Chapter 103: Childish Teasing

Qi Qi let go of Dong Shu's hand, trotted over to Zhu Yuan, cupped her face in her hands, and looked at Zhu Yuan with starry eyes, exclaiming, "Little Aunt, you are so pretty!"

Zhu Yuan was stunned. Whose child was this, and why did she call her "Little Aunt"?

She then turned her head and saw Dong Shu walking over with a smile, as well as Qi Jing... and Sheng Yu behind Dong Shu.

The man's one-meter-ninety height stood at the doorway, blocking out most of the sunlight.

The moment he raised his eyes, Zhu Yuan quickly looked away.

Not knowing if it was because she was startled by their sudden visit or because of the man's quiet, deep gaze, Zhu Yuan's heart was beating a little fast. She suppressed her inexplicable emotions and just listened to Qi Jing speak.

"This is my child. On the way in just now, she asked me who she was coming to see. I couldn't explain it clearly to her, so I just said you used to be A Zhan's fiancée, and she started calling you Little Aunt. The child doesn't know any better; please don't take it to heart."

So it was the little princess of the Qi Family.

Zhu Yuan touched the little girl's head without correcting her form of address, "What is your name?"

Hearing this, Sheng Yu felt that same affected, sweet tone she had used when asking Feiyuan for his name that day—a soft voice with a hint of coquetry that felt like an electric current passing through his heart.

She really likes to use that affected voice with others, doesn't she?

Qi Qi touched the ends of Zhu Yuan's smooth hair, raised her little head, and said with a smile, "Little Aunt, my name is Qi Qi."

Dong Shu glanced at Sheng Yu's expression, squatted down to take Qi Qi's hand, and said, "Qi Qi, you can't call her Little Aunt. You should call her..."

She remembered that Zhu Yuan was younger than all of them, only 22 years old this year.

"Call her Big Sister," Qi Jing said.

"Big Sister!" Qi Qi called out crisply.

Zhu Yuan responded with a smile and patted Qi Qi's head.

Sheng Yu narrowed his eyes.

Big Sister?

Qi Jing didn't notice the change in Sheng Yu's expression. He picked up Qi Qi and said to Zhu Yuan, "It's not convenient for us two grown men to be here, so we won't disturb you. We're taking Qi Qi to go horseback riding."

Zhu Yuan wished Sheng Yu would leave quickly and didn't even offer a polite remark, "Then you guys go ahead."

After a pause, she realized she had been too obvious and that Sheng Yu would probably hear it, so she immediately added, "It's mainly because the child wants to play."

Watching her spout nonsense with a straight face, Sheng Yu gritted his back teeth and sneered.

In the mirror, Zhu Yuan met the man's deep, dark eyes. She feigned composure, looked away, and continued to pick up her comb to brush her hair.

As the man turned to leave, he gave the ends of her hair a light tug.

This childish teasing made Zhu Yuan's whole body stiffen; she never would have imagined that someone of Sheng Yu's status would do such a thing.

By the time she came to her senses, the man had already reached the door, and she could only see his broad shoulders and back.

"What are you looking at?" Dong Shu asked her with a smile.

Zhu Yuan shook her head, turned back, and looked at Dong Shu, who was sitting on the side, "I still have to finish my makeup and styling, so it probably won't be that fast. You go play with them first."

Dong Shu crossed her legs and said indifferently, "What's fun about a widower like Brother Qi? And Yu Ge doesn't like women getting close to him, so why would I go?"

She walked over, pressed both hands on Zhu Yuan's shoulders, and met her eyes in the mirror, "I'm here today to accompany you for the photoshoot."

Jingdu City had already entered winter. Although the temperature had been very low a few days ago, it had warmed up over the last two days, making it perfect for going out.

However, this Horse Racing Track operated on a membership basis, and not many people could come here to ride.

"Teacher Zhu, later there will be specialized staff from the track to help lead the horses. You just need to sit on them and take some photos with the horses; there won't be any danger. Of course, there will also be some photos taken on the ground."

The photographer communicated with Zhu Yuan before the shoot.

Zhu Yuan nodded, "I'm not afraid."

