Chapter 62
I bid farewell to the drizzle in London and the gentle waves of the River Cam, and also bid farewell to the figure who always easily disturbs my mood.
Uncle and aunt returned to China with full luggage and even more memories, including a large bag of pet snacks and new clothes that Atobe specifically asked them to buy for Xiaokong.
Xiaokong expressed great satisfaction with this. Every day he wore his vest, which was said to be in the "British gentleman style", and strolled around the community with his head held high. His arrogant and proud look was exactly the same as that of someone far away in London.
It seems that the days have returned to the track of communicating through screens and time differences.
The second half of the second year of high school passed quietly in a busy atmosphere.
On the other end of the phone, Atobe Keigo's voice was filled with obvious, exhilarated joy. He mentioned that business in the UK was progressing exceptionally smoothly, with some obstructing obstacles being cleanly removed and the situation clearer than ever before.
I vaguely understood that the "eye-sore" obstacle was the Yamamoto family's final struggle in England. His methods were as swift and decisive as ever, leaving no room for maneuver.
With his remote "tutoring" and subtle influence, I was able to take over the complicated family affairs more and more smoothly.
The logic in my heart became clearer: rather than fighting in the financial sector, I longed to devote myself to the fertile soil that nourishes the soul—cultural philanthropy. I decided to devote my primary energy to the operation of my family's art foundation, focusing on promoting the protection of cultural heritage and the revitalization and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage.
My eyes involuntarily turned to that vast and mysterious land - Xinjiang.
The region's rich ethnic culture, magnificent natural scenery, and eagerly awaited tourism industry drew me in like a giant magnet. I began frequently communicating with the local government, promoting cooperative projects, and hoping to contribute to the region's tourism development and cultural heritage.
Time flies in preparation and anticipation.
In a blink of an eye, the grand curtain of the Zhaosu International Tourism Festival was opened against the magnificent backdrop of the Ili River Valley.
The festive atmosphere was warm and rich. Across the vast grasslands, white yurts scattered like pearls, colorful flags fluttered in the wind, and the air was filled with the aroma of barbecue and the melodious sounds of the dombra.
The herdsmen, dressed in bright ethnic costumes, rode their horses and whipped their horses, performing traditional sheep-grabbing and girl-chasing activities. The horses' hooves kicked up dust, and their laughter and cheers reached the sky.
International friends and domestic tourists gathered together to feel the unique enthusiasm and unrestrainedness of this land.
However, the most anticipated climax of the entire tourism festival was undoubtedly the heart-stirring "Heavenly Horse Bathing in the River".
In the early morning, when the golden sunlight just filled the Zhaosu grassland, the rushing Xiata River was sparkling.
Hundreds of mighty Ili celestial horses, driven by the loud whistles of their herders, rushed down the hillside like a torrent bursting through a dam! The horses fell silent, and the earth trembled.
With their manes and hooves raised, the swift-flowing horses dashed into the clear, turbulent river with overwhelming force, stirring up a thousand layers of snow-capped waves! The water reflected a rainbow of colors in the sunlight. The horses neighed, leaped, and swam freely in the rapids, as if merging with nature and the universe, demonstrating the most primitive and majestic power of life.
The audience on the shore held their breath, deeply shocked by this magnificent natural wonder, and burst into thunderous applause and cheers.
After the magnificent sight of the Heavenly Horse Bathing in the River, there was an exciting horseback riding experience. Guests from all over the world mounted their horses and galloped across the vast sky and earth.
There are popular celebrities, calm government officials, skilled local riders, and me.
After changing into a sharp, dark riding outfit and tying my long hair back, I climbed atop a snow-white, majestic Ili horse. With a gentle push, the white horse, like an arrow from a bow, carried me across the boundless grassland.
The wind whistled in my ears, the scent of green grass filled my face. I leaned forward, feeling every flex of the horse's powerful muscles, connecting with its heart and soul, galloping freely across the green sea.
At that moment, all restraints seemed to be cast aside, leaving only the free wind and the surging heartbeat. The agile posture and soaring spirit, together with the magnificent and vast grassland behind and the endlessly galloping Pegasus, formed a breathtaking picture.
