Jiang Xingxing needed to film a scene on horseback in a grassland setting. Having never participated in historical dramas requiring horseback skills, she was quite unfamiliar with the activity.
The production team arranged for professional equestrian trainers to coach the actors. After a few days of practice, Jiang Xingxing started to get the hang of it, her movements with the reins and whip displaying a hint of grace and confidence.
Over the weekend, Shang Jie took her to an upscale equestrian club to test her training results.
“You can bring your friends,” Shang Jie said to her. “If you’d like.”
Jiang Xingxing contacted Ming Jin, but the latter outright refused upon hearing about horseback riding. Ming Jin wasn’t fond of sports and preferred lounging on the sofa, enjoying her quiet life as a poised and graceful young woman.
However, Ming Jue, a younger girl who had never ridden a horse or even seen a live one, was very excited and accompanied Jiang Xingxing to the equestrian club.
The club was built on a broad, man-made grassland at the foot of a mountain. This high-end establishment catered to the leisure and relaxation needs of the elite, offering attentive and meticulous service.
Jiang Xingxing changed into riding gear, donned knee and wrist guards, and also fitted Ming Jue with a helmet. She cautioned the little girl, “There’s some risk involved, so don’t act recklessly. Listen to the instructor. If you get hurt, I won’t be able to explain it to your sister.”
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She stepped forward and took out a tissue to wipe the sweat off his forehead.
A few women nearby, initially intending to strike up a conversation with Shang Jie, reluctantly gave up their plans upon witnessing the scene. They could only look on with envy at Jiang Xingxing.
Shang Jie appeared expectant, as though waiting for her to say something. His cheeks carried the natural flush of post-exercise.
Jiang Xingxing noticed his expression—a face practically begging for praise. Clearly, his dashing display on horseback was an effort to hear her say, “Wow, hubby, you’re so cool!”
But she refused to humor him, determined to leave him hanging.
Jiang Xingxing remained silent, but Ming Jue, standing nearby, spoke up honestly, “Mr. Shang, you’re amazing! Just now, Sister Xingxing’s eyes were glued to you!”
Jiang Xingxing: … This little brat, spilling the truth like that.
She led Ming Jue to the beginners’ area, instructing the coach to accompany her at all times. Safety was paramount.
Shang Jie brought over a slightly smaller white horse and handed it to Jiang Xingxing. “I reserved this mare for you. She has a gentle temperament. Give it a try.”
Jiang Xingxing approached, stepped onto the stirrup, and mounted the horse. Shang Jie supported her from below, his hands on her hips.
To her surprise, after she got on, he gave her a cheeky pat on the rear. “Hold on tight.”
Blushing, Jiang Xingxing frowned and protested, “Hey!”
Shang Jie feigned an innocent, serious expression. “What?”
“You hit me…”
She trailed off, her face reddening even more, unable to finish her sentence.
Shang Jie maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, spreading his hands as if to say, “Do I look like someone who’d do such a thing?”
Jiang Xingxing retorted, “Lin Chuan saw it!”
Lin Chuan, who was riding a brown horse behind them, quietly put on sunglasses, pretending to be blind.
Shang Jie then mounted the horse himself, sitting behind Jiang Xingxing. Wrapping an arm around her, he took hold of the reins and gave a low command. The horse started moving.
Jiang Xingxing could feel his firm chest pressing against her back.
She glanced back at him. His gaze was fixed ahead, his brow furrowed with determination.
When they reached a flat area of the grassland, Shang Jie handed the reins to Jiang Xingxing and dismounted. “Go on, give it a try yourself.”
“Don’t underestimate me. The trainer on set said I’m quite good at this,” she declared confidently.
With that, she lightly squeezed the horse’s sides with her legs, and it broke into a run. Her well-fitted riding outfit highlighted her graceful lines, and her confident posture as she rode was both striking and elegant.
Shang Jie watched her intently, a smile unconsciously forming on his lips.
What Kind of Angelic Beauty Was His Wife in Her Past Life to Be This Gorgeous?
Ming Jue sat atop a horse, led by a trainer holding the reins, as they circled around the lawn.
