The taxi finally rolled to a stop an hour later, and Sheng Xia stepped out in front of the equestrian club. The place was grand, every corner whispering of wealth and privilege. She couldn't help but put a smile, it had been far too long since she last rode a horse.
Ah, she missed her babies.
A woman in uniform came forward to greet her. Sheng Xia's simple clothes stood out awkwardly against the refined setting, giving her the appearance of a country bumpkin. Even so, the employee's tone remained warm and courteous as she asked about Sheng Xia's purpose for coming.
Sheng Xia smiled as she slipped off her glasses. "I'd like to ride a few laps. Do I need to register first?"
The female employee's expression remained courteous, but the flicker in her eyes betrayed her surprise. "Yes, Miss. Please, allow me to show you the way. May I know your name, Miss?"
"You can call me Stella."
She followed behind the employee, and before long, they arrived at a small room where another young woman was waiting. Sheng Xia took a seat across from her, letting her gaze wander over the neatly arranged surroundings.
"Jiang Lin, this is Miss Stella," the first employee said as she made the introductions. "And this is Jiang Lin, who will guide you through the entire process. I hope you enjoy your time here, Miss Stella."
Sheng Xia's smiled. "Thank you."
After the first employee left the room, Jiang Lin greeted her with polite warmth and handed her a tablet. Many programs displayed on the tablet's screen.
For several minutes, Jiang Lin explained the club's offerings in detail. Sheng Xia didn't dwell on the options, she simply chose the program that allowed her to ride freely, wherever she wished, on whichever horse she liked.
From the moment she stepped through the entrance until now, everything had been amazing. She found herself liking this club. Even the horses displayed on the tablet were more than satisfactory.
After completing her registration, Sheng Xia was escorted to her private room for the day. Inside, a riding outfit tailored to her size has been already prepared. The room itself was well-equipped, with its own bathroom, changing room, and pantry. The club even offered a sauna, spa, and salon.
Sheng Xia's lips curved in satisfaction. Not bad, she thought.
Once Jiang Lin finished pointing out the necessary rules and excused herself, Sheng Xia finally removed her disguise and changed into the riding attire.
She stood before the full-length mirror, her reflection staring back at her. A faint strangeness washed over her. It had been so long since she last appeared in public without a disguise. To see this unfiltered beauty looking back at her felt almost unfamiliar.
After steadying her thoughts, Sheng Xia stepped out of her room and met the assistant assigned to her for the day. The young man led her toward the stables. Along the way, heads turned. People paused to stare, some even gaped in awe. A few even approached her, offering to accompany her on the ride. Sheng Xia declined them all. Today, she wanted freedom, the simple joy of riding as much as she pleased, without interruption.
At the stable, she chose a Thoroughbred stallion with a golden-brown coat that gleamed under the light. She took her time, introducing herself to the horse, letting it grow familiar with her presence. Once the connection was made, the assistant handed her the reins, allowing her to saddle and prepare the stallion on her own.
When everything was in place, Sheng Xia mounted in one smooth, practiced motion. For a moment, the assistant stood frozen, amazed. Sheng Xia, poised on horseback, looked so breathtaking that he nearly forgot to follow.
Sheng Xia guided the stallion into her assigned arena, letting him trot steadily as she adjusted to his rhythm. After a few minutes, her body loosened, the movements becoming natural. She urged the horse faster, and with the rush of wind against her face, a familiar sense of freedom returned. For the first time in a long while, she felt unshackled.
But suddenly, she remembered the Cheng family. She let out a short, derisive snort. This was stupid, staying here any longer was suffocating. Perhaps it was time to end this and returned to New York City in a few days. She still had time left, but she already could sense herself changing, slipping into someone unrecognizable. The thought made her scared.
Sheng Xia moved to another area, where she could trail through some flower park. While riding, Japan crossed her mind. She recalled how she had once wanted to learn Yabusame, the art of Japanese horseback archery. A month of vacation was a rare gift—why not use it to cross something off her bucket list?
Sheng Xia decided her next itinerary in a short time.
The flower park was amazing. It was aligned with the luxury level of the club. The sun shined, the birds chirped, the horse riding was comfortable and Sheng Xia felt calm. Another thought crossed her mind, the man who defeated her in her latest energy related project auction.
She remembered his silhouette, his aloof personality and his smirk.
Sheng Xia realized, her heart rate started to increase.
Not far from her and her horse, a man rode a horse with elegance that can be felt from afar. Sheng Xia saw it with her own eyes, when that man turned his head toward her. The wind swirled around them and Sheng Xia, finally remember, before the news of her biological family surfaced, the thing that she was concerned about was, how every time she thought about that man, her heart was trying to explode itself.
Sheng Xia stunned, and her horse stopped when it realized its rider stop responding.
Before Sheng Xia can put any respond, the man himself brought his horse toward her. In front of her, Sheng Xia could see the man's eyes changed from indifference to acknowledgement.
"Stella, we meet again."
And just like that, Sheng Xia felt that the world went into silent.