No Strings Attached

In the ring box lay a pair of matching rings, exactly the ones Clara had once imagined proposing to him with. Ian couldn't find the words to describe how he felt at that moment. He picked up one of the rings in disbelief, examining it closely. He even pulled up a photo on his phone that customer service had sent him. They were identical.

So, Clara had buried the rings she once wanted to use for their proposal here.

Why would she bury them here?

lan felt as if his heart stopped beating at that moment. His mind turned to mush, unable to think. It was a simple question, yet he couldn't bring himself to believe it. When his gaze fixed on the engraving inside the ring, he stumbled backward a few steps.

The engraving read "9911."

9911.

Wasn't that their special number? Why did Clara know it so well?

lan clenched the ring tightly in his hand, pulling out two letters from the box beside it.

His own letter, the one he had dictated, written on his behalf by No. 11, held no surprises.

However, why did the handwriting on No. 11's letter look so familiar? Elegant and clear, like a blinding light, it hurt his eyes.

He slowly unfolded the letter, and the first sentence nearly brought him to tears. [Mr. Nine, I am No. 11. My name is Clara.]

Mr. Nine.

Clara.

Only now did lan dare to believe his guess. Clara was the No. 11 he had been searching for.

No. 11.

Clara.

How had he never noticed these obvious clues before? So, the "Mr. Nine" Clara often called out in her dreams was him. She had been by his side since three years ago. lan's vision blurred. He wiped the tears from his face and continued reading.

[I hope that in the future, I can stand in a courtroom, fighting for justice for those wronged, and also hope to have Mr. Nine by my side in life. I hope his eyes can heal and see the

light sooner.

I wish that when we meet again, Mr. Nine would recognize me, and I hope to become better, not dimming the light he carries.

Mr. Nine, I've always had a little secret I never told you.

That is, from the first day I saw you, I fell in love with you, and I hope to spend the rest of my life with you.]

At this point, lan couldn't hold back any longer. The tears streamed down his face.

His Clara was No. 11. She had fallen for him since then.

However, he knew nothing, feeling only a vague familiarity upon their reunion, never associating it with No. 11.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Clara must have been so sad when he didn't recognize her. And he had the audacity to propose such a selfish condition. To date without marriage.

Thinking back on the past, lan was filled with regret. He carefully put the letter back into the envelope, tucking it into his pocket. His hand clenched tightly around the ring box. His emotions were a complex mix.

He stared up at the maple tree, and the messages from No. 11 echoed in his ears again.

[No. 99, let's plant a maple tree together. Its leaves are beautiful, symbolizing friendship and longing.]

Only now did he understand, her planting the maple tree had another meaning. It symbolized a love filled with deep affection.

From that moment, she had been devoted to him, placing her most beautiful hopes on him.

When he thought of this, lan's grip

on the ring tightened. He stood under the maple tree for a long time, replaying everything that had happened between him and No. 11, now Clara, in his mind.

Only then did he realize the depth of Clara's love for him.