When Tao Rui woke up again, his feelings for his previous world had faded. Even though he had spent so many years there and invested so much emotion in it, the emotional facilitation service he paid a high price for still delivered, allowing him to enter the new world in top condition.
But this is the perfect ending. After a world ends, the target of the quest will be reincarnated and forget him, and his feelings for everyone will fade. It's very fair.
This time when he woke up, he was sitting in a car. The seats were very comfortable and the space was spacious. As soon as Tao Rui opened his eyes, he knew that this was a luxury car, the kind that ordinary rich people could not afford.
He intuitively felt that there was no danger, so he calmly closed his eyes and took in the situation in this world.
The original owner was twenty-five years old, a naive, uneducated, and unskilled young man. But he was also a brilliant playboy, adept at making women happy. Ironically, the original owner's family background was not poor; in fact, it was considered a small, wealthy family by most accounts. The original owner's father owned a pharmaceutical factory that had been passed down for three generations. Even though he wasn't very good at running it, the profits were considerable. The original owner was a young master born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
But the original owner didn't enjoy a good life. When he was just three years old, before he could remember anything, his mother passed away. It was said that she died of depression, which translates to "death by anger." A woman named Jiang showed up pregnant, and the original owner lost his mother. Immediately after attending his mother's funeral, he attended his father's wedding, gaining a stepmother and, soon after, a younger brother.
While the saying "where there's a stepmother, there's a stepfather" isn't absolute, it's a true reflection of the Tao family. The three-year-old original owner barely saw his father, having been raised entirely by the family's nanny. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Tao Mujiang, whose very name seemed to carry the affection of both his parents, received the best possible care from both parents, growing up happily and joyfully.
This strange atmosphere at home had the original owner, still young and ignorant, believing that he was the nanny's son and Tao Mujiang was the master. His biological father neglected the family, his stepmother disliked him, his younger brother ignored him, and the servants naturally flattered him. The original owner lived a life similar to Cinderella at home. From a young age, he learned to read people's expressions and then developed a cunning mindset. He began to use his childish advantages to scheme against his younger brother and stepmother to get things from his biological father.
But children are no match for adults. The stepmother installed surveillance cameras in the house, allowing Tao's father to see for himself what a scheming young boy his eldest son was. He then packed up and sent him abroad. The original owner was only thirteen years old at the time, and thus exiled. Afterward, the stepmother was naturally responsible for sending money and greetings. The original owner's past schemes against his younger brother were immediately retaliated, and life became very difficult.
Then, the original owner learned to please others and gain benefits. For example, he played the victim to the teacher, sought the support of the rich school bully, showed weakness to his stepmother, etc. When he grew up, he found a safer way to get rich, which was to live off his wife!
Because of his outstanding appearance, he is 187cm tall as an adult, with a figure comparable to a model and looks that are not inferior to top idols. He has a unique charm. In addition, he is very good at observing people's words and expressions, and can always make girls happy, willing to treat him to meals, give him gifts, ask him out on dates, and spend money on him.
From then on, the original owner lived a life of luxury in the upper class, and lived a very comfortable life. He actually grew up to be a playboy and a pretty boy.
It just so happened that his stepmother had chosen a country for him that was a city of romance, and a major for him: painting. So he presented himself as an artist, leaving behind countless stories in the city of romance. While he was searching for a future job, he was urgently summoned back home. It turned out that the family pharmaceutical factory had run into trouble and was facing bankruptcy.
But his father was lucky enough to accidentally save an elderly man who was having a heart attack. It turned out to be the father of Li Zhe, the richest man in the country. The heart attack occurred because Li Zhe and his wife died in a plane crash. The old man came from a mountain village and had traditional ideas. He regarded Tao's father as a benefactor and was determined to repay him.
Originally, Tao's father had only asked him to provide some funding, which would have immediately helped the pharmaceutical factory overcome its difficulties. But didn't Li Zhe and his wife die? His stepmother then instigated Tao's father to set his sights on Li Zhe's only daughter. That girl, Li Jiaxuan, hadn't even graduated from college yet, and looked innocent enough, yet she was the sole heir to the richest man in the country!
The original owner was so good at pleasing women, wasn't this just pie in the sky?
The original owner's biological father and stepmother decided that there would be no loss even if the plan failed, so they immediately called the original owner back and sent her to marry into the Li family!
