?<strong>Chapter 145:</strong>


    The fair was alive with its usual vibrant chaos, the bright lights of the stalls casting long shadows in the calm evening air. Though the weekday lull meant the crowds were sparse, there was still an energy in the air.


    Kristopher had swapped his bathrobe for a sleek jacket that matched the color of Carrie’s shirt. Together, they looked like a pair coordinated not by design, but by fate.


    Leading her through the fair, Kristopher paused at a barbecue stall they had visited during theirst trip to Foxfire County. A middle-aged woman and a teenage boy were busy by the entrance, arranging skewers of glistening barbecue under the soft golden glow of hangingnterns.


    Kristopher’s sharp gazended on a tank filled with lively, darting fish. “We’ll have a serving of fish congee,” he said, his words crisp and decisive.


    “Got it,” the boy replied, rolling up his sleeves as he expertly selected a fish, his movements fluid and practiced as he cleaned and sliced it.


    Curiosity flickered across Carrie’s face. “Has the owner changed?” she asked casually. “Last time we came here, it was an old man.”


    The woman looked up from her work, wiping her hands on her apron. “That’s my father,” she exined. “He’s been unwell, doctor’s orders to rest. As for me, well, mypany went belly-up, so here I am, running the stall for him.”


    Her gaze shifted between Kristopher and Carrie, and a warm smile spread across her face. “You two must havee here ages ago. Are you visiting on vacation? You make such a lovely pair—returning to familiar ces like this. You must be a very loving couple.”


    The phrase “lovely pair” hung in the air, and Kristopher found himself unusually pleased by thepliment. Without a word, he ordered the most expensive barbecues on the menu, his mood subtly lifted.


    Carrie, oblivious to the change in his demeanor, chuckled softly at the woman’s assumptions. She made no attempt to correct her, instead turning to find a seat.


    Remembering Kristopher’s fastidious nature, she pulled out a tissue and meticulously wiped down the table and chairs, her movements precise and thoughtful.


    Kristopher watched her, captivated by her focused expression. His gaze lingered on her radiant profile before he joined her at the table.


    The fish congee arrived, a visual symphony of white porridge adorned with vibrant green vegetables and orange carrots. Carrie’s appetite awakened instantly. She took a spoonful, her eyes closing in pure delight. The rice melted effortlessly, its delicate vor intertwining with the sweet freshwater fish from Jade Lake. Her face transformed, pure happiness radiating from every feature.


    Kristopher observed her, lost in contemtion. Despite having showered her with millions in gifts, nothingpared to the joy she now experienced over a simple bowl of congee. A seasoned businessman who prided himself on understanding people, Kristopher had to concede that his wife of two years remained an enigma. She was like an intricate book—seemingly simple at first nce, but revealing profoundplexities with each revisit.


    The barbecue arrived in charming bamboo baskets, the air rich with the intoxicating aroma of chili and cumin. The scene mirrored their previous visit—a rare moment of shared intimacy. A glimmer of nostalgia softened Carrie’s mood. She savored the fish porridge, feeling her stomach settle, and eagerly prepared to grab a prawn skewer.


    Before her hand could reach forward, Kristopher intercepted, cing the bamboo skewer before himself. Just as she was about to protest, his gaze fell on her hand. Her typically in nails now boasted an borate design, long and decorated with silver cat-eye polish, intricate butterfly rhinestones catching the light.


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