Chapter 227

Steven knows Chinese, but he chooses not to speak it and rarely does so.

His refusal to engage with people is manifested in delivering long speeches in English.

Having lived abroad for a long time, his English is excellent, but in reality, he is not a sociable person.

He spends more time with horses than with people.

He genuinely loves horses and is a person who enjoys equestrianism.

He has been divorced once and is currently single.

He looks at the little girl in front of him, who says she wants to try riding a horse.

Steven smiles.

His smile carries a hint of irony.

Being an excellent rider requires more than just riding a horse. Moreover, a delicate young girl riding a gentle pony for a short ride cannot be considered a rider, at most she can be considered someone who can barely ride a horse.

Riding a horse and galloping on horseback, treating the horse as an extension of one's body, requires a high level of physical fitness.

This little girl in front of him might get jolted by the horse, and she might even feel nauseous and turn pale after dismounting.

Equestrianism is not a game but a demanding sport that most people are not capable of.

Not to mention the young girl in front of him, even a stronger man might not be able to withstand the jolts of riding a horse.

However, he is surprised by the little girl's English. Her English is unexpectedly good, and her accent is very authentic. Her words are hard to refuse.

She seems determined.

While his hand holding the wine glass is steady, his head nods involuntarily.

He feels like he may have had too much to drink.

The alcohol content is too high.

A horseman should not drink, as it hampers one's judgment.

He finds it amusing and wants to mock, but his head agrees uncontrollably.

By the time he stands next to the young boss by the horse track, the sea breeze blows, and Steven becomes a little more sober.

At this point, he is no longer torn about whether to watch or not, because after uttering the words to terminate the contract, Steven's state of mind has become more serene, and he can calmly appreciate the scenery here.

To tell the truth, this is indeed the worst and most rudimentary horse stable he has ever seen. But the scenery here is really good.

A horse stable built by the bay gives a sense of galloping towards the sea when riding a horse, which feels expansive.

Both horses and the sea exude a powerful aura, something Steven truly enjoys.

He even regrets that he may not need to rush to leave. Maybe staying here for a while and taking a break in his journey of life would be nice.

But then he thinks of the pure and innocent little girl he just saw. He simply cannot bring himself to do nothing for money, even if it's just to please a little girl. It goes against his principles in life and professional ethics. He cannot do such a thing.

At this point, his heart has become calm, and he still squints his eyes, looking at the horizon.

In the evening, the sky, the sea, and the horse stable are all dyed in golden-red hues, slightly dazzling yet exuding dominance and tenderness.

The beauty of natural landscapes is sometimes indescribable in words. At this moment, Steven actually wants to ride a horse and gallop around.

However, having just consumed alcohol is not a good idea.

It's easy to get hurt. Riding a horse after drinking alcohol is as dangerous as driving a car after drinking. The horse can sense the excitement of the rider and become excited as well. However, the rider's excitement may only be due to the alcohol, making it difficult for them to control their body. It's hard to predict what the outcome will be.

Steven had seen someone break several ribs while riding a horse after drinking, and they could never return to the stable again.

He was not good at speaking, so even though he had been standing next to the young boss for a long time, he didn't say a word, just looked ahead.

Xiao Shengzhou didn't feel awkward either. He leisurely enjoyed the scenery before him and looked forward to Su Xiaoqi's appearance.

He had seen the girl ride a horse and witnessed a real horse racing scene.

Perhaps there was a bit of impulse in calling her an equestrian, but he wasn't the kind of person who acted impulsively and became infatuated with beauty. Unlike his cousin, he was methodical and planned things out, always following a systematic approach.

He thought it was time to prove his judgment.

With his thick eyebrows, big eyes, and serious face, he suddenly curved his lips.

Because he saw that figure.

It was far away, just a dot.

If he were in his office, he would have a clear view.

At the moment, he was standing by the racetrack, so he only saw a black dot at first.

It looked like it was dashing from the sea.

Steven also saw it, thinking he had drunk too much and was still feeling dizzy.

