The Billionaire’s Son and a Fleeing Senior

Since Huo Siyi addressed him as ‘senior,’ he was undoubtedly a Yanda University student, confirming his identity as the cousin Huo Siyuan had spoken of.

The Huo family’s genes were truly remarkable; both Huo Siyuan and Huo Siyi were quintessential heartthrobs, tall and long-limbed. Even without the added prestige of their family background, they would undoubtedly be immensely popular.

Moreover, Huo Siyi, being younger, exuded a sunny and cheerful disposition beneath his well-behaved demeanor, making him effortlessly approachable.

As Huo Siyuan had just lent him aid, Si Xi’s attitude was particularly polite and courteous.

He offered a slight smile. “Hello there,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Huo Siyi’s eyes crinkled into a joyful smile. “You ride exceptionally well,” he remarked. “Which instructor taught you?”

“I just ride on my own, I haven’t had any formal lessons.”

“You managed to learn so well just by yourself? That’s incredible, senior! I’ve had to hire the very best instructors just to reach my current skill level.”

Si Xi found himself blushing slightly under the weight of such praise.

‘Could it be that Huo Siyi, the scion of a billionaire family, constantly showered with accolades since birth, was also so adept at showering others with compliments?’

Qin Mingtian, having been momentarily stunned for several seconds by Huo Siyuan’s sudden, daredevil riding style, finally reached the finish line.

Upon realizing the person was Huo Siyi, his jaw nearly hit the ground.

‘So he’s the billionaire’s son,’ Qin Mingtian mused, ‘No wonder he rides with that kind of dashing flair, as if he has so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it.’

“You… you two…”

Qin Mingtian glanced from Si Xi to Huo Siyi, his astonishment utterly beyond words.

“Hello,” Huo Siyi introduced himself again. “My name is Huo Siyi, and I’m Si Xi’s junior.”

“Oh, oh,” Qin Mingtian stammered.

Surprised by the billionaire’s son’s approachability, Qin Mingtian scratched his head. “I’m Qin Mingtian,” he said, “and I’m Si Xi’s best buddy.”

“Hello, Brother Qin,” Huo Siyi greeted, polite and well-behaved.

Qin Mingtian felt a surge of elation at being addressed as ‘Brother Qin.’ The son of a billionaire had just called him ‘brother’!

‘This is absolutely incredible!’

In that instant, he decided Huo Siyi was definitely alright.

“Your riding is truly superb,” Qin Mingtian declared, giving Huo Siyi a firm thumbs-up. “When it comes to horsemanship, you’re the only one I truly admire.”

Si Xi averted his gaze, unable to watch.

However, Huo Siyi seemed to quite enjoy the flattery. He first chuckled with delight, then lowered his gaze. “Unfortunately, none of my friends enjoy riding,” he said. “Might I join you two?”

“Of course, no problem at all!” Qin Mingtian exclaimed. “You’re Si Xi’s junior, which makes you my junior too. Whatever activities you want to try, just say the word.”

Si Xi merely offered a silent ellipsis.

‘You certainly know how to claim a junior,’ Si Xi thought wryly.

Just then, a piercing whistle cut through the air. Following the sound, they saw one of the staff members signaling for them to move, indicating that other riders were about to come over the hurdles, posing a risk if they couldn’t stop in time.

Indeed, the sheer number of riders today meant the area was incredibly dusty, making the experience far from comfortable.

“Senior, Brother Qin,” Huo Siyi suggested, “how about we head over to the pasture instead?”

Qin Mingtian cleared his throat, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. “Your senior and I,” he confessed, “aren’t members here.”

The pasture boasted lush green fields, ideal for riding.

However, these meticulously maintained and trimmed lawns required significant manual upkeep, resulting in high maintenance costs. Consequently, access was restricted solely to equestrian club members.

With annual fees soaring into the hundreds of thousands, it was a venue truly reserved for the affluent.

Neither Si Xi nor Qin Mingtian were avid equestrians; they only rode occasionally and would never squander money on such an exorbitant membership.

“It’s fine,” Huo Siyi casually replied. “My father is a shareholder here, so I can bring a few guests without issue.”

‘Right,’ they conceded mentally, realizing their worries were unfounded. ‘With the billionaire’s son as their guide, there was nowhere in Yanjing they couldn’t enter.’

Si Xi and Qin Mingtian exchanged a glance, each recognizing the envy mirrored in the other’s eyes.

In that moment, who wouldn’t wish to call the billionaire ‘Dad’?

“Little junior,” Qin Mingtian said earnestly, “don’t you think I resemble your long-lost older brother?”

Huo Siyi, clearly accustomed to such inquiries, chuckled. “My father probably couldn’t produce a son as old as you,” he replied, “However…”

He cast a meaningful glance at Si Xi. “My father,” he continued, “does have a long-lost daughter-in-law.”

