Chapter 204

Okay, I'll pay attention.

Sirius Symbol spoke calmly.

As a horse girl who returned from the interstellar racecourse beyond the expedition lands—that is, beyond Earth—Sirius Symbol, despite having an arrogant and unrestrained temperament, has been labeled by Zhouri Ningjing as a reckless idiot, vividly bearing the tag of a decadent young master from a great family.

But she couldn't possibly be truly stupid.

As a returning horse girl, she has tread the complexities of the interstellar racecourse, and moreover witnessed the tangled mix of good and bad beyond the racecourse.

Based on this foundation, she can still guarantee that straightforward approach, and evidently she still possesses some strength that Zhouri Ningjing refuses to acknowledge.

Even if one doesn't want to acknowledge it, it still exists; the fact that Sirius Symbol can show that decadent demeanor before Zhouri Ningjing is itself proof—otherwise, let Aomo adopt Zhouri Ningjing's attitude and see if he gets beaten.

But even such a Sirius Symbol must still restrain some of his coarse attitude in front of that elderly lady beside him.

Because she is the current head of the Symbol family, the maternal grandmother of Ludaofu Xiangzheng—Speed Symbol.

Decades ago she pulled the declining family back up, efficiently integrating resources by any means, holding great sway in gray areas, and playing a major role in reorganizing the modern horse girl race's rules and order; her life story, if written, would surely be a legend.

But she is also old.

Although one can still see traces of her youthful beauty, and although she has the horse girl's trait of not turning white-haired even at advanced age, she is still advanced in years.

The figure leaning on a cane standing there, and that face etched with the marks of merciless time, both prove her aging.

And she herself disdains using external means to relive her youthful days.

Even as her appearance and spirit age, her eyes have not grown cloudy; on the contrary, they have become sharper.

Before her, even Sirius Symbol feels that he still lacks something, his wings not yet full.

Sirius Symbol has never liked beating around the bush, but under the family's shadow he must restrain his nature as much as possible—this is an experiential lesson he has learned since childhood, and indeed an instinctual lesson ingrained in every family member.

Not even Ludaofu Xiangzheng is an exception.

Once unwilling to lose, he wanted to prove himself stronger than her and tried to gain more of her attention, but after many experiences Sirius Symbol has long realized that the family's gaze is a misfortune.

She went to the expedition lands outside, not without the idea of distancing herself from the family, but in the end she still had to return.

Merely escaping is meaningless.

A horse girl who flees the racecourse is disqualified; she returns to earn a place—by means of the Dream Cup to be held next year!

Whether the Symbol family was founded, accumulated, declined, or in these past decades reforged its glory, it has always been inseparable from horse girl racing.

Thus Ludaofu Xiangzheng assumed those many responsibilities early on.

Because she is a Triple Crown horse girl, moreover a Seven‑Champion King, her becoming the next family head is what everyone expects; this is a right she has won, yet also a shackle she has won, and Sirius Symbol will not be so 'foolish'.

What she wants to win is merely a voice in this messed‑up family, not those twisted chains.

But now, while Ludaofu Xiangzheng, burdened with those chains, can act freely, I must follow this old lady… Sirius Symbol feels resentful in his heart, yet cannot come up with the idea of swapping.

Swapping… Ludaofu's life is better left as is; she still has self‑awareness.

As for the trainer noticed by Speed Symbol… Sirius Symbol knows that this old lady is merely a passing fancy born of chance.

After all, the name Aomo Lindun has appeared fairly often lately in the Symbol family's intelligence network.

Whether it's Thus we output: Thus we output: QiuChuan Mingsheng's affirmation, or having signed two problem horse girls with special temperaments, and the fact that he gets along well with Qianming's representative and Narita Hakujin, all show this newcomer's special ability in interpersonal development; helping Zhouri Ningjing resolve the Yuger Company affair further shows his ability in case investigation—although the trainer's most important cultivation ability hasn't shown any signs yet, the Speed Symbol has already cultivated an 'automatic' horse girl in the clan, evidently not caring about this point.

She thought the other was talent and planned to invite him to take a look; a person of high status and power has the right to be willful, but after the first invitation came up empty, it's hard to say it didn't produce a backlash.

