Chapter 604 Quickening
Benjamin's thoughts crossed with a hint of worry, causing him to pause before speaking. He said, "Mr. Thompson, you go ahead back down the mountain. I want to take a walk around on my own."
"All right," Thompson replied and was still busy talking to his secretary, so he waved him off without much thought.
Benjamin turned to Sarah's colleague and asked, "Where did Sarah go?"
Sarah's colleague replied, "She said she went to pick some mushrooms."
Before the words fully left his mouth, Benjamin was already striding into the forest.
Soon, the dense pine trees obscured his figure, and even the soft grass he stepped on quickly returned to its original state as if no one had passed through.
Sarah was thrilled to discover numerous mushrooms upon entering the forest and eagerly started picking them. However, she only dared to pick the ones she recognized. She avoided any unfamiliar or brightly colored mushrooms.
Humming a tune, she was completely unaware of the person following her. She lost track of time, thoroughly enjoying the peaceful solitude. In the dense forest, time she appeared to slow down, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
She envisioned retiring in the future and purchasing a small house in the mountains with her father and brother. By then, her children would have their own families and careers, and they could visit her occasionally.
As for another person, Sarah forced herself not to think about it.
Benjamin kept a close but respectful distance, watching her. He observed her softly humming an unknown melody, her face lighting up with satisfaction and joy whenever she found a beautiful mushroom.
Occasionally, she would tilt her head in a way that made her seem endearingly cute.
His gaze softened unconsciously as he drew closer to her.
Sarah had just placed a round bolete mushroom into her bag when she noticed a tall, imposing figure out of the corner of her eye. Her heart raced, and her body tensed with fear. In such a dense forest, could it be a wild boar or a bear?
She nervously swallowed and slowly turned her head.
Sarah felt her heart leap into her throat, but when she saw the man's face, she sighed in relief and shouted, "Benjamin! I felt scared as hell. Why didn't you say anything if you were here?"
Benjamin raised an eyebrow and walked over to her. He suddenly felt a bit guilty, as if he had been caught spying.
The woman, still shaken from the scare, patted her chest. Her face, pale with fear, turned red with anger, making her look very animated.
A quick flash of awkwardness crossed his deep eyes as he stepped over a dry log and said in a low voice, "You wandered so far alone. Weren't you afraid?"
"I wasn't until now," Sarah's face was still pale as she replied, and she felt a strong urge to roll her eyes. "But if you keep scaring me like this, even the bravest person would be terrified."
She put the mushroom into her bag and asked, "Why did you come over here, Benjamin?"
Benjamin lied, "Me? I wanted to pick some mushrooms, too." He couldn't admit he was following her.
Benjamin's expression was a bit unnatural as he looked at the mushrooms in Sarah's hand. He remarked, "You've picked so many. Are you sure they're all edible? I can't tell them apart."
"Of course," Sarah said crisply, holding up a mushroom. "Look at this one. It's round with a white stem and a grayish-brown cap. It's a bolete.
"That golden one growing in clusters is a chanterelle.
"And this one, which turns blue when cut, is a blue-staining bolete."
She continued to explain, holding various mushrooms, only to realize how close they were when she looked up. She could see his long eyelashes clearly.
Sarah recoiled in surprise, lowering her gaze. She said, "Once you get used to it, they're quite easy to identify."
Benjamin wasn't paying attention to the mushrooms at all. His intense gaze was fixed on her face, and his throat felt dry.
"I still can't tell them apart. Can I join you?" His voice was deep as he asked, "Can you help me?"
Sarah's heart raced uncontrollably, and after a brief pause, she agreed, "Let's hurry. It's getting dark."
After all, Benjamin had helped her out earlier.
She started walking ahead, not noticing the satisfied smirk on the man's face behind her. As they walked deeper into the forest, chatting, Sarah turned into a mushroom expert, explaining each edible mushroom she found to Benjamin. The atmosphere grew increasingly harmonious.
Sarah looked down at her bag and turned to speak to Benjamin, who was attentively watching her. Neither of them noticed the grassy slope ahead.
Sarah suggested, "We've picked enough. Should we head back?"
Before she could finish, she suddenly felt the ground give way under her feet and instinctively reached out.
Sarah yelled, "Watch out!"
Benjamin, equally unaware, instinctively grabbed her waist as they both slid down the slope. Sarah, terrified, closed her eyes, her hands protectively covering her belly.
Fortunately, the slope was covered in grass, and they didn't encounter any rocks as they slid down, eventually stopping in a cave. Benjamin sighed in relief and brushed off the grass from his clothes. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Sarah's heart was pounding, and she lay on the ground, still recovering from the scare. Thankfully, nothing serious had happened.
Seeing her stunned expression, Benjamin grew anxious. He insisted, "Did you hurt yourself? Let me see."
He moved to help her up.
"No need," Sarah said, propping herself up on her hands. Just as she was about to stand, she felt a distinct movement in her abdomen and paused in surprise.
Benjamin was equally stunned. His hand had just rested on the small bump, feeling the movement inside.
It was a magical sensation, hard to describe but deeply moving.
Benjamin said, "It's moving."
Sarah, tears of joy in her eyes, nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes, it's moving."
The baby had just reached four months, and this was the first time she felt such quickening. She wasn't sure if it was due to the recent jolt or something else.
Sarah, her eyes moist, looked up from her abdomen to the familiar face she had thought about day and night. His face, filled with surprise and anticipation, even showed a hint of paternal love.
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