The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Sophia was also wary of waking up Benjamin. After finally soothing him to sleep, she sighed and whispered, “Now that Benjamin
is asleep, it’s about time we get something to eat. I had some wine and steak sent to the hotel.”
Jeremy raised his hand and dismissed her offer. “Go ahead without me. I’m not hungry.”
Sophia frowned. “How are you not hungry when you haven’t even eaten lunch?”
“You can go ahead and start eating,” Jeremy reiterated. “I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”
Sophia felt a bit displeased. She sensed that he might be intentionally avoiding a meal with her. However, given the
circumstances with the sleeping child, she had little choice but to leave and eat alone.
“Sophia,” came Jeremy’s deep voice.
She turned back in slight shock and replied, “Yes, Zachary?”
Jeremy looked at her with a listless gaze. “I’d like to go out for some fresh air tomorrow. Staying in the hotel all day is getting
boring.”
Sophia was taken aback and seemed to respond with a hint of defensiveness. “The air quality in this country is hardly on the
same level as Molomia’s air quality. I wouldn’t want your health to be affected if I took you out.”
Jeremy was unsurprised as though he anticipated that response. However, he insisted on going out for fresh air, saying, “Do you
take me for a fragile plant that can only survive in a greenhouse outside of its natural habitat? Have you considered that I might
never regain the use of my legs if I’m being coddled all the time?”
Sophia saw the dissatisfaction in his eyes. After a moment’s thought, she agreed and said, “Okay. I’ll discuss some business with
one of the companies here, then I’ll pick you and Benjamin up in the afternoon for a family walk.”
“Thank you,” came a rather emotionless reply. His gratitude left Sophia feeling somewhat distant in their relationship.
The next day was a weekend, and the weather was perfect for a person to be outdoors.
After breakfast, Francine suggested taking the three kids on a picnic to enjoy the weather. Corinne, on the other hand, sat with
her laptop and was engrossed in some real-time business consultations. She did not have much interest in the idea.

It was not until her three kids approached her with googly eyes that she shifted her attention from the computer screen to them.
Deep down, she felt conflicted and unable to resist their earnest pleas. With some reluctance, she closed her laptop and
conceded, “Okay, okay! We can go! All your Aunt Francine knows is to bring you out to play!”
Francine pursed her lips and said, “I’m just thinking about their well-being! They don’t have any kindergarten homework to keep
them busy on weekends, and they’ll get bored at home. It’d be much better to use the time for an outing. Once they start
elementary school, they’ll have so much homework that they won’t have any chance to go out and play! Besides, you’ve been
busy with work too, and this should be a day off for you to go all out and relax. What’s wrong with that?”
Corinne shot her a disdainful look. “This picnic is your suggestion, but I don’t see you preparing any food.”