Chapter 39 Little Leaf, Is This a Reward?

Chapter 39 Little Leaf, Is This a Reward?

The next morning.

Shen Junlan had reverted to his usual attire. Huo Yanchi, wiping the leaves, mused on what excuse he could conjure next to make his Little Leaf transform again.

His dreams were filled with the image of Little Leaf's long, flowing hair, the strands brushing past his lips, carrying a faint, familiar fragrance.

"Huo Yanchi, you're hurting me~"

That slightly coquettish tone nearly sent Huo Yanchi reeling. His fingers felt as if they'd plunged into a furnace, scorching hot, and he recoiled from the leaves as if electrocuted, then awkwardly wiped his chin.

"Sorry, I was distracted."

"Bad owner, you get distracted even when wiping my leaves. I'm punishing you to eat properly for the next month. If your stomach hurts again, I'll have to consult the tutorial to help you. My waist isn't as flexible as that person's, but I'll try my best."

Shen Junlan was utterly convinced by what he had learned. After just one night, Huo Yanchi was full of vigor again. It seemed the tutorial was even more effective than his spiritual energy.

"Okay."

Huo Yanchi was subdued and couldn't manage a smile. One such experience was torture enough; if this continued, he feared he might lose control and do something to Little Leaf.

"Little Leaf, the flower shop will open soon. I was wondering if we should hold an opening ceremony."

Shen Junlan shook his head vigorously. He was well aware of Huo Yanchi's connections. A crowd would show up, not genuinely interested in buying flowers or treating their pets, but merely trying to curry favor with Huo Yanchi. They shouldn't exploit pets for that purpose.

"Owner, I don't necessarily need to make money from this. I just want to help people, whether rich or poor. We can't only serve the wealthy."

Huo Yanchi ruffled Little Leaf's head. His Little Leaf was even more upright and selfless than he had imagined.

"Then, let's just open for business."

The words "open for business" struck him like a thunderbolt, instantly deflating Shen Junlan.

He slumped over Huo Yanchi's back as if all his spiritual energy had been drained, whimpering playfully, "Owner bodyguard, can you start work today?"

"Yes, absolutely. Protecting Little Leaf is a duty I cannot refuse."

All the procedures for the flower shop were complete. According to Shen Junlan's vision, the shop had been renovated with the finest materials, everything meticulously arranged.

"President Huo, do you and Young Master Shen have any other requests? We can make further adjustments."

Shen Junlan looked around, nodding in satisfaction. He gave Zhao Qi a thumbs-up and praised him generously, "It's great, I really like it. Thank you for your hard work."

"Huo Yanchi, do you think we need anything else?"

Huo Yanchi glanced at the entrance and the interior of the shop, saying calmly, "Add a few security cameras."

"I'm sorry, President Huo. I overlooked that. I'll add them right away."

Zhao Qi thought, how could he have forgotten? Huo Yaoyang had been looking for opportunities to cause trouble. If Huo Yaoyang found out about the flower shop, it wouldn't be peaceful. With surveillance, they could respond quickly if anything happened.

"Zhao Qi, you can go back to the company. Little Leaf and I will keep an eye on things here. Call me if anything important comes up."

"Yes, President Huo."

The flower shop had just opened, so business was likely to be slow.

Shen Junlan moved around the shop with a watering can, occasionally patting the flowers gently, as if caressing a cloud.

"Whoever needs water, call out loudly. There are many plants in the shop, so I might not hear you sometimes."

Shen Junlan rubbed his ears. The plants' chattering was endless—each more talkative than sparrows. Being able to hear their thoughts wasn't always a good thing.

"So fragrant, so fragrant. He smells really nice. My mood has improved."

"We need to bloom beautifully. When customers come, we have to perform well. If we don't sell, what if he closes the shop?"

"Welcome—"

Shen Junlan peeked out from among the flowers. It was a young customer, around twenty years old, who seemed to be in a bad mood. His eyelids drooped, and he exuded an indescribable aura of gloom.

"Hello, would you like to buy some flowers?"

Huo Yanchi’s gaze fell on the customer’s sneakers. The designer sneakers were stained with a trace of blood mixed with sewage, giving off an indescribably damp, foul smell.

