CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: GRAND DRONE CONFESSION

"Are you all right?"

Nathan Nash squeezed through the crowd from somewhere and steadied Zinnia Lawrence, preventing her from collapsing to her knees.

Zinnia steadied herself and turned to look. In the crush of people, Jenson Forrest’s tall figure flashed past, an arm wrapped protectively around someone.

She couldn’t see clearly, but Zinnia knew it was Crystal Sutton.

"Don’t push! Someone fell down!" someone shouted from behind, but the crowd kept surging forward.

It seemed the drone show had begun. It was taking place not far from the haunted house, so everyone was rushing to see it, causing the congestion.

Zinnia pulled her gaze away and looked at Nathan Nash, asking anxiously, "Where are Cecilia and Eighth?"

Nathan smiled at her. "Don’t worry, they’re safe. Let’s get out of this crowd first."

"Okay," Zinnia nodded.

They had to walk a bit further before the crowd thinned. A chorus of screams rose as the drones took to the sky.

Against the black canvas of the night, they formed the word "LOVE." Zinnia looked up as well, watching as the word morphed into two initials.

"S, W..." Nathan Nash read aloud. "...and is that a snowflake at the end? What does that mean?"

He glanced down, only to see Zinnia’s face had turned deathly pale.

She gazed up at the night sky, her expression like that of a falling star—shattering into light before fading to silent ash.

Love. S. W. A snowflake.

Nathan didn’t understand, but how could Zinnia not?

So this was why Jenson Forrest had brought Crystal Sutton to the amusement park tonight. He had prepared this romantic confession for her.

A pang went through Nathan’s heart. He took a step forward, blocking Zinnia’s line of sight.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around.

"Look over there!"

Zinnia blinked. Seeing nothing but pitch-black darkness, she looked up at Nathan.

"So, what’s over there?"

Looking embarrassed, Nathan rubbed his nose. "Well, it’s just darkness. A blank canvas. You can use your imagination, so it can be whatever you want it to be."

Zinnia blinked again.

So cold.

Nathan, probably feeling awkward himself, just stared at Zinnia, who stared right back.

Then, at the same time, they both burst out laughing.

"Uncle! Did you forget about us?"

Cecilia Nash’s cry rang out. Zinnia turned and saw Cecilia and Julian Forrest sitting on a large tree branch.

Cecilia waved her small hands, her little mouth in a pout.

Nathan explained, "There were too many people when we were coming out, so I put them in the tree before I went back to find you."

The children were clearly getting impatient.

Zinnia and Nathan went over and helped them down.

"What else do you two want to do, Cecilia and Eighth?" Zinnia asked.

Julian Forrest yawned, looking uninterested. "Seventh Sister, I’m tired. Let’s go home."

He had also seen the confession at the start of the drone show and felt terrible for Seventh Sister. He’d wanted to make her happy, but after running into his scumbag of a brother, she had probably lost all interest in having fun.

"Then let’s go," Zinnia nodded.

Nathan also chimed in, "Kids need to sleep early. Let’s all head out. I’ll give you a ride."

Zinnia didn’t want to trouble him, but he was so insistent, and Cecilia clung to her waist without letting go, so Zinnia had no choice but to get into the passenger seat.

In the back seat, the two children were quickly lulled to sleep by the motion of the car.

The car was quiet. Nathan turned to Zinnia. "Mind if I play some music?"

Zinnia gave a faint smile. "Of course not."

Nathan turned on the music. The melody was so familiar that Zinnia froze for a moment.

It was actually one of her own compositions. She assumed it was a coincidence, but then the next few songs were also hers.

She tried to hide her astonishment. "You like ’Backlit’?"

Nathan looked at her and nodded without hesitation. "I do. I’ve liked her for a long time. I’m a devoted fan."

His earnest expression made Zinnia’s face grow warm.

Even though he didn’t know she was Backlit, this was the first time a fan had confessed their admiration to her face-to-face.

She turned her head and coughed lightly. She was about to say something when Nathan stopped at a red light.

He turned to face her, his gaze intense.

