Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Guan Mulin meticulously recounted everything he had heard.

Ostensibly, it was to reassure everyone, implying that Shen Ju wasn't entirely controlled by the system, thus putting their minds at ease.

But in reality...

Director Qin: [JiuJiu called me Mom too! Hahaha!]

Director Qin: [JiuJiu called Mom and his brothers!]

Group member · Guan Muyao · eldest brother · Xiao Yao: ............

Shen Ju usually did address people, but typically only when necessary.

Unless absolutely required, you wouldn't often hear Shen Ju voluntarily use terms of address for them.

The Guan family understood this.

After all, they hadn't spent much time with Shen Ju yet.

They had always assumed Shen Ju would only call them when absolutely compelled.

Yet, when chatting with that system called 996, he would actually call them Mom and brothers?

Calling them directly to their faces and calling them behind their backs were two entirely different matters!

Qin Suxi immediately got a surge of adrenaline and, with feigned composure, announced she would go to the East Suburb Equestrian Club that afternoon for some fun and, incidentally, to inspect the situation.

Guan Muyao promptly called out, "Mom."

"Since it’s a rare day off, I’ll accompany Mom there too."

Guan Lifeng and Guan Jianshan, who hadn't had a chance to speak, couldn't contend with the two and had to stay home.

It wasn't that they couldn't all go.

But they feared alerting the enemy—it would seem too suspicious.

They could only ask the two to share anything else they heard in the group chat.

So, after Shen Ju got out of the car, besides seeing Pei Haochuan and Guan Mulin, he also saw Qin Suxi and Guan Muyao.

He politely addressed them as "Mom" and "Eldest Brother."

Qin Suxi: Aiya, why not "Mommy"?

Pushing her luck, she longed to hear the word "Mommy."

Guan Muyao gave an "Mm."

Thinking it was merely a polite address.

Han Chengfeng was also taken aback.

He looked back and forth at the people present.

The Guan family, the Pei family...

He wondered if he had been set up?!

But since he was already here...

Han Chengfeng humbly greeted Qin Suxi and Guan Muyao, then surreptitiously glared at Pei Haochuan and Guan Mulin. What was the idea of bringing adults into this?!

Pei Haochuan glared back, awkwardly but righteously.

Guan Mulin also rubbed the tip of his nose—it was an unspeakable matter.

Han Chengfeng snorted, pulled Shen Ju over, and declared loudly, "Shen Ju, come on, I’ll take you to change!"

Pei Haochuan rolled his eyes.

Thinking, as if anyone would compete with you for Shen Ju—

"Before coming, I already had someone prepare riding clothes for Shen Ju."

Guan Mulin drawled, "Han Chengfeng, I remember your Han family has shares in the East Suburb Equestrian Club too? You’re quite familiar with the manager here, right? How could the manager be so unprepared?"

Then he delivered a finishing blow: "Didn’t they prepare everything for you in advance?"

"After all, our family’s child was brought here by you."

Han Chengfeng: ............

Dammit, Guan Mulin could be so flexible—he even knew how to use Guan Shenju to taunt him! Tch, so fake!

Han Chengfeng tugged Shen Ju along: "Shen Ju, come with me!"

Guan Mulin also looked at Shen Ju: "I prepared riding clothes for you. Come with me."

Shen Ju: ............

Pei Yan: "The changing rooms are in the same place."

............

The group silently headed toward the building where the changing rooms were located.

As VVIP clients here, especially since the Pei and Han families were investors in the East Suburb Equestrian Club, although the changing areas were in the same building, they each had private rooms. These rooms were reserved for them to store personal items, and if they got tired from riding, they could even take a short nap there—no different from hotel rooms.

Guan Mulin didn’t have the authority to get Shen Ju a private room, since he didn’t have one himself. He had originally planned to have Shen Ju take the clothes and change together with him in the communal changing room.

"Come with me."

Pei Yan spoke up at this point: "Didn’t I say earlier I’d take you riding on Chasing Shadow? After changing, we can go straight to the stables and lead Chasing Shadow out."

Shen Ju thought that made sense and immediately nodded in agreement.

He agreed so quickly it almost caught everyone off guard.

Pei Yan smiled and motioned for Shen Ju to follow him.

To be honest, he was now experiencing the joy of having a cat. Especially the process of gradually bonding with a kitten.

Shen Ju followed Pei Yan into the room, holding the riding outfit.

The East Suburb Equestrian Club provided equestrian attire in a more European style, which was very slim-fitting. Pei Yan’s riding outfits were even custom-made, hanging row by row in the wardrobe, with many different styles.

............

There were jackets, breeches, riding boots, even bow ties and ties, helmets and riding caps, as well as gloves and riding crops, and so on.

Shen Ju was amazed, thinking there really were a lot of details to pay attention to.

"I started coming here to ride when I was seven or eight years old," Pei Yan said, walking over.

Shen Ju exclaimed in surprise, "That early?"

Pei Yan said, "mm," "At first, it was out of interest, but later..."

Shen Ju asked curiously, "What about later?"

Pei Yan looked at Shen Ju and suddenly smiled, "Later?"

"Later, it became an outlet."

"Ah?"

But at that moment, Pei Yan looked away again, picking out clothes as he spoke, "A horse running at full speed is very fast, and you're the only one holding the reins, controlling the direction and the powerful animal beneath you. That feeling of galloping can become addictive without you even realizing it, just like how some people enjoy riding motorcycles—it's all about seeking thrills."

