ROT CH 43

Chapter 43: Black Magic and Carola

Han Junzhou took Bai Chengyu to the flower market, strolling leisurely. After wandering through most of the market, they realized that this night market primarily sold potted plants and wholesale flowers. It didn’t have the beautifully wrapped bouquets one would typically find in a flower shop. Instead, there were only bundles of flowers wrapped in newspaper and stuffed into plastic buckets. Not romantic at all.

The smile of anticipation on Bai Chengyu’s face gradually faded, his lips forming a pout as he stayed silent.

Noticing Bai Chengyu’s disappointment, Han Junzhou felt a twinge of guilt. After all the drama earlier in the day, he had hoped to end their first day of romance with the sweet and fragrant gesture of a bouquet. Yet, even this small, romantic plan had fallen short.

He held Bai Chengyu’s hand as they strolled, casually introducing the flowers and plants they saw along the way. Han Junzhou had a fair bit of knowledge about these little plants and flowers, given that the Han family members were naturally inclined toward plant-based scents—especially woody fragrances. Han Junzhou himself enjoyed growing flowers and plants, so he knew quite a bit of trivia. As they walked and talked, Bai Chengyu gradually forgot about his initial disappointment.

Eventually, they arrived at a shop specializing in cultivating roses—precisely Han Junzhou’s intended destination. He led Bai Chengyu to look at the rows of potted roses arranged on shelves near the entrance.

There were so many varieties of roses that Bai Chengyu’s eyes began to blur. The flowers displayed outside were all soft and pastel-colored, making it awkward for him, as a grown man, to choose one.

Han Junzhou guided him further inside, where higher-quality varieties were displayed. These roses had a stronger fragrance, larger blooms, and fuller shapes. The shopkeeper, a warm-hearted middle-aged lady, followed them, enthusiastically introducing the flowers.

“This one’s Diana, the representative of pink roses. The one next to it is a white rose called Tineke^[1]. It’s not pure white; it actually has a hint of pale green—can you see it? And over there is another white rose called White Lychee. It’s a creamy shade with a bit of beige—it’s stunning too. Oh, and these pots are Carola^[2], the classic red rose. The flower language for Carola is ‘I love you.’ Couples adore this one.”

“Is it easy to take care of?” Bai Chengyu asked awkwardly.

“Very easy—super easy to care for!” The lady launched into an explanation about rose care, leaving Bai Chengyu’s head spinning.

“You don’t need to worry about how to take care of it. I’ll teach you. Just pick the one you like.” Han Junzhou leaned close to his ear, softly whispering to avoid the shopkeeper’s relentless chatter.

“Yes,” Bai Chengyu replied with a satisfied smile. Just as he was about to settle on the bouquet of ‘Carola’ roses, symbolizing “I love you,” he noticed a pot of roses with a darker hue further back. He asked the shop owner, “Are these also Carola roses? They look similar, but the color is deeper.”

“Oh, those are ‘Black Magic’ roses,” the shopkeeper, a cheerful woman, replied. “They have a similar shape to the Carola, but Carola is a bright red, while Black Magic is a deep, almost black red. Look closely at the petals—they’re thicker and have a velvety texture.”

It was then that Bai Chengyu noticed a small sign beside the Black Magic roses. It had a description and the flower’s meaning:
The Black Magic rose symbolizes a tender heart and a deep, noble soul.
Like an elegant and understated individual, it doesn’t deliberately flaunt itself but exudes refinement in its details, making its owner unconsciously carry themselves with grace.

Bai Chengyu turned to look at Han Junzhou. His older lover was gazing at him warmly. Bai Chengyu thought to himself: Does his heart hold a Black Magic rose? Is that why he seems so deep, noble, elegant, and reserved?

He wanted that Black Magic rose. He wanted that tender heart.

Looking at Han Junzhou, Bai Chengyu said, “I want you…” Suddenly, realizing the shopkeeper was still there, he quickly shifted his gaze to her and pointed at the Black Magic rose. “…this Black Magic rose.”

“Alright, let me get it for you,” the shopkeeper said cheerfully, moving the Carola roses aside to bring out the Black Magic pot.

Han Junzhou understood the unintentional confession in Bai Chengyu’s words. He smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and, while the shopkeeper was busy, affectionately touched Bai Chengyu’s face and pinched his flushed ears. “I want you too… this Carola rose,” he said softly, his gentle words sinking into Bai Chengyu’s heart like ripples on a serene lake, stirring a storm that left him flushed and overwhelmed.

The storm even seemed to reach his eyes, threatening to change their color.

The shopkeeper, a Beta, suddenly sniffed the air and asked curiously, “Do you smell that? It feels like the roses have a stronger fragrance all of a sudden.” She sniffed around, trying to identify the source of the sudden scent.

Han Junzhou held back a laugh and tapped Bai Chengyu, teasing him for being unable to contain himself and letting out such a strong scent that even the Beta shopkeeper noticed. Taking out a pheromone blocker from his bag, Han Junzhou sprayed it on Bai Chengyu. Bai Chengyu’s scent was already mixed with Han Junzhou’s Alpha pheromones, suppressing the alluring qualities of the Omega’s scent. Still, the intensity of the fragrance wasn’t ideal in public spaces, as it could cause unnecessary disturbance to others.

Realizing the source of the fragrance, the shopkeeper laughed good-naturedly. She packed the two flower pots into bags and asked about the type of soil and fertilizer they had at home. She even included some sample packs of different fertilizers, before taking payment and happily seeing the couple off.

Bai Chengyu walked ahead, proudly carrying his Black Magic rose.

Han Junzhou followed behind, carrying the Carola rose and the samples, feeling equally pleased.

The bouquet he had planned to buy for his boyfriend had been replaced by two thriving potted roses.

He hoped his Little Fish would like them.

Han Junzhou’s heart was full of tenderness as he watched the boy walking ahead of him—a boy who wanted to hop and skip with joy but worried about breaking the flower stems. From yesterday onward, this adorable, beautiful boy belonged to him.

That person was finally his boy, his little leopard, his precious Little Fish.

(To Be Continued…)

T/L: Awww Bai Chengyu is so cute ( ๑ ˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و ♡

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-End of chapter-

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