Watching her walk away, Zhang Yanyan smiled and shook her head. Then she picked up her phone, found the number for Manager Wang, the person in charge of Qinglan Resort, and dialed it.
The call was answered after just two rings. Manager Wang’s warm voice came through.
“Miss Zhang? Hello, hello! How may I help you?”
“I’m bringing my cousin over to have some fun today. We should arrive in about an hour.”
“Could you help me make a few arrangements? Please set aside a private area at the riding arena. If the area is already booked for the day, please explain the situation and coordinate with those guests properly so we don’t cause them any inconvenience.
“Also, find two experienced riding instructors and choose two gentle horses suitable for beginners.
“And please reserve a private archery lane as well. Replace all the arrowheads with blunt ones. Safety comes first.”
“Of course, no problem. I’ll arrange everything right away and make sure it’s all taken care of.” Manager Wang agreed readily. “I’ll coordinate the venue now and ensure complete privacy. I’ll also select the most experienced instructors and the gentlest horses for you. We’ll put your safety first, without question.”
“By the way, would you like me to arrange lunch at the resort’s private restaurant? I can have the chef prepare dishes according to your tastes in advance.”
“All right. We’ll have lunch at the restaurant there. Prepare some lighter dishes, and add a few sweet-and-sour dishes for my cousin.”
Zhang Yanyan thought for a moment before adding, “That’s all for now. Just take care of those arrangements.”
“Understood. Don’t worry, Miss Zhang. I’ll make sure everything is ready. I’ll be waiting for you at the resort entrance. Just give me a call when you arrive.”
Manager Wang agreed. As soon as Zhang Yanyan hung up, he picked up his walkie-talkie and began coordinating everything item by item.
Just after Zhang Yanyan ended the call, Auntie Chen came over with two cups of warm water and said with a smile, “Yanyan, you two aren’t coming back for lunch, are you? I overheard your phone call. You’re going to the resort for the day?”
“Mm-hmm. We won’t be back for lunch, and we may not come back for dinner either, so don’t save us anything.” Zhang Yanyan nodded and took a sip of water. “Auntie Chen, you don’t have to keep busy on our account. Take a break.”
“All right. Be careful on the way, and have fun.” Auntie Chen smiled and gave them a few more reminders.
Less than forty minutes later, Su Yuan came downstairs, fully dressed and ready to go.
She had changed into a sharp white riding outfit and a pair of short black boots. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, and she wore only a light touch of makeup. She looked energetic and stylish, completely different from the listless girl in pajamas she had been earlier.
“How do I look, Sis? Handsome, right?” Su Yuan spun around and raised an eyebrow at Zhang Yanyan, clearly very pleased with herself.
“Handsome. Our Yuanyuan is the most handsome of all.” Zhang Yanyan played along with a smile. She stood up and picked up the car keys from the entryway cabinet. “Come on, handsome girl. Time to go.”
Su Yuan let out a cheer and followed Zhang Yanyan out the door.
Zhang Yanyan didn’t take the SUV today. Instead, she chose an understated black sports coupe. It accelerated quickly and was easy to handle.
As soon as Su Yuan got into the car, she fastened her seat belt and started playing music with a powerful beat on her phone. She was bursting with excitement, chattering away about taking lots of pictures later and posting them to her social media.
The car rolled smoothly out of the estate and headed straight for the Qinglan Leisure Resort on the outskirts of the city.
The resort was not far from downtown, and they arrived after a drive of just over forty minutes.
As soon as they reached the resort entrance, they saw Manager Wang standing there with two staff members. The moment he spotted Zhang Yanyan’s car approaching, he hurried over to greet them.
Once the car came to a stop, Manager Wang opened the door with a polished smile.
“Miss Zhang, Miss Su, welcome! You must be tired after the drive. Everything you requested has been arranged.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” Zhang Yanyan nodded and got out of the car with Su Yuan.
