Chapter 231: Hot Air Balloon
The kiss was light, yet lingering.
When Julian Faulkner released Vivian Lowell, she felt her breath quicken.
He had kissed her for so long she was almost out of breath.
Vivian lowered her head, partly to hide her crimson cheeks from Julian. Then, she rested her head against his chest.
Julian wrapped his arms around her again.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the distance.
Vance Wyatt waved to Julian Faulkner from afar and shouted, "President Faulkner, the hot air balloon is ready. It’s about time. Any later and the sun will dip below the horizon."
’A hot air balloon?’
Vivian was slightly stunned when she heard Vance’s voice. She looked up at Julian, who smiled and explained, "We’re here at the beach to watch the sunset. We can’t possibly miss out on a hot air balloon ride, can we?"
"I had Vance prepare it long ago. The hot air balloon is tethered by ropes and will rise a certain distance. It’s very safe. Do you want to go?"
Vivian nodded.
’A sunset at the beach, a hot air balloon... These are all incredibly romantic things. Julian prepared every single one for me. How could I possibly say no to him?’
"Then let’s go."
Julian spoke as he stood up first. He walked to the base of the reef and reached out a hand to help Vivian.
Vivian stood up as well, but perhaps because she’d been sitting for so long, her leg had fallen asleep. She nearly lost her footing.
"Careful!"
Luckily, Julian was quick to react. With a shout, he caught her securely in his arms.
The embrace was so sudden that Vivian found herself in his arms, her head nearly bumping against his chest.
"Are you okay?" There was a hint of worry in Julian’s voice. He looked at Vivian’s ankle, afraid she had twisted it.
"I’m fine."
Vivian smiled sweetly. She wiggled her foot and, feeling no pain, was greatly relieved. She practically hopped back onto her feet in front of Julian.
Vivian wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck, looked at him with a grin, and asked, "What’s wrong? Is it so bad that I wanted to throw myself into your arms?"
Julian, who had been looking serious, was taken aback by her words. Torn between amusement and exasperation, he nodded. "It’s good. I definitely don’t have a problem with it."
"But... you still need to be more careful next time. Even though I’ll be right here to catch you, it would kill me to see you get hurt."
"Mm..." Vivian agreed softly and stole a glance at Julian.
He was smiling, his expression so gentle, and even the sweet nothings he whispered were so sugary sweet. Vivian suddenly had an impulse to give Julian a kiss.
’This must be the kind of feeling only someone who is truly happy can have, right?’
When the thought suddenly popped into her head, Vivian’s own heart skipped a beat. She’d never imagined she could fall in love with someone so deeply.
’But when it comes to love, this is probably how it is.’
’It begins for no reason, yet grows ever deeper.’
"Julian Faulkner, come here for a second."
Vivian beckoned to Julian, who had been about to turn and leave. He looked back at her, a little confused.
Seizing the chance, Vivian stood on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on Julian’s cheek.
It was very light, but... filled with affection.
Julian froze.
He stared in disbelief at the mischievous girl before him, clearly not expecting that she had suddenly called him over just for this.
The kiss was brief. Vivian then ran a few steps ahead. Turning back, she saw Julian hadn’t followed and asked with a laugh, "Julian, why are you spacing out?"
"Aren’t we going to ride the hot air balloon? Hurry up!"
Looking at the charming and adorable Vivian, Julian snapped out of his daze, quickly caught up, and held her hand tightly.
’This is my girl.’
’This time, no matter what, I have to hold on to her tightly.’
Vance Wyatt had already been waiting by the hot air balloon for a long time.
’I’ve been busy outside all day. It’s hot, I’m exhausted, my back is drenched in sweat, and I haven’t even had a chance to shower and change. Now I’ve got the hot air balloon ready, and President Faulkner and the missus are still taking their sweet time!’
In truth, Vance had seen everything.
’The missus kissed President Faulkner!’
’President Faulkner was just standing there, frozen like some clueless boy who’s never been in a relationship and is experiencing his first crush. So silly!’
’He’s completely different from the usual sharp, wise, and decisive President Faulkner!’
As Vance was grumbling to himself, Julian happened to walk over. Vance instantly felt the unfriendly glare Julian was giving him.
’Crap!’
Vance cursed silently.
’I was so busy complaining about the President in my head that I forgot to hide the look on my face, and now he’s caught me.’
Vance’s heart sank. He forced an awkward but polite smile and said respectfully, "President Faulkner, please board the hot air balloon."
"Mm."
Julian gave a faint reply. Fortunately, he didn’t say anything to Vance. Seeing Vivian and Julian finally board the hot air balloon hand-in-hand, Vance finally let out a small sigh of relief.
Phew~
Watching the hot air balloon gradually ascend, Vance finally had a chance to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Just then, Finn appeared nearby, though he wasn’t sure when she’d arrived. She was holding a freeze pop, wearing a sun hat, and seemed to be in a great mood.
"Vance, there you are! It’s so hot today. I spent the whole afternoon at the hotel’s indoor pool."
"My boss said there’s a bonfire party on the beach tonight, so I thought I’d come out and take a look when it was about time, but I couldn’t find you."
"So this is where you were! Wow, what a beautiful hot air balloon! Did President Faulkner prepare it specially for my boss?"
Finn was a bit jumpy and excitable.
But girls, especially young girls, were always so full of energy, and Finn was certainly no exception!
Besides, Finn also yearned for a sweet love story like Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner’s!
Vance was tired, hot, and exhausted, and just wanted to sit down on the beach and rest. But the moment he saw Finn arrive, he immediately straightened his back.
"Yep, President Faulkner arranged it specially for the missus!"
Vance said proudly, as if trying to imply that he, like Julian, was the type of person who treats his wife very well!
