1986: My Happy Life in Provence

Chapter 100 Showdown
Louis seemed to have guessed what Zoe wanted to say, but in his current state he couldn't even look his daughter in the eye. How could he react and behave like a qualified father?

"Honey, I suddenly remembered that I have something to talk to Freddy about. Why don't we talk about it another day?" Louis said casually.

Zoe stared at her father's dodging eyes and said calmly:

"Dad, are you running away? Because you saw me touching Ronan's face?"

"Huh?" Vieri, who was slumped on the sofa, suddenly sat up straight.

"Did you peek again?" Leah asked Louis.

"Do you think I am you? I found another magazine with Ronan written on it and wanted to show it to him, and I happened to see--" Louis refuted vigorously.

"You didn't knock on the door, did you?" Leah's tone became sharp. "When will you change this habit? And don't you know to leave some space for Ronan and Zoe to be alone?"

Vieri looked around in panic:
"Dad, Mom, what are you talking about?"

Zoe crossed her arms and said calmly:
"So you already knew I liked Ronan?"

Vieri's facial features twisted:
“Can someone answer my question?”

Leah said awkwardly:

"Dear, that's not all. Only your father and I know."

"That's all now." Zoe looked at Vieri.

Vieri finally confirmed that this was not a prank and looked back at his sister in disbelief:
"My God, my classmates often ask me why you don't find someone to marry since you are so outstanding. I said maybe you like women. I didn't expect you to like men, but I can understand. Ronan is very charming."

Leah patted Vieri's arm and continued to fill him in on the missing information:
"It's possible that Ronan also likes your sister. They like each other."

"Really? Really?" Vieri jumped up and cheered like an unevolved monkey. "Great! Ronan and I will never be apart again!!"

Zoe said to Vieri with a cold face:

"Please sit down first. I haven't finished talking yet."

When the surroundings quieted down, Zoe said slowly:

"I don't want you to interfere too much in my affairs with Ronan. I know it's difficult and there are many complicated psychological emotions to deal with and digest."

She looked at Louis and continued:
"Dad, I understand that you can't accept that there are other men in my world for a while, but even if I get married in the future, I will still be your daughter, and this will not change."

Louis finally took off his disguise, held his forehead, and said bitterly:
"I would be very happy if you could be with Ronan, but that doesn't mean I'm not sad. I know this is outrageous, but I'm really happy and sad at the same time, and I can't control my mood."

Zoe went over and hugged her vulnerable father:
"I understand. I understand."

After comforting her father, Zoe looked at her mother again:
"Mom, I know you're worried. You started to worry about us before I even realized I had feelings for Ronan. But can we just handle the relationship ourselves? Don't always peek and don't think about 'helping'."

Leah said helplessly:

"I just want you to move faster."

Zoe hugged her mother and whispered in her ear:
"Have some faith in me, okay?"

Vieri became more and more excited as he listened, and asked his sister:

"Can I tell my classmates about this? Tell them that you and Ronan like each other! They'll be so jealous of me!"

Zoe frowned:

"Of course not, at least not before we confirm our relationship. Also, don't always 'occupy' Ronan. Give him back to me."

"Then when will you confirm your relationship with Ronan?" Vieri ignored what he didn't want to hear and only cared about what he cared about.

"It should be soon." Zoe finished everything and stood up and walked towards her bedroom.

"Really, dear? Your 'soon' doesn't mean next year, does it?" Leah asked cautiously. Zoe suddenly stopped and turned to ask them:

"Do you think I'm not charming enough? Or is there something wrong with Ronan's brain?"

"We--" The three of them didn't dare to speak and watched Zoe enter her bedroom.

Vieri also stood up and left:

"Since I was ten years old, I have been surrounded by classmates and friends who like Zoe. They even call her the 'bright pearl of Lourmarin'. I think Zoe's confidence is justified."

Leah turned and asked Louis:
"Has Zoe figured out that she wants to actively 'pursue' Ronan?"

Louis' mood had just improved a little, but then it became gloomy again:

"Do you want to be more 'active'?"

In the workshop, Zoe looked at Ronan with eyes that seemed to be dripping with tears!

Is it more 'active' than that?

On the way home, I had to pass by Theo's house first.

Ronan saw a figure busy in the fields from afar.

"Blanco should give you an award for the most diligent farmer." Ronan walked over and taunted happily.

Farmers usually choose to get up early to work, and almost no one comes out to work after dinner. Now should be their leisure time to drink and play cards.

Theo straightened up and put the cigarette behind his ear into his mouth:
"If we don't work now, these grapes won't make it to autumn."

"When did you come back?" Ronan asked with a smile, crossing his arms.

"The day before yesterday." Theo took a deep puff, and the cigarette was visibly one-fifth less. "In the past three days, apart from eating, sleeping and working, I didn't even have time to drink."

Ronan's eyes left the two wine bottles lying on the ground not far away, picked up the sickle, and helped Theo weed:
"Give us a heads-up next time you go out, and we can come and help look after you."

Theo rubbed his wet hair in annoyance:

"I thought I would be back in a day or two, but it took more than a week because Lucas didn't explain everything in advance."

Ronan tossed Theo the keys to his Cherokee, which he had been carrying with him every day.

"Is Lucas okay in Marseille?"

Theo shook his head:

"Damn Olivier for setting Lucas up."

Ronan listened silently without asking any more questions.

This is someone else's family affair.

Suddenly, Theo put out his cigarette and walked quickly to Ronan:
“Don’t cut the alfalfa!”

"Alfalfa?" Ronan paused.

There are several raised clumps of 'grass' at the border of Theo's vineyard.

Ronan was still complaining about how long Theo hadn't managed this land. After all, this guy postponed the winter pruning that should have been done in November until March. It turned out that he did it on purpose?
"Rabbits love to eat it. We can pick it three times before autumn." Theo grinned. "If alfalfa grows well in the spring, rabbits will be fat in the winter."

"Okay." Ronan shrugged and left the area.

"Why aren't you excited at all? Don't you like rabbit?" Theo made a shotgun shape with his hands and closed one eye to aim. "Or do you like wild rabbit?"

(End of this chapter)