Her surroundings… were filled with children dressed in colorful outfits.
What is this, the toddler zone? Though she was petite, she was still a young adult, for heaven’s sake!
Ming Jue was naturally introverted and rarely dared to speak with strangers. Even as the trainer led her horse through the field for the tenth lap, she didn’t muster the courage to tell him she wanted to try riding on her own.
It wasn’t until the trainer, urgently needing to use the restroom, excused himself that Ming Jue finally got off the horse.
Before leaving, the trainer repeatedly reminded her not to ride alone and to wait for him to return.
Ming Jue nodded obediently, watching him rush off toward the bathroom. She thought that leading her horse around in circles must have been quite boring for the trainer, too.
Having just turned 19 earlier that year, Ming Jue was small in stature with a babyface. Perhaps the trainer had mistaken her for a child altogether.
She wandered near the edge of the riding field. Without the trainer’s guidance, she dared not touch the horses but was filled with curiosity, glancing around.
The horses were tied to posts, their coats meticulously groomed to a glossy sheen. Thanks to proper care, there wasn’t even the slightest odor.
As expected of a high-end equestrian club, she thought. The horses’ maintenance alone shows this place isn’t for the average person.
Ming Jue approached a tall, beautiful black horse. Taking out her phone, she decided to snap a selfie with it. After a few clicks, she grinned goofily at the camera.
The horse, however, grew restless, kicking its hind legs uneasily.
Before Ming Jue could react, a pair of strong hands yanked her backward. Losing her balance, she stumbled several steps before falling to the ground.
Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt as much as she had expected. She hadn’t hit the ground; the surface beneath her was firm yet warm.
It feels… like a person.
Turning her head, the first thing she saw was a slender, fair neck with an Adam’s apple that moved as the man swallowed. Her gaze drifted downward to a finely crafted silver rose brooch, shaped like a dagger, adorning his equestrian attire. Its sleek design and exquisite craftsmanship immediately caught her attention.
She was mesmerized by the brooch at first sight.
As a dreamy, otaku girl with a collection of countless figurines, Ming Jue had a particular fondness for this kind of fantastical, gothic accessory. And she could tell with a glance—it wasn’t cheap.
Startled, she raised her head. Bathed in sunlight, the man’s sharp, chiseled features stood out vividly. His high brow and deep-set eyes were framed by long lashes that cast delicate shadows on his eyelids.
His jawline was impeccably sculpted, adorned with a faint stubble that added a hint of ruggedness.
His warm breath fell gently on the top of her head, making her ears flush red.
Shang Huaizheng glanced down at Ming Jue.
Her long hair draped forward, obscuring most of her face, but he could see her porcelain-white skin and catch a faint, pleasant scent wafting from her.
She smells good.
His narrow, slightly glowing eyes held a reserved intensity. As his gaze swept over her, Ming Jue’s heartbeat skipped.
“Mr. Shang!” Nearby staff quickly rushed over. “Are you alright, Mr. Shang?”
“I’m fine.”
His voice was deep, carrying a languid, just-woken quality.
Ming Jue leaned against him, her hands pressing on his abdomen. Through the thin fabric, she could faintly feel his firm, defined abs.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
Ming Jue took a moment to assess herself. She seemed fine and shook her head.
Hurriedly, she tried to get up from the man. However, as she pushed herself up, her knee accidentally pressed against a spot on his thigh where it definitely shouldn’t have. He let out a muffled grunt.
Her face turned crimson as she scrambled backward in a fluster.
Shang Huaizheng stood up as well, brushing off the dirt and grass on his clothes.
The staff nearby anxiously asked, “Mr. Shang, are you alright?”
Shang Huaizheng waved his hand, signaling he was fine.
Ming Jue didn’t dare to speak. Sensing her timidity, Shang Huaizheng dismissed the onlookers.
Walking over to her, he asked, “Do you remember me?”
Trembling, Ming Jue nodded. “Mr. Huai.”
Shang Huaizheng smiled faintly and corrected her, “It’s Mr. Shang.”
