This chapter has been translated by Atlas Studios. All credits belong to them.
Xia Ling looked over at him and smiled. "Okay, take it as I'm borrowing it from you."
Li Lei lamented. This girl was not giving him any face here. Was she so bent on drawing the line? The wealthy gentlemen standing around looked on, confused. It couldn't be, did they hear it wrong? Did this girl say "borrow"? For people of their status and standing, she should be honored that they were willing to foot her wager. For Xia Ling to say that she was just borrowing it was like giving Li Lei a slap in the face.
This girl dared give Young Master Li a slap in the face?
As they gave him questioning looks, Li Lei grumbled softly. "I told you I haven't managed to win her over yet."
Du Yunfeng could not resist but laugh out loud. "What a rare occurrence. Second Young Master Li, there's actually something that you cannot resolve." He patted his good friend on the shoulder and decided to give him a helping hand. He turned his head and said to Xia Ling, "Little lady, how about I help you up the stakes a little? If you win, I will give you a tea set."
Giving his good friend's girlfriend clothing or jewelry was taboo, only a tea set was safe, and he could still get an expensive one.
Xia Ling was about to decline, but the other wealthy gentlemen started to join in on the fun as well. "Yes, little lady, if you win we'll each give you a present. I heard you're a singer, how about I give you a speaker."
"I'll give you a VIP card to the gym club."
"I'll give you a prized collector's wine."
"And I'll..."
All of them started promising a variety of things simultaneously.
Xia Ling was stunned, she did not expect things to progress like this. Li Lei kept smiling and said, "Thank you for your generosity, I will not stand on ceremony."
"Go away, it's not for you." Everyone jeered at him.
Li Lei continued to smile gleefully. "Xiao Ling, do well! If you win you have a lot of silvers waiting for you."
Xia Ling came back to her sense and gave a bitter smile. Even though she wanted to decline them, these wealthy gentlemen were way too passionate. She did not need to offend all of them in declining — it wasn't as if it was a matter of principle. Hence, she nodded. "I'll accept with thanks, then."
The group of gentlemen gave a cheer, feeling a great sense of satisfaction. See, the little lady had agreed to accept their gifts but did not accept Second Young Master Li's gift. The rare chance to one-up Second Young Master Li felt... just great.
Li Lei did not know whether to smile or cry. What kind of friends were these? Yet, he was happy to see that his brothers here were warming up to Xia Ling. He was proud of his taste, just one meeting and Xia Ling was able to charm all these wealthy gentlemen. He was exceedingly proud, proud in all kinds of ways, just too proud.
The other ladies were very jealous, but no one dared let it show on their faces and even laughed along with the wealthy gentlemen. Some of them were terrible in their acting, and their expressions were contorted to the point it was funny.
Li Beier's expression, too, was contorted. The competition hadn't even started and these wealthy gentlemen were already biased beyond measure, all competing to give Xia Ling a gift, but no one even thought of adding anything for her. What's more, even Second Young Master Zhou had promised Xia Ling a gift as well, ignoring her. Xia Ling was way ahead of her in terms of initial momentum.
Li Beier felt bitter in her heart. She swung around abruptly, saying, "Let's go pick our horses!"
She had already made up her mind. Once they began riding, she had to make this irritating woman lose convincingly!
Their large group strode over to the horse riding arena.
Li Lei suddenly remembered something and, pulling at Xia Ling's sleeve, he asked softly, "You really know how to ride?" Horse riding was a hobby of the rich, and without a personal trainer, lots of money and free time one would be unable to learn it well. He had asked his subordinate to investigate Xia Ling's background in the past and she did not look like someone that had learned how to ride.
However, he was unaware that Xia Ling had reincarnated.
In her past life, Xia Ling was adopted by Pei Ziheng and could be considered to be half an heiress. No... more accurately, she was richer than most heiresses. Pei Ziheng had pandered to her every need and spent loads of money sending her for classes. Horse riding, surfing, car racing... she was familiar with all the hobbies that the rich enjoyed. She also had a natural flair for sports and was able to learn all sports with ease.
"Yup, I can ride." She told Li Lei.
"But," Li Lei asked. "didn't you say it was that time of the month?"
Xia Ling gave him a look and then said simply, "I lied."
Li Lei was speechless. This little lady dared lie to him. He would remember this and claim it back from her once she had agreed to become his girlfriend. Hmph...
Li Beier did not notice their little conversation as she speedily picked her horse ahead of Xia Ling and announced loudly. "I want this one!" She picked a tall, muscular horse the color of red dates, which had the blood of an English pedigree. It was a handsome horse, with well-proportioned limbs and explosive strength within its muscles. It was clearly a good horse. In fact, Li Beier and many of the others were aware that this horse, named Blood Rouge, was a famous horse in this Nan Shan riding club and was the best horse that a normal member could pick.
To be able to impress these wealthy gentlemen, Li Beier had practiced her horse riding diligently. Getting this horse now was like giving her added ammunition.
Many of the onlookers sighed silently. It looked this little lady that Young Master Li had brought along today was going to lose for sure.
Yet, Xia Ling was unfazed and confidently walked over to the horses as she tried to make her pick. People who were unable to ride would usually be a little afraid to be amongst all these tall, muscular horses, but Xia Ling was not, looking as if she was strolling in the flower garden behind her house. Even looking at the stallions in the eye did not bring a tinge of fear into her clear eyes.
It wasn't long before everyone could tell that this little lady knew her horses.
But so what? The best horse had already been chosen by Li Beier and the others were no match in terms of speed.
"Are there any other horses?" asked Xia Ling.
"Yes, there are." The helper from the riding club that was accompanying her said. "There are two more Arabian horses, a Trakehner horse, and an English pedigree. These four horses are all pedigrees with formal certification, and only members with the premium black card can borrow them."
"I have the premium black card." Li Lei smiled widely at Xia Ling.
Xia Ling responded, "I don't need it." Actually, what she was truly interested in was not these four horses.
"Use mine, use mine!"
"We all have the premium black card!" The group of rich gentlemen shouted out.
Xia Ling placed her forehead in her hands and decided to ignore them.
She remembered that the Nan Shan riding club did not only have these horses. There were still a few more special, private horses that were left in their care by rich members. She thought about it silently for a moment before asking Li Lei, "What horse did you ride just now?"
"Me?" Li Lei replied, "I was riding my own Hannover." He had left a mixed breed Hannover in the care of the riding club, but the regretful thing was that Hannovers were good in high jumps but did not have the speed of English pedigrees in speed races. Hence, Li Lei did not suggest lending his Hannover to Xia Ling and wanted to use his premium black card to borrow the pedigrees from the riding club instead.
Yet, Xia Ling said, "Can you bring me to see it?"
"Sure." Li Lei agreed readily. Although he was surprised, he was still happy that she was interested in his horse.
No one dared raise any objection to Young Master Li bringing them to see his horse. Hence, the group of them followed Li Lei to the special breeding ground where premium black card members would leave their private horses. This place was not open to outsiders, thus the expensive horses were allowed to roam freely. Occasionally, the handsome silhouette of a horse galloping would pass by in front of their eyes.
Li Lei placed his fingers between his lips and let out a whistle.
A deep black stallion appeared in front of everybody's eyes.