The Age of Blossom

died in a plane crash,

rdy, who wasn't related b

ed her feelings for him were mo

k, and on her eighteenth birthday

e was met wit

her twentieth birthday, she da

d demanded, "When did I ever

e's twentieth

her status, but everyone

aura of a man in power. His presence made eve

clinging to his a

aze, like that of the other women p

ge of proximity; after

s drink, Elsie walked o

birthday yet, " she said, her voice soft an

s, interjected. She raised her gla

Elsie. May you always sta

turing figure, a traditional symbol of maturity and elegance, bu

Elsie instinctively straightened he

ng Uncle Jo

primanded coldly,

d her grip on

efore, and now he was doing

ng John a drink with a smile. "I'm sorry, Uncle John. It's just been so l

had seen John. She had to pester him for thr

n her eighteenth birthday, he had been di

et with increasing indifference from John, who ev

s settled, An

rfect match for John, and their

anyone take Joh

curt "Happy birthday" before taking a sip, his

ayfully. "It's alright. After

lsie is really close

closer to John, struggli

d of acknowledgment, a stark contrast

I'll go find them, " Elsie said, needing an

hing John finish the drink she had given

she would no lo

verything went accord

with a hint of tobacco surrounded her

fort, his reddened ears softening

th Elsie's frantic heartbeat,

tally and pressed her lips t

wine was intoxicating. and her

t burst with joy, like a burst

she grew m

ls

looked up into his eyes, fear of be

led and said. "I'm sorr

ment, John pulled

her arms around his neck

reat her like this

slipping into her hair, the pain of

ern face soften with desire,

d she couldn't resist a mischievous

e murmured, coaxing

entedly as passion clouded her mind,

st birthday since l

e crash made international news, and e

the nanny forced her home. The search team eventually delivered her parents' belo

the large inheritance left to a little g

ing lawyers to fight over the inheritance. Whe

ures around her bed in hosp

o signing away her parents' estat

n, with his black suit and a pocket full of White R

ed her paren

showed her t

and worthy of the legacy, so you can take over when you

dsome figure beside her bed, in

resence eased he

t as handsome but filled with anger,

ow can yo

g down her face, cowe

through gritted teeth, making

hn's anger but coul

hn began picking up

cked and called out, "Uncle John... I'm

r face half-buried in the blanket, lea

as leaving?" John rubbed his temple

na? Are you two go

ried, would h

, and they weren't ev

ty; why couldn't he

hing you should b

eturned to his usual col

out from under the covers

ly like Ann

oldness, "Elsie, you'll be going abroad for your studies. It's my fault for neglecting the

there would be punishment, but she h

name with such tenderness. Did he

jumped out of bed and clung t

to go abroad. You weren't like this last night. I g

erately, tears and snot

e with a slight force, pulling her forward

her tears, not daring to meet John's gaze. She realized s

a cold blade slicing over

lly, his words like

I teach you to

t, and Elsie fell ba

e didn't even spare her another glance, leav

her shoulders trembling with bitter la

ad to be a bad girl and use tricks,

.

for Elsie made her dismiss hi

e his mind by acting spoile

s school admissions teased her, "Elsie, why di

wanted to deny it, but John's fa

ing all interest in class. She p

e ans

rmed her that he had canceled his meetin

d over with

he planned to burst into tears and apol

so good to her; he

dn't go

as long as she stayed by his

self before ring

gently, and Elsi

sn't difficult this time, giving her

open the door, her j

here? Where

e door handle, casually brushing her hair bac

n is in the shower. You can t

, the mocking smile on her face f

, noticing she was w

he would never let someo

sie tried to push

unreasonable behavior before, wa

ed up with Elsie's

ill smiling, "Elsie, wait a moment. Le

t her ang

nk she was the lady

t understand these subtleties a

to hear and sque

ving room hit Elsie

and the lace trim peeking out rev

le, and the trash bin was f

Seeing this, she un

and the sound of water from the b

was a mess, " Anna said, still smiling

ie clenched her f

ha

Don't think you can tak

surprise, covering her mouth, then laughed malici

d. Seeing Anna's smug face, sh

ice came from the ba

nc

a and Elsie replie

Elsie and walked to the bath

Elsie, who was still standing

ows and went in, like

, "See, he still ca

ill in her eyes as she ran past

eft in

he sky was

ly, John's words from behind the b

broad are set. Don't come loo

meaningless, like she wa

ss flashed through her mind, e

.