That's right, marrying into the family's family. Grandpa Li was a man of sons, and with only one granddaughter left, a man was definitely needed to establish the family business. He advocated adopting his youngest son's grandson to run the company, but Li Jiaxuan firmly opposed it. Just then, Tao's father mentioned having an outstanding son whom he could introduce to the two children, and even hinted at marrying into the family's family.
Grandpa Li thought it was feasible, and he took the initiative to force Li Jiaxuan to make a choice: either marry a son-in-law, marry a strong man, or adopt her cousin as her biological brother.
Li Jiaxuan was like a young tiger, having lost her parents before she had even grown up. She was already overwhelmed by company matters and had to deal with the troubles posed by her family and elders. She had no easy solution. Ultimately, she chose to get to know the original owner first, but this very acquaintance gave the original owner an opportunity to take advantage.
The original owner had used every trick in his power to capture Li Jiaxuan's heart, or rather, to deceive her. He had also cleverly won the favor of Grandpa Li, bringing him home to live with him. After the marriage, he began to live off her, relying on Grandpa Li's patriarchal influence to establish himself as the undisputed head of the household in his marriage to Li Jiaxuan.
The original owner's biological father treated him poorly, but he secretly longed for his father's approval. Whenever the Tao family approached him about investment or partnerships, he would always ask Li Jiaxuan for help. They didn't have a prenuptial agreement, so after marriage, all the money Li Jiaxuan earned became their marital assets, and he would get half in the event of a divorce. A year or two after the marriage, seeing the considerable wealth, the original owner lost his composure and began to reveal his selfish nature. He became increasingly perfunctory with Li Jiaxuan, even revealing a bit of a chauvinistic attitude.
After all, living off a gigolo is always looked down upon. He had been living off a gigolo for so many years, so of course he had been simmering with anger. Now that he was married and had property, he felt more confident. Furthermore, the Tao family's improved attitude towards him also gave him the illusion that he would inherit the Tao family in the future. So, of course, he stopped trying to please Li Jiaxuan and even took out all his pent-up anger on her.
Li Jiaxuan was a young tiger back then and had her share of flaws, but young tigers always grow up and see the truth. Li Jiaxuan discovered the original owner's past as a playboy abroad and discovered his deception. She was deeply disappointed in him and was willing to lose a huge fortune to divorce him, but then she discovered that she was pregnant.
She lost her parents in her early twenties and was heartbroken. Deep down, she didn't want her children to be without a father, so she simply treated him as a gigolo, supporting him and paying less attention to him. Although others laughed at her for finding such a man, she endured it and pretended not to care.
This made the original owner mistakenly believe that Li Jiaxuan could not live without him, which boosted his prestige. He disliked Li Jiaxuan for becoming a strong woman and no longer being gentle, and disliked Li Jiaxuan for being too busy at work to accompany him, so he started to keep a mistress.
He kept his mistress in secret, but it was exposed when Li Jiaxuan attended a cocktail party with a big belly. The most famous wealthy people in the upper class were present, as were most of the important partners of the Li family. They all saw Li Jiaxuan's joke, and Li Jiaxuan also had a miscarriage and gave birth prematurely.
Li Jiaxuan gave birth prematurely after seven months of pregnancy, and the birth was difficult. The child was dead at birth, and Li Jiaxuan was injured and could never give birth again.
This was a bolt from the blue for Li Jiaxuan. She had invested too much emotion in this child. It could be said that the pain of losing her parents was soothed by this child, but now she had lost her child again.
Grandpa Li proposed adoption while she was still in the hospital, but Li Jiaxuan was no longer the same girl she once was and refused without hesitation. This angered Grandpa Li, who started to talk nonsense in media interviews. Reports of Li Jiaxuan's unfilial behavior were everywhere, affecting the group's stock price and causing great dissatisfaction among shareholders.
Li Jiaxuan was about to divorce the original owner at this time, and the original owner simply took advantage of the situation and joined Grandpa Li in slandering Li Jiaxuan. Li Jiaxuan, still in poor health, went to the company to take charge, working overtime to handle affairs, which left a root cause of illness. Later, before she was 30, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Tormented by illness, Li Jiaxuan was unable to manage her company. The Li family, once the nation's wealthiest, had long since been replaced by others and fallen into decline under her leadership. She was deeply distressed and died amidst self-blame and the accusations of others.
