Chapter 388 You Want Me to Propose?
"I don't want to talk about it now," Jerry said deliberately.
"Please, just tell me," Francis pleaded.
Jerry leaned back against the door, feigning resolve. He'd always been capricious, never considering others' feelings—except for Hope.
Francis had gotten used to it over the years, but this matter was important.
He had to ask, "What will it take for you to help?"
Jerry's jokes had their limits.
For trivial matters, it didn't matter.
But when it came to marriage, he was unusually serious.
"Getting marriage documents isn't hard for you, just need a residence permit."
Francis visibly relaxed, "I'll arrange for someone to buy a house now."
"Don't get too excited," Jerry said, "This method requires identity documents, for both parties."
Francis thought he was stating the obvious.
He punched him immediately, and they got into a fight. They didn't mind the dirt as they sat on the ground by the door, catching their breath.
Francis said, "Identity documents are impossible."
Jerry suggested mischievously, "How about stealing them?"
Francis had indeed considered this.
But it was difficult.
Given his family's special situation, identity documents were crucial.
To prevent anyone from stealing them for malicious purposes, they were locked in a safe that only Wesley's iris could unlock.
Moreover, the study where the safe was located had no blind spots in its surveillance.
Stealing an identity document was akin to a spy stealing a museum artifact.
"You could try, see if you can steal it." Jerry stood up, dusting off his hands. "I've given you all the ideas I have, the rest is beyond me."
Jerry's mind was always quick with ideas.
He was smart, but those quirky ideas were beyond Francis.
Maybe it had to do with his upbringing.
"You must have more ideas."
"No more," Jerry confirmed. "I've helped as much as I can. Your family is cautious, and your visit to Regal City isn't a secret. Buying a house might not escape their surveillance. The method I suggested isn't guaranteed to succeed."
Francis laughed in exasperation. "You've been talking nonsense with me all this time."
Jerry wagged his finger. "One thing is important."
Francis asked, "What?"
"Don't upset Hope. If she's unhappy, she'll take it out on me."
In the small courtyard, Cinda was already asleep.
Efren had put Elsa to sleep in a safe crib with barriers.
Then he went to the courtyard to check.
The three women's cheeks were slightly red, showing signs of intoxication.
He went to make lemonade and heat water for their washing.
Elissa lay on a lounge chair, looking at the stars. "It's been a long time since it was this quiet. No phones, no computers, no TV—just sitting in the courtyard, looking at the stars. Time flies."
Life was a constant hustle, so people in big cities yearned for rural life. They dreamed of a house with a yard in a small town, raising pets, and planting flowers. By the river, they could enjoy barbecues and drinks. It was an idyllic vision they often imagined. Madison left to give them space to talk.
Efren finished making lemonade and came out of the kitchen, seeing Madison heading to her room, he followed to give her lemonade.
Madison wasn't that drunk, it was just sparkling wine.
But Efren was kind, so she drank a bowl.
"Ms. Ortiz, the warm water is ready; you can wash up," Efren said.
After the long journey, she did feel uncomfortable.
"Can I take a bath?" Madison asked.
When Efren took Cinda to Maple Valley for treatment, he entrusted the small courtyard to the neighbor.
Besides regular cleaning, the most important thing was maintaining various appliances.
The water heater, though old, still worked fine after many years.
"Yes, I just heated it," Efren replied.
Madison went to take a bath.
Efren brought lemonade to Elissa and Hope.
They seemed drunk, clinking their lemonade bowls boldly.
"To honor our friendship, we must finish this drink," Elissa said.
Hope cooperated fully.
Efren found it both amusing and exasperating.
He stepped aside, not disturbing them.
Madison finished and was about to sleep, still hearing Elissa talking and even singing in the courtyard.
She shook her head.
Spending half a day with them had broken her early sleep record.
Elissa casually picked up a wine bottle, using it as a microphone to sing.
It was almost midnight, Efren had to hold her down to prevent her from disturbing the neighbors.
Efren persuaded, "Elissa, I'll take you to a karaoke bar tomorrow, you can sing as much and as long as you want. But for now, let's sleep, okay?"
Elissa stood up abruptly. "Okay!"
Efren was about to help her when she said, "Let's go hiking tomorrow."
Efren was puzzled.
But Elissa forgot about it after waking up.
Efren didn't need to go to the set for a few days.
He got up early, prepared hiking gear, then went to wake Elissa.
Madison came out with Elsa, gesturing for him to be quiet.
She closed the door behind her and came to the courtyard, asking, "How much did they drink last night?"
"Not much," Efren shrugged helplessly. "Didn't expect they couldn't get up."
"There's no rush to go hiking. Let's wait until they wake up," Madison reassured. "Besides, we don't have to work right now, and the whole point of this trip is to relax."
Efren went to make breakfast for Cinda.
As they were setting the table, Francis and Jerry walked in.
Followed by several people carrying food boxes.
The last one in set up a large folding table and took out exquisite dishes from the food boxes.
Compared to that, Efren's sandwiches looked quite humble.
After Garry and the others left, he came in and sat next to Madison.
Madison asked him softly, "What did you talk about last night?"
Garry shook his head. "I slept, so I'm not sure, but it must be about the marriage."
Madison nodded, knowing it wasn't easy to marry without the Peterson family's knowledge.
Even if they knew, the Peterson family wouldn't let Francis marry Elissa.
But she couldn't do much, only offer advice at the right time.
"Elsa, come to daddy." Jerry washed his hands and took Elsa from Madison.
Elsa blew at him, and he laughed. "You're quite adaptable."
Madison nodded. "Indeed, she didn't fuss at all last night. When I woke up, she was playing in her crib, not crying."