rling up like an abandone

stayed like that, but night f

her chest still w

up and w

e liveliest pl

r, not knowing how m

nly made John's face

a drink she remembered w

big gulp of

She frowned, looking at the amber liquid in her gl

a man's voice sou

tender and sat next to Elsie

ushed it towards her, "Try this. It's sm

e the discomfort in her mouth,

f how many had tri

ink away her heartbre

drink and pushed it towards Elsie. "This one's made with coco

lanced at him impatiently. "I don't n

ingly handsome, a friendly and appr

was taken aback

He squinted and smiled at her words, spreading his h

was from the alcohol or embarrassment, o

te opposite of John's. His charm

appear calm as she took a small si

ation, "Are you here alone

N

ust a breakup. I

aid

alone isn't a good

ble impression she had of

see she didn't

ind Hank still

d someone richer and more mature. Do you think people always chang

I troubl

mind replayed memories of her as a child. She

ened her mouth but said nothing,

e a sister about your age, but she p

his hair falling over his forehe

k a sip of his drink before continuing, "It was a plane cra

ed, spilling her dr

died in a plane crash, the sa

bed a napkin to wipe the spilled drink on t

ng Hank fuss over the mess. She numbl

iously dry eyes began to

ry. I won't say anymore, " Ha

king, and downed the drink in f

ad ordered for her, n

tinued drinking one glass after another until

ave Hank a look

focusing on Elsie

as his on

ighed, and took out his phone. "Whe

up, her eyes unfocused. "I don't

ces from those around them. "Next time, I'll drink with you whe

ing a moment of clarity in he

osphere between them seemed to heat up,

in Hank's chest, wiping the mes

e cracked f

chest. 'I don't want to go hom

tone softening. "How can tha

oesn't like me. He wants to sen

I could report hi

head. "I'm not a child anymore. My uncle

I didn't know there was som

rom the Cosmic

ry? The wealthy heir

Hank away, the indescribable frustrat

't mean anything by i

by Elsie's sudden

ith you. Or I could treat y

Hank put away his smil

tell you

g the plane cras

ut from what I've found, th

p sharply. "Wh

ed fog in her min

and repeated, "The plane c

he floor and stumbled towards the exi

her sudden anger f

p and apologize to th

off Hank's support

approached me on purpose. And now you're saying the crash was deliberate. D

d by her outburst. "Can you no

roach Elsie to

she took one back, even raising

o hit him with her designer

get clo

lk somewh

g on talking right ther

y of people and

ise, so they ended up sitting on

d approach you on

and she subtly moved f

ank quickly continued. "I suspec

, regretting trusting him again and

l me your name. I'll hav

d grabbed Elsie's arm

ely struggled ag

strength of the seemingly

d Elsie

nto her eyes seriously. "I have evidenc

person all along?" Elsie scoffed. No matter what, she wouldn't

e him, so he pulled out his p

ut in front of her w

at does any of this have to do with my u

making Elsie's hea

med by the dense te

suspected that Hank was playing a trick on her. Sta

frantically trying to save his

e turned

e, and both of them, along with

h..

e feel like the world was spinning

is chest, the sour smell mixed

then, as if he were a human pillow,

, wondering what kind of troub

after she finished, she slumped over h

eep on the street with he

und nearby hotels, but the cl

his phone showed a wai

er head to rest on Hank's other shoulder. As her body slid down d

ld find a comfortable position. "Are you drunk or not? If y

veins on Hank's ne

sn't d

she was g

used the card John had given her, kno

evidence. She stood firmly by John's side, but

they promised a family trip to the

ue, wouldn't everything

cent coldness, and Anna's ever-mocking sm

ng and strong heartbeat, she coul

ack, Hank, who was about to speak, stopped. He glan

y, thinking Elsie had fallen asleep again, he heard her

great opportunity. Why

on here is g

afraid of

nstinctively, not wan

romised with a smile, "When you

g Hank's carefree deme

her personal matters wit

, "Forget it. You w

. Despite the darkness and chaos around her, she could

r dangling legs and co

eminded him so mu

reet looked like a boyfriend carrying h

front of Hank, stoppi

as J

, come

" Hank replied. Sensing Hank'

to drink and

't even k

he tension, stepping for

ack down. "She said she doesn't want to go abroad

arm, not sparing Hank a glance

ws how to throw his weig

rom around Hank's neck, thanked

but he had already instructed the

from the same cloth. "Money solves everything, huh?

in responding. After checking on

nfront John further, but t

ank how much money he could receive and what processes were req

osed, cutting o

s stood menacingly bet

to the ground, abandoning the id

arch team and arranged for a private doctor. Drivi

o him, her eyes still wet, the car filled w

r his wing, she had nev

en force, John pinched

dful, only looking peaceful when a

hed John's shirt and frowned, trying

er. Was she resting on a leg? I

she opened

he saw was John's

gnificantly and sud

John called, h

owered her head like a scolded child. John

k with a guy? Where'

-res

word

nd cold words from that morning, her fingers

etly endure the storm, erupte

to hear that wor

bout you?"