The photographer was used to seeing all kinds of celebrities say how brave they were before a shoot, only to be timid when it came time to actually get on set—for example, standing on the edge of a cliff or soaking in seawater.

He just assumed Zhu Yuan was the same.

After all, Zhu Yuan looked delicate and weak; she probably was even afraid to mount a horse.

The Horse Racing Track staff brought the horse over, holding the reins in one hand and extending the other toward Zhu Yuan, "Teacher Zhu, come, hold my hand and I'll boost you up."

Zhu Yuan looked at the hand extended toward her and smiled politely, "Thank you. But there's no need; I can get on myself."

As she spoke, Zhu Yuan stepped into the stirrup, her whole figure as brilliant as the clouds rolling across the horizon, and she sat neatly and decisively in the saddle.

She looked down at the surprised crowd below the horse and grinned.

"I forgot to mention that my grandfather lives on the grasslands; I know how to ride."

Team Leader Hao supported his forehead from the side—Xiao Fengzheng was showing off again!

The sound of hoofbeats approached from behind.

Zhu Yuan pulled the reins and turned her head.

Sheng Yu was sitting on a white steed. He had changed into a black and white riding outfit. With his height and long legs, he had an innate sense of nobility while sitting on the horse—not like a brave general, but more like a monarch looking down upon the world.

Qi Qi was sitting in front of him. Qi Qi looked at Zhu Yuan in amazement, "I want to ride Little Aunt's horse!"

"Call her what?" Sheng Yu lowered his eyes to glare at her.

Qi Qi tilted her head to think, then changed her words, "Big Sister!"

Sheng Yu gave a cold snort, "She's so old, and you're still calling her sister? Call her Aunt."

Even though the two of them were the ones talking, Zhu Yuan's cheeks burned red.

What did he mean by "she's so old"?

How old was she?

She was only twenty-two; what was wrong with Qi Qi calling her Big Sister?

Dong Shu stood on the side, watching this scene, and quietly clenched her fingers.

Qi Qi acted coquettishly toward Zhu Yuan, "Auntie, Qi Qi wants to ride the black horse! Ride the black horse!"

Not far away, Qi Jing, who was sitting under a parasol drinking tea, heard Qi Qi's words and shook his head helplessly, though his face was full of doting smiles. This child was truly spoiled rotten by him.

"Alright, then I'll switch with Qi Qi." Zhu Yuan didn't dwell on whether she was 'sister' or 'aunt' anymore; in any case, the sooner they switched horses, the sooner Sheng Yu would take Qi Qi away.

Otherwise, with him here, how was she supposed to take photos?

Zhu Yuan dismounted nimbly.

Sheng Yu held Qi Qi as he dismounted, then lifted Qi Qi onto the back of the black horse, made sure she was sitting steadily in the saddle, and subsequently handed the reins to a staff member at the Horse Racing Track, "Take Miss Qi for two laps."

Zhu Yuan had just stepped into the stirrup when she heard this, her entire body stiffening.

What did that mean?

Sheng Yu wasn't taking Qi Qi himself?

Sheng Yu caught sight of her troubled little face, let out a soft laugh, strode over toward Qi Jing, sat under a parasol, and watched her without the slightest restraint.

"Teacher Zhu, let's begin."

The photographer's voice brought Zhu Yuan back to her senses.

After the makeup artist touched up her makeup, it was time to start the shoot.

Over there, Qi Qi sat on the black steed, her hands gripping the iron ring in front of the saddle to maintain her balance.

She had been brought here to ride horses by Qi Jing since she was about two years old, so she was somewhat familiar with being on horseback, but she was still a three-year-old child and could not yet control it skillfully.

Qi Qi sat on the horse's back, laughing happily.

It was a rare, beautiful day in winter.

Suddenly, the black horse reared up on its hind legs, letting out a long, shrill neigh.

Everything happened too suddenly; the staff member couldn't react in time, and the reins slipped from their hands.

The sound of a cup shattering, the sound of Qi Jing shouting.

The black horse galloped away like mad, and a terrified scream came from Qi Qi on its back!

Zhu Yuan's expression changed; she yanked the reins to turn her horse around, pushed hard with her feet in the stirrups, and rode out in pursuit!