The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

"You guys play."

Xie Ci looked at Fu Hua, "Which horse do you want to ride? I'll pick one."

Fu Hua looked towards the stables: "I'll choose one myself."

"Then, together."

Xie Ci walked naturally beside her.

Lin Bei immediately followed suit: "I'll go too."

Seeing this, Fu Lie's eyes flashed with amusement, and he followed with a grin.

The stables smelled strongly of stench, with dozens of horses living in separate pens.

Fu Hua looked at each horse one by one.

Finally, it stopped in front of a pure white horse.

Its hooves are jet black, its body is well-proportioned, and its muscles have smooth lines.

There is a tuft of diamond-shaped black hair on his forehead, like a third eye.

"I want it."

"Good eye."

The horse trainer from the horse farm came over.

"This is 'Treading Snow,' a cross between an Arabian and a local horse. It's intelligent, but a bit temperamental, so it's not really suitable for beginners."

Are you a beginner?

She isn't.

"That's it."

Fu Hua reached out, and Ta Xue obediently lowered her head, letting her touch the bridge of her nose.

Xie Ci's eyes flickered slightly: "You've ridden wild horses?"

"A spirited horse is what makes it interesting."

Fu Hua's lips curled slightly, but her smile was faint.

But it brought her whole face to life.

Lin Bei watched from the side and suddenly felt that Fu Hua was somewhat unfamiliar.

She is no longer the calm and collected top student in the classroom.

She is not the victim who needs protection as the rumors suggest.

Her movements as she stroked the horse were practiced and confident, and she looked radiant.

Xie Ci chose a pure black Mongolian horse.

Lin Bei chose a chestnut-colored warmblood horse.

Fu Lie then led out his tall Orlov horse.

The four men led the horses into the arena.

Fu Hua mounted her horse with clean, crisp movements, her back straight.

Holding the reins with perfect posture, the horse trainer beside him was amazed.

"Young lady, you're obviously an expert."

"You're really good at riding!"

Fu Lie whistled, secretly thinking to himself, "Wasn't it said that this girl came from the countryside?"

She can also do horseback riding, a very difficult sport?

"When I was a child, my neighbor was a horse trainer, and I learned from him."

Fu Hua gave a simple explanation, then gently spurred the horse's flanks, and Ta Xue began to trot.

At first, we were a little rusty, but after two or three laps, we gradually became one and the speed increased.

The wind ruffled her hair, and she squinted slightly.

A hearty smile played on his lips.

Xie Ci rode alongside her, keeping a distance of about half a horse's length, neither too close nor too far.

Fu Lie's eyes flickered slightly; he had misunderstood.

I thought Xie Ci and Fu Hua were just ordinary friends.

It now seems that this legendary only son of the Xie family has been protecting Fu Hua at all times.

He even went horseback riding with her alone?

The reason for this is probably not as simple as just being friends.

Oh no, he was just joking about Lin Bei and Fu Hua.

Could I have offended this deputy division commander?

Lin Bei wanted to chase after them, but Fu Lie, with his sharp eyes, immediately reached out to stop him: "Come on, Lin Bei, ignore them, let's have a race!"

The game quickly turned into a two-on-two situation.

Fu Hua and Xie Ci spoke first, followed by Fu Lie and Lin Bei.

The sound of horses' hooves thundered, and dust flew everywhere.

Xie Ci turned his head to look at Fu Hua.

The girl's cheeks were flushed from exercise, and her eyes were bright.

He exudes a vibrant and energetic vitality.

It was completely different from his usual calm and restraint.

This is the real her!

Are you happy?

He raised his voice to express his gratitude.

"Um."

Fu Hua smiled gently, the wind ruffling her hair.

At that moment, she smiled like a real seventeen-year-old girl.

Lin Bei watched the two figures from behind, a mix of emotions welling up inside him.

He sped up, trying to catch up, but Fu Lie kept blocking his way, intentionally or unintentionally.

"What's the rush?"

Fu Lie grinned mischievously, "Didn't you realize they didn't need a third person?"

