Ch 124: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

【I smell the fragrance! It’s really fragrant!】

In the holographic live room, countless viewers squatted in front of that white-and-green flower bud, their expressions filled with amazement.

Mu Xing found it amusing watching this scene. “In another day or two, when the bud fully opens, that’s when the fragrance will truly come out.”

Right now, the hottest topic in the entire interstellar network was undoubtedly the gardenias.

Ever since viewers discovered that not only the little flower patch planted by Mu Xing himself, but also the other gardenias planted by the Mu family and the robots had begun budding, everyone was shocked.

What followed was a frenzy across the galaxy to buy up gardenias!

Even the ones planted by robots could bloom, so maybe it was the seedlings themselves?

Maybe I can grow them too?

No matter the result, better to buy first!

Within less than a month, the price of gardenia trees had multiplied several dozen times, yet it still couldn’t dampen people’s buying enthusiasm.

Daily conversations couldn’t escape the topic either.

Of course, among all the viewers in the live room, the happiest was none other than Fu Yunrong. Because Mu Xing had personally promised to gift her a pot of gardenias.

Hehe!

*

The Mu family had been very busy recently.

Except for Mu Xing—who had been frail and sickly since childhood, rarely went out, and had almost no friends—the other three’s communicators had practically been blown up.

All kinds of relatives and acquaintances, close and distant alike, were contacting them enthusiastically.

The words sounded polite, but stripped down, the meaning was simple: they wanted gardenias.

This kind of thing had happened long ago, when the rose first appeared.

But that rose was simply too shocking, too rare. Even for a wealthy giant like the Mu family, it was enough to be a family heirloom. Everyone knew there was no chance, at best they hoped to pluck one or two blossoms if they were lucky.

Now it was different.

So many gardenias—tens of hundreds, stretching for miles along both sides of the road.

At the very least, there were several thousand plants.

I might not deserve a rose, but surely I can get one gardenia?

Among these people, the more “decent” ones were willing to pay.

The shameless ones wanted them for free, using connections to mooch.

Mu Rongrong hung up a call and sneered. “Xiao Jinwei actually had the face to ask?”

Mu Yue turned and asked, “She wants to buy flowers too?”

Mu Rongrong took a sip of water, suppressing the anger rising in her chest. “Buy? She wasn’t planning to spend a cent. She said Mu Lin wants to run for the next ruling governor of the main star and needs to network. Since we’re all part of the Mu family, it’s only right for us to contribute. If Mu Lin really succeeds, it’d be a huge benefit to us too.”

Mu Yue burst out laughing. “Benefit? You mean like the benefit of kicking us out to Red Moon Star? No thanks.”

She tilted her head curiously. “That Madam Xiao never looked at us properly before. How much did she ask for this time? With her standards, she wouldn’t lower herself for just a few dozen pots, right?”

“Dozens?” Mu Rongrong glared at her daughter deliberately. “Are you underestimating Madam Xiao? Dozens wouldn’t even enter her eyes.”

“She asked straight up for two hundred plants! And demanded Xing personally pack them, making sure every single gardenia was in perfect condition.”

Mu Yue: “…”

Her comment: “She’s dreaming.”

Mu Rongrong: “Exactly. I gave her a smile and hung up right away.”

She added mischievously, “I bet Madam Xiao is fuming right now, but still has to maintain her graceful lady act. Her whole face must be twisted.”

Xiao Jinwei was indeed furious.

But at the moment, nothing carried more prestige or usefulness than Mu Xing’s flowers.

Swallowing her pride, she still had to find a way to get them.

She called Mu Lin. “Mu Rongrong won’t bother with me. You think of something and go to her yourself.”

Mu Lin frowned. “She must still hold a grudge about me sending their family to Red Moon Star. I’ll definitely get shut down. I’ll think of something—maybe have Father ask instead.”

The old master listened to Mu Lin’s request. “Oh? Rongrong wasn’t willing?”

Mu Lin said in a low voice, “I know Sister has opinions about me. But this isn’t about personal matters. If I can become governor of the main star, it benefits the whole Mu family.”

“She always can’t separate things clearly.”

The old master didn’t comment, only asked, “You said Rongrong had a bad attitude and hung up on Jinwei. What exactly did Jinwei say? What did she ask for?”

Mu Lin stammered, unable to answer.

The old master understood immediately.

He shook his head. “If you’re embarrassed to even tell me, how could you have the nerve to say it to your sister?”

Before, he hadn’t agreed to Rongrong’s idea of splitting the family, but now thinking it over, the eldest daughter might not have much ability, yet her judgment of people was sharper than his own.

“Go back. I’ll ask Rongrong myself later.”

Mu Lin thought this meant the old master had agreed, so he left relieved.

The old master then sent a communication to Mu Rongrong.

But before he could say anything, Mu Rongrong cut straight in. “Dad, if you’re calling on behalf of Mu Lin and Xiao Jinwei, don’t bother. There’s nothing to talk about.”

The old master was surprised. “What did your sister-in-law say to make you so angry?”

Mu Rongrong nodded. “I knew he wouldn’t dare tell you. Xiao Jinwei doesn’t plan to spend a penny. She wanted two hundred pots of flowers from me.”

