July 25, 2014, 10:30 a.m., [Zhicheng Flower Shop].

The low hum of the phone shook the table, and in an instant the man who was lying on the table was immersed in sleep, he squinted, wiped the mucus from the corners of his eyes, and let the muddy spirit recover, and reached for the phone.

[Mom: Son, the person who went on a blind date yesterday felt that he had a good impression of you, and everyone told their parents that you were okay, and next time you asked someone else to come out for a walk, you are not too young......]

"If you ask for money and the right to sign the house, it's also very good...... That's pretty good for everyone,"

The information in the mobile phone can't be processed in detail by the brain at all, and the man named Chen Zhicheng didn't bother to make a wry smile, he just buried his head on the desk again, emptying his mind, and trying not to recall the feeling of emptiness, but with a wave of his hand, he pushed the teacup next to him off the table and shattered it with a clatter.

Filled in the air, the fragrance of fruits and plants in the store was a little too sweet, and the crisp sound of porcelain cracking made the man completely sober, he raised his head and stared blankly at the fragments of the porcelain cup that had been used for five years and had a little emotion, and there was no regret in his heart, only an empty space, and he couldn't even think of cleaning.

Chen Zhicheng. 31 years old. The owner of the flower and fruit shop.

Ordinary people who wake up today and continue to wake up tomorrow.

It can't be said to be ordinary, after all, ordinary people probably won't insist on chasing any dreams and opening a bonsai shop...... At least that's what the man once thought, at that time, the college graduates who boasted about the bold words were stirring in their hearts for a bright future, taking care of their favorite flowers and plants every day, cultivating their proudest bonsai, and going to one or two potted plant competitions from time to time to win a prize, every day was full and beautiful.

But, when did that disappear? That kind of momentum, the anticipation for the future...... When did you lose your passion for the things you love, and you just went to and from work mechanically, and even when you saw those lovely flowers and plants, you still had a slight disgust?

Perhaps, when Chen Zhicheng discovered that everything he loved was actually worthless to the people around him and even the world.

"Zhicheng, playing with those flowers and plants all day long, it's just a hobby, Dad, I don't talk about you, but you always have to have a serious career, just like a normal person, right? Otherwise, what will I do if I get married in the future......"

"Zhicheng, you know Aunt Wang's daughter, right? About your age...... People don't dislike you and are willing to live with you...... Let's find a chance to meet. ”

- Why disgust? Why can't this be considered a business as a business?

I can make money to support myself, right? Why do you always feel that this is not a serious career? So what does it mean to be a normal person?!

Countless times I wanted to yell and refute, but every time I wanted to open my mouth and want to type, the man finally retracted his words and deleted the sentences on WeChat.

Because Mom and Dad are right.

At the beginning, he opened just a pure bonsai shop, no fame, no relationship, planted headlong into this industry that does not know the depths, not only has no professional advantages, but also has no relevant experience, if it is not for the family to advance money, through the most difficult days, I am afraid that it would have closed long ago.

Later, he transferred to the attached fruit sales, barely making ends meet, but Chen Zhicheng also knew that it was because the neighbors gave him face, and he did not go to the state-run big fruit supermarket to buy things, but came here to take care of the business...... How could he live up to that trust? I can only concentrate on this aspect and find the best source of fruit as much as possible.

People's time is always limited, and unconsciously, he has not taken care of his favorite potted plants for a long time, and after working hard every day, seeing those messy leaves growing in the jungle, his heart is not 'to cut it off as soon as possible' but another wave of tired boredom.

'Deal with it again?' It's annoying, this thing ......'

Although every time this thought was swept away from his heart by the shock, the thought is not dust, how can it be said that he forgets and forgets?

Busy and busy, after nine years, Zhicheng Huaguo has stabilized, and his parents' urging at the beginning is less, it seems that he has acquiesced to this, but there are more and more blind dates, after all, he is already 31, and if he is not married, it will be really late.

Although he refused to give up the flower characters in Zhicheng's flowers and fruits, changed to a vegetable and fruit franchise, and even spent a small amount of savings to buy a greenhouse, and continued to fiddle with those potted plants that did not have any advantages in the market against those franchise stores, Chen Zhicheng also had a trace of understanding in his heart - if he really got married, then those things called 'hobbies' were better to give up.

