After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 15

Liang Jue took Luo Chuchen to another secluded pasture, where hardly a soul could be seen, at the edge of the hunting grounds and the foot of the mountain.

As soon as they arrived, Luo Chuchen eagerly dismounted from his small horse and approached Zhaoye Bai, reaching out his hand to ask Liang Jue, who had also dismounted beside him, “May I?”

“You may.”

Liang Jue rubbed the top of Zhaoye Bai’s head with his hand. Zhaoye Bai snorted and, as if understanding human nature, lowered its head and brought its face close to Luo Chuchen.

“Ah,” Luo Chuchen exclaimed in delight, covering it with his hand. Even the texture of its fur felt different from that of an ordinary horse exceptionally smooth.

Luo Chuchen couldn’t resist stroking the fur for a while before reluctantly letting go.

Liang Jue smiled and asked, “Would you like to try riding it?”

“Of course!” Luo Chuchen hurriedly ran to tie his small horse to a nearby fence post and dashed back in a few steps.

“No need to rush like that,” Liang Jue said, raising a hand to stop him, afraid he might fall.

Zhaoye Bai was a head taller than the small horse, almost matching Luo Chuchen’s height. Though Luo Chuchen was excited, he still had some self-awareness. Gripping the saddle, he hesitated for a moment, afraid he might end up falling flat on his face again.

Falling in front of Chu Yuanzhu was one thing, but how could he possibly fall again in front of Liang Jue!

Thinking this, Luo Chuchen turned back with an embarrassed expression and said, “Could you give me a hand?”

A low, warm chuckle sounded. Liang Jue stood behind Luo Chuchen, placed his hands on his waist, and softly counted, “3, 2, 1.”

Luo Chuchen, following the count, gripped the saddle and exerted force well, actually, he didn’t exert much force at all.

It felt as if he hadn’t even held onto the saddle properly. Before he could use any strength, he was effortlessly lifted onto the saddle.

As soon as he settled, Luo Chuchen tightly gripped the front of the saddle, leaning forward to steady himself.

He pretended to be balancing, but in reality, his heart was pounding wildly, racing out of control.

Liang Jue’s hands had already withdrawn quickly, yet Luo Chuchen felt the lingering sensation at the small of his back, refusing to fade.

He had never noticed before how large Liang Jue’s palms were Luo Chuchen secretly compared them in his mind. Indeed, Liang Jue’s hands had always been able to envelop his own.

No wonder that spot on his lower back still felt faintly warm.

Luo Chuchen felt utterly unsettled, unable to understand the reason, and too embarrassed to show it in front of Liang Jue, lest it create awkwardness between them. Covering his mouth with his hand, he coughed lightly, and only after some effort did his thoughts settle, though they still drifted vaguely.

Liang Jue held the reins for him and after a while asked, “How is it?”

“How is what?” Luo Chuchen, lost in thought, reflexively replied.

“…” Liang Jue looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you spacing out again?”

Only then did Luo Chuchen realize he was being asked about his impression of Zhaoye Bai. Feeling guilty, he said, “This horse walks so smoothly, I couldn’t help but think about other things.”

Liang Jue hummed in acknowledgment and asked again, “What were you thinking about?”

Do you have to ask everything?

Luo Chuchen scratched his cheek, feeling even more guilty about his earlier unease.

Liang Jue hadn’t meant anything by it, yet he was the only one overthinking things. How ridiculous,

Luo Chuchen didn’t even consider that he could simply not answer. Instead, he racked his brain for an excuse and blurted out, “Earlier, I heard the young master mention there’s an archery range here. I’ve never tried archery before, so I got lost in thought wondering about it.”

Whether it was his imagination or not, Liang Jue’s previously neutral expression seemed to darken slightly at these words.

Yet, inspired by his own excuse, Luo Chuchen leaned down and asked Liang Jue, “Brother, how about teaching me archery later?”

Liang Jue paused briefly before replying, “Alright.”

After riding Zhaoyebai for a while, Luo Chuchen soon grew bored. Liang Jue had been holding the reins the entire time, and the famed steed’s pace was even slower than when Luo Chuchen usually rode ponies. He couldn’t experience any of the excitement of riding a superior horse.

Only after much pleading and sweet-talking did Liang Jue finally agree to let him ride on his own for a bit.

Luo Chuchen cautiously flicked the reins and called out “Giddyup!” a few times. Zhaoye bai pawed the ground, gradually picking up speed until it broke into a run.

When Zhaoye bai galloped, it was indeed steady and swift. The wind whistled past his ears, and Liang Jue quickly vanished from sight. Clutching the reins tightly, Luo Chuchen squinted his eyes, not daring to move a muscle. His face turned pale from the wind, his heart torn between thrill and regret.

Wasn’t this just horseback riding?
Having Liang Jue lead him at a leisurely pace was perfectly fine!

He had no idea how much time passed before Zhaoye bai gradually slowed down. Luo Chuchen let out a slow exhale and waited for Liang Jue to come take the reins before rubbing his nearly frozen cheeks.

“I’m so foolish, really,” Luo Chuchen pouted.

Liang Jue, who was stroking Zhaoye bai’s forehead with his other hand, looked up at him and asked with a smile, “After all that talking earlier, are you regretting it now?”

Luo Chuchen grumbled, “So much regret. I’m green with regret.”

Without thinking, he grabbed Liang Jue’s hand from the reins and placed it on his calf. “See? My legs are still trembling.”

Liang Jue’s hand twitched before gently testing with a squeeze.

Luo Chuchen: “…”

So ticklish.

Why were his ears feeling warm too?

Liang Jue released his hand and said quietly, “Mm, indeed. I’ll teach you some relaxation exercises later.”

“Okay, okay.”

As soon as he spoke, Luo Chuchen himself was startled, why was his voice as faint as a mosquito’s?

Liang Jue didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. He stood beside the horse hesitantly before asking, “Getting down?”

“Y-yes, getting down.” Luo Chuchen tried to raise his volume.

Heavens, why was it still so soft!

Shifting his weight to the stirrup closer to Liang Jue, Luo Chuchen lifted his other leg and turned sideways. Immediately, Liang Jue’s hands supported him by the waist.

Luo Chuchen shuddered, his legs nearly buckling beneath him.

An inappropriate thought crossed his mind rather than saying Liang Jue was supporting his waist, “gripping” would be a more accurate description, given how snugly his hands fit,

Liang Jue quickly helped him down, but Luo Chuchen was already flushed crimson from his own imagination.

Since Liang Jue was taller anyway, he kept his head lowered and mumbled awkwardly, “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Liang Jue replied simply.

They both mounted their own horses again. Luo Chuchen secretly tugged his horse’s head outward, putting a bit more distance between them.

Awkwardness piled upon awkwardness.

After half the journey in silence, and being chilled by the cold wind on horseback for so long, Luo Chuchen’s pounding heartbeat finally slowed, and his face was no longer so flushed.

Only then did he have the chance to reflect on the series of psychological activities he had just experienced.

What exactly was he feeling shy about??