Chapter 686 Have Lysander See Him Anew
Lunch was an ordeal.
Finished’s
Meanwhile, Lysander was quite experienced in such matters. “You can eat like this,” she said, placing at napkin under her bowl for support.
Josiah mimicked her, finally able to sit somewhat straight, though still uncomfortable. Luckily, he wasn’t in a suit today, or his attire would have been ruined by the dusty ground.
The owner noticed the plight. While preparing another batch of soup, he brought over a table. “You folks must be tourists. If you’re uncomfortable, just let me know. I do have tables, you know.”
The arrival of this table couldn’t have been more timely.
Josiah and Lysander spoke in unison. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” the owner replied, resuming his position by the boiling pot. He continued chatting as he worked.
“I’ve seen quite a few tourists lately, but you, young man, are the tallest I’ve seen. Must be from the big city. Here to look at properties?”
Lysander stayed silent while Josiah answered, “We heard this place might be developed into a mansion. district, so we came to check it out.
“Listen to me, don’t buy property here,” the owner warned with a cynical smile. “The place is full of bad vibes and bad geomancy. This is not the place, especially for young couples like you, looking for a happy marital home.”
Josiah gently touched his nose before he glanced at Lysander, who remained impassive. He then explained, “We’re not looking for a marital home.”
“Not a marital home?” The owner eyed them, his expression suddenly understanding. “I get it, looking for a vacation home, right? The scenery here is indeed great, perfect for a honeymoon.”
“We’re not on a honeymoon either,” Josiah said. “And we’re not married.”
The owner chuckled. “Dressed like that, and you’re not a couple?”
Lysander looked at their matching hoodies, realizing the issue might be their clothes.
In the rush of the crowded wholesale market yesterday, she had chosen the first practical, season- appropriate items she found. After purchasing them, the two hoodies turned out to look quite similar.
Hence, they did look like a couple in matching outfits, walking around like that.
Josiah, on the other hand, had a conversation with the owner. It seemed as though his visit to the town was genuinely to experience the local culture and customs. The fact that he found a hotel to shower and change clothes seemed almost incidental.
“My wife sometimes buys quirky couple outfits and insists I wear them. At our age, who cares about such things? Plus, we’re always working. So, they get dirty quickly,” the owner complained, though his tone was filled with happiness and pride.
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Chapter 686 Have Lysander See Him Anew
Josiah caught on and complimented, “You two must have a great relationship.”
Finished:
Not bad, the owner said with a grin. “We’ve been together since we were young. There are prettier and gentler women, but she’s the one for me.”
Josiah smiled and asked, “Where’s your wife now?”
“My wife works in the mornings and goes home to rest by noon. We take turns running the shop. She was up since two in the morning to prepare the sheep offal broth. If she doesn’t catch up on sleep, her health won’t hold up, the owner explained.
Josiah was incredulous. “Up at two in the morning?”
Even though business had been brisk lately, getting up so early seemed excessive, practically akin to working through the night. No wonder the owner was alone in the shop.
The owner nodded with a smile. “Yes, that’s the nature of the food business. We’re fortunate, though. The bakery stall owner down the street gets up at this hour every day to knead dough. Their day is turned upside down.”
With a glimmer of hope, Josiah asked, “So you don’t usually start this early?”
“Of course not,” the owner proudly shared. “Usually, we arrive at the shop by four in the morning. That’s the perfect time to get fresh sheep offal from the butcher. Our sheep offal never sits overnight. Besides, the broth is the freshest in town.”
In just a few days, Josiah’s understanding of the world had been profoundly reshaped.
After finishing their sheep offal and vegetable soup, they headed back to the hotel. The sky had darkened significantly compared to when they first left. Despite the weather forecast not predicting rain, it seemed increasingly likely.
Lysander quickened her pace, with Josiah following, carrying their purchases.
When Josiah had something on his mind, he spoke little..
Fortunately, Lysander wasn’t much of a talker either, so they walked side by side in comfortable silence.
After a while, Josiah finally uttered, “Life is hard.”
Upon reflecting on his previous high–and–mighty stance, where he believed he could control everything from his office, he couldn’t help but mock himself, “No wonder you couldn’t accept the old me. After seeing this side of life, I can’t accept that version of myself either.”
Josiah was adept at self–reflection.
However, Lysander didn’t blame Josiah for his past and comforted him, “The world is vast. Few people can. see and understand everything. Now that you can see and empathize with their lives is impressive, certainly better than people like Dillon.”
The look on Josiah’s face when he found out that the owner of the sheep offal and vegetable soup shop had to start preparing for business in the wee hours of the morning was truly unforgettable.
He was slightly embarrassed and touched his nose. “I thought most ordinary people didn’t face the same pressures as I did, and that their lives were simpler with fewer worries.”
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Chapter 686 Have Lysander See Him Anew
Finished
Puzzled, Lysander asked, “Did you see everyone as data on a spreadsheet? Did you think those struggling just weren’t trying hard enough?”
“Not exactly, Josiah replied truthfully. “But I did attribute all my success to my effort and ability. The truth is, the most fundamental reason I have all this is because of my family.”
Lysander asked sweetly. “How does it feel to come down from your pedestal? Do you want to go back?”
Upon hearing that, Josiah panicked. “You promised not to send me back!”
“I’m not sending you back, just curious about your thoughts,” Lysander reassured him, keeping her word.
For Josiah, this was a good sign. Lysander used to be indifferent to him, ignoring his attempts attention. Now, she was showing interest in his thoughts and feelings.
to get her
Once, standing before her was like being a tree planted in a green belt. He went completely unnoticed by
her.
This was his chance to make her see him anew.
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