I kindly request your support for my new work, "Abyssborn: Sovereign of Sin and Ruin," by adding it to the library. Much Love...
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{Chapter: 101 Support my waist! Teach horseback riding!}
"Didn't you promise to take me out to practice horseback riding? Why do I now have to beg you to teach me?" Yan Ruyue's voice carried a hint of irritation, her eyes narrowing in frustration.
Lin Yuan, with his usual calm demeanor, replied, "Getting you to ride a horse was always tied to how you would be treated. But you can't even manage it on your own. Teaching you to ride is a different matter altogether. If I take on that responsibility, I become your instructor, and as your student, is it really so much to ask that you give something in return? The principle of exchange, after all—equivalent exchange. Remember?"
His words were well-reasoned, logical, but Yan Ruyue's temper flared nonetheless. The frustration within her grew. Was it really necessary for Lin Yuan to hold the reins to her learning? She glanced around, her gaze searching for another instructor, but her heart sank as she saw no viable alternative.
"Don't waste your time looking around," Lin Yuan said with a knowing smile. "There are hardly any female instructors at the equestrian club."
Yan Ruyue's aversion to men was well known; she couldn't bear the thought of having another man teach her. Her reluctance was a barrier she couldn't easily cross. The only person left who could guide her was Lin Yuan.
Taking a long, steadying breath, she steeled herself. She would endure, for the sake of her goal... for the sake of healing her ailment. She whispered, almost inaudibly, "Please... teach me to ride... horseback."
"Alright," Lin Yuan responded with a soft smile, pleased with her submission.
Her words were simple, but they held weight. This was the beginning of something deeper, something more.
The moment she agreed, the wheels were set into motion. Lin Yuan knew how the principle of exchange would unfold in their interaction, and it was already etched into Yan Ruyue's mind, whether she realized it or not.
A chime echoed from the system interface.
[Ding! Reward: 200 counterattack points]
Lin Yuan's hands moved in a way that caught Yan Ruyue's attention. Her brows furrowed as she studied him.
"What is this? Are you preaching to me now? I thought you were going to teach me," she asked, her confusion written across her face as she observed his unexpected gestures.
Lin Yuan chuckled softly, the hint of mischief in his eyes. "How do you expect me to teach you? I can't exactly do so from a distance. First, I need to get you on the horse, and clearly, you can't do that alone. I will assist you."
A subtle shift in his tone had Yan Ruyue's thoughts racing. She had been hoping that Lin Yuan would simply help her without the need for direct contact. But now it seemed he was forcing her into a decision, one that involved physical closeness. "As for whether I'm willing to help, that's up to you," he added, his voice laced with an unspoken challenge.
Yan Ruyue's heart fluttered, conflicted. She was aware of her misandrist tendencies—how deeply ingrained they were. How could she willingly allow a man to touch her, especially when it felt as though she was giving up control?
She hesitated for a moment, then turned her back to him, extending her hands to take his. Despite the discomfort, she had no other choice. Lin Yuan's hands, warm and firm, settled gently on her waist. A blush bloomed across her cheeks at the proximity, though she couldn't help but notice how his touch was neither rough nor intrusive. The embarrassment that surged within her was accompanied by a strange, unexpected calm.
Once, when she was a child, her father had lifted her onto the horse, but she had not thought much of it. Now, as an adult, it felt different—this act of help now carried weight, as if something was shifting within her.
Why, despite the discomfort, did she find herself not as repulsed as she expected?
"Support my waist... I'm going to ride," she said, her voice faltering more than she'd intended. The tremor was unmistakable, betraying the nerves she couldn't quite control. It was not a moment of business deals or cold negotiations—it was something far more personal.
Lin Yuan, ever composed, simply nodded. "Okay."
His hands tightened around her waist, and Yan Ruyue's heart skipped a beat. The physical sensation of being helped up was strangely comforting—almost familiar. It was as if the world had shifted just a little, and this moment felt... safe.
"I'm going up!" she announced, trying to muster strength in her voice, but the words came out quieter than she had anticipated.
With one final push of her foot on the pedal, Lin Yuan gently assisted her upward, lifting her with ease. The motion was fluid and unhurried, and soon, she found herself perched on the back of the horse. Her breath caught in her throat as the nerves subsided, replaced by a rush of excitement.
"Huh... huh..." Yan Ruyue exhaled shakily, her palms damp with sweat. The anxiety had been overwhelming, but when she realized she was now atop the horse, her face broke into a delighted smile. For a moment, the usual icy composure melted away.
Lin Yuan observed her, his eyes lingering on her face as she laughed, her expression transformed. The once-cold façade was now replaced with something warmer, something softer. He could not help but smile at the sight.
The other men in the training grounds couldn't suppress their envy as they watched the interaction unfold. Their gazes narrowed, green with jealousy, as Lin Yuan's hands lingered on Yan Ruyue's waist. Their discomfort was palpable, the bitterness of seeing Lin Yuan so intimately close to someone they admired.
Meanwhile, the women, unable to tear their eyes away from the pair, seemed to quietly resent the closeness between the two. Every time they glimpsed Lin Yuan's hands supporting Yan Ruyue's delicate waist, they felt a sharp pang of longing.
After a few moments, Yan Ruyue adjusted herself, finding her balance atop the horse with surprising ease. Her natural aptitude for horseback riding made the transition smooth, and soon, she was riding confidently, the fear dissipating like morning fog.
Lin Yuan, noticing her stability, withdrew his hands from her waist. It was a small gesture, but Yan Ruyue felt a strange sense of emptiness as his touch left her body. Had she grown so accustomed to it that she didn't want to let go?
Unconsciously, her hand reached out to grab one of Lin Yuan's, her fingers closing around his with a surprising urgency.
Lin Yuan looked at her in mild surprise, but before he could speak, Yan Ruyue's voice, shaky yet determined, filled the air. "I'm afraid of falling, Lin Yuan. Please, hold on to me."
His lips curved into a faint smile, and with a soft chuckle, he nodded. "Of course."
With that, Yan Ruyue relaxed, feeling the comforting warmth of Lin Yuan's hand in hers as she gently guided the reins. The warmth spread through her chest, a sensation she hadn't expected to find.
[Ding! Yan Ruyue's favorability +1! Reward: 200 counterattack points!]
The system's prompt appeared, but Lin Yuan paid it little attention. Instead, he watched as Yan Ruyue's expression softened, her lips curving into a quiet, contented smile. He knew that this moment—this connection—was significant, and it wasn't just about horseback riding anymore.
As the ride continued, Lin Yuan's gaze subtly shifted toward the horse's back. With a quiet, deliberate movement, he pinched a part of the horse's back, and the animal suddenly shifted into action.
The horse jolted and bucked, sending Yan Ruyue's heart into a frantic beat. The wild movement startled her, but she held on, determined not to let go.
*****
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