Jiang Xuning came to the riding grounds and stood beside the fence, watching the horses inside.
Although she knew how to ride, she was not very skilled, and she did not know the temperaments of these horses.
She thought, I acted too impulsively. I should have waited for Calisto to come with me.
Light footsteps suddenly sounded behind her, accompanied by a cheerful greeting.
“Miss, is this your first time here? The horse in front of you is called Caramel. He has the gentlest temperament. Give him a carrot, and he’ll stay close to you for half the day.”
She turned around and saw that the other person was wearing a dark navy work vest and holding half a bag of fresh carrots.
The man had just said a whole string of words, but he must have been speaking F language. She had not understood him.
Jiang Xuning asked in Y language, “I’m sorry, I don’t speak F language. I didn’t understand what you just said. Could you say it again?”
Barliet was stunned. He had only seen her from behind just now and had assumed she was from F Country. Judging by the looks of it, she must have come to the Estate as a guest with her family.
Barliet switched languages to communicate with Jiang Xuning and repeated what he had said before, handing her a carrot as he did so.
Jiang Xuning took it and fed it to Caramel. As expected, Caramel docilely ate it, then lowered his head and rubbed against her hand.
“Oh, he really is. This horse is so gentle. Can I ride him?”
Jiang Xuning looked at Barliet with a bright smile. She had been itching to ride ever since she arrived.
“Of course.”
Aside from Sir’s horse and a few horses of pure and noble bloodlines, the other ordinary horses at the riding grounds could be ridden.
Of course, “ordinary” was only in comparison to those excellent horses. In reality, there were no truly ordinary horses here.
Moreover, judging by Miss Jiang’s clothes, she did not look like an ordinary person. She was probably a distinguished guest.
Barliet led the horse out and looked at Jiang Xuning. “Miss, do you need to change clothes?”
“No need. I’m not going far. I’ll just ride a few laps.”
She was wearing trousers today, so there was no need to make things so troublesome.
Jiang Xuning had learned how to ride. After nimbly climbing onto the horse, she let Barliet lead it around the grounds.
When Calisto came to the riding grounds after checking the surveillance footage, this was the scene he saw.
The young woman sat on horseback, one corner of the hem of her white shirt lifted by the wind as she lowered her head and smiled at the man leading the horse.
The man’s hand rested beside the stirrup, less than half a foot from her ankle. With every step the horse took, the shadows of the two people lightly overlapped on the grass.
Calisto’s throat bobbed as he swallowed a mouthful of dry air. It was as though a ball of fire were burning in his chest, making his eyes darken and his heart tighten.
It had been a long, long time since he had felt such a powerful urge to kill.
So powerful that he could not hold it back at all.
He strode over, seized the stirrup to ensure the horse would not be disturbed and would not hurt his Baby, then kicked Barliet in the stomach and sent him sprawling.
Everything happened too quickly. Jiang Xuning had only just seen Calisto approaching and had not yet had time to open her mouth before the following events occurred.
Barliet was completely bewildered as well. Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly realized that this person was Sir and promptly dropped to his knees beside the horse.
Although he had no idea why, Sir had kicked him, so he had to take it. He could not even beg for mercy; that might make him die an even more miserable death.
No one dared to entertain any hope of luck in front of Mr. Calisto.
“Achi, what are you doing!”
Jiang Xuning dismounted and slapped away the hand he extended to help her.
Honestly, this man was utterly inexplicable.
“Are you all right?”
Jiang Xuning wanted to bend down and ask Barliet about his condition, but the moment she bent over, Calisto grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into his embrace. Barliet also retreated several steps in fear.
Barliet had never imagined that the butler had told everyone a few days ago that a Madam had moved into the main house—a partner whom Mr. Calisto had acknowledged. But he had never seen her. He had not expected her to be the young woman standing before him.
He was terrified now. Sir seemed to love Madam very much. Considering how close he had just been to Madam, he might truly never see tomorrow’s sun.
Calisto had already endured as much as he could. He wished he could kill Barliet right then and there, but he could not.
Xuxu would certainly be frightened if she saw that. She might even leave him. Then he would truly go mad.
He scooped Jiang Xuning up in his arms and strode away, saying nothing even as she beat at him.
Leave this place. Get away from here first.
Barliet watched Sir’s departing figure and remained kneeling where he was, not daring to rise.
It seemed he would have to kneel here all night.
The main house.
Calisto carried Jiang Xuning straight to the bedroom and pressed her directly against the bedroom door.
His scorching kiss fell without warning. Carrying the scent of cedar and possessiveness, it forcefully pried open her lips and teeth.
Jiang Xuning struggled in his arms, her fingertips braced against his hard chest, but that only made him restrain her more forcefully. She raised her hand, and the crisp sound of a slap exploded through the room.
Calisto’s face turned slightly to the right. Her warmth still lingered on his lips, and the turbulent obsession in his eyes had not yet receded; it was merely veiled by a layer of aggrieved redness.
He took Jiang Xuning’s hand and placed it against the cheek she had slapped. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he still wanted to kiss her again.
But afraid of making Jiang Xuning even angrier, he could only press his head into the hollow of her neck in a wounded manner, his arm tightening around her waist as he pulled her more firmly against him.
“Baby…”
Jiang Xuning rubbed her aching waist, which had been squeezed painfully, and looked at the tall man trying his best to curl himself into her embrace, like a beast that had been scolded but did not know what it had done wrong.
She still sighed, softened her voice, and reached out to gently stroke his head. “Achi, what exactly is wrong? Why are you angry? Tell me, all right?”
Calisto raised his head. The lingering obsession in his eyes had not completely faded, but it softened somewhat when it met her concerned gaze.
He reached out, seized her wrist, and pressed her hand against his heart. “Xuxu, don’t leave me. No one can take you away from me.”
Jiang Xuning was stunned at first. Then the corners of her mouth curved into a helpless yet indulgent smile. “So you’re jealous?”
She took Calisto’s hand and pulled him to sit on the edge of the bed. He was six foot three, and after standing at the door just now, she was exhausted from looking up at him.
When she bent one knee and straddled his lap, the man’s body instantly stiffened. His hands instinctively clasped around her waist, his fingertips turning white, as though he feared she would leave him the very next second.
“Are you still angry?”
She buried her face in the hollow of his neck. Her warm breath brushed over his skin as her fingers gently moved down his tense back, soothing him.
“I’m not very good at riding, so of course I needed him to lead the horse for me.”
Calisto abruptly tightened his arms and pulled her fiercely into his embrace. The force was so great that she let out a muffled groan.
With his chin resting against the crown of her head, his voice was hoarse, still carrying his unresolved obsession along with a trace of grievance. “I’ve never led a horse for you.”
He lowered his head and bit her earlobe, his tone both urgent and fierce. “Baby even smiled at him, and he was so close to you.”
She could feel the violent rise and fall of his chest, as well as the unease hidden within his strength. She raised a hand to stroke the back of his neck and softly coaxed him.
“I only smiled at him out of courtesy. I don’t even know what his name is.”
“Then why was he so close to you?”
Jiang Xuning was practically laughing with exasperation. She pinched his waist, successfully grasping nothing, but her hand found the abdominal muscles she liked instead.
“Do you want to listen to what you’re saying? He had to lead the horse for me. How could he do that without standing close?”