Chapter 24: I Don't Confess, Unless I Can't Help It

Vivian was caught in a dilemma!

No matter how she moved, it felt like she was giving herself away.

She could only give Daniel a subtle look and barely squeeze out a reminder through clenched teeth, "We're live!"

Daniel looked at her closely, and in an instant, her face shifted through a hundred expressions—anger, shyness, frustration, and more. Her lips, tight from nervousness, bit down on her lower lip, making them even more red and inviting.

Suddenly, Daniel remembered the sweet, intoxicating feeling of kissing her earlier. His throat involuntarily swallowed.

Before he could push her further into frustration, he leaned forward and placed his forehead against hers. "It must be the heat in the studio, Miss Pruitt, you're sweating."

The live-stream comments exploded.

Vivian was already stunning enough to draw attention, and with Daniel's good looks and wealth, the two of them together looked like a perfect match.

The CP (couple potential) was a mysterious thing.

Some people might constantly try to create a presence and see it as sibling-like, but for others, when two people sat together pretending to be strangers, the audience would immediately start creating romantic scenarios in their heads.

And that was exactly what was happening to them.

The comments flew by so quickly that Vivian's eyes were starting to blur, but she could still see the flood of "get together" messages.

She ignored them and pretended not to see.

Her thoughts were a mess, and all she wanted was for the live-stream to end quickly so she could stick to the script and finish her duties.

"The first question: Is UX.Inc. planning to develop long-term in the domestic market? Do you have confidence in the future?" she asked.

Maybe the comments had shaken her, because she seemed a bit nervous, deliberately focusing all her attention on the special phone in her hand, pretending to be busy.

"Of course. The domestic market is very supportive of our industry, and with such good momentum, UX.Inc. will naturally rise to the top."

He answered smoothly, and it was clear he was a well-cultured man.

The comments kept flooding in with "husband, husband" messages.

Daniel saw them, but his gaze never left Vivian's face, his eyes burning with intensity.

Vivian could feel herself growing increasingly uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"The second question, Mr. Smith can choose to answer," she said, passing the phone with the selected comment to him.

Daniel narrowed his eyes, and instead of just taking the phone, he gently grabbed the top of it where Vivian was holding it.

Now, Vivian was in an awkward position—she couldn't put the phone down, nor could she leave it there.

Her fingers brushed against his, and in an almost casual manner, he intertwined their hands around the phone, making it so they were now sharing the device.

Vivian's breath caught in her throat, and instinctively, she looked up at him.

Daniel seemed to smile slightly before turning his attention to the phone. "This 'One Meal, Five Bowls' person asks where I studied?"

"Germany, UX.Inc. was also founded in Germany."

"Germany is a world leader in industrial civilization, and the concept of technology changing lives is a guiding principle for UX.Inc.."

Daniel sat there, relaxed and calm, but Vivian could feel the weight of his words. She could empathize with the struggles he must have faced, the tough days no one knew about.

The final question came through the live comments: "Mr. Smith is successful—does he have a girlfriend?"

This was a typical question for live streams, where people eventually always pried into the personal lives of the most handsome or popular figures.

And Daniel, with his looks and charisma, had made such an impact that UX.Inc.'s official account had gained millions of followers, all thanks to him.

Vivian remembered that the interview script didn't include any personal questions.

She whispered to Daniel, "You don't have to answer this one."

Seeing her concern, Daniel smiled again, giving her a thumbs-up. He didn't refuse, instead, he read the question aloud.

"No, but there is someone I like."

Vivian's heart skipped a beat.

The comments were flooding in even faster now, and she couldn't even read them all.

"Are you going to confess?"

Daniel read another comment, and with his index finger resting on his cheek, he paused, considering for a moment. "I don't usually confess unless I can't help it."

He chuckled and added, "Of course, I'm just joking. I've had a crush on her for a long time, but she doesn't seem to know. She's been avoiding me, so I'm trying to figure out how to get her to agree."

When he spoke about the person he liked, his face lit up with an unmistakable smile.

It was a smile so warm, so genuine, that it took Vivian by surprise.

It was the kind of smile that felt like a warm, beautiful memory—a moment completely free of any impurities.

Vivian felt a wave of unease rise within her.

The things that had been unclear before were starting to make sense.

He had someone he liked all along. So, the things he did for her before must have been just out of kindness, a mere favor.

After all, the two of them were technically related, even though it wasn't the most respectable connection.

It had to be that way.

Now that he had everything—money, power, and success—it made sense that he would have someone worthy of him by his side.

She had been so confused earlier, thinking that Daniel held a grudge against her for what happened five years ago.

But now, she realized how laughable it was. Maybe he had long forgotten about it.

Although she understood, the heaviness in her chest only grew.

Daniel continued speaking with enthusiasm, and even the comments asking about the ring on his left hand didn't faze him.

Vivian, only noticing the ring when Daniel mentioned it, saw the unique silver band on his finger.

His right hand kept absentmindedly twirling the ring, its surface dull from constant wear. It was clear that it held some sentimental value.

Perhaps it was a gift from the person he liked.

That's why he treasured it so much.

"When did this crush start? Probably in high school. Back then, I focused on my studies, and I was afraid she'd think I was too immature. Later... later she got a boyfriend, so I had to bury my feelings."

Today, Daniel was unusually talkative, and the live stream had turned into a complete analysis of his romantic history.

Vivian's thoughts were all over the place, and she wasn't really listening to what Daniel was saying anymore.

She realized that in this kind of setting, with millions of viewers, it was almost like he was publicly declaring his relationship.

The only thing missing was revealing the identity of the girl.

"Pictures? I can't show you yet. She hasn't agreed."

As he said that, his voice was full of affection, even tinged with a little nervousness.

Love was reckless, but affection, real love, required restraint.

He must really care about this woman.

Someone from the production team signaled to Vivian that it was time to wrap up the live stream.

She nodded, forcing a professional smile. "Well, that's all for today's live broadcast. We'd like to thank Mr. Smith for joining us. Goodbye."

After nearly four or five hours, the cameras were finally turned off. Vivian sent a quick text to Emily, signaling that she was done.

Normally, she would be happy about earning money, but today, she felt suffocated.

"Vivi, there's a celebration dinner tonight, would you like to come?"

Daniel tried to pull her in, but Vivian took a step back, keeping her distance.

"Thanks, Mr. Smith. I'm a little tired. I'll pass. Congratulations."

Daniel's face stiffened when she called him "Mr. Smith."