Falling for the Goddess

Couple Chaos Ensues

That afternoon, Sara Hart led the group out for a stroll.

Her family estate sat in the heart of South City's old town, surrounded by scenic landmarks within walking distance. It was the perfect chance to show her friends the city's charm and let them experience the warmth of local life.

The group turned heads wherever they went—an assembly of stunning, elegant men and women, each with their own unique aura. It was impossible not to notice them.

They walked along cobblestone streets flanked by ancient white-walled, gray-tiled buildings. Now and then, bright red persimmons peeked over the courtyard walls, heavy on their branches under the clear blue sky.

Tall plane trees rustled in the wind, casting dancing shadows on the walls. It was a scene completely different from the towering modernity of North Capital. Here, time seemed to slow down—a slice of serenity frozen in amber.

Sara led them to the city's most famous pedestrian street.

"This is where most tourists come. It's the most iconic area—great scenery, great snacks. Perfect for walking and chatting," she explained with a glowing smile.

Adrian Blake held her hand, his gaze soft as she introduced the architecture with infectious joy. He couldn't help but smile himself.

Sara turned back to him. "What are you looking at? Do I have something on my face?"

Adrian shook his head slightly.

He was just happy to see her this cheerful and at ease.

On one side of the group, it was Adrian and Sara sharing soft smiles; on the other, Ella Duvall and Sam Lewis chatting animatedly. Trailing behind were the always-sulky Eric Thorne and Xenia Graves. Lucas Graves looked around, utterly disgruntled—why was he the only one without a conversation partner?

He walked up to Sara.

"Sara this place is full of little shops. Got anything tasty around here?"

Sara grinned. "Sure do. Just a little further ahead, the food gets even better."

The group wandered on. The old town was built along the water. On one side, quaint shops and traditional architecture; on the other, a slow-moving river lined with weeping willows. Now and then, a breeze would ripple the water's surface into soft waves.

Every so often, they passed under arched stone bridges—a scene straight out of an old poem.

Ella had traveled a lot, even abroad, but this was her first time truly experiencing a JN water town like this. Everyone took in the peaceful surroundings slowly, feeling time stretch out and soften around them.

At a fork in the road, Sara stopped in front of a small bakery and stepped inside.

She exchanged a few words with the elderly shopkeeper in the local dialect, her voice soft and melodic—smooth and flowing like a song.

"Was that your native dialect just now?" Ella asked with curiosity.

Sara nodded. "Yeah. You probably didn't catch much of it though."

The shopkeeper handed her a neatly packed box of traditional pastries. Sara thanked him and brought the box over to share with everyone.

"This bakery's been around for decades. I've been eating their pastries since I was a kid."

Inside were all sorts of sweets—osmanthus cakes, mint jelly squares, and more. Each one beautifully crafted and elegant enough to be art.

Naturally, the girls were the most excited—Ella and Xenia both lit up at the sight of sweets. Lucas Graves, ever the lively one, eagerly joined in. Sam Lewis accepted his share politely. Even Eric, who usually avoided sweets, took a bite to show appreciation.

Ella tasted one that looked like a flower petal and couldn't help but sigh,

"This is amazing. Way better than any pastry I've had before. I need to come back before we leave and buy some to take home."

Sara nodded toward her. "Try the others too."
But the box was handed to Sam, not Ella.

Ella caught the gesture and sneakily gave Sara a thumbs-up.

A few steps later, they passed another stall selling plum blossom cakes. Sara bought one for everyone.

"Didn't we just buy pastries?" Ella asked, amused.

"These are different!" Sara explained. "Plum blossom cakes are soft and chewy and baked, not steamed. You have to try them."

Adrian had been quietly watching her the whole time, his gaze full of warmth. Seeing her happy made him happy.

At the very back, Xenia and Eric walked in silence. Xenia took a bite of her cake and gave a rare nod of approval.

It had been ages since she had a proper break. Work had been overwhelming. But strolling through the cobbled streets in the sun, tasting snacks, chatting with friends—it felt like a luxury.

Maybe running away from that blind date wasn't such a bad decision after all.

As she finished her cake, Eric silently handed her his.

Xenia raised an eyebrow. "You're not eating?"

"No," Eric replied casually. "I'm not into sweets. You have it."

She shrugged. "Well, if you insist. I guess I'll help you out."

In South City, she didn't need to keep up her usual CEO image. She could let loose, relax—even abandon her usual table manners. Here, no one knew Xenia Graves. She didn't need to worry about appearances or restraint.

Eric watched her revert to her candid, unapologetic self. A small smile tugged at his lips.

This was the version of her he remembered—the fiery, unfiltered Xenia who wasn't afraid to feel or speak her mind. And it was the version he liked best.

A small grain of glutinous rice stuck to the corner of her lips.

Eric hesitated for a moment, then reached into his pocket and handed her a handkerchief.

"Wipe your mouth."