Leslie felt a little weird when Calix brought up going sowhere the next month right after they returned from their trip to the orphanage. Especially when he said they should go away for four days at least.
Calix ntioned the next trip when they had dinner, right on the sa day they returned from the orphanage. The rrint from yesterday was still close to their hearts.
Looking at Calix across the dining table with Calliope beside him, Leslie asked, her tone lacing with curiosity, "Aren’t you busy, honey? I heard Edward say the company will be busier before the end of the year."
Sotis, Edward visited the manor on the weekend, bringing his beloved dog along. He had als, especially dinner with Aunt Wendy and Uncle Raymond.
Calliope loved playing with the Chow Chow. The adorable female dog was bestowed with the na Paw-Paw by Edward.
Haha...
"It’s fine. The company won’t collapse just because I don’t go there for four days," replied Calix after swallowing a bite, "How about a bamboo lake forest? We can go boating there."
The ntion of the place piqued Leslie’s interest. Her mind imdiately conjured the breathtaking vision of a bamboo forest during the peak of autumn.
She hadn’t enjoyed the autumn season as much as this ti because...
She lost him when the autumn was at its peak.
Since then, autumn was no longer beautiful to her[01].
"Mama, Papa, we go sowhere again?"
Calliope’s voice pulled Leslie out of her trance. The little dumpling darted her round and curious eyes from her to Calix. Her mouth was sared with the soy sauce of the chicken she ate.
"Yes! We can go boating and fishing this ti too," Calix answered quickly, beaming as he explained more about the plan, "This mid-November is nice. We’ll be on the trip from Thursday to Sunday."
Blinking, Calliope calculated sothing in her mind after hearing what her papa said. She asked again, "Poppy can’t go to school?"
The little dumpling knew she had to go to the kindergarten from Monday to Friday. So, if her papa brought her mama and her for the trip, surely she couldn’t go to school like usual, right?
Calix chuckled, never expecting Calliope to still think of going to kindergarten when they talked about the exciting trip.
"Yes. You can’t attend school on that Thursday and Friday. It’s okay, Poppy. You can share the stories of our trip with your teacher and friends later."
"Hehehe~ Okay!"
Dancing on her seat, Calliope shook her short legs in excitent. She loved going to school but, she loveeeed going on a trip with her papa and mama more.
Leslie decided to just follow Calix’s plan. She believed he wouldn’t simply abandon his work just because he wanted to bring them on another trip.
Well, what CEO Xu said was right ah. The company wouldn’t go bankrupt or be in grave danger just because he was away for a few days.
"I can’t wait for the trip," Leslie comnted, her smiling lips and gleaming eyes expressing her anticipation, "A bamboo lake forest in autumn? That sounds wonderful."
"Indeed."
Calix nodded twice, trying to hold back from spoiling the surprise for Leslie. Biting his lower lips, he thought back to the plan he crafted for so ti already.
He couldn’t realize his intention back in their previous life.
Doing so this ti around, especially during autumn, was what he should do.
The family’s routine was as usual before the trip to the bamboo lake forest.
Calix was busy with the company, especially as the end of the year was nearly approaching. Both he and Edward, including other staff, walked as if they hadn’t enough ground to step on.
As for Leslie, she diligently followed Dr. Mo’s advice, including the ones she received from Dr. Wang, a gynecologist. Dr. Mo introduced the renowned gynecologist to her and Calix.
Aside from making sure her diet was healthy, Leslie also picked up more exercises to rebuild her stamina. She usually went for a swim or brisk walking once Calliope was at school.
When Calix was with her, Leslie did so weightlifting. She was beyond overjoyed when she could start running with lesser strains on her legs. Her lung capacity also improved.
"Mr. Xu is in great shape already. As for Mrs. Xu, I’m happy to tell you that your condition is better than expected. Keep up the good work."
Dr. Wang’s comnt on the latest checkup delighted both Calix and Leslie. The gynecologist advised them, especially the lady to keep following her routine.
Well, when it ca to Calliope, the little dumpling was as chirpy as a lark as usual. She channeled her energy more into playing, usually following Leslie to exercise in the evening.
"Mama, look! Hiya!"
Both Leslie and Calix believed they should enroll Calliope in a martial arts school soon. Aside from punching and kicking the air, the little dumpling could be found trying to climb the trees.
In the end, CEO Xu commissioned a children’s jungle gym to be installed in the backyard. He also had the workers transform one side of the basent gymnasium into one.
One could say that the little dumpling frequented the jungle gym in the gymnasium even after dinner. Still, having her sleep so well at night brought convenience to her parents.
Ahem.
Soon, the day of the trip arrived.
Calix brought Leslie and Calliope to Whistling Creek, a popular bamboo lake resort on the outskirts of the city. Still being the weekdays, the place wasn’t bustling with visitors.
The family van drove on the spacious road leading to the chalet where they would stay. The golden hues of the afternoon sun of the late autumn shone on the tallic surface of the van.
"Mama, Papa, look at the trees! So tall!"
An excited Calliope exclaid, her small hands pressed against the windows. The towering erald stalks caught her eyes. They swayed gently in the breeze.
Calix and Leslie chuckled, pleased to see their daughter looking so happy. They shared the sa thought, thinking this was the first ti Calliope saw bamboo trees this close.
"They are bamboo trees, Poppy," said Calix, his tone light and airy, "You’ve seen them in so stories, right? These are the real ones."
Calliope, still in awe, went ’ohhh’ and ’ahhh’ as she continued staring out of the window. The view of the bamboo trees, paired with the other trees offering the autumn earthy tones srized her.
Logan pulled up the van at the chalet administration office cum the lobby. The family of three stepped out, taking in the cool crisp air of the forest.
"Can I say it’s like stepping into a painting?" Leslie laughed at her own question. Her gaze traced the path leading to the private cabins for the chalet’s clients.
"You surely can, sweetheart," Calix leaned closer to Leslie, winking, "Anything my wife says, goes."
Leslie rolled her eyes. Nudging Calix at the elbow, she led Calliope to a fountain nearby. Logan would handle the check-in.
As the family of three waited for Logan to return from the lobby, Calix used this chance to take photos of Leslie and Calliope. A warm smile, as warm as the autumn hues hung on his lips.
These photos would be precious treasures to their family.
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