Chapter 33: I Believe You

"Alright, enough about me. Let's continue," Bai Mohan said, spinning the bottle.

Having grown up with different experiences, Bai Mohan never thought matters like this should be treated as games.

Next up was Shen Yan.

"Truth," he said.

When it came to Shen Yan, Ji Yanxi dared not be reckless; his questions were much gentler.

"Is the girl you like present?"

Shen Yan glanced at Ji Yanxi, making him shudder.

What was happening? Had he asked the wrong thing?

"She is."

She is? Besides Ye Yao, who else was here?

Ye Yao's heart gave a fierce tremble, but her face remained unchanged as she nibbled on snacks.

When it was Yu Qingqing's turn, Ji Yanxi was perfunctory.

As for Ji Yanxi, the others seemed uninterested in him. Yu Wanqing didn't even want to glance at him.

After an hour of truth or dare, Yu Wanqing grew restless.

She pulled Ye Yao up. "Let's go riding. It's been ages!"

"Alright."

The two walked to the stables. With a staff member's guidance, Yu Wanqing chose a gentle horse.

She had a fiery temperament, but she valued her life.

"Miss Ye, this one is good too, similar to Miss Yu's," the staff suggested.

Yet Ye Yao had her eye on a horse with a hint of red on its nose. "What about that one?"

"That one's still being tamed—it's wild, not easily controlled."

The horse trainer hadn't managed it yet, but because it was beautiful, they'd kept it in the stable for people to appreciate.

"I want that one," Ye Yao declared.

Yu Wanqing, already suited up and ready to mount, hurried over to persuade her. "Yao, are you crazy? They said it hasn't been tamed yet—what are you thinking?"

Realizing her tone was too harsh, Yu Wanqing softened. "What if you fall and hurt yourself?"

"It's fine, I'll be alright," Ye Yao reassured her.

"I want this horse!" she insisted.

At that moment, a male voice sounded. The two turned to see Shen Yan pointing at the wild horse.

"I was here first," Ye Yao refused to give in.

She met Shen Yan's gaze directly, and the two fell into a dispute.

Yu Wanqing tugged at Ye Yao's sleeve, not wanting her to argue over this matter.

It was a wild horse—if anything went wrong, it could be fatal.

She didn't care about Shen Yan's fate, but Ye Yao's mattered to her.

"This..." The staff hesitated, caught in the middle.

"Ye Yao, don't be stubborn. You've never ridden before; just pick a gentle horse to enjoy," Shen Yan said, frowning.

This woman was so heedless.

"Shen Yan, don't act like you know me," Ye Yao shot back. "It was a dare before, and it is now."

The staff remained frozen, uncertain. Ye Yao urged her, "I was here first. Bring the horse out for me."

The staff was about to move when Shen Yan's warning glare stopped her. "Don't!"

Frightened, the staff could only stand her ground.

Ye Yao snorted coldly and walked over herself.

She gave Shen Yan a defiant look, mounted the horse, and with a snap of the whip, galloped away.

"Yao!"

"Ye Yao!"

Yu Wanqing quickly mounted her own horse and chased after her. "Yao, why are you doing this? There's no need to risk your life just to compete with someone who doesn't matter."

"I'm not competing. I just want to ride this horse," Ye Yao said, controlling its speed.

"But this horse—"

"It's fine. It's just spirited, not disobedient," Ye Yao smiled unconcernedly.

"Alright," Yu Wanqing stayed close.

"I'm going to speed up. Can you keep up?" Ye Yao laughed freely.

Yu Wanqing gripped her reins, shaking her head at Ye Yao.

"Don't, don't do anything reckless, Yao. Your horse can't be handled that way—"

But the next moment, Ye Yao was already charging forward.

"Yao!"

Yu Wanqing was helpless. "Go!"

Ye Yao's horse was indeed wild, but she herself wasn't gentle.

She despised anything that bound her.

Under Ye Yao's command, the horse ran faster and farther.

Yu Wanqing's whip was nearly breaking, but she still couldn't catch up.

"What should I do? What if something happens to Yao?"

Just as Yu Wanqing was at a loss, a gust of wind swept by—Shen Yan rode out in pursuit, fast as lightning.

Ye Yao kept accelerating, and the horse beneath her relished the speed.

She heard joy in its neighs.

On the vast grassland, only Ye Yao and the horse remained.

This was the taste of freedom!

"Good job, well done! That's right, just like that!"

After a wild run, Ye Yao pulled the horse to a stop, gazing at the distant scenery and feeling the comfort of nature.

She gently patted the horse's back. "I never thought I'd see you here."

Indeed,

Ye Yao knew this horse.

She had encountered it before while working on a project for the Shen Corporation, during a rural survey.

Everyone said it was hard to control, but in truth, there are no bad horses, only bad riders.

Trying to force a horse that longs to gallop across the grasslands to plod along slowly—that's poor horsemanship.

Upon hearing Ye Yao's words, the horse neighed.

Human and horse coexisted quietly. Then, the sound of galloping approached. Ye Yao turned her head to see Shen Yan riding up.

Seeing her safe and sound, Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

He stopped beside Ye Yao. "I was worried if I came any later, I wouldn't even find your body."

Ye Yao was speechless.

"When did you learn to ride?" Shen Yan asked.

And she could even tame such a wild horse.

"Does it matter?"

Shen Yan's arrival dispelled Ye Yao's mood for enjoying the scenery.

Ye Yao was about to turn away, but Shen Yan blocked her path.

"Are you angry?"

"Angry at what?"

"Angry that I made you apologize to Qin Miao."

Shen Yan felt this needed explanation.

But Ye Yao had no intention of listening.

"Why would I be angry? Haven't you done enough absurd things for Qin Miao?"

Ye Yao laughed sarcastically. "Since you all think that because I was lightly injured, I must have hurt her, go ahead and believe it."

"It doesn't matter. If you have the evidence, crush me with it. Otherwise, just stew in your anger."

Yes, why should she, who did nothing, have to prove herself?

It should be those who doubt her that provide the evidence.

Shen Yan couldn't help but smile at how cute she was.

This woman really...

Ye Yao glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I believe you."

"You believe me, yet you want me to apologize?"

Ye Yao whipped Shen Yan's horse, its cry echoing through the sky, clearing her path.

"Shen Yan, do you even listen to yourself? You lie without a second thought."

Ye Yao whipped her own horse, and sped off, leaving him behind.

Anywhere Shen Yan was felt utterly unlucky.