Shen Junlan hurried over to the door. Sensing the customer was down, he generously picked a sunflower and handed it to him.

"Turn toward the sun. Everything you hope for can come true."

The young man looked up abruptly, and with him, the weak head of a kitten peeked out from his backpack.

"Can you… treat illnesses here?"

Qin An carefully lifted the kitten out. There were no visible wounds on its body, but its breathing grew heavier with each breath, its eye sockets deeply sunken. It looked like it didn't have long to live.

"Mimi, where does it hurt?"

Shen Junlan crouched down, meeting the eyes of Mimi on the treatment table. Its voice was very faint, so soft that if Little Leaf didn't prick up his ears, the answer would be lost in the wind.

"The food I eat every day tastes bitter. I'm so tired, so tired. My owner took me to many doctors, and they all said there's no hope. Just now, he carried me past a fish shop and bought fish for me to eat, but I can't keep it down."

Shen Junlan gently lifted Mimi's eyelids and lightly pressed its stomach. There wasn't much in its stomach, but its throat seemed blocked by something.

"Mimi's cat food can't be eaten anymore. There's something wrong with it. You should check it. Take Mimi to a pet hospital. There's a small object stuck in its throat. It needs stomach pumping. It might be a little painful, but Mimi can handle it."

Qin An looked at Shen Junlan suspiciously, his fingers curling strangely. He muttered, "How did you know its name is Mimi?"

"I guessed. Such a pretty kitten must be called Mimi. It's nothing serious—just something wrong with the food."

Seeing Shen Junlan so confident, Qin An bit back his words of doubt. The cat food had been chosen by his mother. How could there be anything wrong with it?

Qin An hadn't paid yet, but in his heart, he already labeled Shen Junlan a fraud. So many machines couldn't identify Mimi's problem—he refused to believe Shen Junlan could figure it out with just a glance.

"Oh, how much?"

Shen Junlan instinctively looked at Huo Yanchi. He tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Huo Yanchi, how much do you think is appropriate?"

"Little Leaf, you decide."

Shen Junlan steeled himself and quoted what he thought was a high price. "Twenty-five."

"What?" Qin An's voice rose.

Did he mean 250,000?

"You… you think it's too expensive? Sorry, how about ten instead?"

Shen Junlan shrunk back timidly behind Huo Yanchi. Qin An's eyes widened as if he wanted to devour someone.

"No, no, it's too low." Qin An silently crossed Shen Junlan off his scammer list—no scammer would only ask for 25 bucks.

Huo Yanchi pointed to the QR code for payment first, signaling Qin An to pay.

"Just now, I heard him call you Huo Yanchi. Are you that Huo Yanchi, the big shot in the capital?"

There were too many legends about him in the capital, the most widely circulated one being that he was ruthless and violent, with not only aggressive tendencies but also a history of beating up his little brother and his own grandfather.

But all of this was overshadowed by his achievements—the youngest self-made rich guy in the capital, creating many firsts that’ve never been done before or since.

"No, I'm a bodyguard."

Qin An snorted and smirked. Wearing a watch worth millions as a bodyguard? He never expected to run into the name he heard most often at home in such a small flower shop.

"If Mimi has any other discomfort, you can come back to me."

Qin An mumbled ‘yeah’ and, before leaving, didn’t forget to take the sunflower Shen Junlan had given him with him.

"Hehe, Huo Yanchi, I can earn money on my own now—twenty-five yuan!"

"My Little Leaf is so amazing, but won’t you get too tired like this?"

Earning twenty-five yuan at a time, how hard would Little Leaf have to work?

"It’s fine, there aren’t that many people in a day anyway."

Shen Junlan heard from Little Sparrow that there was a place nearby with amazing steak. Once he saved up some money, he’d treat Huo Yanchi to steak.

Just two hours later, all the security cameras in the shop were installed.

Shen Junlan lay on the table, watching himself through the cameras connected to Huo Yanchi’s phone—a totally new experience.

Ring-ring-ring.

It was a call from Lin Hang.

"What’s going on?"

Lin Hang sighed. He’d been fooled—he thought he’d found a gem, but it turned out to be just a pretty face. Well, not entirely, he’s cultured, though.

