Elena giggled and nodded in agreement: "That sounds exactly like something he would do."

...

Clara walked slowly, turning back from time to time to look at Xu Chen: "Have you ever come to see the pear blossoms here before?"

Xu Chen paused, then shook his head: "Before? I didn't go out much before."

"You didn't go out? That must have been boring. What did you usually do?" Clara blinked curiously.

Xu Chen hesitated, pursed his lips, and thought earnestly about his daily routine: "You'd probably find it very boring if I told you. Let's not."

Seeing he wouldn't say, Clara's curiosity deepened: "I swear I won't. Anything about you, I find interesting."

As soon as she finished, both stopped walking. Clara’s heart skipped a beat, and her cheeks flushed red.

"You... what did you just say?" Xu Chen looked at Clara with an unnatural expression.

"I... I—ugh, you’re so annoying, Xu Chen!" Clara was at a loss for words, then out of embarrassment and frustration, she sped up and walked ahead.

Xu Chen hurried to follow, and the two walked one after another, neither speaking.

After a while, Clara couldn't hold back anymore. She turned around and called out Xu Chen’s name.

"Xu Chen, is it really that hard to like me? I’ve been secretly in love with you for a year. The least you could do is give me a response."

Clara poured out all the feelings she had been suppressing for so long in one breath.

Xu Chen stopped in his tracks, his clear, bright deer-like eyes looking straight at Clara, and he answered instinctively: "Liking you... it’s not hard at all."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for Clara to hear every word.

They stood there, gazing at each other, their faces slightly flushed.

The youth's love was like the falling pear blossom petals all around them—pure and beautiful.

And under the blossoming trees, the tender love was spreading in their hearts at an astonishing speed.

Chapter 35: Hints

Shi Residence.

Liam’s stepmother took off her sunglasses. Her face was haggard, but her voice still carried authority.

"These are all the Liam Group shares I hold. I can give them to you, but you must provide me with enough funds to send me abroad."

Shi Qing glanced at the share certificate, crossed his legs, and scoffed: "Is Auntie here to negotiate terms with me?"

"1.5 billion. I’ll transfer all the shares I have to you." She stated her terms directly.

A dark shadow flashed in Shi Qing’s eyes, but it vanished instantly: "Auntie, please have some tea first. This flower tea is what you used to love drinking the most."

"I’ll give you time to consider."

After saying this, she picked up the teacup from the table, blew on it lightly, and inhaled the floral fragrance.

"I didn't expect you to still remember my preferences. It wasn't a waste of my time picking up a little beggar like you back then." With that, she drank several sips of the hot tea.

A mysterious smirk curled on Shi Qing’s lips: "Of course. The debt I owe Auntie for her kindness, I will surely repay in my next life."

Hearing this, the stepmother frowned. Just as she was about to reprimand him for his poor choice of words, a fishy, sweet sensation surged up.

Finally, she sprayed it out of her mouth, dark red blood staining the entire tea table.

Only then did she realize that the tea she had just drunk was poisoned!

"You!" She struggled to stand up, but after only two steps, she collapsed heavily to the floor, her eyes wide open.

Shi Qing picked up the share certificate on the table with an expressionless face, a cold smirk on his lips.

"Liam Group... ha."

With only half a month left until the wedding.

Elena and Liam were acting like they were unconcerned, never even stepping foot in a wedding dress shop.

This made Xu Chen and Clara anxious.

"What’s wrong with them? Are they planning to live in their office?" Clara couldn't understand it.

She had never seen a couple so unenthusiastic about their own wedding.

Xu Chen was feeding Clara strawberries: "Liam has always been swift and decisive. He won't drop the ball at such a critical moment."

Clara chewed on a strawberry, frowning: "Is there a possibility they just forgot because of the work pressure lately?"

"That's not impossible."

Clara pondered for a moment, and a lightbulb went off in her head: "I’ve got it! Let’s act separately and give them some behavioral hints."

