Next, Julia Bluen taught Glades Horne how to make dumplings, and Glades Horne quickly learned the ropes. Eventually, he managed to make some decent-looking dumplings.
Since there were only two of them and they wouldn't eat a lot, Julia Bluen didn't make too many dumplings. Half an hour later, the dumplings were in the pot.
After putting the dumplings in the pot, Julia Bluen quickly washed her face and hands.
A while later, once the dumplings were cooked, Julia Bluen served them in two bowls, with Glades Horne naturally getting the biggest share. She enjoyed eating, but she usually couldn't eat much for a regular meal, unless it was noodles.
"Try them and see if they're good," Julia Bluen said, looking at Glades Horne expectantly.
She had learned to cook, which included making dumplings, so she knew how. However, she hadn't actually made them for anyone before. Glades Horne was the first to enjoy her culinary achievement.
Glades Horne immediately picked up his chopsticks, gently lifted a dumpling, placed it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully.
"How is it?" Julia Bluen asked with a smile.
"Good!" Glades Horne uttered a single word.
Julia Bluen was relieved. She sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and as she took a dumpling, she said, "This is the first time I've made them since I learned. I was really afraid they wouldn't taste good."
Hearing that it was the first time she had made dumplings for someone else after learning, Glades Horne felt an immediate burst of joy. He was the first to enjoy her culinary success, and it felt wonderful.
Thus, he ate with even more gusto, as if these ordinary dumplings were the legendary flesh from a true dragon.
Seeing him eat with such relish, Julia Bluen's gaze softened, and a faint, happy smile spread across her lips. It was in these simple moments together that she found happiness.
After they were full, it was already nine o'clock at night.
The night sky outside was pitch-black, and the temperature had dropped to twenty degrees Celsius. Accustomed to higher temperatures, twenty degrees felt cold to them.
After resting on the sofa in the Main House living room for ten minutes, Glades Horne stood up and went straight upstairs. Julia Bluen didn't know what he was going upstairs to do; she assumed he was going to take a shower, so she didn't ask.
But moments later, he came down with a thick coat for her, draped it over her shoulders, and pulled her to her feet.
"Where are we going?" Julia Bluen asked as he led her along.
Glades Horne remained silent.
He led her out of the Main House and into the garage. He let go of her hand, having her stand in front of the garage while he went inside and wheeled out a brand-new bicycle. It was the one Glades Horne had bought during their honeymoon in the Maldives. When they left the Maldives, he couldn't bear to give away the bicycle that carried so many of their sweet memories. He ended up spending more on air-shipping it back to the country than the bicycle itself cost, just to bring it into the little home they shared.
Seeing the bicycle brought sweet memories flooding back to Julia Bluen's mind. She remembered when he first rode the bike with her on it; the handlebars wobbled so much she worried they would crash. Later, when other cyclists overtook them, she grew anxious, but he comforted her. She hadn't known at the time that he had secretly woken up early each morning to practice his cycling, all so she could be proud of him, so she could boast. When they finally surpassed the Wallace couple, she had indeed felt immensely proud, thinking her husband was always the best.
Her feelings for him had likely begun to transition from those of a sister to romantic love starting from their time in the Maldives. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
His kindness, his spoiling her, always made her feel as if she had fallen into a honey pot—sweet, yet never overwhelmingly so.
She truly was the happiest woman in the world.
After wheeling the bicycle out of the garage, Glades Horne mounted it. Turning his head, he said warmly to Julia Bluen, "Get on; I'll take you for a ride." Riding a bicycle out for a spin on such a mild night—neither too warm nor too cold—had a unique charm.
Julia Bluen took her seat behind him.
His large hand immediately reached out, taking hers and placing them on his firm waist. His gaze, burning with deep affection, fixed on her—a look that made Julia Bluen willing to lose herself in his love, to be with him until the end of time. His rich, husky, magnetic voice reached her ears: "Hold on tight."
Julia Bluen did as she was told, hugged his waist tightly, and rested her head against his back.
The look in Glades Horne's eyes deepened, and a soft smile touched his lips. Then, he started pedaling, riding the bicycle with his beloved wife out of the villa complex.
The concrete road outside the villa was spotlessly clean; Luxe Garden was an upscale residential area, and each street was swept daily by cleaners, keeping it immaculate at all times.
Glades Horne rode at a measured pace, his deep gaze occasionally sweeping over the roadside scenery.
Julia Bluen sat on the back of the bike, her arms around his waist, her face against his back. Sometimes, she would lift her head and gaze into the dark sky, as if trying to discern when dawn would break in the east.
Various luxurious cars glided past them from time to time, most heading toward the artificial lake. The hours after 9 p.m. were prime leisure time; people living there enjoyed strolling or sitting by the artificial lake in the quiet of the night. Others would use the light from the mountain streetlights to go hiking, reaching the summit to gaze at the night view and perhaps make new discoveries.
Occasionally, they would also see couples walking hand in hand, predominantly elderly ones. In their youth, they might have had their share of disagreements. But in their later years, having set aside their careers to be by their partner's side, they came to realize the true meaning of being husband and wife.
As the saying goes, a couple in youth becomes companions in old age.
No matter what misunderstandings they had when they were young or what conflicts had arisen, it was their blessing to have weathered storms and stayed together until their hair turned white.
As the bicycle glided by, it drew glances from passersby. Few people rode bicycles for a leisurely outing anymore; nowadays, people preferred the thrill of driving flashy sports cars. However, the simple yet warm aura that the couple naturally exuded deeply captured the onlookers' attention.