Jiang Ci sat lazily on the grass, fingers slender and elegant as he absentmindedly tugged at a blade of green. With a slight turn of his head, he raised an eyebrow and asked casually, “Spanking?”
Little Haohao tilted his small head up to look at him, his large, expressive eyes rolling cleverly as he said in his soft, childish voice, “But Haohao doesn’t fight.”
Jiang Ci chuckled, the corners of his lips curving into a subtle smile. “You’re alert.”
“Haohao is very alert,” the little one declared proudly. His gaze shifted excitedly to a group of sheep grazing in the distance. Eyes sparkling, he exclaimed, “Daddy, Haohao wants to feed the sheep!”
Jiang Ci’s gaze followed his son’s, his dark eyes unreadable for a moment. “Mm,” he answered absentmindedly, not quite paying attention.
Not far away, Su Yue was struggling with the tent, fumbling with the setup. She gave a sheepish smile and admitted, “I’m really not good with hands-on things.”
“Just hold it like this for me,” replied Guan Junying, cheeks flushing red. He couldn’t help but steal glances at Su Yue. It was the first time he realized her voice was so sweet, it made his ears tingle.
Hearing his request, Su Yue stepped over and helped hold the tent pole steady. As she worked, her gaze wandered instinctively to the grassy field—where Jiang Ci lounged lazily under the sun. But Xiao Haohao?
Gone.
She scanned the area quickly and spotted a tiny figure in the distance. On a gentle slope, her little boy was teetering and wobbling on his feet, chasing after the grazing goats. The coriander, puffed up like a furry balloon, trailed behind him in hot pursuit. The startled goats scattered in panic.
And yet, Little Doudun grinned widely, joyfully toddling after them on his chubby legs like it was the most thrilling game in the world.
“Classmate Su, the tent’s ready. There are usually lots of mosquitoes at night. I brought some repellent. If you need it, I can lend you some.” Guan Jun gave her a warm smile, his eyes lingering for a moment on Su Yue’s delicate, fair arms exposed under the sun, like snowy jade glowing softly.
Su Yue returned the smile. “Thank you, but I brought some too. Thanks again for your help.” Her eyes sparkled as she admired the newly pitched orange-red tent. She bent down to peek inside. It looked cozy—just enough for her, Jiang Ci, and Xiao Haohao.
“If you run into any problems, feel free to call me.” Guan Jun gestured toward a tent not far away. “That blue one is mine.”
“Alright, I’ll remember that. Thanks.” Su Yue didn’t expect her classmate to be so kind.
Guan Jun gave a bashful laugh and scratched his head, revealing a boyish grin and white teeth. “You’re welcome.”
Su Yue returned to where Jiang Ci was sprawled comfortably on the grass. She squatted in front of him and said, “The tent’s ready. Let’s put our stuff inside and then go call Haohao for lunch. We only had snacks in the car this morning, and I’m starving.”
Jiang Ci flicked away the grass clinging to his fingertips, stretched, and said with a lazy sigh, “My legs are numb.”
“Really?” Su Yue glanced at his long legs stretched out like he had no bones. “Can you stand?”
“Nope,” Jiang Ci replied as if it were obvious. “You help me.”
Su Yue didn’t think much of it. She stepped closer and placed a hand on his arm. “I’ll help you up then.”
“Mn.”
Without warning, Jiang Ci withdrew his arm and slung it over her shoulder. The full weight of his tall frame pressed down on her in an instant, nearly knocking her over.
“You’re so heavy! You have to put in some effort yourself,” Su Yue grumbled under her breath. His figure looked tall and lean, but he was far from light.
The scent of warm milk wafted faintly from her skin. Jiang Ci licked the roof of his mouth, the flavor reminding him of the soft milky candy he had eaten earlier in the car. Tch. He wondered—would Su Yue taste that sweet too?
“My legs are numb,” Jiang Ci repeated with a straight face, his voice lazy and deep. “I really can’t use any strength.”
Su Yue narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She was almost certain he was doing it on purpose. But when she glanced up at his expressionless face, there was nothing to grab hold of. With no choice, she grit her teeth and half-dragged him toward the tent.
“Remember to take off your shoes before going in,” she instructed as she propped open the flap. “Sit here for a while. I’ll go get Xiao Haohao.”
The base of the tent had a layer of padded cotton over the grass, soft and comfortable beneath their feet.
“Thanks to Guan’s help, the setup went pretty smoothly,” Su Yue remarked with a smile. She placed their luggage in the corner and turned to leave.
Ding!
Angry Value: 3
A sharp stab of pain lanced through her temple.
Su Yue blinked. She turned slowly to look at the man sitting cross-legged inside the tent, his face calm, eyes lowered.
He was angry?
Why?
Could he be feeling unwell?
She crouched down and reached out to touch his forehead. His temperature felt normal. Relieved, Su Yue asked gently, “Jiang Ci, are you feeling okay?”
Jiang Ci tilted his head and gave a low, amused hum. “No.”
Then what was wrong with him?
