"You lunatic!" Vivian turned her head viciously, raising her hand to try the same trick again.

But Elena had already gripped her arm first, her cold eyes staring directly at the screaming Vivian.

At that moment, from the corner of her eye, she saw a black Bentley driving up.

Through the car window, she caught a glimpse of Liam’s features. In an instant, Elena felt the sound of ice melting within her heart.

Seeing Liam get out of the car, Elena let go of Vivian’s arm, her eyes slowly turning red, looking incredibly wronged.

Vivian shook her hand in pain and was just about to scream out, when Liam’s angry voice suddenly sounded from behind her.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Chapter 19: A Vow Through Flowers

Vivian froze in place, her raised hand hanging in mid-air.

Elena’s eyes were red-rimmed as she looked pitiably at Liam, the grievances in her heart no longer suppressible.

She had originally only intended to act pitiful, but the moment Liam appeared, all of her feelings burst forth.

Liam looked at Elena, who was weeping uncontrollably, his heart softening. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, comforting her softly.

"It’s okay, I’m back."

Smelling the clean, familiar scent on Liam, Elena finally believed he had really returned.

The Liam she loved had truly returned to her side.

Vivian gritted her teeth in hatred, snatched her bag in a disheveled state, and drove away.

Once Elena stopped crying, her expression became much calmer. She pushed Liam away and turned to head back into the house.

Leaving Liam standing, disheveled, in the wind.

"Elena, I remember you once said that no matter how angry you are, as long as I bring you blue roses, you will forgive me."

As he spoke, Liam placed the wrapped bouquet of blue roses before Elena.

"Now, is that vow still valid?"

Elena froze, her gaze falling upon the blue roses.

The vow regarding the blue roses began in her freshman year, after Liam missed an appointment, leaving her waiting for him at the basketball court for an entire afternoon.

The next day, when they met, Elena deliberately ignored him.

"Elena, I have truly reflected deeply on this. Please, forgive me." Liam had held her hand, lowering his usual arrogance.

Elena hadn't bought it, pulling her hand back and turning her head: "You don't need to tell me these things; I don't want to listen."

Liam had panicked, his handsome, peerless face showing a hint of melancholy: "But I really don’t know how to coax a girl."

They were each other’s first loves, so they were both quite inexperienced when it came to apologizing in relationships.

The turning point came on the evening after self-study.

Elena and her roommate were walking to their dorm with their books when, halfway there, a cute Winnie the Pooh blocked her path.

Back then, she had no idea what was going on until the Pooh bear placed the blue roses it was holding into her hands.

Looking at the unique blue roses, Elena was touched: "Are these for me?"

She suspected it might be a prank, but today wasn't Halloween.

Seeing the Pooh bear say nothing, Elena started to return them.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, the Pooh bear took off its headpiece. Appearing before her was Liam. Because it was summer, Liam’s hair was drenched in sweat, but it didn't affect his perfect features; instead, it added a touch of youthful cuteness.

"Liam? Why are you here?" Elena was shocked. In the eyes of outsiders, Liam was always the aloof, high-and-mighty type.

He was completely at odds with the person in front of her wearing a stuffed animal suit.

Liam looked like a child who had done something wrong, taking small steps toward her and calling out, stretching the tone: "Elena..."

Seeing the expression on Liam’s face, Elena’s anger faded for the most part; she set the blue roses on her books and hugged them to her chest.

"It’s late. Go back and rest."

With that, Elena took her roommate’s hand and walked toward the dorms. The only difference was that this time, a happy smile played on the corners of her lips.

Ever since then, whenever Liam made her angry, he would buy blue roses to apologize.

Each time, she wouldn't say much after receiving the flowers, and over time, it became their vow for reconciliation.

As long as Liam made the first move, Elena would always respond.

This served to reflect a popular saying: "For those who never forget, there will always be an echo."

Chapter 20: About Unrequited Love

"Elena, just forgive Liam. If I have to listen to him recite this any longer, I’ll grow calluses on my ears."