“Listen to that—can a person even say such a thing?” She clicked her tongue and shook her head.

Old Master Mu: “…”

Mu Rongrong said bluntly: “I’ll tell you the truth. Red Moon belongs to Xingxing. Every blade of grass and tree on Red Moon was bought with the money Xingxing earned from streaming. Even though I’m his mother, I have no right to dispose of anything. So no matter who it’s for, don’t ask me for anything.”

Just then, Mu Xing suddenly asked from the side: “Mom, are you talking with Grandpa? I’ll send two pots of flowers to Grandpa.”

Mu Rongrong was stunned, then laughed: “Dad, look, the child still thinks of you. Do you really have the heart to help outsiders calculate how to take what’s his?”

Old Master Mu’s eyes widened: “You’ve said everything there is to say already! Did I ever speak up for your brother? Who said I came here to ask for flowers?”

Mu Rongrong froze. Looking carefully at her father’s expression and seeing it wasn’t fake, she realized she may have overreacted, and gave an awkward cough.

Old Master Mu asked: “Where’s Mu Xing, why doesn’t he come see me? And the rest of the family?”

Mu Rongrong called the others over, turned off the privacy mode, and the whole family stood by her side, greeting Old Master Mu politely.

Old Master Mu looked at his daughter’s family, studying them for a while, then suddenly asked: “You all look in good health. Rongrong, have you maybe even gained a little weight?”

Mu Rongrong touched her own face, nervously asking Lan Xi at her side: “I gained weight? No way, right?”

Lan Xi answered gently: “No, but you do look better than when you were on the main star.”

Mu Rongrong beamed: “Xingxing said the water and soil of Red Moon nourish people. I thought he was talking nonsense, but now it seems it’s actually true.”

Mu Xing: “…”

Old Master Mu: “…”

At his age, he wasn’t particularly eager to watch his daughter and son-in-law show affection.

But a new thought did spark in his mind: “Tomorrow, I’m going to Red Moon.”

Mu Rongrong was puzzled: “Ah?”

Old Master Mu made the decision final: “Didn’t you say the water and soil nourish people? Then I’ll go nourish myself too!”

*

The first rain of the year fell on Red Moon, and Mu Xing’s gardenias bloomed.

When Mu Xing went to bed at night, it was still just a half-shy bud, its faint fragrance only beginning to drift.

By the time he woke up, the ground was damp, the dust in the air pressed down by the rain, the world fresher, the breeze carrying a cool touch.

Wearing a coat, Mu Xing hadn’t even reached the flower bed before he caught the refreshing fragrance.

Sure enough, the petals that had been shyly closed were now fully spread. The gardenia’s petals were pure and flawless white, with delicate pale yellow stamens at the center. After the night’s rain, the green leaves and petals had been washed clean, still glistening with crystal droplets.

Fresh and pure beauty.

When flowers begin to bloom, they bloom quickly. Besides this one, many more white buds were ready to open. In just a day or two, this patch would become a true “gardenia bed.”

The livestream viewership reached a new high again.

Because of Mu Xing, because of Iya stream, the StarNet’s smart system had applied for expansion several times, otherwise lag might really have occurred.

【It’s blooming, it’s blooming!】

【So fragrant, I feel dizzy from it.】

【Oh my god, so this is what gardenias smell like? I once bought perfume with a similar scent, but it wasn’t nearly this overwhelming.】

【And this is just one bloom. I see so many buds—can’t wait for the whole path to bloom.】

【I almost want to cry. Watching the roses was awe-inspiring, but this is different. I watched him plant it, watched it grow buds, and now the very first bloom. It’s like my own child.】

【This must be the joy of raising something yourself.】

【Fellow viewers, I only want to ask: those of you who bought gardenia trees, how are they now?】

【Thanks for asking, mine is still just a tree.】

【Thanks for asking, no signs of flowering at all.】

【Thanks for asking, not only no flowers, the leaves are falling off. Everything I raise dies.】

【Selling? Selling? Selling? Asking politely.】

【I want to buy too!】

Everyone thought: there are so many gardenias, and Mu Xing made it look so easy. Surely he would sell them.

Plant more, make money—why not?

But Mu Xing lightly crushed their hopes: “Not for sale.”

He smiled: “My goal is to cover the whole of Red Moon with flowers. Until that goal is achieved, no flowers will be sold.”

【…Ah, I’m so sad.】

【Besides a little disappointment, more than that I’m touched.】

【Now I really believe the streamer has a pure heart. Not everyone can hold onto their original intention in the face of such huge temptation.】

【I don’t know why, but suddenly I’m excited. I used to think this was just a fantasy. But now, somehow, I feel maybe one day it really will happen. The day when Red Moon is filled with flowers.】

【I’m already searching for pretty and hardy flowers. Once I pick, I’ll send them to Xingxing! Which means, roughly, I’ll be raising them together with Xingxing!】

【I don’t expect to buy any flowers. I’ll write a blood oath for Red Moon tourism to open early! My child wants to see a flower-filled road with their own eyes.】

【Agreed! Streamer, please open Red Moon tourism soon!】

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