The conditions in my own family are not good, and it is already rare to be open-minded and tolerant to support myself in pursuing my dreams, but when I have a wife and children, I am still 'obsessed', I am afraid that I will really disappoint the old people who have been worrying.

The so-called trade-offs may be the case.

Chen Zhicheng always thinks very clearly...... But every time he goes on a blind date, when he returns to his small shop, he always falls into an empty confusion.

- So, that's it...... I want to be like this, mediocre, to be a fruit shop owner who I never wanted to be, to marry a person who doesn't actually have any common hobbies, everyone has made do with each other, at most it is a wife who doesn't dislike it, and then ...... Spend a lifetime?

Picking up the broom, Chen Zhicheng, who was about to sweep away the porcelain cup fragments, suddenly sat back on his chair, he covered half of his face with one hand, and was speechless for a long time.

With the urging of his parents and the confusion of the future, can he really only spend his life like this? This dead silence, oppressive, slightly brighter than the absolute hopeless darkness, but it does not grasp the hopeful, gloomy future at all......

This kind of unwillingness, absolutely unable to be reconciled to the future......

"Yo, Brother Chen is good!"

A cheerful greeting came from the door.

Chen Zhicheng was shocked, as if he was frightened, he raised his head and rubbed his eyes, his tired face was matched with some red eyes, like a person who had just woken up.

"Stinky boy, I won't let Brother Chen sleep even if I have a good night's sleep!"

scolded like this, but Chen Zhicheng's heart was full of joy - he almost made Su Day, a stinky boy, find that he almost cried...... What a shame, my own adult.

When you say what kind of apple potted plant you want to buy, do you really want to grow a potted plant or do you want to grow your own apples to eat? Probably the latter, this guy doesn't seem to be a person who likes flowers and plants.

But the energy of young people is really enviable.

Seeing Su Sun leave, Ben Si's middle-aged smile's smile gradually disappeared, he lowered his head, picked up the broom again, and began to sweep up the porcelain cup fragments on the ground.

"I still have to go on."

Late at night, Chen Zhicheng, who handed over the apple potted plant to Su Day, returned to the narrow room on the second floor of the store.

He does have a house in the community, but it's too annoying to live with his parents, and it's not that there is anything wrong with the old man, but he hints all day long that he urges himself to go on a blind date to find a partner, and hold a child for both of them - grandchildren are not important, anyway, let him start a family and inherit the family as soon as possible.

"I feel like I'm going to give up my R card that failed to be cultivated and gamble on a wave of single-draw SSR."

Smiling wryly and burying himself in mobile game terms, Chen Zhicheng was about to take off his clothes and take a shower when he suddenly found that there was a cool wind blowing in the room...... But I didn't open the windowsill! The air conditioner at home is not turned on, and the electric fan is turned off, so where does this wind come from?

This immediately frightened him, thinking of some strange anecdotes rumored among the neighbors recently, Chen Zhicheng couldn't help but associate this anomaly with the ghost - he still believed in this - and suddenly his hands and feet were a little weak, and he wanted to turn around and run away.

And just when he was really about to turn his head and run, Chen Zhicheng unexpectedly smelled an elegant fragrance of flowers...... It was the scent of a pot of Molan that he kept at home.

- Isn't it at least the end of September for the orchid to bloom? It's only the end of July, so how can it be ......

It was really unbearable to bear the eccentricity in this professional scope, Chen Zhicheng actually overcame his fear of ghosts in an instant, and turned his head to look at the place where he placed Mo Lan.

As a result, he saw a small figure dancing.

It was a small dot with purple-brown wings, which at first glance looked like a flying insect, and she was happily flying around a flower with wide leaves, bringing a cool sweet breeze.

"What's that?"

Since his body does not shine and his wings are also dark tones, Chen Zhicheng didn't notice this little spot at a glance - but now after discovering it, his heart is also full of caution, plus a burst of curiosity welling up from the depths of his heart.

"Yikes!"

At this time, the little dot also found Chen Zhicheng's gaze, she snorted lightly, and then flickered, and retracted into a large and somewhat abnormal orchid - that pair of wings happened to act as some wide petals, if it wasn't for a slight vibration, even Chen Zhicheng might be difficult to detect that it was not actually petals.

Blinking and holding his breath, Chen Zhicheng lightly approached his pot of Molan, his eyes widened, and he looked close to the flower.