"That's my girl," Jerry praised.
Jerry leaned close to Elsa, asking Madison, "Where's Hope?"
"She's still sleeping. She drank a bit too much with Elissa last night." Madison stood up. "I'll go wake them."
"No, let her sleep." As Jerry finished speaking, Hope emerged from the side room.
Elissa followed shortly after.
Francis immediately stepped forward, and Efren joined him.
Just as Hope was about to say something, Jerry handed Elsa to her and pulled her aside. "Elsa is hungry; let her eat first."
Hope saw through him. "You just want to help Francis."
Jerry smiled. "Let's not state the obvious."
With this delay, Elissa was already pulled to the large dining table by Francis.
"All your favorites," Francis said.
Elissa shook him off. "I don't like it." She sat at the stone table, grabbed a sandwich with her hands, and took a big bite, speaking with her mouth full. "I like what Cinda makes now; it tastes like home. Your food looks great, but it's just not my thing."
She wasn't just talking about the food; she was also mocking him.
Francis's lips tightened slightly.
Jerry tried to lighten the mood. "Elsa needs to eat well."
He brought a bowl of seafood chowder, cooked soft and creamy, with minced lobster meat.
But Elsa didn't open her mouth, pointing her little finger at a yellowish bowl on the stone table.
Hope sat at the stone table, and Elissa scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Elsa's mouth.
Elsa started slurping.
Jerry glanced at Francis and shrugged slightly, thinking, 'Francis, I tried.'
Francis remained silent.
He stepped forward and said, "What's that? Hope, don't let Elsa eat something bad."
Elissa glanced at him. "Mr. Peterson, it's corn soup made from fresh corn I picked myself from the field. It's pure and natural, suitable for all ages."
Francis remained silent.
Elissa snorted, her tone mocking, "You enjoy meals prepared by many hands, resulting in a delicate dish before you. It's normal not to be aware of the labor involved or the process of food production."
Efren placed a peeled boiled egg in Elissa's bowl.
Then he started eating himself.
Francis also peeled a boiled egg.
Elissa didn't appreciate it. "Eating too many eggs raises cholesterol levels."
Francis responded coolly, "Then return the egg Efren peeled and eat the one I peeled. After all, I am your fiancé!"
Elissa's own words backfired on her.
"What's a fiancé? You haven't knelt with a ring to propose. When you marry me, I'll eat the egg you peeled."
Francis's eyebrows twitched slightly. "You want me to propose?"
Elissa almost choked on the egg. "I didn't mean that."
"I understand," Francis ate the egg in his hand, "You're hinting at me."
Elissa now wished she could become mute.
Why did their conversations always end up like this?
"You're overthinking it!" Elissa retorted.
Francis finished the egg and wiped his hands with a napkin.
In the morning light, a gentle smile lingered in his eyes.
"I understand." With that, he left in big strides.
Elissa looked at Hope. "What did he understand?"
Hope asked Jerry, "What's wrong with Francis?"
Jerry shrugged. "Probably went crazy."
Until Elissa's group set off for hiking, Francis didn't show up.
Except for Simon nearby, none of his other subordinates were seen.
Of course, Elissa was happier without Francis around.
But because of the morning's talk about the proposal, she was genuinely worried.
What if he really prepared a shocking proposal?
Hope noticed Elissa's concern and told Jerry, "Go find Francis; don't let him propose."
Jerry replied, "Our last honeymoon trip wasn't enjoyable. This time, it's rare for the whole family to be together, relaxing is the most important."
"And last time, it was because we helped Elissa that it wasn't completed. Hope, you coaxed me, saying we'd have a proper honeymoon trip later. I compromised because I love you. Shouldn't you feel for me too? It's not easy for me to take a vacation," he added.
Hope knew him well.
Jerry had a sharp tongue, but he was also skilled at sweet-talking and deception.
In the end, he still wanted to help Francis a bit.
"I'm not trying to break them up, but Elissa doesn't want it, and I don't want Francis to bother her," Hope said.
Jerry glanced at Elissa, who was chatting and laughing with Efren, and whispered to Hope, "If Francis gives up now, and Elissa develops feelings for Efren, he'll go even crazier. Hope, I'm not siding with Francis. I just understand him and want to give him a chance; otherwise, things might get worse."
Hope understood the stakes.
But this constant back and forth wasn't good either.
Suddenly, she thought of something. "Did you give Francis an idea to marry without the Peterson family's knowledge?"
Before Jerry could answer, Elissa called her to hurry up.
She had to put the question aside and focus on hiking.
Cinda's health didn't allow her to join, so she watched their convoy leave.
They went to a local church in Regal City.
It was built on a hill.
The hill wasn't high, and they reached it quickly while chatting.
On the way, Efren took meticulous care of Elissa.
Garry and Madison didn't need such care, and after observing, they concluded the same: Efren would be a qualified boyfriend.
The two middle-aged people distanced themselves from the young ones.
Jerry held Elsa's child in one arm and led Hope with the other. As they walked, he would occasionally stop to give them food and water.
But he had been married to Hope for a while now, and everything they did felt natural and routine, lacking the passion that Elissa and Efren had.
Jerry's eyes squinted slightly.
While Hope wiped Elsa's mouth, he took out his phone with one hand and sent a photo to Francis. Then he told Hope, "Let's travel abroad before the New Year. It's snowing now."
Hope was a bit confused. "It's almost New Year, let's not fuss. Elsa isn't suitable for traveling abroad now."
Jerry's eyes were a bit intense. "Just the two of us."
"Okay." Hope looked at him and smiled.
Madison, walking behind, captured the moment.
But there was a spoiler. Elsa's little face scrunched up, and she pooped.
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