Su Yuan stared at the imposing resort entrance and the lush mountain forest beyond it, her eyes widening in amazement. She leaned close to Zhang Yanyan and whispered, “Wow, Sis, this place is incredible! It’s so much better than all those riding clubs I’ve been to before!”
Zhang Yanyan smiled and patted her hand without saying much. For the Zhang family, this was just a standard leisure facility—nothing worth making a fuss over.
Manager Wang led the way and introduced the resort with a smile. “Miss Zhang, the riding arena is just ahead. We’ve arranged the number-one private area at the very back. It offers the most privacy and is completely separated from the other arenas, so you won’t be disturbed. The instructors and horses are already waiting inside.”
Zhang Yanyan nodded and followed him toward the riding arena.
The resort really did have a beautiful setting. The path was lined with lush trees and all kinds of flowers, while the air was filled with the fresh fragrance of plants and grass. The noise of the city had been shut out completely, leaving the area remarkably quiet.
Every so often, they passed a few guests out for a stroll, but everyone kept to themselves, and no one came over to bother them.
After walking for just a few minutes, they reached the riding arena.
The arena covered a vast area, with level tracks and spotless fencing. It was divided into several independent sections, and the exclusive VIP area was located at the very back. It was completely screened off from view by fencing and greenery, ensuring that no one outside could see in.
Two riding instructors in professional equestrian outfits were already waiting inside with the horses. Both horses were chestnut warmblood mares with glossy coats and gentle temperaments. They looked steady and reliable. Nearby sat two brand-new sets of riding gear, including helmets, protective vests, and knee pads.
When Zhang Yanyan and Su Yuan entered, the two instructors greeted them with smiles.
“Hello, Miss Zhang. Hello, Miss Su.”
Manager Wang introduced them. “These are the two most experienced instructors at our riding arena. Each has more than ten years of experience and is highly professional. They’ll be able to guarantee your safety. These two horses are also the best-trained horses in our stable. They’re both eight years old and exceptionally calm, so even beginners can ride them without any problems.”
Zhang Yanyan nodded and took Su Yuan to the changing room beside the arena, where they put on all their protective gear.
Su Yuan was so excited that she took several pictures of herself in the mirror with her phone. She kept muttering, “This is so cool! Sis, you have to take pictures of me when I’m riding later!”
“I know, I know. Put your gear on properly first. Don’t get so focused on taking pictures that you forget.” Zhang Yanyan smiled as she tightened Su Yuan’s knee pads. “Safety first, understand?”
“Got it! I’ll definitely listen!” Su Yuan nodded vigorously, her eyes shining.
Once they had finished putting on their gear, they followed the instructors into the arena.
The instructors first gave them a detailed explanation of the basics of horseback riding: how to hold the reins, control the horse’s direction, start and stop, maintain their balance, and follow the necessary safety rules. They explained everything clearly and left nothing to chance.
Su Yuan listened attentively, nodding from time to time. Her earlier excitement faded somewhat, replaced by a touch of caution. She loved having fun, but she valued her life too, and she knew this was not something to fool around with.
After the explanation, one of the instructors helped Su Yuan mount first. Holding the reins, he slowly led her around the arena, correcting her posture from time to time.
Zhang Yanyan stood to the side and watched Su Yuan mount. Su Yuan’s entire body tensed as she gripped the saddle and refused to let go, her face turning pale with nerves. Yanyan couldn’t help laughing aloud.
When it was her turn to mount, she would have been lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.
She had learned to ride from the elders in her family before, but it had been a long time since she’d last been on a horse. The moment she stepped into the stirrup and settled into the saddle, her body instinctively tensed.
The horse shifted slightly, and her heart jolted. She instinctively tightened her grip on the reins.
The riding instructor beside her immediately reassured her in a gentle voice. “Miss Zhang, don’t be nervous. Relax your body and move with the horse’s rhythm. It’s very docile and won’t hurt you.”
