Elena stole a glance at the two of them: "I see. Actually, Clara is coming to the company in a few days. Would you mind showing her around when you have time?"

Xu Chen paused, but thinking that this was his future boss’s wife, he nodded: "No problem, as long as she doesn't mind the fatigue."

"She’s very hardworking, right Clara?" Elena looked at Clara.

Clara forced a stiff smile: "Of course... haha, Elena understands me best."

As soon as she finished, the owner placed the packed iced Americano on the counter.

"Enjoy your drink."

After Xu Chen took the coffee, he left the cafe with Clara.

Watching their departing backs, Elena wore a motherly smile; it felt like finally seeing her daughter get married off.

"You’re smiling so happily, I almost thought you were the one in love," the owner laughed, handing her a cup of hot milk.

Elena smiled and took it: "Thanks."

"How about you? Are things still going well with Liam lately?"

Elena held the cup in her palms, took a sip of hot milk, her eyes sparkling: "He treats me very well. We’re planning to get married this July."

The owner smiled and nodded: "July is a good month. Be sure to send me an invitation; I’ll come to share in your joy."

"Definitely."

Over the years, Elena had always treated the cafe owner like an older sister, so their relationship had remained very close.

"By the way, can I ask you a personal question?" Elena looked steadily at the owner.

The owner stopped wiping the cup and turned back: "Of course."

"Why did you name this cafe 'Nian Xiang' (Yearning)?"

She had been curious about this since she first worked here, but never found the right opportunity to ask.

" 'Nian Xiang' is my own yearning. I want to wait for someone who is impossible to return."

"Did you wait for him?" Elena couldn't help but ask.

Someone who could make the owner so dedicated must have been a wonderful person.

The owner lowered her eyes, her voice dropping: "No. He died long ago, ten years ago while on a mission."

Elena froze; this was a result she never expected: "I’m sorry..."

"Silly girl, what are you apologizing for? I let go a long time ago and have moved forward." Having said that, she paused and took a deep breath.

Then, the owner placed her hand on her belly and smiled slightly: "I’ve met someone who loves me very much now. That’s enough."

The breeze lightly rang the wind chimes outside, and a new batch of customers walked in. The owner stood up to go greet them.

Just as Elena finished the last sip of milk, her phone in her pocket rang.

It was Liam calling.

After answering, Liam’s voice came through the phone: "Elena, where are you? I’m off work now; I’m coming to pick you up."

Elena held the phone, a gentle curve forming on her lips: "I’m at Nian Xiang Cafe."

Chapter 33: Experience

"So, is this your way of a wealthy young master experiencing life?"

Clara sat on the company rooftop with a cup of hot milk tea, chatting side-by-side with Xu Chen.

Xu Chen tilted his head back, took a sip of coffee, and shook his head: "I wouldn't put it that way. I just genuinely don't like studying medicine."

"Although I don't understand what you rich kids think about every day, you seem quite happy this way."

Xu Chen froze and turned to look at Clara: "Don't you think I'm just fooling around?"

Clara looked at him, puzzled: "How is this fooling around? There's nothing wrong with living the life you love."

Though she didn't understand the worldview of the wealthy, she always longed for freedom.

Xu Chen was momentarily lost in the steady, determined light in Clara's eyes. Realizing he was staring, he hurriedly looked away.

"Your perspective is truly and adorably simple."

Clara couldn't tell if Xu Chen was complimenting her or calling her stupid, but she stood by her belief: "Anyway, no one can take anything with them in the end, so why not let yourself live a little lighter?"

Life is long; freedom is supreme.

Xu Chen was amused by her simple-minded tenacity, stood up with his coffee, and headed toward the door.

Clara hurried to catch up: "Where are you going?"

Xu Chen raised his coffee cup and shook it at Clara behind him: "For a refill. Do you want to come?"

"There's such a thing as a free refill? Of course I'm coming! Wait for me." Clara followed closely behind.

Two years into Vivian's prison sentence.

Shi Qing brought his new wife to visit her in prison.

"Who is she?" Vivian scanned the strange woman beside Shi Qing with hostility.

Shi Qing pulled the woman closer, as if making an announcement: "My wife. You should call her sister-in-law."

Vivian gave a cold laugh, her haggard face full of disdain: "Then I curse you both to get divorced soon."

"I didn't come here to argue with you. I just came to tell you that I've taken over the Shi family business, and your name has been removed from the family register." Shi Qing's tone was indifferent, as if he were talking about something trivial.

Vivian's face instantly twisted in rage. She clawed at the glass partition, only to be dragged back by a prison guard.

She roared with insatiable spite, spewing curses that made one want to cover their ears.

"You all deserve to die! You're the ones who should be in hell!"

Vivian's shrill, piercing screams echoed on, sounding like a demon from hell.

When the visit ended, Shi Qing watched coldly as Vivian was dragged away, a slight smile curling the corner of his lips.

Liam Group.

It was lunch break, and Elena was on the sofa scrolling through videos on her phone.

Seeing a video of blooming pear blossoms in Beiling, she couldn't contain her excitement and went to Liam.

"Let’s go to Beiling tomorrow to admire the pear blossoms."

Liam took the phone, glanced at it, and nodded: "If you want to go, we'll go."

Elena's eyes lit up, clutching the phone between her hands: "Then remember to call Xu Chen, because Clara is coming too."

Liam furrowed his brow slightly: "Why do you always want to bring them along lately? Isn't our world of two enough?"

He had wanted to ask this for a long time; who goes on dates with friends every time?

Elena gave a light laugh and wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck: "Can’t you tell there’s something going on between those two?"

Hearing this, Liam finally realized that the two had indeed been acting strangely lately.

Especially Xu Chen—every time he went to find him, he would see him staring blankly at his computer.

"No wonder that kid came to me asking what it feels like to be in love."

Elena chuckled: "And how did you answer him?"

Liam cleared his throat and looked Elena straight in the eyes: "I told him to go fall in love and he'd find out for himself."

"That sounds just like you. Xu Chen probably didn't look too happy at that moment."

Thinking of Xu Chen’s frantic state, Elena felt even more convinced that they were a perfect match.

Although it felt like she was playing matchmaker, it was her best friend’s lifelong happiness, so she enjoyed the process.

Chapter 34: Blooming and Bearing Fruit

Beiling Pear Forest.

As the car slowly drove into the orchard, Clara laughed and chatted with Elena.

"Elena, honestly, I think your name suits the pear blossoms so well—both elegant and beautiful," Clara praised softly.

Elena smiled and shook her head: "It’s not as good as you say."

"It is, it is! My Elena is naturally the greatest woman in the world." Clara flashed a confident, radiant smile.

Knowing she couldn't out-argue her, Elena didn't respond.

After a while, they reached the deepest part of the forest.

The group got out of the car. Elena took the initiative to link arms with Liam and looked smilingly at the other two.

"Alright, let’s split up here. You wouldn't want to disturb our time for two, would you?"

Clara wanted to say she wouldn't mind, but the words stuck in her throat; secretly, she felt a small thrill of joy.

"Fine, fine. I know how clingy you two are."

With that, Clara turned and walked down the path ahead.

Elena turned her head and smiled at Xu Chen: "Then I’ll trouble you to take care of Clara for me."

Xu Chen nodded and jogged to catch up with Clara.

Watching their backs, Elena suddenly had a ridiculous thought: "Liam, do you think the Xu family will toss a ten-million-dollar check at Clara and tell her to leave Xu Chen?"

Liam shook his head nonchalantly: "No. The Xu family respects individual opinions. Besides, it’s just as likely that Xu Chen would take that ten million and run away with her."