Chapter 324 Niannian, don't be afraid, hold the reins tight.

The next day, the group went to Huo Shenyuan's horse farm.

Everyone changed into professional riding attire, their postures upright, the men handsome and the women beautiful.

Fu Beichen and Bai Yu, in particular, are practically walking hormones.

With his tall stature and handsome face, he exuded more charisma than top celebrities, making the female waitresses on site want to scream.

A short while later, Sheng Weiwei and Gu Xingnian also came out after changing their clothes.

Sheng Weiwei wore a red and white riding outfit that perfectly accentuated her shapely figure, making her both beautiful and cool.

Gu Xingnian chose a blue and white outfit, which made her look tall, graceful, and very pleasing to the eye.

The moment the two stunningly beautiful women with such contrasting styles appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of all the men in the room.

Finally, Huo Shenyuan walked out with the handsome Jiang Cheng. The sunny and dashing young man was equally captivating.

The stable manager had already led three horses to wait outside the gate.

Not far away, a pair of sinister eyes stared intently at them.

Sheng Weiwei chose a tall, brown horse. She was eager to try climbing up herself, but found that the horse was much taller than she had imagined.

"Call me husband, and I'll help you." Bai Yu crossed his arms and watched her make a fool of herself with great interest.

What a load of crap!

"Don't underestimate people."

Sheng Weiwei glared at him, then tried to climb up twice, using both hands and feet, but failed. Her face turned bright red, and she was quite annoyed.

Bai Yu finally couldn't bear to watch any longer. He stretched out his long arm, picked the person up horizontally, and placed them steadily on the horse's back.

"Aren't you going to thank your husband?" Bai Yu nimbly mounted his horse, sat behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and breathed warmly on her ear.

Sheng Weiwei turned her face and whispered something in his ear.

Bai Yu's handsome face instantly changed color. This little girl gets itchy if she doesn't go against him for a day.

"Let's take a lap around first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whip cracked in the air, and the horse immediately galloped away.

"ah!"

Sheng Weiwei's heart was pounding in her throat.

The wind stung her face, but what was worse was the jolting of the horse's back, which made her feel like her internal organs were being twisted into a knot.

"Ah, slow down, slow down!" she cried out in alarm amidst the howling wind.

"Don't be afraid, I'll hold you, you won't fall." Bai Yu showed no sign of slowing down, his face full of smug and mischievous smiles.

"Honey, I'm scared, slow down!" Sheng Weiwei cried out, her eyes tightly shut in fright. "Honey, stop!"

She'd only had two lessons; she'd never run at that speed before.

Bai Yu's smile deepened, and he finally pulled on the reins to slow down.

"Open your eyes, huh? Coward." He turned his head and kissed her cheek.

"Bai Yu, did you do this on purpose?" Sheng Weiwei snapped out of her daze and gave him a hard elbow.

"Trying to murder your husband? You little brat."

"You're just trying to scare me!" Sheng Weiwei glared at him angrily.

"Alright, don't be angry anymore. Who told you to choose Zhan Xiao tonight and not me? Hmm? Now we're even."

He coaxed her earnestly, "Next, I'll ride slowly and take you to see the lake over there, it's very beautiful."

Seeing that she was still puffing out her cheeks, Bai Yu lowered his head and kissed her cheek again. "If you're still angry, I'm going to take you into the grove over there."

"I'll apologize to you with my actions, okay?"

Sheng Weiwei bumped into him again, but her cheeks turned red uncontrollably.

"Shameless," she muttered under her breath, but her anger had actually subsided.

The horse ranch was large and lively; not far away, several tour groups were riding horses in groups.

Bai Yu's gaze swept casually across the area, and suddenly, he saw a familiar figure. A cryptic smile appeared on his lips.

Meanwhile, Gu Xingnian and the others had not yet set off.

Huo Shenyuan specially chose a pure white steed for Jiang Cheng, which was his own mount.

Jiang Cheng glanced at it, a little hesitant, "I can't ride it, I want Nian Nian's shorter one."

He pointed to the little horse next to Gu Xingnian.

Huo Shenyuan said, "Don't be afraid, I'll take you riding."

Jiang Cheng glanced at him with a strange expression. "Two grown men sharing a horse, don't you find that odd?"

Huo Shenyuan: "..."

Damn, I forgot about that. I really should have taken him somewhere else to play.

Gu Xingnian smiled gently, "I'll switch with you."

She traded her gentle little pony for the magnificent pure white horse.

