SAG -Chapter 26 Qingxiang Orchids

Without realizing it, Zhang Ran wandered into a flower and bird market.

As he looked around at the various flowers and plants, he thought about Zhang Sicheng’s home.

After a moment’s consideration, he began strolling through the market.

Because of the game, Zhang Ran had always been naturally interested in plants and flowers, making him quite knowledgeable about them.

However, none of the flowers being sold caught his eye.

He hadn’t come to buy flowers anyway.

What he really wanted were the flowerpots and a good disguise.

After making a full round of the market, he finally purchased three pots of orchids for nearly 2,000 yuan.

The orchids themselves were fairly ordinary.

The real value lay in the quality of the pots.

With nothing else to do, Zhang Ran carried the three pots home.

Once he got back, he removed the original orchids and tossed them straight into the drain.

They nearly clogged the plumbing.

Then he looked at the simple game interface floating in his mind.

Its energy bar was completely full.

After thinking for a while, he purchased three Qingxiang Orchids.

Qingxiang Orchid (Lv.2)

Growth Time: 5 days

Effect: Emits a refreshing fragrance that calms the mind and clears the head.

(Growth can be accelerated.)

Zhang Ran planted the seedlings into the new pots.

Then he bought several bags of accelerated-growth fertilizer.

Within moments, the orchids grew at an astonishing speed.

Leaves unfolded.

Stalks stretched upward.

Flower buds bloomed.

Soon, a gentle fragrance began spreading throughout the room.

The faint scent instantly calmed one’s restless thoughts.

Zhang Ran wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

Although he had possessed little energy in the past, he had purchased many items from the game before.

Scenes like this were nothing new to him.

As for the growth fertilizer, he wasn’t particularly excited about it either.

It only worked on items produced by the game.

On ordinary plants, it was no different from regular fertilizer.

Years ago, while he was in the United States, he had even used cutting-edge scientific equipment to analyze it.

The results had shown absolutely nothing unusual.

It was, in every measurable way, ordinary fertilizer.

As soon as the Qingxiang Orchids bloomed, the damp, moldy odor lingering inside the apartment completely disappeared.

Only a light, refreshing floral fragrance remained.

The scent was delicate.

Yet every breath felt cool and cleansing, as though it were washing impurities from the lungs.

Zhang Ran spent some time browsing news and information on his phone.

When it was almost time, he set out to pick up his granddaughter and grandson from school.

He naturally went to Susu’s kindergarten first.

By the time he arrived, the entrance was already packed with parents.

Some chatted together.

Others stretched their necks, peering toward the school building.

Soon, school let out.

Groups of tiny children filed out under the teachers’ supervision.

Zhang Ran spotted Susu immediately.

At the same time, Susu was anxiously looking around, her large eyes filled with nervous anticipation.

The moment she saw Zhang Ran, she instinctively took two quick little steps toward him.

Then she suddenly remembered herself.

Pretending nothing had happened, she slowed to a dignified walk.

Watching the little girl’s proud yet awkward act, Zhang Ran couldn’t help laughing.

He quickly walked over, picked her up in his arms, greeted Teacher Mu, and left.

Teacher Mu watched his departing figure with undisguised envy.

Earlier that morning, she had already spoken with Zhang Siyan by phone and confirmed both Zhang Ran’s identity and his age.

She couldn’t help muttering,

“You’re a grown man. Why do you have to stay so ridiculously young?”

Naturally, Zhang Ran paid no attention to Teacher Mu’s complaint.

After picking up Susu, he headed to Taotao’s elementary school.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Taotao waiting anxiously at the gate.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!”

The little boy shouted excitedly while running toward him.

For some reason, the scene reminded Zhang Ran of The Calabash Brothers desperately rushing to rescue their grandfather.

The thought almost made him laugh.

Throwing himself into Zhang Ran’s arms, Taotao said sweetly, “Grandpa, I missed you!”

His little mouth seemed coated with honey.

“So did Grandpa.”

Zhang Ran rubbed his head.

“How was school today? You weren’t causing trouble, were you?”

“No!”

Taotao proudly puffed out his chest.

“I’m a model student!”

The three had barely walked a short distance before they stopped.

“Grandpa…”

Taotao began acting spoiled.

“I want a grilled sausage.”

Susu quietly stopped walking as well.

She didn’t say a word.

But her intentions couldn’t have been clearer.

What else could Zhang Ran do?

He could only give in.

He bought each child a grilled sausage.

Then something completely unexpected happened.

After hesitating for a moment, Susu stretched out her own sausage toward Zhang Ran.

That tiny gesture struck directly at the softest corner of his heart.

A huge smile instantly spread across his face.

He gently took a small bite before saying, “Susu is such a good girl.”

“Grandpa! Me too!”

Taotao immediately became jealous.

“You can have mine too!”

“Haha, alright, alright.”

Zhang Ran laughed heartily.

“Taotao is a wonderful boy too.”

At that moment, he felt like buying the entire sausage stand.

Even after they returned home, the smile never left Zhang Ran’s face.

That day, both Liu Lu and Zhang Sicheng came home unusually early.

Liu Lu finished work sooner because Wang Jiajia had eagerly helped complete most of her tasks.

As for Zhang Sicheng…

There simply wasn’t much work left.

Rumors were spreading throughout the company.

Signs of instability were appearing everywhere.

Hardly anyone was focused on working anymore.

The moment they entered the apartment, both of them caught a faint floral fragrance.

The scent was subtle.

Yet it lingered pleasantly.

Almost instinctively, they both took a deep breath.

Immediately, they felt refreshed.

The exhaustion from an entire day’s work seemed to fade noticeably.

“You’re both home so early today?”

Zhang Ran asked with some surprise.

“We weren’t too busy today.”

Liu Lu then noticed the three orchid pots.

“Did you buy these orchids?”

Zhang Ran nodded.

“I happened to visit the flower market today. Since the apartment didn’t have any plants for decoration, I bought a few.”

“What kind of orchids are they?”

Liu Lu leaned closer and inhaled deeply.

“They smell wonderful. You really have good taste.”

“They’re called Qingxiang Orchids.”

Zhang Ran answered vaguely.

“They’re not particularly famous.”

Since Liu Lu was already home, Zhang Ran didn’t need to cook.

While she prepared dinner, Zhang Sicheng and Zhang Ran sat on the sofa chatting.

They talked about whatever came to mind.

Neither of them wanted the atmosphere to become awkwardly quiet.

Meanwhile, Taotao tore around the apartment like a whirlwind.

Ever since receiving all those new toys, he became completely absorbed in playing the moment he got home.

Only after Liu Lu sternly scolded him when dinner was ready did he obediently put everything away, wash his hands, and sit down to eat.

Susu, by comparison, was remarkably well-behaved.

No one needed to remind her.

She quietly sat at the table.

She didn’t even touch her chopsticks until the adults began eating.

Only then did she politely pick them up and eat in small, delicate bites.