Qin Mingtian instantly grasped the implication in Huo Siyi’s gaze. Observing Si Xi’s unchanging expression, he couldn’t tell if his friend hadn’t understood or simply chose to ignore it.

Laughing heartily, he said, “Come on, let’s go! Let’s head to the pasture. I’ve never been there before, and today, thanks to our junior, I’ll finally get to experience it properly.”

The three spurred their horses directly toward the pasture. As expected, the staff didn’t even bother to verify their identities; a mere glimpse of Huo Siyi’s face was enough to grant them immediate passage.

Compared to the dusty riding arena, this area was a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and clear waters, with vibrant green, soft grass stretching as far as the eye could see.

It was no wonder the membership fees were so exorbitant; maintaining such a vast expanse of grassland undoubtedly incurred significant costs.

Crucially, while it was located in the suburbs, these were the suburbs of Yanjing, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Acquiring such an expansive plot for a ranch would certainly not have come cheap.

Huo Siyi pointed his riding crop toward a distant hillside. “How about we race to see who can reach that spot first?” he proposed.

“Absolutely!” Qin Mingtian, ever enthusiastic despite his limited skill, readily agreed. “Whoever loses treats us to dinner tonight.”

“It certainly won’t be me,” Si Xi interjected.

Huo Siyi, his eyes crinkling in a smile, added, “And it definitely won’t be me.”

Qin Mingtian scoffed playfully. “Just you wait,” he retorted. “I’m far better at flat-ground racing than I am at hurdles.”

The three riders lined up abreast. As soon as Qin Mingtian’s “3, 2, 1” countdown concluded, they simultaneously raised their whips, sending their horses surging forward in a swift burst.

Riding here was immeasurably more exhilarating than galloping in the dusty, confined arena.

As Si Xi galloped, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the grass, he felt his spirits soar, a profound sense of exhilaration akin to racing across a vast prairie.

When the three reached the finish line, Qin Mingtian, predictably, had lost again.

The only thing that distinguished him was his utter shamelessness; he immediately began to loudly claim he was simply too accustomed to sand tracks and unfamiliar with grass, demanding a rematch.

This next race, from the hillside back to the entrance, saw Huo Siyi, who had previously been in the lead, surprisingly left behind by Si Xi. Thrilled to have outpaced a skilled rider like Huo Siyi, Si Xi rode even faster, ultimately being the first to cross the finish line.

He reined in his horse, and before he could even turn to check on his companions, a girl’s voice called out to him.

“Si Xi?!”

Hearing that voice, Si Xi’s entire body stiffened, and the carefree, exuberant smile that had graced his face just moments before instantly froze.

“It really is you! What are you doing here? Did you get a membership? Does my father know you’re so wasteful?”

The newcomer was Si Xi’s cousin, Xi Yue, his uncle’s daughter.

From a young age, she and Si Xi had never seen eye to eye. While his uncle and aunt treated him well, and his male cousin was exceptionally kind, Xi Yue had always been a source of friction.

It was Xi Yue who truly taught him the harsh reality of living under another’s roof.

Si Xi’s face paled. “I came here with my friends to ride,” he explained.

“Liar! Besides Shao Xun, where would you find such lavish friends?”

Xi Yue, leading her horse, looked up at him, yet Si Xi felt an oppressive, condescending gaze.

“Or is it that old man who buys you sneakers and keeps you as his sugar baby?”

Si Xi’s face grew even whiter. By now, Qin Mingtian and Huo Siyi had already galloped over.

Never before had Si Xi felt such acute humiliation, especially in front of his childhood friend and junior. “I’m not being kept,” he defended himself, his voice tight. “I simply came here with friends. Believe what you will.”

“Hah, that kind of talk might fool outsiders, but don’t delude yourself,” Xi Yue scoffed. “Go on, tell me, which rich young master friend brought you here?”

Just as Huo Siyi reached the finish line, he overheard Si Xi denying he was being kept, and a surge of secret delight blossomed within him.

Upon hearing Xi Yue’s words, he interjected coldly, “I brought him. Do you have a problem with that?”

Xi Yue looked up at the speaker, whom she didn’t recognize. She prided herself on knowing most of Yanjing’s influential scions, so anyone she didn’t know was naturally of no great importance.

Just as she was about to retort, “And who are you?”, her female companion, who had arrived with her, tugged at her sleeve and whispered something into her ear, most likely revealing Huo Siyi’s identity.

Xi Yue’s expression contorted, her eyes widening slightly in disbelief. It was simply unfathomable that her cousin, whom she had always disdained, could possibly have entangled himself with the billionaire’s son.

Nevertheless, her expression quickly morphed from condescending disdain into fawning obsequiousness.

