When Zane Thorne woke up again, the morning light was shining brightly.
The aftermath of a hangover was a headache. Zane raised his hand to massage the aching and swollen corner of his forehead, propped himself up to sit half-reclined on the bed, resting against the headboard, and closed his eyes to compose himself.
Like Natalie Vaughn, he didn’t forget what happened after getting drunk. Naturally, Zane also rembered how Natalie elbowed him and kicked him. He also rembered how she wiped his face, and especially her restless hands while helping him wipe his chest.
Zane couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Little perv."
When Zane got dressed and ca out, Natalie was in the yard with Aunt Sheffield making pickled vegetables.
"Aunt, can you really eat it with so much salt? Won’t it be too salty?"
"Aunt, why not break it apart and mix, but stuff the seasoning in instead?"
"This jar looks small, why is it so heavy to carry?"
"Aunt, can you and Uncle really finish such a big jar by yourselves?"
"What? This thing can actually last several months?!"
"..."
The weather was nice today. The sun was out and it was nearing noon, with plenty of sunshine. Natalie had her hair in a bun, exposing her clean and youthful face. She looked young and full of energy, like a girl just starting college.
Zane leaned against the door fra watching for a while.
At so point, Uncle Sheffield ca over with a basket of firewood, threw it heavily on the ground, sat on a small stool, and slowly took out so tobacco.
Squinting his eyes, he carefully rolled the tobacco in his hand and let out a cold snort.
"You’re quite lucky, kid."
Saying this, Uncle Sheffield looked up towards Natalie who was circling around Aunt Sheffield, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
Such a pretty and sweet-mouthed young girl, no one would dislike her.
Zane’s eyes were full of Natalie, with sunlight falling on her, she was like a little fairy. Hearing Uncle Sheffield’s words, the corners of his mouth lifted.
His words were full of pride.
"Didn’t you use to say soone like would never find a wife?"
Look now, not only did he find a wife, but a wonderful one, and he’s delightfully happy.
Upon hearing Zane’s words, Uncle Sheffield glanced at him, snorted coldly.
"This girl doesn’t have the best taste."
Zane’s smile grew wider.
The conflicts between n dissolve easily—one drink, one night of drunkenness, and all the words they want to say are conveyed through the drink.
In the past, Uncle Sheffield liked Zane more than Aunt Sheffield. Even compared to Gideon Sheffield, Zane and Uncle Sheffield got along more like brothers.
Zane stood up straight, walked over, picked up an axe placed to the side, and began chopping wood.
He said, yes, if she had good taste, she wouldn’t endure this hardship.
Zane’s soone who keeps things in mind, and he still rembered how Natalie’s hand got caught by the door yesterday.
Hearing Zane’s implied bla, Uncle Sheffield puffed his cheeks, glared, and pointed at the firewood.
"Can you burn it when it’s chopped this big?"
Confidently instructing Zane, Uncle Sheffield glanced at Natalie’s still swollen hand, frowned, extinguished his cigarette, and went inside.
Even though Natalie wore gloves to help, the water was cold, and it was winter, she was freezing.
Just as she took off her gloves, preparing to stuff her hands in her pockets for warmth, soone stood before her, bringing a strong tobacco sll.
Natalie guessed who it was, raised her hand, wrinkled her nose, looked at Uncle Sheffield.
The old man liked to save face, and being quite proud, he tossed a jar of ointnt into Natalie’s arms.
"If you don’t know how to do it, don’t ss around here. If your hand gets worse, that rascal will bla us."
Natalie blinked, tilted her head to watch Zane chopping wood. He had taken off his coat, wearing only a thin sweater. Sleeves rolled up, revealing lean, attractive arm muscles, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he had a slight frown.
This man, even chopping wood, looked so cool.
Seeing Natalie fascinated just by Zane chopping wood, Uncle Sheffield frowned.
"No taste at all, you fancy just this kind of man."
Upon hearing this, Natalie withdrew her gaze, looked at Uncle Sheffield, blinked.
"Of course I fancy him, if no one cares for him, I will."
Uncle Sheffield:...
This couple, each more capable of roasting the other than the last.
Uncle Sheffield, upset, snorted coldly again, clasped his hands behind his back, and left.
Aunt Sheffield chuckled at his retreating figure.
"He’s all talk, but soft at heart. Nina, your hands must be frozen. Stop for now, apply so ointnt and take a rest."
After applying the ointnt, Natalie asked curiously.
"With Uncle’s temper so bad, Aunt, how do you put up with him?"
"I can’t."
"But you two seem to get along really well."
"When he puts on a straight face, I pinch him. If he doesn’t like to talk, he has to bear it."
"..."
Natalie: Hehehe, indeed a couple, there’s a reason they’ve walked together for so many years.
...
After Zane and Natalie had a al at the Sheffield family, they intended to return. Though Natalie didn’t ntion it, Zane knew the young lady liked being clean, and going a day without a good wash clearly bothered her.
Even though there was a complete bathroom here, there was no clothing, and knowing Natalie’s disposition, she surely didn’t want to wear dirty clothes.
Aunt Sheffield wanted them to stay for a few days, but Zane insisted, and she didn’t push further.
Seeing their look of hesitation to speak, Zane voiced.
"He’ll be back tomorrow. Treat him just like before, no special treatnt needed. What he needed to learn in Altara, he’s already learned, and he can take good care of himself."
Hearing this, Aunt Sheffield’s eyes welled up, nodding repeatedly.
"Zane, will you co tomorrow?"
Zane curled his lips.
"I won’t co by. Five years without seeing him, have a good talk."
With that, Zane bent slightly to nod, and left with Natalie in tow.
Once the car exited the village, Natalie reached out to hold Zane’s right hand. She didn’t say anything, but Zane understood her feelings, and held back tightly, fingers interlacing.
"When there’s ti, I’ll explain to you properly."
At first, Natalie didn’t understand Zane’s words, but during the drive, Zane sped, turning a five-hour journey into four.
He didn’t return to Rivermark Apartnts, nor Lantheon Manor, but headed to Dragon’s Crest Villa.
"Why did we co here?"
She had nothing here.
But the man didn’t respond. When the car entered the garage, Zane got out, went to the passenger side, and leaned over to carry Natalie out.
Natalie’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She kind of... understood what Zane wanted to do.
"Wait, wait, wait, you were drunk last night, haven’t rested well, plus you just had a long flight..."
Zane let her talk, carried her straight to the bedroom. Just as Natalie was about to say she wanted to bathe, he carried her to the bathroom instead, placed her on the vanity, and went to run a bath.
Then, before Natalie could react, he undressed himself; her eyes flickered, montarily unsure where to look.
But Zane didn’t mind, moved forward and began to undress her.
Natalie: ...
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