Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 702

Mia noticed Anya's sudden move and was startled. Andre hurried over to catch the nearly half-basket of cherries Anya had picked.

Leo, being tall, stood there and helped Anya untangle the branches caught in her dress hem. Finally, he extended his hand, "Take my hand, I'll lift you down."

Anya hesitated, thinking about her weight. "No, Chad, you can't carry me~"

"Stop the nonsense and get down here!" Leo shouted.

Anya, feeling a bit scared, looked at Leo with a pout, "Chad, I'm afraid I'll crush you, and we'll both get hurt."

In the end, Anya didn't let Leo carry her but took his hand and safely walked to the lower part of the tree. When she tried to jump down, Leo, without a word or giving Anya time to react, went straight to her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her down. Anya's face turned crimson. "Chad-"

"You're nineteen, not four. I can handle it!"

Anya blushed even more.

The treetop that Anya had plundered looked as if it had never borne cherries, now only filled with green leaves.

Molly picked for a bit longer, and then Chad took her hand, guiding her down slowly.

Despite picking cherries together, Mia and Molly combined couldn't match Anya's speed.

Scott saw this and praised Anya, "You're a natural at this."

If it wasn't for the fact that they couldn't afford to hire Anya, Scott would have been tempted. Such efficiency in cherry picking, filling half a basket in no time, was invaluable for their work. Shortly after, Anya eyed another tree, knowing she had worried Chad earlier. "Chad, can I climb another tree?"

Leo glanced at Anya's dress and thought about their chat the night before. "...Okay."

With excitement, Anya climbed another tree, and Henry grew even fonder of Aunt Anya, babbling excitedly as he watched her.

Seeing his mother eating cherries, Henry wanted to snatch them from her mouth. After being full from formula, he opened his little mouth, wanting cherries too. "Ma ma ma ma."

"Even if you say 'mommy,' you can't have any."

Eventually, Henry cried out of frustration, and Mia carried him through the orchard to where the farmers were inspecting the large cherries.

"Oh, you brought such a little one out to play?" someone noticed Mia carrying the child and quickly offered her a stool.

Mia thanked them and sat down. "Auntie, how many acres have you planted?" Mia directly engaged in conversation with a group of women of her mother's age.

Henry was seated on her lap. "This is the Wu family's land, this whole orchard belongs to them; we're just helping out." Looking at the little chubby one in Mia's arms, adoration showed in the eyes of those nearby. "Is this your little one? So chubby and cute. What do you feed him?" Henry, grabbing at his mom's thin sweater sleeve, answered for her, "Ah ah," implying he's a well-fed little boy.

Mia wrapped her arms around her chubby son. "He's been on breast milk and formula."

She chatted with the women nearby, and someone offered Henry a cherry. Mia took it, split it, tasted half herself, and let her son's little tongue have a taste to satisfy his craving.

Molly kept rubbing the sticky cherry juice off her hands, while Chad went over to chat with Scott. "This year's cherries seem to be growing well. How's the harvest?"

Scott, looking at his cherry orchard, nodded with a smile. "The price is high this year; I estimate we'll make a few thousand dollars."

Hearing this, Chad was happy for the farmers. "That's great, but make sure you're careful with the money this year. Be very cautious."

"Don't worry, Officer Chad, once bitten, twice shy. Now, every time I get a hundred-dollar bill, I check it carefully. Everyone at the distribution center knows you look out for my business every year, so those scammers don't dare target me." Chad's professional instincts kicked in. "There are many distributors and people involved. Remind the other farmers to be vigilant too, to prevent fraud."

"Chad, do you have a wet wipe? My hands are so sticky; it's uncomfortable," Molly called out.

Chad thought for a moment, realizing he hadn't prepared any in the car. "How about washing with bottled water?"

"Auntie, I brought some. The wet wipes are in Chad's trunk," Anya's voice came from behind the leaves.

"Do you have a sun hat?"

"Yes, it's also in Chad's trunk."

Molly tried asking, "What about gloves?"

"Yes, they're in Chad's trunk too."

Molly and Chad exchanged glances. "What all does Leo have in his trunk?"

"What about cooling sleeves?"

Leo tossed his car keys to Chad. "Go look for them. The trunk is packed with her stuff. She even stuffed in three types of mosquito repellent, face masks, and sun hats... everything."

Molly went and came back with an admiring attitude towards Anya. She even declared, "Anya, next time I go out, I might not bring your uncle but definitely you." This girl was someone who, no matter whether needed or not, stuffed everything into the trunk.

While others went to the cherry orchard for the experience and fun, only Anya was dedicated to picking cherries. It seemed like a leisure trip for others, but for her, it was all about the harvest.

When finally done, everyone looked at Anya's bounty, and the Cedillo family fell silent.

Scott really wanted to keep Anya; her efficiency was worth three people.

Anya giggled happily.

Leo, with a wet wipe, cleaned her hands, and the dust also settled on her clean dress. "Why pick so many? Look, your face has gotten sunburned."

"Chad, I want to make jam, cherry wine, and preserves. For you to eat-"

At noon, Scott warmly invited the family to dine at his place, but Chad declined. When it came to paying for the cherries, Scott refused to take any money. "I have hundreds of cherry trees, and you picked less than one percent. These cherries are mainly for viewing and family consumption, Officer Chad, please don't pay."

Unable to refuse any longer, Chad had to accept. However, Chad had an understanding wife, Molly. While the two men were refusing each other, she quietly took Chad's wallet, disappeared, and then reappeared, saying to her husband, "Chad, let's go?" Chad, seizing the moment, wrapped his arms around his wife's shoulders. "Scott, thanks for today, but we'll be heading off now."

Henry had initially fallen asleep in his father's arms, accustomed to the baby's routine of sleeping and eating anytime, anywhere. However, upon arriving at Scott's place, the barking of dogs instantly woke him up, causing him to burst into tears with a pout on his little face, nestled in his dad's embrace.

Henry's crying made Scott's attempt to keep the guests stay futile, as the family used it as an excuse to bid their farewells.

A few minutes after driving off, Chad called Scott. "Scott, Molly left the money under the cutting board in your kitchen."