Chapter 44 I Will Work Very Hard

Hearing Alice's question, Henry paused for a moment. He often found himself stumped by her questions.

He cleared his throat and said, "Well, each has its own perks. It's all about what you like."

Alice stepped a bit closer, her arm brushing against his as she linked it with his. "The thing is, I can't decide this on my own!"

Despite Alice's various temptations, Henry kept a calm face, though he felt a bit pleased inside.

Rupert walked over. "Henry, I want the sweet and sour flavor. Alice, you should know, Henry's cooking is good enough to be a chef"

Alice's curiosity was piqued. "Really?"

Henry started explaining how to make grilled fish taste amazing.

Alice nodded and smiled, "Then I'll have both spicy and sweet and sour. Perfect to try both. Uncle Henry, you have to work very hard."

Alice gave a seductive smile, and Henry's eyes deepened as he looked at her.

Alice still had that innocent look while saying things that made his heart race.

Henry lowered his head and sprinkled some seasoning. "Don't worry, I'll do my best."

Hearing Henry's enticing voice, Alice felt she was the one being seduced.

She quietly stood by Henry's side to help him grill fish, kebabs, and chicken wings.

Even without speaking, the vibe between Alice and Henry was chill and pleasant, like the earlier awkwardness never happened.

After a while, Rupert came back with the juice. As he got closer, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his foot and couldn't help but fall, spilling the juice on Alice's white dress.

Seeing the orange stain on Alice's dress, Henry frowned.

"My God! It hurts so much! What is this?" Rupert fell onto the sand.

Alice, seeing this, didn't care about her dirty dress and went to check on him.

She saw that Rupert's right little toe was pinched by a crab.

Alice actually wanted to laugh, but seeing Rupert in so much pain, she held it in.

She said, "Don't shake it hard, the more you shake, the tighter it'll pinch. I'll help you to the water, the crab will let go when it touches the water."

Just as Alice was about to help Rupert up, Henry squatted down. "I'll help him."

Rupert thought Henry had an impeccable sense of timing for ruining his chance to get close to Alice.

Rupert felt a bit helpless but couldn't refuse in front of Alice. He had no choice but to let Henry help him up and hopped towards the sea.

The crab let go of its claw as soon as it touched the water.

The pain in his foot instantly lessened, and Rupert let out a long breath. "Henry, next time there's an emergency like this, don't get involved. You're ruining my chances with Alice."

Henry gave a knowing smile and said okay.

Rupert frowned. "By the way, Henry, Oliver wants to get engaged to Alice. What do you think?"

Henry's expression turned colder. "As long as Alice doesn't want to, no one can force her."

"With your words, I'm relieved." Rupert hopped while cursing, "That crab must be blind, why didn't it pinch that scumbag Oliver?"

Henry helped Rupert to a beach chair, and a group of people gathered around to check out his bleeding toe.

Charles clicked his tongue, "Rupert got pinched pretty bad, he needs some medicine."

Alice nodded. "I'll go back to the hotel to get the first aid kit, and I need to change my dress anyway."

Esme said, "I'll go with you."

"No need, you go ahead and eat the grilled fish while it's hot." Alice then turned to Henry. "Uncle Henry, can you grill me two more fish, one spicy and one sweet and sour?"

Henry nodded lightly, "Okay."

Alice lifted her dress and headed towards the castle hotel behind the coconut grove. As she walked, she noticed Clara hiding behind a coconut tree, looking towards the left front, like she was eavesdropping on something.

Alice followed her gaze and saw Oliver talking to Oscar.

Oliver pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to Oscar, who looked reluctant but took it anyway.

Alice narrowed her eyes and hid in the shadows.

After a bit, Clara turned and ran off, her eyes red and teeth gritted, looking really upset.

Once everyone was gone, Alice continued to the hotel.

She changed her dress and came back with the first aid kit.

Charles applied medicine and bandaged Rupert's toe. "Too bad, there's a masquerade ball tonight, and you won't be able to go."

Rupert felt really helpless. "My God! That damn crab! Where's Alice? She was just here eating, where did she go?"

Charles packed up the first aid kit and shrugged. "No idea. You lie down for a bit, I'll get you some grilled wings."

With that, he got up and glanced towards the beach with a smile.

The sunset sank, and the twilight gradually dyed the sky. The footprints on the beach were becoming less visible.

Alice spread her arms while running on the beach, and suddenly she lost her balance and fell.

Not far behind, Henry ran over and squatted down. "Did you hurt yourself?"

Alice suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice pitiful, "Uncle Henry, it hurts."

"Where does it hurt?"

"My mouth, can you blow on it for me?"

Under the silver moonlight, Henry looked at the mischievous smile on Alice's pretty face. "Your mouth? Didn't you eat sand?"

Alice pouted, "Uncle Henry, I'm not talking to you anymore."

Henry chuckled, and he pinched her chin as he leaned in.

A gentle breeze blew. Alice's eyelashes trembled as she looked at Henry's tempting face.

Alice and Henry's noses touched, their warm breaths mingling.

"Does it still hurt?" Henry whispered.

Alice felt her legs go weak from his temptation, even though she was the one who seduced him first. "It still hurts. Endorphins are a great anesthetic, and the hormones produced by kissing can have the effect of a painkiller. Uncle Henry, will you help me?"

Thinking about the softness of Alice's lips, Henry's Adam's apple bobbed as he tilted his head to kiss her.

Just as their lips were about to touch, an untimely voice interrupted, "Alice, is that you?"

The romantic atmosphere was instantly shattered, and Alice and Henry immediately separated, with Alice standing up immediately.

Rupert hobbled over. "So you were here! Henry too?"

Henry slowly stood up. "Alice said she wanted to look around here, and I followed since it was getting dark."

Rupert said, "There's a masquerade ball later, I want to ask if you are going."

Alice thought, how could she not go and give someone a chance to cause trouble?

When she returned to the hotel just now, she happened to hear that the masquerade ball was arranged by Oliver.

Combining what she saw in the coconut grove and what Oliver said before, Alice could naturally guess what Oliver wanted to do.

Thinking that, Alice nodded. "I've never attended one before, I can go take a look."

Rupert looked at Henry. "Henry, can you look after Alice later? My leg isn't convenient now."

Henry nodded lightly, "Okay."

Alice whispered into Henry's ear, "Uncle Henry, didn't we look like we were having an affair just now?"

Henry chuckled, "So young, and yet you dare to say anything?"

Alice smiled with her eyes curved, "I only say these things to you."

Seeing Alice and Henry whispered, Rupert called out, "Alice, come help me."

Henry ignored Rupert's call and strode forward. "I'll help you."

Rupert fell silent.