The Magic That Made the Playboy Who Never Dates Fall for Me Chapter 11
With Mason’s tutoring and my own grind, I actually got into a decent four-year university.
Same city as Mason.
At first, nothing seems off about him.
Until I start booking paid gigs and performing at different venues on weekends.
System drops the bomb: [“Host… the second male lead was looking at your photos and wiping away tears again tonight.”]
So on one of my breaks, when I meet up with Mason and he smiles, asking if I’ve been tired lately—
I say: “Mason. Let’s move in together.”
By senior year of college, Mason’s interning at his family’s company.
In just two years, he’s grown enough to be ready to take over the family business. 🎉🎉
Around the same time, I hire a temporary assistant.
When I see Evan’s familiar face? Whiplash.
“Just two months,” he says. “After that, I go back to interning at the company.”
System whispers: [“He’s technically interning, but really he’s being groomed to take over. He begged for this—his last stretch of freedom before joining the family business full-time.”]
—
I ask System: [“What about the female lead?”]
[“She realized there was no future with him and went abroad to continue her studies. She’s improving every day.”]
I see.
Evan becoming my temporary assistant doesn’t stay a secret for long.
That night, I come home to a pitch-dark living room.
When Mason wraps his arms around me, I can feel the insecurity radiating off him.
It’s so dark I can’t read his expression.
All I know is that I’m exhausted.
Too exhausted to sleep, apparently.
Not until the first hint of dawn do I finally hear Mason say:
“Avery. Let’s get married.” 🥺
I already knew he was going to say it—System already told me—so I answer right away:
“Okay.”
Then, too wiped to even register his excitement, I pass out cold.
On Evan’s last day as my temporary assistant, I give him a parting gift.
“Why two tickets?” He looks at the lifetime pass in his hand, confused.
—
“For when you find a partner,” I say. “You can bring them along.”
He smiles—but there’s a hint of bitterness in it.
“Thank you, Avery. These two months have been the happiest of my life.”
I nod and look at him.
“There will be happier days ahead, Evan.”
Then I snap my fingers—and a brand-new deck of cards appears in my hand.
“For you. I hope you keep loving magic.”
Even if you can’t do it professionally, keeping that love alive will always bring you fulfillment and joy.
He blinks. When he smiles again? The bitterness is gone.
“I will.”
In this world, there are loves that last longer than romance.
For Evan, magic was that kind of love.
Mason spots me and is about to call out—until he notices Evan beside me.
His smile doesn’t disappear. It just… changes flavor.
Evan sees him too, nods, and is about to say hello—
“Did you hear? Avery and I are getting married.”
—
That one sentence shuts Evan up completely.
He closes his mouth, ignores Mason entirely, and turns to leave.
On our walk back, it starts snowing. 😊
Flurries melt on our faces. Mason’s been holding it in the whole way, and finally turns to me:
“I didn’t mean to be that childish. I just—”
“Mason.”
I call his name.
He goes, “Huh?”
“You’ve got something in your hair.”
I reach up—my hand brushing past his ear.
When I pull it back? A rose is in my palm. ❤️
As I hand it to him, time folds back to our very first conversation.
Except now, I look at the matching rings glinting on both our hands—and smile.
“For you, Mason.” 🥰