chapter 30 -Trying new things

Hope you'll enjoy the chapter.

Lara's P.O.V. :

"Am I dreaming or is this for real?" Ian asked rubbing his eyes in astonishment.

Ash pinched on his upper arm which made him flinch a little but still, he was in utter shock.

It's not his fault. Whoever knows Mr. Adams very well would be as shocked as Ian is.

"Shane, are you seriously going to pack all your files and laptop inside the luggage for the whole trip? "Jake asked, looking at him in total shock.

"I am answering your repeated question for the last time now. Yes, I am not going to indulge myself in any kind of business work for this whole weekend." Mr. Adams said annoyed by his cousins' repeated questions.

"Sorry brother. It just that it's really hard to believe this. I mean...how? " Jake asked, looking in my direction.

I just shrugged my shoulder and winked at Mr. Adams to which he rolled his eyes which made me chuckle.

*******

"Glad that you all accepted our invitation and came. It's a pleasure to have you all here in our home town. " Mr. Chang expressed his pleasure.

He shook his hands with all the men and hugged the girls.

Mr. Chang has come to receive us to the airport.

Even being so rich, still, he is so humble and down to earth.

"Where is aunt? Didn't she come? " I asked as we parted from our hug.

"Oh don't ask dear. She has been so excited for your arrival in Beijing that she's been preparing various things for you all. You know it's one of the few times when our big house gets filled with lots of friends and relatives." He said smiling.

I smiled back. She's such a sweetheart.

"Let's get going. The cars are waiting for us outside. " Mr. Chang said as he leads us outside the airport where three Mercedes Benz were parked.

"Wow! Holy rich people and their cars! " Ash said dreamily as she checks out the cars.

Angie and I stood by the luggage chuckling at Ash's usage of words and awed expression.

"Three cars for three couples. You guys can enjoy your ride to our house in privacy since it's a few hours' drive. " Mr. Chang said grinning.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful, Mr. Chang. We appreciate it. But we are not couples. " Jake said pointing at himself including Angie, Ash, and Ian.

I guess Ian didn't like the info given by him as he hit on the side waist of Jake using his elbow.

Jake winced in pain a little and glared at Ian.

Poor, Ian!

"Yes, we are not a couple. " Angie said agreeing with Jake.

My little Angie is hit hardly by the love arrow. I thought.

"Oh, sorry. I guess, we misinterpreted your bonding with each other. " Mr. Chang said apologetically.

"No. Don't be sorry, Mr. Chang. It doesn't matter if we are a couple or not, we are still going to enjoy the ride to your house." Ian said smiling, genuinely.

He held Ash's hand and pulled her with him towards the first car. Ash was startled at first and taken aback by Ian's gesture but controlled her shocked emotions and walked with him, giggling. They both entered the car and after the chauffeur put their respective luggage inside the trunk, the car drove away.

"Since we are husband and wife, we will be sharing the car. What about you two? " I asked Jake and Angie together, teasingly.

"Guess, we don't have any other options. We will take the second car. " Jake said and walked towards the second car followed by Angie, shyly.

I winked at Angie before she entered the car. I didn't miss the blush on her face.

I'll have to make this trip special for these two lovebirds. I thought and looked at my dear fake husband who I guess noticed that I winked at Angie and was now looking at me in both confusion and amusement.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Mr. Chang.

"Let's go, Mr. Chang. We can share this car." Mr. Adams said to Mr. Chang.

"I have a few more guests flying here by the next flight. So I'll be waiting for a few more minutes here. You guys go and enjoy it. I will come with the remaining guests in another car which will be here in 10 minutes. " Mr. Chang said and smiled at us.

"Okay, if you say so." Mr. Adams said.

"Let's go, sweetheart. " Mr. Adams said as he held my hand and walked towards the care.

I need to stop shivering at his touch.

"Yeah. " I said trying to sound unaffected by his touch.

"See you at your house, Mr. Chang. " Mr. Adams said, smiling.

"Yes, see you there. " Mr. Chang replied and smiled back.

With that we entered the last car and chauffeur drove us away from the airport.

"Are you PMSing? " this out of the blue question of Mr. Adams made me choke on my spite.

