0059 059 Horse hooves whistling in the wind
Guan Xiang went to the bedside to smoke, put on some music, and swayed his body nonchalantly. Behind him, Han Dan rubbed his numb legs and got up, half-lying on the sofa. He glanced at Guan Xiang's back, then looked at Han Wei beside him, and quietly pulled her to a place a little further away.
"Xiaowei, just help your brother out. Just go home with Guan Xiang. Don't worry about who you are to him. He can't treat you badly anyway. Once I get through this, I'll bring you out. How about that?"
Han Wei stood with her arms crossed and head down, remaining silent, which made Han Dan anxiously pace back and forth.
"How can you bear to watch me get arrested?!"
She shoved Han Dan's hand away from her arm and took several steps back.
"How could you be so selfish? Did I send you to gamble or to take bribes? You only remember me now that things have gone wrong. When you were all high and mighty, no one knew I was your sister. I haven't even married Cheng Xin yet, and his father and he are both in jail. His mother's health isn't good either, and we don't even know if she'll make it to their release. She took the company and went to live with someone else long ago, leaving me with this house, which I protected with my life. And it's all Cheng Xin's fault for being such a lunatic. He committed such a serious crime and didn't even care. He insisted on taking me out for a stroll before going to jail. Now everyone knows I'm a criminal's fiancée. Who dares to come near me?"
"Then if you secretly follow Guanxiang, no one will know."
Bang—
Han Wei swept the teapot off the table and threw it at Han Dan. She knew that she had been a tool for them to enjoy wealth and luxury all her life, but she had never heard such blatant mockery before. It was as if they were about to stick a straw into her and put a price tag on her.
The clattering and crashing outside didn't affect Guan Xiang inside. He was humming a song, but while he appeared calm on the surface, his hands, hidden under his coat, were clenched into fists.
He has never appeared in public, even though his name is very well-known. He and that minor celebrity named Wang Yan have never had a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship, or rather, the relationship has never been established. But this kind of thing has been exposed, which means that there must be something wrong with the people around him.
Having entrenched himself underground for so many years, his greatest pride was the absolute loyalty of his subordinates. Now, someone had taken an axe and left a mark on his smooth, unmarked ice surface that could shake the entire underground world—it was no different from slapping him across the face.
Guan Xiang walked out of the living room without saying a word, kicked away Han Dan who was kneeling and crawling in front of him, and strode away.
Qi Shuyao stood at the school gate waiting for Qi Yu. There was a banquet tonight, so formal that everyone had to bring their legal spouse. He used to take her to such occasions often. When they were little, he was known as a super dad, and now he had given her the nickname of a little housekeeper.
The familiar routine: change into a dress, get your hair and makeup done, take a car to the banquet hall, take two deep breaths before entering, and put on a standard smile.
However, she didn't know what they were going to discuss or exchange ideas about today, because not many people had smiles on their faces. She also put away her smile and found a corner to sit down.
Old He didn't show up today. It seems that the initiator is Su Changce. He's a bit fatter than when I saw him at home before. He looks radiant and full of energy. His usually flat stomach is now protruding. Gu Chaohuan is standing next to him, and Su Shaojin is following behind him.
This was Qi Shuyao's second time seeing Gu Chaohuan. She looked more haggard than when they first met at Lao He's house. Her back was hunched, and she seemed timid and withdrawn.
She went to her hometown, Xianhui, and was blown by the free wind. Looking up, she could see the clouds drifting aimlessly. Even Qi Yu was able to fully enjoy it, which was rare for her. She felt that love should be like this, like the wind and the clouds, floating freely in the sky. It is not a flower that is confined in a gorgeous dress and has its branches pruned. Even if the flower buds droop, they will be tied up without any regard for its original color and then watered with a color that does not belong to it.
Before she knew it, she seemed to have lived this kind of life for many years.
Looking at Gu Chaohuan not far away, two thoughts popped into Qi Shuyao's mind. On one hand, her intuition that Gu Chaohuan shouldn't be a member of the Immortal Society pulled her to fill in the character relationships she had constructed. On the other hand, her self-awareness temporarily prevailed. She seemed to see Gu Chaohuan's future at a glance, and it was as if she was looking directly into her own truest heart.
She really is that selfish; her love cannot confine her within high walls.
While she was lost in thought, the men over there had probably finished their business and were smiling. After a few rounds of drinks, the old leader Sui, who was on good terms with Qi Yu, drunkenly beckoned her over.
"Come here, Yao Yao! Your uncle recently acquired a wonderful new baby. I haven't given you a gift for your 18th birthday yet, so this is your uncle's way of making it up to you!"
He always boasted, and Qi Shuyao didn't pay any attention this time, just laughed along. Unexpectedly, he actually came over and pulled her outside, through the hotel's small garden, into a very tall shed. Even though the lights weren't on, golden light shone out. Hearing footsteps outside, a golden head peeked out from behind a pillar.
It was an Akhal-Teke horse, and as he slowly walked out, he showed her his long back, narrow chest, and slender hind legs. He stretched out his long neck, and his mouth slightly touched her head. He walked back and forth on the ground, displaying his shiny coat that shone with a metallic luster.
"Oh my, this darling likes you, it's fate that we're together."
