crystal Rose is dying!”

The words “Crystal Rose” made all three of them turn abruptly; they were eager to catch a glimpse of this legendary flower.

In Davos, the Crystal Rose might not be the most expensive blossom, but it was certainly the most famous. Ask anyone on the street, and nine out of ten would recognize the name.

It was like Microsoft on Earth—perhaps you didn’t know the number-one company on the Fortune 500 was Walmart, but you’d certainly know Microsoft.

The fame of the Crystal Rose was inextricably linked to a woman—much as Microsoft made one think of Bill Gates.

This woman had retired twenty years ago, yet her name lived on. It was etched into history, for she was the most renowned and successful singer Davos had ever produced.

Her reputation had crossed borders to the Grian Empire; she had performed at the invitation of the imperial family and been granted honorary citizenship.

She was the first in Davos’s history to earn this high imperial honor. Even the president would bow to her in greeting.

While her name might have faded, mention the Crystal Rose and everyone would immediately think of her—for it was a seasoned music critic who, upon hearing her debut, compared her voice to the Crystal Rose. The epithet stuck and became uniquely hers.

Zhong Yun’s anticipation soon turned to disappointment. In the hall, an elderly man with graying hair was anxiously clutching a flowerpot, its bare branches all but withered.

He urged the female attendant before him with increasing agitation, while she patiently tried to calm him.

“Your guides really know what they’re doing,” Zhong Yun couldn’t help but praise.

“You’re too kind. It’s simply our duty,” Qi Lingyu replied, her smile unwavering.

“We’d better go,” Zhong Yun suggested, seeing there was nothing more of interest.

Liu Yunqi sighed, “It’s such a pity—if the Crystal Rose has withered this much, I doubt it can be saved.”

“Maybe not,” thought Zhong Yun, though he kept it to himself—claiming he could save the flower would surely make others think him mad.

Qi Lingyu led them to an elevator. “Is this your first visit?” she asked, though she already knew from the records.

Zhong Yun nodded.

Qi Lingyu began introducing the Flower Sea. She was eloquent, peppering her explanations with anecdotes and trivia that brought everything to life. Zhong Yun and Liu Yunqi listened with fascination.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the camellia section, just as Qi Lingyu finished recounting an anecdote about the mayor’s wife of Fenghua. She said, “We’ve arrived. Is there a particular camellia variety you wish to see?”

Zhong Yun looked ahead. A wide corridor stretched before them, with enormous glass-enclosed rooms on either side, each filled with myriad pots—some plants in full bloom, others budding, and some mere seedlings just sprouting.

It was a world of green dotted with red blossoms as far as the eye could see.

“I’m looking for the Black Mandrake,” Zhong Yun said.

“The Black Mandrake?” Qi Lingyu was clearly surprised but said no more, leading them to a particular flower room.

Standing before the enclosure, Zhong Yun gazed at the black specters blooming amidst drifts of white, marveling at the wonders of creation.

The Black Mandrake was an exceedingly rare variety of camellia. Not only were its flowers a rare black, but it also had a unique trait—it could only survive at temperatures below minus fifty degrees.

This made it incredibly scarce, for the cost of an artificial cold room was exorbitant—enough to buy two or three pots of the flower itself.

Moreover, aside from its striking color, the Black Mandrake’s ornamental value was fairly ordinary. As a rare plant, its status was rather awkward.

Other than lavish institutions like the Flower Sea, few would go to the trouble of cultivating it.

PS: Fifty thousand words now—I finally have the confidence to ask for your votes. Writing is just my hobby, and five thousand words a day is my limit. Please support me and give me some recommendations!