Lin Xi wasn't very good at horseback riding. She actually enjoyed it, but she'd fallen once at the club with Duan Mingxuan. Since then, Duan Mingxuan wouldn't let her ride anymore.
Her phone rang. Lin Xi interrupted her thoughts, and seeing it was Duan Mingxuan, her smile faded slightly. She answered the phone without saying a word, while Duan Mingxuan bombarded her with a series of "I'm sorry."
It was her thirtieth birthday, a significant day indeed.
Duan Zheng and Chen Baiwei remained indifferent, and Duan Yiheng showed no sign of sadness. Yet, Duan Mingxuan had broken the birthday present he'd given Duan Yiheng on her own birthday.
Lin Xi felt ashamed and didn't know what to say to Duan Mingxuan.
"Xiao Xi?" Duan Mingxuan waited patiently for a reply before calling her. Lin Xi lowered her eyes and responded.
Duan Mingxuan's eyes lit up, his tone rising, "Sister Mei said you went out with... him?"
"Yes."
"Then..." Duan Mingxuan paused, "When are you coming back? I'll pick you up."
"No need," Lin Xi said, "I'll be back when it's time."
Duan Mingxuan thought that tomorrow was Monday, and Lin Xi would be back at work, so she would definitely be back tonight.
He wasn't in a hurry anymore, and sincerely apologized again, "Xiao Xi, I'm really sorry, I didn't control my temper."
Lin Xi sighed inwardly. When she was little, she would always accept Duan Mingxuan's apologies.
Because Chen Baiwei looked at her with a smile, even if she was wronged by Duan Mingxuan's recklessness, she always had the right to forgive him. But now, she really couldn't get over this hurdle.
"Let's talk about it when we get back," Lin Xi said, and hurriedly hung up the phone.
Out of the corner of her eye, she brushed against Duan Yiheng's hand; the scrape hadn't been treated yet. "Let me disinfect it for you," she said.
Duan Yiheng didn't refuse and extended his hand. Lin Xi held his hand palm to palm, gently wiping the scraped area with a cotton swab.
Finally, she habitually blew on it. Duan Yiheng's fingertips curled up, his eyes unreadable. That afternoon, Duan Yiheng missed his horseback riding activity with Meng Huaishan and the others because of a last-minute video conference.
Lin Xi waited until the flowers had withered before he finally emerged from the study.
His face showed a hint of resentment, but he dared not express it. Duan Yiheng chuckled, "Have you been waiting long?" Lin Xi swayed her hands behind her back, whispering, "They're all back."
Duan Yiheng: "I'll take you to the horse farm now."
The horse farm was at the northernmost end, vast and deep, housing many precious breeds. Meng Huaishan's brown thoroughbred was also kept there. The riding stables were professionally managed and had a dedicated changing area.
Lin Xi changed into her riding attire and was taken aback when she saw Duan Yiheng. The man was tall and slender, with broad shoulders, and his well-defined chest muscles clung tightly to his clothes. Duan Yiheng's features were also exceptionally striking; his gaze was like that of a pine tree standing on frost.
He was the kind of person who attracted attention but whose gaze was too intense to look at for long. They sized each other up, and Duan Yiheng's gaze fell on Lin Xi.
She wasn't as tall as typical northern women, but her proportions were perfect, especially her slender waist, which, encased in her riding clothes, seemed easily covered by a palm.
Duan Yiheng had the instructor bring over his horse, a pure black satin horse, and said to Lin Xi, "Its name is Moyu. You can touch it and get to know it."
Moyu's meticulously maintained coat was glossy and smooth, truly beautiful. Lin Xi exclaimed in admiration and reached out to touch it. The horse was quite docile and didn't reject Lin Xi.
Duan Yiheng took the protective gear and naturally squatted down. From Lin Xi's perspective, he looked like he was kneeling with one leg bent, startled, and backing away.
Duan Yiheng looked up and said, "Why are you hiding? Let me put the protective gear on you."
