SDS: Chapter 28

"I Don’t Like It When You Fear Me"


The two horses pressed close together, nuzzling affectionately. 

Tang Keyi glanced at Qin Zhiyan’s horse and suddenly understood.

"Oh, it’s this horse! They’re a couple—apparently they’ve been breeding recently, so they’re extra clingy."

"I see." 

Qin Zhiyan’s expression remained neutral.

"The stablehand said once they’re back in the stall, they’ll stick together like glue. Didn’t expect them to reunite out here—looks like they can’t bear to part now." 

Tang Keyi sighed.

"The stablehand didn’t mention that to me." 

Qin Zhiyan lied without blinking.

"I don’t mind—I’m a bit tired anyway. But you just got here, President Qin. Maybe swap horses?"

"I only came with Yilin. Wasn’t planning to ride. Changing now would be a hassle." 

A pause. 

"Walk a few laps with me instead?"

Tang Keyi couldn’t refuse.

They urged their horses forward side by side.

The horses’ closeness forced their riders into proximity. 

Their legs brushed occasionally, making Tang Keyi fidget.

When his mare persistently nudged Qin Zhiyan’s stallion, 

Tang Keyi yanked the reins in frustration.

[You’re a lady! Have some dignity!]

"Tang Keyi," 

Qin Zhiyan said mildly, 

"don’t be a love-blocker."

Defeated, Tang Keyi loosened the reins, letting the horses shamelessly flirt.

Aside from their KTV encounter when they first met, 

this was their longest uninterrupted time alone. 

Back then, fear had dominated; now, inexplicable nervousness made his pulse race.

[I shouldn’t be scared of him anymore… so why’s my heart pounding?]

Perhaps infected by Tang Keyi’s tension, 

Qin Zhiyan’s own heartbeat seemed to quicken.

Qin Zhiyan wasn’t talkative, and Tang Keyi—usually lively—

hadn’t yet reached comfort-level with him. 

They completed a full lap in silence.

"Tang Keyi." 

Qin Zhiyan finally spoke.

"Yeah?" 

Tang Keyi answered a bit too loudly.

"Still afraid of me?"

The question caught Tang Keyi off guard. He fiddled with the reins. 

"Why… would you ask that?"

"I don’t like it when you’re afraid." 

Qin Zhiyan’s dark eyes pinned him, magnetic. 

"So stop."

Thump-thump-thump—

The deer in Tang Keyi’s chest went berserk, crashing wildly.

Then, Han Qiuqiu’s exasperated shout shattered the moment:

"Tang Keyi! Qin Yilin’s driving me insane! I’m leaving—you coming?"

Flushed, Tang Keyi blurted, 

"President Qin, I’ll go ahead. The horse is yours."

Since the mare wouldn’t budge, he handed the reins to Qin Zhiyan, dismounted, 

and vaulted over the fence.

Watching him disappear, Qin Zhiyan stroked the stallion’s mane and murmured, 

"May you grow old together and have many foals."

The horses: ???







Driving home along the riverbank, 

Tang Keyi spotted a figure climbing the railing. 

He slammed the brakes.

"Holy shit—suicide?!"

He sprinted toward the figure, yelling, 

"Wait! Stop!"

The person turned—revealing Li Mingxing’s face.

Tang Keyi gaped. 

"Li Mingxing?! You’re killing yourself?!"

Li Mingxing, leaning on the railing, looked equally surprised. 

"Tang Keyi? What’re you doing here?"

"Don’t do it! Even if your mom’s gone, you can’t follow her! Look at me—both my parents died, and I’m still kicking!" 

Tang Keyi had heard about Li Mingxing’s mother passing days prior.

Li Mingxing stared, then scoffed. 

"You think I’m jumping?"

"Aren’t you?" Tang Keyi faltered. 

"Then why climb the railing?"

"There’s steps here." 

Li Mingxing pointed downward. 

"To sit."

"Oh." Tang Keyi scratched his head, mortified. 

Should’ve looked first.

Their relationship was already rocky—

this made it painfully awkward.

Just then, a delivery rider pulled up on an e-bike. 

"Two cases of beer—who ordered?"

"Me." 

Li Mingxing took the crates.

As the rider left, Li Mingxing pried a bottle open against the railing and took several long swigs.

Tang Keyi hesitated. 

Leaving felt wrong, but staying…

"If you’re not leaving," 

Li Mingxing said flatly, 

"have a drink."

Decision made. 

Tang Keyi climbed over and joined him on the steps.

Li Mingxing handed him an opened bottle.

"Plenty of better places to drink," Tang Keyi ventured after a sip. 

"It’s cold here—and dangerous if you get drunk."

"It’s quiet."

"Right." 

Noticing Li Mingxing’s red-rimmed eyes, 

Tang Keyi softened. "You… holding up?"

"Don’t look at me like that." Li Mingxing’s voice was rough.

"I’m fine. Don’t bother with platitudes. Just drink."

"Got it." 

Relief washed over Tang Keyi—comforting people wasn’t his forte.

They drank in silence until Li Mingxing suddenly spoke:

"Tang Keyi."

"Hm?"

Li Mingxing’s expression was uncharacteristically solemn. 

"Remember what you told me… years ago?"

"What did I say?"

A long pause. 

Li Mingxing studied Tang Keyi’s blank face before looking away.

"Nothing. Childhood nonsense." He stood abruptly. "Let’s go."




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