years? If you've already decided to send me abroad,

ning the ring on his thumb, watching

e. You should take respons

s referring to her cl

what I'm

y, you

sie felt on the verge of breaking down. "Yo

continuing to turn his

ha

" John lifted his eyes

g about Hank. She paused, u

ll spread thro

asy to make John

she lied wit

ie uneasy. She knew he was t

he ordered, leaving

would have complied

t you break u

s reaction, to see if he

Elsie's gaze. She glanced ou

e was young, and they had li

er feelings to him at eighte

but reminisce about the past, so she decided

ng for John's response, wonder

commanded, tapping on the partition. His assi

shed once again. Elsie always found it hard

she asked, recalling the mess in his

ld anymore, "

You never care about my though

and understands what I need b

nough to talk to her, but she had been yelling at him

ike picking up a rag doll, carr

the sudden brightness made

osure he had maint

hat guy tried to take you to a hotel when you were drunk. Do you know what could have happened if I hadn't found you? "It's okay to date, b

ke so much to E

they made him seem like a con

o abroad, " Elsie

outright. "No bargaining.

ng that soft tactics wouldn't wor

me. That still meets your

rously. "What have you done

stinctively took a step back, secretly

rything that couple

, each step echoing in Elsie's heart, making

behind her back and sile

might have gone t

o throw her of

ness, John tossed her into the bat

away the last traces

yes, shielding them from

w through blurred vision that J

ike me the mos

ng out to him for the first time that night,

wet clothes clinging to

off her wet clothes, and E

g to me, asking me to he

in vain; John's

head vigorously, trying to retre

ferent, " s

child, only seeing the warm scenes o

ily, Elsie naturally made s

eral teachers to educate her on t

o, his gaze steady, making Elsie a

never do su

ap, John wrapped Elsie i

lsie realized they w

ecorated with a childhood drawing she had m

u cold?" John placed Elsie o

my room, " Elsie said, clutching the towel and retr

his muscular thighs, and Elsi

cape, but he ca

n't you like

leaded, kicking at him, only fo

anymore?" he asked, pulling her closer with a gentl

elling up in her eyes. "John,

red, met only with Joh

insane, s

k on John, refusing

-fighting fir

dressed in clean clothes from the wardrobe, hi

prepare you for going abroad. Stay hom

ile, gradually realizing that

lence and tense expres

friend too. I won't say

n Elsie's heart, makin

lationship with John, especially when

ed, Elsie said, "Joh

gained his composure, reachi

ed away.

nt, then withdrew his hand, c

John left

mfort magnified, her mind replaying

approaching, Elsie

was already waiting in the living room, having c

pressionless at the top of the spiral

ase, immediately stood

ned back to her room, only to receiv

lessons properly, I'll com

e down, but eventually returned

e tutor's teachings became increasingly useless. It dawned on Els

days, calculating how much lo

eclining efficiency and worried

s. He had even purchased a house near her school, c

ained his usual inscrutable demea

ent emotion on his face, so she dr

r period was two months late, with no other

ciously called Anna fi

lsie was telling her about the preg

ed it was John's child that A

irits, imagining Ann

n, that she would point fingers at him and curse at

this matter, Elsie thought, eag

nfazed, as he laid out the d

t the reaction she had expected

hn finally

tol

rything's fine, we

ng. If you want any changes, just call me

itten into a lemon. She had been wai

was yours. She

eryone is as ch

nothing to comfort Elsie. She was t

o didn't understan

would have a child with ano

n. He lifted her chin with his hand, "This

e, feeling extremely uncomfortab

Elsie's lie with his actions, and now he c

ths. If you don't believe me, take

's face for a mome

an eyebrow, determ

amusing. Since she was so stubborn, he decided

ccompanied Elsie

d she was eight weeks pre

ng the report from John's

on the report was the ch

hat the baby already had a

he doctor's coat, asking, "Isn't this a mistake? I just h

that not all pregnant women

ion room in a daze, her hand unconsciou

led into having a li

Elsie had just settled into the car

ut it. You still

uch that even after she was pregnant, she

ssed it with Anna. You'll continue your studies abroad. Once the child

ay something so heartless? Did he re

ll pretense as she shouted at John. "This is my child. How can you expect th

face da

of yourself. How can I t

the child. You don

s attitude that her stomach hurt. "Why should

spleased with El

o her in a month. She'

hild. She'll trea

earing things. Was John e

nt, and you want to marry Anna

Anna and I will raise

be so cold and heartless. She pointed to the hospital, "I think

have know

t like her, but he

ney-focused mind came up wit

er insults when she interrupted with a sneer, "Why are you so full

of her words hitting

ohn, you really do like taking care