034 Has she... gone mad?

“Caesar?”

At those words, Mu Qingcheng turned back once more, seeing it was the subordinate of Si Qingchen who had just spoken, standing there with the reins of the black steed in hand. At that moment, the magnificent creature was gazing at her with lively interest, snorting heavily from its nostrils and stamping its hooves with excitement.

“Hey there, handsome,” she said with a gentle smile, walking over to stroke Caesar affectionately along his cheek. The horse immediately lowered his head, rubbing up against her neck in a show of eager affection.

The girl’s laughter was cool and elegant, like wind chimes stirred by a gentle breeze—clear, pleasing, and soothing to the soul. Qin Beichu, who was standing to the side, found himself grinning foolishly for reasons he couldn’t quite explain.

Si Bei, however, remained composed. He cast a glance at the somewhat naïve and childish school heartthrob, then instinctively glanced toward the office windows not far away...

He sneered inwardly, thinking, “You’d best hope for the best, you silly boy!”

On this side, Mu Qingcheng calmed Caesar with a few words, then turned to face Si Bei.

“I—”

Yet, just as she uttered a single word, a sharp voice suddenly cut in.

“This is just too unfair!”

Everyone turned at the sound, and sure enough, it was Miss Ran Siya, striding out with an air of authority. As though speaking on behalf of them all, her face was filled with indignant outrage. She looked at Mu Qingcheng, then at the unfamiliar man, and spoke out loudly.

“We’re all riding ordinary ponies, and yet you’ve brought in a racehorse of this caliber? Isn’t that... a bit unfair?”

The crowd fell silent.

But as soon as Ran Siya finished, the usual chorus of agreement from her followers was notably absent. Even the two attendants who never left her side stood rooted to the spot, making no move.

Ran Siya glanced at the odd expressions around her, still oblivious to the shift in atmosphere. Like a lone crusader, she declared, “I don’t care who you are, but this is the Si family’s stables. What you’re doing is a violation of the competition rules that have always been upheld here. If your boss finds out, can you bear the consequences?”

“She... must be out of her mind,” Mu Qingcheng muttered in astonishment.

She had always known Ran Siya to be self-important, but she hadn’t expected her to so blatantly throw herself into the line of fire. Even if she didn’t know who this person was, anyone with a bit of sense could guess that, unless he had direct orders from Si Qingchen, he wouldn’t dare overstep his bounds on Si family property—not in a million years.

How could someone be so... foolish?

Mu Qingcheng let out a sigh of exasperation.

Si Bei, however, nodded slightly, ready to step in and handle the matter himself. “Miss Mu, there’s no need to worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“No need. I’ll handle it myself,” Mu Qingcheng replied, declining Si Bei’s offer—perhaps, in truth, declining Si Qingchen’s help.

She handed the reins back to Si Bei, patted Caesar’s nose once more, then stepped forward, her gaze thoughtful as she nodded and said, “You’re right. It really isn’t fair.”

Ran Siya clearly hadn’t expected Mu Qingcheng to step forward so directly. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, instead watching Mu Qingcheng warily.

Mu Qingcheng’s lips curled into a faint smile, which she quickly concealed, and she spoke softly, “Don’t worry. I won’t accept any help from the Si family. But you’re right—those horses aren’t suitable for competition. So, for the sake of fairness, I wonder if Sister Ran Siya would be willing to lend me your horse... just for a round?”

Ran Siya was left speechless.