Chapter 19 Love, Origami Cranes

"Chloe, we're just ordinary friends, we haven't reached that level of intimacy." He told her with the implication that where he was going had nothing to do with her, and there was no need to inform her. She wasn't his special someone!
A trace of disappointment flashed in Chloe's eyes, but she quickly smiled.
"Well, I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean to blame you. By the way, big brother William, my father is treating guests at the Crown today, he invited you too," Chloe said.
William politely interrupted her and walked slowly to Elena's side, giving her a gentle smile.
He didn't hide his intimacy with Elena at all. His big hand held Elena's.
"Sorry, I made plans to have dinner with Elena today, let's do it another day." William said.
A warm feeling surged in Elena's heart as she shrugged off the jealous gazes of the other three girls.
"By the way, Chloe, as the senior, please take care of Elena in the future and don't scare her with these pranks." William added.
"I, I didn't..." Chloe's face turned red with anger.
Looking at their hands tightly held together, she wished she could immediately ruin Elena's small face.
"Elena, let's go. Have you had breakfast? Shall I take you to eat French cuisine?"
The gentle and considerate words of William echoed in Chloe's ears, deepening the bitterness in her eyes.
Only after William disappeared did Chloe raise her hand and slap Scarlett and Natalie on their faces with a loud smack!
"It's all because of you! You're both useless! Humph! Now Brother William doesn't even care about me."
"Senior Sister, don't be angry. I will find a way to deal with her in the future."
Scarlett said in a pleasing manner, touching her swollen face. She forced a smile that looked very strained.
"Get lost, I don't want to see you anymore." Chloe turned around in anger and walked away.
A sky blue Lamborghini stopped at the school gate. It was William's car, reflecting his casual, calm, and elegant personality.
Elena sat in the passenger seat while William turned to fasten her seatbelt.
"Where do you want to go?"
After thinking for a moment, Elena asked, foolishly, "Senior William, does Chloe like you?"
William was slightly taken aback, then a brilliant smile slowly spread across his face. His star-like eyes were shining.
"Well, she does like me. Her father and my father are close friends, so we have known each other since childhood. But I don't like her, she has a spoiled princess temperament. That's not the point, the important thing is, I already have you in my heart, and I won't allow anyone else in anymore!"
Elena felt her heart pounding heavily, as if a small drum was beating inside it.
She lowered her head, not daring to look at William anymore.
The car slowly drove through the streets, passing by the gate of Mayo Clinic. The two words, 'Mayo Clinic', were solemn and familiar.
William smiled lightly. "Elena, when you graduate, come work here! Start as the head nurse. Would you like it?"
Elena's eyes widened, filled with joy and excitement. "Head nurse?! Can I really do it?"
"Hehe, of course you can. If you like, I can send you to the United States for further studies and learn the most advanced nursing."
A faint golden glow enveloped William's face, as if he was her god.
Going to the United States for further studies, learning the most advanced nursing, these were her ambitious words when she just entered college. Unexpectedly, he remembered them all, without forgetting a single word for three years.
The car drove through the bustling city and finally arrived in front of a delicate building.
On the signboard of the courtyard gate, a few words were written that said
"The Rose Garden".
Elena was extremely excited.
Back in the past when her father was seriously ill, whenever she felt sad and upset, she would find a place to cry her heart out. And this rose garden used to be near an abandoned mansion, which was relatively close to her. She would often climb over the wall and come here, then hide and cry loudly in this desolate place, without anyone noticing.
Until later, when William quietly followed her and came here.
Then the two of them started sneaking over the wall frequently. Most of the time, he would tell her stories and make her laugh.
After her father passed away and William went abroad to support the family, she never came back here again. And with the passage of time, she almost forgot about this place.
William pushed open the vermilion gate with his hand, and the ancient French garden appeared before her eyes.
Elena widened her eyes in disbelief.
This place, it was completely different from before.
Clearly, it had been renovated. Crimson walls, black glazed tiles, lush green trees, winding corridors, and especially this whole courtyard filled with snow-white roses. Under the brilliant sunlight, it emitted a strong fragrance.
"Senior William, what... what is going on here?"
"Hehe, I saw that you liked it here, so I bought it and had it renovated. If you like it, you can live here. But it's just that it's too far from the school."
"Senior William, you've been so kind to me. I really don't know how to thank you."
Land in their city had become extremely valuable, and yet William went to such great lengths for this Rose Garden.
William handed a uniquely shaped, old key to Elena and smiled. "From now on, you are the mistress of this place."
Elena quickly declined. "This, it's not appropriate! I don't want it!"
"Elena..."
Under the sunlight, William's handsome and gentle face was filled with deep affection. He grabbed her small hand and held it tightly.
"Elena, be my girlfriend and let me take care of you for the rest of your life, okay?"
He held her hand and placed it close to his lips, leaning down to kiss it.
With burning eyes, he looked at her intensely, and the distance between the two was so close that Elena could smell his enticing scent. Her heart was pounding violently.
After a moment, Elena suddenly pushed him away.
A hint of surprise flashed in William's eyes. He smiled. "What's the matter?"
For some reason, when William was staring at her, another pair of pitch-black eyes suddenly flashed through her mind.
Elena shyly smiled. "Can you give me some time to think about it?"
William considerately nodded. "Hehe, I rushed it. Actually, the original plan was for me to wait for you to graduate before confessing to you. But I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?" Elena raised her sweet little face, a small dimple of happiness appearing.
"Afraid that someone else will take you away!"
"Hehehe!" Elena chuckled nervously. Up to this day, no one had officially pursued her at school. She occasionally received notes from boys, but she just rejected them, thinking that they were jokes.
All along, she couldn't figure out why, but now she finally understood. It turned out that she had already had him in her heart.
The rose garden had been renovated beautifully, with an overall French garden style. But in the backyard, there were two quaint wooden cottages. The interior style of the cottages was modern and decorated warmly and romantically. It seemed like William had put a lot of thought into it.
"Look, the origami cranes I folded…"
In the other cottage, as soon as the door opened, a breeze blew in, causing the paper crane wind chimes to flutter.
In different shades of red and green, large and small paper cranes were made with long strings, with beautiful crystal shards hanging below. When the wind blew, the crystals collided, creating a pleasant ringing sound.
"Wow, it's so beautiful! How many are there?" Elena stood in the midst of a pile of paper cranes, amazed.
"Hehe, one thousand and one..."
"Why one thousand and one?" Elena curiously asked.
William smiled and remained silent. After a while, he intentionally said, "I'll tell you why when you decide to be my girlfriend!"