After Li Qingyuan said this.
Gu Wuyou hadn’t even answered yet when Fu Xian, on the other side, already cut in unhappily, “Qilang, are you still racing or not?”
“Even if I give you ten breaths, I can still beat you.”
Li Qingyuan didn’t even turn his head as he responded, his handsome face glowing in the backlight, filled with the youthful spirit that only someone his age could have. Yet, his long, narrow phoenix eyes remained focused intently on Gu Wuyou.
“Come here.”
His voice carried an unmistakable arrogance in the biting cold of winter.
“Big brother will take you to win first place.”
Gu Wuyou immediately laughed, her crescent-moon eyes curving as she unhesitatingly reached out to Li Qingyuan. He grasped her hand with his broad palm and effortlessly pulled her onto the horse.
“Are you seated properly?” Li Qingyuan tilted his head to glance at the girl behind him.
Gu Wuyou nodded. Fearing he wouldn’t see, she also responded crisply with a laugh, “Mhm, all set.” After speaking, she wrapped her arms around Li Qingyuan’s waist.
Originally, Li Qingyuan had only intended for her to hold onto his clothes. He never expected the little girl to be so bold, hugging his waist without hesitation—and not just lightly, but tightly.
His heart was both shy and sweet, with a hint of pride at being seen like this.
His ears and neck burned red, and even his cheeks were tinged with a faint blush. Fortunately, with the light behind him, no one could see. He coughed lightly, silently adjusted his grip on Gu Wuyou’s hands to steady her hold, then turned to glance at Fu Xian and the others.
“Are you ready?”
“We’re just waiting for you.” Fu Xian’s tone was still somewhat displeased, but his bright eyes already shone with excitement, staring intently at the road ahead, just waiting for the signal to charge forward.
Li Qingyuan glanced at the others, and seeing they were all prepared, he continued, “From here to Linchuan Lake, whoever arrives first is the winner.”
This was the place they used to play, and the rules remained unchanged.
“Qilang, you’re way too naggy.” Fu Xian felt that today’s Qilang—no, ever since Qilang had taken a liking to Little Chili—had not only become naggy but also fussy. He directly interrupted, “Whoever comes last has to treat us all at Baobin Restaurant, and it has to be the best banquet!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he glanced at Gu Yu beside him. Considering that she was a girl racing against them, she might be at a disadvantage.
After hesitating for a moment, he added, “How about—”
Before he could finish, Gu Yu had already turned to glare at him.
She was dressed in a purple riding outfit, her feet in cloud-stepping boots, holding a whip in her hand. Her hair was braided into a high ponytail. She sneered at Fu Xian, “Don’t lump me in with those delicate, sheltered women who never leave their homes.”
“Who wins and who loses is still up in the air!”
After speaking, she glanced over at Gu Wuyou, seeing her clinging sweetly to Li Qingyuan’s waist, completely different from the fierce competitor she had been when racing against her. It gave her a headache.
This foolish woman…
She couldn’t be bothered to scold her anymore, only warning Li Qingyuan instead, “Be careful! If anything happens to her, I won’t let you off!”
Li Qingyuan wasn’t angry at all. He just smiled lazily. “Rest assured, I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“Then…”
Jing Yubai smiled and took over the conversation. “Let’s begin.”
As soon as the words fell, the group of youths lined up in a straight row. They gripped their horsewhips tightly, bodies leaning forward. The moment Jing Yubai gave the command—
They all shot forward at once!
Just as Li Qingyuan had said—
Even with an extra person on his horse, he still had the ability to win!
He had loved horseback riding since childhood, and his skill in riding and archery was unparalleled among his peers—perhaps even across the entire capital, no one could match him.
At first, the distance between them and the others wasn’t too great, but after passing two mountain ridges, he had already taken the lead.
Behind him, the others were no longer in sight.
“Are you happy?” Li Qingyuan held the reins in one hand and the riding whip in the other. Because they were galloping on horseback, the wind rushed past fiercely, making his voice naturally louder than usual.
But at a moment like this, the louder the voice, the better it expressed his emotions.
He was riding his favorite steed, carrying the girl he loved the most, galloping across the breathtaking countryside alongside his closest friends.
Reckless.
Exhilarating.
Utterly fulfilled.
