Chapter 071: Like a Horse Unbridled

Li Huan remained unmoved, calmly controlling the horse beneath him. With a few deft tugs and nudges, the stubborn racehorse finally settled down, trotting with a steady, vigorous gait as its speed gradually increased.

This horse, which Li Huan was riding, had only recently been purchased from abroad. The trainer had been taking great care in taming it, gradually winning its trust through patient kindness. Unfortunately, this process was lengthy, and after inquiring with the manager, Jin Jiangqun had played a trick—he had the trainer hand Li Huan this fine steed before it was fully tamed, hoping that Li Huan would fall beneath its hooves in front of everyone, perhaps even get trampled for good measure.

Of course, his scheming failed. What Jin Jiangqun didn’t realize was that Li Huan came from a family of expert riders and archers. Though he had never witnessed his own father galloping wildly through the mountains, his uncles had often taken him hunting. From those days, Li Huan developed a deep fascination with horsemanship, a skill modern society deems aristocratic. Later, when hunting was banned, he lost the thrill of riding at full speed, but the foundation remained.

Dealing with a foreign-bred horse whose wild nature had already been mostly subdued was hardly a challenge for Li Huan. After one lap, the horse was much tamer. With a sharp slap on its haunches, the still-spirited steed neighed shrilly, its hooves pounding the earth, kicking up a cloud of dust as it shot forward at breakneck speed.

In terms of pedigree, Li Huan’s mount was in no way inferior to Jin Jiangqun’s. Coupled with Li Huan’s exceptional riding skills, his body rose and fell in perfect rhythm with the galloping hooves. There was no awkward jarring, no rookie mistakes—this harmony between rider and horse was flawless, leaving little room for doubt.

When Jin Jiangqun looked back again, he was startled to see that Li Huan had already overtaken the square-faced man and was hot on the heels of the poker-faced rider. The way things were going, even the leading horse seemed to veer off the track, making way for Li Huan to surge ahead.

The flying mane, the powerful strides, and the snorts from its nostrils—all radiated a kingly aura, as if this horse were the undisputed overlord of the racetrack, destined to conquer all rivals beneath its hooves.

Sure enough, by the end of the second lap, the poker-faced man had been left behind. Li Huan leaned forward, urging his horse on, the reins flickering in his hands. The horse’s long, triumphant whinny gave the impression of a thousand-strong cavalry chasing down a fleeing foe.

At this point, Jin Jiangqun realized he had made a mistake. Judging by Li Huan’s plain attire, he’d assumed he was nothing special—certainly not someone with the wealth or status to win over Sun Feifei. That was why he thought this aristocratic sport was beyond Li Huan’s reach.

Yet the outcome defied his expectations, leaving him feeling utterly deceived by this damned society.

As Li Huan’s horse closed in, Jin Jiangqun’s expression darkened. He yanked the reins and shouted, spurring his mount into a desperate sprint toward the finish.

Hearing Jin Jiangqun’s hoarse shout, Li Huan glanced up to see him crouched low against the horse’s back, body nearly flush with the animal. A smile flickered across Li Huan’s lips as he tightened the reins. The horse, which had been holding back slightly, now unleashed its full speed. By the time they entered the third and final lap, Li Huan was neck and neck with Jin Jiangqun’s horse.

“Hmph, it’s too late now!” Jin Jiangqun’s lips moved, but amid the chaos, Li Huan couldn’t make out the words.

Not that it mattered—Li Huan wouldn’t have cared even if he’d heard. He merely gave a gentle tug on the reins and pressed his foot into the horse’s side. Instantly, his mount let out a piercing scream, its powerful body sweeping past and startling the horse ahead. With a panicked whinny, Jin Jiangqun’s horse suddenly leapt onto the rail less than eight meters from the finish line, throwing Jin Jiangqun to the ground.

A spooked racehorse can be truly dangerous—one misstep and you could be crippled for life. Luckily, Jin Jiangqun tumbled gracelessly to the ground, rolling clear of the hooves. Even though the ground was soft, the fall was still quite rough.

Li Huan dashed across the finish, sharply reining in his horse. The animal halted with a triumphant cry, spun around, and raised its head high, looking back at the other three horses with a clear air of disdain.

