43 Surprises

Both of them had just finished a busy period, so they were given a few precious days off.

Rehe is about a three-hour drive from City A. It is located in the transition zone between plateau and plain, at a high altitude, and has been a summer resort since ancient times.

Jiangcheng's horse ranch is located on the Bashang Grassland, a vast area with abundant water and grass, which has historically been a traditional pasture for nomadic peoples from beyond the Great Wall.

As you drive into Rehe, you can clearly feel the heat in the air disappear, replaced by a cool breeze, and your eyes are no longer filled with reinforced concrete but with green forests and grasslands.

They drove a black Range Rover this time, which was understated, comfortable, and, most importantly, spacious, because they were traveling with Black Panther.

Three-month-old German Shepherd puppies are full of energy, love to play and explore, and are full of curiosity. On their first car ride, they were not afraid at all, but rather very curious.

The three-legged creature sat perched in the pet chair next to Gu Sinan, constantly gazing out the window.

Ye Zhenzhen was worried that it wouldn't adapt well, so she sat in the passenger seat and kept turning her head to look at the back.

"Don't worry, it's brave and in good spirits," Gu Tingshen said as she turned her head for the nth time, grasping her wrist, on which she wore the bracelet he had given her yesterday.

He rubbed the engraved pattern on the bracelet with his thumb and said with a smile, "But you, you've already yawned several times. Close your eyes and take a nap, then you'll have the energy to play when we get there."

"Oh, okay." Ye Zhenzhen yawned again, wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes with her right hand, and turned to the man driving the car. "Won't you be sleepy if I fall asleep?"

Although she has some fear of driving, she is still a qualified co-driver. She would occasionally feed the driver snacks and fruit, chat with him, and play music for him, mainly to keep him company and stay alert, thus preventing the driver from driving while fatigued.

"Go to sleep, I'm wide awake." Gu Tingshen said with amusement when he saw that her eyes were almost closed.

"Mom, go to sleep. Black Panther and I are here!" Gu Sinan stroked Black Panther's fur with one hand, urging her to sleep as well.

"Woof!" The black panther next to him responded when it heard its name.

"Okay, I'll go to sleep, alright?" Ye Zhenzhen put on her sunglasses and closed her eyes to rest.

These past few days, besides working on her new design project at the company's design department, she's been trying to make an accessory for Gu Tingshen as a return gift for the last present.

The designers at Fengming revised the Journey to the West series of bracelets and rings dozens of times before finally being satisfied. In addition to the gold version, there is also a black gold version, which is understated yet cool and should be popular with young people.

The gifts given to Gu Tingshen were somewhat limited.

Businessmen usually wear very few accessories, and she had never seen Gu Tingshen wear rings, bracelets, necklaces, or the like.

Besides watches, cufflinks are the most commonly used item.

She recently had some extra money and selected a batch of natural gemstones from a gem supplier.

The unheated sapphires within are as deep and bright as a man's eyes.

Two pairs of plain cut cufflinks were used, and one slightly larger one was made into a matching tie clip.

There was also a finely cut sapphire with an emerald, the crystal of which was almost flawless. She thought it would be perfect as a men's saddle ring at first glance.

However, the ring's symbolism was too special, and after much hesitation, she finally decided to keep it in a safe for the time being.

After several days of waiting, she finally settled on a design: platinum setting with engraved scroll patterns on the sides, combining modern simplicity with classic elegance and solemnity.

So she was exhausted these past few days, and as soon as she leaned back in her chair, she fell asleep.

Gu Sinan made a "shh" gesture to the black panther, and the black panther nodded quietly.

Gu Tingshen, who saw this in the rearview mirror, raised an eyebrow, feeling that this little thing was almost becoming a spirit.

When getting out of the car, Gu Tingshen put a leash on the black leopard. The little guy stretched out his neck and cooperated very well, with the golden bone pendant between his fur appearing and disappearing with his movements.

Its training in accompanying her has always been perfect. At this moment, it followed Ye Zhenzhen step by step, walking or stopping with her, showing great intelligence.

"President Gu, Zhenzhen, over here!" Zhao Nanqiao waved to them from afar. "Come on, let me pet the little black leopard~"

Ye Zhenzhen led the black leopard over, greeted the people sitting under the parasol, and sat down next to her.

Gu Tingshen and Gu Sinan lagged half a step behind and sat down next to her.

Zhao Nanqiao smiled like a strange aunt, holding a dog biscuit and trying to please Black Panther.

But they didn't even look at it, and wouldn't even smell it when it was put to their mouths.

"Don't you like it? The pet shop owner said it's a puppy's favorite!" Zhao Nanqiao said dejectedly. "Is it because it's not to your taste?"

"It smells really good, let me see it," Ye Zhenzhen took the bone-shaped dog biscuit, smelled it, and held it to Black Panther's mouth. "Black Panther, do you want to try some?"

"Why did you eat it as soon as it was in your hands?!" Zhao Nanqiao exclaimed dramatically. "Do you dislike me that much? Huh? Leopard??"

"Keep your voice down. It's never eaten food fed by others since it was a kitten, have you forgotten?" Ye Zhenzhen smiled and comforted the black leopard. "How about letting Auntie pet it? She really likes you."

Zhao Nanqiao shut her mouth and carefully stroked its fur.

It's so soft and smooth, it feels amazing! I want to touch it even more!

Zhao Nanqiao had been eyeing it for a long time, and every time she saw it, she wanted to stroke its black fur.

However, Black Panther was extremely vigilant and rarely allowed anyone to get close except for the three of them and their trainer, Wang Meng.

