“Do you need me to help you recruit soldiers and buy horses?”
Thelma looked up and saw a smile in Sam Noah’s eyes, mixed with a sense of fondness. He seemed quite pleased to see the affection between her and her son.
Thelma replied, “No need, you’ve already helped me a lot. I want to walk my own path from now on.” She recalled the girl’s words from earlier and asked nervously, “But do I really look like a con artist?”
Sam Noah shook his head with a smile, “Not at all.” He paused for a moment and added, “There wouldn’t be such a cute con artist.”
Thelma: “…”
He said it so openly and naturally, as if stating a fact, yet Thelma felt her face start to heat up upon hearing him say that.
Feigning nonchalance, she took Tyler’s hand and said, “Let’s go, we should head back.”
The three of them retraced their steps, with Thelma walking in the middle, Sam Noah tall on her right, and the little dumpling on her left. The family of three walked side by side in silence, with the low houses on either side built in a style reminiscent of the The Columbia Age The stone-paved road was damp, and moss grew on both sides, creating a quiet and serene street, as if everyone around them had vanished, leaving only the three of them.
Thelma felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction; she thought that this kind of life didn’t seem too bad.
As they passed the exit of the ancient street, Tyler instinctively stopped in front of a shop selling roasted rabbit legs. He stared longingly at the roasted rabbit legs, licking his lips. Seeing that he genuinely wanted to eat, Thelma couldn’t bear it and discussed with Sam Noah, “Can we buy a rabbit leg for Tyler? Just this once?”
Sam Noah glanced at the larger face and then at the smaller one, both with similar expressions of longing directed at him.
He felt a bit overwhelmed by the simultaneous gaze of the two faces. According to his principles, he didn’t allow children to eat such junk food before they lost their baby teeth.
But now…
Alright, alright, go ahead and eat.
Sam Noah nodded in agreement, and Thelma went to buy two rabbit legs, one for her and one for the little one.
Outside the ancient street was a large square filled with people. There were elderly folks practicing Martial art and a group gathered around playing chess.
Tyler pointed excitedly at a game stall, “Mom, is there anything you want? Whatever you want, Dad can win it back for you.”
There was a game booth where you could shoot balloons with toy guns, and the number you hit would determine the prize you could win. Thelma remembered that the little dumpling had once told her that his dad was very good at shooting.
“Do you want anything?” Sam Noah turned to ask her.
Thelma spotted a gray bear with a pink bow tied around its neck, which was very cute. She pointed at it and said, “How about that one?”
The family of three walked over, and Thelma realized that the bear was the hardest prize to win; you had to hit thirty-five balloons in one go to get it.
She even worried that she might be asking too much of Sam Noah. However, he didn’t seem to take it too seriously. He bought thirty-five bullets and loaded them into the toy gun, then stood behind the designated line, holding the gun, squinting slightly to aim. Bang, he hit one; bang, he hit another.
With a body as upright as a pine tree, he exuded a soldier’s determination. His movements were skilled, and even without wearing a military uniform, Thelma had seen photos of him in uniform and could imagine how he looked.
Under the gray sky, she suddenly felt that Sam Noah had become an undeniable bright spot; he was so dazzling, drawing her attention.
One shot after another, the balloons popped one by one, bursting with a crisp sound, showcasing his elegance and charm.
The young officer, skilled with a gun, fierce in battle, could also cook for his wife and child when he took off his battle gear. She suddenly felt that this man was so gentle, so very gentle.
The contrasting qualities of sternness and tenderness were entirely different, yet they manifested simultaneously in him, creating a captivating masculine charm.
She gazed at the focused profile of this man, momentarily entranced.
He was so sexy, so gentle.
In that instant, she felt his charm seep into her body, stirring her heart, and she suddenly had an impulse.
