Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO
Chapter 49: Wanting to See Your Joy, Watching Your Pride

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Wanting to See Your Joy, Watching Your Pride

3.

2.

1.

The last second, frozen in time.

In a flash, everything changes.

Light and shadow sweep past, slowly, and the scene is renewed at the same moment.

"Wow—"

"Oh my—"

"Ah, what’s happening—"

Exclamations burst from the crowd, one after another, as they witness a particular scene.

Slightly squinting her eyes, Nora saw all the advertisement screens shift to a familiar scene, starting from the largest screen and progressing forward, unfolding one by one along both sides, displayed before everyone in the square.

Scenes on the screen unravel like a painting; it’s her, from her youth to now, in various roles she played—from youthful innocence to mature adulthood—her face still astonishingly beautiful. The only changes are in her aura and expression.

Everywhere she looked, it was her silhouette.

[Nora Scott, December 24th, Happy Birthday.]

The words gradually emerged at last.

"I thought she looked familiar—it’s Nora Scott! That celebrity! The top beauty in costume dramas!"

"Whoa, who is it, to pull off something so grand?"

"Ahhh—that’s my nearly forgotten goddess—ahhh—"

...

Nora Scott.

In this moment, thousands of people were chanting her name.

Like a magic show, dazzling everyone who knows her or doesn’t, it is destined to be a unique and memorable Christmas Eve for those witnessing it.

Large snowflakes swirled in the wind, obscuring the view, the people in the square craned their necks to peer around, eyes wide open, trying to see more clearly.

The screen changed again, finally freezing on an exquisite face.

Without her period costume, Nora Scott was still elegantly beautiful, her narrow eyes slightly raised, with a touch of arrogance and laziness, stunningly gorgeous.

And, as the focal point of the whole square, Nora Scott, at this moment, stood in the crowded people, watching the scene just like everyone else.

A figure walked up to her.

Slim fingers touched the brim of a hat, pressing down slightly, Nora’s eyes regained calm coolness, squinted, focusing on the man ahead.

Snowflakes clung to his black hair, strands brushing his browbone, occasionally fluttering in the wind.

Slightly lowered his head, he gazed quietly at her, his dark eyes touched by the wintry wind, yet still warm, gently so.

The shrieks, cheers, chatter, commotion... seemed separated from them, standing amidst it, their eyes met, undisturbed.

A few seconds later, Nora asked, "Did you do this?"

"Yes."

"Burning money?"

After thinking carefully, Pedro nodded, the corner of his lips curled, "Yes."

"You," pausing slightly, Nora gently furrowed her brow, confusion arose, her voice emotionless, "What do you want to do?"

What do you want to do?

Want to be with you;

Want to share happiness with you;

Want to see you smile, see you proud, envied by others...

But as thoughts cycled through his mind, when it came to speak, all those thoughts and words transformed into one phrase—

"Celebrate your birthday."

Snowflakes fell on his eyelashes, white and bright, melting into water droplets, freezing into frost, covered by a layer of tiny ice particles, reflecting radiant light in the colorful glow.

Staring at his eyelashes, Nora asked, "Just like that?"

"Yes."

Thinking for two seconds, Nora smiled, candid and sincere, "Thanks."

He swallowed visibly, Pedro gazed at her, his voice light, "Do you like it?"

In the howling wind, his low voice harbored a trace of indistinct nervousness.

"I do like it."

Nora answered straightforwardly and decisively.

She was never one to conceal.

Sincere, confident, straightforward.

She says she likes it, and truly likes it, without any falsehood.

The worry in his brows finally eased completely in that second.

Her eyes swept around, glancing at each billboard featuring her, seeing the crowd peering around, Nora’s eyes were filled with smiles, "No wonder you’re heading into showbiz, you even learned fandom tactics?"

Pedro nodded slightly, "Piece of cake."

Nora gave him a sideways glance, "Now you’re being cocky."

"Continue strolling?" Not debating with her, Pedro shifted the topic, relaxed after easing his anxiety, glanced at the young man singing not far away, said, "They’re still singing over there."

Nora looked at him twice, "You pulled off such a stunt, still want to stroll around, and get stared at?"

She turned around, fingers lightly pushing the brim, her long slender fingers illuminated in the light, with prominent knuckles, white and fine.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped, placing her hands in her pockets, slightly turned, the light flowing and flickering in her dark beautiful eyes, with thousands of stars, both dark and bright.

Corners of her lips curved, she was smiling, "Going or not?"

The fleeting smile, soft and gentle, enveloped by swirling snowflakes, made the view blurry, yet more impactful.

A warm rush in the mind akin to fireworks blooming, colorful and dazzling.

*

In the largest commercial area of Fenton City—Castle Central Square, coinciding with Christmas Eve, all the ad banners were rented for an entire day.

The scenes played in loops.

Shared by thousands, the spectacle quickly transferred online, then spread like a virus.

Marketing accounts keenly sniffed out the buzz, promptly writing copy to repost, and shortly, the topic "Nora Scott Birthday" and "Nora Scott Billboard" topped the trending list.

The public, amazed, envious, anti-fans angrily accused as hype, fans frantically rolled around.

[Something I’ve never seen before! Nora Scott, a minor actress whose fan club disbanded, can still have her comeback day!]

[Could it be a wealthy patron?]

[Any gossip, plea for details! Who’s the big shot behind this?]

[Ahhh, drooling over the screen ahhhh!]

[So touching, few beauty fans were moved to tears. Beautiful lady, happy birthday.]

[On-site, totally awesome! Square’s atmosphere was completely carried away.]

...

After the scene that stunned thousands ended, the protagonist Nora Scott and the man behind it, Pedro Langley, silently left the square.

*

Ten thirty.

Nora and Pedro returned to Cloudwater Haven.

Stepping out of the elevator, Nora was about to say something, but before she could, her view suddenly collided with an ’unknown figure’.

Nora focused her gaze.

She saw a young man wrapped in a down jacket like a dumpling, squatting at her doorstep, accompanied by several plastic bags. Wearing a baseball cap, with the brim pressed down, obscuring most of his face, both hands clasped tightly around the jacket, leaning back against the door, it seemed he might be asleep.

Like a destitute beggar.

Without needing to see his face, Nora scanned twice and immediately recognized him.

Pedro’s brow furrowed, his expression turned cold.

Nora walked over, squatted halfway down in front of him, her elbow resting on her knee, extending her other hand, flicked the brim of his cap up.

"Poor thing."

Dragging the tone, Nora’s pitch rose with a hint of teasing, fun.

"Who’s this?"

The vision suddenly brightened, the ’destitute beggar’ jerked awake, half-squinting, startled from his fatigue.

Blinking, confirming that it was Nora squatting in front, he hesitated for a moment, then exclaimed—

"Oh, you actually know how to come back?!"

Like a distressed wife at home waiting for her husband’s return.

Nora chuckled, "What are you doing here?"

"Can’t you see? Your dear beloved friend, exhausted from running deliveries all day, took the daily wage to first buy a birthday gift and rush to your home, hoping to surprise you. However, some heartless person was out having too much fun to come home, phone unreachable all the time..."

Halfway through complaining, Miguel felt waves of coldness, he looked up and finally noticed the figure standing behind Nora.

The person was backlit, haloed by the light border, he couldn’t see clearly.

Instinctively asked, "Who’s this guy?"