Chapter 3

Liam had never put so much effort into anything for me.

Even on my birthday, when I explicitly asked for a cake, he would only grumble impatiently, saying we were adults, why bother with such pointless formalities?

Yet now, in front of everyone, he had given Harper such a grand surprise.

It was clear: only when you truly cared did you put in the effort.

Ryan watched my reaction, seemingly satisfied by my obvious distress.

A playful smirk played on his lips, twisting a knife in my heart.

After the meet-and-greet, Liam and Harper returned to the private room together.

Ryan immediately clapped Liam on the shoulder, teasing, "Liam, you prepared such a huge surprise for Harper, aren't you afraid your girl will get jealous?"

Liam's body stiffened, and he looked up at me, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"Next time it's your birthday or our anniversary, I'll prepare a similar surprise for you."

I shook my head faintly. "No need."

If it was exactly the same, how could it still be a surprise?

I wasn't so pathetic as to want something someone else had already used.

Liam pursed his lips, seemingly wanting to say more but holding back.

Before he could speak, Harper interjected, "Chloe, you're not angry, are you? Liam was just cooperating for the sake of studio publicity, don't take it to heart."

"As his girlfriend, you should be more understanding of him, don't always make him guess your thoughts to please you; it's very hard on him."

Typical of Liam's long-time friend, always looking out for him.

I let out a soft laugh. "With you looking out for him, who needs anyone else to interfere?"

The words carried a hint of provocation, instantly freezing the atmosphere.

Harper sighed, offering a helpless smile. "Alright, it seems you really are angry. I apologize then, don't blame Liam."

Awkwardness hung in the air. Someone quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "We're all in the same circle, why are we being so formal? Come on, let's drink, let's drink."

Ryan squeezed into the middle, grinning. "It's not just today, you know? Liam even gave Harper flowers yesterday."

He finished, looking at me with a playful smirk, seeking confirmation.

His words made Liam think he'd found the key to the problem. He turned to me. "Are you really sulking over something so small?"

He said casually, "I bought you flowers yesterday too, but you left early, so I didn't get to give them to you. But, I still have them."

With that, he walked to a corner of the private room and pulled out a small bouquet of Lisianthus from a cardboard box filled with beer.

The moment he brought them out, someone couldn't help but let out a snicker.

The reason was simple—this bouquet of Lisianthus looked cheap, a stark contrast to the red roses Liam had given Harper yesterday.

Harper had even brought her roses with her, and placed side by side, the difference was painfully obvious.

The gazes around me carried a hint of mockery, as if to taunt me for daring to compare myself to Harper.

Harper, meanwhile, proudly raised an eyebrow, her face beaming with triumph.

She looked disdainfully at the Lisianthus bouquet, feigning a scolding tone. "Liam, you should have given Chloe roses, why these flowers?"

Her tone practically screamed that Liam was treating me like giving scraps to a beggar.

Liam replied blandly, "After the dinner party last night, it was already very late when I went to buy flowers; there were no more roses. These flowers are passable; she's not very picky anyway, she probably won't mind."

The best for Harper, just "passable" for me.

Turns out, love and indifference were so painfully clear.

How could he assume I didn't care?

He extended the flowers to me, but I didn't reach out to take them.

Liam's previously relaxed brow furrowed again. "You don't like flowers anymore? I specifically picked these for you."

"No, thanks. Give them to someone else," I replied calmly.

"What are you stirring up now?" he pressed.

"I'm not stirring anything up; I'm serious. I have things to do, so I won't bother you anymore. I'll be leaving."

I opened the private room door and left without looking back.

Just a few steps out, the whispers behind me began.

"Chloe is taking this way too seriously."

"Harper and Liam's video went viral, and our studio received a lot of sponsorships. Isn't that a good thing? Why be so nitpicky?"

"Exactly."

Liam lost his patience, tossing the flowers aside. "Let her go, I'm not dealing with her anymore."

Those sharp words stabbed at my heart again and again.

I paused, a profound sense of sadness rising within me.

In his heart, I was so utterly insignificant.