CHAPTER 191: CHAPTER 191: THANKS

Florence discussed with Old Mr. Gardiner, she would stay at the farm for half a month before returning to SJ.

Old Mr. Gardiner knew she had to handle company matters, so he nodded and agreed.

The fruits grown in the farm’s orchard are all natural, and Florence thought about buying some to send to Amelia Linney and Evelyn Shaw.

Old Mr. Gardiner was infuriated by Luke’s issues, and Luke had been trying to please the old man these past two days, behaving well.

While studying a chess game with the old man, he saw Florence "fully armed" coming downstairs, and he asked her, "Are you going to collect beehives?"

Florence rolled her eyes at him and looked at Old Mr. Gardiner, "Grandpa, I’m going to the orchard today to pick some fruits for my friends."

Old Mr. Gardiner nodded, "Be careful, don’t get bitten by ants like last time."

Luke felt slightly moved, "I’ll go with you, you can’t handle it alone."

"There are people over there." Florence said.

Old Mr. Gardiner glanced at his grandson opposite him, sighed silently: "Let Luke go with you, otherwise he’s doing nothing every day."

"I am not doing nothing." Luke said.

Florence never refuted Old Mr. Gardiner’s words, she hummed as acknowledgment and walked outside.

Luke stood up and called out to her back: "Wait for me to change my clothes and go together."

Florence was already outside the door.

Luke hurriedly dressed up and ran downstairs, almost tripping, Old Mr. Gardiner frowned, unable to bear watching: "So reckless."

"I’m leaving, Grandpa." Luke grinned.

In an instant, his figure disappeared, the old man sighed.

The butler came out with the medicine the old master needed, just in time to see Luke’s disappearing figure.

"The young master went with the young lady?"

"Yes." Old Mr. Gardiner stared at the chess setup he had devised, "Half-hearted, can’t even set up a chess game properly."

The butler placed the medicine aside to cool, "I’ve watched the young master grow up since he was a child, I never thought he would turn out like this."

Old Mr. Gardiner chuckled twice, "Not only you, I also didn’t expect the boy to be like this today! Now only realizing to turn back..." he sighed and shook his head.

They could see Florence’s attitude.

She had no thoughts about Luke at all.

From the moment she married into the Gardiner Family, she remained low-key, introverted, and never cared about the impact of what Luke did to her initially, nor would she seek out Luke.

Grace Linney wanted to keep her in line to dutifully be Mrs. Gardiner, but she overlooked the tenacity in this girl’s nature.

When the two were amicably appearing as husband and wife at the old residence, how could Old Mr. Gardiner not see through their act.

Someone like Florence, if she wanted to manipulate Luke, she had plenty of ideas and means, but unfortunately, her heart was never set on Luke.

"Sir, so you know... the young lady might not continue living with the young master, so why are you doing this?" the butler asked.

Recuperating can be done anywhere.

"This is my chance for him." The old man picked up the medicine, "In his eyes, it’s the opportunity Florence gave him."

Old Mr. Gardiner knew well that their marriage was almost certainly headed for a divorce.

___

Orchard.

Considering she got bitten by ants last time picking oranges, Florence didn’t dare venture too deep this time.

With various fruits cultivated in the orchard, Florence picked a bit of everything, and after sorting, arranged for them to be delivered to different people.

Luke squatted in front of her, despite the weather not being too hot, after a busy half day he was drenched in sweat, "Are these all for SJ City?"

"Yes."

"Friends?"

"Yeah."

"Next time, let them come and have fun here, pick by themselves, it’s much better."

Florence glanced at him, "You think everyone is as idle as you."

Stung by her words, Luke pouted, "I’ve helped you half a day, even if no merit there’s hard work, could you speak to me more kindly?"

Florence plucked two lychees and tossed them to him, "Try them, they’re very sweet."

Luke took off his gloves, peeled the lychee skin, the flesh was plump, he bit into it, and juice filled his mouth.

He peeled another one, seemingly casually, and handed it to Florence, "Very sweet."

Florence, busy with the work, hadn’t eaten any yet, she took it and bit in, nodding in agreement.

Luke’s eyes showed a hint of smile, "Grandpa said you’re going back to SJ at month’s end."

"Yes." She was busying herself with her tasks, "You can stay with him."

"I asked him, he wants to stay here for a while longer, I’ll go with you, then my parents will come and stay with him for a while."

Florence nodded, thinking that’s okay.

After getting all the fruits packaged and sent off, it was dark by the time they returned to the villa.

The courtyard lights were on, smoke curling up, Florence and Luke went in one after another, and saw the old man grilling barbecue at the grill.

Florence found the scene somewhat abstract.

Luke stepped up, "Grandpa, what are you doing?"

The butler was arranging ingredients on the side, "Old master said he wanted barbecue, so he’s doing it himself."

"If you want to eat, just have someone make it." Luke stepped up, "It’s not good to inhale so much smoke, especially when you’ve just recovered."

Luke squeezed in, the old man patted him displeased, "What do you know, it’s been a while since I last did it, wanted to show off my skills."

Luke chuckled, "I’m afraid you’ll poison me."

"Dare you talk to your grandpa like that!" Old Mr. Gardiner glared at him, "Let me tell you, when your grandpa was young, I could grill a mean barbecue too, just wait till I amaze you."

Luke nudged him aside, "I haven’t heard grandma ever say she liked barbecue."

The old man muttered, "Wasn’t for her."

Luke: "..."

"Alright, alright, if you want to eat, I’ll grill for you." Luke said.

Florence brought over a chair from the side, "Grandpa, let him do it, you sit for a while."

Old Mr. Gardiner hesitated, but nodded and went to sit.

From a young age, Luke was always served by others, and now he took this task from the old man, he twisted his handsome face amidst the smoke grilling the meat skewers on the barbecue.

"It’s burnt, it’s burnt." cried the old man.

Luke frowned, "No, grill it more, it’s not done yet."

Ten minutes later, Luke held up a string of charred skewers and presented it to Florence.

Florence looked at the dishes on the table and then at Luke’s expectant eyes, and complexly accepted the skewer, "Thanks."