Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1552 - 746

At midday in summer, the sea breeze rolled the heat wave along as it swept over the low, cluttered rooftops of the East Capital Old Port District.

Down toward the harbor, gantry cranes rose and dipped under the scorching sun, and in the distance, cargo ships let out deep, muffled whistles.

Among this stretch of old, mottled brick houses, the six-story gray-and-white building at New Port Alley No. 8 stood out strikingly.

On the sixth-floor open-air terrace, blooming bougainvillea climbed along the carved iron railings, spreading wildly.

Great cascades of purple-red flowers swayed in the wind like hanging silk.

Beside them, several dwarf roses and carnations were in full blossom as well, releasing a rich, sweet fragrance.

At this moment, a slim, graceful figure was squatting in front of two pots of camellias.

She wore a sunhat, a light blue cotton-linen short-sleeved shirt faded from washing, and a clean dustproof apron tied around her waist.

Sometimes she pinched a delicate brass pruning shear to cut away the yellowing leaves; sometimes she parted the overlapping branches, carefully checking the tiny wormholes hidden on the backs of the leaves.

Sunlight fell across her fair, jade-like profile, lighting up the fine beads of sweat at her temple until they gleamed.

"Phew——"

She let out a long breath, set down the pruning shears, and lifted the back of her hand to gently wipe her forehead.

"Done. Now they should look a bit more spirited."

Zhou Xiumei’s face curved into a smile. Then she straightened up and turned her head.

Between the open terrace and the main office on the sixth floor stretched an entire wall of frameless floor-to-ceiling glass.

The indoor air conditioning couldn’t quite reach outside, but with no blinds blocking it, the view was perfectly clear.

Sunlight streamed through the glass, slanting down onto the wool-carpeted floor.

In the office stood a set of steady, imposing leather sofas and solid wood bookshelves.

On the wall behind the redwood boss’s desk hung a horizontal scroll with the bold ink characters "Magnificent Prospects Ahead."

And beside the reception area, a nearly two-meter-long ecological aquascape tank was quietly humming with circulating water.

The water inside was crystal clear; two robust, golden arowanas glided slowly among the aquatic plants.

Their golden scales glittered under the lights, and trailing behind them was a school of pure white silver arowanas, whose swaying tails made for quite a grand sight.

"Brother Cheng’s workout isn’t over yet. Looks like I’ll have to wait a while longer."

Zhou Xiumei murmured under her breath, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

Her gaze landed on another potted plant by her feet.

It was a pot of double-petaled jasmine. The leaves were emerald green, and the branches were laden with plump, pearly white buds, sending out waves of subtle, sweet fragrance.

Ever since she’d heard Aunt Li nagging half a month ago, saying that Fang Cheng and his friends had opened an import-export trading company at the Jinshui Fish Market, curiosity had been lodged in Zhou Xiumei’s heart.

These past weeks, Fang Cheng had rarely gone back to Old Factory Street; chances to see him had been few and far between.

Unable to hold back her thoughts, Zhou Xiumei called him to ask what was going on.

After getting Fang Cheng’s permission, she’d come here following the address, her mood jittery yet full of anticipation.

The first time she stepped onto this sprawling open-air terrace and saw potted greenery scattered all over the floor, she simply couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes.

Back home she already loved fussing over flowers and plants—pleasing to the eye, and good for easing boredom.

Now that she’d found this little haven, of course she was utterly taken with it.

These days, whenever the agency didn’t have training or vocal practice scheduled, she would head over to Morning Star Trade to help tend these pampered potted plants.

Of course, there was also a certain woman’s reason mixed in there.

As for this pot of double-petaled jasmine in front of her, she’d specially made a trip to the flower market this morning to pick it out and bring it back.

Zhou Xiumei bent down, firmly lifted the heavy purple clay flowerpot with both hands, and stepped toward the sensor glass door.

The glass door slid smoothly open to both sides, and a rush of refreshing cool air came at her, chasing away the heat clinging to her body.

She lightened her footsteps and walked up to the broad redwood desk, setting the pot down steadily on the right-hand side, near the wooden pen holder.

Zhou Xiumei took half a step back to gauge it, then leaned in again and rotated the pot clockwise by one-third.

This way, the cluster of white blossoms in fullest bloom would face directly toward the main leather-backed chair.

"Jasmine... don’t part."

She murmured under her breath, as if a little deer had bumped around inside her chest; her cheeks grew faintly warm.

This flower not only carried lovely meanings, but its natural fragrance could soothe the nerves and dispel fatigue.

When Brother Cheng was handling company affairs or doing coursework, he was bound to rack his brains sitting at the desk. With this pot of flowers by his side, it should help perk him up and ease some of the pressure.

Once the pot was positioned just right, Zhou Xiumei smiled in satisfaction.

She casually took a clean cloth from the pocket of her apron and lowered her head to carefully wipe the desk surface and the chair back.

Just then, footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Steady, powerful strides in front, followed by a crisp clatter of high heels on the floor.

Zhou Xiumei’s movements paused, and she turned around.

The heavy office doorframe was pushed open, and Fang Cheng walked in first.

He was wearing a simple black cotton T-shirt and gray workout shorts, a white towel draped over his head, and dampness still clung to the hairline at his temples from a recent shower.

His muscles filled out the T-shirt with clear, defined lines, his whole body exuding the vigorous energy of someone who’d just finished exercising.

"Brother Cheng, you’re done with your workout?"

Zhou Xiumei’s eyes lit up. She folded the cloth and set it aside, moving half a step closer to meet him.

"Mm, just got the body warmed up."

Fang Cheng smiled and nodded, reaching up to take the towel from his neck and wipe at his nape:

"How are the flowers coming along?"

"Almost done. I’ve trimmed all the branches and leaves outside."

Before Zhou Xiumei finished speaking, the corner of her eye caught the figure walking in behind Fang Cheng, and her breath hitched ever so slightly.