"James Black, canāt you be just a little nicer to me?" Jane Sampson muttered, "I was sleeping so soundly this morningācouldnāt you have thought to treat me better and not wake me up?"
"Be a little nicer to you?" James Black sneered, "What do you mean by treat you better? If you want to climb onto the roof, should I get a ladder for you? If you want to pry up the tiles, should I find you a stick?"
Listening to Jane Sampsonās playful giggling it felt like she was pretending to be coy, James Black still resisted the urge to pluck the laughing woman off his back.
Just...
"Jane Sampson, what are you doing with your hand?" James Blackās eyebrows twitched.
"Feeling your pocket," Jane Sampson replied honestlyāand upon being discoveredāshe brazenly moved from his jacket pocket to his trouser pocket to continue her search.
"Looking for what?" James Black guessed, "The keys to the house?"
"Mm... not exactly," Jane Sampson realized she couldnāt quite reach James Blackās trouser pocket, so she squirmed on his back before responding, "Looking for money."
James Black took Jane Sampsonās hand out of his trouser pocket and chuckled, "It seems I have underestimated you."
"Iām hungry," Jane Sampson asked seriously, "I got up early and now Iām hungry earlyāare you not hungry?"
But she hadnāt brought keys or money with her, and after James Black helped her get dressed, he simply scooped her out of the house, leaving her truly penniless except for the clothes on her back.
Once out of the residential community, there was a breakfast cafƩ, and Jane Sampson remembered that James Black used to bring breakfast back when he went for a morning run, so he must have some money on him.
"Pig," James Black said, barely containing a laugh, "Get off my back, Iāll take you."
Jane Sampsonās legs relaxed onto the ground, but her left hand was still on James Blackās shoulder, her face full of suspicion, "Youāre not going to trick me into getting down and then continue to make me jog, are you?"
Seeing James Black glance at her, Jane Sampsonās internal alarms went off; what to do? She really wanted to climb back on his back and let him carry her to the breakfast cafĆ© shop entrance before getting down again.
She wondered if it was still possible to correct the situation.
"Not going?" James Black raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes, letās go!" Jane Sampson heaved a sigh of relief and quickly linked her arm through James Blackās as they headed towards the community entrance.
She had really scared herself.
Looking down at Jane Sampson, who was rarely so forward as to link arms with him, a slight smile curled up at the corner of James Blackās lips as he began to say slowly, "Starting tomorrow, half an hour of slow jogging every morning, then two days later, forty-five minutes, and after one week, extending the time to an hour."
Jane Sampsonās pace hesitated as she turned her head to glance at James Black. She mumbled confusedly and shook her head, thinking to herself, letās just get through today firstātomorrowās worries can be dealt with tomorrow.
And after one week extending it to an hour? He would have returned to the guard team by then; itās not like he has a thousand-mile eye to watch over her, right?
Just now, she thought Chief Black, who was taking her to breakfast, suddenly looked handsome.
But his handsomeness lasted only two seconds.
At this time, the breakfast cafƩ was doing good business. James Black scanned the inside and saw that there were no spare tables left, and turned to discuss with Jane Sampson, "Should we get takeout and eat at home?"
"That table only has two people; we could share a table with them." Jane Sampsonās eyes were sharp, noticing a father and daughter in the corner, and most importantly, the young girl was exceptionally cute and adorable.
Having said that, Jane Sampson ran ahead without asking if the people minded sharing a table. The little girl smiled at Jane Sampson and even moved a chair for her.