Jiang Cheng immediately mounted the pony happily. "Sister Niannian, I'm going first. You can catch up with me later. Your horse has long legs and runs fast!"

"Okay." Gu Xingnian nodded.

Fearing something might happen to him, Huo Shenyuan quickly mounted a horse that the supervisor had just brought and followed.

At this moment, Fu Beichen was still on the phone, apparently there was an emergency at his company in Country F.

Gu Xingnian stood to the side, patiently waiting for him.

Finally, he hung up the phone, his brow furrowed with apology. "I'm sorry."

"Is everything settled?" Gu Xingnian looked at him gently.

"Yes, Chen Sen has already gone to handle it." Fu Beichen said, reaching out to easily lift her onto the horse's back.

Just as he was about to mount the horse, his phone rang again, which was completely out of place.

Fu Beichen frowned deeply. "Baby, wait for me a little longer."

After saying that, he turned to answer the phone, his tone sounding somewhat impatient.

Gu Xingnian sat obediently on the horse and waited for him.

Suddenly, she heard a sharp whistle.

Without warning, the horse beneath me started moving and slowly took a few steps forward.

Gu Xingnian was taken aback, thinking the horse just wanted to stretch its legs, and she nervously tightened her grip on the reins.

Immediately afterwards, another strange sound rang out.

The white horse beneath her seemed to be greatly frightened, suddenly rearing up and galloping forward like an arrow released from a bow.

"ah!"

"husband!"

"Fu Beichen!"

Gu Xingnian screamed.

Upon hearing the shout, Fu Beichen turned around abruptly, and the scene before him froze his blood.

"Niannian!" he shouted as he rushed out, but there were no more horses left.

"Niannian, don't be afraid, hold on tight to the reins!" He was so anxious he was almost scared out of his wits, but he could only chase after them in vain.

"Ah! Help! Ah!"

Gu Xingnian was jostled around on horseback, her body swaying violently from side to side, and she could be thrown off at any moment.

This fall could cause serious injury, even if it doesn't break bones.

Just then, a figure on horseback nearby rushed towards her at high speed.

Fu Beichen saw a man riding back on horseback and, without thinking, rushed over and snatched the horse away, saying, "Can I borrow your horse?"

He mounted his horse and charged forward with all his might.

"Niannian, Niannian, don't be afraid, hold on tight."

However, Gu Xingnian's horse had already run quite far.

"Fu Beichen!" she cried out his name. Finally, she heard the sound of horses' hooves chasing after her.

She tried to turn around to look, but in that instant she lost all balance and plummeted straight down.

"Ah!" she screamed, closing her eyes in despair, bracing herself for a bloody head.

In a flash, a warm, muscular body suddenly pulled her into an embrace, a large hand firmly protecting the back of her head.

The two rolled around on the grass several times before finally stopping.

"Husband!" Gu Xingnian cried out. She opened her tear-filled eyes, only to see another handsome face.

She stared in astonishment, her eyes widening.

"Little girl, are you alright?" The man quickly got up, carefully checked her body, and then moved her arms and head.

"Are you scared stiff?" He ruffled her hair with his large hand.

"How...how did you get here?"

The man smiled, his eyes deep. "I'll leave first and find you later. Don't tell anyone."

After saying that, he nimbly jumped onto his horse and galloped away.

Fu Beichen finally arrived and was so shocked to see Gu Xingnian lying on the ground that his heart stopped beating.

He jumped off his horse, rushed over, and hugged her tightly in his arms.

"Niannian, did you fall? Where are you hurt?"

He rapidly examined her body, speaking incoherently.

Gu Xingnian shook her head, still shaken, her eyes vacant, still immersed in lingering fear.

Her gaze, however, remained fixed on the disappearing figure in the distance.

"Who saved you?" Fu Beichen asked in a deep voice.

"Ah... he's a stranger." She snapped out of her daze, her eyes red-rimmed, and promised him she wouldn't tell anyone.

As Fu Beichen watched the man's departing figure, a question arose in his mind: Could it be that Lu Lie has returned?

"I'm sorry, it's my fault, I almost hurt you."

Fu Beichen was filled with remorse. He held her in his arms and slowly walked back.

A short while later, the horse farm's vehicle arrived, and he carefully placed her inside.

Gu Xingnian rested her head in his arm, still somewhat lost in thought.

Just then, Bai Yu and Huo Shenyuan also rode over on horseback.

"Xixi, are you hurt?" Bai Yu asked anxiously.

"I'm fine. A kind person saved me," Gu Xingnian said calmly.