Clara’s voice pulled Elena out of her thoughts. She took the blue roses from Liam’s hand.

Although her face remained expressionless, her heart was beginning to let go.

In her eyes, no amount of estrangement could outweigh Liam’s simple words:

"Elena, I’m back."

Evening.

Elena’s mother insisted on keeping Clara and Liam for dinner.

The four of them sat in their respective positions, perfectly filling the square dining table.

Elena’s mother couldn't help but feel emotional, a layer of moisture rising in her eyes: "Since Elena’s father passed away, today has been the most lively. Come, children, eat more."

Seeing her mother’s teary-eyed expression, a bitter soreness welled up in Elena’s heart.

Ever since she started working, she had spent fewer nights having dinner at home.

"Auntie, as long as you don't find me annoying, I can come over to mooch a meal every day." Clara raised her face with a smile, her tone exceptionally bright.

Elena’s mother smiled slightly: "As long as you want to come, you are always welcome."

Clara and Elena’s mother chatted quite congenially. By comparison, Liam, wearing the title of "ex-boyfriend," seemed strangely awkward.

Throughout the entire meal, he didn't manage to exchange a single word with Elena’s mother.

After dinner, Elena stood up to see the two of them out.

After they boarded the car, Liam suddenly rolled down the window and said warmly to Elena: "I’ve contacted a hospital. I’ll accompany you to your rehabilitation training tomorrow."

Elena knew he meant her aphasia, so she smiled and nodded in agreement.

After that, Liam rolled the window back up and drove away.

After leaving the Elena household.

Clara finally couldn't hold it in and began to mercilessly mock Liam: "I never expected this. There’s actually a day where you could be stumped."

Liam drove expressionlessly, as if Clara wasn't talking about him at all.

Clara, seeing him ignoring her, rolled her eyes in annoyance: "You’re really heartless. During the time you were gone, it was a pity I had to shield you from Julian."

Hearing the name "Julian," Liam’s expression changed. He asked in a raspy voice: "What did Julian do?"

"Aren't you uninterested in these things? Why are you asking me?" Clara turned to look at the scattered lights outside the window.

Liam gave a small cough, his expression serious: "I only care about Elena’s affairs."

Clara nodded in agreement: "Actually, it’s not a huge deal, but I heard Julian is preparing to propose to Elena recently."

Liam slammed on the brakes, his gaze turning dark: "You call that a 'small deal'?"

Clara rubbed her forehead, which had been bumped, and gasped in pain: "Big brother, there’s no need to commit murder. Haven't I been blocking him for you all this time?"

Thinking of Julian, Liam’s eyes grew colder and darker.

Since freshman year, he had witnessed the meaning of "he who is shameless is invincible."

In college, Elena always held the title of top student, while he held second.

As for Julian, he was always last.

Liam had never imagined he would have any interaction with Julian, but fate seemed to enjoy a joke.

It was an afternoon, and they were in the library reviewing for final exams.

Elena was resting her head on her hand, her eyes never leaving the book: "Liam, could you go get me a book on Document Theory and Practice? There’s a part I don't quite understand."

Liam closed his book and walked toward the bookshelf. Just then, he accidentally knocked a piece of paper off Julian’s desk.

He was just about to bend down to pick it up when Julian rushed to grab it first, clutching it to his chest like a treasure.

Even so, Liam caught a glimpse of the portrait on the paper—it was exactly Elena studying.

Driven by male instinct, Liam sensed Julian’s ulterior motives, and an inexplicable heat flared in his heart: "She isn't someone you can covet."

That was the first sentence he ever spoke to Julian.

Julian shrugged dismissively, his eyes passing over Liam to look at Elena, smiling slightly: "I know you’re in a relationship, but that doesn't prevent me from liking her."

Liam blocked Julian’s line of sight, his voice turning cold: "Is it interesting to covet someone else’s girlfriend?"