Chapter 1555: with translation of chapter title

NO．170：It can truly be said to be a technical adjustment.

If someone actually gets the Triple Crown, what do you plan to say?

What do you say?

To be honest, basically there is no such possibility.

Looking over the entire history of horse racing, the birth of a Triple Crown winner usually comes down to these three elements:

One strong contender, strong enough to pull ahead of contemporaries by a considerable distance.

Another strong contender, slightly inferior to the opponent, yet able to ignite the opponent's fighting spirit.

The luck is good, with no unexpected Triple Crown assassin popping up, nor any sudden physical fitness disaster or accidents on the track.

Whether this luck is good or not is a relative concept, but the potential of the horse girls of the same generation is visible.

Not to mention whether one of these three elements can be omitted, just this generation of horse girls already has a powerful competitor like Senlinbaoxue; then what?

It is this very haphazard team itself—Aimu Zhiji, Meipu Bourbon, Ailisuzhi, Manchester Chazuo.

Two are restarting their second playthrough, and two, under Aomo's guarantee, are sure to rise to the top as talented strong contenders.

Their joint pursuit of the classic Triple Crown itself is enough to make the trainer abandon the pursuit of producing a Triple Crown winner in the first batch of training in their career.

This isn't a case of 'both sides are equally related' where we can't assume who wins or loses; rather, in the competition among these five guaranteed contenders, someone needs to win three straight matches… Aomo would suspect that at least two of them are fixing races here.

Therefore, Sirius's assumption is utterly impractical in Aomo's eyes.

But he finds it hard to say outright.

It's hard to speak plainly about this topic that the girls have never brought up, which is essentially something they don't want to think about.

When horse girls want to enter a race, the trainer supports them in participating, lets them run, points out their chances of victory, and helps them give it their all—this has always been Aomo's attitude.

But it's undeniable—if we truly assume a future where everyone is a scattered champion, then he must also prepare to congratulate the victors and console the losers.

This is not the same as Sirius's assumption, yet the outcome ends up being the same by different paths.

—How would you make them satisfied?

Around this issue, this issue that currently feels too heavy, he remains silent.

Aomo Lindun does not intend to escape this fact; his gaze falls on the face of the woman before him, and he also notices the plurality of gazes, made clear by tension and anticipation, as substantial as they are. This undisputed frankness shatters the hesitation lingering in his heart about whether there truly needs to be a proof process.

Whether it's a momentary impulse or careful deliberation, it does not hinder their seriousness at this moment.

But this still hasn't made his response decisive.

Xiao Qian's earlier jest lingers in his ears; that jest is a jest precisely because it cannot be implemented, for once feelings are treated as a chip to trade for victory, feelings lose their original value.

Thus his silence continues.

With the May Festival approaching, refusal is a foreseeable blow, yet agreement would be an irrevocable precedent; he ought not to respond, yet he cannot find a topic that would let him escape the present without worsening the situation.

Thus, it's quite rare—he is actually being cornered.

To fall into a desperate situation with no escape is an achievement that countless cosmic beings and monsters have never accomplished, and also a moment that his emotionally burdened foster mother could hardly replicate.

But even in such a predicament, he is not alone.

「It's nothing more than a few visions to confirm later whether they can be achieved, as if we're conducting a trial? 」

「…？」

「…Is it you? Where did you come from? 」

In the midst of silence, Sirius frowned, gazing at the gray-haired woman who always wore that conspicuous thick coat no matter where she went, subconsciously glancing at the silent crowd nearby, and also looking at the fox-eared woman in the distance on the high stand.

The moment their eyes met, it was actually calm and composed.

Do you think you did the right thing?

Sirius subconsciously muttered to herself, yet turned her head back due to the nearby movement.

