"No matter how far apart we are, it doesn't matter." Shang Ke continued, "I can't forget, I can't let go! Do you understand?"
Rona Muir said nothing.
Suddenly, she could understand how Cecilia Gu felt when she faced Mo Zixin.
No, their situations were still different.
Cecilia Gu had absolutely no feelings for Mo Zixin.
But she herself had once hoped for Shang Ke's devotion and efforts.
Yet in the end, the outcome was the same.
Many things, once missed, are missed forever.
There's no going back.
"But Shang Ke, you should understand. There's someone else in my heart now." Rona Muir said calmly, "Hirayama is different from us, but that's exactly why he keeps such a pure heart. In his eyes, in his heart, there's nothing but me—just me."
"Do you love him?" Shang Ke asked Rona Muir in return.
"I do!" Rona Muir answered without hesitation. "When we were in Fiji, at the moment when I was desperate and wanted to die, Hirayama showed up in front of me, risking his own life despite his injuries. That's when I knew—he was in my heart! No matter how chuunibyou he is, no matter how eccentric his ways. But he's trying to change for me, and that's enough."
Shang Ke couldn't help but step back, his face pale as he leaned against the wall.
"Being able to marry him, I'm lucky and grateful. All I ever wanted was a pure heart. That's enough." Rona Muir gently closed her eyes and said, "I'm willing to be silly with him, and with his chuunibyou niece too. I'm willing to help her find the right path in life. That's love. To love someone is to willingly change yourself for them. Hirayama is willing to give up his beloved science experiments for me. I'm willing to accept his Jump-style manga family environment. If this isn't love, then what is?"
The secretaries laughed and said, "Vice President Muir, just go to your office and you'll see!"
After he said this, Shang Ke turned and strode away.
Rona Muir watched Shang Ke's back, sighed softly, and left as well.
After the two of them left, the bathroom door opened.
Jiro Hirayama's thin figure slowly walked out from inside.
He'd only come here to use the bathroom, but ended up overhearing answers to questions he might never have asked himself.
Rona Muir's words were like a gentle balm, soothing his heart and filling it with warmth.
What she wanted was a pure heart...
Jiro Hirayama pressed his hand to his chest.
His heart was beating so fast.
All because of one sentence from Rona Muir, his heart was pounding wildly.
If this isn't love, then what is?
When Rona Muir returned to her seat, Cecilia Gu was still waiting for her.
Rona Muir whispered, "Sorry I'm late."
"It's fine, the food just arrived," Cecilia Gu said with a smile. "Let's eat first, we still have work to do this afternoon."
Rona Muir smiled at Cecilia Gu and said, "It's always so comfortable being with you."
"Because we're friends," Cecilia Gu replied with a smile.
After finishing their meal, the two returned to the office, chatting and laughing.
As soon as they entered, the secretary was grinning from ear to ear.
"Why are you so happy?" Cecilia Gu couldn't help but ask. "Why is everyone being so mysterious?"
The secretaries laughed and said, "President Mu, just go to your office and you'll see!"
Rona Muir and Cecilia Gu were both confused, so they turned and walked toward Rona's office.
Rona Muir's office was just separated from Cecilia Gu's by one wall.
The two of them turned and walked over together.
As soon as they entered, they were surrounded by a sea of flowers.
Every kind of flower imaginable was there.
Roses, lilies, carnations, pomegranate flowers, daisies, baby's breath—every kind of flower imaginable.
All sorts of flowers were messily arranged, filling the entire room.
Who did all this?
No one's ever given flowers like this before!
As soon as Cecilia Gu walked in, she couldn't help but sneeze. "Oh my god! How many flowers are in here?"
Every inch of the office floor was covered with flowers.
What's going on here?
Is this a flower exhibition?
Rona Muir pinched her nose and asked, "Who did this?"
A voice popped up from the pile of flowers: "It was me! Auntie, are you happy?"
Rona Muir and Cecilia Gu saw Michelle Hirayama, with a few flowers stuck in her hair, pop out from the pile.
"And us too!"
Ethan Yin and Miles Gu popped out from the pile of flowers as well.
How did these three end up together?!
One's sixteen, one's five, one's four!
Seriously, how did these three manage to team up?
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir were at a loss for words.
Michelle Hirayama said proudly, "Uncle wanted to show his love for you, but didn't know how. I told him—women love impractical things, like flowers! So Uncle rented out all the flower shops nearby!"
Ethan Yin and Miles Gu puffed out their chests and said proudly, "Then we personally brought all the flowers in!"
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir both facepalmed at the same time.
