Chapter 61

At the private stable, Yan Xi changed into her riding attire and came out. There were a few guests already riding in the field, but they were too far away for her to see their faces clearly. Even if she could, with her limited social circle in the capital, she likely wouldn't know them.

"Yan Xiaoxi," Yuan Yi said, riding over to her at a relaxed pace, "get on."

This time, Yan Xi didn't attempt any challenging moves. She obediently stepped onto the mounting block and climbed onto the horse's back. Then, she realized it was the same horse as before, but the saddle seemed to have been changed. It felt more comfortable this time.

Who would have thought Yuan Xiaoyi could be so considerate? Did he switch the saddle just for her?

"Let's start by taking a couple of slow laps," Yuan Yi felt a bit uncomfortable having Yan Xi holding him from behind. He wished he'd had her sit in front, but fearing she might sense his true intentions, he held back the suggestion. "The stable is a bit small, but to maintain the original layout of the residence, we can't dismantle the surrounding buildings."

"Small?" Yan Xi looked at the spacious riding field, speechless. How could anyone think it was small?

"Yuan Xiaoyi, if you said something like that in front of others, you'd get punched."

"I wouldn't say it in front of others, only to you," Yuan Yi's ears turned red again. "You're different from those people."

"Oh? How am I different?" Yan Xi asked with a teasing smile. "Is it because I'm prettier?"

Yuan Yi: ...

Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder: What was it about his heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, or brain that made him fall for someone like her? How could she not pick up on such obvious hints?

As he pondered, Yan Xi lightly pinched his waist. "Yuan Xiaoyi, they say that sitting behind is more dangerous for someone who can't ride. How about we switch places?"

Yuan Yi stopped the horse, dismounted, and said to Yan Xi, "Scoot forward a little."

"I'm afraid to move," Yan Xi looked up at him with misty eyes. "Could you... hold me?"

The moment Yan Xi said she was afraid to move, Yuan Yi had already taken hold of her hand, then placed a hand on her waist, helping her shift forward little by little. Her waist was as soft and slender as he'd imagined, and holding it stirred in him the impulse to pull her into his arms.

But there's a saying that love is respect. If loving someone meant being ruled by desire, then he wouldn't have the right to speak of love.

With practiced ease, he climbed back onto the horse, wrapped his arms around her from behind, and took hold of the reins. The position made it feel as if he was holding her in his arms. In that instant, he suddenly understood why people said, "Having you means having the world." He used to think such words were cheesy and superficial, but now he felt there was no better way to describe his feelings.

"The wind might feel chilly when the horse picks up speed," Yuan Yi cautiously tightened his arms a little. "If you get cold, let me know."

"Alright." Yan Xi looked down at the arms around her and nodded with a smile.

The horse walked at a leisurely pace, with others occasionally passing them. But Yan Xi couldn't help noticing that those riders, after getting ahead, would glance back, as if she and Yuan Yi were some rare spectacle.

"Yuan Xiaoyi, what do you think we look like right now?"

"What do we look like?" Yuan Yi was feeling somewhat distracted, his mind filled with thoughts of how nice her hair smelled and how fair her neck looked. He wanted to reach out and touch her face, but he didn't dare.

"Like a prince and princess from a fairytale," Yan Xi laughed first, "except, you don't quite look like a prince."

Yuan Yi: ...

Fine, fine, he wouldn't argue with her.

In any case, fairytales end with the prince and princess living happily ever after. He didn't mind if she teased him a little. Looking at Yan Xi leaning lightly into his arms, Yuan Yi almost felt as if they were already a couple.

"Yan Xiaoxi, I..."

"Hey, Yuan Xiaoxi," Zhu Han rode over, grinning. "I thought it looked like you two, and sure enough..."

Yuan Yi glanced sideways at him. He wasn't worried about formidable opponents, but teammates who acted like clueless pigs were definitely problematic. This kind of childhood friend didn't need to show up at such a crucial moment.

"Oh, I just remembered I have another friend to pick up. You guys enjoy yourselves." Zhu Han quickly picked up on the situation, turned his horse around, and galloped off into the distance.

Yan Xi watched his retreating figure and thought, "Is this how all wealthy heirs behave—so... unconventional?"

"Your childhood friends are quite amusing," Yan Xi couldn't help but laugh. "No wonder you guys get along so well."

Was that a compliment or an insult? The courage Yuan Yi had just summoned dissipated with this interruption. As the saying goes, momentum is lost after the first attempt, weakens on the second, and disappears on the third. He was worried that if he expressed his feelings, Yan Xi might not even want to be friends with him anymore.

"Hyah!" He spurred his horse, and the horse, which had been walking at a slow pace, started to gallop.

"Horsey, horsey, run a little faster, and Yuan Xiaoxi will give you grass."

"What are you singing?" Yuan Yi, a little grumpy, couldn't stay upset for long with Yan Xi acting like this. "Be serious."

"I can't be serious around you," Yan Xi said righteously. "When I'm serious, I'm terrifying."

