Horse riding

Seeing Shen Zeyu about to leave, Bai Yi finally spoke. "I really didn't keep it from you on purpose."

Shen Zeyu sighed. "I know, but I was still part of the reason, wasn't I? No matter how you look at it, I got in your way."

"Take care of what you need to do first. Then let's both think about the other person's side before we talk again, okay?"

Seeing Bai Yi lost in thought after that, Shen Zeyu left.

He knew where he had gone wrong, but he also hoped Bai Yi wouldn't put himself beneath him in their friendship.

On the way home, Lu Yu kept trying to cheer Shen Zeyu up, though it did little good.

"Papa, don't be sad." Lu Yu pulled a funny face.

Shen Zeyu said gently, "Papa isn't really sad. I just feel a little guilty."

"Why?"

Shen Zeyu stroked his head. "You're still little. You'll understand when you're older."

"Then you have to tell me when I grow up, okay? I'll grow up really soon."

"Okay."

Lu Cizhou, who was driving up front, wanted to comfort Shen Zeyu too, but with Lu Yu there, he couldn't easily say what he wanted to. He simply drove in silence.

When they got home, the butler was thrilled to see Shen Zeyu after his long absence. "Mr. Shen, you're finally back!"

The villa had been unusually quiet these past few days without Mr. Shen. He still wasn't quite used to it.

Shen Zeyu couldn't figure out why the butler was so excited, so he could only nod.

That evening, Shen Zeyu wanted to message Bai Yi, but held himself back. He had said they would talk in a few days, so he should wait a few days.

Early the next morning, Shen Zeyu came downstairs to find Lu Cizhou still at home. Not only was he home, he hadn't even made him get up early.

Most importantly, Lu Cizhou was wearing just a white shirt and a pair of fairly loose black trousers, completely unlike his usual style.

The sun must have risen in the west. Not only did he let me sleep in, he's wearing just a white shirt.

Lu Cizhou sighed inwardly. If Shen Zeyu hadn't been in a bad mood, he certainly would have made him get up early.

Once Shen Zeyu had finished his breakfast at a leisurely pace, Lu Cizhou called over, "Done eating?"

Shen Zeyu nodded, and Lu Cizhou stood. "Then go change. I'm taking you somewhere."

"Where?" Shen Zeyu asked curiously.

"You'll know when we get there," Lu Cizhou said, keeping him in suspense.

Still curious, Shen Zeyu went upstairs to change. As he was picking his clothes, he remembered Lu Cizhou's white shirt. His hand paused, and he took a white sweatshirt from the wardrobe and pulled it on.

He changed into blue trousers, the white-and-blue combination giving him a decidedly youthful air.

When Shen Zeyu came downstairs, Lu Cizhou looked at him and inexplicably felt like an older man chasing someone far too young for him. But he wasn't even that much older than Shen Zeyu.

Perhaps he ought to change his wardrobe, Lu Cizhou thought.

"Let's go." Shen Zeyu walked over to him.

After getting out of the car, Shen Zeyu saw a stretch of green grass that extended as far as the eye could see. Many people were riding horses across it, seemingly without any fear of colliding with anyone. The blue sky, white clouds, green grass, and riders made a scene as beautiful as a painting.

"Did you bring me here to ride horses?" Shen Zeyu asked in delighted surprise.

Lu Cizhou nodded.

"But I don't know how," Shen Zeyu said, sounding a little downcast.

"That's all right. I'll teach you."

As they were talking, a member of the riding center's staff approached. "Young Master Lu, will you be riding Blaze again today?"

Lu Cizhou nodded, then added, "Go take care of your work. You don't need to worry about us."

Only then did the staff member notice the young man standing beside Lu Cizhou. He hadn't spotted him earlier.

As he looked, he felt a gaze fall on him. Lu Cizhou was watching him with displeasure.

The staff member hastily looked away and left, and only then did Lu Cizhou's expression return to normal.

Meanwhile, Shen Zeyu had been bubbling with excitement ever since Lu Cizhou said he would teach him. Once Lu Cizhou finished speaking, he quickly asked, "What do we do now?"

"No rush. Let's get changed first."

"Okay."

As Shen Zeyu went to change, Lu Cizhou pointed to a smaller pair of trousers. "Make sure you wear these. They protect the insides of your knees from chafing."

"I know, I know." With that, he hurried into the changing room.

When Shen Zeyu emerged, admiration flashed in Lu Cizhou's eyes. The riding outfit really suited him, he thought.

In the sunlight, Shen Zeyu slowly approached in a black riding outfit and black riding boots, holding his helmet in one arm. His exposed skin looked even fairer, and he was as beautiful as an oil painting come to life.

But the moment he spoke, the picture shattered. "Hurry, hurry! Let's go pick a horse."

Lu Cizhou let himself be pushed along, helpless, all his thoughts vanishing in an instant.

When they reached the stables, Shen Zeyu began choosing a horse with a serious expression. This was his first time riding, so he had to choose carefully.

The moment he reached a white horse, Shen Zeyu grew excited. "I want this one."

The horse was snow-white all over, looking pure and unblemished from a distance, with four sturdy legs and a beautifully proportioned build.

Shen Zeyu had fallen for it at first sight. He looked at Lu Cizhou with shining eyes and repeated, "I want this one."

The staff member accompanying them looked troubled. "This horse has quite a temper. No one has managed to ride it yet."

Looking into Shen Zeyu's eyes, Lu Cizhou said, "It's fine. Let's try first. If it doesn't work out, we can choose another."

At that, the staff member took out a key, unlocked the stall, and went inside to lead the horse out.

Lu Cizhou told Shen Zeyu, "Walk over slowly, then carefully raise your hand and stroke it."

"If the horse doesn't react, that means it'll let you ride."

Excited but cautious, Shen Zeyu approached. Lu Cizhou kept his eyes on him in case anything went wrong.

Shen Zeyu slowly raised his hand to stroke the white horse. At the first touch, it didn't react, but it didn't show any aggression either, so he kept stroking it. Perhaps it enjoyed his touch, because it raised its head and nuzzled him.

Shen Zeyu exclaimed happily, "Does that mean it likes me?"

The staff member confirmed it, then joked, "Looks like this horse cares about good looks too."

Since there were no problems, the staff member left as well. Mr. Lu was a far better rider than any of them, and more than capable of teaching Shen Zeyu.

"What do I do now?" Shen Zeyu asked Lu Cizhou.

Lu Cizhou checked the equipment. Once he was sure everything was in order, he said, "Get on first. I'll lead you around so you can get familiar with the grounds."

"Okay." Shen Zeyu had imagined mounting the horse with effortless grace, but he had forgotten that imagination and reality were two different things.

As a beginner who didn't know the technique, he tried several times and still couldn't get on. Fortunately, the white horse didn't lose its temper and stood quietly in place.

Lu Cizhou had been holding back his laughter behind him, but a chuckle finally escaped.

Flustered and embarrassed, Shen Zeyu snapped, "What are you laughing at? Come help me!"

Lu Cizhou immediately stepped forward, slipping an arm around his waist and successfully helping him onto the horse.

As Shen Zeyu mounted, the broad movement exposed a stretch of his lean waist, catching Lu Cizhou's eye. After lowering the hand he had held around Shen Zeyu's waist, Lu Cizhou flexed it into a fist, thinking, His waist really is slender.

Once on the horse, Shen Zeyu was too busy being happy to notice anything Lu Cizhou did.

Lu Cizhou walked ahead, took the lead rope, and began leading Shen Zeyu around in circles.