Chapter 197 - 197 Cacao Fruits

197 Cacao Fruits

“This is just a trick of yours, right? To keep me from being alone with Lea,” Arthur accused, who was walking behind Kai. He really had to help this village man because he did not want his sugar baby to do the heavy lifting.

“Hm? No, really. I really need the help of one more person, and you just happens to be here,” Kai replied casually with a friendly smile. Arthur, however, was annoyed. He felt rivaled by Kai’s charm.

Arthur’s forehead wrinkled even more when Kai took him to the cocoa plantation. So many ripe cocoa beans were still hanging on the stalks. “Hey, what do you actually grow? That’s a lot,” Arthur asked as he watched several people who were already busy harvesting the cacao fruits.

“Not much. This has been around since my parents were alive. I’m just continuing their plantation,” Kai replied as he handed the man in black with pruning shears. Arthur did not take it, however, just stared at the object with a questioning expression.

“You told me to pick those fruits using this?”

“Of course, there is a technique to picking fruit, you can’t just do it. You think you can pick with just your bare hands?” Kai asked back.

“I’ve never done it before. I don’t work in a plantation like this,” Arthur said indirectly refusing to help. Actually, there was a bit of a haughty feeling in his heart. An IT company boss now picking cacao fruits? Seriously??!

“You said you wanted to help me. Ah, but if you can’t, that’s fine. You can go back to Lea’s place,” Kai replied not looking annoyed but instead his lips still carved a thin, handsome smile.

Damn, Arthur felt rivaled. This man looked more masculine than him, exotic skin and more visible muscles due to his work as a farmer. This was the first time Arthur felt afraid that the woman he loved would fall for another man.

.....

Arthur rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and took the pruning shears from Kai. “Tell me how to do it.”

“Sure.”

Kai walked over to one of the cacao trees and gave an example of how to pick properly. “You have to cut the stalk as close to the fruit as possible, leaving a stalk about 1-1.5 cm long. No need to rush, just relax,” Kai explained and the cacao fruit was successfully picked. He showed it to Arthur.

The man with a mole under his lip took one look and understood Kai’s explanation. “There will be cacao flowers growing on the stalk of this fruit, right?”

Kai’s eyebrows raised slightly, quite impressed with Arthur for understanding so easily. “That’s right. You’re great too, you can understand right away.”

“Haha, of course. I’m a genius.” The man in black became arrogant. He started picking the cacao fruit just like Kai had done earlier. And it worked, just one try Arthur could pick it perfectly. Arthur put it into a bag under his feet. “It’s done, right?”

“Yes, you can do it all the way to the end of the tree,” Kai said, pointing to what he meant. Arthur frowned with a slightly dumbfounded mouth.

“Are you ordering me?”

“Huh? Didn’t you just want to help me? I’m speaking the truth, Mr. Jefferson. We’re short of people to harvest the cocoa. One of my workers is sick, I’m not making this up,” Kai said, not even a lie on his face. Still, Arthur was annoyed.

Damn it, he came to this village to lure Kalea back home, but why does he have to work like this?! He just left his main job!

Arthur had no other choice, as a true gentleman and not wanting to leave a bad impression on Kai especially if Kai complained to Kalea about him, Arthur was finally forced to help. Grumbling, he picked the cacao fruits one by one. Kai was watching from the back. Although Arthur is smart and does not need his guidance anymore, but still Kai can not trust the fruits he planted wholeheartedly to a stranger, especially Arthur who is none other than a rival in getting Kalea’s love.

Actually Kai wanted this handsome man to leave as soon as possible without taking Kalea away. He knew, it must not be that easy for Kalea to forget the man she once loved. It was also Kai’s fault for letting the two of them talk face to face. Well, regret comes at the end. His too kind and too stupid nature came at the wrong time. He had said he would never let the man who had impregnated Kalea come near her again.

“Mr. Jefferson, may I ask you a question?”

“What? But if your question is sensitive, don’t blame me if I accidentally break the stalk of this cocoa pod,” Arthur replied still focused on his impromptu work.

“Just wanted to ask you about-”

“Kai, I’m bored,” suddenly a voice that Arthur and Kai both recognized came from behind them. Both of them immediately turned around at the same time.

“Hey, why are you here? You’ll get tired,” Kai said worriedly as he approached the brunette girl. “Did you run out of watermelon?”

Kalea nodded, her hazel eyes now on Arthur who had stopped picking fruit with his hands holding pruning shears. “Can you really do it, Arthur?” asked Kalea, sounding dismissive.

“Haha, did you forget that your lover is good at everything?” Arthur replied with a lopsided smile adorning his handsome face.

“Lover? I don’t remember having a lover like you.”

Instantly Arthur felt like he was getting arrows from all directions and they hit him right in the heart. Well, it was true that they were not lovers. However, it felt even stranger to say he was Kalea’s sugar daddy.

Kai who was watching the two people was even more confused. What exactly was their relationship? Kalea did not tell him the details from the beginning.

“Hey, sorry if I interfered too much. But what kind of relationship have you guys had?”