"What do you mean?"

Lin Bei frowned.

"Literal meaning."

Fu Lie cracked his whip, "Feelings are beyond our control. Didn't you see how Fu Hua treated Xie Ci differently? You have no chance."

Lin Bei pursed his lips, then suddenly pulled on the reins, causing the horse to rear up.

He forced his way past Fu Lie.

Fu Lie clicked his tongue: "Quite stubborn."

After several laps, everyone dismounted to rest.

Fu Hua jumped off the horse with a light and graceful movement.

Xie Ci handed her the water bottle naturally. She took it and drank a sip before realizing it was Xie Ci's own.

"I'm sorry, I..."

She wanted to return the kettle.

"fine."

He accepted the drink and naturally took a sip as well.

Lin Bei's eyes darkened slightly, and his fingers tightened.

Fu Lie, watching this, grinned and leaned closer: "Fu Hua, your riding skills are impressive! How long have you been learning?"

"A few years, I guess."

Fu Hua took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, revealing the osmanthus-patterned elastic band on her wrist.

Lin Bei's gaze lingered on the rubber band for a moment.

"This rubber band is quite unique."

He suddenly said his thanks.

Fu Hua subconsciously touched it: "A friend gave it to me."

"Zhang Wen?"

Lin Bei asked.

"Um."

Xie Ci didn't say anything more, but looked at Lin Bei with a deeper gaze.

After a short break, Fu Lie proposed a competition: "Let's run three laps around the track, and whoever gets back first wins! How about we bet a meal?"

"Can."

A farewell should be delivered readily.

Lin Bei looked at Fu Hua: "Are you participating?"

Fu Hua thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

The four men remounted their horses.

As soon as the whistle blew, the four horses shot off like arrows!

As expected, Treading Snow lived up to its name, getting off to a very fast start.

Fu Hua lowered her body, feeling the wind whistling past her ears.

The dark horse who accepted the apology kept close behind.

Lin Bei and Fu Lie were slightly behind by half a horse length.

At the end of the first lap, Fu Hua and Xie Ci were almost neck and neck.

In the second lap, Xie Ci was slightly ahead.

As we entered the last corner of the third lap,

Fu Hua suddenly accelerated, sprinting through the snow with all her might.

Before the finish line, a white figure and a black figure flashed past at the same time!

"Who's winning?"

Fu Lie reined in his horse and asked.

The horse trainer glanced at his pocket watch: "Almost simultaneously, but... Comrade Xie's horse crossed the line first."

Xie Ci looked at Fu Hua, who was slightly out of breath, with sweat on her forehead, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.

"I lost."

She said, but there was no disappointment in her tone.

On the contrary, it gave me a sense of exhilarating pleasure.

"you're good."

Xie rode closer, his voice low, "She's the best rider I've ever seen."

These words were spoken softly, but Lin Bei, who had approached, overheard them clearly.

The boy pursed his lips, stood to the side leading his horse.

I looked up at the sky and suddenly felt that the afternoon sun in winter was too dazzling.

Fu Lie laughed and smoothed things over, "They're all great, great! Let's go eat, it's on me!"

"No need for food."

Fu Hua glanced at the sky. It was getting late; she should go home.

"I send you."

Xie Ci and Lin Bei spoke almost simultaneously.

The two looked at each other, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Fu Hua calmly replied, "It's fine if Comrade Xie Ci sees me off; this is a task assigned to him by someone."

She nodded to Lin Bei and Fu Lie, "Goodbye, cousin and Lin Bei."

Lin Bei watched her walk towards Xie Ci, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the reins.

The chestnut horse stamped its hooves uneasily.

Fu Lie patted his shoulder, his tone unusually serious: "Take it easy. Some people and some things can't be forced."

Outside the racecourse, Xie Ci opened the car door for Fu Hua.

Before getting on the bus, Fu Hua looked back once.

Lin Bei remained standing in the same spot, the winter sunset casting a long shadow over him.

"Let's go."

she says.

The car drove away from the horse farm.