She had the chance to become the next richest man under her father's training, but the original owner and Grandpa Li shaped her life trajectory and character development. The original owner's influence was the most severe, as he had deceived the young Li Jiaxuan, gained her trust at her most difficult time, and then stabbed her in the back.
The original owner was quite free and easy. After getting a large sum of property in the divorce, he found that the Tao family was not sincere to him, so he took the property back to the romantic city and continued to be a playboy.
It can be said that the original owner and the others owed each other debts and took revenge on each other, and in the end, they were even, but the original owner owed Li Jiaxuan a lot, and it was his deception that led to Li Jiaxuan's tragedy. Tao Rui's mission after traveling through time was to make Li Jiaxuan happy for the rest of her life.
He was in the car, heading to the club to accompany Li Jiaxuan to a gathering with friends. The timing was fine; the original owner and Li Jiaxuan were already married, but the original owner hadn't fully revealed his true colors yet. He had simply insisted on bringing Grandpa Li to live with them, leading to their first argument. That was why he was going alone, not with Li Jiaxuan. Li Jiaxuan was still angry.
In the original script, during this time at the club, Li Jiaxuan's former suitor came to provoke her. The original suitor was originally a useless person, all show and no substance, and naturally exposed his true nature as a fool in front of everyone. Although the upper class people would not burst into laughter, that faint smile was already filled with blatant ridicule.
This was also the fuse that triggered the original owner's male chauvinism. When he returned home, he questioned Li Jiaxuan about the ambiguous relationship between Li Jiaxuan and the pursuer. Grandpa Li heard it and scolded Li Jiaxuan for being shameless, which made Li Jiaxuan so angry that she slammed the door and left.
Later, the original owner justified his anger with jealousy, showing no apology. He was really like a gigolo who had to act tough and suppress women, as if this would preserve his masculinity.
Tao Rui had just finished receiving the plot when the club arrived.
This club is not open to ordinary people. Only those from the upper class can enter. It is said that the owner of the club is the third generation of a wealthy family. His family's wealth is second only to the Li family. However, this third generation of rich people is a youngest son, so he does not need to inherit the family business. He has been a playboy since he was a child and loves to play. When he grew up, he simply opened a club to provide a good place for people in the circle to go.
Tao Rui straightened his clothes and got out of the car. The manager was already waiting by the car.
"Mr. Tao, please come this way." The manager welcomed him in with a smile.
Tao Rui had never experienced such treatment before, and it felt a bit strange. It wasn't like being greeted by a person, but rather like being greeted as someone's family member. However, he was very adaptable and immediately got into the role. He smiled kindly at the manager and followed him into the club.
What was the original owner's public image? Of course, he was warm, harmless, and non-aggressive. Otherwise, how could he be a gigolo? And the fact that he'd never been caught living off a gigolo abroad showed how well he maintained that image. After all, the original owner wasn't confident enough to reveal his true nature.
Tao Rui has also subdued his aura and appears quite gentle. If he were in ancient times, he would probably have the temperament of a young master as gentle as jade.
The original owner had just argued with Li Jiaxuan the night before, but in front of outsiders, Li Jiaxuan gave him enough face. Everyone was bowling, and when Li Jiaxuan saw Tao Rui, she walked over and said with a smile, "What took you so long? Was there a traffic jam?"
Tao Rui said with a smile, "I was delayed in choosing clothes. This is the first time I'm formally meeting your friend, and I don't want to be rude."
Li Jiaxuan looked at him, a little surprised. She thought Tao Rui would continue to be unhappy, but she didn't expect that he cared so much about meeting her friends. Did he care about her?
Someone nearby who had heard this came over to look at Tao Rui and said deliberately, "As expected, you took the time to choose these clothes. They really set off your handsomeness."
Everyone else who heard it smiled, but not with any kindness, because in their eyes, Tao Rui was a useless pretty boy, someone they looked down upon. Choosing clothes for him was just to please him with his looks, wasn't it?
Li Jiaxuan was about to speak for him when Tao Rui smiled calmly and said, "Thank you. Xuanxuan's friends are all very handsome and beautiful. This is our first private gathering today, so of course I have to show some respect."