But as he watched, the black dot gradually approached.

Because it was far away, it felt like it was getting closer... but when the person and the horse came closer and closer, the sound of their hooves beating was faster than his heartbeat, making his heart pound.

Like a gust of wind.

That was the largest horse in the stable. It was evident that the boss loved that horse. There was a painting of that horse in the office. Steven knew the horse's pedigree, and it was quite expensive.

However, it had already been wasted, its excellent lineage squandered. When he saw Ji Gu, the horse that he thought had been ruined, he felt pity. It was already a horse that couldn't compete anymore. Although its physical condition was still good, it had become too fat and couldn't run.

But now, in front of his eyes, it was dashing like the wind. It was Ji Gu, the horse he believed had been ruined... it couldn't be... he heard the horse's breathing, which was not panting like an old bellows but rather very steady. Its steps were agile, just like an excellent racehorse on the field. Ji Gu was tall, so it wasn't until it was close that he saw the girl on its back.

It was hard to imagine how such a slender girl could control such a huge horse.

But there she was in front of him.

She seemed to be one with the horse, agilely leaping past him at a tremendous speed, like a wild wind whistling by.

A smile appeared on her face, full of unrestrained brightness.

He felt like he hadn't had enough, but she had already disappeared.

Soon, she appeared again, but this time for a short while. Steven estimated the time, lifted his hand to check the Rolex on his wrist—a steel Rolex that he had won as a prize in an equestrian competition when he was young. He had always been proud of it. He had worn this watch for many years, and the strap was scratched, but the quality of the watch was excellent, always keeping perfect time.

This watch was more loyal than his wife, accompanying him for a longer time.

If he were to lose both his watch and his wife at the same time, he would definitely prioritize finding this watch.

As he looked at his watch, he heard the sound of hoofbeats again.

The rhythm of the sound matched the second hand of his watch perfectly.

Upon hearing this sound, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face. It was the speed that only the most exceptional rider could control.

An outstanding rider wasn't just about being the fastest; it was about being able to control the speed of the horse. In a race, the rider who maintained a steady and uniform speed throughout would ultimately become the champion.

Those riders who exerted all their energy right from the start often exhausted themselves halfway through.

In reality, riding was similar to running for humans, but the challenge for riders lay not only in their own running but also in controlling the horse's galloping.

However, when he looked up and saw the young girl riding on horseback once again flying past him, a hint of embarrassment crossed his face.

Was this underage girl standing before him the exceptional rider he had just been thinking about?

She appeared delicate and fair, with no direct connection to horse racing.

He suggested going for a walk, and Xiao Shengzhou naturally wouldn't refuse.

In fact, Xiao Shengzhou already knew the result from Steven's expression.

They walked together to a bay not far away.

Little Coral had completed two rounds of riding, and on the third round, she came to this spot. She loved the sea, unlike the other horses. Even when she dried off, the seawater would stick to her, making her feel uncomfortable. Little Coral had a bit of cleanliness obsession and never approached this area on her own.

But Ji Gu was different; the sound of the waves excited her greatly.

Little Coral, ridden by Ji Gu, dashed into the water. Ji Gu raised her front hooves high, and the whole horse seemed to rise up, with Ji Gu's body momentarily parallel to the ground, facing the sunset.

Xiao Shengzhou, usually composed, couldn't help but take out his phone and snap a photo.

It was truly breathtaking and full of artistic appeal.

If taken with a proper camera, Xiao Shengzhou believed this scene could even participate in a photography competition.

Meanwhile, Steven's heart was pounding like the crashing waves. Thump, thump, thump. He even wondered if he had had too much to drink, as whatever he desired seemed to come true. The girl before his eyes was the equestrian champion he had been longing for.

She was amazing, gifted, and had a strong affinity for horses. She was a natural-born rider—brave, composed, and beautiful. She was young. If she were to appear on the racetrack, Steven could already envision the scene of applause and flowers surrounding her.

He wanted to stay; he had discovered a rising star, no, a superstar.