As Luke looked at how troubled Luca was, he ced thedder beside the osmanthus tree.
“Have you thought of how we should hang the lights?" Luke smiled and asked.
Luca shook her head, telling him that she was in a dilemma.
Luke squeezed her hand and said, "Thendscapers did leave us a spot to hang these back then."
Luca eximed in surprise, "Really?"
Luca was definitely not as professional as thendscapers when it came to decorating the garden. If
thendscapers had left them a spot, then hanging the decorative lights there would definitely look
good.
"Aunt Neile, connect the power plug to the socket outside the entrance." Luke took a bunch of colored
decorative lights out of the bag and handed the plug to Aunt Neile.
"Okay, Mr. Crawford." Aunt Neile took the plug from him and walked away to connect it to the socket.
Luca noticed that there were small hooks on the outside of the wall. She thought they were for other
decorations, but she did not expect that they could hang the decorative lights here.
She could already imagine how wonderful the ce would look when the decorative lights were lit up at
night.
After Aunt Neile hung the first bunch of decorative lights, she continued with the second one. She
followed the hooks that thendscaper had ced there and hung the decorative lights on them.
When she arrived at the garden, she stopped and left the rest to Luke.
Luke took the decorative lights from her and looked at Luca. Then, he said, "Hold thedder for me."
"Okay." Luca stepped forward to hold thedder.
Luke climbed up thedder.
Luca reminded him in a soft voice, "Mr. Crawford, be careful."
"Nothing''s going to happen to me if you''re the one holding thedder," replied Luke. He found the small
hook that thendscaper had left on the osmanthus tree. Then, he hung the decorative lights on them.
Half an hourter, they finished decorating the garden.
Aunt Neile turned on the switch. Even though it was still daytime, the colorful decorative lights were
already shining. They looked dim, but everyone could see how beautiful and festive it was.
"They look great. Daddy, you''re awesome!" Rainie turned around and gave Luke a thumbs-up gesture.
“Daddy is amazing!" Tommy looked at Luke with admiration.
Luke basked in his achievements when he looked at the garden that was beautifully lit.
When Luke asked thendscapers to design the yard back then, he took into consideration that Luca
would like these small decorations, especially during the new year. She loved putting up decorative
lights to liven up the atmosphere. That was why he asked thendscapers to make such designs to
make it convenient for him to hang the decorative lights.
Luke looked at Luca, who was slowly walking toward him. The snowkes that fell on her shoulder
embellished her beauty with pure white color. He asked, "Do you like it?"
"I like it. The ce looks beautiful." Luca smiled. Thendscapers'' meticulous thought allowed them to
make the ce look absolutely beautiful.
Aunt Neile looked at them, and she smiled too. Then, she said, "Mr. Crawford, Ms. Craw, I''m off to
prepare lunch first."
"Aunt Neile, let me prepare lunch. You can go home early and apany your family," replied Luca as
she shook her head. Aunt Neile should go on her holiday after finishing her work this morning.
"Can I?" Aunt Neile was a little surprised.
"It''s already New Year''s Eve. I believe your family members are waiting for you too. Just get off work,
Aunt Neile," replied Luca with a gentle smile on her face.
"Off you go, Aunt Neile. Thank you for your hard work." Luke took a small envelope out of his pocket.
Luke prepared the envelope when he woke up in the morning. He was nning to give it to Aunt Neile
before she got off work. It was a token of appreciation.
Aunt Neile immediately shook her head when she saw Luke handing her the envelope. She said,
"Boss, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t be receiving this."
"You''ve been working for the Crawford family for the whole year. You should take the envelope. This is
your New Year''s gift," replied Luke. The maids in Crawford Manor had a rotating shift schedule.
However, Luke had discussed this with Luca and they agreed that there was nothing important going
on during the new year. That was why they let Aunt Neile go back home and apany her family.
"Mr. Crawford, you''ve already given me a bonus." Aunt Neile was too embarrassed to receive Luke''s
envelope.
"Aunt Neile, just take it. This isn''t a bonus. This is a gift. I heard Mr. Crawford say that every maid
working for the Crawford family will receive one every New Year," said Luca.
That was Old Master Crawford''s tradition.
Aunt Neile finally received the envelope and thanked them, "Thank you, Mr. Crawford. Thank you, Ms.
Luca."
"Lliam is already outside waiting for you. He''ll be sending you home. Aunt Neile, happy new year." Luke
had made arrangements for everything.
Luke had always appreciated people who worked hard. Someone like Aunt Neile truly treated Luca and
his kids well, so he would treat her well too.
"Thank you, Mr. Crawford. I shall leave first." After that, Aunt Neile headed outside.
Luca breathed out some air and said, "It''s too cold out here. Shall we go in?''
"Sure." Luke nodded. He held Lanie''s and Rainie''s hands, while Tommy took the initiative to hold
Luca''s hand. He walked back into the house with a spring in his steps.
The first thing they did when they entered the house was to take off their coats. It was to prevent the
snow on their shoulders from melting and wetting their shirt.
Luca looked at the three kids and asked, “What would you like to have for lunch today?”
“Ms. Luca, we always have Hoppin'' John on New Year''s Eve. I''d like to have it today!” Tommy raised
his hand. Although they could have Hoppin'' John when they returned to Crawford Manor, it was not
made by Luca. It would not taste like home.
Tommy wanted to eat Luca''s homemade Hoppin'' John.
"Ah, Hoppin'' John. Sure." Luca agreed with him. Previously, Aunt Neile mentioned that they would be
having Hoppin'' John on New Year''s Eve. That was why she bought ck-eyed peas and bacon.
Luca nced at the time. She still had enough time to prepare lunch. Then, she said, “You can watch
cartoons first. I''ll be preparing Hoppin'' John in the kitchen."
“Great!" Tommy pped his hands. Lanie and Rainie smiled too.
They loved the Hoppin'' John that Luca made.
Luke followed Luca into the kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves and walked toward Luca. She was
cooking the bacon. Luke asked, "Is there anything I can help with?"
Luca was startled for a moment and looked at him, "Mr. Crawford, do you know how to cook?"
“Not really. Should I just stir it?” Luke asked.
Luca, “...”
Then, Luca added the celery, onion, and green pepper into the pan. She said, "It''s okay. I can handle
this."
“The kids will get hungry if you take too long. Is there anything I can do for you?” Luke tried to tell her
that he could be of help even though he was not good at cooking.
Since Luke insisted on helping, Luca said, “Then can you please help me mince the garlic?”
Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
“Is this the right knife to mince the garlic?” Luke had eaten garlic before, but this was his first time
touching a clove of garlic.
Luca nced at it and confirmed with him, “Yes. Mince them finely. Like... those on Hoppin'' John.”
“I''ve eaten Hoppin'' John before,” replied Luke.
Luca tried to exin it in detail to him as she was worried that he would not be able to mince it properly.
Although Luke had never seen a clove of garlic before, he had eaten it minced.
Luke had eaten Hoppin'' John before. He knew exactly what the garlic was supposed to look like.