The few people who had been laughing at him in their hearts were stunned and looked at him twice. Haha, they thought he was a weak and weak pretty boy, but they didn't expect him to be rejected.
The man first thanked them and was polite, then called Li Jiaxuan "Xuanxuan" to show his intimacy, and reminded them that he was Li Jiaxuan's husband and not someone who could be joked with casually.
Then he said that Li Jiaxuan's friends are all handsome and beautiful. If they imply that Tao Rui is using his beauty to please others, then Tao Rui is associating the word handsome with them all, and he is implying something at the same time.
Finally, he also mentioned that it was a first gathering to show respect, and Tao Rui showed respect to them in choosing clothes, which was a courtesy. Their attitude seemed impolite.
Haha, so even though Tao Rui was cheerful and looked harmless, they felt like they were being scolded, and they couldn't scold him back.
Li Jiaxuan took Tao Rui to her friends and introduced them to them one by one. This gathering consisted mostly of second and third generation wealthy families. They were all about the same age, in their early twenties, and most were still in school. There were about a dozen men and women combined, all of whom were Li Jiaxuan's old friends.
Li Jiaxuan had dropped out of school and joined the company after a family incident, and she'd been too busy to attend their gatherings. This time, Li Jiaxuan's admirers were there, just to provoke Tao Rui. After all, chasing after a goddess, and then suddenly she got married to a good-for-nothing gigolo, no one would accept that.
At that age of youthful vigor, wouldn't this be the beginning of trouble? So this was a Hongmen Feast aimed at Tao Rui from the very beginning, but Li Jiaxuan had been so preoccupied with company matters lately that she didn't notice and thought this was a rare opportunity to relax.
Tao Rui greeted these "kids" very friendly. He found that the boy who had deliberately said that he was handsome was standing next to a rebellious boy. It was obvious that he was the leader. The rebellious boy was Li Jiaxuan's suitor, named Shi Lang.
Shi Lang came over with a bowling ball and asked with a half-smile, "I heard you're studying painting, an artist. Do you have any other hobbies? Do you often draw those kinds of... nude portraits?" He raised an eyebrow and asked deliberately, "Are there really that many people who volunteer to be nude models?"
Everyone looked over, as if they were particularly curious about this question. Li Jiaxuan couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed, but she also felt that learning to paint required drawing the human body, and this should be a normal course. It would be strange if she showed any abnormality, so she looked at Tao Rui calmly. In fact, she also wanted to know in her heart.
Tao Rui shrugged. "I'm not good at studying, so I haven't taken this course yet. But I did learn that to learn how to draw the human body, it's best to understand how the muscles and bones are distributed. So I studied anatomy. It's much better than looking at a mannequin because when the knife cuts, you can clearly see the various tissues under the skin. If you're interested, I can recommend some teaching videos."
Shi Lang looked at Tao Rui's expression and felt a chill down his spine, as if he had seen a pervert. He quickly said, "No, I'm not interested in this."
Tao Rui smiled understandingly and said, "Most people really don't dare to watch it. It's too bloody."
"Who said I don't dare?" Shi Lang frowned, glancing at Li Jiaxuan. Was Tao Rui saying this in front of Li Jiaxuan on purpose? What else could Tao Rui dare to do that he wouldn't? Shi Lang was here to save Tao Rui's face today, but he certainly couldn't be outmatched right from the start. Impulsively, he blurted out regretful words, "Send it to me later. I want to see how bloody it gets."
The words have been spoken, no matter how much you regret it, you have to hold it in. At worst, you can just receive the link and not read it.
After Shi Lang finished speaking, he remembered Tao Rui's poor academic performance and said sarcastically, "You seem to have been studying for several years, right? How can you do poorly in your studies if you only studied painting? We are all Jiaxuan's friends, so don't be so modest in front of us."
This time, Li Jiaxuan could tell something was wrong with his tone. She frowned slightly and said, "Shi Lang, are you here to play or chat? Why are you talking so much?"
Shi Lang said unhappily, "How can we get to know each other if we don't chat for a few minutes? How can a grown man need your protection? Are you afraid that I will eat him?"
