Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 260

Chapter 260: She Outshone It All
Both Lariette and Ruediger cleaned their plates for how delicious the meals served by Renato were. They exchanged some conversation with the restaurant’s owner after settling the bills.

“Come here again,” Renato waved at Ruediger and Lariette, “I plan to create a new menu soon. You guys gotta try it.”

Ruediger and Lariette looked at each other before chuckles spilled from their lips. They nodded.

“For sure.”

“See you again, Renato.”

After bidding Renato goodbye, Ruediger and Lariette stepped out of the restaurant. He led her to the side of the park where the light show was exhibited.

The sun had fully set, allowing the moon to shine in the dark sky. The air was chillier, but it was forgotten once they caught sight of what awaited them.

“Oh! Wow!”

Lariette gasped as she appreciated the magical sight. Hundreds of string lights trailed along the trees and wound through the walking paths, glowing like luminous stars.

Ruediger smiled upon catching the look of admiration in Lariette’s eyes. He raised his arms, pointing to a direction further ahead.

“There are light sculptures there. Wanna go see? We can visit the maze afterward.”

“Of course!”

Ruediger’s heart melted into a puddle of honey for Lariette’s exclamation suddenly sounded sweeter to his ears. He wished that his confession wouldn’t wipe off the beaming look on her face later.

Walking further down the pathways, Lariette and Ruediger took their sweet time watching the light exhibition. Above them, tiny lights shaped into leaves swayed gently, resembling drizzling stars.

Little stalls lined the pathways, selling everything from hot drinks, and food to trinkets. The park visitors stopped by the booths, buying some items before they continued walking.

Later, Lariette and Lariette paused at the center of the light show where sculptures stood tall. Glowing deers with crystalline antlers, a pair of swans perched on a faux fond, beaming pandas eating bamboo and more.

“Hehe, the pandas are cute.”

“Yes, cute.”

Ruediger’s eyes were not on the light sculptures but on the lady standing beside him. He was captivated by how the lights danced across her chocolate brown hair, casting a soft sheen over her features.

Amidst the illuminated sculptures, to him, she outshone it all.

“Lettie, should we take photos?”

“Yes!”

Ruediger and Lariette wandered around, posing for selfies with the light sculptures. Once, they asked for help from one of the visitors when they wanted to capture a commemorative photo before the giant but adorable mushroom house.

After circling the area, Ruediger and Lariette looked for a place to sit. Fortunately, they found a vacant bench under a tree. Most of the seating areas were already occupied by other visitors.

“You should wait here,” Ruediger said once Lariette sat down. He remained standing, “I gonna get us some hot drinks.”

Lariette glanced at the booths on the opposite side of the walkways. Her eyes lit up, “Eddy! Get the cotton candy too.”

“Cotton candy?”

“Yes!”

Lariette’s gaze chanced upon the cart selling cotton candy. It glowed under soft yellow bulbs. Ruediger chuckled softly once he saw where she was looking at.

“Hehe, okay. Wait here.”

Lariette stretched out her legs as she watched Ruediger running toward the stalls. Her lips curved at the sigh of his figure towering over some of the park visitors. His crimson locks glinted under the strings of lights.

‘Today, I… Did I get carried away?’

Lowering her chin, Lariette stared at her palms. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered the few times she almost reached for Ruediger’s hand as they walked, especially when she encountered lovers strolling while linking their hands together.

These feelings were quite similar to how she felt when Damien pursued her before. But there were no grand romantic gestures as how the trashy jerk did when love-bombing her.

Ruediger was nothing like the loud, callous Damien.

His presence was quiet yet comforting. He listened to her worries without prejudice. He also encouraged her to pursue what she was frightened of.

Lariette froze the further her thoughts wandered about Ruediger, her heart beating a little faster. She curled her fingers, clenching the soft fabric of her skirt.

“O’ lovely lady, your cotton candy is here.”

“…huh?”

Startled by the remark, Lariette abruptly looked up, her eyes widening once she saw Ruediger holding a stick of cotton candy. A wide grin was plastered on his face.

Blinking, Lariette stared at the cotton candy. She had just realized it was shaped into a heart and colored red. Once again, her heart thumped quickly.

“Try it, Lettie,” Ruediger said while sitting beside Lariette. He placed the holder of two cups on the bench next to him.

“Ah… thank you.”

Lariette reached for the stick, her fingers brushed slightly against Ruediger’s. Something sparked from the brief touch, almost made her dart her eyes away from him.

Staring at the red heart-shaped cotton candy, Lariette hoped she didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. She brought it closer before taking a bite.

The treat melted in her mouth, spreading its sweetness everywhere—including her heart.

“Eddy, wanna try it?”

Ruediger had just taken a sip of his black coffee when Lariette offered him the cotton candy. For some reason, there was something different in how her eyes gleamed.

“Sure.”

Ruediger put down the cup. To his surprise, Lariette pushed the cotton candy closer to his face, as if telling him to take a bite directly instead of tearing a piece. Her expectant look earned soft chuckles from him.

‘What if I…’

Without completing the thought, Ruediger gently grasped Lariette’s hand, the one holding the stick. He grinned when she was flustered for a moment, then he lowered his chin to bite the cotton candy.

“It’s sweet. Lettie, you have sugar stuck to your cheek.”

“What? I…”

Before Lariette could do anything, Ruediger reached out his other hand. His thumb brushed gently across her skin, as light as a feather, to wipe the sugar off.

“There,” Ruediger whispered softly, “No sugar anymore.”

“…thank you.”

Lariette tore her eyes away from Ruediger. She silently resumed eating the candy. Sensing the weight of his gaze on her, she believed her face might be as red as the sweet treat.

This was… quite embarrassing.

Ruediger exhaled a soft sigh, barely audible. He watched Lariette eating the cotton candy as more thoughts swirled in his mind. After a quiet determination, words flowed out of his mouth.

“Lettie, I have something to talk about with you.”

Lariette paused. She lifted her gaze from staring blankly at the scenery ahead, finally looking at Ruediger after battling the rapid beating of her heart.

“Something to talk about… with me?”

“Yes.”

Ruediger’s voice was quiet, quieter than usual, but it still carried the warmth Lariette was familiar with. His eyes, akin to a verdant forest, gleamed like jewels under the string of lights.

What kind of issue did he want to talk to her about?

Was it something serious? It most likely was.

“Okay.”

Lariette could only nod, but anticipation had already flooded her heart. Somehow, the way Ruediger looked told her that she had nothing to worry about.

As they held each other’s gaze, the moon peeked through the tree branches, showering its soft glow in the sea of neon lights below.