Chapter 5: Maintenance of the Jockey Club
Inside the members' box at Sha Tin Racecourse, the atmosphere was a stark contrast to the boisterous atmosphere of the spectator stands outside. Here, amidst the flurry of wine and the elegantly dressed, it became another invisible arena for Hong Kong's elite. The air was thick with the aroma of fine perfume, the richness of cigars, and something even more subtle—the silent clash of power and capital.
Su Lingwan sat beside Huo Linshen, wearing a champagne-colored, lace-embroidered, knee-length dress that was elegant yet feminine. Selina had chosen it for her, considering the occasion. She sat slightly reserved, her gaze fixed on the grassy track below, though not truly focused. This was her first time as Huo Linshen's "girlfriend" at such a formal social gathering, attended by so many of Hong Kong's top figures.
She could feel the gazes coming from all directions—curious, probing, scrutinizing, even a touch of disapproval. Those gazes enveloped her like a fine net. She knew her every move would be infinitely magnified and interpreted.
Huo Linshen remained unperturbed, chatting quietly with several of his uncles, business tycoons, and nodding occasionally, his expression maintaining his usual indifference. He seemed completely unperturbed by the outside world and didn't deliberately show excessive attention to Su Lingwan. When her tea ran low, he would naturally signal the waiter to refill it. This subtle care, routine yet thoughtful, was consistent with his usual style.
"The next match is the highlight match, and 'Ocean Star' is very popular." A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit and with meticulously combed hair said to Huo Linshen with a smile, "Linshen, are you interested in playing a hand?"
Huo Linshen glanced at the horse manual in his hand and said calmly, "Uncle Li, which horse do you like?"
"I'm optimistic about number 3, 'Flame Chasing Wind'. His pedigree and condition are both good." Uncle Li chuckled, his eyes casually glancing at Su Lingwan. "Miss Su is from Southeast Asia. Do you know anything about horse racing? Private race clubs seem to be more popular in Southeast Asia."
Su Lingwan was slightly startled by the sudden shift in topic. She set down her bone china teacup, looked up, and greeted Uncle Li with a tentative smile. "Hello, Uncle Li," she said frankly. "I don't know much about horse racing. Although the Su family owns a horse farm in Southeast Asia, I personally prefer quieter activities, like drawing and designing."
She had a clear voice, a neither humble nor arrogant attitude, and just the right amount of politeness of a junior.
Uncle Li's eyes flashed with surprise, then he smiled and said, "Oh? Miss Su is also a designer? It's a good thing for young people to have their own hobbies."
At this moment, a slightly shrill female voice interrupted, with a hint of coquettishness and subtle provocation: "Ah, horse racing is a tradition and a top social culture in Hong Kong. Miss Su just returned from Southeast Asia and may not understand our customs here. Watch a few more races and you will slowly understand. After all, if you want to fit in with our circle, there are some things you must understand."
The speaker was a young woman sitting diagonally across from him. Her surname was Lin. Her family was in the shipping business, and she was a well-known socialite in Hong Kong. She was also one of the many women who were known to have fantasies about Huo Linshen. She was dressed in jewels today, and her eyes, looking at Su Lingwan, were filled with undisguised contempt and hostility.
As soon as these words were spoken, the box suddenly became quiet. Everyone's eyes wandered between Su Lingwan and Miss Lin, with a sense of amusement as if they were watching a show.
Su Lingwan's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup. It wasn't that she couldn't sense the other party's ill intentions. "I don't know the rules," "I'm not fitting in," every word and sentence was implying that she was an outsider, unworthy of standing beside Huo Linshen.
Normally, she might have just laughed it off, or retaliated in a more subtle way. But at this moment, she represented the Su family and was also Huo Linshen's girlfriend. She couldn't back down, nor could she lose her composure.
Just as she was about to speak, a bony hand gently covered the back of her hand on her knee.
His palms were warm and dry, carrying a steady strength.
Su Lingwan's heart skipped a beat and she turned her head to look at Huo Linshen.
He didn't look at her, still reading the horse racing manual in his hand, as if it were just a casual movement. But his voice resounded clearly in the somewhat quiet box. It was not loud, but it carried a cold, penetrating power that instantly froze the air.
"Ms. Lin." He spoke in a calm tone, but it made Miss Lin's face turn pale instantly.