It just so happened that the little dot also turned his head cautiously, as if he was going to observe the surrounding situation—and this move happened to fall into Chen Zhicheng's eyes, and the two of them looked at each other in surprise.

"Babble!"

Perhaps frightened by the large, over-the-top eyes, the little figure immediately continued to retract into the flower like an ostrich, shivering.

And just now, Chen Zhicheng also found that the small dot with petals as wings was a small humanoid composed of leaf petals, although it was small, but the subtleties were extremely similar to people, and even quite cute.

"You're a little scared of me."

Originally, Chen Zhicheng, who had always feared ghosts and gods, should have felt a little frightened when he found that such an abnormal creature appeared in the flowers he raised—but for some reason, when he smelled the fragrance of Mo Lan, his heart inexplicably settled down.

Even, a little faintly delighted.

"I don't know what you eat...... Shall I bring you some nectar? ”

Chen Zhicheng said so and did the same, he immediately went to take out some nectar from the cabinet, and then used a test tube to drop a drop on the petals.

The scent immediately tempted the little figure to turn its head. She looked curious and greedy, looking at the drop of nectar—the petal humanoid looked at Chen Zhicheng, then at the nectar, and waved her little hand, as if asking 'can you eat it'.

Chen Zhicheng replied with a second drop of nectar. This immediately made her let out a cheer.

Looking at this little human figure that is very similar to the fairy in the fairy tale, licking the nectar little by little, I don't know why, Chen Zhicheng's heart has a rare sense of achievement.

"I can't meet my parents' requirements, can't I meet them if it's a small point - enough nectar! As long as you have me for a day, you can eat as much as you want! ”

He said to the ignorant flower goblin quite arrogantly, but after finishing speaking, he sighed self-deprecatingly: "Alas, I can only talk to myself so embarrassingly...... It's a shame. ”

But no matter what, every time he waters and fertilizes, feeds the flower fairy with nectar every night, and watches her lick happily, it is a rare time for Chen Zhicheng to relax and smell the fragrance of flowers.

The hard and boring work seems to have some meaning, and gradually, the flower fairy will even take the initiative to fly over to say hello when she goes back to the room, bringing a rare cool breeze in summer, and the fragrance of orchids.

Perhaps it is precisely because of this that he actually has the energy, and he will take the initiative to greet his neighbors and wave to his acquaintances passing by, and the acquaintances will also smile and wave to him...... Change goes both ways.

Even, even Su Day, who has never been a serious bastard, can suddenly smile so cheerfully at himself.

And as time passed, a week and a half had passed, on the day of the heavy rain on August 15th, the flower fairy's higher and higher intelligence and greater strength even exceeded Chen Zhicheng's expectations.

On this day, when Chen Zhicheng returned to the room, he found that the flower fairy did not fly up to greet him - he looked at it curiously, but was shocked to find that the little humanoid was actually holding a shiny kitchen knife!

At that moment, Chen Zhicheng's heart did flash, 'Is it that the flower goblin has finally exposed the true face of the monster and is going to kill himself?' It was a somewhat dark thought, but he soon realized that he was wrong.

When the flower fairy saw him come back, he immediately babbled happily and said hello.

Then, she flew to the refrigerator with a knife, opened the refrigerator door, and took out a cucumber.

Since the refrigerator was cold, the wings looked a little wilted when the flower fairy took the cucumber out - but she cheered herself up and held a kitchen knife much bigger than herself, and cut a slice of cucumber that was not even in size and completely messy, and placed it on the plate!

In the end, the flower fairy even sprinkled some sugar intimately, and then held the plate, flew to Chen Zhicheng, who was stunned, and handed the plate to him, crossed his waist, looking very proud!

"Babble!"

And the man was a little amused, and a little moved and asked, "This is what you made for me to eat?" ”

"Yikes!"

The flower fairy nodded seriously, and then flew around in mid-air like a bee, as if he wanted to express something - Chen Zhicheng guessed that he was probably repaying the favor or something, after all, his dinner during this time recently was cucumber slices.

Chen Zhicheng still remembers that once he took out cucumber slices from the refrigerator and ate them with sugar under the curious gaze of the other party, and the flower fairy who has always been favored by him probably remembered this, so he wanted to repay it.

As for the fact that the cucumber was originally his...... The flower fairy probably doesn't understand it yet.