"What? No! What made you think that? " I asked looking at him in confusion

"No, it's just you never behaved like this before. I thought you were all sophisticated and shy type of girl but what you did on the plane a few hours ago made me change my perspective towards you." he said looking at me in amusement

"It's just the start Mr. Adams. Just wait and watch my other personalities get unveiled. I can be unpredictable sometimes. " I said smiling proudly at myself

"Should I need to get scared? " he asked, chuckling.

"That is for me to know and you to find. " I said as I gazed outside the car window.

Beijing city is similar to New York. Same traffic, same gigantic buildings, same busy people walking straight giving no damn to anyone.

Although Beijing is no different than New York City, still it attracted my attention towards itself. Maybe because I was feeling good. It was giving me positive vibes.

Adoring the sight of a beautiful city, I didn't realize when I drifted into a deep slumber. I was awakened by the sudden jerk of the car and my forehead was about to collide with the head of the front car seat but was saved by someone's hand.

I opened my eyes slowly to find my head rested on Mr. Adams' palm.

"You're okay? " he asked concerned

"Umm...yes, I am fine. But how did you manage to do this? I mean the jerking was so sudden. " I asked.

I am not sure but I guess I saw a little hint of blush on his features.

Is he blushing? Why?

He scratched the back of his neck.

"I don't know. Maybe it was just the reflex action," he said nervously and looked outside the car window.

It was when I noticed that we were no longer in the hustle-bustle of the city but far away from the city noise and pollution.

"Where are we going? Isn't Mr. Chang's house in the city? " I asked the chauffeur who was maybe in his late 40s.

"Madame, his house is in the Hunan province. It is a small and beautiful village which is located on the outskirts of the capital," he said looking at me through the front view mirror.

"Oh," I said and looked outside the car window.

The view outside was one of the most breath taking beauty I've ever seen in my life so far.

The fields were covered with various sheds of green. There were a few medium-sized trees here and there.

The high snow-capped mountains were visible. Even the day was gloomy, the grassland could attract anyone to come and dance on it. The natural beauty was utterly beautiful and breathtaking. There was no hint of pollution unlike in the cities.

I've always lived in the hustle and bustle of the city that it was a different and heart pleasing experience for me.

Various herds were grazing on the grassland. I could also see a few white and black horses racing with each other by the fence of the grassland which was separating it from the small width road. I looked at them in awe.

"Look, Mr. Adams. Those horses are so beautiful. " I tried to catch his attention by pulling his hands towards me in excitement without looking his way.

"I've been to China umpteenth time. I've seen these kinds of things already," he said in a bored tone.

"You're such a bore, Mr. Adams. " I said and stuck my tongue at him.

He chuckled and looked forward.

I was again about to adore the beauty of nature when suddenly the car stopped.

"What happened ?" Mr. Adams asked the Chauffeur.

"Sir, I guess there is some kind of problem in the heat engine of the car. I need to check it." He said apologetically in his Chinese accent and got out of the car.

Shane's P. O. V. :

"Ms. Jones, I guess we'll have to wait-" I said turning in her direction but she was not in the car

Now, where did she go?

I got out of the car and scanned the place to find her but found her nowhere.

"Hey, what's your name? " I asked the chauffeur. He was in his late 40s maybe. He somehow looked like Jackie Chan with those Chinese eyes and rosy cheeks and nose.

"It's Bai Hyung, sir," he replied smiling

"Bai, did you see where did Ms..... I mean my wife go? She was sitting right next to me a minute ago. Now she's not there. " I asked still scanning my surrounding

"I am afraid sir, I didn't. I was busy with the engine," he said apologetically

"Umm...okay. " I said and started searching for her.

"Mr. Adams!!! " I heard Ms. Jones' screaming my name.

I frantically turned towards the direction where her scream came from.

"Where are you? " trying to figure where her voice from.

I didn't hear any voice. I ran towards the direction of her scream and reached near a pond in the middle of the green field.

"Where are you, Ms. Jones? " I shouted again.

Still, I didn't get any reply.

I was just about to turn around when suddenly out of nowhere Ms. Jones appeared in front of me.

"Bhoo!! " she screamed trying to scare me.

I just stood there folding my arms over my chest and looked at her in amusement.

"You didn't get scared? " she asked disappointed.

