Dressed in a black suit and carrying a matching briefcase, he strode purposefully from the back row of the bus to the rear exit where passengers disembarked.

The door opened precisely as he arrived. Whether the driver had accidentally pulled too close to the curb or last night’s spring rain had suddenly energized the plants, causing them to flourish a bit too vigorously—several branches bursting with plump pink-white blossoms suddenly thrust through the door as it swung open!

Like several lush, flower-laden arms, those branches instantly lunged toward the nearest man—the one dressed in a black suit!

“Ah!” Several female students seated by the door across the aisle couldn’t help but cry out in unison.

Initially startled by the sudden intrusion of the branches, their expressions quickly shifted from shock to momentary awe as they lifted their heads to fully take in the scene before them—

Simply put, the sight before them was… too… unbelievable!?

Pinkish-white blossoms filled every inch of space outside the door. The flowering tree stood in its peak bloom, branches densely packed with interconnected blooms—no green leaves, no visible branches, only flowers in full splendor!

And the man standing by the door, preparing to step out, was the sole figure against this floral canvas.

Until this very moment, none of the girls had even noticed this man was on the bus.

A well-fitted black suit accentuated his upright posture. He tilted his head slightly, his complexion luminous white. Narrow eyes framed by long lashes gazed downward, the depths of his dark pupils unfathomable. The tilt of his head fully revealed his straight nose bridge and jawline. Paired with his now-rare, silky long hair—originally pulled back in a precise ponytail—the swift turn of his head sent the ends flinging through the air in a perfect arc.

Accompanied by an alluring floral fragrance—

Hmm… The door opened, and the scent of flowers poured in…

At this scene, the girls were utterly mesmerized.

Yet the magical moment was swiftly shattered—by the young man himself, the very “figure in the painting.”

His turn of the head had been to dodge an oncoming flower branch. After sidestepping one branch, he casually flicked it out the car door with his right hand. Immediately afterward, he used that same hand to tuck three more branches back inside. His movements were exceptionally practiced, his strength perfectly measured—he managed to tuck the flowers back without breaking a single stem, not even a single petal falling. After swiftly handling the flowers, he stepped out of the bus in two strides. Instead of walking away immediately, he paused to offer a hand to the elderly woman disembarking behind him. Instantly, their figures were swallowed by the stream of passengers exiting behind them. The doors closed. Were it not for a few stubborn flower branches still brushing against the glass, the girls might have thought the entire scene was a dream.

But those few seconds were enough to steady their racing hearts.

Lifting their heads to exchange knowing glances, they shared a smile before whispering among themselves:

“Oh my gosh! That guy was so handsome! But did you actually remember what he looked like?”

“Not at all! But wait, could it be that it wasn’t him being handsome, but the location being perfect?”

“Huh?”

“The light! The backdrop! Did you notice how low the flowers were blooming over there? Pure white with a hint of pink. Together, they were like a natural reflector—so photogenic!”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, you’re totally right!”

“So, should we take this same bus tomorrow? Same time, same stop as before. Then we can take pictures of each other, okay? We’ll totally capture that same vibe as that guy!”

“Wow! Yes, yes! I never would’ve noticed if you hadn’t pointed it out—we stumbled upon such an amazing photo spot! Quick, quick, let’s come back several times while the flowers are in bloom. We’ll definitely capture the perfect photos of our lives!”

On the bus, the girls’ attention barely lingered on the man from earlier. It swiftly shifted to what to wear tomorrow, which bag to pair with it, and whether they should apply light makeup to look better in their photos.

Off the bus, the man bid farewell to the elderly woman he’d just helped disembark, then immediately headed in the opposite direction from the departing vehicle.

A strap still hung from his handbag as he slung the black bag diagonally across his shoulder. Walking beneath trees whose branches drooped heavy with white blossoms, he seemed to step into spring itself.

No wonder so many blossoms had peered through the bus doors when it stopped. The road was narrow, and with spring in full bloom, the dense branches blocked most of the already limited space. Chunhua Road was one of the bus stops least favored by the drivers of the departing Route 145.

Indeed, that stop was “Chunhua Road Station,” and the road the man was now walking along was Chunhua Road itself.

This was an old road in the Old City District, and among the streets in this area, Chunhua Road was actually the widest. It was precisely because of its width that the bus stop had been placed here back in the day.

Chunhua Road wasn’t particularly long, and the man soon reached its end. Turning at the terminus, he stepped onto Chunhua Branch Road.

Much like the white-flowered trees that dominated the landscape here, the road layout branched out extensively. Centering around the main artery of “Chunhua Road,” smaller, narrower streets like “Chunhua Branch Road,” “Chunhua First Road,” and others extended outward in different directions.

Driving was even more inconvenient here, but transportation remained accessible. Beyond buses, various other modes of transport were available. Even without public transit, walking could take you to many lively spots, and cycling opened up even more destinations.

In other words, this area was essentially the central urban district.

Well… the central “old” urban district, perhaps.

Turning into an alley off Chunhua Branch Road, the man entered an even narrower lane. Street signs on both sides displayed their name: “South Chunhua Branch Road.”

Like the main Chunhua Road and its side roads outside, this lane was lined with lush white flowering trees. Perhaps due to better sunlight here during the day, the blossoms seemed even more abundant than elsewhere. Scattered along the roadside stood several people, each holding a large broom. They weren’t sweeping trash, but the thick layer of white petals blanketing the path.

These individuals were clearly residents living nearby.

The man who happened to walk here was obviously one of them, too.