Finn, however, didn’t catch Vance’s hidden meaning. After watching the hot air balloon for a while, she turned back to look at Vance and suddenly noticed the fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
"You look really hot..."
Finn said, then giggled.
Vance was stunned. He was about to subconsciously wipe the sweat with his sleeve again, but Finn had already taken a tissue from her bag and handed it to him.
Vance took it sheepishly. After wiping his sweat, just as he was about to thank Finn, she snapped the freeze pop in her hand in two and handed half to him.
"Here, have some of my freeze pop. You’re lucky, I bought the kind you can snap in half today. If it were a small popsicle, I’d have to eat it all by myself!"
"Honestly, you... On a hot day like this, you should at least wear a hat to shield you from the sun and avoid getting sunburned! Oh, right, don’t tell me you didn’t even put on sunscreen?"
"That’s not good, you know. Your skin will get burned if you stay in the sun too long! It just so happens I brought some aloe vera gel. Why don’t you come to my room tonight, and I’ll give you a tube?"
Finn said this earnestly.
Vance’s eyes went wide.
’Go to Finn’s room tonight!?’
In an instant, all sorts of wild ideas popped into Vance’s head, and he couldn’t help but blush.
Luckily, because it was so hot, Vance’s face was already a little red from the sun, so Finn didn’t notice the slight change!
"I..."
’Going to a girl’s room... the pressure is immense!’ Vance was still trying to find the right words.
But the lively Finn paid no mind to his hesitation. She pouted and asked, "What’s wrong? Are you really turning me down when I’m offering you aloe vera gel?"
"I don’t care. I already said I’m giving it to you, so you’re taking it! You have to come over tonight, got it?"
"Got it..."
Afraid of making Finn angry, Vance nodded like a wooden puppet. Seeing him, Finn laughed and said, "Look at you, standing there like a big oaf."
"There are some small rocks over there, let’s go sit. We can also keep an eye on my boss and President Faulkner from here, okay?"
"Okay."
Vance nodded in agreement, and he and Finn sat down on the rocks together, watching the sunset.
On the hot air balloon.
Vivian leaned against Julian’s shoulder, watching the sunset in the distance.
High up in the air, the view was even better. There were no obstructions, just an endless sunset and the sea horizon.
"The view is so beautiful."
Vivian couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
Julian nodded. Holding Vivian’s hand, he said softly, "It is. But what’s even better is being here with you."
"Look at you, saying sweet nothings again."
"I’m serious."
"Yes, yes, I know you’re serious."
"..."
The two chatted for a while longer. Then, Vivian yawned, and her stomach followed with a GURGLE.
"Hungry?"
Julian heard it and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
"Mmm..."
Vivian nodded, a little embarrassed. "We’ve been out for a while, of course I’m hungry. Should we head back now?"
"Okay."
Julian agreed and pulled out his phone to send Vance a message.
Just as Julian was about to send the message, Vivian suddenly stopped him.
"Wait."
After Vivian spoke, Julian looked up at her, a little confused.
Vivian’s gaze shifted to the ground below, in Vance’s direction. "Look, Vance and Finn are chatting together. They seem to get along so well. Why don’t we let them be for a little longer?"
Seeing this, Julian pursed his lips slightly, looking a little displeased.
’That kid, Vance...’
’He was clearly out here to work, and now he’s taking the time to flirt.’
’But then again...’
Looking at Vance’s goofy expression, Julian couldn’t help but say, "Look at Vance. He’s so meticulous and dedicated at work, but right now he looks like a teenage boy."
"The kind who’s never been in a relationship, just foolishly trailing after the girl he likes, completely clueless."
Vivian was taken aback.
Huh?
’Vance and Finn are dating?’
"I don’t think so?" Vivian furrowed her brows and observed the two carefully. "Finn is a lively and cheerful girl. She gets along well with everyone at the company."
"To me, it looks like she probably just sees Vance as a friend."
Hearing this, Julian couldn’t help but pout. "If that’s the case, then Vance is even dumber. He clearly likes the girl but doesn’t know how to confess!"
"Just following her around like a fool... honestly..."
Julian didn’t know what to say. He even felt like rolling his eyes at Vance, but then he thought better of it. ’Who hasn’t been young and clueless before?’
’Everyone is inexperienced with these things at the beginning.’
’Even I was like that.’
Down by the small rocks below the hot air balloon, Vance and Finn had been sitting together watching the sunset for a while when Vance couldn’t help but let out two consecutive sneezes.
"ACHOO, ACHOO!"
After sneezing, Vance couldn’t help but sniffle.
Finn had been talking about some interesting things at the company. Hearing Vance sneeze, she paused and quickly asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Is the sea breeze too strong here? Did you catch a cold?"
Vance shook his head. "No way! It’s so hot, how could I catch a cold?"
’Some damn bastard must be cursing my name behind my back!’
That’s what Vance thought to himself, but he wouldn’t say something so crude in front of Finn.
"That’s true, it is really hot..."
As Finn spoke, she suddenly saw Vivian waving at her from the hot air balloon.
"Huh, my boss is waving at me! Vance, are my boss and President Faulkner coming down?"
Hearing this, Vance also glanced up and, sure enough, saw Julian looking at him!
All of a sudden, Vance’s phone rang. He glanced at the message, then hurried over to handle the ropes. He said to Finn, "You stay seated. I’ll get President Faulkner and your boss down, then we can go get some barbecue!"
"Okay~"
Finn agreed cheerfully, flashing Vance a brilliant smile.
Vance was mesmerized for a moment, but fortunately, the force of Julian’s gaze from above was nothing to scoff at. Vance quickly snapped back to his senses and continued pulling the ropes.