Jiang Mo sat stiffly on the horse, still struggling to coordinate her limbs, too nervous to move freely.
Gu Ye held the reins, patiently teaching her a few tips.
Neither of them noticed the gaze watching them from a distance.
"Coal is so tall—is she well-behaved? She won’t throw me off, will she?" Jiang Mo asked.
"No, Coal has a gentle temper," Gu Ye reassured her. "I’ll lead her around a couple of times first so you two can get familiar, then you can try riding alone."
Jiang Mo teased, "Good thing my legs are long, or I might not even reach the stirrups."
"Maybe I should just stick to a guided ride—riding alone sounds a bit scary."
Gu Ye stroked the horse’s mane and tentatively suggested, "We could ride together. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry."
Jiang Mo laughed. "Wouldn’t the two of us crush Coal?"
"Not a chance. We barely weigh anything. Weren’t you just marveling at how big she is?" Gu Ye’s grin was impossible to suppress.
After a leisurely lap around the field, Jiang Mo relaxed a little, her earlier tension easing.
"Hold on tight—I’m getting on," Gu Ye said before effortlessly vaulting onto the horse behind her, his arms encircling her waist.
Warmth enveloped Jiang Mo as her back pressed against his firm chest.
She didn’t dare turn her head, afraid she might accidentally bump into his face.
Gu Ye noticed her flushed ears and pulled her closer, murmuring, "Let’s go, then."
Jiang Mo’s reply was barely audible. "Mm."
Taking the reins, Gu Ye gave a light tug, and the horse responded with a small burst of speed, smoothly breaking into a trot.
Mindful of Jiang Mo’s comfort, he kept the pace moderate and leaned in to ask, "How does it feel?"
The wind rushed past her ears as the horse’s gait jostled her slightly, but a thrill of excitement bubbled up inside her. So this was what riding felt like.
"It’s nice—kind of like the adrenaline rush from an amusement park ride."
"If you get scared, just lean into me. I’ll speed up a little," Gu Ye said, his lips curving.
They rode two full laps before stopping.
Only then did Jiang Mo realize she had practically melted into Gu Ye’s embrace.
He dismounted first and reached up to help her down.
She placed her hand in his and carefully descended, then tried to pull away—but Gu Ye’s fingers were already laced tightly with hers.
"You’re holding on a bit too tight," she protested softly.
"Oh," Gu Ye nodded, loosening his grip slightly—but not letting go.
What was wrong with a couple holding hands openly?
It wasn’t until they entered the rest area that he finally released her to fetch water and fruit.
Jiang Mo checked her phone, her gaze flickering around the lounge before she lowered her head, then looked up again.
She wasn’t mistaken—it was Young Master Gu.
And, of all things, he had noticed her too.
When Gu Ye returned with snacks and speared a piece of fruit for her, he found her looking dejected.
"What’s wrong?"
"I saw Young Master Gu. He’s here today," Jiang Mo admitted.
"My older brother? So what? No big deal," Gu Ye said, nudging the fruit toward her lips.
She ate it reluctantly, praying Young Master Gu wouldn’t be sharp enough to figure out their relationship.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Gu Xun approached them, his first words cutting straight to the chase.
"I saw the two of you in the field earlier. Didn’t want to interrupt."
Translation: I’ve been watching you for a while.
Jiang Mo tensed. "Young Master Gu, you’re here to ride too?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how pointless the question was—why else would he be at a riding club?
"Mm," Gu Xun replied tersely, then arched a brow at Gu Ye. "Care for a match?"
"Sure," Gu Ye agreed readily, turning to Jiang Mo. "You can come watch if you’re interested, or stay here and snack."
With that, he followed Gu Xun.
Jiang Mo nodded. "I’ll wait for you here."
After nibbling on some fruit, she eventually wandered out to the field, where the brothers were already preparing.
One black horse, one white, raced across the grounds—their speed making Jiang Mo realize how tame her earlier ride had been.
After half an hour of galloping, the brothers slowed to a walk, side by side.
Gu Xun cut straight to the point. "Are you and Jiang Mo dating?"
"Yeah," Gu Ye admitted without hesitation. "Though I’m still in the probation period—haven’t been promoted to official boyfriend yet."
"Pathetic," Gu Xun scoffed.
"Maybe so, but I doubt you’re any better," Gu Ye shot back. "Weren’t you planning to rekindle an old flame?"
Gu Xun ignored the jab. "Does the family know about this?"
"Only Grandpa knows. Big brother, keep it quiet for now."
When the two returned to the rest area, Gu Xun checked the time. "I'll treat you both to dinner tonight. You're coming with me."
