Captive Hearts: The Tycoon's Ugly Bride

Chapter 70 Super Oranges

Chapter 70 Super Oranges

"Hey, don't be so certain. Blanche is so beautiful. And since everyone is asleep at noon, you should be careful she doesn't attract any unwanted attention from lecherous men," Eric teased, catching up with Louis.

Louis' forward stride paused, and he looked back at Eric coldly.

Eric felt hopeful.

But Louis sneered disdainfully. "Who could fancy her with her country-bumpkin look? And did she find that hat in a trash can?"

She put anything on her head. This woman had no taste at all.

...

In the orchard, Blanche put oranges into her basket one after another. It was tiring, but she felt good and hummed a song.

Suddenly, a young man with a tall frame approached her and asked in a warm voice, "Why aren't you resting? Aren't you afraid of getting heatstroke if you pick oranges now?"

Blanche looked over at the young man, who was wearing a grey T-shirt, black shorts, and sneakers. His overall look was sunny.

His lips were curved into a slight smile.

"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come and pick some oranges. It's not too hot yet, so I'll only break a light sweat." Blanche was taken aback by the young man's sudden appearance, but she

answered him politely nonetheless.

The young man weighed an orange in his hand and smiled at Blanche.

"You're right. I couldn't sleep either, so I came for a walk in this orchard. I don't have the habit of taking a nap. By the way, allow me to introduce myself.

Let me introduce myself. I'm Brendon Stackhouse. And you?" he said.

Blanche glanced at him, keeping her guard up, and continued to pick oranges instead of answering his question.

"You've picked a lot of oranges. Are you sure you'll be able to eat them all? These oranges can't be kept for long. They'll rot quickly," Brendon kindly advised her.

Blanche looked him up and down. This guy seemed to talk a lot, but when she saw his smiling face, she didn't think he was a bad person.

"I didn't pick these for myself. Many people will eat them, so I need to pick more."

"Then let me help you. I'm bored walking around this orchard anyway," Brendon proposed.

He kicked off the ground and leaped onto an orange tree, determined to keep his promise.

Blanche was speechless.

Brendon picked a few oranges but realized that the basket was quite far away from him. He also noticed that Blanche was still looking at him suspiciously. He cleared his throat and asked, "Could you move the basket a bit closer? I'm afraid I might drop the oranges on the ground."

Blanche came back to her senses and moved the basket as requested.

Brendon accurately tossed the oranges into the basket. "Don't overthink it. I'm just killing time by helping you pick oranges. I walked around and only saw you. I'm just bored."

Blanche nodded, temporarily believing him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Are you from Mr. Herbart's company? You said that many people would eat the oranges. These oranges are going to be sent to the welfare institution, right?" Brendon asked.

Blanche was surprised. So, he knew all along. Did he also work for the Herbart Group?

"Do you also work for the Herbart Group?"

Brendon had an easygoing demeanor, and Blanche slowly let her guard down. She wasn't a cold person in everyday life, and one of her guiding principles was that it was better to make a friend than an enemy.

She also had confidence in her ability to judge people's character.

"I don't. I work at a research institute, and this is my hometown. I'm back for a vacation," Brendon explained as he agilely stepped from one tree trunk to another.

Blanche smacked her lips, realizing that she had guessed wrong.

"You're very kind-hearted," Brendon said to her.

"Huh?" Blanche wondered if she had heard him incorrectly.

Brendon shrugged and smiled, exuding a sunny disposition. "You sacrificed your nap time and came to pick oranges for the children at the welfare institution at the risk of getting sunburned. Isn't that kind enough?"

Blanche blushed, partly from the heat and partly because she wasn't used to being praised.

Raised amidst various detractors, it felt strange to suddenly be praised by someone.

"You too. You're trying to get more for the children by helping me, right?"

Brendon smiled in response.

So, they managed to fill the basket with oranges.

"I'll help you carry it. You can take a break." Brendon jumped down from the tree and picked up the basket, carrying it on his shoulder as he walked toward the farm.

"It's okay. I can carry it myself," she said.

"Just take a break. Are you worried that I might drop your oranges?" Brendon urged.

Blanche touched her neck and wondered why he was so enthusiastic. She decided to tell him her name when he came back. After all, he had helped her pick and carry so many oranges.

When Brendon returned, the employees of the Herbart Group also came. Everyone had woken up to pick oranges.

"You're still here?" Blanche was puzzled.

"Let's pick together. If you, a girl, can endure it, can't I, a big man, handle it?" Brendon winked at her and suddenly picked a large orange from above his head before showing it to her.

"Look at this orange. It's enormous. I am convinced that the genes of this orange are excellent."

Blanche took the orange and looked at it. It was really heavy and large.

Blanche had a sudden idea. "Could this orange have mutated? Maybe it's a grapefruit."

"Ha-ha, you're really interesting, but let me tell you some good news. One day, all oranges will grow as big as grapefruits."

Blanche bit her lip. "Huh? How can oranges grow as big as grapefruits?"

Brendon nodded. "Don't doubt it. With technology so advanced now, anything is possible. Extract the excellent genes from a large orange and carefully cultivate them, and it's even possible for oranges to grow as big as pumpkins."

Blanche was amazed to hear that. As big as pumpkins? One family couldn't even finish one orange.

Brendon flashed a row of neat teeth, and his eyes were full of confident light.

"Do you not believe it? Super oranges are the latest research topic in our institute. On the day the super oranges succeed, I'll send one to you and let you witness this miracle." Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Blanche was impressed by Brendon's confidence, and she recalled that he was a highly skilled individual from the research institute.

She also felt that Brendon had an interesting soul.

"Good. I'll bring a pot to put it in."

A bashful smile appeared in Brendon's eyes.

Blanche also smiled, surprised that a researcher could be so engaging. In her mind, researchers were typically very serious and methodical.

"Blanche, don't you want to drive a car? How can you fit such a large orange in a pot?" Suddenly, a laughing voice came from behind.

Blanche turned around and saw Louis standing there on the hill like a lofty emperor. Even in this hot weather, his eyes seemed to be covered with several layers of ice.

Blanche frowned. She was chatting with Brendon. Why did he interrupt and mock them bitterly?

Louis felt it was crazy. In such a short time, these two people were chatting with such enthusiasm, like two ignorant fools, getting overly excited at the sight of something new.