DAEYTT ## Chapter 40: How Are Those Flowers Doing?

Clap, clap, clap...

After hearing Wang Qian's words, even before hearing the new song, the audience began to applaud. Especially the young women, who clapped enthusiastically. 

"Those Flowers..." 

The title itself resonated deeply, as if it was speaking directly to them. These modern young women, brimming with confidence, could easily see themselves in any beautiful description.

Ding ding ding...

Wang Qian's fingers began to lightly strum the guitar. A gentle melody flowed out, spreading through the sound system and filling the entire cafe, both inside and outside.

The applause quickly ceased. The murmurs gradually faded away. All eyes in the cafe turned towards Wang Qian, with numerous phones pointed at him, recording.

Sophie held her chin in her hands, pausing her meal. Her livestream focused on Wang Qian, making her feel like an outsider, watching alongside tens of thousands of viewers. She felt as though Wang Qian was glowing, drawing all her attention to him.

Qin Xuerong took out her phone and started recording a video, a warm smile on her face. She turned to Tang Feifei and said, "Feifei, take a break. Listen to the song your boss wrote for you."

Tang Feifei smiled, "I can't. I'm working!"

Tang Feifei often joked with Wang Qian, seeming casual and relaxed. But deep down, she held immense respect for him. She knew Wang Qian trusted her and the other veterans immensely, letting them run things while he took a back seat. In return, their salaries had significantly increased, reaching tens of thousands a year, rivaling high-level white-collar workers in Shanghai.

From a dropout working odd jobs, she had become a success story—all thanks to Wang Qian. So, the more he gave them, the harder she worked to repay him, treating the cafe as her own business.

None of the staff stopped to listen to the song Wang Qian had dedicated to them. They continued bustling around the cafe, their hearts touched but unwilling to pause.

Qin Xuerong didn't dwell on it. She placed her phone on the counter to continue recording Wang Qian and then went back to helping Tang Feifei with some tasks.

Outside, a crowd of over a thousand gathered, straining to hear the new song. Some internet celebrities, unable to enter the cafe, were livestreaming the outside scene, drawing large audiences.

Wang Qian's soft voice began to fill the air.

"Those laughing voices remind me of my flowers.

They quietly bloomed in every corner of my life.

I once thought I would stay by their side forever.

Today we are scattered in the vast sea of people.

They must have aged... 

Where are they now...

Fortunately, I once accompanied them as they bloomed."

His voice, like a gentle stream, flowed into everyone's ears. Each person seemed to see an old, yellowed photo in their mind's eye, filling it with memories. Most were from their school days, with smiling faces now scattered across the country.

"La la la la... la la la la... miss her...

La la la la... la la la la... is she still blooming...

La la la la... la la la la... go on...

They have been blown away by the wind, scattered to the ends of the earth..."

Wang Qian's voice pierced many listeners' hearts, stirring up memories and a sense of melancholy. Sophie wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. She felt like one of those flowers in the song, having drifted away from school, now leading her own life. 

Many emotional listeners, both men and women, began to cry, thinking of old friends or past loves.

Wang Qian paused briefly, then continued.

"Some stories, if left unfinished, are better left that way.

Those feelings, lost in the years, are hard to discern.

Now this place is overgrown with weeds, with no flowers in sight.

Thankfully, I had you in my spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

They must have aged... where are they now...

Fortunately, I once accompanied them as they bloomed...

La la la la, la la la la, miss her.

La la la la, la la la la, is she still blooming...

La la la la, la la la la, go on...

They have been blown away by the wind, scattered to the ends of the earth."

Sophie's livestream viewership skyrocketed, surpassing one hundred thousand and breaking her previous records. It momentarily placed her among the top streamers on the platform. But she was too engrossed in the song to notice, a tear-streaked face focused solely on Wang Qian.

The chat was flooded with comments and gifts from viewers.

"Listening to this song, I found an old photo of my first love from college and just broke down. She's a mother now, and I'm still single. I used to wish she'd have a bad life, but now I sincerely hope she's happy."

"The boss's music always touches the heart. This song is especially emotional. I found myself crying without realizing it."

"The title 'Those Flowers' is beautiful, the lyrics are beautiful, and the singing is beautiful. Please upload it soon; I want to download it."

"The boss truly puts his heart into his music. Love his work."

Discussions about Wang Qian's new song quickly spread across social media. Internet celebrities who were at the scene seized the opportunity to comment on the song, drawing even more attention.