Huo Shenyuan jumped off his horse and walked straight towards the white horse that had caused the accident.

The white horse was pacing restlessly in place. Upon closer inspection, he discovered two tiny red dots on the horse's rump.

“There’s something wrong with the horses.” His face darkened, and he immediately took out his phone and dialed a number, his tone icy. “Seal off the horse farm. No one is allowed to enter or leave.”

Upon hearing his words, something instantly connected in Gu Xingnian's mind. She said softly, "This horse was originally meant for Jiang Cheng to ride, but later... I switched with him."

"Is Jiang Cheng the person they want to harm?"

"Could it be..."

The murderer is obvious, but they are still looking for evidence.

The results came out shortly afterward.

Three horse trainers who had been in contact with "Ginkgo" were brought over. Huo Shenyuan's men were swift and decisive, and without much effort, one of them confessed everything.

He was Lin Xia's ex-lover.

This tangled web of relationships is truly baffling.

Huo Shenyuan immediately sent people to capture Lin Xia. When they found her, she was hiding alone in an abandoned factory in the suburbs, huddled in a corner, trembling uncontrollably when she was caught.

She'll never be able to get out of here again in her lifetime.

In the hotel's presidential suite, the air was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

After Fu Beichen brought Gu Xingnian back, she didn't say much, just hugged a pillow and curled up on the sofa.

Sheng Weiwei and Qing Ning rushed over in a hurry.

"Damn, these people really went all out!" Sheng Weiwei exclaimed as soon as she entered the room. Seeing Gu Xingnian's pale face, she felt extremely distressed. "Niannian, are you alright? Is anything bothering you?"

Qingning needed to calm down. She walked over, squatted down in front of Gu Xingnian, and lowered her voice.

"Sister Niannian, look at me."

Gu Xingnian slowly raised her eyes, her gaze still somewhat vacant.

Qingning touched her forehead, then touched her hand; her fingertips were icy cold.

She frowned, turned to Fu Beichen and said, "She was frightened; we need to let her calm down."

Fu Beichen stood a few steps away, his tall figure shrouded in gloom. He nodded, his gaze never leaving Gu Xingnian.

They sat on either side of her, chatting casually, from the latest gossip to complaining about newly released TV dramas, trying to create a relaxed atmosphere.

Gu Xingnian's gaze slowly regained focus.

She leaned on Qingning's shoulder and slowly fell asleep after a long time.

It's late at night.

Only a dim bedside lamp was on in the bedroom.

Fu Beichen pulled her into his arms, and placed a warm kiss on her neck, which was meant to comfort her.

He wanted to tell her in the most intimate way that she wasn't afraid, that he was here.

The man's body was burning hot, his strong chest pressed against her back, exuding a sense of power, a safe haven she knew best.

But tonight, she seemed a little distracted.

My mind is filled with the image of that out-of-control horse from earlier that day.

Fu Beichen quickly noticed her stiffness and distraction.

He stopped what he was doing, simply holding her, his deep voice whispering in her ear.

"What's wrong?"

Gu Xingnian shook her head, buried her face in his chest, and said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing."

He didn't continue, but gently patted her back and finished after one time.

He knew that what she needed was rest, not a half-hearted affair.

Late at night.

Gu Xingnian suddenly screamed.

"Ah! Help me!"

Fu Beichen woke up instantly, turned on the light, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly.

"Niannian! Wake up! It's me!"

"You had a nightmare, wake up!"

His voice pierced through the nightmare, and Gu Xingnian suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for breath, her forehead covered in cold sweat.

Upon recognizing Fu Beichen, her eyes reddened, and she couldn't utter a word. She could only grip his arm tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"It's alright, it's alright."

Fu Beichen gently stroked her back, enveloping her entirely in his breath.

"Don't be afraid, your husband is here."

He held her and comforted her for a long time, then got out of bed, poured her a glass of warm water, and fed it to her.

It wasn't until the sky outside the window began to lighten with the first hint of dawn that the person in my arms gradually calmed down and fell into a deep sleep.

Fu Beichen carefully laid her down and tucked her in.

He got up, not sleepy at all.

The man, shirtless and wearing only loose pajama bottoms, walked to the window.

He took a cigarette from the pack and lit it; the scarlet flame flickered in the dim morning light.

He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

A terrifying ferocity surged within those deep eyes.

He sensed that she was hiding something from him, and that the man was definitely not a stranger.

He had to find out who the man who saved her during the day was.

...