novelhk Chapter 19, 6th time, is it to participate in the obstacle course together?
Chapter 19, 6th time, is it to participate in the obstacle course together?
Wen Xu banished this ridiculous thought from her mind. Since there were no hints, her thoughts inevitably wandered. Su Yi had already stated that she would not give any more hints, so she could only find out for herself.
Wen Xu returned to her seat, picked up a raw chocolate brownie and placed it on the bone china plate in front of her. She ate it with a small steel spoon, neither in a hurry nor pretentiously. After finishing the whole brownie, she sipped the black tea from which wisps of steam rose.
The colorful fruit platter and the multi-tiered dessert stand with its exquisite Western pastries had been on the table for a long time. No one had touched them before she started eating, but Wen Xu didn't need to be polite. Although she wasn't very hungry, she didn't know how Lu Heng would kill her. Rather than scheming against these people, she might as well conserve her energy.
"Everyone should try it. You might think we haven't been very hospitable."
Aside from Wen Xu, everyone else ate with a bland taste, as if the exquisite pastries prepared by the hotel's highly paid chef were truly unpalatable. Wen Xu kept observing them. Unlike before, she wasn't familiar with most of these people, and with the clues she currently had, she couldn't deduce what role they could play in Lu Heng's attempt to kill her.
"Speaking of which, this is the first time I've met Xuxu, and I wasn't prepared at all. I bought two watches in Monaco earlier this year. Xiaobai, why don't you give one to Xuxu?"
Xia Ziling gestured to Xiao Bai, the housekeeper who had been standing beside her. Xiao Bai, expressionless, brought over a black brocade box and opened it in front of Wen Xu.
Two watches dangled on the velvet, one a pink diamond-encrusted timepiece, its countless tiny diamonds dazzling the eye. Next to the pink diamond watch was a plain black steel watch with a simple strap.
The black watch costs around five figures, while the pink diamond watch costs twenty times that amount. The housekeeper placed the black watch directly in front of Wen Xu and then put the brocade box away.
Xia Ziling clearly didn't intend to give her the expensive pink diamond watch, yet she still let her see it, obviously wanting to see a disappointed look on Wen Xu's face so she could humiliate her. But Wen Xu simply thanked Xia Ziling and put the black watch away. Xia Ziling's punch landed on cotton, and she could only change the subject.
Although money is important, Lu Heng has become richer this time. Wen Xu knows that it is basically impossible to beat Lu Heng with money. He puts away his black watch just to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
The butler, standing to the side, looked at Wen Xu with a somewhat cruel expression. Wen Xu felt a chill run down his spine and looked back, but didn't meet anyone's eyes. Recalling Xia Ziling's behavior earlier, Wen Xu felt something was off.
Wen Xu asked again, "Why hasn't Lu Heng arrived yet? I'll call him. Huh? Why is there no signal?"
Back in the banquet hall, Wen Xu's phone had no signal, and she just wanted to take the opportunity to ask why.
"Ah Heng is playing and went horseback riding first. Let's go play for a while too. We don't need to use the phone here; the waiter will relay any messages."
The two waiters standing ramrod straight bowed their heads in greeting. Wen Xu frowned. The hotel banquet hall they were in was actually part of the Tamir Equestrian Club. The Tamir Equestrian Club had over 2000 acres of off-road riding grounds. If Xia Ziling was referring to the entire Tamir Equestrian Club, then things were getting a bit complicated.
Wen Xu and Su Yuelan changed into the riding outfits Xia Ziling had prepared for them. During this time, Wen Xu kept a close eye on what tricks Xia Ziling might play on them. Her mother-in-law looked a lot like Lu Heng, but her personality was even more sinister than Lu Heng's. However, she checked the changing room and the clothes, and there was nothing wrong with them.
"Xuxu, do you not want to get married?"
Walking towards the horse farm, Su Yuelan suddenly asked Wen Xu a question. Wen Xu was taken aback. There were only the two of them on the way from the hotel to the horse farm, so there was no need to worry about others hearing their conversation. Wen Xu paused for a moment before answering.
"I just don't know if he's someone I can trust."
Wen Xu originally wanted to say "the person to whom you can entrust your life", but after several rebirths, she clearly realized that if she wanted to be happy, she could only rely on herself in the end. She felt awkward saying the words of placing her happiness on someone else.
"Xuxu, you always pause before you speak when you lie."
"Huh? I didn't."
Wen Xu desperately wanted to say, "I have no intention of marrying the man who wants to kill me," but doing so might trigger the reality show's protection mechanism. What if the calamity were to strike and harm Su Yuelan, who was beside her?
She had already lost Qiao Shan; she couldn't afford to lose Su Yuelan as well.
"It's okay, Mom. We're just getting engaged. It's too early to talk about marriage. You don't need to worry about me too much."
"That's true, Mom really can't help you much. When I came in just now, I thought Butler Bai was Lu Heng's mother, and I almost made a fool of myself."
The white-clad housekeeper was quite aloof and elegant. Tall and dressed in a well-fitting black suit, she could easily be mistaken for a waiter. Su Yuelan, being naive and seeing everyone as a good person, even asked Tang Lin with a gossipy look if he had come along because he had taken a liking to Lu Heng's friend. Wen Xu quickly stopped her and pulled Su Yuelan to the edge of the horse farm.
Today, the equestrian club is full of Xia Ziling's guests. Many of them have known Lu Heng since childhood and are already familiar with all parts of the club. They went to a practice area on the east side to compete.
The autumn sun turned the fine sand a pale gold, and there was a dry smell in the air. In the distance, you could see several tall sycamore trees, and occasionally a few golden leaves would drift by in the wind.
The stable boy brought over several horses, and Wen Xu, without any ceremony, went straight to a brown thoroughbred.
Its beautiful red mane was combed until it shone, its muscles were beautifully defined, and it was even exhaling a breath of hot air. Wenxu knew its name was Ruby. In its first life, Wenxu had seen it win first place in an obstacle course, but its rider had also given it a good beating. Truly, a fine horse is common, but a discerning eye is rare.
"This horse is not easy to handle, I'll get you a more docile one."
The kind-hearted stable boy suggested it to Wen Xu, but she directly refused, "No, this one is fine."
Su Yuelan also tried to persuade her, and she convinced Su Yuelan, so she mounted the horse directly. She knew how fast it could run, and if she had to ride a horse today, it would definitely be this one.
Lu Heng was coming over with three or five friends. He was wearing a red and black riding outfit, with a red lightning bolt symbol on his black helmet. Long black riding boots covered the muscles on his calves, making him look both slender and powerful. It has to be said that he has a good appearance.
Lu Heng's eyes lit up when he saw Wen Xu in riding attire, but his expression turned somewhat indignant when he saw her riding Ruby.
"Ruby actually let you ride it, Xuxu! Just now, Lu Heng wanted to ride it, but Ruby absolutely refused and almost kicked him with its hind legs. If we weren't in such a hurry for the competition, we would have definitely given it a good beating. Hahahaha."
The one who mocked Lu Heng was his friend Yuan Chen. He was laughing so hard he was doubled over, but when he saw Lu Heng squint his eyes, he stopped laughing, scratched his head, and said, "The weather is too dry, and my throat is dry too."
Xia Ziling stepped forward and affectionately patted Lu Heng on the back. After a long while, she turned around as if she had just noticed Wen Xu and said in surprise, "Xu Xu is very professional. Are you going to participate in the obstacle course together?"