Chapter 34 34 Concerned about the odds
The distance from Repulse Bay Beach to the Chiang family ancestral home is very short.
It seemed like He Peiru had just sat down in the back seat when the car drove into the parking lot of the Chiang family's ancestral home.
Walking into the living room and finding that Jiang Yici and the others had not yet returned, she finally felt completely calm and no longer worried about having any extra emotions after returning to her room.
He Peiru still doesn't feel like she's actually experiencing what happened tonight.
Especially after overhearing Uncle Zhang and Gu Zhaoqian's phone call, she couldn't help but wonder if more things had happened in places she didn't know about.
She held her phone with a puzzled look in her eyes, and this time she wanted to be direct and ask her directly.
By skipping the step of asking Uncle Zhang directly, it's clear that Uncle Zhang and Gu Zhaoqian have a closer relationship. Even if she didn't directly bring it up with Uncle Zhang, she couldn't be sure that he wouldn't overthink it.
Their business shouldn't involve other people.
She made up her mind and typed a series of words on her phone screen.
He Peiru: [Actually, there's no need to go through all that trouble. Instead of asking Uncle Zhang, you might as well just ask me.]
It's unclear whether she wanted to get closer to Gu Zhaoqian or draw a line between them.
But subconsciously I felt it was necessary to make things clear.
Moreover, because of Gu Zhaoqian's actions in many matters, He Peiru had the foresight to quickly add to the list.
He Peiru: [Don't call me, let's communicate via text.]
She didn't care whether Gu Zhaoqian had this intention or not; she only knew that stopping him was definitely the right thing to do.
Gu Zhaoqian: [I understand, it's my fault.]
When He Peiru saw the message, she never expected him to admit it so readily.
Then a new message popped up.
Gu Zhaoqian: [If I asked you, would you be willing to tell me?]
He Peiru was taken aback by the straightforward question.
Thankfully, she had already returned to her room; otherwise, the emotions on her face would have left her nowhere to hide.
She made up her mind and tapped the screen a few times.
He Peiru: [Yes.]
Gu Zhaoqian seemed to have never put down his phone, replying to her messages almost instantly.
Gu Zhaoqian: [Okay, since you brought it up yourself.]
Gu Zhaoqian: [I will remember this well.]
He Peiru did not reply, secretly thinking that she had taken the first step.
At the same time, she heard the sound of a car coming from downstairs, which was probably because the Jiang family had finished entertaining their guests and were finally done with other things.
She didn't stay in the room any longer. When she pushed open the door and went downstairs, she saw Jiang Yaozong and Zheng Wanqiao walking into the living room together, while Jiang Yici was following behind them making a phone call.
He Peiru lowered her gaze and noticed that Zheng Wanqiao was already wearing the bracelet she had given her that evening.
When Zheng Wanqiao noticed her, she immediately came over, took her hand, and said, "Grandma likes this bracelet more and more."
You could tell from her tone that Zheng Wanqiao really loved it: "Everyone who saw it tonight praised our Aru for her good taste."
At that moment, He Peiru understood the true meaning behind Gu Zhaoqian's actions.
To outsiders, He Peiru was nothing more than someone who had spent the previous twenty-one years wandering and living a life of hardship. Unless one genuinely cared for her, it's likely that some uninvited guests at this family banquet were simply looking for a spectacle.
Little did they know that she had already thought it through. Since the Jiang family could be her source of confidence, then she should not be inferior in any of her actions.
He Peiru smiled sweetly and said, "What matters most is that you like it, Mother-in-law."
Zheng Wanqiao patted her hand gently again with relief.
After ending the call, Jiang Yici stepped forward, putting away his phone as he said, "Aru, would you be interested in going to the horse farm?"
"Horse farm?" Those who grew up in this city are probably familiar with this place, but many people are actually unfamiliar with it and have very likely never set foot there.
He Peiru nodded and replied, "I'd like to go take a look."
“Okay, this week is a key event.” Jiang Yici briefly explained to her, “I’ll arrange the rest.”
She suddenly remembered Gu Zhaoqian and subconsciously asked to confirm, "Will Uncle be going too?"
Jiang Yici nodded: "Don't worry, I'll go too."
He Peiru breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart, but did not forget to pretend to be relaxed and replied, "Okay, I understand."
She asked that because she was worried it would be the same as before.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she really didn't want to be alone with Gu Zhaoqian again for any reason.
Jiang Yici nodded and said, "It's getting late. The whole family is quite tired today. Let's all go back to our rooms and rest."
Jiang Yaozong agreed, saying, "Yes, Aru, go back and rest."
He Peiru turned her head slightly and said, "Good night, parents-in-law and uncle."
Jiang Yici arranged the trip to the horse farm, so she naturally didn't need to worry.
During her time back at the Jiang family home, He Peiru had heard that many people around her would buy a racehorse to raise, perhaps as a hobby, or perhaps as an indispensable status symbol in this circle.
Now that Jiang Yici had started, she couldn't help but be intrigued by the horse farm.
After returning to her room, He Peiru unconsciously began to search her mind for any memories related to the horse farm. She vaguely remembered that when she lived in public housing, she would often hear uncles, aunts, or in-laws discussing which horse they liked in the elevator or the garden downstairs.
However, no matter how much she listened, she never thought of getting involved.
She never entertained any unrealistic fantasies, especially those involving gambling and probability.
Even if it can alleviate her predicament in the short term, the fact is that there will definitely be risks.