Failing to secure him only made her more eager; Sirius Symbol himself wondered whether he should secretly cause trouble for this old lady by leaking word to Aomo Lindun.

One missed attempt would hurt more, and being rejected might even increase interest, but if she repeatedly dodges several times, the old lady's enthusiasm would probably fade.

She had still been thinking that way—who could have imagined that going to the Takarazuka Kinen to have a look would result in the old lady catching her together, and then, before she had even walked far after getting off the car, she directly saw the person herself?

Damn…… really no vigilance at all?!

Sirius Symbol felt frustrated.

Could I have been mistaken? Wasn't yesterday's failed invitation by that old lady deliberately avoided by the other party?

Moreover, hasn't this guy changed too much?

Gazing from afar at that youth who accepted a group of reporters' interviews with an easygoing demeanor, Sirius Symbol still remembered how, when they first met on the subway, the other had been a nervous, timid figure.

Back then he was indeed a raw youngster, and compared to the present figure who seems to have made all preparations, the contrast is stark.

"Since you haven't met him, what do you think of him?"

"Me? I don't really feel anything," said Sirius Symbol, who hadn't expected to be asked after distancing himself, adopting a slightly annoyed posture: "That kind of guy would only see a leisurely passing figure in his eyes."

"Full of boredom, and as troublesome as mud."

With a pointed meaning, or rather outright speaking ill of one thing while meaning another, Sirius Symbol said coldly: "You wouldn't really intend to hire him, would you? The family already has too many idle people."

Especially Ludaofu's trainer team.

Basically they're retirees who don't want to run anymore—what need is there for trainers, or a team?

Sirius Symbol looks at those trainers bound by high salaries in that prison‑like environment, always with ridicule and contempt, yet not lacking pity.

Especially those who, after staying only a short while, need to go to psychiatry to adjust their minds.

For a while, Umasta even circulated a special‑supply rumor among transmigrators that the Mejiro family would eat trainers; Sirius Symbol saw it and just wanted to laugh.

The Symbol family's 'people‑eating' reputation is truly extensive, and they don't even care whether the victim is a trainer.

Before recruiting a batch of horse girls, the manor's servants were like consumables akin to COC investigators, and from time to time a few would quit and go home to recuperate.

Either they struggle desperately, or they just degenerate like this—that's how it is.

Even if she offered a third option, none could be seized, so she could only lament their misfortune and resent their lack of effort.

The dregs of Jidong area culture combined with the old family's cultural dregs produce a more‑than‑two effect, turning the Symbol family manor into a demon‑cave; no matter what profession one pursues upon entering the main house, staying long is bad for the spirit.

But after all, the main reason is precisely this old lady before us with a bland complexion.

"Don't rush to conclusions, Sirius Symbol."

"Think about it—you can't find a suitable trainer because of this impatience, and in the end you can only let the family arrange things, right?"

"…" Sirius Symbol fell silent, thinking of that man who is always nervous; indignation rose in her eyes.

"You surely don't think he could replace that guy as my trainer, do you?"

I've said it already, don't jump to conclusions, Tianlangxing.

With a piercing gaze, he stared at the young man in the distance, as if trying to see through his essence—the head of the Symbolists—who then met him with a puzzled look, then immediately smiled and gave a slight nod.

The young man in the distance also returned the gesture with some doubt, which instead showed his good upbringing.

There's more than just you, a horse girl, among the Symbolists.

You——

Tianlangxing the Symbolist heard that, first stunned, then widened his eyes.

Do you think it's possible?

Only then did she understand what the other party was planning, which was even less likely than hoping for a lucky break from talent.

Ludaofu Xiangzheng's retirement is set in stone; not even the legendary Dream Cup, a once-in-a-lifetime event, could ignite her fighting spirit, and no one can sway the Emperor's will.

That's why I said don't rush, don't rush, Tianlangxing.

The calm old woman saw the trainer bid farewell to all the reporters, and as he led the horse girls toward the spectator entrance, she also slightly lifted her cane:

However, the match time is about to start, so let's go as well.