Almost the moment he arrived, someone spotted him. Pausing their sweeping, the people who had been cleaning all smiled and greeted him cheerfully—

“A-Zhi, off work already?”

“A-Zhi, have you eaten dinner yet?”

“A-Zhi, you found yourself a great job! Your off-work time is the same every day—much more regular than my A-De’s job!”

The man responded with familiar greetings:

“Good day, Uncle Zhang.”

“Good afternoon, Auntie Li. I’ve already eaten.”

“Hello, Grandma Sun. Accounting work is indeed more predictable, though it doesn’t pay as well as Ah De’s job. But it has more prospects.”

Just as others seemed to know him well, the man clearly knew everyone present.

Though his face appeared somewhat detached, even cold, his manners were impeccable. He exchanged pleasantries with everyone there, greeting even strangers with brief introductions and small talk before continuing on his leisurely pace.

It must be said, even with his cool demeanor, his first impression was exceptionally favorable.

So much so that Neighbor A, who had just met him, watched him depart before immediately scurrying over to the longest-residing old-timer on the street—the elderly woman the man had just addressed as “Grandma Sun.” Lowering her voice, she quietly inquired about the man.

The purpose? Well… it was that inevitable task for people of this age: “finding matches for their own children and the children of acquaintances.”

“…My third sister’s colleague’s brother has a daughter who just graduated. She asked me to keep an eye out for a potential match. You know, favors and such. You know how it is. That young man over there seemed like a decent fellow. Dear sister, I’ve just moved here and don’t know much about him. Would you mind telling me more about him?”

The broom tip swept over the flower pile as the newcomer quietly sought advice from the old lady.

The old lady narrowed her eyes, then replied after a moment:

“A-Zhi—I’ve watched that boy grow up, you could say. Well… not quite from birth, but he moved here when he was a teenager, with his parents and younger siblings. The kid himself is beyond reproach—always had a good nature, did well in school, and now has a stable job. Works nine to five every day, no overtime, doesn’t go out partying.”

Hearing this, the newcomer leaned in closer, her eyes brimming with anticipation. “And what about his parents?”

The old lady narrowed her eyes again, as if recalling something. “His parents are decent folks, too. His father’s honest and easygoing, his mother warm and generous, always focused on the kids’ education.”

Good parents? That made it even more promising. Eyes lighting up, the new neighbor pressed on: “What about his siblings?”

“They’re good too. A-Zhi has a younger brother and a younger sister. Both are fair-skinned, honest kids. I hear they’re all good students. The brother should have graduated by now, right? The little sister might not have graduated yet, but she should be close. I hear they’re both students at prestigious universities. The jobs they’ll get in the future shouldn’t be too shabby either.”

Siblings with high IQs and good jobs = No need to worry about them being dead weight in the future! This kid is worth pursuing!

At this thought, the new neighbor’s heart warmed. Such a wonderful child—why introduce him to the daughter of his colleague’s brother? Keep him for two more years, and he could be perfect for her own little girl!

So next, the new neighbor didn’t even bother picking up the broom. She threw it down and clasped Grandma Sun’s wrinkled little hand with her plump, warm hands, saying enthusiastically: “Sounds like a great kid! But think about it—with such a perfect child, surely there must be some flaw?”

Grandma Sun narrowed her eyes again, then slowly replied after a long pause, “Flaws? There really aren’t many. Just one…”

“Just one flaw? Out with it!” The new neighbor couldn’t wait.

Then, she heard the elderly woman, a full head shorter than herself, speak with deliberate slowness:

“Personally, I can’t find any faults with A-Zhi. But since you’re here to discuss matchmaking, I must consider the child’s shortcomings from that perspective.”

“If I really had to think of a flaw from a matchmaking perspective, I suppose it would be his living situation?”

“Huh?”

Seeing the new neighbor freeze in surprise, Grandma Sun sighed. “This child is wonderful in every way, but his home is simply too small.”

“I heard his mother bought this place back then specifically for the school district. I get that property prices are high around here, so buying a small place makes sense. But the flat she bought is just ridiculously tiny—the smallest in our whole neighborhood, I hear. Only three square meters, about the size of a bathroom. With such a big family, I figured they’d rent another place eventually. But no, the whole family just stays crammed in there, year after year. You see, all three kids used this house’s school district to graduate, and they’re still living there. Sigh, I just don’t get what his mom is thinking. They all seem like hardworking people, not like they can’t save up to move. Three square meters for five grown people—how can they live like that…”

Listening to Grandma Sun, the new neighbor’s mouth grew wider and wider. Before Grandma Sun could finish her sentence, a soft “pop” sounded as the chubby little hand and the wrinkled little hand parted.

The new neighbor pulled her hand away from Granny Sun’s grasp.

Picking up the broom again from the ground, the new neighbor never mentioned arranging a match for the man ever again.

“Sweeping! Sweeping!” She busily swept up the fallen petals.

Her slightly rough movements stirred the petals on the ground, making them swirl like a heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the events unfolding behind him, the man had already entered the last apartment building at the end of the alley. The building showed its age, yet it was well-maintained. Though lacking an elevator, all the light bulbs in the stairwell were intact. Even as dusk deepened, the steps remained clearly visible.

Climbing to the second floor, he walked along the connecting corridor. Motion-sensor lights flickered on and off overhead. When only the bulb at the far end remained lit, the man stopped before a door.

Judging by the dense row of doors lining the corridor, the apartments here were undoubtedly small.

This, then, was the tiny three-square-meter dwelling the old woman had described.

He pulled out his key, turned it, pulled open the door, and stepped inside.