Qi Shuyao reached out and carefully touched the horse's back. The horse clearly turned its head to look at her, but did not express anything, and even moved closer.
She had heard that this kind of horse was very stubborn and not the most suitable breed for riding, but this one must really be her destiny.
She turned to look at Qi Yu, who had followed her, and he nodded at her.
That evening, after the banquet, luckily she was wearing long trousers because of the cold weather. Qi Shuyao mounted her horse in the small stable and deliberately chose a mountain path leading back to Yangcheng. The horse's hooves made a soft clattering sound as they slowly made their way home, accompanied by the winter mountain wind.
Qi Yu drove slowly along the road beside him. When they crossed the mountain, they could no longer see each other. There was no one in the mountains. Qi Shuyao pulled the reins, and the golden celestial horse galloped along the road.
The jolting on horseback made her bottom ache a little. The last time she rode galloping with Shi Heyu was when she graduated from junior high school. She hadn't seen her own little horse in a long time either. The fierce winter wind stung her face like a knife, but she smiled excitedly. Her mind raced, thinking that she couldn't let this beautiful horse meet her original little girl horse. They would be jealous of each other.
Her laughter echoed throughout the empty mountains, the wind swirling the bare branches of tall trees in harmony with her. She pulled on the reins and paced back and forth on the open ground with her horse. The girl on horseback stretched out her arms, the tassels under the sleeves of her dress-style top fluttering in the wind, making her seem as if she were about to float away.
See? This is true freedom. She's laughing from the bottom of her heart.
Da Ma walked around the tree, and a few steps away was Qi Yu's car. He had arrived earlier, pulled out a thick coat from the back, and stood there waiting for her.
Qi Shuyao led her horse over, and he came over to greet her, gesturing for her to bend down and put on her clothes.
"Your face is all red from the cold, hurry up and put it on."
She didn't answer, but waved excitedly at him.
"Dad, come up here too, and feel the speed downwind."
"Let's wait until the weather gets warmer. You can get down now. I've already asked Butler Yan to bring some people to take the horse back. Don't catch a cold."
"No, I want to ride him back."
Once inside Yangcheng, there were no other vehicles on the road home. Qi Shuyao squeezed the horse's belly hard, and the horse galloped off, creating a gust of wind.
They arrived home quickly. She rode in circles on the grass, waking up the sleeping lambs. They all peered out from the sheepfold, and she smiled at them. She didn't notice Qi Yu chasing after her from behind, who then swept her up and lifted her off the ground.
"Alright, they're all yours now. You can ride them whenever you want. That's enough for today."
She was tired too, so she simply leaned against him, her limbs dangling at her sides.
"Dad, how could you just accept such an expensive gift? What did he ask you for?"
"Nothing good is coming."
"Holy crap, does his family own a casino?"
"Yes, there is, but it's very small. We can just close the door when we inspect it."
"Oh my, I wonder how much business this little casino needs to generate to buy a BMW."
"Don't worry about so much, go take a hot shower, look at all that sweat."
They didn't shower together today, and even though tomorrow is Saturday, Qi Shuyao didn't pester him. After showering, she went straight into bed. The brainstorming session all day had left her so tired that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, and she didn't even change positions all night.
She slept soundly until the next day dawn. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt incredibly heavy. She remained drowsy for a long time. She heard footsteps by the bedside and Han's mother's voice. She looked down and touched her forehead. Soon after, Qi Yu arrived and gently rubbed her face with his palm.
She rolled over, half-closing her eyes, and asked, "What's wrong..."
"It's a little hot, but not to the point of having a fever."
Mrs. Han breathed a sigh of relief and ran out, muttering to herself as she went.
"I'll give you some baijiu to rub your body with; it'll vent your anger."
Her figure disappeared through the doorway. Qi Shuyao suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed Qi Yu's hand, and shook her head desperately.
"No, no, I still have the marks you left on me last time!"
"It's alright, it's alright. Just let Aunt Han rub her hands and feet, she won't notice."
"It's all your fault."
"Really? Who was riding a horse against the wind last night? Whose laughter could be heard all over the hill?"
She pouted and shook off Qi Yu's hand, but then frowned in discomfort.
"What's wrong? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
"I feel uncomfortable all over, and it hurts so much."
His hand slipped under the covers, gently massaging her stiff waist and back. He checked the date, then asked...
"Is your lower back discomfort because your period is approaching?"
"No, I've probably been staying up too late these past few months, and my menstrual cycle has become irregular. It's only been half a month since I left last time."
When Han's mother returned with the bottle of liquor, Qi Yu withdrew her hand and tucked the blanket around her. Qi Shuyao stretched out her hands and feet and smiled obediently at her. Han's mother also looked at her with doting eyes. Everything was just like when she was a child.
After rubbing herself in the wine, she felt much better. She lingered in bed for a while longer before getting up to find Qi Yu, slipping into his study and snuggling up to him.
"Dad, I smell like alcohol all over me, can you wash me off?"
Qi Yu put one arm around her shoulder, but didn't turn to look at her. He stared at his phone and only said to her,
"Go wait for me in the hot spring pool on the third floor, okay?"
"good……"
She replied casually, while also glancing at his phone.
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