He Peiru only ever wanted to earn money by working.
Now that she no longer needed to worry about these things, and had the opportunity to step onto the horse farm for the first time, she couldn't help but feel a secret sense of anticipation.
Jiang Yici's subordinates are extremely efficient.
The next afternoon, clothes suitable for entering and leaving the horse farm were delivered to the Jiang family. This was also a social occasion frequented by people in the industry, so it could not be taken lightly.
Upon opening the box, a faux two-piece shirt dress comes into view, and even before putting it on, one can already imagine the demure and well-behaved young lady it will present.
She looks quite different from how she usually dresses for banquets.
He Peiru didn't think much of it; she had complete trust in Jiang Yici.
Wednesday.
Because the event started at noon that day, the stylist arrived at the Jiang family home early in the morning, and He Peiru chose a makeup look that suited that shirt dress.
After everything was prepared, she and Jiang Yici got into the car and headed to Sha Tin Racecourse.
As soon as the car started, Jiang Yici turned around and explained the situation to him: "It's quite a distance from home to Sha Tin Racecourse, you can take a short break."
As if worried that she might be nervous, he added, "You've met most of the people here before, so just treat it like attending a banquet. Don't be too nervous."
"I know."
He Peiru nodded obediently.
What she was certain Jiang Yici didn't know was because her intuition told her she would meet Gu Zhaoqian.
After that family dinner, they seemed to have grown closer, but they didn't contact each other for any reason afterward.
Their relationship seemed to have come to an end once again.
The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to see Gu Zhaoqian.
It seems that judging from his attitude when face-to-face can confirm something.
He Peiru was so engrossed in her own world that she didn't realize the car had already driven out of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel.
Nowadays, her activities are mainly confined to Hong Kong Island. The last time she crossed the sea was when she met with Feng Shiqi in Tsim Sha Tsui.
This place, which Ho Pui-yu used to know well, has become unfamiliar to her since she moved out of the public housing to go to university.
Looking out the window at the street scene, a familiar feeling washed over her, instantly stirring up long-forgotten memories.
Those familiar scenes resurfaced in her mind after a long time. Fortunately, since returning to the Jiang family, He Peiru has felt endless care and protection, and the sadness that had been hidden in her heart has become unimportant.
Moreover, no matter how unpleasant this memory may be, it is still a part of her growth.
The car soon arrived at Sha Tin Racecourse.
As soon as they came to a stop, someone came forward and opened the car door for them.
The Sha Tin Racecourse is surrounded by open spaces, and before He Peiru even got out of the car, the wind that rushed in had already ruffled her hair.
At this moment, a man in a suit and tie stepped forward, seemingly to lead the way, and said, "Mr. Jiang, Ms. He, hello."
She chuckled and replied, "Hello."
“Perfect timing.” Jiang Yici, standing to the side, shook hands with the person who stepped forward and said, “Let’s go check out the stables first.”
He Peiru had done her homework over the past few days, and she could go to the stables before the competition to check on the horses and judge their condition.
They walked leisurely towards the stables, and asked Jiang Yici curiously, "Uncle, do you keep horses?"
“Yes, it’s kept under the Jiang family’s name.” Jiang Yici nodded with a smile. “But it’s not participating in the competition today, so it’s being kept in the stable.”
He didn't elaborate on the racehorse, but continued, "If you're interested, you can place a bet later if you want to try your luck."
He added, "I don't think there's any need to consider other factors; just bet based on your intuition."
He Peiru was somewhat surprised: "Huh?"
"Beginners usually have particularly good luck."
At that moment, she heard a third person's voice behind her. She didn't need to confirm it; she could easily tell it was Gu Zhaoqian.
He Peiru turned around, and the person she wanted to see was right in front of her, but she felt so stiff that she couldn't breathe, and her voice was as thin as a whisper: "Brother Qian."
"Aru." Gu Zhaoqian took a long stride and walked to her side, teasing, "Which horse have you taken a fancy to? I'm planning to place a bet with you."
“Ah…” He Peiru didn’t expect him to say that, and muttered, “Don’t count on me…”
However, this was the first time she had heard this claim, and she couldn't help but feel lost if she were to put it into practice.
Perhaps her expression gave her away, Gu Zhaoqian chuckled and said, "No need to rush, you can think about it slowly."
After touring the stables for a while, He Peiru followed them to the VIP box. Upon entering, she was greeted by a spacious view, and there was also specially provided food, as well as small screens on the walls for easy viewing.
She looked up and saw the names of these racehorses, each with its own unique style, so interesting that she couldn't help but chuckle.
Unexpectedly, such a faint sound still attracted Gu Zhaoqian's attention. He asked, "Which horse have you taken a fancy to?"
Each horse had a unique name, and their distinctive styles made it impossible for her to choose.
But Gu Zhaoqian seemed to be waiting earnestly for her answer.
He Peiru looked at it again and decided to make a choice based on the numbers, saying, "Then... number 9."
He nodded: "Okay."
Her gaze remained fixed on the screen when she suddenly realized that she had made the decision in a daze, without paying any attention to the odds.
But the odds for the upcoming match with number 9 are very high, and she can't help but feel that her decision was too hasty.
He Peiru turned to look at Gu Zhaoqian with some hesitation and asked tentatively, "The odds for number 9 seem very high. Wouldn't it be a bad idea to do this?"
He shook his head and replied, "Don't worry about the odds; I think luck is more important."
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