Just as Li Jiaxuan was about to speak, Tao Rui raised his hand and put his arm around her shoulders, saying with a smile, "Xuanxuan, of course that's not what she meant. She's just afraid that I'll be embarrassed. After all, my grades are really bad and I can't draw anything good." He lowered his head and smiled gently at Li Jiaxuan, "It's okay. I didn't choose this major myself. I don't like it, and there's nothing to be ashamed of if I didn't do well in it. Don't be afraid to say it."
Shi Lang was almost shocked by the dog food. How did a good ridicule suddenly turn into a show of affection? The person next to him seized the opportunity and asked, "So, Tao Rui, what do you like?"
Since you didn’t learn painting well because you didn’t like it, there must be something you like, right?
Tao Rui nodded and continued modestly, "I have many hobbies. I mostly enjoy playing the piano, horseback riding, and archery. As for the more serious stuff, I'm interested in things like pharmaceutical factories." He glanced at the bowling ball in Shi Lang's hand and said, "I don't play bowling very often, but it's still okay."
Shi Lang raised an eyebrow and handed him the bowling ball. "Come on, have some fun. That's what we're here for today. This club has everything. We'll move on to the event you're interested in later."
"No need to change, I'll just play with everyone else. I really enjoy trying new things." Tao Rui turned to look at Li Jiaxuan, his voice immediately softening. "Xuanxuan, you haven't seen me bowling yet. Come and see?"
"...Okay." Li Jiaxuan felt vaguely uncomfortable, as she felt embarrassed to be so close to Tao Rui in front of her friends.
Tao Rui took her hand and walked over, adjusting his grip on the ball before rolling it out. Shi Lang and the others, who hadn't even come over yet, stared at the ball in surprise. So casual, so nonchalant, could Tao Rui really play?
As a result, with a "bang", the ball knocked down all the pins accurately and with precise force.
He seems to be a real gamer, but he says he rarely plays, and that's okay? Is he just pretending?
Shi Lang winked at someone, and someone immediately invited everyone to play together. Someone even suggested a bet: whoever lost the most would get a meal. However, after ten rounds, Tao Rui's opponents had changed several times, but he could still knock down all the pins with a casual throw, and his posture was still so handsome.
If there were fans nearby, they would definitely shout "How handsome!" Tao Rui has been an idol his whole life, so he's accustomed to how to exude his charm and how to always stay handsome. Now is the perfect time to put it to use. After all, he's Li Jiaxuan's gigolo husband, so he needs to be dedicated.
After bowling, Shi Lang suggested playing billiards. The club had a wide variety of entertainment options, so you could play whatever you wanted. It was undeniable that men who were good at billiards were quite handsome, and Shi Lang was a master at it.
It’s hard to tell the difference in skill level in bowling, but it’s different in billiards. There’s a huge difference between having skills and not having them.
Tao Rui didn't know how to do this before he traveled through time, but didn't he travel through time as a wealthy second-generation kid? He spent his days doing nothing but playing. Although he later pursued a career, before that, he mastered all these club tricks. Playing billiards? He knew snooker!
In the first game, Shi Lang got the opening shot and played very hard, clearing the table without giving Tao Rui any chance to shine. After the game, Shi Lang felt a little proud, and although he didn't show it, a smile appeared on his face. In the second game, he deliberately let Tao Rui serve first.
Shi Lang leaned over to polish his golf clubs. A few people gathered around him, chatting and joking with him, mostly praising his prowess. They all had the same idea: Shi Lang had shown off in front of Li Jiaxuan first, and now he had been a gentleman and let Tao Rui go first. Tao Rui had messed up, so if he finished with a dashing finish, he would definitely leave a different impression on Li Jiaxuan.
Before Shi Lang could even feel happy for a few seconds, Tao Rui teed off handsomely, and what followed was a show of skill that was unstoppable! He executed all sorts of difficult shots, such as curve saves, long shots, and leaping over obstacles, seemingly effortlessly. He even had a gentle smile on his face, and he would look up at Li Jiaxuan from time to time, as if this wonderful show of skill was just for her!
Li Jiaxuan's eyes really lit up. She hadn't grown into the strong woman she would become. She was still just a "young tiger" who was given a mission in a critical situation. Seeing Tao Rui's cool show of skills, she couldn't help but smile with pride. When Tao Rui finished hitting the last ball, she walked over to him with water.
"You're so good at fighting? Why didn't you tell me before?"
