Your Wife? Mine! - Chapter 15

Shen Qiongfang was born into a life in the saddle. Though an Omega, she was “the equal of any man,” having galloped across battlefields in her youth with a distinguished military record. The seven daughters she raised, whether in the military or politics, were all expert riders. To this day, the Shen family strictly observed the ancient tradition of the autumn hunt.

Raised in such a household, even Shen Xi, who was pampered like a precious pearl, had tumbled around on horseback since childhood and possessed extraordinary equestrian skills.

It was May, and the weather was clear and crisp. The stables were vast, the green grass like a velvet carpet, and the breeze brought the fresh scent of earth. A stable hand led a dark stallion toward the three of them. Under the sunlight, the horse’s mane shimmered with a satin-like luster. Though it had been separated from Shen Xi for twelve years, the horse still recognized its old master. It affectionately nuzzled its massive head against her shoulder and neck like a large dog, its hooves clopping lightly against the ground.

Shen Xi laughed helplessly, patting its head to ward off the nuzzling. Beside her, Wutong let out an earnest gasp of admiration. “Hope! He’s so cool!”

The little girl, dressed in a tiny riding outfit, hopped and clapped around the horse, her eyes sparkling.

Shen Xi stroked the horse’s mane and looked at her. “Do you like him?”

“I love him! Super love for him!” the little one nodded vigorously.

“Good. When you grow a bit taller,” Shen Xi promised solemnly, crouching down to eye level, “I’ll give you a horse that’s even cooler and more obedient.”

“Really?” Wutong was both shocked and delighted, her small hands twisting the hem of her shirt in nervous anticipation. “But… but Mommy says I have to be six before I can have my own pony.”

“Of course.” Shen Xi winked. “My word is my bond.”

Wutong cheered. Shen Xi laughed, gripped the girl’s waist, and hoisted her up amidst her startled giggles. “For now, let’s feel the speed of the wind.”

She settled Wutong firmly into the saddle and then flipped onto the horse in one fluid, graceful motion. Shen Xi flicked the reins, and the stallion shot forward like an arrow, carrying a trail of rhythmic hoofbeats and a child’s cheers across the meadow.

After several laps, the horse came to a steady halt beside Meng Xiyao. Wutong’s cheeks were flushed red. “Mommy! It’s so fast! The wind was ‘whooshing’ like it was kissing my face! You come too!”

Sitting behind the child, Shen Xi also turned her gaze toward Meng Xiyao, inviting her with a bright smile. “Xiyao-jie, care to join us?”

Meng Xiyao stood still, the corner of her mouth curled up. She gave a slight nod to the waiting stable hand. Moments later, a magnificent Akhal-Teke was led forward. Its body was pure white, though it shimmered with a rosy, cloud-like glow in the sunlight.

Shen Xi’s eyes glazed over for a second. It was “Lightning” the eighteenth birthday gift she had given Meng Xiyao.

Meng Xiyao mounted the horse with practiced agility, her posture tall as she lightly tugged the reins. “Let’s go.”

With a soft command, the two of them rode out side-by-side, galloping freely across the field. The wind roared in their ears, Wutong shrieked with laughter, and the entire world seemed to consist only of the freedom of speed. In this moment of riding together, Shen Xi felt her heart travel back to those afternoons where they only had each other. No shadows of family alliances, no reprimands from elders just a vast world where it felt like they could ride together until the end of time.

After racing several laps, they slowed their horses. Shen Xi dismounted, and a stable hand led over a gentle, adorable pony.

Wutong’s eyes widened. “What’s this?” Even the silent Meng Xiyao cast an inquiring look.

“Your first horse,” Shen Xi said, lifting Wutong down and leading her to the pony. “Learn to handle him first. Once you’re best friends, you can conquer bigger mounts.”

“Thank you, Hope!” Wutong was overjoyed, excitedly climbing into the small saddle with the help of the coach and Shen Xi.

“Relax your body,” Shen Xi instructed, patting the girl’s waist. “Let’s practice the posting trot.”

Shen Xi had come prepared for today’s lesson. She taught several key techniques, and Wutong possessing a high natural aptitude learned quickly. Shen Xi was generous with her encouragement; every time Wutong mastered a point, she rewarded her with a short trot.

