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Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire-Chapter 350: Before He Had to Leave
Chapter 350: Before He Had to Leave
<.Blossom Phoenix Middle School.>
Tap! Tap!
"Lari! Hello~ Earth to Lari."
The tapping on the desk and Nora’s familiar voice jolted Lariette out of her trance. Blinking, she stared at her planner in a daze before slowly looking up, staring at her colleague next.
Nora stood beside Lariette’s chair, laughing playfully. She placed a mug of black tea on the latter’s work desk. Hot steam swirled from its opening, dispersing its heat and earthy scent.
Nora nudged Lariette’s shoulder, saying teasingly, "Hey! I’ve been calling you! Brain overload, en?"
Lariette smiled sheepishly, not expecting Nora to witness her daydream just now. Brushing the strand of her hair away, she glanced at the mug before looking at her colleague again.
"Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Thanks for the tea, Nora."
Lariette reached for the mug, smiling faintly when its warmth seeped into her skin. Bringing the mug close to her lips, she took a few careful sips. At the taste of the subtle sweetness, her smile softened.
Nora had her own mug of tea. Leaning her hip against Lariette’s desk, she glanced at her colleague, "You look quite distracted today. Too busy? Need my help with something?"
Lariette pursed her lip, her eyes gazing at the opened planner before her. Then, she looked at the small tulip-shaped desk clock. Its needles pointed to a quarter past three.
Lariette was less busy today, thus she could clock out earlier than the past few days. As she completed her last task, her mind wandered somewhere else.
She couldn’t help but replay his words from this morning.
"I need to go to Norvonna. It might take a few days."
Ruediger spoke clearly and Lariette understood why he had to go away for a bit, but the fact still meddled with her focus. He also mentioned he might fly there tomorrow.
Exhaling a sigh, Lariette tilted her chin, smiling at Nora.
"Just quite tired. I’m almost done for today. How about you? Will you stay longer?"
A few more of their colleagues occupied the teachers’ lounge. Some were stuck at their desks while the others scattered elsewhere, including the pantry for a quick break.
Lariette saw two students talking to Phoebe, perhaps asking for her guidance on a certain topic. Her focus returned to Nora, who began talking.
"Sadly, yes. I still have work to do. But it’s fine~ If I get most done today, I can go home early tomorrow. My students wanna meet me in fifteen minutes too."
Lariette hummed, then nodded slowly. Her action elicited chuckles from Nora who caught her being absentminded again.
"Go home and rest. Is your husband here already?" Nora patted Lariette’s back, then leaned in to whisper into her ear, "I bet he’ll nourish you fully. With food and... ahem."
Lariette froze, "...Nora!"
"Hahaha!"
Nora quickly ran away from Lariette’s crab claw. Her giggles rang in the teachers’ lounge, blending with the others’ chatter and laughter.
Lariette narrowed her eyes, glaring at Nora who kept on laughing. Feeling helpless over her colleague’s teasing, she shook her head, then a tiny smile curled on her lips.
Reaching for her phone, Lariette quickly typed two messages to Ruediger.
[Lariette: Will be done soon, take your time coming 😘]
[Lariette: I didn’t eat lunch. Can we drop by the taro ball dessert shop?]
During this cold weather, Lariette craved the popular Taiwanese dessert sold at a small store near the grocery market. She planned to get the one with hot soy milk instead of ginger syrup.
Since their first visit last summer, Lariette and Ruediger had been there a few times more[01]. They had tried various toppings for the dessert, including other treats sold there.
Ruediger’s replies came after five minutes. Just reading them put a smile on Lariette’s lips.
[Ruediger: Sure, let’s relax and have some desserts there]
[Ruediger: I’ll text you again]
The late autumn sky was overcast but with no traces of rain. Ruediger would come by foot as usual instead of driving his truck to school. Lariette couldn’t help but think she had to walk down the familiar streets alone for a few days during his absence.
’I’ve gotten too used to him accompanying me.’
Smiling at herself, Lariette quickly finished the last of her task. Then, she began tidying up her work desk and putting some items inside her backpack.
In less than ten minutes, she received another text, stating he had arrived. It seemed like a certain someone ran from the apartment to the school.
"I’ll go home first," Lariette said softly while slinging the backpack over one shoulder. A few colleagues nearby heard her.
"See you tomorrow, Lari."
"Bye bye~"
Lariette waved at them, then slowly made her way out of the teachers’ lounge, her steps quiet on the floor. Bundled in a scarf and a trench coat, she braced the chilly breeze outside.
Students headed to the gates, either alone or with friends. Some still remained at school, perhaps studying among themselves. The heat of the incoming end-of-term exam enveloped everyone.
Lariette saw Ruediger at the gates, talking to the guard on duty. She chuckled seeing how casually both men conversed as if they were old friends.
Dressed in a black turtleneck, navy blue jacket and dark denim pants, he stood in the cold. An easy smile curled on his lips as he talked to the guard, and then he turned his head, locking eyes with hers.
Lariette quickened her steps. Ruediger and the guard both looked at her.
"Going home now, Miss Lariette?" the middle-aged man grinned, "Your husband is so loving. Always come to pick you up."
Grinning, Lariette put her hand on Ruediger’s arm, "I can’t deny that. We’ll go home now, Mr. Patrick. Stay warm."
"See you again later," Ruediger smiled politely at the guard named Patrick. Then, he led Lariette away.
"Bye bye, be careful on your way back," Patrick waved his hand, watching the pair leave.
Hand in hand, Lariette and Ruediger traced the way back home. The golden rays of autumn sunlight sprinkled on their backs.
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Reference:
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