jdhmnovel Chapter 260 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return—Huo Xingzhou 3
Chapter 260 Flowers Bloom in the South of the City, Time to Return—Huo Xingzhou 3
"And there won't be anything else?" Shen Shuwan asked instinctively, her voice very soft.
Huo Xingzhou gave her a deep look, but didn't answer the question again, instead turning the topic back to the jade pendant.
"This pendant is a memento. May you never have to be as panicked as you were that day, and may you live a peaceful and happy life from now on."
Shen Shuwan tightened her grip on the warm jade pendant in her palm: "Thank you... I like it very much."
"As long as you like it."
After a brief silence, he suddenly extended his hand again, his posture solemn, as if it were the first time they met: "Then, Huo Xingzhou."
She instantly understood—she was once a wandering Shen Gui, but now that she has returned home, it's time to get to know her again.
Holding the brocade box in her palm, Shen Shuwan reached out and gently shook his hand: "Shen Shuwan."
Their hands touched briefly before parting, leaving a subtle warmth on her fingertips.
"I'm so glad," she heard her own voice, which was exceptionally clear in the night, "to meet you again."
The faint smile that had been lingering in Huo Xingzhou's eyes finally spread clearly. It was faint, yet it truly reflected the moonlight, softening his usually somewhat cold and aloof features.
“Me too,” he said softly, then took a step and created some distance between them.
"It's getting late, Miss Shen, you should go inside soon." He nodded slightly. "I also have some matters to attend to. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Mr. Huo."
He glanced at her again, then turned away, his tall figure gradually blending into the interplay of light and shadow deep within the garden.
Shen Shuwan stood alone beside the slightly swaying swing.
The cool night breeze brushed against her hair and the hem of her clothes.
She lowered her head and opened her loosely clenched palm.
The jade pendant lay quietly in the moonlight, lifelike.
……
About half a month after the birthday banquet, the autumn colors in Beiping became even stronger.
The sky was a vast, clear blue, the sunlight bright but no longer scorching, and the red leaves of the Western Hills were tinged with the first layer of frost.
That afternoon, Shen Shuwan went to the racecourse in the west of the city alone.
Influenced by her uncle, she picked up riding again soon after returning home.
The sense of freedom that comes from riding a horse and feeling the wind rushing past your ears is truly captivating.
Shen Yicheng was very proud of this, saying that his nephew was like his uncle.
Not only did he generously provide her with several riding outfits, but he also specially selected a gentle yet spirited chestnut mare and named her "Chixia".
Today she was dressed in a light camel-colored Western-style riding outfit, with a fitted waist and narrow sleeves, paired with knee-high riding boots. Her long hair was tied up high at the back of her head, making her look neat and energetic.
When Chixia saw her, she snorted affectionately and rubbed her head against her palm.
"Good boy, let's run a couple of laps today." Shen Shuwan patted the horse's neck, took the reins from the groom, and nimbly mounted the horse.
The autumn wind caressed my face, carrying the scent of dry grass and earth, while in the distance stretched the rooftops and the faint outline of the Western Hills.
As Shen Shuwan felt the horse's regular and powerful gait beneath her, the nameless annoyance in her heart seemed to slowly dissipate with the rhythm.
Uncle Shen was originally going to come today, but he was held up by something just before leaving and had to give up in disappointment.
Recalling his reluctant appearance, Shen Shuwan couldn't help but smile.
As soon as his mind wandered, he loosened his grip on the reins a little.
Chixia seemed to notice her master's distraction, and quickened her pace, jogging towards a fork in the road leading to the woods.
Shen Shuwan came to her senses and was about to gently pull the reins to turn around when she caught a glimpse of another person and a horse in the clearing at the edge of the woods.
The man had his back to her, dressed in dark blue riding attire, his posture upright like a pine tree, and was gently stroking a jet-black horse beside him.
The horse held its neck high, its four hooves like pillars, and its coat gleamed black in the sunlight, except for a single white spot on its forehead.
Shen Shuwan's heart skipped a beat.
As if sensing her gaze, the man turned around.
It’s Huo Xingzhou.
He seemed to be taken aback when he saw Shen Shuwan, then smiled gently and nodded to her, "We meet again, Miss Shen."
“Mr. Huo.” She reined in her horse a few steps away from him and nodded slightly in greeting. “I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
Huo Xingzhou led his horse forward two steps, his expression natural: "It's not entirely unexpected. After finishing our business, I happened to hear that Miss Shen was also at the horse farm, so I thought I'd try my luck."
His gaze fell on her face, his openness tinged with a barely perceptible focus. "Looks like I'm having pretty good luck today."
Shen Shuwan's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm on the surface: "Mr. Huo, is there something you need?"
"Can't I talk to Miss Shen if there's nothing wrong?" Huo Xingzhou smiled slightly, a faint smile that softened his expression.
Seeing that Shen Shuwan's expression was somewhat unnatural, he paused and turned his gaze to the horse she was riding: "Its gait is steady and its spirit is strong; it is a good horse."
"Its name is Chixia, and my uncle picked it out for me." Shen Shuwan gently stroked the horse's neck.
"Red Clouds, what a beautiful name."
Huo Xingzhou praised, then patted the black horse beside him, "This is Jingyun. It has a fiery temper, but it runs extremely fast."
The two seemed to have found a safe topic to talk about.
With the tension easing slightly, Shen Shuwan looked at Jingyun and said, "It's obvious at a glance that it's no ordinary item."
"Miss Shen has a good eye," Huo Xingzhou said. "It certainly took some effort to acquire it."
He looked at Shen Shuwan, and naturally changed the subject, "I just saw that Miss Shen's handling of the horse was quite skillful, so I suppose you are a good rider. Would you do me the honor of riding with me for a while?"
Shen Shuwan hesitated for a moment.
She had come here to clear her head and hadn't expected to run into him.
But the sun was shining brightly and the autumn breeze was refreshing. Looking at the person in front of her, she couldn't find a reason to refuse.
"Okay." She nodded.
A hint of a smile flashed across Huo Xingzhou's eyes as he nimbly mounted his horse.
The two walked side by side along the forest path toward the open meadow.
“Let’s start from here,” Huo Xingzhou suddenly said, reining in Jingyun and pointing to an old locust tree about two or three hundred meters away. “How about we go to that tree?”
Shen Shuwan looked at him and saw a gentle challenge in his eyes.
This rare moment of relaxation allowed her inherent spontaneity and boldness to quietly emerge.
She raised her chin, a glint of light in her eyes: "Okay, but just comparing like this isn't very meaningful."
She paused, then smiled slightly. "Mr. Huo, would you like to set up a prize?"
Huo Xingzhou was clearly surprised that she would bring this up. He paused for a moment, then a smile spread across his eyes, and his tone was indulgent: "What does Miss Shen want to bet?"
“Bet…” Shen Shuwan’s idea was originally impromptu, but now that he was being stared at by his focused gaze, she actually began to think about it.
Gold and silver, common items, don't seem quite right.
She raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over his ever-calm features, and a thought inexplicably flashed through her mind: "Why not let... the loser grant the winner a request?"