In short, that night, Chen Zhicheng was very happy to eat a plate of cucumber slices with too much sugar, and the flower fairy was so slimy because she was playing a slide on the cucumber slices full of sugar water, and she washed in the small bathtub prepared for her by Chen Zhicheng for half a night, and was so tired that she slept all day.

A few days later, when Chen Zhicheng returned in the evening, he didn't see any sign of the flower fairy—but after a little bit of Qingqing, he could find that the leaves and flowers of his potted Molan plant were naturally entangled to form the appearance of his face.

And the flower fairy, who looked very tired, was lying in the center of the potted plant with a natural face, snoring and sleeping.

"Really...... Naughty little guy. ”

Looking at this scene, Chen Zhicheng's tired and confused heart was greatly comforted, he laughed softly, and then picked up the small silk sheet he had prepared for the flower fairy before and covered the other party's body.

Then he sat down on his bed, staring up at the sky outside the window—though it was pouring rain and thunder, the pale flash of the Tao knocked something in his heart.

"Even the goblins know how to repay the favor, cook for me, and even make their own home look like me...... But I have always been entangled in my own decadence here, ignoring the care that my parents had taken care of me, and just blindly feeling sorry for myself......"

He muttered to himself, then shook his head with a smile: "Really, I'm still decadent or something—isn't the future not as I originally expected?" It's a little thing like this, just work hard to overcome it. ”

- Start today, keep it up!

But the next morning.

Chen Zhicheng, who had not yet opened the store, suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

"Who? It's coming, it's coming. ”

Chen Zhicheng, who was cleaning up some of the spoiled fruits and vegetables in the store, was a little puzzled, and walked to the door of the store with some caution - the neighborhood who was planning to buy some fruit in the morning? Then send a WeChat, and then send it over by yourself, how troublesome it is to come and knock on the door.

But after opening the door, Chen Zhicheng immediately knew that something was wrong.

Because standing at the door was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue robe, with a long beard and a high crown, and wearing a badge of a professor at Zhengyi Academy.

And behind him, the four armed patrols that looked very strong, and their chest muscles seemed to have life.

"Do you mean?!"

Chen Zhicheng is not a fool either, he immediately thought of the recent TV news and the 'aura revival' mentioned by the neighbors around him - for this, he accepted it quickly, after all, even the flower goblins appeared, what else is impossible?

Was the flower goblin discovered?

Thinking of this, he immediately thought in his mind that he was going to find an opportunity to inform the flower fairy to hide, or let her leave quickly, but by coincidence, it seemed that he sensed something, and the flower fairy who had been staying upstairs quietly flew down the stairs and looked at the door curiously.

Chen Zhicheng reluctantly found that the professor had also seen the flower fairy.

"Chiefs...... Please, what's ...... this?"

Squeezing out a smile, Chen Zhicheng, who was extremely uneasy and apprehensive in his heart, didn't know what to do, so he could only forcibly grab the words and block the five people at the door, and behind his back, he frantically gestured to the flower goblin, signaling the other party to leave quickly.

But the professor smiled and sighed softly: "Mr. Chen, don't worry. ”

"We came here on purpose, although it is true that it is for the sake of your flower fairy, or the flower fairy, but we have no intention of doing you any harm."

After a while, both sides sat down at the table.

"Don't look at us so nervously, care is chaotic, Mr. Chen, think about it carefully, why should we take away your partner?"

The professor who introduced himself as Zhang Fucheng comforted Chen Zhicheng, who was obviously too nervous, and the middle-aged professor had a calm voice, looking up at the flower fairy lying on top of the man's head, with a sense of comfort: "You have to understand that fairy creatures like flower fairies are not special people, and they can't gain their trust at all, not only do we not have this plan, but we also don't have the ability to abduct her." ”

"Actually, we're here just to confirm your partnership and get you to sign this contract."

At this time, Chen Zhicheng had already finished reading the contract in front of him - the contract was very simple, it was to ensure that the flower goblin would not go out to make trouble and affect other people, and if his flower goblin partner did something bad, because of the loss caused by the trouble, then he would be responsible for compensation.

"But, Professor Zhang, I don't really understand why ......"

But it was precisely because it was too simple that Chen Zhicheng was a little confused: "This contract actually has no constraints and influences at all - I originally planned to do this!" ”

Could it be that the flower fairy has broken something, and she can't make it pay?

