CSGM - Chapter 44
Chapter 44: What Are You Angry About?
Chu Xi, Ren Zhi, and Xiao Han arrived at the horse ranch.
According to the owner's introduction, the work here was a bit more complex than at the pharmacy. Besides being responsible for feeding the horses, they also had to clean the stables and the surrounding areas. Every day, they had to monitor and report on the condition of all the horses. These were the main duties for the three temporary workers.
It was a good thing Li Xiling didn't come; it would be hard to find a place to play mahjong here.
Across the entire ranch, there were nearly a hundred horses on the vast pasture. The stables and horse barns were also divided into several areas, making it look like a huge undertaking.
However, the ranch owner wasn't so ruthless as to make the three of them handle all the work by themselves. There were also several long-term grooms.
The owner introduced the three cast members to a groom who was willing to work with them—Sister Xian.
Sister Xian was slightly plump with long, narrow eyes. She seemed optimistic and gentle, with the air of a mature woman, but her skin was in such good condition that it was hard to tell if she was in her early thirties or closer to forty.
She wore a straw sun hat, her hands protected by leather gloves, and was slowly stroking a black horse's mane as she smiled and greeted the three cast members.
"Hello, Sister Xian," Ren Zhi and Xiao Han called out.
Chu Xi gave her a few extra glances and nodded as a greeting. "Hello."
The ranch owner said that Sister Xian was a local groom with extensive experience, and if the three of them didn't understand something, they could ask her for help.
Chu Xi cut straight to the point and asked the owner, "Can I ride the horses here?"
The owner was slightly surprised by her question, but after Chu Xi promised she knew how to ride, he generously agreed.
"As long as you can guarantee your safety, of course you can ride. But I suggest you have a groom hold the reins for you."
Chu Xi only heard half of that sentence.
The most important words were: you can ride.
After finishing her work in the afternoon, she picked out two fine, saddled horses.
One was Little Gold, the other Little Gray—names Chu Xi had given them based on their coat colors.
"Ren Zhi, come have some fun," she said, leading the horses over to Ren Zhi.
Ren Zhi was using a rubber brush to groom a horse in the stables. A little black horse stood beside her, head lowered, docilely enjoying the attention.
"The work will never be done. Take a break first," Chu Xi said.
Ren Zhi turned her head, glancing at her and the two horses she was leading.
"You know how to ride a horse?"
"Of course I do. You must have filmed scenes with horses, right? Don't tell me you can't ride?"
Chu Xi's retort was filled with disbelief.
Ren Zhi had been in so many productions; she must have ridden a horse before. Besides, for an overachiever like her who put her all into everything, if she'd filmed a scene, she would have definitely learned how to ride.
Her thinking was, of course, not wrong, and her logic was perfectly sound.
However, knowing how was one thing. In reality, Ren Zhi didn't enjoy riding, especially not after she had fallen off a horse and had her leg broken by its hoof.
So, she refused Chu Xi.
"You go ride by yourself. I'm not interested."
"Come on," Chu Xi said. "You're already working here. It'd be a shame not to take the opportunity to ride for a bit."
Chu Xi stroked the fur on Little Gold's neck and pointed it out to Ren Zhi. "I even picked out the prettiest horse for you. Look, its coat is golden, the only one on the ranch. Come on, and it has a great temperament. Tsk, tsk, tsk—" Little Gold lowered its head under her touch.
It was so boring to ride alone. A race needed an opponent, right?
Under Chu Xi's enthusiastic and sincere invitation, Ren Zhi finally agreed, deciding to ride with her for just a little while.
Ren Zhi got on the horse, gripped the reins tightly, and let Little Gold walk forward freely.
Meanwhile, Chu Xi had already ridden Little Gray in a circle in front of her.
"Giddy-up!"
Chu Xi kicked her legs against the horse's belly and flicked the whip. Little Gray sped up, and she leaned forward slightly, guiding it past a spotted horse that was leisurely watching them. She playfully slapped the spotted horse's rump.
The force was just right, not enough to startle the herd, but it made the spotted horse stumble forward a few steps in a daze.
The spotted horse blinked, then walked away speechlessly after a moment.
Chu Xi galloped on the gray horse along the edge of the ranch, its hooves thudding against the turf. The cameraman couldn't keep up, not at all. He could only stand in place, panning the camera to capture her in a long shot.
On screen, she was full of spirit, wild and free, like a soul set loose upon the grasslands.
The only close-up the camera managed to capture was her side profile as she flashed past the lens. A refreshing yet passionate smile was on her face, her bright pupils like diamonds sparkling in the sun.
In the golden dust she kicked up, there was a hint of the approaching summer.
Little Gray beneath her gradually got into the zone, growing more excited as it ran. She became a blur in the camera's view, the wind seeming to howl around her.
【I reasonably suspect Chu Xi is trying to seduce me! Damn woman, every day she finds a new way to make me fall for her! (Domineering CEO smile)】
【What a talent! Hurry up and get her cast in a costume drama!】
【Help… save me… her smile was so sweet just now!!! My heart's been shot by an arrow!!!】
【Why isn't the cameraman getting close-ups of Chu Xi? Is it because he can't catch up?】
【Most people wouldn't dare to ride like that. Damn, she's so fucking awesome!!!】
【Production team, hurry up and edit this clip of Chu Xi riding. We shall watch it on repeat. It's divine!】
Even watching through the live stream, the sight of Chu Xi spurring her horse on with a whip was exhilarating for the audience, getting their spirits soaring!
