Chapter 663 In Perfect Harmony
“Then… why are we moving in circles?” Lysander questioned.
Finished
“I was simply testing the waters,” Josiah replied with a wry smile, summoning the courage to put his sailing lessons to use. Leaning forward with determination, he straightened his arm <b>and</b>, gathering his strength, plunged the oar <b>back </b>into the water with vigor.
This time, the boat didn’t merely spin in circles as it had previously, but instead, it began to veer off course, heading in the wrong direction. If it weren’t for the steps protruding from the shore, the boat might have crashed onto thend, creating a spectacle.
Seeing this, Nilou began to doubt Josiah’s proficiency in rowing. Wanting to preserve his dignity while offering gentle guidance, she advised, “Josiah, don’t rush. Take it slow.”
Nearby vigers, seasoned in navigating these calm waters while collecting lotus seeds, offered their insights. “The water in the pond is still; it’s nothing like rowing in a river. You can’t rely on the current to <b>carry </b>you here,” one viger noted, <b>sharing </b>a slice of local wisdom.
“Indeed, rowing a boat is more than just the physical action; you must harness the force created on the water’s surface to propel yourself effectively!” another added insightfully.
“No need to rush; otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out too quickly… chimed in another.
Their simple yet profound understanding, born from daily life rather than schrly study, was straightforward and essible.
Josiah wasn’t embarrassed by their guidance but was rather grateful for themunal knowledge. “Thank you, I’ll give it another try,” he responded with appreciation, his tone respectful.
He adjusted his technique, lightening his strokes, <b>and </b>finally, the boat began to navigate in the correct direction. Yet, after only a short distance, the boat showed a tendency to start spinning again.
Lysander, seated across from him at the bow, watched with a barely suppressed smile. “How about I give rowing a try? Perhaps myck of sailing experience might actually be an advantage here,” she suggested, her voiceced with mild amusement.
Indeed, Josiah’s extensive experience with sailing–which did not involve oars–ironically seemed to hinder rather than help his current endeavor.
It had been some time since Lysander had seen Josiah so unguarded and joyful, free from any traces of sorrow or stress. Rather than feeling embarrassed about receiving a lesson on rowing in front of an audience, he <b>found </b>the situation amusing.
“No need, I’ve figured it out now. Let’s head to that less crowded area in the middle. I noticed the lotus flowers there are almost wilted; it thight be easier to collect the seed pods,” he proposed confidently, now steering the boat with more assurance toward their intended destination.
The vigers, initially concerned that the city youngsters might find themselves in trouble, now rxed as they watched the boat navigate/sessfully. They returned to their tasks, keeping a watchful eye from a distance.
de the murie wandan haut <b>eid </b>into a thick cluster of talline Armure Inrisk’e kaishi hamma in nchinina.
Bnce 720 + 115
1 Coins = 1 Pearls
<b>81</b><b>%</b>
Chapter 663 In Perfect Harmony
the firm stem of a nearby leaf.
Finished
By the time Josiah reached a promising cluster of lotus pods, Lysander had inadvertently collected at handful of mud.
Pausing the boat, Josiah moved to assist Lysander, who declined with a polite shake of her head. Instead, she stood up carefully, <b>bncing </b>on the edge of the boat, and began selecting the best lotus pods. “This is one of the vige’s main sources of ie,” she exined judiciously. “We can’t just pick them indiscriminately. Those that haven’t fully matured or are still <b>blooming </b><b>should </b>be left alone.”
“Understood,” <b>Josiah </b>agreed, joining her in the careful selection. Without scissors, they both quickly found their hands covered in mud as they worked to safely detach the pods.
Filled with a sense of aplishment, Lysander smiled broadly, wiping her mud–streaked hands on her clothes before dipping them back into the water to rinse them off.