「…Huo'erhaiya? 」

The speaking trainer, seeing this reaction, also hadn't expected the other party to appear; but before Sirius could react, the woman had already approached, hooked her arm around the other's, and, pressing close, said softly: «Ah, didn't we just say this morning to call me Ya Ya? »

「…」

«We had agreed to come watch your training together, but everyone ended up with something to do—no matter, » Huo'erhaiya smiled gently, glancing at Sirius and the distant horse girls, «I can also bring this six-person concern; work is tiring, right? Pressure is high, so at times like this you can totally act cute with me…»

At this point, she even leaned in close to Aomo's ear, speaking in an extremely low, soft voice: «Even if it's a bit over the top, that's fine. »

「Cough, cough, cough cough…」

Even though they were several meters apart, the coughing echoed back and forth; even Sirius nearby seemed to have something stuck in her throat, clearing it a few times, but then she wasn't blaming that person for impropriety—instead she complained of dry mouth and went to get water, promptly running over to Suzi and Qianming.

「Actually, beyond expectation—»

Watching her reaction, before Huo'erhaiya could finish her sentence, Aomo raised a hand and traced a line, cutting off the words from midair; she then continued the second half: «Expected to stay calm, should I at least say you're an adult? Or is it the effect of coming from that symbolic home? »

«It's hard to imagine her shouting like a little girl—what horse girl could boldly reproach her trainer's girlfriend's words of affection in front of her? » Aomo sighed wordlessly, pulled his hand from the other's elbow, then lifted a finger to smooth the slightly upturned corner of her mouth, which was a bit dissatisfied.

Then she was restrained by the other party.

«Alright, don't do that; I'm really thankful you defused the situation, but we still need to restrain ourselves in front of minors. »

The horse girls watching the direction behind the feathered serpent also discussed the scene; Aomo, silently releasing the restraint, drew a tissue from his wristband to wipe his hand, trying not to give those far away who were paying attention and getting stimulated an opportunity, then he heard a faint voice from ahead:

«Will minors restrain themselves when stealing a boyfriend? »

«A boyfriend snatched by a minor is usually not worth cherishing either. »

«Ah, quite imposing—so who was just driven to a dead end? » Huo'erhaiya leaned in, looked up with a low gaze full of mockery, «Those little girls have no sense of proportion at all, putting you through this—could they possibly find another trainer like you? »

«You can't blame them either. »

«Still not enough? Indulgence also needs a limit—do you still remember which side you're on? I might really do something over the top. »

«Listen to my explanation, it's like this…»

«By rights I shouldn't listen, just like Xiao Qian usually does. »

«…So you want what Xiao Qian doesn't have. »

«I didn't say that, you did. »

I must have disrupted their rhythm; the minors panicked, and the adults aren't very rational either.

They've already lost to this point; they probably can't be rational anymore.

Crossing their arms, they turned sideways to glance at the distant Huo'erhaiya, the corner of their mouth once again curling into that familiar sarcastic smile.

You can't always keep reason on your lips when it comes to feelings.

Right?

That's not right! Huo'erhaiya turned, raised a hand, and snatched the other's tie.

Before yesterday, this was something they had considered doing several times but lacked the qualifications and conditions; but now they can already look at that ever‑high head, brought down to the same height as themselves.

Their attack is justified; your reaction and counterattack are also justified—emotional strategy is inherently two‑way, and you, who lead this, can't fail to realize that.

"No, I… uh…" Aomo, who had intended to refute but instead fell into hesitation and then began to ponder, rubbed their chin: "…Indeed."

They nodded.

I actually completely missed that.

"Used to being the overlooked dark under the lamp while making mirrors," Huo'erhaiya scoffed, "Since you want to control the distance between the two sides, even if only temporarily, you should also factor in your own approach alongside their attack as a variable; in this regard you're still not mature enough, my little boyfriend."

Suddenly, their smile turned into pure delight.

"It's fine; I forgive the Rainbow Snake God's Excellency for this shortcoming in understanding humanity."

"…I wasn't born a Rainbow Snake God either…"

"You should really make good use of the step the woman left for you—this is also a rare moment for you to experience, right?"

"Please remember Ms. Huo'erhaiya's teachings."

"Do you still call me that?" They turned back, a hint of dangerous menace flashing in those jade‑green eyes.

"That was just a retort, Yaya."

"Hmph, your mindset sure recovered quickly."

"I guess there's no other way, then…"