Falling for the Goddess

Fell Into the Water

The jasmine flowers in the garden were still in bloom, and their faint fragrance could be smelled from a distance. As they walked through the courtyard, they came upon a rock garden and a pavilion.

"Sara, let me tell you, when we were kids, this was where we loved to play. We’d climb in and out of the rock garden, sometimes getting so lost we couldn’t find our way out," Kyle Thorne explained, grinning as he approached Sara Hart.

Sara Hart hadn’t realized the old estate had such a place.

Near the rock garden stood a pavilion beside a pond with several koi fish swimming leisurely within.

"Look, there are fish!" Jimmy Blake exclaimed excitedly upon seeing the golden koi. He immediately picked up a dry branch and tried to poke at the fish.

"Be careful not to fall in," Sara Hart gently reminded him.

"I know," Jimmy Blake replied, his voice full of enthusiasm.

Sara Hart glanced around. Beside the rock garden, a few persimmon trees stood, their fruits ripe and heavy, hanging low on the branches. Overhead, the blue sky and white clouds stretched endlessly, and the pavilion roof, slightly upturned, was framed by the persimmon trees. The air even carried a hint of osmanthus fragrance.

This familiar scene made Sara Hart think of her hometown, where the autumns looked just like this. It reminded her of the gardens she played in as a child.

"If only I had a camera," Sara Hart mused as she gazed at the ripe persimmons. She had taken many photos like this in the past - autumn was always the best season for it.

"What did you say?" Adrian Blake asked, his attention still on Jimmy, not having heard Sara’s words.

Sara Hart smiled and shook her head. "Nothing, I was just saying how comfortable it feels here."

There was something comforting about it, something familiar.

Kyle Thorne, strolling around with his hands behind his back like an inspector on a tour, suddenly asked, "Jimmy, do you want some persimmons?"

"Yes!" Jimmy Blake stood up from the edge of the pond, staring up at the fruit, l*****g his lips like a little glutton.

Kyle Thorne eyed the trees, muttering to himself, "I remember the ones on the right tree being the sweetest."

"Sara, you should try some too. These persimmons are really sweet. When I was little, they were my favorite from Grandma’s place."

The word "Grandma" hit a tender spot in Sara’s heart. She looked up at the persimmons and was reminded of a familiar memory:

White walls, black tiles, and persimmons hanging heavily from the branches. The autumn sun bathed everything in warmth. She would climb up the tree to pick the persimmons while her grandmother, wearing simple cotton clothes, stood below with a basket, worriedly reminding her to be careful as she caught the fruit.

"Sara, catch!" Before Sara Hart could snap out of her reverie, Kyle Thorne had climbed onto the rock garden and tossed a bright red persimmon toward her.

Startled, Sara Hart instinctively closed her eyes as the persimmon flew toward her. But instead of feeling the impact, she felt an arm tighten around her waist. She found herself in a warm, protective embrace, enveloped in a familiar scent.

Adrian Blake had caught her, his arm around her waist as he spun them slightly to the side, the persimmon just barely missing her.

"Kyle!" Adrian Blake’s voice was cold and stern.

On the rock garden, Kyle Thorne, startled by the turn of events, called out, "Sorry! Are you okay?"

"I’m fine." Sara Hart looked up at Adrian Blake, who had already released her. "Thank you."

"It’s nothing," Adrian Blake replied.

The persimmon had fallen to the ground, but it wasn’t damaged. Sara Hart bent down to pick it up.

Kyle Thorne, now feeling awkward, picked a few more persimmons but wasn’t sure where to put them. He looked like he wanted to continue picking more but hesitated.

"Just toss them to me," Sara Hart offered. "I’ll be ready this time."

Kyle Thorne glanced at Adrian Blake, who didn’t object, and then gently tossed the persimmons to Sara Hart.

Now that Sara Hart was paying attention, she easily caught them.

"Kyle, I want that one - the big, red one at the top!" Jimmy Blake said, pointing to the highest branch.

"Alright, I’ll get it for you."

Kyle Thorne grabbed a forked branch and hooked the branch down, plucking the large, ripe persimmon. Thinking of how many people were in the living room, he decided to pick a few more.

Jimmy Blake, still watching from below, clapped his hands in excitement. "Kyle, you’re amazing!"

"Of course I am!" Kyle Thorne boasted, lifting the persimmons in triumph. But in his excitement, Jimmy Blake lost his balance.

"Jimmy!"

"Jimmy!"

Jimmy Blake’s foot slipped, and he tumbled into the pond.

Before Sara Hart could move, Adrian Blake had already rushed forward. Thankfully, the pond wasn’t too deep, and Adrian quickly pulled Jimmy out.

Jimmy, drenched and shivering, clung tightly to Adrian’s clothes, his small body trembling. Whether it was from the cold or the shock, it wasn’t clear.

"Are you okay?" Kyle Thorne quickly jumped down from the rock garden, panic in his voice.

"We need to get him inside," Adrian Blake said, his tone calm but urgent.

The group hurried back to the house.

"What’s going on?" Grandma Blake was the first to notice them as they came in.

Karen Carter, seeing her son soaked and pale, jumped up from the couch in alarm. "Jimmy, what happened?"

Jimmy Blake, still shaking, was wrapped tightly in Adrian Blake’s arms.

Karen Carter rushed forward, taking Jimmy Blake from Adrian Blake’s arms, her voice trembling. "Jimmy, don’t scare Mommy like this!"

"He accidentally fell into the pond," Kyle Thorne explained, guilt written all over his face.

"How could he just fall into the pond like that?" Karen Carter’s voice turned harsh, though it wasn’t directed at Kyle Thorne. Her eyes, filled with resentment, landed on Adrian Blake. "Jimmy idolizes you, you know!"

Sara Hart was startled by the flash of anger in Karen Carter’s eyes. At first, she thought the resentment was aimed at her, but on closer look, it was directed at Adrian Blake. The words, too, were laced with a hidden accusation toward him.

"Let’s have the doctor take a look at him first," Grandma Blake intervened, frowning slightly at the tension.

Alice Miller quickly called the family doctor.

"Karen, you should change Jimmy’s clothes first," Zelda Blake suggested.

Fortunately, Jimmy Blake often visited the house, so they had spare clothes for him.

"Ma’am, please bring Jimmy to his room," a servant offered, helping Karen Carter carry the shivering child upstairs.

Adrian Blake stood quietly off to the side, his expression unreadable as his lips pressed together.

"You should change your clothes too," Sara Hart whispered softly, stepping closer to him.

It was then that everyone noticed Adrian Blake’s disheveled state - his pants were wet up to the knees, and his shoes were soaked through, leaving a trail of water behind him.

"Adrian, your aunt is just worried about Jimmy. Don’t take it to heart," Grandma Blake said gently.

"I understand, Grandma. I’ll go change now," Adrian Blake replied, his voice steady.

He turned and headed upstairs, water still dripping from his clothes. As Sara Hart watched him walk away, her heart suddenly ached for him.