"How terrifying?" As they reached the windy section, Yuan Yi raised an arm to shield Yan Xi's face from the gusts. "And how am I making you unable to be serious?"

"Because you're my boyfriend."

Yuan Yi's heart was pounding.

"Even though it's fake."

The heart that had been beating wildly felt as if it had climbed to the top of a ten-meter platform, only to crash into the water with a loud splash, instantly quieting.

"Oh."

Sitting in front of him, Yan Xi chuckled to herself and leaned back slightly, like a bird nestling into a warm place. "Yuan Xiaoxi, you used to say you liked girls with big chests and long legs. Have you found one that suits your taste?"

Yuan Yi: ...

He'd said it casually, but she remembered it? Had he known he'd fall for Yan Xi, he would've never said something like that to dig himself into a hole.

"What big chest? I only said that to make you feel safe sitting in my car. Would I really sacrifice my image by saying something like that?" In such a moment, the only smart move was to deny it completely. Yuan Yi, though inexperienced in love, grasped the essence of crisis management, as if a man's instinctive reaction to a relationship crisis was coded into his DNA.

"Looks and body aren't what matters most. The important thing is the feeling," Yuan Yi said earnestly. "Until you meet the right person, no one can really be sure what kind of person they like."

Like himself, for example.

Who would have thought he'd fall for a woman who argued with him and got him a public reprimand from the whole school?

This was fate.

"True. I used to think I liked pale, handsome, and refined men. Before Song Zhao threatened my dad's business, he actually fit my type."

Yuan Yi tightened his grip on the reins, feeling a bit annoyed.

"But attraction is hard to define," Yan Xi said with a sigh, "I had no feelings for Song Zhao. Did I see through his true nature?"

Cheered up, Yuan Yi nodded, "Seems like you have pretty good judgment."

"Thanks for the compliment," Yan Xi patted his arm. "I think so too."

"Young Mr. Yuan, you're too polite. If you need anything in the future, just let me know. I, Old Wang, will go through fire and water for you." Mr. Wang eagerly led the way, saying, "I heard Young Mr. Yuan likes horse riding. We have a racecourse here with well-maintained equipment. You must choose a good horse to ride later."

"No need for formalities," Yuan Bo greeted the man, not mentioning that this estate actually belonged to his younger brother.

As the group walked through the corridor toward the racecourse, Yuan Bo suddenly stopped, blinking in disbelief.

"Young Mr. Yuan? Young Mr. Yuan?" Mr. Wang, seeing Yuan Bo suddenly stop speaking and fix his gaze on a pair of people at the racecourse, was puzzled. Did Mr. Yuan know those two?

Just as he wondered, the couple's horse drew closer, and he heard Young Mr. Yuan speak.

"Yuan Yi!"

Yan Xi had been chatting with Yuan Yi about things at the First High School in the capital. She hadn't attended for long, so she didn't have many memories—just a few books in the library and a statue or two.

"The statues are gone," Yuan Yi replied casually. "My family donated money for a new one."

"Why replace—"

"Yuan Yi!"

Yan Xi's words were interrupted. She turned her head and saw a few men in suits standing in the corridor, with one man looking familiar. Was that... Yuan Xiao'er's older brother?

"Ah." She had hoped to finalize things with Yuan Yi today, but now it seemed an unexpected interruption might delay her plans.

"Big brother," Yuan Yi thought he must have forgotten to check his horoscope today; one interference after another was spoiling the atmosphere.

Yuan Yi helped Yan Xi off the horse, took off his helmet, and handed it to the staff, then led Yan Xi over to Yuan Bo. "Big brother."

"Mm," Yuan Bo nodded, giving Yan Xi a polite smile. "You must be Miss Yan. It's a pleasure."

"Hello, Mr. Yuan," Yan Xi shook hands with him, both sides polite and courteous.

Only then did the people behind Yuan Bo realize this was the second young master of the Yuan family. No wonder Young Mr. Yuan had greeted them.

"Hello, Second Young Master Yuan."

Yan Xi noticed they addressed Yuan Bo as "Young Mr. Yuan" but called Yuan Yi "Second Young Master Yuan," which suggested they saw Yuan Yi as merely an adjunct to the Yuan family. She turned to look at Yuan Yi, finding he seemed long accustomed to this form of address, with no hint of dissatisfaction on his face.

While Yuan Yi didn't seem to mind, she felt a bit uneasy about it.

Her Yuan Xiaoxi was so capable, with numerous assets under his name. Were these people blind?

"My younger brother is the owner of Hengtai Company. You can all just call him 'Young Mr. Yuan,' no need for such formality." Yuan Bo's tone was calm as he continued, "This is his... girlfriend, Miss Yan."

Yan Xi: Wait, was this her meeting the family?

Wasn't this moving a little fast?

She turned to look at Yuan Yi, who smiled warmly, seemingly in agreement with Yuan Bo's way of introducing her.

Perfect.