For the next two days, Lin Jinhuan did not appear by Jing Nian’an’s side, but this didn’t give Ming Jiahe any opportunity either.
Because Jing Nian’an firmly believed that it must have been Ming Jiahe who leaked the news, letting her brother find out about her sneaking desserts.
Faced with the girl’s accusation, Ming Jiahe was at a loss for words, feeling utterly helpless and on the verge of tears.
The afternoon at St. Silan Academy was lazy and pleasant, with warm sunlight spilling over the ancient clock tower as white pigeons circled its spire.
Watching the scholarship student Song Shishi effortlessly lure Jing Nian’an away with just a few words, Ming Jiahe couldn’t help but feel deeply frustrated.
Several times, she wanted to shamelessly join them.
But remembering her own previously arrogant and haughty demeanor, she couldn’t bring herself to speak up.
~
Elsewhere.
The lights in the underground boxing ring were blinding and scorching, with sweat evaporating in the air.
Lin Jinhuan stood in the center of the ring, her sharp eyes fixed on the burly man opposite her from beneath a black boxing helmet.
The opponent suddenly threw a heavy punch, the force of it whistling past, nearly grazing her cheek.
She sidestepped with a nimble, leopard-like grace.
Seizing a gap in his defense, she launched a swift counterattack aimed directly at his jaw.
After several rounds, Lin Jinhuan’s attacks grew increasingly fierce, gradually overpowering her opponent.
But just as she prepared to press her advantage, the man’s fist abruptly changed direction, slamming hard into her abdomen.
“Thud!”
A dull impact echoed as Lin Jinhuan grunted, her entire body thrown back by the force of the blow.
Her back collided heavily with the ropes.
A sharp pain shot through her stomach, as if scorched by flames.
Gritting her teeth, she forced back the metallic taste of blood rising in her throat.
After a two-second adjustment, she straightened up again, her gaze cold as a blade.
The match ultimately ended in her victory.
The burly man removed his gloves, took a towel handed to him by someone nearby, and carefully offered it to her: “Boss, are you okay?”
Lin Jinhuan didn’t speak, merely taking the towel and draping it over her neck.
She tilted her head back and took a gulp of water, sweat trickling down her pale skin.
The pain in her stomach still raged, but she only furrowed her brows slightly before quickly regaining her usual indifference.
She hadn’t gone to school these past two days.
On one hand, she didn’t want to see certain scenes.
On the other hand, it was because Old Master Lin was nearing his end.
Now lying in a critical care ward at the city hospital, the old man was barely clinging to life.
Surrounded by members of the Lin family, each crying with seemingly genuine sorrow, as if they were truly grieving.
How laughable.
Did they think a few tears would earn them something?
Hah.
The Lin financial group appeared glamorous on the surface, but its foundations were built on underground boxing rings and gray-market industries.
Every member of the family wore the skin of an elite, yet deep down, they were more ruthless than wolves.
Here, the selection of an heir wasn’t based on bloodline but on capability—the annual profit growth rate was the line between life and death.
And as for those who were eliminated, whether they met with “accidental deaths” or “voluntarily withdrew,” no one dared to ask.
Lin Jinhuan’s mother was the first wife, who died early, leaving her only an exquisite doll.
It was the sole warmth of her childhood.
Later, that man remarried, and her stepmother brought her illegitimate son, Lin Zihao, who was a year younger than her, into the household.
She also had an older half-sister, Lin Shan, born from the man’s earlier mistress, who was several years her senior.The day Lin Zihao barged into her room, he gleefully used scissors to shred her doll to pieces.
“Your mom’s dead, so your stuff is mine too!”
That was the first time she ever hit someone.
One punch, and she broke the little bastard’s nose.
Later, she was locked in a detention room and forced to kneel all night.
But from that day on, she never cried again.
And now, she certainly wasn’t going to put on some act of a filial descendant at that old man’s sickbed.
~
Wednesday afternoon was equestrian class for the freshmen at St. Silan Academy.
The girl strode into the riding arena in polished leather boots, her custom-tailored riding habit cinching her waist to a slender curve.
The deep blue jacket with platinum piping made her look like a dignified Persian cat.
Before equestrian class, it was customary for the Jing family to deliver the young lady’s horse to the academy.
The academy’s instructors assigned horses based on the students’ skill levels—usually gentle horses for beginners and spirited ones for advanced riders.
But Jing Nian’an refused to ride the “mediocre breeds” provided by the school, bringing her own purebred Arabian white horse instead.
Named “Moonlight Earl,” she insisted its mane receive daily essential oil treatments.
Sometimes, though, “Moonlight Earl” would be boarded at the academy.
Like now, since the family’s Husky had returned to the Jing ancestral home, the horse had been sent over.
For the horse, this was a tremendous relief.
The horse had been chosen by Jing Lüyan and had a gentle temperament.
But even the best temperament couldn’t withstand the Husky’s constant harassment.
One day, the dog had just seized the chance to charge into the riding arena when it was kicked flying far away.
After the pre-class preparations and horse assignments came the basic training, where students had to guide their horses through fundamental gaits.
But the girl refused to mount her horse no matter what. The instructor walked over and asked her what was wrong.
“Earl is in a bad mood today,” she told the instructor seriously. “His mane is split-ended and needs a spa treatment.”
The instructor: “…”
Truthfully, Jing Nian’an was a little scared.
Usually, she rode mostly ponies. With a horse as tall as “Moonlight Earl,” she only dared to ride when Jing Lüyan was there to support her.
In the end, the instructor reluctantly agreed to apply for the construction of a “horse grooming room,” and only then did the girl reluctantly mount her horse.
The beautiful white horse carried the beautiful girl, leisurely circling the arena, making everyone itch with envy.
When it came time for jumping practice, the girl dismounted again and led her horse to the side.
Behind her, Sheng Ran sat atop a gleaming black Friesian horse, his long fingers casually twining the reins.
Sunlight filtered through his golden curls, casting delicate shadows across his brow.
His blue eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on the girl struggling with her horse ahead.
“Come on, Jing Jiaojiao.”
He deliberately nudged the horse’s flank with his boot, and the black horse elegantly took two steps forward, stopping right in front of her. “Scared?”
“What’s the rush?”
The girl threw her riding crop to the ground, the pearl-encrusted handle leaving a small dent in the sand.
“First, I need to give my horse some meditation training.”
That should make it more obedient… she thought.
As soon as she said this, the entire arena fell silent.
She solemnly arranged apple slices into a pentagram formation.
But as soon as it was set up, the white horse lowered its head to eat them.
She quickly pressed her fingertips against its nose bridge, exasperated.
“Focus! Imagine you’re an award-winning, enlightened horse—”
Pfft.
Laughter rumbled from the boy’s chest, carrying a hint of audacity.
In the sunlight, his face was so handsome it bordered on arrogance.For some reason, the pent-up frustration of the past few days suddenly dissipated.
Those around were also shaking their shoulders, trying to hold back their laughter, not daring to make a sound.