......
As evening fell, the setting sun bathed the distant Qilian Mountains in a warm golden hue.
Not long after, He Yanzhi brought over a chestnut-colored warhorse with a relatively docile temperament.
“This horse is very stable, don’t be afraid.” He Yanzhi patted the horse’s neck and handed the reins to Guan Wenru, his eyes filled with encouragement.
"good!"
Guan Wenru looked at the horse, which was much larger than she had imagined, but she wasn't too intimidated. After all, riding a horse was too easy for her now.
But her face revealed just the right amount of nervousness and awkwardness.
She walked to the stirrup and awkwardly tried to lift her foot to step on it. Once, twice... each time she seemed to be missing the mark, her body wobbling and she just couldn't get on.
She frowned slightly and muttered softly, "It seems... a bit tall..."
He Yanzhi watched from the side, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was thinking about how to help.
Seeing Guan Wenru fail again and nearly twist her ankle, he almost instinctively blurted out, "Excuse me!"
Before he finished speaking, he stepped forward, his strong arms passing under Guan Wenru's armpits and knees, and with a slight effort, he easily lifted her up and placed her steadily on the saddle!
The movements were executed in one smooth motion, displaying the crispness characteristic of soldiers.
Guan Wenru let out a soft cry and subconsciously grabbed the front of the saddle.
The man's arms were strong and reliable, and the feeling of being lifted into the air and enveloped by his breath made her heart skip several beats.
Honestly... Even though we've been married for ages, her heart still races when she's with him like this.
It feels like I'm in love!
Sitting on horseback, she looked down at He Yanzhi, who was looking up at her. A subtle, triumphant smile played on her lips, but she quickly replaced it with an expression of shock and gratitude. "Th...thank you, Brother Yanzhi..."
He Yanzhi seemed to realize just now how reckless his actions had been, his ears turning slightly red as he awkwardly let go of her hand.
He took a half step back, his voice lower than usual, "It's...it's okay, sit tight, hold on here, don't be afraid!"
He coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment, then began to seriously assume the role of coach, taking the reins and slowly walking around the field.
"Relax your body, don't tense up..."
"Keep your eyes forward, don't keep staring at the horse's head..."
"Yes, just like that, gently sway to its rhythm..."
His explanations were patient and detailed, and his voice was deep and pleasant.
Guan Wenru sat on horseback, seemingly listening attentively, occasionally humming in agreement, but her gaze lingered more on his earnest profile and upright back.
The setting sun gilded his silhouette with a golden edge, a sight so beautiful it made her heart ache and throb.
In that frustrating lifetime, what was wrong with her that made her reject him and push him away time and time again?
Time slipped away quietly in this leisurely circling, and before we knew it, more than an hour had passed.
As the sun was about to completely disappear behind the mountains, darkness fell.
"That's about enough for today, let's stop here."
He Yanzhi stopped and walked to the side of the horse, reaching out his hand to her. "Be careful when you get down. Put your feet in the stirrups first, then slide down slowly. I'll help you."
Guan Wenru nodded and did as instructed.
However, just as she took one foot off the stirrup and was about to slide down using his momentum, her foot suddenly went "soft," and her body stumbled violently as she cried out and fell to the side!
"Watch out!" He Yanzhi's expression changed, and he reacted extremely quickly. He immediately stepped forward, his strong arms suddenly wrapped around her, and he caught her firmly in his arms!
A soft, warm body suddenly entered my arms, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.
He Yanzhi's body instantly stiffened like iron, and his heart felt as if it had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, pounding wildly as if it would burst out of his chest.
He could even clearly feel the softness and slenderness of her body, even through the thick cotton clothes.
Guan Wenru, upon being embraced, seemed to be "startled" and instinctively raised her head.
Her lips just happened to brush against He Yanzhi's Adam's apple, which was bobbing slightly with nervousness!
The touch was soft and slightly cool, yet it felt like a scalding electric current, instantly piercing through all of He Yanzhi's reason and defenses!
"!" He Yanzhi gasped sharply, as if he had been burned. His arm snapped back as if he had been electrocuted, and he took a step back, widening the distance between them.
His face flushed crimson in the twilight, his eyes filled with shock, panic, and helplessness, and his speech became incoherent:
"I...I'm sorry! I...I didn't mean to! Are you...are you alright?"
Guan Wenru steadied herself and looked at his flustered and helpless appearance, which resembled that of an innocent young man. She was secretly delighted, but her face remained blank and innocent, as if she had no idea how ambiguous the "accident" had been.
She even raised her hand to touch her lips, looking bewildered. "I'm fine. Thank you for helping me, Brother Yan. Thank you for teaching me how to ride a horse today. It was a lot of fun."
He Yanzhi didn't even dare to look at Guan Wenru anymore, his gaze drifting to the ground. "You're welcome. It's getting dark, you...you should go back and rest!"
Guan Wenru nodded seriously, as if the accident had never happened. "Okay, I'll go back first. Yanzhi, you should get some rest too."
After saying that, she turned around and walked towards the family compound.
The moment she turned her back to He Yanzhi, the feigned innocence and confusion on her face vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming sense of smugness and sweetness, her eyes and brows beaming with pride.
She could imagine the chaos and turmoil behind He Yanzhi at that moment.
According to the original trajectory of this life, because of her resistance and alienation, He Yanzhi did not cautiously inquire about her wishes until 1975, after repeated encouragement and introductions from several enthusiastic sisters-in-law.
At that time, she was disheartened and also because of that ridiculous concern about her "identity," so she actually refused!
Looking back now, it was absolutely out of my mind!
That's incredibly stupid!
But since God has given her a second chance in this way, she will not only not refuse, but she will also insist that he find someone to act as a go-between beforehand!
She would use every means to seduce him, to make him unable to hold back any longer and take that step!
She couldn't wait to become his lawful husband and wife, to stand openly by his side, to be close to him, and to make up for all the regrets and missed opportunities of her past life.
As dusk deepened, Guan Wenru's steps were light, her mind racing with calculations.
Behind him, He Yanzhi remained frozen in the approaching night, his fingers unconsciously tracing the Adam's apple that had just been brushed by those soft lips…
The lingering sensation and warmth seemed to burn within him, making him panic and unable to calm down for a long time…
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