His Beloved Ex-Wife

Chapter 663 In Perfect Harmony

“Then… why are we moving in circles?” Lysander questioned.

“I was simply testing the waters,” Josiah replied with a wry smile, summoning the courage to put his sailing lessons to use. Leaning forward with determination, he straightened his arm and, gathering his strength, plunged the oar back into the water with vigor.

This time, the boat didn’t merely spin in circles as it had previously, but instead, it began to veer off course, heading in the wrong direction. If it weren’t for the steps protruding from the shore, the boat might have crashed onto the land, creating a spectacle.

Seeing this, Nilou began to doubt Josiah’s proficiency in rowing. Wanting to preserve his dignity while offering gentle guidance, she advised, “Josiah, don’t rush. Take it slow.”

Nearby villagers, seasoned in navigating these calm waters while collecting lotus seeds, offered their insights. “The water in the pond is still; it’s nothing like rowing in a river. You can’t rely on the current to carry you here,” one villager noted, sharing a slice of local wisdom.

“Indeed, rowing a boat is more than just the physical action; you must harness the force created on the water’s surface to propel yourself effectively!” another added insightfully.

“No need to rush; otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out too quickly… chimed in another.

Their simple yet profound understanding, born from daily life rather than scholarly study, was straightforward and accessible.

Josiah wasn’t embarrassed by their guidance but was rather grateful for the communal knowledge. “Thank you, I’ll give it another try,” he responded with appreciation, his tone respectful.

He adjusted his technique, lightening his strokes, and finally, the boat began to navigate in the correct direction. Yet, after only a short distance, the boat showed a tendency to start spinning again.

Lysander, seated across from him at the bow, watched with a barely suppressed smile. “How about I give rowing a try? Perhaps my lack of sailing experience might actually be an advantage here,” she suggested, her voice laced with mild amusement.

extensive experience with sailing–which did not involve oars–ironically seemed to hinder rather than

traces of sorrow or stress. Rather than feeling embarrassed

less crowded area in the middle. I noticed the lotus flowers there are almost wilted; it thight be easier to collect the seed pods,” he proposed confidently, now steering the boat with more assurance toward their intended

now relaxed as they watched the boat navigate/successfully. They returned to their

the murie wandan haut eid into a thick cluster of tall laine

stem of a nearby

reached a promising cluster of lotus

and began selecting the best lotus pods. “This is one of the village’s main sources of income,” she explained judiciously. “We can’t just pick them indiscriminately. Those that haven’t fully matured

joining her in the careful selection. Without scissors, they both quickly found their hands covered in mud as they worked to safely detach the pods.

accomplishment, Lysander smiled broadly, wiping her mud–streaked hands on her clothes before dipping them back into the water to rinse them

As he rowed them back toward the shore, he engaged Lysander in light conversation. “People are often shaped by their environment. No matter how beautifully a water tank in a courtyard is arranged, it cannot replicate the natural habitat necessary

as they neared the shore, Josiah prepared to assist Lysander with the lotus pods. However, upon noticing the mud

pause, asked, “What’s

her face but stopped, mindful of the many eyes on them. Instead, he gestured to his own

comically streaked with mud, resembling a patchwork of earthy tones. Flustered, she

to tease further. Instead, they began to

you’ve gathered so many lotus pods on your

must be a natural at

the largest we’ve seen today,” pointed

a comment from the bystander and glanced down at the large, ripe lotus po she was