Now she had a husband with a serious case of childishness, a niece with a mild case, and her godson who was getting an early start...
Rona Muir felt like life was so bleak.
Cecilia Gu sighed and picked up her two sons, carrying them out of the office.
"Miles, you're already five. If you keep messing around with Ethan, I'll send you to Captain Hans early!" Cecilia threatened.
"Mommy! No!" Miles Gu clung to Cecilia's leg, eyes brimming with tears. "If Ethan and I go to Teacher Hans, we won't see Mommy for a long, long time! Don't you miss us, Mommy?"
Ethan Yin hugged Cecilia's leg too. "Mommy, and what about our little sister? Now that you have a little sister, you don't care about us anymore? Boohoo, I'm so sad!"
Cecilia Gu was at her wit's end.
These two boys acting cute could practically destroy the world!
Didn't you see all the employees looking at Miles and Ethan with hearts in their eyes?
If she punished them here, the employees would probably protest as a group.
Rona Muir said to Michelle Hirayama, "You have one hour to clean up the room. And since all these flowers were bought, don't throw them away—put some in every employee's office. Hurry up! That's an order!"
Michelle Hirayama pouted and said, "Auntie, you're so old, you can't even appreciate this ultimate display of love! Hmph! Uncle really needs a girlfriend!"
Rona Muir raised an eyebrow at Michelle. "Say that again! Hmm?!"
Seeing Rona's raised eyebrow, Michelle immediately shrank back. "I didn't say anything! By the way, Auntie, I haven't seen Brother Xiao A in ages!"
"Your Uncle Xiao A is busy! He doesn't have time for a childish girl like you! If you want to date, look at school! You've got transfer papers ready, you're going to Yaslandy Academy!" Rona Muir gave her a stern look.
"Does Yaslandy Academy have anyone hotter than Brother Xiao A? If not, I'm not going!" Michelle grumbled.
"Do you think you have a choice?" Rona gave her a stern look. "Either go back to Japan or behave! If you're in China, you have to go to school!"
Michelle covered her face and ran out. "Auntie is so mean, boohoo..."
By the time the office was finally cleaned up, it was already three in the afternoon.
With nowhere to stand in Rona's office, they had to work in Cecilia Gu's office instead.
Cecilia Gu hadn't stopped laughing since returning from lunch, and now her stomach hurt from laughing so much.
"Is it really okay to laugh this much?" Rona Muir looked helplessly at Cecilia.
"I never thought a jump-comic-style childish kid could be this much fun!" Cecilia burst out laughing again.
Rona sighed and tossed what she was holding to Cecilia. "Go ahead and laugh yourself silly!"
After saying this, Rona started laughing too. "Hey, I'll leave my niece's school admission to you."
Cecilia waved her hand. "That's nothing. As the director of Yaslandy Academy, if I couldn't arrange a student's admission, what kind of director would I be? Don't worry, when the semester officially starts in a few days, she'll be able to go. The academy starts late so foreign students have time to travel."
After saying that, Cecilia couldn't help but laugh again. "Your Hirayama's way of showing love is really something!"
Rona grabbed a piece of fruit from the table and threw it at Cecilia. "Laugh one more time!"
After the Mao Family and the Shang Family announced their engagement, countless people sent their blessings.
The Yin Family was no exception.
Although Cecilia didn't quite agree with Mao Shan's views on love, she chose to respect them.
The engagement ceremony between the two families was extremely grand.
This year, aside from the Yin, Hirayama, and Mo Families' century weddings, the most eye-catching event was the Jiang and Mo Families' happy occasion.
The Jiang Family's wedding was relatively low-key.
The Mo Family's engagement was practically announced to the whole world.
Cecilia didn't go in person; she and Rona sent their gifts through Charles Yin and Yao Yin.
Still, Cecilia and Rona saw Shang Ke in a sharp suit, holding Mao Shan's hand on live TV.
Rona watched Shang Ke on TV, her face expressionless, and couldn't help but sigh.
She hoped he'd figure things out soon and move on from his past.
Better to forget each other than to keep clinging on.
But is it really possible to forget each other?
She wasn't sure, and she wasn't sure if Shang Ke could either.
Peace in this world, that's all she wished for.
Time drifted by, and another month had passed.
Now it was March, the season of warm spring and blooming flowers.
In N City, spring had arrived early, and the streets and alleys were bustling with life.
In this beautiful season, Rona Muir received a call from Mrs. Shang.
"Miss Muir, can we meet?" Mrs. Shang's voice sounded tired and a little helpless.