"I have no objection, I’ll listen to you." Xu Chen fed her diligently, a typical picture of a caring, good man.

No sooner said than done, Clara and Xu Chen entered separate offices.

President’s Office.

After taking a few deep breaths, Xu Chen knocked on the door.

Liam’s voice came from inside: "Come in."

Once inside, Xu Chen sauntered over to the desk, cleared his throat, and spoke: "Liam, do you remember any big event happening soon?"

Liam put down the file in his hand and looked up at Xu Chen: "What? Is your family calling you back?"

Xu Chen shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, think harder."

Liam watched his strange behavior and frowned even more deeply: "Has your condition worsened lately?"

Finally, Xu Chen gritted his teeth and came clean.

"Liam, it’s your wedding! The wedding!"

Looking at Xu Chen’s agitated appearance, Liam simply said "Oh," and then lowered his head to return to work.

"Can you not be in a hurry? Is this not a once-in-a-lifetime event?" Xu Chen began to doubt his existence.

He had never seen Liam so unconcerned about anything.

Liam’s signing didn't stop.

Only when his ears were almost numbed by Xu Chen’s nagging did he answer in a deep voice: "We aren't holding the wedding in China, so why the rush?"

Xu Chen slapped his forehead, taking a moment to realize: "So we were just worrying for nothing?"

Liam looked up, his gaze landing on Xu Chen’s suddenly enlightened face.

On the other side.

Clara folded a piece of paper into a ring and wore it on her ring finger, reaching it toward Elena, laughing behind her hand: "Is it pretty, Elena? Chen-chen made it for me."

Elena looked at the paper ring, momentarily at a loss for how to respond, and could only manage a faint smile.

"It’s a very precious gesture. It’s great that you like it."

"Yeah! I just don't know when he’ll propose to me. I think the wedding will be so romantic." Clara looked full of anticipation, like a young girl in love.

But in Elena’s eyes, this looked like desperate longing: "Clara, are you in such a rush?"

Before Clara could answer, the door was shoved open and Xu Chen walked in.

He grabbed Clara’s hand and pulled her toward the door.

"What are you pulling me for! I haven't finished talking to Elena yet." Clara didn't understand and glared at Xu Chen.

"Listen to me, Clara. Let's go outside and talk."

With that, Xu Chen picked up Clara by the waist and strode out of the office.

Elena was left stunned, taking a long moment to realize she had just been invisibly fed a dose of romantic affection!

Chapter 36: Suddenness

On the day of the wedding.

They chose to hold the ceremony in a small town of flowers in Denmark.

Here, under the blue sky and white clouds, the people were simple and honest, and every inch of the land was planted with various flowers.

Looking around, the colorful scenery was so beautiful one couldn't tear their eyes away.

At the wedding, Elena, in a pristine white wedding dress and holding a bouquet of blue roses, looked as exquisite as a doll.

Her fluttering eyes were clear and bright, and in them, there was only the figure of Liam.

On the stage, the priest was reading the vows.

"Miss Elena, are you willing to marry this man? To love him, to be loyal to him, whether poor or rich, in sickness or in health, until death do you part?"

Elena turned to look at the handsome and extraordinary Liam, a beautiful arc forming on her lips: "I do."

These simple words were ones she had practiced thousands of times in her heart.

The priest turned to Liam and read the vows.

"Mr. Liam, are you willing to marry this woman? To love her, to protect her, whether poor or rich, in sickness or in health, until death do you part?"

Liam turned his head, his gaze fixed straight on Elena: "I do."

A single wedding concluded their ten-year romantic marathon.

After exchanging rings, it was time for the bouquet toss. The area below was filled with guests and local residents.

"Elena! Toss it this way!" Clara stood on her tiptoes, shouting toward the stage.

Elena stood on the stage, giggling behind her hand. After a few deep breaths, she threw the bouquet with all her might toward Clara.