The cameras of major media outlets keenly captured this scene.
The high-definition images were quickly spread across the country through television and the Internet, and were even broadcast by international media.
The image of the girl riding a horse on the Zhaosu grassland, waving the whip, smiling freely, as if she had merged with the world, instantly set the Internet on fire.
[Mysterious Girl Zhaosu Riding a Horse]
This is the real "unrestrained imagination"!
[Beauty and talent coexist! Xinjiang's new cultural tourism promotion ambassador? 】
Various titles dominated the hot search list.
The phone was instantly flooded with all kinds of information.
Yuushi Oshitari: [(Likes) Riding a horse on the grassland is gorgeous. It seems someone has really good taste.]
Mukaito: [Kouin! So cool! Even cooler than Atobe playing tennis!]
Hiyoshi Waka: [Senior's appearance on the grassland is full of freedom and strength. It's amazing!]
Tanaka Rie: [Ahhh, Inari-chan is so gorgeous! I'm going to print this photo and hang it on the wall! Next time we meet, teach me how to ride a horse!]
Even in the family group, the brothers started to show up, and all kinds of jokes and pride filled the screen.
And far away in London, it was late at night.
Atobe Keigo finished a lengthy video conference and leaned back in his wide chair, feeling somewhat exhausted. As usual, he picked up his phone and clicked on a notification that had caught his attention.
What instantly popped up on the screen was the photo that was reprinted by countless media outlets - against the backdrop of the vast grassland, a girl in riding clothes sat astride a majestic white horse, her hair flying, her eyes bright as stars, and her smile was unprecedentedly unrestrained and ostentatious.
Her posture of riding a galloping horse is full of wild vitality and unrestrained freedom.
At that moment, Atobe Keigo's heart felt like it had been struck hard, and his fingers gripping the phone suddenly tightened. All his fatigue instantly dissipated, leaving only an indescribable, intense shock.
The picture frozen on the screen is so vivid, so dazzling, and so unique.
He had seen her gracefully arranging flowers quietly, her calm and focused handling of affairs, and her various expressions of shyness, anger, and tenderness when she was by his side.
But I have never seen her so like a burning flame, like a free wind, so unrestrainedly blooming her own light.
Yes, the girl in his heart can always bring him unexpected shocks.
She is not a rose carefully cared for in a greenhouse. She is an eagle that can fly freely in the vast sky and earth, and a horse that can gallop forward and break all restraints.
Her beauty lies not only in her exquisite appearance, but also in her unruly soul and vigorous vitality.
The shock brought by this realization made him more excited than any business success.
His deep eyes were fixed on the figure on the screen, and his thumb unconsciously stroked the edge of the photo, as if he could touch the flying hair and bright smile.
A complex emotion of immense pride, deep excitement, and a hint of being burned by the dazzling freedom spread silently in his chest.
He looked at it for a long time before slowly opening the dialog box. His fingertips hovered over the screen for a moment, and finally sent out a simple message: [I see. It's beautiful. Be safe.]
Thousands of words finally turn into these simplest words.
Because no fancy words seemed to be able to describe the shock and pride that was surging in his heart for her.
The light from the screen reflected on his well-defined face, and his eyes, which always carried the confidence of being in control of everything, were now filled with the purest and deeply attracted light.
I turned off my phone and walked to the huge French window, overlooking the sleeping city of London. Outside the window was the exotic night scene, but my heart had already flown across thousands of mountains and rivers, following the figure on the grassland.
The scene of riding a horse and waving the whip, free as the wind, on the Zhaosu grassland has been deeply imprinted in his heart, becoming the most vivid and fascinating scene in his dreams at midnight.
On the Zhaosu grassland, I had just dismounted, with a thin layer of sweat on my forehead, and felt the vibration of my cell phone in my pocket.
I took out my phone and saw a message from that familiar avatar. It was just a few simple words. But the corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily, and I replied facing the blazing sunshine on the grassland:
[Don't worry. This world makes you want to fly.]
Putting my phone back in my pocket, I looked out at the endless galloping Pegasus in the distance and the boundless green horizon, my heart filled with unprecedented strength and anticipation.
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