The Charming Ex-Wife by Gwendolyn

The Charming Ex–Wife 

Chapter 659 Not So Fragile 

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+5 Pearls 

“Thank you, Josiah,” Nilou began, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. She continued thoughtfully. “But- there’s really no need, Rhizone and I know these roads well. We can just run over there. It’ll be a great chance for us to guide you, and you can follow us in your car when the time comes.” 

Rhizone nodded in agreement with his sister. As they spoke, they both nervously clutched at their clothes. 

Children in the village grew up fast, often outgrowing their clothes quickly. That was why many people in the village chose to buy clothes a size larger, so their children could grow into them and wear them longer. 

This was the case for Nilou and Rhizone. Their clothes were faded almost to whiteness from many washes, with sleeves and pant legs that hung loose, clearly worn for growth. Their shoes bore the marks of their adventurous lives, covered in dust from the sandy paths they frequented. 

It wasn’t that they preferred to lead the way by running. It seemed they were more concerned about possibly dirtying Josiah’s car with their worn clothes and dusty shoes. 

Witnessing this, a surge of compassion washed over Lysander as she bent down to adjust the sleeves and pant cuffs of the children. She then reassured them with a gentle voice, “It’s all right, today I’m taking care of everything. Hurry up and get in the car, or it’ll be awkward when we come to visit your home.” 

Hearing this, Nilou’s voice carried a note of concern, “Dr. Thorne, if we end up making a mess in the car, will we have to pay for it?” 

Josiah reassured her with a chuckle, “I doubt you two could cause any harm.” 

Nilou still looked worried. “But it wouldn’t be good if we made it dirty, right?” 

“Don’t worry about it. If it gets dirty, we can always wash it.” Josiah replied soothingly. 

“Does it cost money to wash the car?” 

“It doesn’t.” 

Finally reassured, Nilou signaled to her brother that it was safe to get into the car. 

Knowing they had never been in a car before, Lysander chose to sit in the back with them to make them feel more at ease. Josiah glanced back but said nothing, focusing on the road ahead. 

The tender scene of Lysander with the children exuded a warmth that was hard to overlook. 

Driving through the mountain roads required skill, and Josiah, known for his competent driving, handled the challenging terrain with caution. Despite the rough path, the scenic beauty that surrounded the village was truly captivating and made the journey enjoyable. 

Nilou and Rhizone, having grown up here, were accustomed to the natural beauty of the area. However, the novelty of riding in a car was far more intriguing to them.. 

This was their first experience in such a luxurious vehicle. When Nilou first saw the car, she was impressed by its exterior, but sitting inside revealed a new level of comfort–the seats were softer than any bed she had ever slept in. This realization made her behave even more carefully. 

Rhizone, being younger, was naturally more restless. After a while, he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch 

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Chapter 659 Not So Fragile 

+5 Pearls 

However, before his fingers could make contact, Nilou, exercising her authority as the older sister, stopped him sharply. “Don’t touch anything carelessly. If you break something, we won’t be able to afford the repairs.” 

Startled by his sister’s stern tone, Rhizone immediately withdrew his hand, looking down at his perpetually dirty fingers–stained from years of playing near the lake, no matter how much he washed them. He felt a sense of inferiority and bowed his head. 

Immediately. Lysander felt a pang of heartache. 

Josiah, noticing the children’s hesitation and nervousness through the rearview mirror, offered comfort, “Don’t worry, go ahead and explore. Things here aren’t as fragile as you might think.” 

Encouraged by Josiah’s words, Rhizone relaxed a bit, though he still refrained from touching. Instead, he curiously scanned every inch of the car’s interior. 

Nilou expressed her thanks to Josiah and Lysander again but remained careful not to touch any of the delicate decorations inside the car. Instead, she focused on the road ahead, providing directions. 

“Just follow this road straight ahead. When you see the forest on both sides, make a left onto the cobblestone path. That will take you to the neighboring village. To get to the lake, keep driving along the main road until you reach the open space behind it.” 

Despite her youth, Nilou remembered the way perfectly and described it with clarity and detail, making it easy for Josiah to follow. 

Lysander listened intently from the side, her admiration for the intelligent and articulate young girl growing with every word. 

After about half an hour of driving, they turned onto the cobblestone road. If Josiah looked ahead, he could just make out the outline of the lake. 

Aware that the scenery might soon become monotonous, Nilou, ever considerate, decided to engage them further, “Josiah, Dr. Thorne, have you ever heard any of our local folk songs?” 

Lysander shook her head. “I haven’t, but I’ve heard that in the old days, when the village had more people, everyone would sing and dance during festivals. It was very lively.” 

Encouraged by Lysander’s interest, Nilou offered, “Let me sing a song for you. It’s a melody that my grandma taught my mom, and she passed it down to me. It’s quite different from what you’re used to hearing.” 

“Sure!” 

Nilou cleared her throat, and her clear, youthful voice filled the car, singing about the nature and traditions of her home. 

Rhizone, following his sister’s lead, clapped rhythmically to her song. Together, they seemed like two little birds, chirping in harmony, lifting the spirits of everyone in the car. 

Lysander was captivated by the authentic tune, finding herself humming along to the melody. 

Josiah, although not singing, found the rustic folk song amusing and occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror, catching glimpses of Lysander’s revitalized expression. 

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Chapter 659 Not So Fragile 

+5 Pearls 

As they continued on their journey, the houses along the road became fewer, and the path became more rugged with sand and weeds. Carefully, Josiah steered the car onto a mudflat near the road, where a large expanse of lotus flowers soon came into view. 

Nilou pointed excitedly toward a cluster of small boats. “Dr. Thorne, look over there! That’s where my 

house is!” 

The lake, much larger than what Josiah and Lysander had seen the evening before, stretched out vast and seemingly endless before them. 

They found their hearts settling as they gazed upon the vast expanse of lotus flowers near the edge. 

If one could occasionally visit such a place, even the heaviest of worries would likely be forgotten. No wonder the two siblings, despite their impoverished circumstances, still appeared carefree and cheerfully 

naive 

Josiah, inspired by the serene view, mused aloud, “No wonder developers see potential here. It’s perfect for tourism. This place has a natural charm that even the upscale suburbs can’t match. If we developed a resort here, it would definitely attract visitors.” 

As he spoke, he assessed the potential of the area, while Lysander, recognizing his determination, chose not to dissuade him but rather to discuss the practical aspects of the water resource, crucial for the village’s survival. 

“Water resources are scarce in this part of the land. It’s rare to find a well here in the mountains, so this lake is incredibly valuable to the local people,” Lysander explained, adding perspective to the significance of their surroundings. 

Josiah, pondering this new information, asked, “So, is our village considered well–off in this region?” 

Lysander nodded. “In a way, yes. This village has a reliable water source, which is more than many can say in this area. It’s considered one of the larger villages around here because people often come here for medical help. 

Reflecting on the past couple of days and the challenges the villagers faced, Josiah felt a renewed urgency. to contribute positively to their lives. 

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