Ryan's expression was a little complicated. Maybe it was the momentum of the ceremony, or perhaps some impulse, but he was taking things a little too seriously. But these staff members were just too into it. They stood on either side, all with expressions of admiration and envy, like wedding guests, flashing cameras non-stop—there was no real church, but it almost felt like one.
Hey, hey, we're just taking some promotional photos. Why are they acting like this? Ryan glanced over at Elysia, who was staring straight ahead with a smile on her lips. She seemed quieter than usual, but her eyes gave away how serious she was.
Getting too into the role, huh? Ryan thought. Elysia loves happy and joyful moments, so it made sense that she'd be fully immersed in this damn sense of ceremony.
Wait, no—Elysia is "the real deal"; she doesn't act. This is just one of the scenes she genuinely loves. She used to get all giddy watching similar moments in TV shows. Now that she has the chance to experience it, of course, she's all in.
Ryan looked calm, like an elegant groom, but his mind was racing, even crashing. Is this really happening now? There's barely any acting left. But his plan hadn't involved seducing Elysia. Recalculating—have the odds shifted from impossible to just a slim chance? But what's the next step? How does this relate to Mobius' plan? His mind froze, and his body moved almost automatically, as if disconnected from his thoughts. Well, that's some skill, I guess.
He held Elysia's hand as they stood on the wooden platform. There were no Matterhorn peaks or monasteries, just a giant backdrop. But for some reason, those things didn't matter. No landscape could compete with the girl in front of him. At that moment, she was his entire world.
Elysia lowered her head, revealing her delicate neck, seemingly shy. But in her eyes, there was a hint of longing. She lifted her slender hand and placed it in Ryan's palm.
It was effortless. Or rather, it seemed like fairies were born for this moment. It was one of the most beautiful times in human life, and one of Elysia's most cherished scenes. How could she not be enchanted by it?
Ryan's mind finally cleared. For a moment, he forgot what he was supposed to do. All he could think of was: She should be loved. She deserves to be loved. That final dance should never end—it should last forever. She shouldn't fall. Anyone who threatens her life... I'll kill them, even if it means breaking everything.
Emotion flooded his brain, but his right hand was empty, as if he was holding an invisible ring.
Clap, clap... Thunderous applause rang out, snapping the two back to reality. Elysia blinked rapidly and quickly pulled her hand back, tilting her head so that her pink hair covered her face.
Ryan let out a sigh and closed his eyes, mildly regretting the moment. The atmosphere was perfect. It was like that old saying: happiness is the best hallucinogen. It made him lose his rationality for a second. If this were before, he would've just sneered at it.
But reason returned. Ryan looked at the staff members, all smiling approvingly, and then glanced at Elysia, who seemed a little off.
If this were before, she'd probably have mischievously winked at me and teased me, Ryan thought. But now... she's unusually quiet, constantly stroking her left ring finger.
Is she still caught up in the scene, or...?
"This is the perfect shot. Every expression is so natural. It's like witnessing a real wedding," said Eva, Eden's assistant. She had already seen the sample photos and couldn't find any flaws.
Ryan almost wanted to remove the "like" from her statement, but he didn't bother responding. Instead, he looked at Elysia and asked, "What's wrong? Can't get out of character?"
"Huh? No, I just noticed something strange—something I overlooked before," Elysia turned her head, her face slightly flushed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"What strange thing? And can you look at me?"
"Ah, never mind those little details♪" Elysia pushed Ryan away and stepped back. "Help me distract Miss Eden. I'm going to the bathroom, but I'll be right back."
"Hey." Ryan turned around, but Elysia had already lifted her skirt and disappeared. He raised an eyebrow.
She's probably thinking of some mischief again. And why do I have to distract Eden if she wants a signature?
Elysia quickly ran out of the photoshoot area, not heading to the bathroom but instead leaning against the wall in the corridor. She took a deep breath and covered her face with both hands.
Her super-loving performance today hadn't gone as expected.
She felt her face heat up as she thought about the scene earlier. It had felt so good—the air had been filled with happiness. No wonder they say this is the most beautiful moment for girls.
She loved all of humanity's flaws and strengths, and enjoyed experiencing every wonderful moment. But that feeling from earlier... it was the most beautiful of all.
It made Elysia feel at peace, even a little addicted. And that's what troubled her.
Because this kind of love, the most fulfilling love, could only belong to one person. It was completely different from what she had thought, and she realized she'd missed something crucial.
Some loves are so special, they contradict all other kinds of love. It was like a wedge driven into a heart full of love, and yet, that feeling earlier made it hard for her to dislike it.