"Though I think horseback riding is more exciting than riding a motorcycle."

"Do you know why?"

Pei Yan picked out a simple black-and-white riding outfit.

The top was made of stiff black fabric, and the bottom was fitted white breeches, with durable suede material on the inner knees to help stabilize the rider in the saddle.

"Why?" Shen Ju couldn't help but ask.

"Equestrianism has many ways to enjoy it."

Pei Yan looked at Shen Ju again and chuckled lightly, "You can try different positions on horseback."

"Sometimes you can control the horse, and sometimes you can give it free rein. Conquering a well-trained horse means you can do many things with its cooperation, and of course, the excitement of riding is greater."

Shen Ju felt that Pei Yan seemed somewhat different at this moment.

But before he could think too deeply about it, Pei Yan spoke again, "Alright, let's change. We'll go straight to the stables afterward."

"Oh, okay."

The East Suburb Equestrian Club covered a very large area, with professional tracks where galloping at full speed was no problem.

It was an alternative place to burn money—a single visit for the wealthy could cost as much as an ordinary person's monthly expenses.

But the services provided were indeed comprehensive and thoughtful. Besides the tracks, there were professional racing tracks and even leisure riding areas.

............

Qin Suxi had no interest in galloping or racing. After changing, she was ready to watch the excitement—ahem, no, she was prepared to observe.

Guan Muyao wasn't going to participate either.

He wasn’t interested in these activities and had only been here a few times since his youth.

Pei Yan, however, came often.

But he usually rode alone.

Things like Han Chengfeng and Pei Haochuan challenging each other to races—he rarely participated even in his teenage years. Though some had provoked him, after one or two times, they stopped.

Pei Yan didn’t participate in horse racing either.

Shen Ju didn't know how to ride, so even if he wanted to join, he couldn’t.

That left just three people.

Han Chengfeng going up against two.

He was quite proud, feeling like "one man holding the pass against ten thousand."

"I'll beat you, then Guan Mulin," Han Chengfeng said, pointing at Pei Haochuan, then at Guan Mulin.

Pei Haochuan scoffed, "Then beat me first before you talk."

The atmosphere immediately grew tense.

As if they were about to fight to the death the next second.

Pei Yan said, "Showboating so early? You still have to warm up in the same place later."

Han Chengfeng and Pei Haochuan: "............"

Qin Suxi laughed, "Little Han and Little Pei are really full of energy."

Shen Ju stood before an Akhal-Teke horse, commonly known as the "sweats blood horse" or "Ferghana horse," one of the oldest horse breeds in the world.

When Pei Yan led this horse out of the stable, Shen Ju was stunned.

It was so beautiful.

Its entire body was golden, like a molten gold sculpture. The moment it stepped out of the stable, under the sunlight, every smooth curve of its body gleamed with a liquid sheen.

Both beautiful and noble.

When it ran, it was like a flash of light.

No wonder it was called Chasing Shadow.

Shen Ju reached out to touch it. The horse was incredibly tall, much taller than him.

But Pei Yan standing beside this horse seemed surprisingly well-matched. Shen Ju couldn't help but look at Pei Yan several times, mentally comparing the width of Pei Yan’s shoulders to his own, thinking there was quite the difference. Of course, Pei Yan was also taller than him, but this was the first time Shen Ju clearly realized how impressive Pei Yan's physique was—broad shoulders, long legs, and a tall stature.

Shen Ju stood up on his toes. It was fine—he still had some growing to do.

Pei Yan spotted this out of the corner of his eye and had to suppress a laugh.

The place they were currently in was a small venue. If they were going to ride or compete with horses, they had to do some warm-ups first—whether it was the people or the horses, they couldn’t just let the horses run at full speed straight out of the stable.

Everyone needed to get into the right state.

So, at this moment, the entire group had gathered here.

Pei Yan was also preparing to teach Shen Ju how to mount and ride a horse, letting Shen Ju get a feel for it.

Han Chengfeng, Pei Haochuan, and Guan Mulin had all brought their horses over.

996 immediately spoke up: "Host, now is a great opportunity!"

It's happening.

Qin Suxi and Guan Muyao shared a look.

Guan Mulin also paused, and then walked over to Shen Ju.

996 was still chattering: "Although it’s a bit like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, it still fits the persona you’re supposed to be playing—after all, the character you’re meant to portray is pretty brainless—"

Qin Suxi: Pfft, you’re the brainless one.

"Just make an excuse in front of your mom and your eldest brother to ask Guan Mulin for money. If he refuses, you can play the victim in front of your mom and your eldest brother—"

Qin Suxi: Heh heh heh.

As if suddenly remembering something, she waved Shen Ju over: "Sweetie, you accidentally hurt Pei Yan, right? Did you pay for the medical expenses yourself?"

Shen Ju had been listening to 996 speak and was caught off guard by Qin Suxi’s question. He instinctively nodded obediently.

Of course, he paid for it.

He was the one who hurt Pei Yan, so he had to take responsibility.

He just didn’t know why Qin Suxi suddenly asked this question.

"So well-behaved. It’s only right to make amends when you hurt someone."

Qin Suxi took out her phone: "Mom will transfer you another 200,000 yuan, okay?"

996: "...Huh?"

Author's Note:

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