CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 244: STUBBORN MOUTH

Surrounded by mountains and water, the scenery is delightful.

The weather is just right, neither too cold nor too warm, with a thin layer of sunlight spreading over.

Shannon Quinn is still upset about Landon Sutton’s prank last night, walking ahead with her head down, while Landon Sutton follows leisurely behind.

The changes here are quite significant. Besides, he was gravely injured at the time and didn’t have the chance to explore the area properly—only later when he was searching for news of her did he return to inquire.

There used to be only a rugged mountain path, but now with tourism development, the road extends to the mountaintop.

Shannon Quinn hasn’t exercised much, and she quickly finds herself struggling to keep up on the uphill path.

For Landon Sutton, however, this mountain path is a walk in the park, his breath still steady.

Shannon Quinn stops and turns to complain at Landon Sutton lagging behind, dissatisfied: "You said we were going to play by the seaside, but you brought me to climb a mountain. I think you’re just trying to exhaust me!"

"Exercise is good for your health."

"The doctor said I need proper rest."

"The doctor also mentioned you could engage in some moderate exercise. There’s a pavilion ahead, rest there if you’re tired."

"I want some water."

Landon Sutton took off the backpack, pulled out a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to her after opening it: "Don’t you notice anything different?"

After Shannon Quinn took a big gulp of water, she retorted: "Quit trying to play tricks!"

Landon Sutton didn’t elaborate, accepting the water bottle from her and he naturally placed it to his mouth and drank.

Seeing this, Shannon Quinn frowned but said nothing, pretending not to care, and continued climbing.

The pavilion was in sight but still took quite a while to reach; Shannon Quinn plopped onto a bench, unwilling to get up again.

A light breeze blew through the mountains, with different birds chirping, while on the other side of the stream, many were setting up tents for camping.

The stream babbled along, and across it were fields of unknown wildflowers, beautifully like a painting.

"Didn’t you used to study painting? I noticed your sketches are still hung at home, this place is so beautiful. Aren’t you planning to capture it on canvas?" Landon Sutton stood beside her, eyes toward where she looked.

"No paper or pencil—how should I draw?"

"I’ll have Lewis buy some, and deliver it right away?"

Shannon Quinn gave him a sideways glance: "I find you unreliable."

"How am I not reliable?"

"All you say is nonsense."

Landon Sutton chuckled and sat beside her, saying: "If you ask me, I’d send them immediately. How could that be useless?"

She muttered: "Always ordering people around."

Anyway, she was quite annoyed, anything he did seemed wrong.

As Shannon Quinn looked around the scenery, it felt more and more familiar, murmuring: "...I think I’ve been here before."

Upon hearing her words, Landon Sutton smirked: "Oh? Really?"

Shannon Quinn stood up, glanced around, pointing towards a small knoll beside the pavilion: "Yes, right here. I visited back when I was at school. I painted here, the one hanging above my room door at home. But back then it wasn’t developed, nor had so many visitors. It was more secluded."

"I’ve been here too," Landon Sutton said.

Shannon Quinn looked at him: "You’ve been here? When was that?"

Landon Sutton smiled, standing beside her, eyes landing on the spot where he fell into the ravine and was rescued by her: "I was nineteen when I came here."

"I can’t remember exactly; I think I was still in high school, painting from that angle."

"Anything else you recall happening?"

Shannon Quinn reminisced about rescuing the blood-covered man but couldn’t figure out what Landon Sutton meant, looking at him puzzled.

He said: "You always asked why I liked you, and I never gave a definite answer."

"I had an accident here, almost lost my life." He pointed to a bluff where the creek rushed by, "Somewhere there, it was a girl who saved me..."

"That person was you?! Such coincidence!" Shannon Quinn was astonished.

"Is it coincidental?" Landon Sutton glanced at her with a smile and continued, "In those days I was barely conscious but vaguely saw the girl, aware she cared for me. Later, my grandfather found me and took me home."

"That was me; when I returned with medicine for you, the innkeeper said men in suits took you away."

Landon Sutton smiled at her: "Although I wasn’t aware, you cared for me all those days, yet didn’t recognize me at all?"

"It’s been a long time, okay? Besides, you know how scared I was back then? I didn’t even know if you were good or bad, and then you disappeared without a thank you! I almost forgot about it."

"I’m so handsome, didn’t you have any feelings for me back then?"

Shannon Quinn scoffed: "I was only fifteen or sixteen, alright? Besides, there are plenty of handsome guys, you’re just average."

"Quite stubborn."

"Then how did you find me later?" Shannon Quinn still curious, never understanding why he appeared on time when she was being forced to marry, saving her from distress.

"After recovering, I was busy training. Two years later, I returned, found the innkeeper, and learned about you from him."

"You remembered for two years, yet you were unconscious! I thought you didn’t know I existed."

"Truth be told, before finding you, the memory was vague yet deeply imprinted. This experience never left my heart, like a form of obsession."

Shannon Quinn realized what she thought as coincidence was actually his careful planning, feeling moved, and slightly dissatisfied, she asked him: "Did you like me because of love or simply gratitude for saving your life?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Tell me whatever you’ve got." Shannon Quinn sat back on the bench, ready for a long talk.

"Honestly, you’re the only woman I’ve ever been involved with romantically. Before meeting you, I never considered love or marriage; even after finding you, I didn’t disrupt your life. But my desire to hear about you, learn your story never waned—I’m uncertain if it’s love since we never met officially, yet your image never fades."