"So, do you have connections to get someone registered? I recently wanted to sign a new artist, but he doesn’t even have an ID or household papers. Ask him anything, he doesn’t know a thing. He’s really too good-looking, otherwise I wouldn’t even consider signing him."

Huo Yanchi glanced at the innocent Little Leaf beside him. He’d never even thought about getting Little Leaf registered or an ID.

"There are ways, but it’s very troublesome. I suggest you try to get more details from him first, in case there are any issues."

Lin Hang was almost crying. If he could get even a little information out of him, he would’ve done it already.

"Alright, alright, I’ll figure something out. He seems to have some relative in the capital—I’ll ask again and see if I can get in touch. By the way, you once said Shen Junlan was picked up—was that true? Did luck just fall from the sky for both of us? The one I found was also picked up."

Shen Junlan perked up. Could it be that the one Lin Hang found was also a spirit from Buzhou Mountain like a flower or plant?

"Just kidding. Little Leaf is from a faraway place, out in the mountains."

Lin Hang didn’t doubt it—Shen Junlan looked totally clueless and innocent.

"Alright, I’ll reach out if I can’t handle it."

Shen Junlan stood up straight, worried. "Will not having documents cause trouble for you too?"

"No, but... Little Leaf, you’ll have to stick with me forever. Without documents, you can’t go out freely."

"Good, good! I’ll be with you, together for a lifetime."

Little Leaf wasn’t as sad or disappointed as he’d expected. Instead, his eyes were full of excitement for the future.

If Huo Yanchi was taking care of him for life, how awesome would that be.

The flower shop was now up and running, and Huo the bodyguard couldn’t come every day.

Shen Junlan’s routine became: watching the store, thinking about Huo Yanchi, talking to Huo Yanchi, and then thinking about him some more.

One totally normal afternoon, Shen Junlan lay in the rocking chair, eyes half-closed, watching as streaks of golden light shimmered around him, seeping into his flesh and blood in the blink of an eye.

A rush of heat surged through him, and Shen Junlan felt all warm and cozy. Tilting his head, he suddenly remembered the few small animals he’d helped recently—those golden rays were Merit.

He had Merit now. No longer just a no-name orchid spirit, he was a flower with a purpose, with Merit to his name.

Just as Shen Junlan reached for his phone, Huo Yanchi pushed the door open.

He lunged forward, leaped into Huo Yanchi’s arms, locked his legs tight around his waist, and squirmed with excitement.

"Huo Yanchi, I have Merit! Because I helped several small animals these past few days, the heavens rewarded me with Merit!"

Huo Yanchi cupped Little Leaf’s butt, giving a slight squeeze, and praised his Little Leaf generously.

"I always knew my Little Leaf was special—an extraordinary flower. So amazing."

Shen Junlan lifted the corners of his lips, happily kissing the small mole on Huo Yanchi’s earlobe. He imitated Huo Yanchi, nibbling and sucking on his lip.

Breaths growing heavier brushed against Shen Junlan’s ear as Huo Yanchi carried him and laid him directly on the sofa in the inner room.

Shen Junlan straddled Huo Yanchi’s lap, staring at him in a daze.

"Little Leaf, is this my reward?"

Shen Junlan’s eyes widened. So, in Huo Yanchi’s mind, nibbling on his ear was also a reward? Then he’d have to reward Huo Yanchi more often in the future.

He nodded excitedly, tracing Huo Yanchi’s throat gently. "Thank you, gege. When my spiritual energy grows a bit more, I can help heal the scars on your back."

He liked Huo Yanchi so much—he wanted Huo Yanchi to stay with him for a lifetime.

Not even a small wound should remain. He wanted Huo Yanchi to live a long, healthy life.

Huo Yanchi paused, suddenly struck by a realization.

"Before opening the flower shop, did you already suspect you might gain Merit?"

"Not exactly. I had a feeling I might receive spiritual energy. I wanted to help you, but the spiritual energy I get from you every day isn’t quite enough."

Huo Yanchi went quiet. Everything Little Leaf did was for him.

In this world, there was one person whose every action started with him in mind.