"Can’t you take a joke?" Serena snapped, her irritation barely concealed.
Martin reined in his grin, finding her annoyance oddly endearing.
"Sorry, my photography skills need so work. I’ll do better next ti."
"Just make sure you do! And you better start learning how to take pictures like other boyfriends do for their girlfriends!"
Martin was oblivious to the complaint; instead, he latched onto the words boyfriend and girlfriend.
So, in Serena’s mind, she already considered him her boyfriend, right? And by default, she saw herself as his girlfriend.
With that thought, a sweet smile crept back onto Martin’s face.
They had left too late, and by the ti they got to the riverbank, all the private boats were gone.
Other people had booked their boat tickets weeks in advance. Serena was taken aback to learn that a single boat’s pricing varied depending on whether you were at the bow, midship, or stern.
"What about sharing a boat with others?" Martin asked the attendant.
"None left either, unless soone is willing to sell their spots to you. Not just private boats — there aren’t even individual seats available."
Martin hadn’t anticipated the dinner cruise being such a hit. He glanced at Serena. Unwilling to let her down, he haggled with other tourists and finally managed to purchase two high-priced tickets at the bow of the boat.
Serena, however, was less than thrilled. Squeezing onto a boat with so many others was beneath her — especially surrounded by ordinary couples, influencers, and families with kids.
For soone of her standing to share space with others, she felt it was a blow to her dignity.
"I’m sorry you’re upset," Martin said, not fully aware of the local customs. Fortunately, the dinner was high-quality enough not to give Serena any real cause for complaint.
With the noisy atmosphere around her, Serena felt irritable — but then Martin snapped a photo of her, skillfully capturing just her, the dinner, and the view, without any intruders.
"Is this better?" Martin tried to lift her spirits.
"Much better," Serena admitted, scrolling through seven or eight pictures, finally starting to cheer up.
But her good mood didn’t last long. She noticed a beautiful glass boat gliding by, its lighting and decorations far superior to their own.
"I wonder who that guy is over there, being able to rent out an entire boat like that."
"He must be loaded. Look at all those flowers. What are they called? I’ve seen them sowhere before."
"Are they marigolds?"
"In this chilly weather, they must’ve been shipped in from elsewhere, right? Maybe that girl on the boat loves them and he arranged it all for her."
"Oh my gosh, that’s so romantic!"
Serena’s face fell at the ntion of marigolds. But when the neighboring boat passed close by, she was shocked to see Roo feeding Rosemary dinner on that boat!
His smile was full of adoration, treating Rosemary as if she were the apple of his eye.
Rosemary returned his smile, her gaze filled with him alone.
"That guy’s really handso and young! He looks like he’s in his twenties!"
"And the girl is gorgeous too! Aren’t they the couple who had the private event at the top of the skyscraper?"
"Yeah, that’s them! That guy really spares no expense for his girl!"
"They’re so cute together."
So of the passengers on the boat couldn’t help but tease, "Marry him! Marry him! Marry him!"
Through the glass, Rosemary could vaguely hear their chants. Marry him?
What was happening?
With a smile, Roo looked at Rosemary.
"Will you marry ?"
Just then, a bubbly girl called out, "If you don’t marry such a great guy, I will!"
Rosemary couldn’t help but laugh.
Amid the continuous jeers from across the way, Roo sent a ssage and booked the entire dinner service on that boat.
The people on the boat paused for a half-second when the captain announced the news. Then, realizing what had happened, they erupted in cheers — wishing the couple a lifeti of happiness and hoping for the pitter-patter of little feet soon. So even jokingly suggested they have their honeymoon right there.
Roo looked at Rosemary with a doting smile.
"They seem more anxious than I am."
The teasing grew louder.
Serena’s face grew gloomier by the second.
Why was she always outshone by them?
The ordinary dinner in front of her, the raucous little boat, and Martin — who always fell short compared to Roo.
It all grated on her.
Why?
Why was Rosemary always happier than her?
"Don’t mind them," Martin tried to soothe her, noticing her mood. "Next ti I’ll plan sothing even better for you."
Serena was at her wit’s end, not in the mood to talk.
At that mont, another boat with transparent walls glided towards them, a violinist aboard playing a captivating tune. His gentle gaze fell on Serena as if performing just for her.
Serena was taken aback. Could this be Martin’s surprise?
The violinist’s gaze made Serena increasingly certain that this must be Martin’s surprise!
"Who planned this surprise?" soone wondered.
"Could it be that couple at the bow? So romantic."
"I heard renting a boat and hiring a violinist for one song costs around one grand."
"That’s so expensive!"
Just as Serena thought she had made a coback, nodding to the violinist on the boat, her smile froze when, in the next second, the violinist’s attention moved to other passengers, nodding to each one.
His boat brushed past theirs and slowly moved towards Roo’s boat.
Serena’s smile completely stiffened in disbelief. Could it be that this was also a surprise from Roo for Rosemary?
"Serena, do you like the violin?"
Martin’s words plunged Serena’s heart into an icy abyss. The surprise wasn’t for her after all.
The glass boat kept pace with Roo’s, the violinist serenading Rosemary with a symphony of joy.
Many of the passengers were lost in the beautiful music, not wanting the mont to end.
"How many surprises did you prepare?" Rosemary asked, surprised and yet teasing. "Isn’t it exhausting to go out with ?"
Planning ahead, figuring out how to delight her, making her happy.
"Exhausted? With you by my side, I’m too happy to be tired," Roo pulled her close, sharing the lodious music with her. "I just wish ti would slow down."
Then, he could stay with her a little longer.
"Did you enjoy dinner tonight?" Roo whispered.
"Did you go out of your way to hire a chef just for again?" Rosemary looked up and said, "You don’t have to go to all that trouble next ti. When we go out, even grabbing sothing on the street is fine. The most important thing is that we are together."
Roo and Rosemary intertwined their fingers, his gaze filled with affection.
"I just don’t want to leave you with any regrets."
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