Elysia didn't act. She just followed her inner self. So when she thought back to the natural scene from earlier, it made her face turn red.
She glanced at her pale left hand, her long ring finger, and muttered to herself.
"Really, always messing with my girl's heart. It's so confusing♪"
Ryan was holding a cup of coffee, looking around. He thought Elysia was acting a little strange but didn't think much of it.
Isn't Elysia always like this? Who knows what's got her so excited? But her optimism and enthusiasm never change.
Still, that feeling from earlier was indeed strange. Even he almost lost control.
Ryan was reminiscing, but quickly shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
I never planned on wooing anyone, let alone Elysia. She perfectly embodied the "the closest is also the farthest" theory. Her heart contained all of humanity—who could possibly expand enough to occupy it? But if it couldn't be exclusive, it would be meaningless. Those who want to win her over don't know what they're up against. The difficulty is far greater than... uh, me pinning Möbius down and having her call me daddy.
Such hellish difficulty couldn't be overcome by a techie. And she's taking so long in the bathroom...
Ryan tapped his foot and noticed the staff members standing up. Then, he saw a familiar figure.
Eden had arrived, dressed in a deep purple gown, wearing an elegant smile. She nodded slightly when she saw Ryan, her smile turning teasing.
"Hello, Miss Eden." Ryan walked over, knowing he'd been caught, but he didn't mind. Just say if I helped or not.
"I didn't expect you to have such skill, Dr. Ryan," Eden said, brushing her long hair aside as she walked up to him. "I saw everything earlier. I must say, it was perfect. Every photo was a work of art."
Ryan wasn't surprised she knew his real name; checking the VIP list was an easy task.
"Been in the business long enough. I've picked up a few acting skills."
"Is that so? But I think everything looked so natural. So, when are you and Miss Elysia really getting married? I'd love to perform a song for you."
Even the marriage of high-ranking officials wouldn't get Eden to offer a song, so it was clear she'd been touched.
"Well, actually, Elysia and I aren't in a romantic relationship," Ryan said, thinking for a moment. He wasn't the type to lie.
As soon as those words left his mouth, Eden's smile froze, and she looked at him strangely for a while before tilting her head.
"My judgment can't be wrong. That love was sincere."
"Because Elysia is like that with everyone. She's full of love for everyone," Ryan shrugged, amused.
"Huh? There's someone like that in this world?" Eden asked, her surprise barely masked. If she hadn't heard some rumors about Ryan, she might have thought he was joking, but she didn't feel awkward—just a little puzzled.
"It sounds like Miss Elysia is very special. But I think the feeling I saw just now was different from what you described. What it was, I won't assume."
Ryan was momentarily stunned and started thinking about her words. Elysia did seem a bit off...
But he didn't dwell on it, just feeling that Eden had a sharp emotional intelligence, making it hard to dislike her. Plus, with her calm and graceful demeanor, she unknowingly influenced those around her.
So, Ryan put his hand on his chest and lightly bowed.
"I'm sorry for pretending to be someone else today."
"No, not at all. You've been a huge help today. But in the future, with your status, just tell Eva if you want to see me. I'd never avoid you." Eden touched the gemstone ring on her finger. When Ryan didn't respond, she sighed.
"Dr. Ryan, if you have something to say, just say it. I just donated 20 billion euros to the Fire Moth organization. The research department heard about it and specifically sent you to me. Do you want me to make a small contribution too?"
20 billion euros? What a super-rich woman.
Ryan's breath caught. He had a couple of million in his account, and Mobius was always on his case about it, but Eden's donation was 20 billion.
Makes me want to switch careers to singing.
Ryan was about to ask Eden for some research funding for Mobius but quickly realized asking for donations might make him look shameless.
Then, an idea struck him.
"I don't have the authority to request funds, and if you transfer them to me, the council might accuse me of having unreported wealth."
"So?" Eden seemed a little confused. This person had gone out of his way to see her. It couldn't just be for small talk.
"I want to make a deal. How about I write you a new song? You can name your price."
What?
Even Eden, with her grace, almost couldn't hide her surprise. She had heard about Ryan—an erudite researcher, a hero-like warrior. Neither of these identities had anything to do with her field.
But she quickly masked her surprise, smiling.
"I didn't expect Dr. Ryan to also know about music. But I'll make it clear first: the song has to satisfy me, or it'll be very difficult."
Ryan was as calm as ever. He didn't know anything about music, let alone write songs. But—
I can copy it.