Chapter 68
After clearing the dishes, Ophelia picked up her bag from the sofa.
"I'm going to the office," she said while putting on her coat.
William wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting in the crook of her neck. "Going to work on our first day of marriage?"
"Just for half a day, I'll be back soon." Ophelia turned her head to look at him. "There are still a few details that need to be finalized. I'm worried about them."
"No way." William tightened his arms, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Our first full day after getting married, you have to spend it with me properly."
He released his hands, his fingertips brushing across her cheek. "You can handle work stuff over the phone. You're not allowed to go to the office today."
Ophelia paused, looking at the seriousness in his eyes, warmth spreading through her heart.
She did want to spend more time with him. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Taking out her phone, she called Della, clearly explaining all the items that needed confirmation, and reminded her several times to be careful before hanging up.
"All done?" William raised an eyebrow, a smile in his eyes.
"All done." Ophelia tossed her phone back in her bag. "So where are we going for our date today?"
"Taking you to a great place." William smiled mysteriously and pulled her hand, heading outside.
In the garage, besides the black Bentley, there were two vintage bicycles parked, one black and one white, looking particularly elegant.
"Riding bikes?" Ophelia's eyes lit up.
"Yes, the scenery on the outskirts is nice, perfect for cycling." William pushed out the white one. "Want to try?"
Ophelia got on. The bike was light, and the seat height was just right.
"Let's go." William got on the black bike, riding beside her.
They rode along the road toward the outskirts. The morning breeze carried the fresh scent of plants and trees, feeling especially comfortable on their faces.
Ophelia didn't ride fast, looking at the scenery along the roadside as she went. Whenever she saw pretty flowers, she would stop to take a couple of photos.
William followed behind her the whole time, slowing down to match her pace. Watching her get excited like a child, he couldn't help but smile.
"I never realized you liked riding bikes before," Ophelia said, stopping in front of a patch of wildflowers and turning to him.
"I was busy with work before and didn't have much time. Now with you here, everything is fun." William stopped beside her, his gaze gentle.
Ophelia's cheeks flushed slightly as she took out her phone. "Come on, let's take a photo together."
She moved close to William, and they smiled at the camera. Sunlight fell on them, making the scene especially warm.
After riding for about an hour, they finally reached the entrance to the greenway.
The path here was specially built for cycling, lined with tall trees on both sides. The thick shade blocked most of the sunlight.
"This place is so comfortable." Ophelia took a deep breath. The air was full of fresh plant scents.
"There's a lake up ahead. We can rest there." William said, riding forward first.
Ophelia followed behind. All she could hear was the rustling of wind through leaves and the soft sound of bicycle chains. She felt completely relaxed.
When they reached the lakeside, William found a shady spot and stopped.
There were quite a few benches by the lake. They sat down side by side, watching the shimmering lake surface. Occasionally, a few waterbirds flew past, stirring up ripples.
"Want some water?" William took out two bottles of mineral water from his backpack and handed her one.
Ophelia took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. The cool water slid down her throat, refreshing and comfortable.
"By the way, when you were studying abroad, besides cooking, what else did you learn?" Ophelia asked curiously.
"I also learned to fix things—changing light bulbs, fixing pipes, all that." William smiled. "The house I lived in was old and always had problems, so I gradually learned."
Ophelia's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know you could do all that. You're so capable."
"Had to survive." William looked at her. "From now on, if anything breaks at home, no need to call a repairman. I'll handle it."
Ophelia felt warmth in her heart and leaned on his shoulder. "It's so good to have you."
William turned his head and planted a kiss on her forehead. "It's good to have you."
They sat by the lake for a while, then continued riding forward.
The greenway was long, with varied scenery along the way.
Ophelia was in high spirits. Whenever she came across something interesting, she'd stop to take photos. William patiently accompanied her and even volunteered to take many solo shots of her.
"Look at this one, it came out so well." Ophelia looked at the photo on her phone, saying happily.
In the photo, she stood in front of a sunflower field, her smile bright, the sunlight just right.
"It's because you're beautiful." William hugged her from behind, his chin resting on top of her head.
Ophelia's cheeks burned. She turned to look at him. "You're getting better and better at sweet talk."
"Only with you." William lowered his head and kissed her.
The kiss was gentle and lingering, carrying the taste of sunshine and the fresh scent of plants. Ophelia closed her eyes, fully immersing herself in it.
Occasionally, cyclists passed by. Seeing this scene, they would smile kindly and quietly move on, not wanting to disturb them.
After who knows how long, they slowly separated, both breathing a bit heavily.
"Keep going?" William pressed his forehead against hers, asking softly.
Ophelia nodded, her cheeks still flushed.
By the time they reached the end of the greenway, it was almost noon.
"There's a camping site up ahead. How about we go there for a barbecue?" William suggested.
"Great!" Ophelia's eyes lit up.
The camping site was quite crowded, mostly families or groups of friends, lively and warm.
William rented a grill and went to the food area to select plenty of items—beef, chicken wings, lamb skewers, corn, eggplant, mushrooms—filling a large basket.
"Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll grill it." William placed the ingredients on the table and started marinating them.
"I'll help you with the skewers." Ophelia picked up bamboo sticks and began threading the cut meat and vegetables.
The two worked together with great coordination.
William's grilling skills were excellent. Soon, the first chicken wing was ready, the skin crispy and sizzling with oil.
He picked up a skewer, blew on it, and held it to Ophelia's lips. "Try it."
Ophelia took a bite. The skin was crispy, the meat tender, with a hint of honey flavor. Her eyes lit up at how delicious it was.
"So good!" She gave a thumbs-up. "Mr. Brown, with these skills, you could open a barbecue restaurant."
"Then whenever you want some in the future, I'll grill it for you," William said with a smile, picking up the beef to start grilling.
People around them, seeing how good their food smelled, couldn't help but look over. Some even came to ask about their marinating recipe.
"No special recipe, just marinate with soy sauce, oyster sauce, cooking wine, and honey for half an hour. When grilling, just pay attention to the heat." William generously shared.