These were the three clearest feelings in his heart at this moment.
Gu Wuyou felt the same way. She, too, experienced a sense of fulfillment she had never felt before. She rested her face against the young man’s not-yet-broad back, listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.
A radiant smile spread across her face, and her red lips moved slightly as she softly replied, “Happy.”
“Hm?” Li Qingyuan didn’t hear clearly.
“I said—” Gu Wuyou lifted her face from his back, looking at his silhouette, her arms hugging his strong waist tightly. Then, she shouted, “Li Qingyuan, I’m very happy! Extremely, extremely, extremely happy!”
Hearing her voice, Li Qingyuan suddenly pulled the reins.
The horse beneath him neighed, raising its head, but its speed gradually slowed. He propped his hand holding the riding whip against his knee and turned to look at Gu Wuyou behind him.
Gu Wuyou, puzzled by his sudden stop, showed a confused expression and asked, “What’s wrong?”
The carefree, fearless young man who had just been racing across the fields now found himself tongue-tied under her clear, innocent gaze.
“I…”
He opened his mouth, his voice slightly hoarse, but the words wouldn’t come out completely.
Gu Wuyou blinked, not quite understanding what was happening. Just as she was about to ask again, she saw the young man in front of her clench his teeth, stiffen his neck, and blurt out, “I just want to kiss you!”
The moment the words left his mouth, he met Gu Wuyou’s shocked gaze.
His handsome face instantly turned red.
He seemed to feel embarrassed as well, turning his face away, his gaze evasive. His hand holding the riding whip fidgeted restlessly, and his voice was muffled, “Haven’t we… haven’t we not kissed for several days?”
At the mention of this, he felt aggrieved.
Ever since that day when he left the Duke of Ding’s residence, he had been studying diligently, as if tying himself to a beam and pricking his thigh to stay awake. Somehow, the little girl had found out how seriously he had been studying, and afraid of disturbing him, she hadn’t come to see him. Even if she had something for him, she would always send it through Dabai or Ah Xian instead.
The more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt.
“We haven’t seen each other for days…”
He continued swinging his riding whip, his foot in the stirrup tapping lightly as if venting his frustration. But perhaps feeling that his behavior was unbefitting of his usual dignified self, Li Xiaogou (Little Dog Li) suddenly lifted his head, as if evolving into Li Dagogou (Big Dog Li), and fiercely demanded:
“Will you kiss me or not!”
The moment the words left his mouth—
His cool, thin lips were softly brushed by someone else’s.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, the touch was fleeting, withdrawn in an instant. The girl in red curved her eyes in a smile, leaning forward slightly as she met his dazed gaze.
“Like this, is it okay?”
Before he could answer, she kissed him again.
This time, she didn’t pull away immediately but lingered for a moment before softly asking, “How about this?”
Li Qingyuan’s face was still red—this time, not from embarrassment but from sheer excitement. His ears, his neck, and his entire face were flushed with heat.
A young man’s thoughts were simple to read.
Happy meant happy, unhappy meant unhappy. Right now, his face was filled with nothing but “I am very happy” and “I am extremely satisfied.”
Yet, stubborn as ever, he still muttered, “Not much.”
But the smile on his face betrayed him. His long phoenix eyes were shining brilliantly, and even the corners of his lips refused to stay down.
Even the most oblivious person could see how good his mood was at this moment.
Young Master Li stopped swinging his riding whip. He stopped tapping the stirrups.
Instead, he simply gazed at the girl he adored.
Then, suddenly, he lowered his head.
His expression turned serious, focused—as if he were a devout believer worshipping the holiest light in his heart. With all the restraint he could muster, and all the restraint he couldn’t, he pressed a gentle, reverent kiss against her lips.
When the kiss ended, his own face burned even hotter.
Clearing his throat lightly, he muttered, “Once a day. You still owe me three more. You better make it up to me later.”
And with that, he secretly pursed his lips, then turned forward again, his mood soaring as he called out, “Hold on tight.”
Gu Wuyou thought that this so-called great general was not only childish but also shameless!
When had she ever agreed to kiss him every day?!
But sensing his good mood, she couldn’t help but smile. She said nothing—just tightened her arms around his waist and leaned her face against him again.
Only after making sure she was seated properly did Li Qingyuan raise his whip once more.