Lia, the Dorky Florist at Lotus Jade

“Yes! I think I just found my ‘Love Guru’ to help me figure out what flowers to give to girls. I’m going to have a supermodel girlfriend someday.”

–James recruiting Lia as his ‘Love Guru.’

In a quaint flower shop, blooms of every kind filled the room: roses, peonies, tulips, chrysanthemums, carnations, lilies, hydrangeas, and sunflowers. Alongside the flowers were various Chinese items—golden figurines of the Chinese Zodiac, each animal symbolizing fortune. The ever-present golden cat, the beckoning Maneki-neko, waved its paw endlessly.

Beside the cat sat a family photo in a frame—a Filipino-Chinese family dressed in red: a father, mother, big sister, and little brother, all smiling together.

The door opened with a soft chime. “Cling, clang, cling.” James stepped inside.

A girl in her mid-teens turned from her work, arranging flowers in a vase. She smiled warmly at him. “Welcome to Lotus Jade,” she greeted. “I’m Lia—short for Diana. Weird, right?” She extended her hand, which James shook without hesitation.

Lia, with her oversized glasses and a pastel-colored cardigan, had a braid falling among her loose, straight hair. She seemed slightly awkward yet genuine—a sweet and “adorkable” presence.

“Not weird at all,” James replied. “I’m James.”

“This shop was covered up with Manila paper for a while,” James commented. “I got curious and decided to check it out.”

“Yeah,” Lia said, “we just opened today. You’re our first customer.”

“Oh, really? I feel honored,” James responded with a grin.

Lia laughed lightly. “Roses have different meanings depending on their colors. Pink says, ‘Please believe me,’ red means ‘I love you,’ dark crimson is for mourning, yellow is trying to show care, white is innocence and purity. There’s also tea roses, which mean ‘I’ll remember always,’ and damask roses, the Persian ambassador of love…”

“Wow,” James said, impressed. “You really know your roses.”

Lia giggled. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t come across as a know-it-all.”

“Not at all. It’s amazing you know all that,” James assured her.

“Really?” Lia blinked, surprised.

“Yes! I think I just found my ‘Love Guru’ to help me figure out what flowers to give to girls. I’m going to have a supermodel girlfriend someday.”

Lia smiled brightly. “Then I’m on board! I’ll help you win her over.”

They both laughed together, sharing a light moment amid the flowers.