Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Singing By The Campfire
<.Moonville Village.>

When Nathaniel was entertaining the playful Lorianne who had just taken a shower, Lariette and Ruediger were having a feast under the stars. They were surrounded by Melissa, Paul and a few villagers.

Melissa and Paul invited Lariette and Ruediger for a meal that night, including some of their close neighbors who wished to celebrate the newlyweds.

Lariette and Ruediger would head back to the city tomorrow morning, thus, tonight was the only appropriate time to gather.

Chatters and laughter filled the air in the backyard, followed by the clinking of glasses and cutlery. They chatted while enjoying the delicious grilled meats, freshly baked bread and tangy tomato soup.

“Gosh! I can’t believe our Little Lettie has grown up and got married!”

“Hehe~ Aunt Linda would be so happy. Look at Lettie’s husband! So handsome and so dependable!”

“You guys only registered your marriage, right? Won’t you hold a wedding ceremony later?”

Questions arose from the villagers to Lariette and Ruediger. Hearing about her marriage shocked them. They quickly agreed when Melissa and Paul invited them for a celebration.

Melissa and Paul had gone out of their way to make the celebration special. They set up a long wooden table in the backyard with candles flickering in clear glass jars.

Lanterns adorned the area, illuminating the entire backyard. The Campbells also lit up a campfire nearby, letting its golden glow blaze under the night sky.

The night had been wonderful so far. Lariette and Ruediger exchanged occasional smiles as they conversed with the villagers.

They sat side by side in the middle of the table, laughing joyfully at the curious neighbors. They were very friendly and welcoming the first time she and her late grandmother moved to this village.

“I’ve brought Eddy to meet Grandma this morning,” said Lariette between chuckles, referring to their gravesite visit, “We haven’t thought about holding a wedding. Maybe someday.”

“Can we expect invitations from you two?” asked one of the middle-aged men, sounding hopeful.

Paul smacked his friend’s back, “Horace, don’t pressure them. Small weddings are on the rise nowadays.”

“Ow! Don’t hit me! I’m just asking!”

“When did I hit you? You’re delusional!”

The others laughed when Horace and Paul started to banter. The two older men were known for their friendship since childhood. They were natives of this village.

Lariette shot Ruediger an awkward grin. He arched his brows, understanding what she tried to convey.

Lariette felt slightly guilty when telling the villagers about the possible wedding, but she still played along. Ruediger was also the same, saying the same thing.

“Here, here, have some wine, Eddy. You only drank iced tea tonight.”

Horace stood out, wanting to pour wine into Ruediger’s glass that was previously filled with tea. Lariette quickly stopped the man, taking the glass away before the wine trickled down into it.

“Uncle Horace, Eddy can’t drink. His back is injured. The doctor said he shouldn’t have alcohol.”

Ruediger’s bruises were better, but Lariette knew he still needed to recover more. Seeing the deep color purple mark on his back made her wince.

Fortunately, he didn’t suffer from any lacerations.

Horace gasped, instinctively pulling the wine bottle away, “Oh! I forgot! Sorry, sorry!”

“Look at our Lettie caring for her husband,” Melissa chuckled. She eyed Lariette with a fond gaze.

“…Aunt Mel, don’t tease me,” Lariette’s cheeks flushed red.

“I’m telling the truth.”

“Hahaha! Our Lettie is shy!”

More laughter echoed from the table. Lariette darted her gaze away, unable to look Ruediger in the eyes. She sensed the heat of his stare as she pretended to focus on the bowl of soup.

Paul glanced at Ruediger. Smiling, he raised his glass and twirled it, “Eddy, you have a good and caring wife! Treat her like treasure, do you understand?”

Chuckles slipped out of Ruediger’s lips. His heart swelled with warmth and joy from the little gesture Lariette had shown him earlier.

“I understand, Uncle Paul.”

Ruediger’s reply was short but brimming with his determination. He clinked glasses with Paul as the others cheered on him.

Lariette slowly glanced at Ruediger, her cheeks flushed furiously. Noticing her gaze on him, he winked. She quickly looked away once again.

The celebration continued. A jovial lady named Sandra abruptly stood up once many were done with their meals. She lifted a guitar, clearly bringing it from her home.

“Hey! Hey! How about singing, everyone?”

A wave of excitement rippled through the small gathering. Sandra was not the only one with a musical instrument. Horace showed off his flute, earning laughter from the others.

“Hahaha! Let’s! I brought my flute!”

“Why don’t we sit around the campfire?”

Everyone agreed with Melissa’s suggestion. All of them moved to the campfire. Lariette and Ruediger were the last to leave as they trailed behind the others.

Leaning down as they walked, Ruediger whispered next to Lariette’s ear, “Still worried about me, huh?”

Frowning her brows, Lariette pouted. She shot a glare at him before quickly giving excuses, “Of course! You need to get better quickly to make me more yummy food!”

Amused by Lariette’s justifications, Ruediger shrugged. He refrained from laughing out loud.

“Okay~ If you say so.”

“…”

Lariette pointed at her eyes with her index and middle finger before gesturing at Ruediger, trying to threaten him. Then, she quickly ran away, rushing to Melissa’s side. Her chocolate brown hair caught the warm orange glow.

Ruediger bit his lower lip, trying so hard not to laugh. Raking his fingers through his hair, he shook his head in helplessness.

As Lariette sat beside Melissa, Ruediger took a place between Horace and Paul. The blazing campfire glowed in the middle, illuminating everyone’s faces and the yard.

“Horace, which song?” Sandra threw the question at Horace. She gathered her hair into a high bun as she got ready to play the guitar.

“Letters in the Barn? Sunday Mornings and Northern Rain?” Horace started listing out old songs, all country ones.

“Letters in the Barn!”

Sandra began plucking the guitar, strumming a lively tune before she began singing. Horace started playing the flute, following the former’s lead. As they sang, the others followed while clapping their hands.

Lariette gazed at Ruediger across the flickering campfire, its warm glow casting shadows over his sharp features. He sang along with the neighbors, his voice blended with everyone’s, not particularly audible to her.

Soon, the song met its end. Everyone gave Sandra and Horace an applause when the middle-aged man suddenly turned to Ruediger next to him.

“Say, Eddy, can you sing? Play a guitar?”

Lariette raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ruediger in curiosity. She knew him as a man with many talents, but she had never heard of anything related to singing before.

Could he sing?

Ruediger’s voice was deep with a hint of softness. Lariette heard people’s voices change once they sang, either more beautifully or the opposite.

Ruediger chuckled, shrugging slightly, “I can sing and play guitar for a bit. Not too skillful.”

Instead of brushing off the request, Ruediger answered truthfully. He was already prepared for what would come as soon as he accepted Horace’s suggestion.

“Yeah!” Another neighbor named Steve clapped his hands, encouraging Ruediger, “That’s good enough! Sing something for us!”

“Hahaha! Yes, yes! Go on, Eddy!”

More cheers and applause erupted as Sandra handed Ruediger her guitar. He tested the strings, adjusting the tuning with practiced ease.

An intrigued Lariette was unable to take her eyes off Ruediger. For some reason, she really anticipated hearing him singing.

“I’ll begin now,” said Ruediger, glancing at Lariette across the campfire. His lips curled into a smile, “I’ll sing Hometown Goodbye.”

Moving his fingers over the strings, a soft and melodic tune filled the air. Ruediger parted his lips as he started singing.

The world around him seemed to slow down at the sight of her widened eyes.