Chapter 178: Congratulations

She looked like a fairy descending from heaven in that magnificent dress. Confused and flattered, she stared at Oscar, unsure of his meaning. Earlier, she'd even wondered if he would greet her with mockery. Given his sharp tongue, Hannah wouldn't remain silent if he were jealous of her achievement.

"Whatever," Oscar said, extending his hand. A man handed him a large bouquet of roses from the passenger seat. The gesture was slightly comical, yet his delicate features maintained his charm. Hannah felt nervous.

She remained composed as he approached, then, surprisingly, tossed his crutches aside. "Look at me," Oscar commanded.

Hannah was speechless. "Hey, I think I look better than other guys, right?" he added casually. She remained silent. Oscar took a deep breath, adopting a serious expression, making her nervous again. She anticipated something special.

"Congratulations!" he said, handing her the bouquet. Hannah frowned. "Congratulations for what?"

"Congratulations on the perfect end to your product launch. I'm sorry I didn't have time to prepare a celebratory feast," Oscar smiled. "Hey, just take it."

Though slightly annoyed by his overbearing demeanor, she accepted the roses. "Thank you."

"Do you like them?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"If you like them, don't you think you should reciprocate?" he asked, a dashing smile gracing his lips.

Her face flushed. She saw him spread his arms, clearly wanting a hug. Her heart pounded. What a sophisticated playboy! she thought. I must stay composed. She had something important to discuss. Taking a breath, she asked, "Oscar, do you mind being compared?"

Oscar frowned, arms still outstretched. "Would you mind if people said I'm too good for you? Would you mind if I overshadowed you? Would you be embarrassed by my talent? Would you…"

Before she finished, he pulled her into a tight hug. Her eyes widened as she bumped against his chest, her nose stinging slightly. She immediately felt his warmth. Startled, she dropped the bouquet.

"Hey, don't panic," his husky voice murmured above her. Hannah instinctively clung to his suit. Despite their many kisses, this hug felt different; she smelled his unique scent and felt a profound sense of security.

"No. Actually, I feel proud of you," he whispered.

She'd once believed her achievements should be a source of pride for her partner. Charles, however, had made her doubt that. Now she knew: Charles was too narrow-minded.

"I used to think guys might find that hard to accept because of ego," she said.

"That only applies to insecure men," Oscar emphasized.

Hannah paused. Insecure? His comment perfectly described Charles. Self-abasement or confidence, both stemmed from within, not external validation.

"But the point is…" Oscar released her.

Hannah looked up. Under the night sky, their eyes met.

"No matter how successful you become, I'm capable of matching you," his voice was strong and unwavering.

She wondered at his confidence, yet somehow believed him. She silently consented as his lips drew near.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Theodore watched them kiss. He glanced at Jimmy, who also saw them.

"Are you two an item?" Theodore asked.

Jimmy's face flushed. Seeing the tough guy blush, Theodore felt embarrassed. "Alright, alright! I can tell you're a virgin!" he said quickly, then sighed, looking back at the kissing couple.

Long afterward, they broke the kiss. Hannah was blushing, shy. Even she didn't know when kissing Oscar became commonplace, yet their relationship felt unique—unlike any ordinary couple or even lovers.

Lovers? The thought touched her.

"Give me a hand," Oscar said. Before she could respond, he added, "My legs are numb." He leaned heavily on her shoulder. Hannah nearly stumbled. He was so heavy!

"Can't you walk yourself?" she asked, annoyed.

"Can't you see what happened to my leg?" he retorted.

"But you have crutches!"

"They fell!"

"Pick them up!"

"I have no hands free; I need both to hug you!"

Can you stop flirting? Hannah thought.

She struggled to help him into the limousine, noticing Theodore in the passenger seat, who of course, noticed her expression.

"I saw you sticking your tongue out," he announced frankly.

Hannah wanted to throttle him.