Upon hearing the teacher's call, Deanna was about to get up and prepare, but Lance stopped her.
"Stay seated and keep Gregory and Chloe company. I'll handle the ingredients."
"No need, I've rested enough. You should take a good rest instead."
Deanna shook her head, gently refusing Lance's offer.
She knew he was concerned about her fatigue from the journey, but she was equally concerned about him.
Without giving him a chance to argue, she pulled Lance to sit where she had been sitting and instructed the two children, "Keep an eye on your daddy and make sure he rests well."
"Okay, Mommy," the two children responded obediently.
Seeing Deanna get up, Jessie followed suit and said, "I'll go with you. Mr. Mercer, could you please look after my Enrique?"
Lance thought it would be good for Jessie to help Deanna, so he didn't refuse.
Meanwhile, the mother and daughter who had come with them remained seated.
The woman watched Deanna and Jessie leave, then glanced at Lance sitting on the stone slab, her eyes flickering with intent.
A few minutes later, a little girl in a pink casual outfit approached Lance with a plastic bag. "Uncle, do you want some fruit?"
Hearing this, Lance and the three children looked over.
"Who are you, and why are you giving my daddy fruit?" Chloe asked defensively.
The little girl blinked innocently. "My mommy told me to give it to the uncle."
She turned to look at her mother after speaking.
Not far away, the woman knew it was time to step in. She adjusted her clothes and walked over with a smile. "I asked Courtney to bring it over. It's for the kids to enjoy."
In the past, she had used her child as an excuse to approach people she wanted to meet, and it always worked.
Unfortunately for her, this time she encountered Lance, which meant she was destined to fail.
Lance coldly refused, "No need. We have our own."
The woman thought Lance was just being polite and smiled. "Mr. Mercer, it's a small gift from me. Just take it."
"We don't need it. How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Lance retorted with obvious impatience in his eyes.
His blunt response left the woman stunned.
Some people nearby couldn't help but laugh.
Everyone who had come up the mountain wanted to build a connection with Lance. However, seeing his distant demeanor earlier, they wisely chose not to disturb him.
After all, there were still two days left; plenty of opportunities to get close.
Even if they didn't get a chance now, as long as the Mercer family's children attended kindergarten, there would be opportunities in the future.
The commotion didn't escape Deanna and Jessie's notice.
Jessie frowned at the woman's behavior and said to Deanna, "Keep an eye on that Courtney's mom for the next two days. She doesn't seem like someone who will stay out of trouble."
"I know," Deanna nodded, giving Courtney's mom a deep look before continuing with her tasks.
Later, when the ingredients were ready, the teacher marked a safe area near the hot spring and built a simple stove with stones.
Except for the teacher and Deanna, none of the other parents were skilled in cooking.
Seeing Deanna still helping out, they reluctantly stayed on.
The teachers were naturally pleased with this arrangement.
After all, preparing dinner for twenty or thirty people was beyond their capacity.
Though the cooking process was chaotic, dinner was successfully prepared after about an hour.
The wealthy ladies who rarely cooked felt proud of their accomplishments and eagerly called their husbands and children over for dinner without waiting for the teachers' invitation.
Deanna called Lance over but didn't boast about her achievements like the other ladies. Instead, she pointed to a spot she had picked out earlier and smiled. "Let's take some food and eat over there. The view is better for watching the sunset."
"Alright, we'll do as you say," Lance agreed indulgently. He gathered some food for himself and the kids and followed Deanna to the spot she mentioned.
Enrique wanted to join them but was held back by Jessie.
"Let me go! I want to eat with the pretty lady."
"Listen here, if you don't behave, I'll transfer you to another school where you'll never see the pretty lady again," Jessie threatened, knowing that Deanna and Lance didn't want any disturbances at that moment.
Whether it was her threat or something else, Enrique finally calmed down.
Of course, this little drama didn't go unnoticed by Deanna and Lance.
They exchanged smiles and continued enjoying their meal while taking in the beautiful scenery.
As the sun set, the sky turned a fiery red, painting a stunning picture.
Down in the valley, smoke rose from chimneys, and a few farmers strolled leisurely along the green fields. It was like a vivid ink painting brought to life.