1043 Little Man’s Plants
“Hey, little man!”
Justin’s hand that held a tiny shovel stopped moving when he heard that voice. He didn’t even hear when someone came to stand behind him. But that familiar voice made him eager and instantly tilted his head. As he looked at Raelle, his eye lit up like stars.
He stood up and walked up to her but stopped when he saw that he was wearing his gardening gloves and still holding the shovel. He put it down and took off his gloves before saying, “One moment, please!”
Then he ran with his small legs toward the bathroom. He hurriedly cleaned his hands and even washed his face which was sweating from working out in the garden in this heat. Only after he felt that he was clean enough and looked like an adorable baby again, he ran out and stand before Raelle looking up at her.
He thought about it before holding the hem of her sundress as if greeting her this way. After all, he couldn’t handshake with her so, he chose this way.
Raelle looked at his eyes that kept looking at her and crouched down to come to his eye level so that he didn’t have to look up at her. His neck would get tired from looking up like that.
“Hi!” said Justin.
Raelle replied, “Hi!”
“You came to see me?” he asked.
.....
Raelle nodded her head, “Didn’t I say I’d come to see you? I not only came to see you but am also here to invite you.”
“Invite me?” asked Justin as he blinked at her innocently.
“Hmm,” she hummed. She actually pulled out a card and gave it to him. This card was different from all the other invitation cards. This one was smaller and would fit right into Justin’s small hands. It could be seen that this one was specially made for him. Since her purpose was to invite Justin in the first place, she took this matter very seriously and got this invitation card designed.
Justin took the card and opened it to read it seriously. After reading it attentively, he gave her an adorable smile, “You’re getting engaged?”
Raelle nodded again.
“But aren’t you already married?”
Raelle touched her chin as she thought about how many people have brought up this question already. It was really a question that wasn’t letting her escape. Why was everyone thinking in the same direction? Even a little kid was now thinking the same thing.
“I’m getting engaged to my husband,” she told him honestly.
Justin felt like whatever he had learned until now wasn’t enough. Because he seriously was lost regarding the situation that was presented before him. But he didn’t want to show her that he didn’t understand. After all, even if he was little, he also had some pride, no? Wouldn’t be embarrassing if he asked what she meant by that and why he couldn’t understand it?
No matter how he tried to hide it though, he was still just a little over five. How could he manage his expressions and thoughts? He wasn’t exactly like Raelle who was born with a blank face. His little thoughts could still be seen with how his eyes were moving around.
Raelle waited for him to question and didn’t take the initiative to answer him before he could ask. She wanted him to know that it wasn’t embarrassing to not know something. It was more embarrassing to not ask and stay clueless about your doubts.
“You don’t have something to ask me?” asked Raelle to Justin.
Justin put his hands together and played with his fingers as he contemplated this serious problem he was facing right now. What to do? Should he ask? Seeing her patience, he suddenly became relaxed and decided to ask, “How can you get engaged to your husband?”
Raelle looked like she was proud of him and even lifted her hand to touch his head. In the end, it was only the tip of her index finger that touched the space between his brows as she said, “It took you so long to ask? If you won’t ask how would you know?”
Justin lowered his head as he accepted his mistake, “I’m sorry.”
Raelle didn’t say anything about this and explained to him instead, “It’s like this. When we got married, we only got the marriage certificate. There was no ceremony at all. So, now we are doing things in order. First, we’ll have engagement and then we’ll hold a wedding ceremony. Let’s say we’re doing everything in reverse.”
“That can also be done?” he asked curiously.
“It’s your life,” she said. “Anything is possible as long as you will for it.”
He nodded his head in understanding. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He kept looking at Raelle and then tugged at her sleeve as he said, “Would you like to meet my plants?”
Raelle agreed, “Sure. Why not?”
Justin happily brought her to his small sanctuary. It was considered his safe space. There was even a small camping tent set up. And Raelle could see that there were books inside. It seemed, he loved to spend time with his plants so much that he’d spend hours there and even brought all the things he liked to this place.
One by one, he introduced her to all his plants. When he talked about his plants, he seemed very excited.
When he came to the last pot, his expression changed. He tsked to himself and crouched down beside the withering flowering plant as he said, “This one isn’t willing to grow. I took care of it for so long but still is dying. I don’t know what I did wrong. I did everything that the book said.”
Raelle looked at the withering plant as well and said, “Sorry, I might not be of much help with this.” She definitely couldn’t help with this. She didn’t know how to raise plants or take care of them. Neither did she know about pets. In fact, she couldn’t even take proper care of humans. She never even took care of her own self.
She wasn’t that omnipotent yet.
Although she could recognize the species of flowers and plants. But how to grow and groom them was a whole different matter. This was meticulous work which wasn’t Raelle’s forte.
Justin suddenly thought about something and hesitated before asking, “Your elder brother might know.”
“Hm?”
“He said he also keeps a lot of plants,” said Justin.
Raelle looked at him for a minute in silence before she took out her phone. And although Xiang Weimin and Xiang Wai’s contact numbers hadn’t been saved in her personal phone, they were committed in her memory after one glance. So, she easily dialed Xiang Weimin’s number and waited for him to pick up the call.
It didn’t take three seconds before Xiang Weimin picked up the call in surprise, “Raelle? Is that you? Or someone stole your phone? Don’t tell me you’re being held at gunpoint.”
“And who dares to hold me at gunpoint?” asked Raelle in return when she heard his stupid questions.
Xiang Weimin seemed to have exhaled a breath of relief as he said, “Oh, it’s really you. Good. It’s fine since you’re safe. So, what’s up? How did you think of me?”
“I need your help with something?”
“Tell me!”
“Have you raised the agapanthus flowers? Also known as Lily of the Nile?”
“Of course,” replied Xiang Weimin. “That’s one of the easiest plants to raise. Only needs minimum care and yet gives you beautiful blue globes.”
Raelle went silent when she heard that and felt it was fortunate that Xiang Weimin said it to her only. If he had said it to Justin, wouldn’t it break a fragile heart of a kid? You can’t be careless with a kid’s feelings. She had read about it in detail!
With a cough, she said, “Justin’s plant is withering even after meticulous care. How about you give him some suggestions?”
Xiang Weimin was stunned to hear it and took a moment to process what his sister just said. And then he understood everything and said, “Give him the phone. I’ll talk to him.”
“Okay,” said Raelle and gave her phone to Justin saying, “You can ask him anything.”
Justin nodded his head and took the phone. Raelle stepped aside to give them ‘privacy’! Every kid needed that too, after all.
While Justin was talking to Xiang Weimin, Raelle looked at his small figure listening attentively and speaking animatedly as he explained what and how he took care of his plant. It was actually ironic how such a small kid was able to raise orchids which were difficult to grow but actually couldn’t take care of agapanthus.
But then again, who said simple things were simple for everyone and difficult things were difficult for everyone? There were always odd balls around you who couldn’t do simplest tasks but were masters at solving the difficult ones.
She was one example of them.
Besides, she was even worse than a kid. Even cactus might end up dying in her care.
“What are you doing here?” asked Tang Hebe as she saw Raelle standing there just looking at Justin. “And who is Justin talking to?”
“He is getting expert’s advice,” replied Raelle. “Do not disturb.”
“Oh, okay.” Tang Hebe didn’t understand and chose to just ignore it. Thinking won’t help. She couldn’t understand their world anyway.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