The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Boyd’s expression was one of pure distaste. “I reckon Bryson isn’t strapped for cash to buy some scallions.”

“There’s something different about growing them yourself. Besides, they grow fast. I can harvest them at least

twice in a month.”

“I noticed the director has a pot on his office windowsill. You’re awfully young to have such quirky tastes.”

Yasmine ignored him.

Two hours later, they both wrapped up their tasks.

After that, Boyd, who was usually a ghost around the place, seemed to be popping up everywhere. He was often

spotted fiddling around in the garden.d2

Occasionally, Yasmine’s figure would appear at the opposite flower bed, but her appearances were few and far

between.

Boyd’s lilies received no care from Yasmine, not even a passing glance. Yet Boyd found himself watching those

scallions grow with an odd sense of unease.

After half a month, Yasmine snipped the scallions and took them to the cafeteria, which meant two whole days of

scallion cuisine on the menu.

Boyd wasn’t fond of them.

Watching Yasmine shovel them into her mouth, Boyd couldn’t mask his aversion. “I always thought you didn’t care

for strong flavors.”

Yasmine, poised and unhurried, continued to eat, “That’s just your assumption. Though you’re not wrong, I

generally don’t like intense flavors. But I find this quite nice. Nothing in this world is absolute, you know. Tastes,

habits—they can change. You never know when something will just change.”

At her words, Boyd reluctantly took another bite.

Yasmine offered a small smile, “If you don’t like it, that is totally fine. No point in forcing yourself.”

“Maybe I’ll come to like it if I get used to it.”

She gave him a fleeting look, her smile light, “Pointless.”

Boyd kept his eyes on her, “But it’s all for the sake of liking them.”

Silence fell between them.

“Those lilies need special care, especially since it’s not the ideal planting season.”

Yasmine nodded nonchalantly, “I know. I’m not that naive.”

Perhaps Boyd had his own stubborn streak, “A little extra effort might do the trick.”

Yasmine finished her last bite, glanced at the lingering gaze beside her, and with a half-smile, stood up with her tray.

“You should eat more.”

Boyd watched her leave, unaccustomed to hearing such things from her.

Not long after Yasmine’s departure, Serana slid into the seat across from him with her tray. She offered Boyd a

bread roll, “Want to eat a bit more?”

Boyd looked at his empty bowl and accepted the bread. “Who are you avoiding?”

Serana nibbled on her vegetables and mumbled a vague, “Hmm. you know, Yasmine doesn’t like me much.”

Boyd took a bite of the roll, “She’s just got a foul temper.”

Serana ate in small bites, “Anyway, I’m kind of scared of her. I thought she ruined the lilies last time. Even though

nothing was said, I feel like it was because of me that she ended up so humiliated.”

“It’s over now.”

Boyd, not the most well-versed in comforting others, felt a twinge of guilt himself for having wronged her.

As for Yasmine, holding grudges was not her style—she neither had the patience nor the inclination to waste time

on such meaningless things.

Yet Serana shook her head softly, still uncertain, “Is it really over?”

Boyd looked at her, “What else could there be?”

Serana shook her head again, “I don’t know. I just feel like Yasmine was really angry back then. She’s usually so

cool, but I’ve never seen her explode like that. If it’s truly okay now, that would be great.”

Her words stayed with Boyd, unsettling him. He couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong, but his unease grew.

Serana’s perceptiveness was spot-on. Half a month later, the day after Yasmine’s birthday, everything clicked.

The second batch of scallions made its way to the cafeteria, and there was another unavoidable round of scallion

dishes for lunch. Only this time, there were a few extra dishes.

After the meal, everyone received a slice of exquisite cake. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, and Ava was there

too.

Yasmine held her cake while Boyd sat beside her, his face contorted as if he were eating onions.

Few girls disliked sweets. Yasmine was no exception.

Ava sat beside her, her expression distant, not uttering a word to Yasmine.

“Happy Birthday.”

Yasmine paused and turned to Boyd. “What?”