Just as Su Yue was about to retract her hand, Jiang Ci caught her wrist in his palm.
“Just now, our son said naughty people get spanked.”
Su Yue blinked, not following his train of thought. “What?”
With a sudden tug, Jiang Ci pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. His tone dropped low, almost threatening. “You smiled at that guy.”
Su Yue crashed into his firm chest, startled. She stared at him in a daze. “How did you—?”
“You were smiling very happily,” Jiang Ci said darkly, burying his face against her neck. His voice carried a chill. He was seriously considering how he might spank her.
Su Yue’s lashes trembled. She looked up, exasperated and amused. “He helped us pitch the tent. I just smiled to be polite.”
Her arm tensed under his grip. “Jiang Ci, you’re hurting me.”
“You even complimented him,” Jiang Ci muttered against her skin, sulking. He hugged her tighter, holding onto her slender waist like she might run away. “Right in front of me.”
Su Yue was speechless.
So this was what had made him sulk?
“Jiang Ci,” she said, holding back a laugh. “Your heart’s really small.”
He raised his brow, but said nothing.
“Alright,” she smiled, eyes curving sweetly. “For fairness’ sake, you’re not allowed to compliment any other woman in front of me either.”
“Oh.” Jiang Ci raised his brows slightly, as if agreeing casually.
“Okay, then stop being angry,” Su Yue coaxed. She didn’t struggle out from his arms. She had already gotten used to his strange clinginess lately. But the weather was hot, and after hugging like this for so long, sweat had started to bead on her back.
“Let go, I need to go find Xiao Haohao.”
Jiang Ci smirked softly. Was she coaxing a child now?
He didn’t spank her in the end.
But next time she misbehaved…
Ding!
Angry Value: 0
Jiang Ci finally released her. Su Yue stood up, her eyes glowing with amusement.
When she found Jiang Haoyan, the little guy was drenched in sweat. His cheeks were flushed pink, tiny hands holding grass stalks as he chased the goats across the slope. Coriander meowed and bounced behind him, causing chaos everywhere.
Su Yue hurried over and scooped him up. His fair little face was red from the heat, and his head was covered in grass bits. “Alright, it’s time for lunch. You’re scaring the poor goats,” she said, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Haohao wanted to feed them,” he said, a little disappointed.
“We’ll feed them after we eat,” Su Yue promised, leading him away.
The dining area was bustling when they arrived.
“Yueyue, over here!” Jin Mingyuan waved them over.
Su Yue led Jiang Ci and Xiao Haohao to the long table. The moment they arrived, the lively chatter died down. Conversations halted. People’s eyes subtly shifted in their direction.
When Su Yue had been overweight and dark-skinned, no one had paid her much attention. But now—her stunning appearance was enough to draw stares. And when those stares turned toward the tall, handsome man beside her, their gazes grew even more curious.
“Yueyue, what do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.” Jin Mingyuan asked sweetly.
She glanced at Jiang Ci beside Su Yue and felt a jolt of unease. It wasn’t just his looks—there was something more. Her father had once spoken of Jiang Ci in hushed tones, both wary and impressed. Cunning. Merciless. Cold-blooded. A man born to dominate.
And now, that same man—once the elite—was here, blind and quiet.
Was it misfortune… or fate?
Su Yue shook her head politely. “No need. You eat, I’ll go get something myself.”
She turned to the child, “Xiao Haohao, come on, let’s go see what you want to eat. You can pick whatever you like.”
“Haohao wants cake!” the little one chirped excitedly.
“Jiang Ci, sit tight. I’ll get your food too,” Su Yue said gently.
She took her son’s hand and walked toward the buffet.
As soon as she left, curious eyes turned fully on Jiang Ci. He leaned back casually in his chair, expression indifferent, as if he didn’t notice a thing—or didn’t care to.Su Yue picked out a generous portion of shrimp and crabs. They were incredibly fresh and delicious, but undeniably a hassle to eat.
Her slender fingers, white as jade, moved with practiced grace as she deftly peeled off the shells. The pink and white shrimp meat emerged cleanly from the casing. She dipped it lightly in sauce and placed it into a delicate, porcelain-white bowl. The bowl was already half-filled with the tender, glistening meat—each piece plump, juicy, and mouthwatering.
“Jiang Ci, I peeled some shrimp for you. Try them,” Su Yue said softly, gently setting the bowl into his hand.
Beside them, Jin Mingyuan stared in stunned silence.
Hiss— She sucked in a breath sharply. It was already shocking enough that Su Yue had brought Jiang Ci to this event. But now she was peeling shrimp for him—personally—and even speaking to him in such a gentle tone? Jin Mingyuan was momentarily speechless.
Was it just her illusion… or did Su Yue seem genuinely affectionate toward Jiang Ci?
Once known for having Jiang Muhang’s name on her lips day and night, Su Yue’s entire world now appeared to revolve around Jiang Ci. Her eyes, her attention, her care—everything was directed at him.
