Chapter 3

Nina had never put this much thought into anything she did for me.

Even on my birthdays, when I explicitly asked her for a cake, she would impatiently say that we were all adults and that those flashy, useless rituals were meaningless.

Yet now, in front of fans and friends, she had prepared such a grand surprise for Rowan.

So that was how it was. Only when you truly cared would you bother putting in the effort.

Rhea watched my expression closely. Clearly satisfied with my reaction, she curled her lips into a faint, amused smile.

After the fan event ended, Nina and Rowan returned to the private room together.

Rhea immediately ran over and looped her arm through Nina’s. "Nina, you prepared such a big surprise for Rowan, and Ash watched the whole thing. Careful, you might make him jealous."

Nina’s body stiffened abruptly. She looked up at me, a trace of guilt in her eyes. "Next time, when it is your birthday or an anniversary, I will prepare the exact same kind of surprise for you too."

"No need," I replied flatly.

If it was exactly the same, could it even be called a surprise? I was not that cheap. I did not want something that had already been given to someone else.

Nina pressed her lips together, as if she wanted to say something.

Before she could, Rowan spoke up, "Ash, you aren't actually angry, are you? Nina was just cooperating with me for publicity. Don't be so petty.

"As her boyfriend, you should be more considerate. Don't always make Nina guess what you are thinking and coax you along. That's exhausting for her."

Look at how thoughtful this childhood friend was, always considering things from Nina’s perspective.

I let out a soft laugh. "With you looking out for her, why would she need anyone else?"

The gunpowder-laced remark instantly quieted the room.

Rowan sighed and smiled helplessly. "Alright, you really are angry. Then I will apologize. Don't blame Nina."

The atmosphere turned awkward. Someone quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"We are all on the same team. Why say things that create distance? Come on, drink up."

Rhea squeezed in and said with a smile, "It is not just about today. Yesterday, Nina even gave Rowan flowers."

After saying that, she looked at me cheerfully. "Right?"

Hearing this, the tightness in Nina’s brows finally eased. "So you are sulking with me over something this small?"

She said indifferently, "I bought flowers for you yesterday, too. You were the one who left, so I didn't get to give them to you. But I brought them."

She walked toward a corner of the private room and pulled out a small bouquet of lisianthus from a cardboard box that had been holding beer.

The moment she took it out, someone snorted with laughter. There was no other reason than the lisianthus bouquet appearing wilted, scrawny, and cheap-looking. It was clearly a bargain bundle. It could not even begin to compare to the large, vibrant bouquet of red roses she had given Rowan the day before.

To make matters worse, Rowan had brought that bouquet of roses with him. Placed side by side, the two bouquets were like heaven and earth.

Teasing looks were cast in my direction, as if mocking how I dared to compare myself to Rowan at all.

Rowan lifted his brows smugly, his expression pleased. He glanced disdainfully at the lisianthus and said in a mock-scolding tone, "Nina, you should give Ash roses. Why'd you give him this kind of flower?"

That tone of disdain was one step away from saying it was something fit only to brush off a beggar.

Nina responded coolly, "It was late when we went to buy flowers after dinner yesterday. There were no roses left. This will do. He doesn't know anything about flowers anyway. He won't mind."

The best for Rowan, and something passable for me. So love and the lack of it were really that obvious.

But why did she think I would not mind?

She handed the flowers to me, but I did not take them.

The brows she had just relaxed furrowed again. "You don't want the flowers? I bought these especially for you."

"No need. Give them to someone else."

"What are you making a fuss about now?"

"I'm not making a fuss. I'm serious. I have something else to do, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'm leaving."

I pulled open the door of the private room and walked out. I had not gone far when I heard them talking behind me.

"Ash is really making a big deal out of nothing."

"The videos of Rowan and Nina blew up, and our studio has gotten a lot of sponsor interest. That is a good thing. Why be so petty?"

"Exactly."

Having lost her patience as well, Nina tossed the flowers aside. "Let him do whatever he wants. Just ignore him."

Those harsh words reached my ears, and my steps faltered. A wave of desolation surged up in my chest.

So this was how unimportant I was to her.