Chapter 242: Extra - Chen Jiaman: The Life That She Wishes To Lead (1/2)

When Cheng Xi and Lu Chenzhou returned from their honeymoon at Kanas Lake, Shen Wei and Baldy were long gone. Cheng Yang had also left, as he was unable to wait for her for that long. If not for Chen Jiaman, then her parents would have left with him.

This was the longest vacation that her parents had ever taken after opening their diner. Cheng Xi and Lu Chenzhou’s villa was located far from the city, so the two of them stayed inside all day. By the time Cheng Xi and Lu Chenzhou finally returned, they had become extremely bored of their day to day life.

Luckily, they were quite good at finding things to busy themselves with. Given where the mansion was located, they felt that it would be too inconvenient to buy groceries. However, the mansion’s garden was more than large enough for them to grow their own vegetables. They picked out a specific plot of land that had a good amount of sunlight and an easily accessible source of water. Then, they plowed it into two little squares of farmland and sowed it with some seeds of suitable local crops that they obtained from their neighbors.

When Cheng Xi returned home, she didn’t see her parents or Chen Jiaman anywhere inside the mansion even after wandering around all of the premises. Finally, she found them in the backyard.

The weather was wonderful that day—the sun was bright without a trace of a cloud in the sky, and Cheng Xi’s parents were working the fields with Chen Jiaman. Her father was busy plowing, Chen Jiaman was assiduously sowing seeds, and her mother followed behind her, covering each planted seed with more fertile soil. The three of them worked in a calm harmony, with bright flowers, lush trees, and a small stream of water surrounding them. The scene could have come straight out of a picturesque pastoral painting.

Chen Jiaman was the first to notice Cheng Xi, and she was so excited that she got up and yelled, “Mom!”

Cheng Xi’s parents stopped their movements as they looked over to see Cheng Xi walk to them with a smile on her face. “It seems like I’ll soon be eating vegetables grown by your hands.”

“I feel like it’s all wasted effort on our part. Will you even remember to water the plants and spread the fertilizer? It might even die in a few days after we leave.”

“Even if I don’t remember, isn’t my little bunny still around?” Cheng Xi walked up to them and lovingly caressed Chen Jiaman’s forehead. It had only been a few days since they last saw each other, but she could already tell that Chen Jiaman’s entire demeanor had changed. Her skin had become slightly darker, and her overall complexion was much more healthy as the startling paleness of before had vanished. She even seemed happier and brighter.

And clearly, Chen Jiaman even had the courage to hug her without any hesitation now.

Cheng Xi asked her, “You’ll help me take care of this garden, right?”

Chen Jiaman nodded vigorously.

Cheng Xi looked at her parents happily. “Look! I have a helper now.”

Her parents smiled in unison as they said to Chen Jiaman, “Then it’s all up to you now! Remember to take good care of everything.”

Chen Jiaman blushed as she continued to nod her cute little head fervently.

A few minutes later, Cheng Xi had rolled her sleeves up and was now working in the fields alongside her parents. They were happy to have more help, and even if Cheng Xi couldn’t do much, she could at least water the plants.

When Lu Chenzhou belatedly made his way over, they had already finished seeding the garden. But his reaction to the incongruously positioned squares of soil amidst the well-pruned backyard was that of speechlessness.

Cheng Xi secretly pinched his palm as she whispered, “Please bear with it. It’ll be fine once the vegetables are ready for harvest.”

Lu Chenzhou glanced at her and chose to politely remain silent.

Chen Jiaman pursed her lips as she looked at the two of them holding hands.

Cheng Xi’s father was still here, so she didn’t have to worry about preparing dinner. After dinner, she gave the three of them a few gifts that she’d bought at Kanas Lake. Chen Jiaman received a tsuur, a traditional Mongolian flute-like instrument, and a particularly intricate ornament that depicted the scenery of Kanas Lake.

Chen Jiaman rubbed the wooden cabins and maple trees of the ornament in awe, and she almost felt like she had followed Cheng Xi along on her trip.

Cheng Xi had just returned and was still weary from travel, but out of habit, she stayed up to accompany Chen Jiaman to bed. Before they got into bed, she asked Chen Jiaman, “Did Grandma and Grandpa treat you well?”

Chen Jiaman nodded.

“Do you like them?”

She nodded again. Her eyes were shining bright, and she was clearly answering from her heart, so Cheng Xi smiled in contentment.