064 The Fated Nemesis of Carrots

After lunch, Si Qingchen had originally planned to take Mu Qingcheng for a walk in the garden. Who would have thought that before they could even step outside the door, he received a phone call.

“Qingcheng, why don’t you go for a stroll by yourself first? I’ll have Si Bei accompany you, all right?” The man explained gently, bending down slightly as he affectionately ruffled the girl’s soft hair.

“There’s no need, I’ll be fine on my own.” Though Mu Qingcheng didn’t reject Si Qingchen’s closeness, she couldn’t quite get used to it either. She frowned, dodging his touch, a faint blush rising to her cheeks—not out of anger, but out of shyness.

Si Qingchen chuckled softly, gazing indulgently at the little one he’d finally coaxed home. Suddenly feeling mischievous, he reached out and gently tapped her delicate nose.

Caught off guard, Mu Qingcheng froze in place, her large eyes behind the glasses fluttering uncontrollably.

“All right then, be careful. I’ll come find you in a bit.”

He didn’t tease the nervous little thing any further. With an easy turn, Si Qingchen strode off toward the study.

As that intense, heart-stirring aura faded, Mu Qingcheng let out a breath as though she had just survived a catastrophe. No matter how many big occasions she’d faced, she was no match for these tender, intimate moments. When it came to Si Qingchen, she had never been able to defend herself.

Meanwhile, Si Bei waited quietly nearby. Watching Miss Mu’s reaction to his boss, he felt deeply gratified.

As Mu Qingcheng regained her composure, her expression returned to its usual calm. Perhaps it was the aftermath of lunch, but she felt a bit stifled and wanted some fresh air.

She glanced at Si Bei. “Mr. Si, could you tell me how to get to the garden?”

“This way, please.” Si Bei gestured politely, leading Mu Qingcheng out of the dining room.

However, just as they reached the entrance to the garden, Mu Qingcheng caught the faint sound of hoofbeats. She paused, somewhat surprised. “What’s that sound?”

“It’s Caesar. The boss brought him here specially, worried you might be bored.”

“Really?” The girl’s eyes lit up instantly, and at the mention of Caesar’s name, a smile curved her lips. Without another word, she hurried off toward the sound.

Upstairs in the study, a man dressed in dark attire stood by the window, watching the lively girl skipping along in the distance. He shook his head with a wry smile.

“That little one… why isn’t she ever that happy when she’s with me?”

Soon, he saw her gleefully throw her arms around the horse’s head, Caesar’s expression one of blatant flattery. Even from afar, it was clear how delighted they both were as they nuzzled each other, sharing their joy.

“Looks like… Caesar is going to lose half a month’s worth of carrots,” Si Qingchen narrowed his eyes, withdrew his gaze, and went back to his leather chair.

Just then, Si Nan happened to enter and found his boss looking rather displeased.

“Wasn’t everything going well? What happened—” But after taking a few steps and catching sight of the scene in the garden—a girl and a horse—Si Nan, always sensitive to gossip, immediately understood.

“Oh no, Caesar’s in trouble.”

Sure enough, before the thought had even faded, he heard Si Qingchen say quietly, “Caesar’s become far too unruly lately. Dock his carrots for another half month, and add an hour of physical training to his daily routine. That flab of his is really something.”

“Understood,” Si Nan replied, taking mental note. Though he personally thought Caesar was in good shape, with Miss Mu involved, he dared not plead for leniency.

No sooner had Si Qingchen finished speaking than Si Nan promptly changed the subject. “Boss, that man we captured a few days ago… he’s awake now.”

Si Qingchen raised his brows, considering for a moment. After drumming his slender fingers twice on the desk, he finally said, “Hmm. Go question him. Remember to wear your combat gear and don’t reveal your face.”

“Got it.”