Boyd chuckled, “Today’s your actual birthday, right?”

Ava looked on in surprise.

Boyd handed Yasmine a clear glass jar. “I can’t give you anything fancy right now, and probably won’t for a few

years. So, write down whatever you wish for and put it in this jar. When I can stand on my own two feet, I’ll make

them all come true without conditions.”

Yasmine held the empty jar, momentarily lost in thought.

“Can I only put wishes in on my birthday, or any time?”

Boyd looked resigned, “Whenever you want, for anything you want.”

Yasmine raised an eyebrow and hugged the jar. “Well, I’d better think hard. Mansions, sports cars… looks like I

won’t need to lift a finger for the rest of my life.”

Ava chuckled nervously beside them, her tone treading lightly, “You know, this kind of talk usually leads to

marriage, right?”

Yasmine and Boyd froze, then turned to her in unison. “Marriage?”

Ava shrank under their identical looks of confusion, unsure of what to say next. After a tense moment, she

mustered the courage, “Isn’t that how it goes on TV? These promises from boys to girls, and they’re usually with

the expectation of marriage.”

Yasmine’s face took on a pensive look, and she turned to Boyd, “So…”

Boyd snapped back to reality, but his gaze lingered on her. “You know, I didn’t really think too much into it.”

His eyes were a picture of honesty.

Yasmine couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing. What was she even thinking about?

She was still wet behind the ears, and already her mind was racing ahead to the future. “I wouldn’t have thought of

it myself if Ava hadn’t mentioned it. So since that’s the case, I’ll gladly accept this gift with a clear conscience.”

“Sure.”

Yasmine pulled out her backpack and carefully placed the bottle inside.

Boyd glanced at her nearly empty backpack, a tiny frown creasing his brow. Once the bottle was secure, Yasmine

returned to her cupcake, a soft smile playing on her lips. Even when Serena approached, Yasmine’s smile didn’t

completely fade.

Resting her chin on her hand, with the fork still at her lips, she looked up at Serena with a half-smirk, though she

didn’t initiate conversation.

Serena felt a tingle of unease under her stare and handed over a glass jar to Yasmine.

Yasmine glanced at it, her eyes momentarily darkening. “Um… Boyd told me that today’s actually your birthday.”

Yasmine lowered her gaze to the glass jar in her hands. Serena paused, her expression awkward. “I know I made

things difficult for you last time, and I’m aware that destroying your lilies upset you. I’ve kept these dried ones.

Hopefully, they can serve as a keepsake.”

Yasmine scooped another bite of her cupcake, “Did you tell anyone else about my birthday?”

Clearly, Boyd had let it slip.

Serena’s eyes also found Boyd, tinged with concern. Yasmine could be icy and unpredictable, and no one knew

which word might inadvertently cross her. And with her current demeanor, the premonition was far from positive.

Boyd’s face remained impassive. “Just her. She’s been wanting to apologize, and I thought this would be a good

opportunity. I’m not foolish. If Bryson intended to keep your real birthday under wraps, I certainly wouldn’t go

blabbing about it.”

Suddenly, Yasmine let out a cold laugh, her fork twirling a strawberry in the frosting.

“You’re not foolish, so you decided to confide in Serena. What? Did she give you some kind of guarantee that made

you trust her not to spread the word?”

Serena, catching on, quickly interjected: “Yasmine, I swear I haven’t told anyone, and I won’t, ever.”

“Did I ask you?” Yasmine’s tone was ice-cold, and for the first time, she looked directly at Serena, her gaze sharp as

a blade, causing Serena to shrink back involuntarily.

Boyd frowned. “She won’t tell anyone.”

Yasmine fell silent for a few seconds. “So she didn’t even promise you, and you just unilaterally trust her?”

Boyd’s expression darkened slightly, his frown deepening as he looked at her, as though Yasmine was being

unreasonably difficult. “I told you, she wants to apologize.”

“And I told you, I loathe her. What are you thinking, assuming I would forgive someone I despise?”