Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Why Not Do a Paternity Test?

Ting Yang’s eyes sparked with uncontrollable rage as they met Xie Changyan’s cool, insincere gaze, filling the air with the scent of gunpowder.

Su Linzhou looked left and right, his heart pounding with fear.

If these two started fighting, should he step in and help his brother?

The three men present each had their own ulterior motives.

Lin Xu, feeling out of the loop, questioned, “What animal in human clothing?”

“No, nothing,” Ting Yang paused, his eyes flickering, “I was just saying there are so many villains out there, you must be careful about your safety.”

Lin Xu couldn’t remember that incident, and Ting Yang didn’t want to tell her.

As long as his mother was happy and fortunate, staying by his side was enough; all other troublesome matters were for him to bear alone.

If Ting Yang didn’t want to talk about it, Xie Changyan naturally wouldn’t bring it up either.

That kiss that night was indeed inappropriate, and knowing she was not fully conscious, he had still thought to take advantage of her.

His slender fingers lifted the teacup from the table. He touched it to his lips and took a sip of tea, concealing a fleeting look of regret in his eyes.

Just as the atmosphere reached a rigid climax, the instructor who had been teaching Lin Xu to ride a horse approached.

“Miss Lin, a guest has taken an interest in the white horse you were riding earlier. Do you think that white horse is suitable, or should we reserve it for you?”

Lin Xu looked conflicted, still undecided, when Ting Yang spoke up.

“No need, that horse isn’t suitable. I’ll pick a more gentle one for her.”

He had noticed Lin Xu’s situation while riding during the interval when he had made a phone call.

The white horse had a stubborn temperament, unsuitable for her.

She had ridden for a while and still hadn’t grasped any skills.

“Okay,” the instructor nodded and walked away.

Ting Yang didn’t want to waste the time he could be spending with his mother on irrelevant people, so he stood up, intending to go and pick another horse with Lin Xu.

“Hey! President Ji, you sound like you have a lot of experience with horses. How about you pick a good horse for me too?” Su Linzhou suddenly stood up, slinging an arm around Ting Yang’s neck and walking towards the stables.

“I’m busy,” Ting Yang frowned, trying to remove his hand, only to find Su Linzhou’s grip surprisingly strong.

Pushed along by Su Linzhou, Ting Yang walked toward the stables.

Xie Changyan glanced inexplicably at Su Linzhou’s back.

He wasn’t a novice; how could he still not know how to pick a horse?

Suddenly.

Su Linzhou turned his head, threw a meaningful look at Xie Changyan, and then wildly blinked at Lin Xu standing beside him.

Brother, go for it.

Make good use of this chance to be alone.

Don’t waste my sacrifice!

Xie Changyan: “…”

Those bizarre gestures, yet he could decipher them all.

“What is he gesturing to you?” Lin Xu also saw his movements and asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know,” Xie Changyan pursed his lips, choosing to ignore Su Linzhou’s intentions, sitting undisturbed on the chair.

“Oh.” Lin Xu shrugged nonchalantly, resting her cheek on her hand, her expression bored as she watched people riding outside.

Xie Changyan lounged lazily on the chair back, eyes closed, occasionally tapping his fingers on the table, seemingly rejuvenating himself.

A fragrance wafted into his nose, reminding him of Lin Xu’s presence.

A restless emotion in his chest wouldn’t settle down.

His brow slightly furrowed, he finally gave up on the rejuvenation, abruptly opening his eyes.

The lovely visage of Chuntao burst into his vision, her eyes shining with liquid brightness, seductive as silk. In the moment of their encounter, it stirred a thousand waves, drowning him in an irresistible trance.

Xie Changyan’s Adam’s apple visibly bobbed, and the heat inside him seethed fiercely, as if it would surge out of his chest the next second and spiral out of control.

He hadn’t expected to get caught while sneaking a peek.

A hint of embarrassment crossed Lin Xu’s face as she sat back down and let out a few awkward chuckles.

After a moment, Xie Changyan suppressed the emotions in his eyes and resumed his previous relaxed demeanor, casually asking, “Shall we go horseback riding?”

“I’d like to,” Lin Xu nodded, “but I don’t have a horse right now.”

Ji Tingyang had gone to pick one for her and hadn’t returned yet.

“Ride mine,” Xie Changyan offered.

The spirited horse he had been riding hadn’t been taken back to the stables yet and was tied up at the entrance.

Lin Xu’s eyes suddenly lit up, but then dimmed again as she hesitated, “I don’t know how to ride by myself.”

Xie Changyan had already stood up and nodded towards that direction, “Come on, I’ll teach you.”

Lin Xu hurriedly followed Xie Changyan’s pace.

Lin Xu stepped into the stirrup and, with the help of the hands clasped around her waist, smoothly mounted onto the horse.

Xie Changyan stood below, holding the reins, his deep voice intermittently guiding her movements, “Keep your body upright, don’t lean forward or backward, balance your weight evenly on both sides…”

“When the horse trots, make sure to press down on the stirrups, slightly lift your buttocks…”

Xie Changyan’s instructions were effective, and within a short while, Lin Xu was already able to ride the spirited horse around the field on her own.

“Look, I can ride by myself now!”

A radiant smile spread across Lin Xu’s face, her eyes curving into crescents.

Unintentionally, Xie Changyan’s lips curled up at the corners, the gloom that had lingered in his heart for days seemed to dissipate with her bright smile, easing his mood.

Lin Xu circled back to where he was standing.

“Do you want to come down, or continue?” he stretched out his hand to hold the reins.

“Um…”

While Lin Xu hesitated, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the reins from Xie Changyan’s hand.

“Young Master Xie, I really appreciate your help, but I’ll take over from here,” Ji Tingyang said with an icy face and a cool frost covering his expression.

Xie Changyan’s expression remained unchanged as he indifferently turned and walked back to the rest area.

Su Linzhou followed him, his face full of worry, “How are you two getting along? I really went out on a limb to get you this little bit of time.”

Ji Tingyang was as cold as ice throughout, using every excuse he could to delay facing the murderous glares.

Xie Changyan remained silent.

Over at the horse arena.

Ji Tingyang led the horse by the reins, his expression sour, “This horse isn’t good, I’ve found another, more docile horse for you; go ride that one.”

“I think it’s pretty good though,” she had ridden a whole lap with no issues.

“Not good, not good at all.”

Lin Xu smiled and, knowing he had objections to Xie Changyan, appeased him, “Alright, alright, let’s switch then.”

Ji Tingyang helped her down from the horse and looked at her cheeks, repeatedly hesitating to speak.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xu noticed his unusual behavior.

“Mother, can you please not get so close to Xie Changyan? That man definitely has ulterior motives…” Ji Tingyang gritted his teeth.

“But don’t you think he resembles your father?” Lin Xu asked.

Ji Tingyang paused, recalling that there indeed were some resemblances, but then immediately denied it, “Impossible, he definitely isn’t!”

“But I think he looks like him,” Lin Xu sighed.

Knowing Lin Xu missed her father too much, Ji Tingyang pursed his lips.

“If you don’t believe it, how about I do a paternity test with him?”