"You sure are PMSing, Ms. Jones. What are you? Five? I thought we left Cara back home." I asked and chuckled.

"I was trying to scare you and have some fun, but you didn't even flinch. " she pouted.

Damn! Her pout! I want to kiss the hell out of her.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I was thinking the same thing back in the car when she was sleeping peacefully, I was trying to remember every feature of her face. It was the first time I saw her sleep so peacefully. I couldn't stop myself from adoring the sleeping beauty in front of me. I would have taken the advantage and kissed her in her sleep if Bai wasn't inside the car with us. I was enjoying her beauty when suddenly the car jerked and without thinking about anything, I moved my hand to save her from hitting the head on the front seat. And I got nervous when she asked me how I managed to save her from hitting her head. What should have I said, "Ms. Jones I was gawking at you like a creep while you were sleeping so when the car jerked, I knew you would hit your head to the car seat so I kept my hand in between your head and the car seat to protect you?" That would have been so embarrassing.

"I am not a kid like you to get scared by your little scare prank. " I said walking towards the car.

"Aah! " Ms. Jones cried in pain.

I turned and saw her on the ground looking at her ankle. Did she sprain her ankle?

"What happened? " I ran to her and knelt to inspect her ankle for any injuries

"What happened? Does it hurt? How did you fall? " I asked in almost one breathe

"Gotcha! " she said and got up from the ground and started jumping up and down laughing and clapping like a small girl.

I don't know why, but looking at her doing all these childish acts made me smile. I never thought that there would be a child hidden behind the serious-looking girl like her.

"See, finally I scared you, Mr. Adams," she said self-satisfied and proud of her little achievement.

"Yes, you scared me, Ms. Jones. " I said clapping sarcastically.

"Look, Ms. Jones, a mouse. " I said making a serious face looking at her feet.

"Aah!! Mouse! Where? Where? " she started jumping in fear.

I remember when Cameron was teaching Josh and Cara how to use the desktop computer and told them about the mouse, Cara said mouse word out loud to remember the name but this made Ms. Jones jump from her seat and stand on the sofa startled after hearing the word 'mouse'. I can't even explain how I tried to control my laughter at that very moment.

Ms. Jones has the same startled expression right now on her face. She looks as if she was going to faint at any moment. But she did something more shocking and unexpected. She ran to me and jumped on me lifting herself from the ground and crossing her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist.

I put my arms around her body and took in her scent. She smelled like strawberry.

"I am really scared of the mouse. Is it still there? " she asked hiding her face in the crook of my neck.

I smiled looking at how scared she was. She was behaving like a little girl who runs to her daddy's arms for help whenever she's in any trouble.

Oh that came out inappropriately.

"Tell me, it's gone. Please, tell me it's gone. " she chanted like a prayer.

I chuckled and tried to put her back on the ground but she refused to get off me.

"Ms. Jones, get down. There's no mouse here. I was just scaring you. " I said and chuckled

"No, you're lying," she said looking into my eyes.

Her eyes were moist. The innocence in her eyes was something that I cannot explain. I never saw her so vulnerable.

"Believe me, Ms. Jones. There's no mouse over here. Did I scare you? " I asked tugging loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Yes! " she said in a complaining tone like Cara used to do. Both sisters are just the same. I thought.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to have some fun. " I said winking at her.

She stuck her tongue at me and tried to get off me.

I put her down cautiously.

Suddenly the rain started pouring down.

"Let's go fast, Ms. Jones or we'll get wet under the rain. " I said and tried to pull her with me towards the car but she didn't move.

"What? " I asked looking at her in confusion. She wasn't ready to move at all

"Mr. Adams, let's enjoy this rain," she said extending both her hands and started feeling the rain.

I watched her as every part of her body got drenched in the rain and so did mine. But I was least worried about me getting drenched by the rain and was busy admiring her enjoying the rain.

She was dancing in the rain, enjoying and feeling every drop of the rain. She was moving her body like a carefree peacock. Even her white short summer dress was adding to her flawless beauty. How can someone be so beautiful and sexy at the same time? How can anyone be so bold yet look so innocent?

"Mr. Adams, dance with me?" She asked extending her hands towards me for acceptance.

