Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 704

Leo turned, spotting the girl in the middle of the river, and jogged toward the riverbank, his heart racing.

Anya rolled up her sleeves, joining the other kids playing by the water. Some had stripped down to their swimsuits, floating with the help of swim rings. But Anya didn't head for the shallows; she ventured to where the water reached her knees. "Anya!" Leo called out, his voice unusually stern.

Startled, Anya turned to see Chad rushing to the bank, standing next to his shoes. "Ah, Chad."

"Where are you off to?" Leo extended his hand. "Come here!"

Anya stood her ground, reluctant to move. "Chad, I want to play."

"If you want to play, stay in the shallow end. What are you doing out there?" Leo scolded.

Her dress hem was already wet, one hand clutching the fabric. "I don't want to come out-" she said softly.

Leo started to take off his shoes, preparing to wade in after her. Just then, Mia shielded her eyes from the blazing sun and ran over. "Anya, come to the shallow part; it's too deep there."

"I want to catch fish."

"If you want fish, Aunt Mia will buy some for you. Come out now. What if you get swept away by an undercurrent?" Mia beckoned from the shore.

Anya eyed the current swirling around her legs, hesitating.

Then, Leo, having removed his sneakers and socks, rolled up his pant legs and followed her in. "Do I really need to come and get you?"

Seeing Leo approach, Anya quickly made for the shore. "Chad, no need to come down; I'm coming out."

Once in the shallows, Leo took hold of Anya. "You still owe me a scolding! What were you thinking, going out there? This place is full of students and kids splashing around. There are no fish here." Soon after, Hansen hurried over. "Young lady, why are you in the water again? You're even more lively than Henry." The little bundle of energy had finally fallen asleep, and now it was Anya's turn. "I wanted to catch fish," Anya replied.

"If you're hungry, Grandpa can just buy you some. You don't need to catch them. People might think we can't afford fish," Hansen said.

Reaching the bank, Mia bought paper towels for the two drenched adventurers to dry their feet and put on their shoes. Hansen immediately went to buy fish for his granddaughter.

Left alone, Leo fixed a stern gaze on Anya, who, feeling guilty, hung her head. "If Chad eats the fish, he'll pass his exams," she said softly.

Leo's brow furrowed. "Who told you I'm taking exams?"

"I guessed," Anya replied, biting her lip.

Leo looked around, recalling the secret he'd been trying to hide. "How did you guess?"

Anya remembered when her aunt had asked her what Chad had been up to lately, so she paid extra attention. Not only did Andre know about Leo's late-night study sessions, but Anya could also see the light in Chad's bedroom from her window. Plus, he often spent weekends at the library, and Anya, curious about Chad's interests, had done some research herself, leading her to a guess.

Moreover, Anya had noticed the books in the trunk of Chad's car, all related to his study.

"I saw Chad studying current affairs and English questions, and in the library, he was reading professional books. So I guessed Chad wants to change his major for graduate studies. But I didn't dare tell anyone at home. Chad didn't want me to know, so I pretended I didn't. But they say eating the fish from here makes it easier to pass exams. What if Chad eats the fish and passes next year's exam? So, I went down to catch fish."

Leo was taken aback, all his earlier sternness dissolving into surprise, then settling into an intense gaze.

She understood him too well.

"Anya, knowing too much about Chad is dangerous for you," Leo said huskily, his tone laced with a stark warning.

Anya dared not meet Leo's gaze any longer.

From a distance, they looked like a young man lecturing a girl who had done something wrong.

Molly stood up. "Chad, let me go check on her. Leo can't hold his tongue, and I'm afraid he'll make Anya cry."

"Go ahead."

Soon, Molly arrived, and Mia ran over with a towel. "Anya, dry your feet and put on your shoes. Your grandfather and I have already bought fish for you, so no more going into the water, okay?"

Molly pushed Leo aside and took the remorseful Anya by the hand. "It's okay, Anya. We won't listen to Leo. If you want to play in the water, after Aunt Molly eats, she'll join you. Just don't go in alone, or your aunt will worry."

Anya dried off and put on her shoes, then was led away. Andre and Chad, both slightly intimidating figures to Anya, received a warning look from their wives not to inquire about the earlier incident.

Henry slept soundly on a cushion, his father gently fanning him, until Mia took over, freeing Andre.

Anya then took over Chad's "chef" duties. "Aunt, can I have some of the cherries I picked this morning?" "What for?"

"I want to grill," Anya said, also mentioning the lemons in Chad's car trunk. "Can you get me one?"

Mentioning lemons, Hansen firmly refused to let Anya use them, suggesting a simpler grilling method would suffice. Eventually, he only handed her the cherries, which she used to make her own version of grilled fish. Before long, the prepared fish was brought over. Leo, leaning to the side, kept a watchful eye on Anya in silence.

After grilling, Anya approached Leo with an offering. "Chad, I was wrong. I won't go into the water again, okay? Don't be mad."

Leo replied, "You eat the skewers; I'll have the fish."

Seeing Leo's response, Anya's face lit up with joy. "Chad, I'll go grill some fish for you right now."

On the mat, Henry had been napping, dreaming he was being scolded for not learning properly, which made him whimper in his sleep.

His temperament flaring, he woke up crying.

The child had just awakened, and needing comfort, was picked up to be soothed by tender embraces.

Naomi Mastin found herself constantly worried about her family members who were out enjoying their day. Around noon, she decided to give her family a call, only to be greeted by the sound of Henry's crying through the phone. Every ounce of Naomi's attention was immediately captivated by that whimpering voice, her heart melting. "Henry, your great aunt is going to video call you, no more tears now."

As the video call connected, Henry's tear-streaked little face appeared on the screen.

Naomi and her friends were dining at a restaurant at the time, and her companions, having been regaled with tales of the adorable Henry, were eager to see the boy who had captured so much of Naomi's affection.