"I started out as a fan of Adverse’s talent. Now... you could say I’m a ’boyfriend fan’."

"You don’t even know if she’s a man or a woman, how could you..." Zinnia’s words trailed off as she caught the meaning in Nathan’s warm, smiling gaze.

She gasped. "How did you recognize me?"

In the videos she posted on Weibo, she at most showed her hands when playing an instrument, and she always wore a mask for her dance videos.

This was the first time a fan had ever recognized her in real life.

Nathan just smiled as the light turned green and he started the car.

Zinnia’s curiosity was piqued. "Tell me!" she urged. "Are you a fake fan? What kind of fan keeps their idol in suspense?"

"I’m a loyal fan! I’ve watched every single one of your dance videos at least a hundred times. The last time I gave you a ride on the motorcycle, I thought your build looked very similar. But it was dark that day, so I wasn’t sure. You have a very tiny mole next to your right index finger. I made a point to check for it tonight, and that confirmed everything."

Zinnia looked down at her hand. The tiny mole, nestled between her index and middle fingers, was indeed very small.

She was thoroughly impressed that he could spot something so small.

Just then, a phone rang in the back seat.

It was Julian Forrest’s phone. Zinnia leaned over and picked it up.

The call was from Jenson Forrest.

Her smile vanished. She immediately switched the phone to vibrate.

But Jenson called again right away. Zinnia bit her lip and answered.

"Where are you?" The man’s voice was deep and laced with displeasure.

Zinnia’s voice was just as cold. "It’s me. We’re on our way back."

"Get out of the car now. Send me your location, and I’ll come pick you up!" Jenson ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Zinnia pursed her lips. Wasn’t he with Crystal Sutton? Hadn’t he just made that romantic confession? Why wasn’t he doting on his precious darling now? What did he want with her and Eighth?

"There’s no need. You should take Crystal Sutton home. Eighth is already aslee—"

"I said get out of the car now, Zinnia Lawrence. Do you not understand me?"

The man cut her off. The fury and coldness in his voice were palpable even through the phone.

She thought of how he had abandoned her in the crowd, rushing to Crystal Sutton’s side without a second thought. She remembered the drone lights glittering across the sky. Her heart felt like it was fracturing, tiny cracks spreading through it like a spider’s web.

She moved her lips, but her breathing hitched.

"Are you cold? I can turn on the heat," Nathan’s gentle and considerate voice cut through the silence in the car.

Zinnia snapped back to her senses. "There’s no need to trouble President Forrest. We’re almost home."

She hung up the moment she finished speaking.

She put the phone on silent and stuffed it back into Eighth’s backpack.

The car was quiet for a moment before Zinnia looked at Nathan. "Just now, you..."

"Yeah, that was on purpose."

He admitted it so directly and openly that Zinnia found her anger dissipating.

Nathan watched her cautiously. "Are you angry, sis?"

His alluring almond-shaped eyes were dark and glistening, and with that innocent, careful expression, he truly resembled a big puppy.

Zinnia finally understood what people meant by a "little puppy" guy. She said crossly, "Just drive! Eyes on the road, not on me!"

"Oh," Nathan replied, immediately turning his head forward and straightening his posture, looking the very picture of obedience.

But this guy wasn’t nearly as naive and harmless as he pretended to be; he was obviously full of tricks.

「Amusement Park Parking Lot」

"Jenson, can you take me home? I was so scared earlier, and now there’s this awful, dragging pain in my stomach. I’m a little afraid. I only feel safe when you’re by my side..."

Crystal Sutton was already in the back seat. She had been knocked down and trampled in the crowd.

Timothy Cohen was about to close the car door, but Crystal wouldn’t let him, her eyes fixed pleadingly on the man standing outside.

The man stood tall and straight in the darkness. His handsome face was as cold as ice, exuding an unapproachable yet dangerously captivating aura.

Crystal Sutton saw him on the phone and knew he must have been arguing with Zinnia Lawrence. This was the perfect opportunity for her to make her move. Her two hundred thousand hadn’t been spent for nothing. She’d arranged for the custom drone show the moment she saw it was an option on the way to the park.