Five minutes later, Ou Lan finished washing up, changed into sportswear and walked out of the bathroom to find that Zhan Moxiao was already gone.
Not daring to delay, she dashed downstairs and headed straight for the exercise ground at the back.
Zhan Moxiao’s castle was managed with military discipline.
Li Dan was whistling as he drilled Ailan Castle’s bodyguards and male servants, while Zhan Moxiao, like a tiger surveying his territory, paced elegantly.
Freak!
Ou Lan muttered to herself with pursed lips.
Spring never seemed to arrive at Ailan Castle, and at the sight of a girl with a graceful and slender figure, the bodyguards’ eyes lit up.
Li Dan quickly warned them, “That’s Master Xiao’s woman.
Careful with your wandering eyes or you’ll be eating bullets.”
The bodyguards all buried their heads deep; many of them had been brave soldiers who had followed Zhan Moxiao through life and death.
“One, two, three, four, one two three four…”
Listening to the bodyguards’ chanting, Ou Lan stood still utterly bewildered—damn that rascal Moxiao, was he really going to make her run with these smelly men?
Turning to see a girl in red sportswear, a smile flickered across Zhan Moxiao’s eyes.
He sprinted towards her and circled around her twice, “Start running!”
Ou Lan gave him a resentful glance and followed behind him.
Today, Ailan Castle was exceptionally picturesque—accustomed to seeing Master Xiao stride alone like a lone wolf, it was a pleasant sight to see him followed by a delicate and pretty girl.
“Master Xiao has finally blossomed, it seems.”
“The girl looks quite young.
So Master Xiao likes them fresh—like raising a child?”
“If Young Madam bears a little bun, then Master Xiao will have three kids to take care of, haha.”
The bodyguards discussed while running, giggling, and Li Dan, gritting his teeth, reminded, “Be careful what you say, lest Master Xiao throws you into the sea to feed the fish.”
Ou Lan ran behind Zhan Moxiao, and although he had slowed down considerably for her, she still couldn’t keep up and was out of breath by the end of the circuit.
She pleaded with him, “Master Xiao, can you be a bit more humane…
Ah!”
Zhan Moxiao had stopped and turned around at some point, and Ou Lan smacked right into him.
Because she was running, she bounced back from his firm chest.
Luckily, Master Xiao caught her soft waist, preventing her from falling down.
“Tsk tsk tsk, Master Xiao is showing off his affection.”
“Older husband and young wife, naturally he would dote on her.”
“Oh my, oh my, this is just too dog-gone sweet!”
The bodyguards started a new round of chatter.
Clutching her sore nose, Ou Lan complained woefully, “Could you warn me the next time you stop?”
Laughter hid in Zhan Moxiao’s eyes, but his face was stern, “You need to keep your eyes and ears alert when running, always ready to respond to sudden situations.
If you had run into a wall instead of me just now, your head would have been cracked.”
Ou Lan sniffed her little nose resentfully, “Master Xiao, to recognize one’s mistake and mend one’s ways is truly noble.
Although you were forced into a marriage you didn’t like, it’s still possible to leave promptly…”
“Nine more kilometers, keep running!”
Zhan Moxiao gave her a cold glance and turned to continue.
Ou Lan was left disheveled in the wind—what was this all about?
He clearly didn’t want to marry her, but was stubbornly holding on.
Helpless, with power above her, she had no rights; she might as well keep running.
With Ou Lan’s physical fitness, there was no way she could complete ten thousand meters.
After just two thousand, she was exhausted and collapsed on the grass, refusing to get up no matter what.
Zhan Moxiao walked over and nudged her toes, “Get up.”
“I won’t.
Zhan Moxiao, if you have the guts, just shoot me.” Dying would be better than the agony of long-distance running.
“Heh heh heh…”
Zhan Moxiao chuckled lowly; the sun had just risen above the horizon, casting golden light on the man’s face, as if edging it with gold velvet.