Tao Rui took a sip of water and said, "It's just a casual play, not worth mentioning."
Shi Lang's expression had long been frozen, and he felt even more embarrassed when he heard him say "just kidding". The friends present were all invited by him, and they had guessed what he was up to. But now, instead of hitting Tao Rui in the face, he got hit in the face by Tao Rui. How could he swallow this anger?
He immediately threw down his golf club and said, "Come on, let's go horseback riding. What's the point of always playing these indoor games? Doesn't Tao Rui like horseback riding? Let's go to the horse ranch for a couple of laps."
"Okay." Tao Rui smiled and said indifferently, "I haven't ridden a horse for a long time. I have to ride a few more laps today."
Tao Rui's expression was gentle from beginning to end, as if he was completely unaware of Shi Lang's hostility. Therefore, the confrontation between the two of them seemed particularly strange to their friends, as if Shi Lang was a naughty child with a bad temper, and Tao Rui, the gentle older brother, had always been tolerant...
Shi Lang felt really uncomfortable.
Tao Rui glanced at him, then took Li Jiaxuan's hand and headed for the stables. He had no problem slapping someone in the face. He and Li Jiaxuan were already husband and wife, so Shi Lang should have been prepared to be slapped in the face if he came to provoke him. Destroying other people's families was immoral, and meddling in other people's affairs was unwelcome.
Although the original owner's quarrel with Li Jiaxuan was primarily her fault, Shi Lang's deliberate provocation was also irritating. Not only did he not bring any benefits to Li Jiaxuan, but he actually caused her considerable trouble. If this was called love, then this reckless love was truly unkind.
Horseback riding was something all of their friends knew. They'd been riding at the stables since they were little, so they were quite skilled. Shi Lang had suggested this because he was a good rider, and there was even a horse for him. He'd just changed his clothes and jumped on it for a trot.
When he ran to Tao Rui, Tao Rui praised him, "You ride well."
Shi Lang looked down at him and asked, "Want a match?"
Tao Rui noticed the young man's restlessness and asked calmly, "What's the bet?"
Shi Lang looked at Li Jiaxuan and raised his chin. "Whoever wins today will have dinner with Jiaxuan, and the loser will pay the bill."
Someone whistled immediately, and Li Jiaxuan's expression turned cold as she said in a cold voice, "Shi Lang, you're going too far."
Shi Lang's bet was disgusting. No matter who won or lost, as long as there were three people involved in this dinner, Tao Rui would be disgusted enough. He and his wife were dining, and his rival was paying for it? Who could eat that? Or he would pay for his wife and his rival's dinner? That would be even more infuriating. And since Li Jiaxuan had been the bet, she was naturally not in a good mood.
At least someone came over to smooth things over, "Shi Lang, stop joking. The loser buys everyone dinner."
Tao Rui also shook Li Jiaxuan's hand and said with a smile, "It would be better to treat everyone to a meal. I won't use Xuanxuan as a bet. Besides, we're going to have a candlelight dinner tonight, and it's already been booked. I'm sorry to ask you to pay."
Shi Lang pursed his lips and said, "You mean you will definitely win?"
When his eyes met Tao Rui's, his hostility could no longer be concealed. On the other hand, Tao Rui still had that same warm smile on his face, which meant that Tao Rui didn't take him seriously at all!
Shi Lang was even more angry and said directly: "Get on the horse!"
He had never heard of Tao Rui before. He was obviously a minor character exiled to the frontier by the Tao family. He suddenly came back and snatched his goddess away, and was showing off here. He just couldn't believe it. How could a person abandoned by his family be proficient in everything?
Tao Rui looked at the horse that someone had chosen for him, walked over to touch it, and turned back to ask Li Jiaxuan, "Do you want to ride together?"
This stunned everyone. He was racing with Shi Lang, and he was bringing Li Jiaxuan along? Was this intentional? If he lost, he could still save face. After all, there was one more person, right?
Li Jiaxuan thought the same thing, so after a brief pause, she nodded and walked towards him. Li Jiaxuan figured Tao Rui's riding skills were probably average, and he didn't want to lose badly, so he resorted to this desperate measure. But it didn't matter. Who was it that Shi Lang was unreasonable first?
