“Are you looking for me?” A man’s gravelly voice suddenly sounded in her ear, reshaping into the most beautiful tone she had ever heard.
Lillian quickly turned her head, and there stood Conrad, dressed in a black tuxedo, on the second-floor balcony. He rarely wore a white shirt with a suit, and this was the first time she had seen him in it.
All the suffocating frustration and grievance that had built up inside her dissolved the moment he appeared.
But then, a deeper sense of bitterness flooded her.
“Aren’t you going to look at your gift? I’ve been preparing it for a long time,” he said in the gentlest tone, his eyes focused on her.
Lillian then realized that this crystal ball was meant to be entered.
She was the only one who could go inside.
The gifts scattered across the floor weren’t just decorations; they were real presents.
Everyone was waiting for her.
Lillian blinked, feeling her eyes begin to sting. When she stepped into the crystal ball, the cool snowflakes fell on her eyelashes. She realized that they were made to look just like snowflakes, with the chill they brought.
Every detail was carefully crafted to be lifelike.
Once inside, she could feel how everything had been restored to a one-to-one scale.
Even the decorative potted plant had a photo of her and her dad hanging on it.
Her father was there today, witnessing her success and joy along with her.
Each gift was numbered.
Lillian opened the first one.
As she unwrapped it, a diamond and jade-encrusted pacifier appeared.
“28 years ago, you were born on this day. Back then, I didn’t know you, but I thought you’d like this gift, though it might seem a bit flashy.”
Lillian couldn’t help but laugh through her tears, wanting to tell him he was wasting money.
“You’re almost two years old. Your dream was to become a Powerpuff Girl, to save the world. I know you couldn’t save justice, but you’re a very brave girl.”
Lillian opened the second gift, which turned out to be a large flag.
Inside was a flag for the Hope Primary School, named after her.
In the past five years, Conrad had accumulated good deeds, praying for her and helping those girls attend school, with a map marking all the schools.
The schools lit up densely on the map.
“I hope they can be as brave as you, blooming their own flowers even in adversity.”
Hogan looked up at the sky. “Damn it, this guy is getting too cheesy. Did he grab the wrong script? Why is he so full of positive energy?”
Lionel shot him a glance. “Don’t wipe your nose on my collar.”
Hogan turned quickly. “You idiot! Why do you have to be like this?”
He had just been acting playful when he saw Kama, who was so moved she was wiping her nose, staring at him in horror.
“Oh… I can explain…”
“You don’t need to explain…”
What the hell?
Conrad continued speaking.
It was also here that he spoke of those hidden years, their untold past.
“On your 24th birthday, you weren’t by my side. Jasmine spent it with me.” His voice grew deeper. “I had a wedding for you by the sea, just by myself. I designed dozens of wedding dresses, imagining one day you’d wear them.”
Around them, there was a stir.
Lillian had already burst into tears.
He walked down from the balcony, taking one step at a time, until he was right in front of her.
“On your 25th birthday, I went to every place I thought you might be, hoping to get any news about you. It’s filled with souvenirs from every city I visited.”
“On your 26th birthday, I built a film studio for you in City N. You wanted to act, and I wanted to help make your dream come true.”
She opened the gift box, revealing the ownership contract for the film studio, with only her name on it.
She trembled, her lips quivering, her eyes already red.
“On your 27th birthday, I learned how to bake a cake for you. Unfortunately, after a whole day of trying, only a few were worth looking at. Today’s cake was also something I learned to make from a teacher.”
This time, the gift wasn’t in Lillian’s hands.
Instead, Gordon and the others pushed out a seven-layer cake. Its intricate design showed the effort he had put into it.
“On your 28th birthday, you returned to my side. I believe this is my last chance given by fate.”
Conrad slowly knelt on one knee, pulling out a ring box from his pocket. He opened the red velvet box, revealing a heart-shaped diamond ring, with large rubies and black sapphires set into it, quietly resting inside.
“Eternity isn’t distance, it’s a decision. No matter where you are, I will find you, love you, embrace you, protect you. This is the direction I’ve been pursuing my whole life, and you are the endpoint.”
“In this life, Conrad only asks for Lillian.”
“Marry me, Lillian.”
She heard him say those words.
His eyes were gentle and focused.
Lillian reached out her hand, a tear falling, and said, “I do. I do, I will marry you and be your future partner. Through every morning and night, spending time with you.”
They shared a smile, and she laughed through her tears, saying, “Why haven’t you put the ring on me?”
He seemed to just realize it, taking off the ring. His hands trembled with excitement, and after several attempts, he struggled to put it on. The guys around them watched anxiously, almost wanting to kneel and put the ring on for him.
The black-and-red intertwined diamond ring was slowly pushed onto her finger, fitting tightly at the base.
Once it was on, the heavy weight made it clear just how valuable the top-quality ruby was.
The black gemstone, like Conrad, wrapped around her, intertwining with her.
They were two separate pieces in this world, but because of their meeting and their love, they had merged together.
Meanwhile, massive fireworks exploded along both sides of the river, lighting up the sky over City N, ringing with repeated bursts.
“Kiss her! Kiss her!” Hogan led the cheer.
Countless guests clapped, and Lillian looked around, recognizing some faces, and seeing Old Mrs. Brown on the third-floor terrace, watching.
He had almost invited everyone he could.
The night breeze blew, and rose petals drifted down from somewhere.
Someone exclaimed, “I think I finally know why roses fall on the same two days every year.”
“The whole city of roses, are just for you,” He took her hand and gently kissed the ring. “I love you.”
“Conrad loves Lillian.” He cupped her face and kissed her softly and intently.
Their hearts drew close together, and for this moment, they had walked through nearly ten years of time.
—The End—