Under the sun, the child’s face was beet-red with pride and joy. Since Gu Hai was always busy with work and Meng Xiyao was quiet and not much for sports, Wutong rarely got to play this hard. She went wild with it, pleading for “just one more lap” even when lunchtime arrived. It wasn’t until her stomach growled loudly that she reluctantly got down.

Drenched in sweat, Wutong looked up at Meng Xiyao expectantly. “Mommy, can we celebrate? I really want pizza!”

Meng Xiyao wiped the sweat from her daughter’s forehead with a smile. “Of course. Let’s go change.”

“Yay! Hope, come with us!” Wutong reached out. Shen Xi stepped forward and took her hand without hesitation.

Along the way, the child chattered happily between them. But Shen Xi was uncharacteristically distracted, raising her free hand to press against her chest. Her silence was eerie; behind her back, Meng Xiyao glanced at her quiet profile and frowned slightly.

Soon, they reached the changing rooms. Once alone in the Alpha room, Shen Xi endured the dull, throbbing pain in her chest as she struggled to pull off the tight equestrian suit. Looking down, she saw a stark, shocking red stain soaking through her white shirt.

Great. The wound ripped open again.

Shen Xi pressed her hand to her heart and hissed through her teeth. “Damn, why does it hurt this much?”

She needed to re-bandage it. Shen Xi thought for a moment and pressed the emergency call button on the wall. A stable hand soon arrived with a first aid kit. As the hand passed the Omega changing room, Meng Xiyao was just walking out with a freshly changed Wutong.

Seeing the kit, Meng Xiyao paused. “Wait…” She looked at the stable hand. “What happened?”

“Miss Meng, it’s for Miss Shen Xi. She seems to have been injured.”

Meng Xiyao’s gaze narrowed. “Give it to me. Go look after Wutong.” She took the kit and sent the stable hand away with the child. Once they were gone, she turned and pushed open the door to the Alpha changing room without hesitation.

As the door swung open, Shen Xi sitting on the sofa turned her head in shock. Seeing her, a flash of panic crossed the Alpha’s face. “Xiyao-jie… why are you…”

Meng Xiyao didn’t answer. She looked down and immediately locked onto the spreading red stain on the white shirt. Her eyes darkened instantly. She frowned and walked closer, kit in hand.

“The stable hand said you were hurt.”

She walked over to Shen Xi and placed the first aid kit on the coffee table. Looking down at the injury on the Alpha’s chest, she gave a slight nod. “This… how did it happen?”

Her gaze was steady and her tone exceptionally flat, devoid of any overt concern. Yet, at that simple inquiry, Shen Xi’s heart couldn’t help but hammer against her ribs.

“It’s… an old gunshot wound,” Shen Xi replied, tilting her head back and licking her lips as she offered a stumbling explanation. “A through-and-through. It just never quite healed properly.”

A gunshot wound? She was actually shot?

As Meng Xiyao stared at the crimson stain, her expression grew even more complex. Logic told her she should pretend to know nothing, but she found herself reaching out anyway. Pushing through the frantic air between them, her fingers brushed the fabric of Shen Xi’s shirt.

The moment her fingertips touched the cold, tacky wetness of the blood, Meng Xiyao’s voice trembled uncontrollably. “How…” She paused, struggling to find the words to continue. “How did you get hurt like this?”

She’s worried about me! Realizing this sent Shen Xi’s heart into a frenzy. It had been a week since they were last alone together, and with such a heavy atmosphere, this was a golden opportunity.

“A stray bullet on the battlefield. I took it while trying to save a soldier.”

As she spoke, Shen Xi reached out, her fingers cautiously seeking out Meng Xiyao’s. When her warm hand finally brushed against the woman’s cool skin, Shen Xi’s heart rate spiked to its limit.

Meng Xiyao’s fingertips twitched, and her first instinct was to pull away. But Shen Xi caught her hand firmly, guiding it to her own chest and pressing it directly over the wound.

“It hurts…” Shen Xi murmured. “It always hurts right here.”

She held Meng Xiyao’s fingers tightly, as if clutching a peerless treasure she couldn’t bear to let go. Looking up with a burning intensity in her eyes, she whispered, “Xiyao-jie… will you help me dress it?”

Meng Xiyao looked down, colliding with the Alpha’s pleading gaze. She felt a sharp tug at her heartstrings, followed by a wave of dull, localized pain. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if the ache belonged to her or to Shen Xi.

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