"I don't know how to dance. Moreover, it's raining heavily. I guess we should rush to the car before we catch a cold." I said trying to convince her

"Don't be a fun killer and dance with me in the rain. I promise you'll enjoy every bit of it." She said confidently and pulled me towards her.

We were now standing very close to each other. I could feel her breath on my neck.

"Open your shoes and socks." She said as she gets rid of her flats.

"What? No. That's gross." I said disgusted by the thought of touching the wet muddy grassy ground with my naked feet.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Trust me, Mr. Adams, you'll love it." She said, assuring.

I looked at her for a second. She was damn serious about what she said to me to do.

After thinking for a while and then remembering our deal which we made on the plane, finally, I spoke.

"Okay, fine," I said and I undid my shoelaces and got rid of the shoes and the socks.

I hesitantly put my feet on the wet and muddy grassland feeling grossed, but as soon as my feet touched the ground, I felt relaxed. It was like the wet grasses were massaging my tired feet. Amazing...

"Does it feel good?" Ms. Jones asked smiling

"It's strange, but yes. It does feel good." I said closing my eyes and walking on the wet grass.

"Now open your suit." Ms. Jones said, casually.

What?

"If you wanna see me naked then wait till we reach Mr. Chang's house. I'll fulfill your desire tonight." I said winking at her.

She made a disgusted face at me which made me chuckle.

"Funny, huh? Stop being a pervert that you are and just open your suit. If you really wanna enjoy this lovely rain then this suit isn't required at all." She said

I chuckled and got rid of my wet suit. As soon as I got rid of my suit, she snatched it from my hands and threw my million dollar suit somewhere in the air.

"Hey, why did you do that? Do you even know how expensive it was?" I asked looking at my poor suit lying on the ground like a homeless child.

"You promised, you'll do as I say. And I want you to go anti-suit on this whole trip." She said crossing her hands over her chest

"What do you mean by 'go anti-suit'? You need to control your fantasies." I teased her.

"It means you'll only wear casual clothes on this entire trip. No suits at all." She said as she started moving towards the pond swiftly

"Do I have any choice?" I asked loudly so that she could hear me clearly because the sound of dropping rain was getting louder and louder.

"No!" She yelled back.

"Yeah what was I thinking?!" I said under my breath

I walked towards her. The grasses were tickling my feet which was providing me with great pleasure of relaxation.

"Mr. Adams, have you ever jumped on the puddle?" She asked an unexpected question

"What kind of question is that? Of course no." I said playing with the wet grasses under my feet.

"Then today is the day you'll do it for the first time." She said smiling with the hint of naughtiness in her eyes.

"In your dreams, Ms.-" before I could finish my statement, she pulled me with herself towards a huge puddle, and before I could take in everything that was happening around me, we were standing in the puddle hands in hands.

"This is the dirtiest and the most stupid thing I've ever done in my life," I said trying to lift my legs out of the puddle.

"I am sure you'll change your statement after this." She said and started jumping on the puddle which made few muddy drops come onto my whole body and stain my clothes

"What are you doing, Ms. Jones?" I asked feeling grossed.

"As far as I know, you believe in tit for tat theory. If you wanna take revenge on me for this then you know exactly what you're supposed to do." She said as she winked at me and continued jumping on the puddle and ruining my already ruined dress

"Two can play this game. Get ready for the revenge then." I said accepting her challenge and started kicked on the puddle which made the mud drops land on Ms. Jones body including her face.

She glared at me for a second and then continued laughing. I joined her laughter too.

I held  hand and she jumped on the puddle never stopping her laughter.

"This is the craziest thing I've ever done. But I liked it." I said in between my peals of laughter.

"I told you, you'll change your statement, didn't I? " she said proudly.

"I don't think I've enjoyed doing anything more than this," I said after our laughter of joy died.

"Keep doing the unexpected things, Mr. Adams. Don't hide the child in you behind 'the workaholic, Mr. Shane Adams'." She said smiling genuinely which I returned.

This woman is something. I thought as I continued enjoying myself in the rain along with her.

She was my view.

I hope you guys enjoyed the update as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Thanks a lot for being such a lovely readers. :)

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PS: Hunan Province is a real village in China but it isn't near Beijing. ;)

Beautiful Hunan:

Love you all!