Chapter 1610 - 1575: You Can’t Just Touch a Man

"Hmm. But at the moment, we’re limited in energy. We need to recruit people; only with experts can we proceed." Marcus Quinn had long wanted to cultivate medicinal herbs. Looking at the forests of Anfield Village, if not for a lack of funds, he would have definitely rented them all for 70 years.

"Encourage the whole village to collaborate in planting the hillsides. Don’t we already have Mr. Ong as our expert? He is currently our Holiday Village’s expert consultant. We can offer him a full rent exemption. Surely, Mr. Ong knows many experts," Ada said excitedly. She had always found farming interesting, and now that Marcus wanted to plant medicinal herbs, it was even more intriguing.

"Alright." Marcus’s deep gaze fell on Ada’s smiling face. Seeing her still so full of life after walking five or six hours, his smile deepened. He prepared a pancake with beef, tenderloin, and lettuce, handed it to Ada with an indulgent tone, "Let’s eat first, and then we’ll continue walking."

The food Marcus made was naturally delicious. Ada gobbled it up, getting greasy all over. The man helplessly helped her clean up. After finishing their meal, they drank some water and ate some fruit. They rested for half an hour before continuing on their way.

Having discovered rare Wild Ginseng, both of them felt invigorated. Ada didn’t feel tired at all, as Marcus was used to high-intensity training, and such physical exertion was nothing for him. But the road ahead became increasingly challenging. Marcus dug up several medicinal plants and even unearthed a wild ginseng, marking the area where they might exist, though in very few numbers. After exploring a third of the forested area, seeing that it was getting late, they found a suitable place to camp and set up the tent.

For safety and to lighten their load, Marcus brought a two-person tent, meaning they’d naturally share a tent at night. After dinner, they boiled some hot water. Ada washed up a little and nestled into the tent, peeking her little face out through the unzipped opening, gazing at the starry sky outside.

Marcus lit three campfires, making the entire area bright, but Ada was still a bit scared and occasionally called out to Marcus.

Each time she called, Marcus would respond, his stable, deep voice carrying a convincing sense of security. After finishing his tasks, he entered the tent. Though a two-person tent, with two sleeping bags, they lay side by side close enough to see each other’s pores.

"Close your eyes and sleep. We’ll head down the mountain at first light." The man’s voice was a bit hoarse, his breath exceptionally warm.

Ada’s long, curled eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. She blinked and softly asked, "Aren’t we continuing deeper into the mountains?"

"The road ahead is tough. We’ve gained a lot this time. Later, I’ll bring Irving and others to scout the path."

"Oh." Ada blinked again, nodding as she eyed the scar on his face, asking, "Why don’t you remove that scar?"

"Is it ugly?" The man’s body tensed slightly. The girl’s soft breath at his ear made his mind sluggish. He dared not move, afraid that anything rash would snap the taut string in his mind.

Marcus had never cared about appearances. But thinking of Ada, so beautiful and gentle, he felt unworthy of her, especially with a scar, a chill spread through his heart.

"It’s not ugly; it looks quite imposing." Ada quickly shook her head, then reached out to gently touch his scar. Her fingertips were soft and warm, causing Marcus’s body to tense. He gazed at her intently.

Originally just for fun, Ada daringly touched him, seeing his gaze deep as a beast’s, the tent small and filled with his potent masculine scent wrapping around her, making her mouth dry as she dazedly asked, "Marcus, what do you want to do?"

The man’s voice dropped low: "Ada, don’t touch a man lightly."

Ada: "..."

She merely touched that scar.

[Are there any monthly tickets, dearies? I’ll post extra updates to celebrate the New Year with you all!]