"Nope." Professor Zhang shook his head, and he denied the claim: "The contract is a ritual and an attitude, and we believe that you and your goblin companions will not be evil—but as a 'potential transcendent', this 'law-abiding' and 'orderly' attitude is crucial. ”

Saying this, Zhang Fucheng leaned forward, and he said in a serious tone: "You must know, Mr. Chen, the world has begun to change. ”

In this regard, Chen Zhicheng, who was still a little dazed, could only subconsciously nod: "Ah, I know ......"

After the questioning, Zhang Fucheng's sitting posture returned to normal, and his tone was still the same as before, calm and serious: "So, Zhengguo official, I don't want any 'possible transcendent' to have a grudge. After all, in this era of change, who knows if you will become a powerful transcendent in the future? ”

"Even if we can't, we won't make an abrupt move - a thousand dollars buy horse bones, although it is a bit hurtful to say, you are not at this level for the time being, but even if it is just for the sake of the many awakened people in the future, including you, and have some centripetal force on our country as a whole, we will never do the kind of thing you imagined."

Opening his mouth, speechless, Chen Zhicheng replied a little blankly when he felt that the flower fairy on the top of his head seemed to be pulling his hair to play: "Well, I know ......."

Professor Zhang seemed to be very satisfied with Chen Zhicheng's attitude, he nodded, and said seriously: "So, not only for you but also for your companions, you should do more." Mr. Chen, you must know that flower fairies, or flower fairies, are spirits born of the spirit of plants and trees, and they are naturally kind, and as spirits, they are the most friendly kind. ”

"It is your responsibility to take care of this extremely human-friendly anomaly. If you are unable to fulfill your responsibilities, even if it will be bad for you and your fellow flower elf, we will do it for you. ”

Saying this, Zhang Fucheng took out another white form and handed it to Chen Zhicheng: "In a few days, go to the location on this address, and the Hongcheng Security Bureau will come to test your talent - your talent should be grass and trees, otherwise, your overflowing aura will not give birth to flower fairies." ”

"That's pretty much it, we have a lot of experience in caring for small transcendent creatures, and you can also go to the classes run by the Security Bureau and live up to her trust in you. Here's a handbook for taking care of the plant spirits, so remember to read it carefully and don't make your partner feel uncomfortable. ”

"By the way, if you don't mind, you might consider joining the General Security Service - we are short of a gifted and kind-hearted would-be awakened like you to take care of all kinds of spiritual plants and plants that may arise...... Trust us, joining the official is definitely the right choice. ”

"Hmm...... I know. After taking the booklet, Chen Zhicheng's voice even trembled a little when he said this.

"Babble!"

At this moment, the flower fairy seemed to feel Chen Zhicheng's agitated mood, so she suddenly stood up angrily, gestured several times at Zhang Fucheng, and let out an undulating babbling sound.

"Hello."

As for the anger of the little goblin flower fairy, how could Zhang Fucheng, who was a professor and a former high-level mage, care? He smiled at the flower fairy, revealing his shiny white teeth, which could be regarded as a greeting.

Subdue demons and eliminate demons, wrath and law, then you have to face demons, who would be angry with a little cutie like a goblin?

“…… Thank you very much. ”

Finally, Chen Zhicheng, who had finally calmed down, let out a breath, he showed a sincere smile, and then stood up and bowed deeply to the middle-aged man in front of him.

"I know it all...... Thank you very much. ”

"Thank you so much for bringing me new options."

"No thanks."

The reply was: "If you are willing to join us and choose to protect our common world, then we need to thank you as well." ”

But at this time, Chen Zhicheng, who was bowing, had already shed tears, and big tears rolled down the table, I don't know if it was bitterness or the joy of finally being recognized.

"Really, thank you very much."

- Reiki revival, the world of change, brings impermanence.

In the darkness, shadows float, stars are chaotic, and demons are born.

Life is like gravel in the sea, involuntarily ups and downs, the future is uncertain, and no one knows where to go.

But beneath the light, there is still the spread of goodwill that stems from order.

Just as the heart of the same person is not all selfish, there is always something that will give others warmth to themselves, and will make people choose to believe in hope, continue to strengthen their beliefs, strengthen their own wishes, and walk on the road they want to walk.

——In this new era, I hope that everyone can have hope in their hearts——

- Volume 1: The Resurrection of the Spirits, End