They had seen enough of the half-body riding scenes in some of those crappy costume dramas—they were a pure insult to their aesthetic sensibilities. A group of viewers strongly urged that Chu Xi be sent to a costume drama production with horse-riding scenes immediately, so as not to waste her talent!
Sister Xian walked over to the Director while taking off her gloves. She glanced at Chu Xi and spoke to the Director in the familiar tone of an acquaintance, "So that's the celebrity you like the most on your show? She doesn't seem all that special…"
She had seen plenty of celebrities who were skilled at riding.
Talented? Maybe a little. But Sister Xian didn't think it was enough to impress her. She wasn't as irreplaceable as the Director had made her out to be.
The Director had also learned Chu Xi's trick of just smiling without saying a word.
Sister Xian asked, "What are you smiling about?"
The Director said, "Anyway, you're just back to have some fun. So just enjoy yourself and don't worry about her."
Chu Xi had already finished a joyous lap around the ranch. When she looked back, she saw Ren Zhi was still elegantly and slowly pacing on her horse.
No wonder she hadn't even seen a shadow of Ren Zhi along the way.
This was just too boring.
She could see that Ren Zhi's posture—holding the reins, feet in the stirrups, maintaining balance—was all very professional. Even when she mounted the horse earlier, her movements were perfectly standard. It was obvious she was very skilled at riding.
She rode back to Ren Zhi's side and invited, "Want to race me?"
This was the Little Gold horse she had carefully selected for Ren Zhi, and it was just being used for a stroll? What a waste of talent.
Ren Zhi refused. "No."
Chu Xi asked her, "Can you at least go a little faster then?"
Ren Zhi shot her a glance, used the reins to turn Little Gold, and moved away from her.
She didn't want to race Chu Xi. Outside of filming requirements, she didn't actually ride horses anymore.
After all, it was hard to avoid being once bitten, twice shy.
Who knew that Chu Xi was a complete psycho.
She actually led Little Gray over and used her own reins to slap Little Gold's rump.
Little Gold snorted, let out a low neigh, and its hooves suddenly picked up speed.
Chu Xi slapped it again, even harder, making a smack sound on its rump. "Giddy-up!"
Ren Zhi let out a small yelp of fright, but she reflexively adjusted her grip on the reins and leaned her body forward a few degrees.
Little Gold started to gallop.
Chu Xi chased alongside, yelling "Giddy-up" at Little Gold while saying, "See? You're riding just fine! Isn't it exhilarating?"
Exhilarating my ass!
Ren Zhi couldn't help but curse inwardly, but what came out of her mouth was still clean language, though her tone turned fierce. "Stop it! Don't provoke it anymore!"
Chu Xi seemed to completely block out her words.
She was watching the whole time. Ren Zhi could clearly handle Little Gold perfectly. Her riding skill was excellent, and her posture was great. She couldn't understand why Ren Zhi was unwilling to ride a little faster and have some fun.
She thought for a moment and assumed Ren Zhi was worried about her expression being too unrestrained in front of the camera, ruining her image.
"Don't worry, you still look great riding fast. Besides, the camera crew can't even film you anymore."
After saying that, Chu Xi gave Little Gold a hard crack of the whip, urging it to gallop even faster.
The rush of wind past her ears grew faster.
Ren Zhi's heart also began to pound violently.
If there were a vat of water in front of her right now, she would definitely shove Chu Xi's head into it and drown her!!!
Even though she was wearing safety gear, it couldn't protect her from psychological trauma. Scenes of her fall from the horse flashed unavoidably through Ren Zhi's mind. Fear gripped her heart, and a cold sweat quickly broke out on her back.
She even vaguely felt a dull ache starting in her knee.
Chu Xi… must have been a dog in her past life!
And this dog was still shouting in her ear, "How is it? Isn't it exhilarating? This is the great horse I picked out for you!"
Ren Zhi gritted her teeth. Rationally, she knew that if she stayed near Chu Xi any longer, an accident might really happen. She suddenly steered Little Gold into a turn and galloped away at top speed, getting far away from Chu Xi.
Chu Xi called out to her but got no response. She watched her go, puzzled.
After riding some distance away, Ren Zhi slowed Little Gold to a stop and immediately dismounted.
Chu Xi caught up, completely baffled, and saw her cold expression and the hostile look in her eyes.
Chu Xi froze for a moment, then quickly dismounted as well. She asked Ren Zhi, "What's wrong? You don't like riding?"
Ren Zhi ignored her and turned to walk away alone.
"What are you angry about, Ren Zhi? Did you not like me hitting your horse? Were you scared just now? Or do you think you don't look good when you ride? That's not true, you ride really well… Ren Zhi, Ren Zhi…"
Chu Xi persistently followed beside her, asking questions.
Ren Zhi suddenly stopped and turned her head to ask, "Where's the camera crew?"
So that was it. She really was afraid her expression wasn't well-controlled while riding.
That wasn't it at all. Ren Zhi was really overthinking things.
Chu Xi glanced into the distance and broke into a smile. "We've ridden all the way to this side of the pasture. The cameraman couldn't possibly catch up. The cameras can't get a clear shot of us here. Besides, you didn't look bad at all just now. You really don't need to…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the glove Ren Zhi had pulled off suddenly flew through the air with a smack and hit her in the face.
Chu Xi's eyes snapped shut. She was stunned.
All she heard was a single word: "Get lost!"
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