Falling for the Goddess

Fell Into the Water

The jasmine flowers in the garden were still in bloom, and their faint fragrance could be smelled from a distance. As they walked through the courtyard, they came upon a rock garden and a pavilion.

"Sara, let me tell you, when we were kids, this was where we loved to play. We'd climb in and out of the rock garden, sometimes getting so lost we couldn't find our way out," Kyle Thorne explained, grinning as he approached Sara Hart.

Sara Hart hadn't realized the old estate had such a place.

Near the rock garden stood a pavilion beside a pond with several koi fish swimming leisurely within.

"Look, there are fish!" Jimmy Blake exclaimed excitedly upon seeing the golden koi. He immediately picked up a dry branch and tried to poke at the fish.

"Be careful not to fall in," Sara Hart gently reminded him.

"I know," Jimmy Blake replied, his voice full of enthusiasm.

Sara Hart glanced around. Beside the rock garden, a few persimmon trees stood, their fruits ripe and heavy, hanging low on the branches. Overhead, the blue sky and white clouds stretched endlessly, and the pavilion roof, slightly upturned, was framed by the persimmon trees. The air even carried a hint of osmanthus fragrance.

This familiar scene made Sara Hart think of her hometown, where the autumns looked just like this. It reminded her of the gardens she played in as a child.

"If only I had a camera," Sara Hart mused as she gazed at the ripe persimmons. She had taken many photos like this in the past - autumn was always the best season for it.

"What did you say?" Adrian Blake asked, his attention still on Jimmy, not having heard Sara's words.

Sara Hart smiled and shook her head. "Nothing, I was just saying how comfortable it feels here."

There was something comforting about it, something familiar.

Kyle Thorne, strolling around with his hands behind his back like an inspector on a tour, suddenly asked, "Jimmy, do you want some persimmons?"

"Yes!" Jimmy Blake stood up from the edge of the pond, staring up at the fruit, licking his lips like a little glutton.

Kyle Thorne eyed the trees, muttering to himself, "I remember the ones on the right tree being the sweetest."

"Sara, you should try some too. These persimmons are really sweet. When I was little, they were my favorite from Grandma's place."

The word "Grandma" hit a tender spot in Sara's heart. She looked up at the persimmons and was reminded of a familiar memory:

White walls, black tiles, and persimmons hanging heavily from the branches. The autumn sun bathed everything in warmth. She would climb up the tree to pick the persimmons while her grandmother, wearing simple cotton clothes, stood below with a basket, worriedly reminding her to be careful as she caught the fruit.

"Sara, catch!" Before Sara Hart could snap out of her reverie, Kyle Thorne had climbed onto the rock garden and tossed a bright red persimmon toward her.

Startled, Sara Hart instinctively closed her eyes as the persimmon flew toward her. But instead of feeling the impact, she felt an arm tighten around her waist. She found herself in a warm, protective embrace, enveloped in a familiar scent.

Adrian Blake had caught her, his arm around her waist as he spun them slightly to the side, the persimmon just barely missing her.

"Kyle!" Adrian Blake's voice was cold and stern.