Josiah soon followed suit, cleansing his own hands before taking up the oars once again. As he rowed them back toward the shore, he engaged Lysander in light conversation. “People are often shaped by their environment. No matter how beautifully a water tank in a courtyard is arranged, it cannot replicate the natural habitat necessary to grow lotus pods like these…
Their return journey was smooth, and as they neared the shore, Josiah prepared to assist Lysander with the lotus pods. However, upon noticing the mud smeared across her face, he hesitated, his words faltering.
Lysander, noticing his pause<b>, </b>asked, “What’s wrong?”
Josiah instinctively reached out to wipe the mud from her face but stopped, mindful of the many eyes on them. Instead, he gestured to his own cheek, <b>hinting</b>, “You have something here…”
Catching her reflection in the water, Lysander’s expression froze. More than just <b>a </b><b>spot</b>, her face wasically streaked with <b>mud</b>, resembling a patchwork of earthy tones. Flustered, she hastily cleaned her face, feeling embarrassed about stepping ashore.
The vigers, observing the <b>scene</b>, chose not to tease further. Instead, they began tomend her efforts.
“Dr. Thorne, you’ve gathered so many lotus pods on your first try, that’s quite impressive,” one praised.
“Mr. Guerra must be a natural at rowing,” another spected, admiring their haul.
“Wow, <b>look </b>at that lotus pod; it’s thergest we’ve seen today,” pointed out another.
As Lysander stepped onto the shore, her arms brimming with lotus seed pods, she overheard ament from the bystander and nced down at therge, ripe lotus po she was holding. Intrigued by its size and freshness, she couldn’t help but lean down <b>to </b>savor the rich, sweet aroma <b>that </b>enveloped her.
Josiah, observing Lysander’s struggle with the heavy load, quickly came to her aid, taking on the bulk of the weight. Together, they handed the boat over to Nilou and made their way back to the quaint house by
theke.
The bounty of lotus pods was more than Lysander could possibly consume at once. Concerned about wasting such a precious resource, she decided to keep thergest pod as a keepsake, offering the rest to Nilou.
Bnce:
<b>720 </b>+67
1 Coins = 1 Pearls
08:32 Tue, 2 Jul
Chapter 663 In Perfect Harmony
downward, they’ll keep for quite a long time,” she advised.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
Finished
She quickly retrieved a traditional y jar, typical of those found in the vige. With a practiced hand, she immersed several lotus flowers into the jar, enhancing <b>its </b>aesthetic with their vibrant freshness.
The evening meal mirrored the lunch they had earlier, with the notable inclusion of a hearty mint oatmeal. After dinner, Nilou’s parents had to attend to their duties at the pond’s edge, vigntly guarding against ducks from neighboring viges that might prey on the young fish not yet fully grown. Their responsibilities often required them to stay outte into the night.
Nilou and Rhizone had long adapted to this routine. They fetched a shlight from their home and led Josiah and Lysander to the small house nestled amidst a <b>dense </b>thicket where fireflies glowed and darted.
Upon opening the door, they revealed a room with just a simple bed and a table with chairs.
The space was clean but unmistakably worn. The walls were covered with old newspapers, and one side of the window frame had sumbed to rot, cracking under the strain. Weeds had even begun to sprout from the gaps in the brickwork.
The modest amodations <b>were </b>a stark contrast to the more sterile environment of the health center’s dorm. For anyone unustomed to such rustic living, the house’s condition would be challenging to ept at first nce.
As Lysander turned to discuss their ns, Josiah preemptively announced, “I’m stepping out for a moment, please wait for me here<b>.</b>”
“All right, Rhizone, lead the way,” Nilou instructed her younger brother, who followed Josiah out. Taking initiative, she then gathered the bedding and pillows. “Dr. Thorne, let me prepare the bed for <b>you </b>two,” she offered graciously.
Josiah responded kindly, “There’s no need for that. I’ve brought along a camping tent, and we won’t be sleeping on the bed.”
Lysander felt a wave of confusion <b>at </b>his words but before she could express her concerns or ask for rification, Josiah had already departed toward the parking area with Rhizone in <b>tow</b>.
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