Huo Linshen slowly raised his eyes, his gaze like a cold arrow, accurately falling on Miss Lin, carrying an invisible, suffocating sense of oppression.
"I think you may have made a mistake." His tone was steady and his words were clear. "In Hong Kong, or anywhere else,"
He paused slightly, his eyes sweeping across the crowd before finally returning to Miss Lin's pale face. He spoke each word with resounding force:
"Miss Su's rules are my rules."
“…”
The entire box was silent.
You can hear a pin drop.
Everyone was shocked by Huo Linshen's sudden and ruthless protection.
He didn't even raise his voice or speak harshly, but the absolute dominance and possessiveness contained in his calm tone were more powerful than any scolding. He was using the most direct way to tell everyone that Su Lingwan was someone he had taken under his wing, and questioning her was a provocation to him, Huo Linshen.
Miss Lin's face turned red and white, and her lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but under Huo Linshen's icy gaze, she couldn't utter a word. In the end, she could only lower her head in embarrassment and awkwardness, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Huo Linshen stopped looking at her after he finished speaking, as if she was just an insignificant source of noise. He turned to look at Su Lingwan, his tone returning to its previous calmness, even with a subtle... relaxation?
"If you don't like it here, we can leave first."
Su Lingwan was still reeling from the shock of "Miss Su's rules are my rules." Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, and an indescribable warmth surged through her. She had never imagined Huo Linshen would, for her sake, be so disrespectful and so clearly express his stance in such a public setting.
Is this... also part of the agreement? To protect his "girlfriend's" dignity, he's willing to offend others?
She looked at Huo Linshen's profile, which was so close to her. His expression was still stern, as if the earth-shattering words he had just said had not come from him. But she felt an unprecedented sense of security from his warm palm covering the back of her hand.
"It's okay." She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady. "It looks like the game is about to begin."
She couldn't leave. If she did, it would only make her look stage-frightened, confirming Miss Lin's harassment. She had to stay, and act more calmly.
Huo Linshen glanced at her, and a hint of approval seemed to flash across his deep eyes. Then he withdrew his hand, as if the touch just now was just a brief signal.
The atmosphere in the box remained somewhat tense, but everyone quickly put on their smiles again, as if the awkward moment had never happened. However, no one dared to look at Su Lingwan with contempt or probing eyes. Huo Linshen's attitude spoke volumes.
On the track, horses galloped and the audience's cheers were deafening.
Su Lingwan was somewhat absent-minded. The warmth of Huo Linshen's palm still seemed to linger on the back of her hand, and his cold and overbearing words kept echoing in her ears.
She stole a sidelong glance at the man beside her. He was concentrating on the game, his profile cold and perfect. The sunlight filtered through the window, casting a small shadow on his thick eyelashes.
At that moment, she suddenly felt that the iceberg she had thought would never melt was not completely indestructible. At least, when it came to protecting his own people, he displayed a strength that bordered on paranoia.
This dominance, with its strong sense of possession, strangely did not disgust her. Instead... it was like a solid fortress suddenly appearing in the midst of a storm.
She didn't know how much of this protection was due to the responsibility of the agreement and how much was due to his own will.
But no matter what, this was the first time she felt so clearly the power of "shelter" from Huo Linshen.
Huo Linshen, seemingly focused on the game, caught every subtle change in Su Lingwan's expression from the corner of his eye. He saw her go from initial nervousness, to slight irritation when she was challenged, to her stunned expression after he defended her, and then her gradual calmness.
He picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
Well, today's tea seems to be smoother than usual.
As for Miss Lin, who didn't know the rules? He didn't care at all. In his world, he made the rules. And he had just reiterated the most important rule that belonged to him, Huo Linshen.
After the race, Huo Linshen and Su Lingwan left first. Under everyone's gaze, he still held her hand and walked steadily.
Only after getting into the car and being isolated from the outside world did Su Lingwan breathe a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for today," she said softly. Whatever his intention, he had indeed helped her out.
Huo Linshen was checking his emails on his phone. Hearing this, he didn't even raise his head, but just replied lightly, "Yeah."
As if it was just a trivial matter.
Su Lingwan looked at his stern profile, and the complicated emotions in her heart surged again.
Agreements, maintenance, coldness, dominance, and the occasional subtle concern... Huo Linshen is like an iceberg hidden beneath the sea. What she sees may only be a tiny part of it.
And this "love" that started out of interests seemed to be quietly sliding in a direction she could not predict.
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