This chapter has been translated by Atlas Studios. All credits belong to them.
The service staff was stunned. This was a threat through and through.
"Y-young Master Li, you-you can't do this." the service staff was already stammering. "This horse, you- it..." He was incoherent and flustered. Gosh, he could not afford to offend Mr. Pei, but neither could he offend this big shot before him.
Li Lei smiled cheekily. "I'll give you five seconds. Five- four- three- two..."
"Alright!" He yelled his decision chokingly. "I'll lend it to you alright!" Young Master Li was known to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, smiley and friendly on the outside but brutal on the inside, but why was everybody so afraid of him? Simply because he was capable of anything! The service staff really believed that he would kill Pei Ziheng's horse, and if the horse died in the Southern Mountains Equestrian Club, Pei Ziheng would definitely not let it go. When the time came, the whole club would be in deep trouble.
The service staff pulled a long face, thinking what an unlucky day this was for him.
Li Lei was content and his smile widened, "You sure know the situation well. The next time you need any help, feel free to look for me." He was a cruel person, but he would never force an innocent person to a dead end. It was clear that the service staff had to offend Pei Ziheng because of him, hence the alternative he provided the service staff was a way of consolation as well as reward.
All the employees at such high-end clubs were intelligent people, thus he definitely knew what Li Lei implied.
At the moment, he realized that it was not an unlucky day at all. In fact, he was too lucky. Working for Young Master Li... Wow, even thinking about it was such a bliss. The service staff grinned from ear to ear and got the paperwork for the horse rental settled in no time.
Xia Ling did not expect Li Lei to really borrow the horse for her. She was immensely touched.
"Thank you." she leaned against Valiant Song's beautiful mane and thanked him sweetly.
Li Lei gazed at her, her slender figure against Valiant Song's sturdy stature created an unusual harmony. This girl was always careful not to owe him any favor, thus the only way he could make her happy was successfully borrowing Valiant Song for her.
As a matter of fact, this was the first time she spoke to him so softly and sweetly.
Li Lei's look softened as well, his mood rising as well.
"Alright, alright. The competition can finally begin." Du Yunfeng stepped out. "Lass Ye, Li Bei Er, since you have both got your horses, let's begin before it turns dark."
"This isn't fair!" Li Bei Er kicked a fuss. "The horse she got is Valiant Song, the fastest horse in the whole club! My horse can never beat hers!"
Once the words were uttered, everyone turned and looked at Li Bei Er with disdain.
Valiant Song was a hybrid of a thoroughbred and a Ferghana horse, its speed was indeed incredible and unbeatable. But when Li Bei Er made the first pick and chose the bay horse, thinking that Xia Ling could only get the remaining worse off horses, why had she not thought about it being unfair?
"Zhou, your judgment of people needs to be improved." a rich man scorned at Li Bei Er and gave Second Young Master Zhou his sincere advice.
Second Young Master Zhou was embarrassed. "Yes, yes. I'll give her a piece of my mind when we get back."
The words were merciless to Li Bei Er and she was shocked to hear them. "Se-Second Young Master Zhou... you can't do this." her voice was strained as if she was about to cry.
"Embarrass me again and there won't even be break-up compensation for you." Second Young Master Zhou furrowed his brows in frustration.
Li Bei Er went silent immediately, forcing back her tears. Seeing that Second Young Master Zhou deserting her was now an inescapable outcome, she now kept her eye on the break-up compensation fee — she was not about to give that up.
It's all that woman's fault!
She shot Xia Ling a death glare.
Xia Ling spoke slowly. "I don't mind exchanging horses with you. If you want Valiant Song, please go ahead."
Li Bei Er's eyes sparkled. If she rode Valiant Song, she would definitely beat that woman! However, the moment she tried to get close to Valiant Song, the brilliant brown horse had already raised its two front hooves and glared at her threateningly.
How terrifying!
Frightened, Li Bei Er stopped in her tracks.
She dared not even get within three feet of Valiant Song! Incorrigible, why didn't this horse allow her anywhere close! Why did it only accept that woman!
Li Bei Er was furious, but she knew for a fact she would only embarrass herself further if she pressed on. Hence, she simply scoffed and backed out of Valiant Song's radius of attack in a pretense of noble compliance. "I don't care for it. Anyway, there would be no glory if you win riding on Valiant Song!" She paved a way out for herself first. Thus if that woman really did win, at least she could save herself some dignity.
"Oh?" Xia Ling appeared to smile. "I'll give you a one-round head start, will that be fair then?"
Actually, it wasn't for the win that she wanted to ride on Valiant Song, it was that she simply missed this horse too much. With her equestrian skills, she would be able to win the race even with any of the horses around.
Everybody around was in shock — a one-round head start? Did she get it wrong? The race was only a distance of three rounds, one round would constitute one-third of the race — that was too huge a head start. "Little girl, you'd better reconsider. Don't be impulsive, that bay horse is also a good horse, and Li Bei Er's skills are not too bad. You're taking too big a risk." Some advised.
"It's alright." Xia Ling was brimming with confidence as she looked Li Bei Er straight in the eye. "I'll give you a one-round head start. If I lose, I'll live up to the deal we made. And if you lose, you will act according to your promise."
"... Fine!" Li Bei Er clenched her teeth, agreeing to the offer as everyone stared down at her in contempt.
She didn't have a choice. She remembered the deal: if she lost, she would have to physically roll out of Xia Ling's sight and also give her a necklace — it was too great a cost. So, embarrassing as it was, why would she say no to such a good offer if the foolish lady had volunteered it?
The race commenced.
As the judge declared the start, Li Bei Er rode the bay horse and started out immediately. She rode extremely slowly to make full use of the one-round head start, so as to conserve as much energy as she could for the final burst. The spectators watching the scene lost respect for her once more.
"Will your lass lose this race?" Du Yunfeng nudged Li Lei and asked him softly.
"Why would she." Li Lei glared at him.
"Even in this situation?" Du Yunfeng was curious. "How good are her equestrian skills, at a divine level?"
"How am I to know, I've never seen her ride a horse."
"You haven't seen her ride a horse, but you're so confident of her?" Du Yunfeng had no idea what he was listening to anymore.
"Of course, she's my woman." Li Lei was smug.
Du Yunfeng was speechless. He was sure that Li Lei was really in love this time because only those in love could be so silly and irrational.
What a pity it was that Li Lei could not hear his thoughts, he was fully concentrated on the race track —
Xia Ling started off.