A Beijing socialite stole my boyfriend; she went crazy after I got married.

"...Try me, my foot!"

Jiang Chu blushed so deeply it was almost radiating red.

Especially when she clearly felt the undeniable warmth behind her—

hateful.

Jiang Chu shifted uncomfortably in Xie Jing's arms, trying to get away.

If she hadn't moved, it would have been fine, but this movement caused her to brush against the most vulnerable spot.

Xie Jing's breathing suddenly became heavy, and his arms held her firmly in his embrace like steel hoops.

"Don't move, or whatever Apollo does, I'll do to you."

"..."

Jiang Chu dared not move, obediently letting him hold her in his arms. Her face flushed, she turned her head and whispered, "You're a beast."

"Yes, that's me."

Xie Jing said in a hoarse voice, his fingertips gently caressing her soft red lips, while his gaze leisurely fell back to the two horses by the lake.

The sunlight fell, making the lake surface shimmer like scattered gold, and the wind blew through the pine forest, bringing with it a cool fragrance.

Jiang Chu's heart was pounding as he held her.

She forced herself to look away from the scene.

But I could always hear Apollo's heavy breathing and Chestnut's occasional dependent humming.

To distract herself, she took a breath and began to complain in a slightly soft voice.

"...I've heard people say that stallions in horse farms are usually castrated, otherwise they're too wild and hard to control. You're still keeping it, um, aren't you afraid something might happen?"

"That's the usual situation."

Xie Jing rested his chin on her soft shoulder. "Apollo is a top-tier pureblood; that would be equivalent to destroying its genes. As for whether or not you can control it—"

He paused, then placed his large hand on her waist. "As long as you want to control it, there's always a way. The reins and the force must be just right."

Jiang Chu puffed out her cheeks, somewhat indignant. "Liar. Who said they'd only ridden it a few times?"

"I'm not lying to you."

Xie Jing lowered his head and kissed her slightly sweaty temples. "A true professional equestrian can run steeplechaser blindfolded. If I did that, I'd fall into the lake."

Jiang Chu was amused.

"...Apollo and I seem to have a connection, so we get along fairly well. Plus, I'm quite strong, have relatively quick reflexes, and a decent sense of balance."

He explained earnestly, tightening his grip on her arm, "You know best, right, honey?"

"What?!" Jiang Chu's cheeks, which had just cooled down, were about to burst into flames again. "Can't you be serious for once?!"

Really are.

Once no one is around, you'll reveal your true colors, right?

Jiang Chu's body also felt a little hot, so she changed the subject haphazardly: "...I haven't finished speaking yet. Is Chestnut in heat? She's so good-natured, she doesn't resist being tormented."

"...Are we in the middle stage now?"

Xie Jing looked at her with amusement, but didn't point it out. "Horses have emotions and social rules. Apollo and Chestnut grew up together on the manor and got along very well."

He squeezed Jiang Chu's soft fingers. "Apollo's current state doesn't necessarily mean he has to complete that final step."

"Huh?" Jiang Chu was a little confused. "Then why is it climbing on top of it?"

"...social probing and expressions of possessiveness."

Xie Jing explained in a low voice, with a hint of meaning in his tone, "It was purely because of excitement, an overwhelming possessiveness, that I wanted to tell the other person in this way: You are mine, I want to hold you tight and completely cover you with my scent."

He tightened his arms around Jiang Chu again.

His thick, sturdy chest pressed against her back, his body temperature as high as a ball of fire, enveloping her completely.

"Just like I am with you now."

Xie Jing's lips pressed against her neck, murmuring as he gently rubbed his teeth against the most sensitive soft flesh on her neck.

"I just want to hold you in my arms and let you smell like me."

Jiang Chu felt a tingling sensation all over her body from his bite, her legs went weak, and she almost couldn't stand up.

"...Although my profession has long made me realize that humans are just animals, you have allowed me to experience this from many more perspectives."

Jiang Chu blushed as she listened to this overly blunt declaration and couldn't help but sigh.

She obediently nestled into his broad, warm embrace.

Then she turned her head slightly, shyly and proactively meeting the man's thin lips as he leaned in.

"Well……"

The two embraced and kissed tenderly, basking in the warm winter sun.

The sunlight shone on them and also illuminated the two horses that were affectionately cuddling not far away.

After lingering tenderly by the lake for a while, until the sun began to slant westward and the scattered gold on the lake surface gradually turned orange-red, Xie Jing finally released the girl from his arms.

Jiang Chu's lips were a little swollen. She straightened her slightly disheveled collar and glared at him reproachfully.

"Let's go back," Xie Jing said, ruffling her hair. "It gets dark very early now, and it'll get colder soon."

"Um."

The two mounted their horses one after the other.

Apollo and Chestnut set off at the same time, slowly making their way back along the path they had come from.

Perhaps sensing the change in their owners' mood, the horses walked back in a leisurely and lazy manner.

The two horses also started showing some affectionate little gestures.

They walked side by side on the mountain path, Apollo's tall and strong body pressed close to Chestnut's, his proud head tilting occasionally to gently rub against it.

"Mind your own business," Jiang Chu said, holding the reins while looking at the large head that kept getting closer. He was both amused and exasperated. "I'm almost out of legroom."

Xie Jing gave the reins a shake with one hand and said in a low voice, "Apollo, behave yourself."

however--

The thoroughbred black horse, which was usually obedient to its master, seemed to have selectively become deaf at this moment, only twitching its ears and shifting its hooves slightly to the side.

Half a minute later, the glossy horse head stubbornly moved closer again.

It even mischievously opened its mouth, gently bit the tuft of messy horse mane on Chestnut's forehead with its teeth, and then deliberately tugged at it.

Chestnut snorted helplessly, its big eyes looking at Apollo obediently, and it even stuck out its tongue to lick the bridge of Apollo's nose as he leaned in.

Jiang Chu: "Your horse is just as roguish as you."

Xie Jing couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't underestimate chestnuts. If a mare isn't happy, even if the stallion is much bigger than her, quite a few have had their jaws smashed or even kicked to death."

Jiang Chu patted Chestnut's neck. "I've heard something similar before..."

Xie Jing flicked his wrist slightly, and Apollo, understanding perfectly, took a step forward.

The two horses' sides were pressed together again, and the thighs of the two men on the saddle were also seamlessly pressed together.

Xie Jing turned to the side, her rough leather gloves covering the back of her hand that held the reins.

Jiang Chu blushed, but instead of pulling her hand away, she greedily used her fingers to hook the edge of his glove.

Xie Jing immediately took her hand. "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Jiang Chu shook her arm. "You decide, Chairman."

The winter sun slanted through the birch treetops, casting long shadows of the two people that overlapped with those of two horses occasionally nuzzling each other's ears.