With Ye Zhenzhen comforting her this time, she finally got her wish. Although she only touched it twice, she was overjoyed.

"Look at the way she's jumping around," Zhao Beichen couldn't bear to watch his younger sister act so foolishly, and complained to Gu Tingshen, "She's wanted to have a dog since she was little, but unfortunately my mom is allergic to dog hair, so she gets itchy hands whenever she sees other people's dogs."

Gu Tingshen smiled, not minding at all. Because Ye Zhenzhen and Zhao Nanqiao got along well, the Gu family and the Zhao family had been cooperating more recently, and their relationship had become much closer.

“I loved these little animals when I was a kid. I even raised one when I was a child.” His wife, Liu Xinyi, smiled and praised Black Panther, “But Black Panther is really well cared for. I’ve never seen a puppy with such good focus. It only listens to Zhenzhen and Nannan and doesn’t pay attention to anyone else.”

Ye Zhenzhen and the others fed the black leopard some biscuits and gave it some water. They then took it to the grass, untied its leash, and had Zhao Nanqiao and Gu Sinan play frisbee with it for a while.

Black Panther hadn't run freely in such an open field in a long time, and he was having a great time.

"Let's go, it's still early, let's change our clothes and go horseback riding." Gu Tingshen walked to her side, pulled up the sleeve of her sun protection shirt, and looked at the swelling on her forearm, which had subsided a bit. His gaze then fell on the bracelet on her wrist, and he slightly curled the corners of his lips.

The group went to change their clothes. Having learned from the previous experience of chafing her legs, Gu Tingshen specially customized a riding outfit for her. The leg fabric was fitted and soft, with almost no seams.

"Wow, this bracelet is so pretty, where did you buy it?" She looked down and saw the bracelet on Ye Zhenzhen's wrist. It had been covered by her sun-protective clothing before, but it was now showing as she changed clothes. "It even has a little mechanism, how amazing."

"Old Gu went to Hong Kong Island on a business trip a few days ago..." Ye Zhenzhen blushed slightly under her teasing gaze, tucked in her shirt cuffs, and ignored her.

"Tao Tao, has your waist gotten even thinner? Look at your curves..." As she turned around, Zhao Nanqiao's gaze fell on the waist and hip lines outlined by her shirt and riding breeches. He couldn't help but look at them again and again. They were so tempting, like a ripe peach.

...

Gu Tingshen drove them to the horse farm in a golf cart, and Zhao Nanqiao, ignoring her brother's disapproving looks, insisted on getting into their car.

Just kidding, you'd be a third wheel in any car, but at least Mr. Gu's car has Black Panther!

This place is called a horse farm, but it is actually a huge estate. In addition to the horse farm, it has a swimming pool, hot spring spa, shooting range, golf course, and independent guest villas for entertaining guests.

The different areas are far apart, and getting around usually requires driving a small electric sightseeing vehicle, or sometimes riding a horse.

This gathering wasn't business-related. Jiangcheng didn't bring a band or young models; he invited acquaintances, many of whom brought their families. Some arrived early in the morning to go horseback riding, shooting, or simply stroll around the estate at their leisure.

They met many people along the way. Ye Zhenzhen recognized most of them, but there were some she didn't remember. Zhao Nanqiao explained them to her from the side.

"The people riding horses over there are from my Liu family, a few of my sister-in-law's younger relatives. They're all alright... The people in that blue carriage are the youngest of the Wu family, with three older sisters. This kid spoils them like Jia Baoyu, all effeminate."

"You even started commenting," Ye Zhenzhen was amused by her.

They arrived in the blink of an eye.

"You've finally arrived." Jiang Cheng greeted them upon their arrival and whispered in Gu Tingshen's ear, "Everything is settled in. He's next to your Zhuifeng."

"Thanks." Gu Tingshen nodded in thanks.

"Wow, there are so many horses here! Where's Zhui Feng?" Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed as she walked with Gu Tingshen through the stables.

She had heard Gu Tingshen mention that a Friesian horse named Chase Wind was being kept at this horse farm.

"He's so handsome!" Ye Zhenzhen stood in front of the cubicle, looking at Zhui Feng, who was even taller than her, and was stunned by his good looks. "I wonder if Ta Xue will ever grow this tall..."

Its fur is pure black, with a glossy, silky sheen. Long, slightly curly mane hangs smoothly down its slender neck, and its smooth muscle lines give it a noble and mysterious appearance.

But it wasn't shy at all. It nuzzled Ye Zhenzhen with its big nose, sniffed her, and then tried to snuggle into her arms.

“Be careful it doesn’t get your clothes dirty,” Gu Tingshen said with a smile, pulling her back and leading her to a nearby cubicle. “Come and see this side.”

“This chestnut horse looks just like Hongyun,” Ye Zhenzhen said, still a little reluctant to part with Zhuifeng. She glanced over and then turned to call out to Gu Sinan, “Nannan, look, doesn’t it look like him?”

"Hmm, it really does look like Hongyun." Gu Sinan, holding the black leopard, looked up at the horse and also thought it looked somewhat similar.

"Take another look?" Gu Tingshen stepped forward and stroked the horse's neck. The red horse, as if understanding human nature, lowered its head, nuzzled his hand, and neighed in Ye Zhenzhen's direction.

Ye Zhenzhen's eyes widened slowly. She looked at the horse, then at Gu Tingshen, her gaze shifting back and forth between them several times. Suddenly, she started walking towards the front compartment, where she indeed saw a smaller black horse.

"Ta Xue!!" Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed in surprise, grabbing Gu Tingshen's sleeve. "It's Hongyun and Ta Xue, isn't it?!"