Lin Xi wanted to say she could do it herself, but Duan Yiheng gently grasped her ankle and said, "Don't move." At that moment, Lin Xi felt Duan Yiheng's understated gentleness.
After the protective gear was on, Duan Yiheng put the helmet on her.
"Thank you," Lin Xi said, her bright eyes fixed on Duan Yiheng.
Duan Yiheng raised his chin slightly: "Would you like to ride a horse?"
Lin Xi: "I would, but Mo Yu is tall, I..."
"Let me help you," Duan Yiheng said, grabbing her waist from behind.
Lin Xi used the support to step onto the saddle and mount the horse. Duan Yiheng was even more swift; before Lin Xi could react, his chest was already pressed against her back.
"Hold the reins, relax a bit." Duan Yiheng's hand slipped through her waist and placed on the saddle.
Lin Xi's nerves skipped a beat with excitement. She gently squeezed the horse's flanks, and Mo Yu spurred its horse into a gallop. Perhaps emboldened by someone behind her, Lin Xi quickened her pace. Her worries vanished instantly, and the wind brushing her cheeks carried her laughter across the riding arena.
Having had her fill, Lin Xi tightened the reins and slowly came to a stop.
Duan Yiheng glanced down at her feet: "Are your feet alright?"
Lin Xi shook her head: "They're fine." Duan Yiheng took the reins and let Mo Yu walk slowly around the riding arena.
Lin Xi breathed out, "The black jade is so beautiful."
"There's also a small white pony here, it doesn't have a name," Duan Yiheng said. "I'll give it to you for your birthday."
"For me?" Lin Xi was taken aback. "That's too expensive, I can't accept something like that."
"It's not expensive," Duan Yiheng said. "I'll have someone prepare the registration certificate, health certificate, and pedigree certificate. You just need to sign them."
Lin Xi turned around in surprise: "Why me?"
She had a Porsche sports car in her garage, a gift from Duan Yiheng, but her grandfather had mentioned it at the time. Otherwise, given their relationship, they wouldn't have exchanged such expensive gifts.
Duan Yiheng said, "You had cake with me, it's my birthday, so it's only fair to return the favor."
Lin Xi was deeply ashamed: "The gift I gave you was already broken, and how can something worth tens of thousands compare to a horse?"
"It's just a horse," Duan Yiheng said. "You don't need to take care of it. Come over anytime you miss it."
"But—" Duan Yiheng interrupted her, "I didn't know what gift to give you, just accept it." Lin Xi respectfully accepted.
The staff at the horse farm gestured to Duan Yiheng from a distance. Mo Yu stopped, and Duan Yiheng dismounted first, then reached out to her.
Lin Xi clung to Duan Yiheng's neck, but he simply pulled her down by the waist. It turned out Duan Yiheng's phone had rung; it was Meng Huaishan calling to say he had to leave early.
Lin Xi glanced at the time, then turned to Duan Yiheng and said, "It's getting late, and we have to go to work tomorrow. Let's go together."
Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement, "Let's change first."
On the way back, Lin Xi first took Liang Yutong home. As the evening glow painted the sky, the car stopped in front of the villa's main house.
Lin Xi and Duan Yiheng got out of the car, one after the other. Half the sky was dyed by the setting sun, and Duan Yiheng stood tall beneath the colorful clouds.
Lin Xi: "Thank you this time." Duan Yiheng: "Ever since you came back, it seems like you've been thanking me constantly."
Lin Xi chuckled: "It seems so. I still owe you something. Have you thought about it?" Duan Yiheng: "Not yet."
Lin Xi: "Think about it before you talk to me. I'm going upstairs now." Turning around, Lin Xi saw Duan Mingxuan.
He glanced at Duan Yiheng, then smiled at Lin Xi, "Xiao Xi, you're back."
Lin Xi hummed in response, saying nothing more. Duan Mingxuan frowned and asked, "I overheard what you were saying. What do you owe him?"
Lin Xi: "..."