Oh right, Mr. Shang. Ming Jue bit her lower lip, silently cursing herself for being so silly.
He told her, “Never stand behind a horse. It makes them uneasy, and they might kick. It’s very dangerous.”
“I understand now. Thank you, Mr. Huai— I mean, Mr. Shang.”
“It’s alright,” he replied. “Would you like to take some photos?”
Ming Jue shook her head vigorously, her face still flushed. After causing such an embarrassing scene, how could she dare to take photos?
Shang Huaizheng gestured to a stable hand, who brought over a beautiful white horse.
“This is the young horse I’ve adopted. It’s still growing, but it’s already quite beautiful. Sit on it, and I’ll take some photos for you.”
The white horse was indeed stunning—its coat gleamed like the silvery sheen of Gandalf’s steed in The Lord of the Rings.
Ming Jue was tempted but still shy. “Mr. Huai, I…”
She struggled to finish her sentence, feeling utterly useless. Argh, I’m such a failure!
Noticing her hesitation, Shang Huaizheng gently helped her onto the horse.
“Secure your feet in the stirrups and be careful,” he instructed.
Nervously fumbling, Ming Jue couldn’t get her feet into the stirrups. Shang Huaizheng steadied her foot and placed it securely in the stirrup himself.
Her face flushed again. She handed him her phone and said, “Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Huai.”
Taking her phone, he glanced at it and said, “It’s out of battery.”
“…”
A storm of awkwardness engulfed Ming Jue. She wanted to disappear!
“Use mine,” Shang Huaizheng said, pulling out his phone and opening the camera app. “I’ll send you the photos later.”
Thus, Ming Jue struck various poses while sitting on the horse as Shang Huaizheng circled her, taking pictures from every angle.
“Alright, that’s enough,” she said shyly.
“I’ll take a few more so you can pick your favorites,” he replied.
Though shy, Ming Jue was a cosplay enthusiast and was surprisingly at ease in front of the camera. She switched effortlessly between poses and smiled brightly, exuding youthful energy.
This caught Shang Huaizheng slightly off guard. Such a bashful girl was remarkably natural when it came to photos—full of life and vibrancy.
Spending time with her made Shang Huaizheng feel years younger.
After the photoshoot, he helped her down from the horse.
At that moment, Jiang Xingxing and Shang Jie walked over. Ming Jue quickly explained, “This is Mr. Huai— I mean, Mr. Shang.”
“Mr. Huai Shang? You can’t even remember his name, yet you shamelessly asked him to take photos for you,” Jiang Xingxing teased, ruffling her hair.
She had noticed earlier that Ming Jue seemed to be enjoying herself with Shang Huaizheng, so she didn’t want to interrupt. Shang Jie, however, looked slightly surprised and remarked, “My brother seems to be in a good mood today.”
Jiang Xingxing asked him why he thought so.
Shang Jie said, “That little white horse is one he adopted and treasures deeply. In the past, even when women asked to try riding it, he wouldn’t let them. My brother is quite protective and selfish in his way—he only cares about his own people. Toward outsiders, he’s polite but distant.”
Jiang Xingxing silently mocked him in her heart: You’re criticizing him, but aren’t you exactly the same?
Ming Jue instinctively moved to stand behind Jiang Xingxing. Shang Jie called out to Shang Huaizheng, “Big Brother.”
Shang Huaizheng nodded and glanced at Jiang Xingxing. “Sister-in-law, we’ve met before.”
Jiang Xingxing followed Shang Jie’s lead and addressed him, “Brother Huaizheng.”
“Have you had enough fun? Let’s head to the clubhouse to rest. I have some business matters to discuss with Shang Jie.”
Jiang Xingxing looked at Ming Jue. “Do you still want to ride horses?”
Ming Jue shook her head repeatedly, indicating she was willing to go with them.
From behind, the two Shang brothers looked almost identical in height and build—both tall and upright. However, their temperaments were entirely different. Compared to Shang Jie’s aloofness and detachment, Shang Huaizheng exuded a refined elegance, like a polished piece of jade shaped by time.
