A customer ordered 99,999 roses at a flower market early Wednesday morning, resulting in an instant supply shortage and a price hike, reports Beijing Times.

"The man was about 30 years old and simply dressed," said a sister of Liu Xiaoyong, whose 24-hour flower shop in the Laitai Market received the patron at about 2 am.

Liu began to send people out to buy roses from around the market at daybreak. The price of a bunch of 20 roses increased from between 10-15 yuan (US$1.20-1.90) to 25 yuan (US$3.00) by the afternoon.

When asked what the roses would be used for, Liu said he was sworn to secrecy. But a worker at his store said they were a gift for somebody's wedding.

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