Chapter 363 Into the Wilds
Charlie fit right in, flashing a smile and taking Madam Young up on her offer, casually sliding into the seat beside me.
Seeing Charlie in Tully City caught me off guard, and I could not help but ask, “What brings. you to Tully City?”
He flashed me a gentle smile and said, “Remember when you said this place was perfect for a getaway? My leg is pretty much healed up. I have been in Lake City for a while and started feeling cooped up, so I came here. Running into you was just luck.”
I just grinned and let it be. Idris, though, stopped fussing with the shrimp and went back to loading up my plate. It seemed he had a mission to stuff me with every dish I took a second bite of.
Staring at the mountain of food piling up, I frowned and rubbed my overworked stomach. If Idris kept this up, I would be stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey. He would probably even wave down the waiter for more, just to keep the feast coming.
With that thought, I blurted out, “I’m stuffed.” I was hoping he would get the hint to stop the food avalanche.
Idris looked at me, puzzled, his dark eyes searching, when I expressed my satiation. “Not a fan of the food?”
I bit my lip, feeling a mix of frustration and the urge to laugh. “No, really, I’m totally full.” I was truly at risk of death by overfeeding.
He seemed to take my words to heart, pausing for a moment before he finally put down his chopsticks, acting as if he was full too, even though he had barely touched his food.
We all made a beeline for the botanical garden post–breakfast.
The morning in Tully City felt like the world had just been washed clean, the air tinged with that fresh, earthy smell. The botanical garden was a sensory overload, with the sweet scent of flowers mixing with the earthy aroma, creating a one–of–a–kind vibe.
We wandered through the garden, chatting and taking in the sights. It was a slice of harmony. Emily was all about capturing moments, snapping pics on her phone. Ash was full of questions about the plants, dragging Liam around to get the lowdown on every leaf and petal.
Idris and Madam Young were chatting away, light and breezy, while Charlie could not seem to care less about all the different kinds of plants around them. Inch was wheeling him along, and the two moved in a quiet, oddly in–sync procession.
Like Ash, I was totally fascinated by all the greenery here. Occasionally, I would get
sidetracked, soaking up bits and pieces of Liam’s plant wisdoin, getting to know all sorts of new plants and what they could do.
Maybe it was the chill vibe or the killer views, but everyone was feeling pretty upbeat. I was worried that Charlie and Idris, who had butted heads before, would ruin the chill with some drama, but, hey, they kept it together.
When the sun crept high and the heat cranked up, we all headed back to the hotel for some much–needed siesta time.
2/2
Idris was not just here for kicks. He was the big boss of this place. With all the buzz about Jack’s untimely exit, Idris had come to Tully City to ch*ck on how his projects were doing and to sort out some handover stuff. The guy had a lot on his plate.
Later in the afternoon, while Idris was off to some meeting, Madam Young and the others decided to go to the primeval forest. That kind of trek was not really Madam Young’s cup of tea. It was Ash who was itching to explore. She was this kid who was obsessed with discovering the world, especially the wild. She had probably read about the world containing many secret spots in fantasy books.
Tully City boasted an awesome primeval forest that was perfect for a mystery lover like her.
Liam was not too keen on the idea at first, but Madam Young was all about spoiling her great- grandkid, so he gave in.
I found myself hesitating. It was one thing for a kid to be eager to explore, but taking an elderly person to a place where mountain climbing and walking were involved really was not a good idea.
Unable to hold back, I suggested to Liam, “Maybe we should split up today. You could take Ash to the ancient forest, while Grandma, Emily, and I could go somewhere else for a stroll.”
Pregnant women and seniors were not exactly the mountain–climbing type.
Liam gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Yvette. The ancient forests that are open to visitors have been made accessible. We can take a gondola or an electric train up the mountain, which I have already arranged. When we get there, I’ll go with Ash to the peak, and you can enjoy the oceanarium at the base. There’s also an animal show down there you can catch.”