People at the table whispered among themselves, but Su Yue seemed unbothered, as though she heard nothing. The seafood was fresh and of excellent quality, and she was clearly enjoying the meal. One glance at little Haohao—who was happily sucking on his chubby fingers—and she knew he was satisfied too.
After lunch, many of the guests began gathering into teams to play live-action CS. Jin Mingyuan excitedly joined them, and Xu Xue left early with her senior, Gu.
“Xiao Haohao, do you want to ride a horse?” Su Yue winked at the little guy with a playful smile.
“Horsie?” Haohao’s eyes lit up instantly. He wiped his sticky hands with a wet towel and bounced excitedly. “Yes! Haohao wants to ride a horsie!”
“Then let’s go. I’ll take you.” Su Yue had heard from the monitor that there was a horse ranch nearby. She’d been wanting to check it out herself.
With Jiang Ci and Jiang Haoyan in tow, they consulted a map and walked for over twenty minutes before arriving at the horse farm.
There, tied nearby, was a white horse with a strong frame and well-proportioned limbs. The horse was kept within a small, enclosed area—just enough space for it to gallop around comfortably. Clearly, the site was designed for safe recreational riding.
Haohao’s tiny hand gripped the hem of Su Yue’s dress tightly, his big eyes sparkling. “Ma… horsie…”
For a past film role, Su Yue had once hired a private trainer to teach her horseback riding. She could’ve easily used a stand-in, but the director—renowned for his pursuit of perfection—had insisted on authenticity. She had finally landed the role of the female lead, and she wasn’t about to let it go. So she trained tirelessly, fell twice, and suffered sore inner thighs from all the friction. But her hard work paid off.
Not only had she met expectations, but her riding skills had become so solid that she no longer needed stunt doubles for such scenes. Her dedication won praise from many directors in the industry.
“Wait here for a bit. I’ll go talk to the staff,” she said to Haohao, patting his head gently.
The staff led her to the white horse, and Su Yue stroked its smooth coat. It was tame—gentle, even—not the least bit aggressive.
Soon, Haohao was fully equipped with a little helmet, gloves, and tiny riding boots. Su Yue picked him up and mounted the horse with practiced ease, placing him securely in front of her. The horse began to walk in slow, gentle circles within the pen.
At first, Haohao’s tiny body was stiff, tense from nervousness.
“Don’t be scared,” Su Yue leaned close and whispered beside his ear. Her voice was soft and soothing. “Mama’s here. I’ll protect you. The horse is very friendly.”
Tentatively, Haohao stretched out his hand, his short fingers trembling as he touched the horse’s firm coat. He blinked in awe. “It’s fun… Haohao likes riding the horsie!”
After several leisurely laps, Su Yue dismounted with Haohao in her arms.
“Daddy! Haohao rode a horsie!” The little guy ran toward Jiang Ci, who was sitting on a wooden bench nearby. His childlike voice bubbled with pride and excitement. “The horse was nice! Haohao wasn’t scared at all!”
Jiang Ci sat with one long leg extended and the other slightly bent. He raised his head slightly and asked, “Did you have fun?”
“Yes! Haohao loves horseback riding!” he beamed.
“Oh.” Jiang Ci’s expression remained impassive, but a teasing glint flickered across his eyes. “Su Yue, I want to ride the horse too.”
“What?” Su Yue was momentarily caught off guard.
Just as she was about to remind him that his blindness made it unsafe, Jiang Ci slowly stood up. “Just like how you rode with the little guy earlier—take me the same way.”
Su Yue’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
Jiang Ci arched a brow. “Su Yue, don’t bully me just because I’m blind. Don’t deprive me of the fun.”
She was completely silenced.
Who was bullying whom? Did he ever show even a shred of the self-awareness that came with being blind?
He went to change into a riding outfit, and when he returned—she was momentarily stunned.
Even with the faint scar on the left side of his face, Jiang Ci was staggeringly handsome. The black riding boots and tailored outfit emphasized his tall, lean figure. His every step exuded cool detachment and restraint—a dangerous kind of allure that drew the eye without effort.
Su Yue thought he would need her help to get on the horse, but to her surprise, he moved smoothly, mounting the saddle in one fluid motion. He extended a hand toward her.
She hesitated only a moment before climbing up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and carefully holding the reins from either side.
The horse began to walk forward, but at a snail’s pace.
“Su Yue, are you kidding me?” Jiang Ci’s voice sounded unimpressed.
Without waiting for her response, he nudged the horse with his heel and tugged on the reins.
The horse responded immediately and took off into a run.
“Jiang Ci!” Su Yue cried out in panic, instinctively tightening her arms around him. “Are you crazy?!”
He had originally wanted to laugh and tease her for being so easily frightened, but the moment her soft body clung to his back—tight, warm, and trembling—his heart skipped a beat.
The wind roared past their ears. Her soft breath ghosted over his nape. Her embrace was warm and delicate, so close it was intoxicating.
His Adam’s apple rolled involuntarily. The words he had planned to say twisted into something else entirely. His voice, hoarse and low, was carried by the wind.
“Su Yue… If you’re scared, just hold me tighter.”