“Ah, so it’s Young Master Huo! My sincerest apologies,” she simpered. “My second cousin was recently photographed receiving gifts from an older man, and there were even pictures of them embracing, implying a rather messy involvement. To flaunt his wealth, he’s willingly debased himself by being kept by an older man. I simply couldn’t stand by, which is why my words were a little sharp. I certainly didn’t mean to offend you.”

While her words sounded like an explanation, they were, in fact, incredibly venomous.

Qin Mingtian, who had also been privy to the initial gossip in ‘The High-Fashion Watermelon Eaters’ group, couldn’t listen anymore. “Sister Xi Yue,” he interjected, “you shouldn’t spread rumors. Hasn’t it already been clarified that it was Si Xi’s maternal cousin?”

“Ah? Has it been clarified? I didn’t know that,” Xi Yue replied, feigning innocence. “I’m so sorry, Second Cousin, I truly didn’t mean it.”

Si Xi bit his lip, remaining silent, but his knuckles, clenched tightly around the reins, had turned white from the strain.

Huo Siyi heard this succession of surprising revelations, and the joy in his heart threatened to overflow.

‘Excellent, excellent, he’s available again!’

He let out a dismissive scoff. “So he’s your cousin,” he said coolly. “I honestly thought he was your enemy. I’m in a good mood today, so don’t interfere with our riding. If you know what’s good for you, disappear from my sight at once.”

‘The score can be settled another time,’ he decided.

Huo Siyi then turned back to Si Xi, his tone instantly becoming gentle and compliant. “Senior, how about we go explore over there?”

“Mm.” Si Xi was eager to leave. Just as he was about to ride away, Xi Yue blocked his path.

Xi Yue glanced at Huo Siyi, her eyes gleaming with fervent excitement. Using her horse to obscure their view, she mouthed to Si Xi, ‘Take me with you.’

Si Xi understood, but tried to pretend he hadn’t. Then he saw Xi Yue mouth again, ‘You owe our family.’

Si Xi’s already pale face turned even more ashen. At that moment, Huo Siyi urged, “Let’s go, senior.”

“I…” Under Xi Yue’s compelling gaze, Si Xi opened his mouth. Suddenly, he said, “I just remembered I have another appointment. You two enjoy yourselves; I’ll be leaving now.”

With that, he disregarded whatever they might say, turned his horse around, and galloped off.

He could tell Xi Yue wanted to use him to get close to Huo Siyi. After all, Huo Siyi was around their age, and who wouldn’t covet the position of the billionaire’s daughter-in-law?

He truly didn’t want to be that stepping stone.

Huo Siyi trusted him as a senior, yet he was supposed to push his cousin toward him.

But under Xi Yue’s moral blackmail, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

So he simply fled.

Huo Siyi, seeing Si Xi suddenly take off, shot Xi Yue a glare, intending to spur his horse to follow. However, Xi Yue and her companions blocked his path, as they did Qin Mingtian. By the time they managed to shake them off, Si Xi had already departed.

Si Xi sent Qin Mingtian a message saying he was heading back. He drove his sports car aimlessly back to the city, feeling a heavy pressure in his chest that made him profoundly uncomfortable.

He pulled out his phone and messaged Jing Chen.

[You’re Too Heavenly: Bro, are you done with work?]

Jing Chen replied swiftly.

[Jing Chen: Almost. Head to my place first.]

[You’re Too Heavenly: Where is it? I’ll pick you up.]

After a moment, Jing Chen sent him a location.

[Jing Chen: Come over.]

Si Xi discovered Jing Chen had sent him the location of a rather high-end café next to an office building. By the time he drove over, Jing Chen was already waiting by the café entrance.

True to his word, he was wearing the suit Si Xi loved most.

Presumably due to the heat, his suit jacket was draped over his arm, leaving him in a crisp shirt and smart trousers. Standing there, he exuded an aura much like the CEO of a company in the adjacent office tower.

His expression, however, was too stern and aloof for anyone to dare approach him.

Jing Chen hadn’t seen Si Xi’s sports car before. It was only as it drew nearer that he recognized Si Xi. As the car pulled to a stop, Jing Chen reached out to open the door, but Si Xi emerged from the passenger side.

Before Jing Chen could react, Si Xi threw his arms around him, burying his head in Jing Chen’s embrace.

Jing Chen was caught completely off guard, a hint of helplessness softening his serious face. He gently ruffled Si Xi’s hair. “You’re not that eager, are you?”

Si Xi’s voice was muffled. “Of course not.”

Jing Chen’s gaze darkened. “Has someone bullied you?”

“No,” Si Xi murmured, rubbing his head against Jing Chen’s chest. “I just… missed you.”

Both the action and the words held immense power, almost melting Jing Chen from head to toe.

‘These young ones nowadays are truly masters of charm,’ he thought.