Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Eugenie felt uneasy. Taking advantage of the elderly couple’s afternoon nap, she pulled Nicholas along, wanting to check out his car.

"Why the sudden curiosity about my car?" he asked as he let himself to be dragged forward, brows knitting slightly.

Eugenie paused for half a second. She couldn’t exactly tell him the truth. So she shrugged casually and said, "I'm just a bit bored and want to borrow your car to go for a drive."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow but didn't refuse. "Didn't expect you to be in such high spirits."

With Chase and Xanthe's permission, after lunch Nicholas drove the car from outside and parked it in a corner of the courtyard. Eugenie had already confirmed from her upstairs vantage point—this was the car that had appeared in the news in her previous life.

Though it had been wrecked beyond recognition, someone online had dug up its original model photos. Comparing them really emphasized the severity of the accident.

When they reached the car, she used the pretext of looking around to roughly inspect its condition. There were no signs of leaking fluids or oil. But with Nicholas standing right there, she couldn’t examine it thoroughly.

She planned to find time later to secretly come check it out herself. Unless it was absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t let him drive it.

Nicholas noticed her spacing out. He pulled keys from his pocket and jingled them in front of her, the metallic clinking drawing back her thoughts.

"What's got you so lost in thought? Didn't you say you wanted to go for a drive? You're not even asking me for the keys."

Eugenie reached out, hooking the keyring with her finger and pulling it from his hand. Rather than immediately unlocking the car door, she held them and fiddled with them.

She asked with feigned casualness, “I saw a video recently. It said cars that don’t get checked regularly can have performance issues. You’re always busy. Do you even have time to maintain it properly?”

Nicholas walked forward a few steps and casually leaned against the hood, patting it with his hand, his tone quite carefree. "Now that’s just unfair. My baby has someone specifically responsible for it, especially this one—it just came back from maintenance."

Hearing this, Eugenie felt considerably more at ease. The car had just come from the shop, and according to him, the person handling maintenance and inspection was someone he trusted. He'd driven it all the way here safely. At this stage, the car shouldn't have been tampered with.

Rather than speculate, Eugenie decided to test drive it herself. She stepped forward and nudged his shoulder, tilting her chin toward the passenger side.
"Get in or don't. Your choice."

Without waiting, she unlocked the door and slid into the driver’s seat. The next second, the passenger door beside her was opened, Nicholas got in smoothly, long legs folding into place.

"As your guest, where are you planning to take me for a drive?"

She didn't answer, keeping it mysterious. "You'll know when we get there."

Eugenie hadn't been back here in a long time either. Her impression of this place was still from her last visit. If she'd known the village had changed so much, she should have driven back herself.

That day she'd gotten off the high-speed rail and had to make several transfers to get home. Now with Nicholas having driven here, getting around would be most convenient.

She started the car and drove out of the courtyard, using her phone to navigate. When they reached the foot of the mountain and saw the unremarkable mountain gate, Nicholas got out first, looking around at the quiet, unimpressive entrance. "Did you navigate to the wrong place? You picked this tiny hill for mountain climbing?"


Eugenie shot him a look like he’d just said something incredibly stupid. Then she lifted her gaze toward the mountain. "There's a church at the top. It's quite famous around here. Usually the village people go out to work, so not many come here. But during holidays or specific festivals, quite a few people come."

After this explanation, Nicholas understood. "It’s my first time—I didn't know. But bringing me here as our first stop, does it have some special meaning?"

He understood she wasn't someone who just went places on a whim. Specifically choosing this place, she must have had a plan.

When he asked, Eugenie looked at him with some surprise, not expecting him to understand her so well. She proactively walked toward the mountain gate, explaining as she went.

"Two reasons, I guess. One is that I haven't been back in a long time and want to go up and see how much has changed. The other is that Grandma said making wishes at the church up there is very effective. I want to try it too."

With his long legs, catching up to her was effortless. Hearing her mention Xanthe, he asked curiously, "Why did she say that?"

"Grandpa's been sick for years. A while back his condition suddenly got much worse. Grandma said she came here to make wishes and pray. Later, Grandpa got through that difficult period. Grandma believes the deity here blessed him."

Eugenie spoke slowly. This had come up when she'd just returned and was chatting idly with Xanthe. At the time, she hadn't really believed it. Given Chase's devotion to Xanthe, if it meant leaving Xanthe alone in this world, he definitely couldn't bear it.

Maybe Chase's own strong will to live had helped him overcome that hurdle. But just now, suddenly remembering this, she felt it was better to believe than not. She hoped Nicholas would be well. Having one more person watching over him couldn't hurt.

"Your grandparents really have a wonderful relationship." After hearing this, he was silent for a moment before voicing that sentiment.

Eugenie nodded in agreement. Walking along the mountain path, breathing the fresh forest air, she could clearly feel herself settling down.

Nicholas didn't disturb her. After finally reaching the mountaintop, with the church doors appearing not far ahead, he suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist.

Eugenie turned to look at him with curiosity in her eyes and heard him ask, "So you came here to make a wish too?"

She nodded. Nicholas continued, "What wish do you want to make?"

"I hope the people around me who are good to me can be healthy and safe." Not having entered the church yet, Eugenie felt it was fine to say.

Nicholas's heart suddenly tightened, his voice growing taut. "Including me?"

"Of course, Nicholas. I hope you live a long life." Under his burning gaze, Eugenie answered affirmatively again.

Nicholas said nothing, his eyes locked tightly on her. He could feel something in his heart suddenly soften. Her saying this—she was keeping him in her heart, so she wanted him to live long, right?

He had a faint answer in his heart. Saying he wasn't happy would be a lie.

Eugenie grasped his wrist in return and led him inside. She didn't explain much. She worried that his second uncle had caused that car accident. She didn't want him to lose his life again this time.

In the church, they made sincere wishes. Afterward, they began descending the mountain.

The climb up had already nearly exhausted Eugenie's energy. She had to rest after every few steps, until Nicholas suddenly crouched down in front of her.

"What are you doing?"

"Get on. I'll carry you down."

With his back turned, he stood fully exposed to her, a display of trust that made her heart skip a beat.
This time Eugenie chose to listen to heart honestly. She stepped forward and leaned against his back.

"Here I come!"