The clubhouse’s tea lounge was nestled in the mountains, surrounded by bamboo forests and a babbling brook. A square platform with delicate green railings stood amid the serene setting. Bamboo swayed gently, and the stream gurgled softly nearby, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
The Shang brothers sat cross-legged on the platform. A stunning woman in a cheongsam brewed tea for them with graceful precision. Her delicate fingers worked deftly, and her long black hair, smooth as silk, cascaded over one shoulder.
Jiang Xingxing noticed that the woman occasionally glanced at Shang Jie. Of course, compared to Shang Huaizheng, Shang Jie was younger and at the peak of his career, radiating an intense and commanding presence.
A woman drawn to strength would hardly remain indifferent to such a man.
Shang Jie raised a hand, signaling the woman to leave. “Brother Huaizheng is skilled at brewing tea, but he rarely makes it. You’ve even let someone ride your horse today; will you also make tea for us?”
Shang Huaizheng glanced at Ming Jue, who was sitting neatly on a cushion like a disciplined schoolchild. He stood up and began preparing the tea.
“You’ve become chattier since getting married,” he remarked.
Shang Jie smiled faintly. “My wife loves to talk and laugh. She’s rubbed off on me.”
Jiang Xingxing’s face flushed. “Who loves to talk? Stop blurting out the truth in front of others! I’ve worked hard to maintain a quiet and graceful image!”
Shang Huaizheng’s hands were exceptionally beautiful—long, slender fingers with fair, smooth skin. His hands were even more elegant than those of most women.
Ming Jue watched as he meticulously prepared the tea, rinsing cups and adding water. It was hard to believe that such exquisite hands could brew tea and even cook.
He’s like a celestial being…
The “celestial” Huaizheng had finished brewing and poured three cups of fragrant tea. “Try it.”
Shang Jie handed a cup to Jiang Xingxing, who passed it to Ming Jue.
Ming Jue took a small sip. At first, it seemed flavorless, but after swallowing, a rich, mellow taste lingered in her mouth. It was an extraordinary sensation.
Shang Huaizheng looked at her expectantly. “How is it?”
“It’s delicious,” Ming Jue replied, unable to articulate more and settling for the simplest description. “It feels magical.”
“Brother Huaizheng’s tea-brewing skills are extraordinary,” Shang Jie remarked. He rarely praised anyone, and anything he described as “extraordinary” was indeed exceptional.
Shang Huaizheng truly was an intriguing person.
Shang Huaizheng then turned to Shang Jie, saying he needed to discuss business. Shang Jie frowned in protest. “I brought Xingxing here to relax today; I don’t want to talk business.”
But Huaizheng insisted, “There’s something you need to know. Regarding the Lu Corporation, you’re not the only one eyeing it. Be cautious.”
Shang Jie raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
…
While the brothers discussed business, Jiang Xingxing took Ming Jue for a walk in the misty bamboo forest.
“What’s going on between you and Shang Huaizheng?” Jiang Xingxing nudged Ming Jue with her elbow. “Why did he let you ride that little white horse? I’ve heard he never lets anyone touch it—he treasures it.”
“He’s just… a nice person,” Ming Jue replied.
“He’s not nice to just anyone.” Jiang Xingxing grabbed her hand. “Don’t tell me he’s interested in you!”
Ming Jue blushed and shook off her hand. “Don’t tell my sister!”
“Come on, are you two really hitting it off?” Jiang Xingxing exclaimed. “Shang Huaizheng! He’s in his thirties—more than ten years older than you! He’s practically old enough to be your dad!”
“Is thirty that old?” Ming Jue muttered. “I think it’s fine.”
Thirty was a man’s golden age—past the recklessness of youth, with a touch of success, maturity, and stability.
Jiang Xingxing looked at her incredulously. “So, what now?”
“Nothing,” Ming Jue replied. “It’s not like he’d be interested in me.”
Jiang Xingxing sighed. “He let you ride his horse, took your pictures, and even brewed tea for you—tea he rarely makes for others. Do you know how much his hands are insured for? Nine figures!”
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🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 nine figures. Wow