Chapter 128: A Direct Hit

Just as Fu Yanyan was deep in thought, he saw a wooden arrow fly at high speed and lodge itself right in front of the brown horse’s forelegs. The horse was instantly startled, panicking as it reared up. When its front hooves slammed back onto the ground, Guan Yujing was thrown violently from the saddle.

Before he could react, he accidentally landed on the wooden arrow, his solid back snapping it in two.

Once the brown horse had calmed down, it trotted over with a strange sense of sentience, bowing its head to nudge the fallen man’s cheek. Guan Yujing let out a string of curses in English, fueled by the incident with the arrow. He then stood up, fortunately finding himself uninjured, save for a few bruises and a thin, bloody scratch on his back where the arrow had grazed him.

"Mr. Guan, I’ve won this round. I hope you’ll concede."

"This round doesn't count. That woman shot the arrow at me on purpose, causing my horse to panic. Your victory is unearned."

Fu Yanyan looked down from his horse, wearing an expression that hovered between amusement and restraint. He said nonchalantly, "That’s your problem. If you had stated the rules earlier, I wouldn't have won. You should look for faults within yourself if you want to improve. There is an old Chinese saying: 'All is fair in war.'"

Everyone in the equestrian center now turned their gaze toward the young woman they had ignored since entering.

She was wrapped in a white goose-down coat, her hair falling casually to her waist, holding a rather large crossbow. She was nonchalantly lighting a cigarette; amidst the swirling smoke, a fierce intensity radiated from her eyes. In the midst of this chaotic scene, she possessed a quiet, boundless power that stunned everyone into silence. It seemed as if, should she be displeased, she would shoot an arrow through someone’s skull in the next heartbeat.

After taking a drag, Zhong Huayan appeared perfectly calm on the surface, though in reality, she was panicking. Having so many people stare at her made her scalp crawl. Still, she maintained her composure, grateful for the times she used to stand on high stages shouting slogans during Zhong Group’s staff events; otherwise, her legs would have truly turned to jelly.

"Guan Yujing! If I hadn't shot that arrow, you would be at the hospital right now—either trampled to death by your horse or dead from hitting a wall!"

Guan Yujing brushed his messy hair back, his striking, deep-blue eyes filled with a strange, cunning amusement. "Even if you hadn't shot that arrow, I wouldn't have died. I’ve been doing extreme sports for years; do you think I’m afraid of this? If you wanted Fu Yanyan to win, just say so. Don't beat around the bush."

Still unsatisfied, he angrily kicked the broken arrow away. "One of these days, I’ll show you what true extreme sports are. This horse riding is nothing; it doesn't even qualify as 'extreme' to me."

Zhong Huayan finally realized that the man before her didn't just have a reputation for abusing women—he abused himself as well. He possessed an extreme desire to destroy the beautiful things in the world, such as a penchant for seeking out pristine bodies, sweet and gentle faces, and innocent souls. He spared neither others nor himself. This was undoubtedly linked to his upbringing.

Zhong Huayan slowly realized that if art hadn't saved her, growing up in such a loveless household, she likely would have gone astray long ago. How could she have kept such a pure heart?

After Fu Yanyan dismounted, the group headed to the equestrian center’s lounge for a late-night snack.

"A-Hua, does your hand hurt?"

He walked up from behind, his figure tall, his demeanor rigorous and restrained. He naturally took her hand, and upon seeing the red mark on the webbing between her thumb and index finger, his expression turned gloomy. He rubbed the red spot with a hint of reproach before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. His black trench coat once again enveloped her, bringing her that familiar warmth.

For a moment, she felt that she had grown accustomed to his care and concern. If this feeling were to vanish one day, she didn't know what would happen.

"You fool. If we lost, we lost—I could have just taken it back another day. If that Guan Yujing dies, let him die. Don't you know that using a crossbow by pressing the trigger with your hand can easily hurt your thumb webbing?"

"I didn't know... the small ones don't. In my childhood, I used to go hunting with my father using a crossbow. I was hurt since I was little, but it didn't even break the skin. It doesn't hurt."

Fu Yanyan’s hands had finally regained some warmth after his vigorous exercise. "I cannot bear to see you suffer even the slightest injury."

"Really? Then I’ll punish you by making you stop for a while. Otherwise, I’m always getting hurt down there."

As the corners of Zhong Huayan’s lips curled up, she looked dashing and carefree, as if she were joking. Had there been no one else around, Fu Yanyan would have knelt before her. Instead, he chose a roundabout approach; after some thought, his cold features softened so much that he was barely recognizable. His stride even became lighter.

Fu Yanyan murmured in her ear, "But A-Hua, seeing me so pitiful, do you really have the heart to..."

"You’re playing the victim again. You’ve been 'widowed' for so many years; if that place were broken, it would have been broken long ago. I think it’s only getting more stubborn—hard as a rock."

Zhong Huayan reached back and gave him a pinch in his nether regions.

There were still many relatives chatting enthusiastically behind them. Fu Yanyan nearly let out a groan; he pressed his tongue against his lower jaw, his faint smile quieter than the moon in the sky. Yet, within that quietness was an intensity that defied reason. Even the surrounding air grew warmer; presumably, the equestrian center’s heating system had finally begun to circulate.

"That’s different. When I don’t see you, I have no reaction to anything—my heart doesn't race, and I’m perfectly calm in everything I do. It’s only when I see you that my heart races and I get painfully hard. I certainly don’t want to hurt you, but I really can’t help it. A-Hua~"

Although Zhong Huayan had grown a bit tired of these passionate confessions lately, she still enjoyed hearing them.

The two walked toward the lounge, laughing and bickering. No sooner had they sat down than Fu Yanyan was called away by his grandfather, presumably to discuss contract issues regarding some project.

She didn't have much of an appetite, but a moment later, she caught sight of a notification on her phone. It was from Guan Yujing’s female secretary.

[I’m in the stables. The door seems to be locked from the inside. Could you and the owner of the equestrian center please come and take a look?]

Zhong Huayan stood up immediately, explained the situation to the owner, and followed him to the stables.

The stables were located on the ground floor, far to the left, and the space appeared quite large. The owner pulled a large ring of keys from his pocket. Wealthy people here often dressed simply, but running such a large stable required significant capital. He picked out a key and opened the door.

"The door to this stable was indeed kicked by a horse a few days ago, and I haven't had a chance to hire someone to fix it yet."

Zhong Huayan’s gentle expression twisted the moment she heard this, and the owner beside her gasped in horror.

The scene before them shattered the limits of what Zhong Huayan could stomach.