Chapter 784: Chapter 784: Walking with You
It’s a pity, the rain was too heavy, and the flowers that had bloomed vibrantly were beaten off along the way, leaving only a few solitary leaves clinging on.
Vincent looked forlornly at the desolate branches, his eyes reddened, tears mixed with rain rolling down his cheeks. Uncertainty filled his gaze.
He couldn’t understand why it had happened.
These were the most beautiful flowers he had found after combing the entire forest – a gift for Hannah.
He wanted to apologize. He shouldn’t have lost his temper last night.
But the flowers were gone.
Vincent mustered a smile at Hannah, who was on the other side of the window, but his tears wouldn’t stop flowing.
"I’m sorry, Hannah. It seems that I’ve ruined your gift."
The rain began to ease, silence fell instantly between the heavens and the earth.
The village’s power lines were already old, and after the storm, not a single street lamp remained.
The surrounding area was eerily dark.
Hannah sighed, covering Vincent’s head with a towel, "Can’t you find a place to shelter from such heavy rain?"
Vincent stayed quiet, relishing the warmth from the towel, a faintly familiar scent teasing his senses. It came from the woman he longed for but dared not touch.
"Hannah..." His voice was muffled and wronged, eyes welling up with tears.
Hannah looked at him with a smile, "Where are my flowers?"
His hand clutching the ruined flower bouquet tightened behind his back, not daring to reveal it. In his panic, Vincent stuttered, "There are no flowers, none."
They were too battered and ugly, not befitting Hannah.
Still, she reached out and pinched his face, her laughter filled with warmth, "I saw it all. If it’s a gift for me, you shouldn’t keep it to yourself."
Vincent pursed his lips, nervously worked his fingers, and slowly displayed the damaged bouquet, refusing to meet Hannah’s gaze. "I’m sorry, when I plucked them, they weren’t like this. They were really beautiful."
"Now, they are still beautiful." Taken aback, she sighed.
Vincent’s eyes lit up. There was uncertainty in his voice, "Really?"
Hannah glanced at the bouquet in her hand, now just a handful of leaves, silent for a moment before affirming, "Really."
The onlooking family dog, Golden Lotus, chuckled with joy, rejoicing at the exchange.
She never thought she would live to see Hannah praise a wilted bouquet – against her better judgment – so beautifully.
Gleefully accepting her words, Vincent beamed with delight, his smile naive and innocent.
After a moment, he carefully wiped the towel on his head, then clung to the hem of her clothes. With pure determination, he said, "Hannah, I want to come with you."
Caressing his head, she lightly asked, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Under the cold white light, her eyes were extraordinarily warm. To Vincent, they were like fireflies in the field - stunningly beautiful.
So beautiful that he wished to keep her by his side, to follow her forever.
"No nonsense." He nodded vigorously, "I want to accompany you wherever you go."
He would never stay where Hannah was not.
Wherever Hannah was, he would be there too.
*
The next day, as predicted, George Quach announced the plans for the paired games.
However, before Louis Snyder and Jackie Qualls could plausibly cast their veiled insults, a new guest arrived for the shoot.
Hayes Edwards.
As a bandmate, Owen Hanson was, of course, no stranger to Hayes.
After all, the coveted guest spot that he held was only available due to Hayes’s refusal.
The agency had no intention of letting him interact with Hannah, which was why they had readily turned down the invitation to the show.