Tao Rui supported Li Jiaxuan and helped her onto the horse. Then, with a handsome move, he put his arms around Li Jiaxuan and pulled the reins.
Shi Lang asked with a grim expression, "Tao Rui, what do you mean by this? Are you looking down on me? If you don't want to compete with me, just say so directly. There's no need to use such petty tricks."
Tao Rui showed a surprised expression, immediately waved his hands, and chuckled twice, "You misunderstood, I just think it's getting late, this way I can have a race with you and run a lap with Xuanxuan at the same time, saving time, otherwise I will miss the candlelight dinner."
He asked gently, "Are you ready? To begin?"
Shi Lang saw Li Jiaxuan restrain her aura and lean gently in Tao Rui's arms without even looking at him. He felt very uncomfortable. With a cold face, he walked forward side by side with Tao Rui and shouted, "Start!"
Their two horses galloped out simultaneously. No one had played tricks on the horse selection; after all, that was too cheap, and no one would resort to such a trick. This was also why Tao Rui dared to let Li Jiaxuan ride. When the horses were of similar quality, the horsemanship he had trained on the battlefield during his lifetime as an emperor was highlighted.
The two horses had only run twenty meters when Tao Rui was one head ahead, then quickly overtook Shi Lang by one horse length and galloped forward.
Shi Lang was startled. Even if he'd anticipated Tao Rui's victory, he shouldn't have overtaken him so early on. He whipped his horse and gave chase, but Tao Rui had already pulled away. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up. He could only stare at the horse's rear and the figures of Tao Rui and Li Jiaxuan huddled together.
Friends were all looking at the starting point. They found that Tao Rui's aura was completely different when he was riding a horse, as if he was riding a warhorse galloping on the battlefield. He was like a mighty and brave general on the horse, and the usually strong Li Jiaxuan was held firmly in his arms, as if he could block all the storms for Li Jiaxuan.
One girl said with a smile, "I suddenly feel that Tao Rui and Jia Xuan are a good match, at least better than Shi Lang, hahahaha."
The other girl burst out laughing. "We both agree. What kind of thing did Shi Lang do today? If I were Jiaxuan, I wouldn't look down on him either. Haha."
They were all similar second-generations, and they didn't go out of their way to curry favor with anyone. They used to just look down on gigolos. But now Tao Rui was so open and happy, regardless of other aspects, they no longer looked down on him when it came to having fun. Aren't they all just good at having fun? They're still in school. Tao Rui was also called back from university. Isn't it normal that he hasn't achieved much? At least he's better at having fun than them.
Everyone watching from afar could feel this way, let alone Li Jiaxuan, who was in Tao Rui's arms. She clearly sensed Tao Rui's domineering and powerful aura, which was completely different from her previous perception of him. She had assumed he was gentle, even a little docile. But then again, Tao Rui also played snooker. Without perseverance and a competitive spirit, how could he have developed such excellent skills?
Tao Rui felt the wind was too strong from running too fast, and he distractedly turned Li Jiaxuan's head, letting her lean against his chest. Li Jiaxuan felt his care, and her heart warmed. The anger from the previous night's argument gradually dissipated, and she decided to go back and talk to Tao Rui again. She felt that she was being protected by Tao Rui now, so Tao Rui didn't mean to hurt her by taking Grandpa Li home, right?
The horse race ended quickly. Tao Rui had reached the finish line half a minute before Shi Lang arrived. Tao Rui was also carrying Li Jiaxuan on his horse.
Shi Lang had been completely defeated, and his suggestion of blocking had exposed his hostility. Now he had lost everything, both inside and out. He glanced at Tao Rui and Li Jiaxuan, who were still sitting on their horses and strolling slowly, then jumped off, threw off the reins, and strode away.
Tao Rui glanced at his back, then at the expressions of his other friends, realizing that their disdain for him had diminished considerably. He was pleased with the change. After all, they were all his wife's friends, and they might continue to interact. Changing their impressions should start with them.
Li Jiaxuan noticed that Shi Lang had left and said to Tao Rui apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect that this was his plan for inviting you here today, otherwise I wouldn't have come."
Tao Rui carried her off the horse and said, "It doesn't matter. What happens to him is none of our business. Since the game is over, why don't we go have a candlelight dinner? Consider it my apology for bringing Grandpa back."
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