First, there was a lush green vegetable patch. The soil was so fertile it was almost black, and various seasonal vegetables were growing beautifully.
Looking further away, ducks were swimming in a pond. Not far from there, surprisingly, there were chicken coops and sheep pens, and she could even faintly hear the mooing of cows.
Of course, there were also those few tyrants of the manor patrolling their territory with large strides—Boss Goose.
How was this a luxury mansion? This was clearly a deluxe version of a farmhouse retreat!
What an eye-opener.
Klee had been quietly observing Bella's expression.
Seeing her face written with "I don't get it but I respect it," she finally couldn't help but softly introduce:
"Miss, fresh vegetables are planted here all year round. From sowing to pest control, there are dedicated people managing it.
I heard someone told the Master that things outside are not clean, and it is most reassuring and safe to raise and use things at home."
Klee pointed to those arrogant geese, covering her mouth to hide a chuckle:
"The chickens, ducks, cows, and sheep are the same, all so we can eat the freshest food at any time. However..."
Klee paused, her eyes falling on the greenhouse not far away that was shining brightly in the sunlight. Her tone became solemn, yet unconsciously carried a bit of gentleness.
"Only that greenhouse is personally tended to by the Master. Moreover, no one else is allowed to enter.
Every plant inside, even if they get sick, the Master will not let outsiders intervene.
He says... that is the last bit of longing he is guarding for someone."
Bella's heart skipped a beat, and the bamboo basket in her hand swayed along with it.
[Oh my~ The Master personally tends to it? For someone?]
Bella took a deep breath. Her original uneasiness was instantly suppressed by her burning soul of gossip.
Her gossip radar precisely went online at this moment, and the scandalous news she saw on her phone at the bar last night flashed rapidly through her mind.
It seemed those rumors were not entirely unfounded. This cold-blooded and paranoid Demon King Ye actually had an unforgettable first love hidden in his heart?
Bella sneakily looked around, confirming that apart from herself and Klee, even those geese were far away.
She leaned close to Klee and lowered her voice, her beautiful big eyes full of a thirst for knowledge:
"Klee... then you must know, right? What is the name of the person your Master supposedly loves so much?
Is she beautiful?
Is her personality especially gentle?"
Hearing this, Klee's footsteps suddenly halted, and she turned to look at Bella.
The expression on her face was complex and hard to read for a moment. After the astonishment passed, all that was left was a helpless sigh.
"Miss..." Klee opened her mouth, her voice somewhat hesitant, and finally shook her head,
"I don't know."
Bella was full of enthusiasm. It wasn't that she was just gossiping; she simply felt that for a gloomy, obsessively possessive man with a god-like handsome face like Ye Jinzhi,
if he was personally planting flowers for someone, just how incredibly stunning and brilliant must this "someone" be?
[If I could just know that person's name, regardless of whether they are male, female, old, young, single, or taken, it might become my life-saving amulet in the future!]
Bella's inner abacus was clicking away.
Seeing Klee shake her head, a trace of regret flashed across Bella's face.
The cold and aloof image of Ye Jinzhi unconsciously surfaced in her mind.
That seemingly indifferent, yet actually paranoid and ruthless man would actually take off his suit and guard those plants alone in the greenhouse?
Bella looked towards the greenhouse. The light refracted by the glass was a bit dazzling at this moment, blinding her from seeing the scenery inside clearly.
"Miss, the strawberry patch is just ahead. The strawberries are perfectly sweet right now," Klee considerately changed the subject.
Bella pursed her lips, suppressing the inexplicable emotion in her heart.
The two passed through a floral archway covered in roses, and their field of vision suddenly opened up.
Entering their sight was an endless field of strawberries.
Ruby-like strawberries hid beneath emerald green leaves, massive in size, with fine fuzz clearly visible on their skins. The air was filled with a sweet and refreshing fruity fragrance.
"Wow!"
Bella let out a gasp of pleasant surprise. All those messy thoughts about possessive men and unforgettable first loves instantly vanished into thin air.
Like a little deer just released back into the forest, she carried her basket and trotted inside.
"Miss, slow down,"
Klee called out thoughtfully from behind,
"The strawberries here are all irrigated with mountain spring water and have no pesticides. You can pick and eat them directly; they are very clean."
"Really? That's great!"
As soon as Bella heard "eat them directly," she squatted on the dirt path. Her slender white fingers gently pushed aside the green leaves, picking out the reddest strawberry, which was as big as a baby's fist.
With a gentle pinch of her fingertips, a crisp snap sounded, and a large strawberry covered in tiny water droplets fell into her palm.
Without even wiping it, she brought it straight to her mouth and took a big bite.
"Mmm...!"
Bella narrowed her eyes in satisfaction. It was truly so sweet and juicy!
The sweet flesh and abundant juice instantly soaked her taste buds.
"It's so delicious, Klee! You have to try one too!"
Bella mumbled indistinctly while reaching out to pick another one.
She squatted amidst the emerald green, her mint-green skirt spreading over the soil. She picked one, ate one, and then put another into her little basket.
Bella was completely immersed in the world of strawberry picking, entirely unaware that by the rose-covered archway at the orchard's entrance,
the man who was supposed to be handling official business in his study was currently leaning quietly against the doorpost.
Ye Jinzhi had changed into a simple white shirt. The top two buttons were undone, and the cuffs were casually rolled up, revealing his firm and slender forearms.
He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his posture exuding a rare sense of relaxation, his dark eyes staring unblinkingly at that mint-green figure.
Watching Bella like a greedy little kitten, squatting in the strawberry patch and eating until her cheeks puffed out,
occasionally narrowing her eyes in satisfaction and revealing a carefree, sweet smile.
Ye Jinzhi's heart felt as though, overnight, flowers had bloomed all over the mountains, blossoming quietly and brightly.
When Klee turned her head and saw her Master, she was so startled she was about to bow, but Ye Jinzhi raised a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture.
He waved his hand, signaling for Klee to step back.
In the massive orchard, the sunlight was just right, and the breeze rustled through the tips of the leaves.
The man simply watched quietly.
Before you, I had nothing;
After you, I have everything, including the fear of losing you.
However, right now... all these years of waiting seemed to have become less unbearable.
As long as she was still within his line of sight;
As long as she could still show this kind of defenseless smile;
As long as this "little kitten" was willing to stay in his territory...
The corners of his mouth unconsciously curled into a very faint arc.
I wait for your arrival,
like a
lonely square,
waiting for a festival.