"The boss's new song, 'Those Flowers,' made me cry. Many people at the scene were moved to tears. It’s really beautiful."

"Those Flowers, where are the flowers you once had? The boss's poignant performance triggers a wave of nostalgia!"

"Shocking, thousands cry at Haidilao..."

"Stunning, Haidilao boss causes a thousand people to weep..."

Although these were just some small-time internet celebrities trying to gain attention, their fans and followers, while not many, still brought some buzz to Wang Qian.

Many who saw the news rushed to Wang Qian's Weibo to leave comments.

### In Shanghai

In a top-tier apartment, Li Qingyao sat on her sofa, watching the live stream on her tablet—it was Sophie's stream. She watched the man in the center of the screen, sitting with a guitar, softly singing. Tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably. She kept pulling out tissues to wipe her eyes, which were already red, but the tears wouldn't stop.

As Wang Qian’s song reached its conclusion:

"You are like those flowers, blown away to the ends of the earth.

They must have aged... are they still blooming?

We have all gone our separate ways..."

Ding ding ding!

The last few notes rang out and then abruptly stopped. Wang Qian stood up slowly, his handsome face full of nostalgic weariness, his eyes filled with deep, heartfelt emotion.

Li Qingyao couldn't hold back any longer and burst into tears, burying her head in her knees.

Sobbing sounds filled the room.

Li Qingyao, trembling, took out her phone, wanting to message Wang Qian. But as she looked at his profile picture through her tears, she finally put the phone down. She knew it was too late. Like a flower blown away from his side, they were now worlds apart, even though they were still in the same city. She knew Wang Qian could never accept her again, and her own pride wouldn't let her go back.

### In the Live Stream

Wang Qian stood up, holding his guitar, and bowed slightly to everyone. His voice, as clear and calming as his song, echoed: "Those Flowers, thank you all for listening. Please enjoy your meal..."

With that, Wang Qian put away the microphone and chair and walked toward the bar. The crowd erupted into applause, like a flood.

Li Qingyao gently sobbed, stopping her tears for a moment, and softly clapped her hands.

Clap clap clap...

Inside and outside the restaurant, applause filled the air. All the diners stood up and clapped vigorously for Wang Qian. He turned back to everyone, nodded again, and waved: "Please, enjoy your meal. There are many more friends waiting."

He turned and walked towards the back room. As he entered, Qin Xuerong, with her red, tear-stained eyes, rushed over and hugged his waist, pressing her head against his chest: "You sang beautifully."

Wang Qian, arms outstretched, gently patted her head with his right hand and smiled: "Thank you, now let go of me."

"Oh!" Qin Xuerong reluctantly pulled away, rubbing her head against his hand, then quickly turned and left, her face flushed: "I’ll go help Sister Feifei."

Wang Qian smiled and went into the back room, greeting each staff member, who were all delighted, occasionally joking with him. He then spoke to Li Yan earnestly: "Yan Zi, for the next few months, don't work in the back room. Spend more time learning from Sister Feifei on how to manage the store."

Li Yan was stunned, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, followed by worry and self-doubt: "Boss, can I do it? I only finished the second year of high school..."

Li Yan had dropped out of high school to work and had been with Wang Qian for over five years. In Shanghai, where bachelor's and master's degree holders were everywhere, she felt very self-conscious and had always done the toughest back-room work silently.

Wang Qian patted her shoulder: "Of course you can. I believe in you. Sister Feifei only finished high school too, just one year more than you. Read more books and enrich yourself, but mainly accumulate experience. And remember, the core principle of Haidilao."

Li Yan immediately responded seriously: "The customer is king, and we must satisfy all their reasonable and legal needs with a smile!"

"Exactly. Keep it up! You have at most six months to learn. The new store will open by the end of the year, and you'll be in charge."

Wang Qian nodded approvingly.

Li Yan's eyes sparkled with determination, and she nodded vigorously: "Okay, boss, I’ll do my best!"

"Alright, I’m leaving now."

Wang Qian smiled, ready to slip away.

Tang Feifei quickly approached from the front: "Boss, the people who want to invest in and buy our store are here again. They say they’re from Zhongyuan Group. Will you see them?"

Wang Qian was inclined to refuse. Zhongyuan Group was one of the major restaurant chains in China. But he was curious about what offer they would make, so he nodded: "Alright, bring them to my office. I'll see them!"

Tang Feifei nodded and left.

Wang Qian called out: "Get Qin Xuerong over here."

Tang Feifei: "Got it."


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