The square-faced man and the poker-faced man hurried over, dismounting in alarm. Li Lu and the horse trainer, standing by the fence, were also startled and rushed over. Only Sun Feifei remained calm, glancing at Li Huan with a look of puzzlement, as though the man she thought she knew had become even more enigmatic.

Before long, Jin Jiangqun was helped to his feet. He didn’t seem seriously injured, but his right leg was hurt, and he limped awkwardly, his disheveled appearance making him look quite ridiculous.

Jin Jiangqun approached Li Huan, his face ashen, eyes blazing with a murderous glare, as if he could bite Li Huan to death on the spot. Even those beside him could sense his seething hatred.

Li Lu was no fool. Although Jin Jiangqun had earlier instructed her to seduce Li Huan, it was clear Li Huan wasn’t interested. More importantly, Sun Feifei didn’t seem to care about Li Lu as a potential rival, treating her as if she posed no threat at all. This was a heavy blow to Li Lu, but since she desperately needed Jin Jiangqun’s resources, she couldn’t reveal her disappointment. By now, however, even a fool could see that the couple across from them had already seen through Jin Jiangqun’s schemes, so Li Lu naturally reverted to his side.

“Hey, how could you do that? Just because you can’t beat Young Master Jin, doesn’t mean you have to resort to dirty tricks. What if someone got hurt—could you take responsibility?” Li Lu seized the moment to speak up, knowing the three men who lost the race would be too embarrassed to defend themselves. Her intervention would help them save face.

Before Li Huan could reply, Sun Feifei let out a cold laugh, arching her brows and looking down at Li Lu. “And which of your eyes saw Li Huan play any tricks?”

“I…” Li Lu was momentarily lost for words. She hadn’t actually seen Li Huan do anything, but since Jin Jiangqun’s horse suddenly spooked just as Li Huan passed by, she automatically assumed he’d done something underhanded. “Young Master Jin’s horse was perfectly fine—why did it lose control all of a sudden? If he didn’t cause it, what else could it be?”

“That’s just your assumption. You lost, plain and simple. That’s competition—the outcome is cruel and real. I recall someone once said, if you can’t handle losing, don’t play. Did I mishear, or is your memory just that bad?” Sun Feifei, hardened by years in the business world, was a master of sharp retorts, and her blunt words laid bare the wounds of those across from her.

Li Lu was speechless, her mouth opening and closing without a rebuttal. In frustration, she stomped her foot, her chest surging with agitation as turbulent as her mood.

Jin Jiangqun, hearing Sun Feifei’s words, felt even more humiliated. He shot Li Lu a warning glance to silence her, then forced a smile and nodded at Li Huan. “I’m not convinced. If my horse hadn’t spooked, you might not have overtaken me!”

Li Huan’s expression shifted slightly, cursing Jin Jiangqun a thousand times in his heart. Losing was losing—why make excuses? In a formal competition, the judges wouldn’t care for such so-called objective reasons.

“You’re right, this horse must have been brought from abroad by Young Master Jin. You two have a close relationship and work well together. I wasn’t so lucky. My coordination with that horse wasn’t the best, but its power and wildness were enough to overawe the others. All I can say is—your horse is just too pampered!” Li Huan had no intention of saving Jin Jiangqun’s face. The man’s hypocrisy bored him, and he had no interest in playing mind games.

“What did you say?” Jin Jiangqun erupted in fury. To be belittled by someone he’d previously ignored was too much; his self-control vanished as he glared at Li Huan, as if intimidation would make him take back his words.

Li Huan remained unfazed, smiling without warmth. “Hmm, I seem to recall Young Master Jin said the winner could claim all the others’ wagers. I trust none of you are the sort of nouveau riche who parade all their cash around—why not just write a check?”

Jin Jiangqun stared at Li Huan, finally suppressing his resentment and reining in his anger. He didn’t want Sun Feifei to see him lose control. She interested him only for her body and family background; love meant nothing to him. After all, if he wanted, he could throw money around and women would throw themselves at him.

Only now did the poker-faced man finally show some emotion. Li Huan glanced at him and saw a look of deep anger forcibly suppressed. He almost felt like advising him—bottling up your feelings like that is bad for your health; you’ll end up with an ulcer—or wait, maybe a cold sore!