Unable to Fall in Love Syndrome - Chapter 18

Chapter 18 – Time Speaks 08

After returning to his room, Zuo Yi went to the bathroom. When he came out, he saw Ying Shengnan sneakily grabbing his phone and slipping under the covers, up to something.

He walked over, yanked the blanket off, and stood by the bed with a stern expression, his eyes cold enough to kill.

Their gazes locked. Ying Shengnan quickly tossed the phone back to him and dove under the blanket, covering his head to avoid Zuo Yi’s murderous stare.

Meanwhile, Qiao Shan was staring at her phone screen, deep in thought. With a refresh, the strange comment she’d noticed was gone.

Deleted without a trace by the other party.

What did it mean? Posting a comment only to delete it—feeling guilty?

Unable to figure it out, she decided not to dwell on it. She turned off the light, pulled the blanket over herself, and fell asleep.

Some slept soundly, while others couldn’t.

In the middle of the night, Ying Shengnan was dreaming when Zuo Yi kicked him off the bed. He climbed back up, barely settling in as sleep crept in, only to be kicked off again by the person beside him.

Standing by the bed, Ying Shengnan fumed, “Are you really my brother?”

Without opening his eyes, Zuo Yi’s voice carried a hint of lazy indifference as he countered, “Are you really my brother?”

*

Morning came, and everyone gradually gathered downstairs for breakfast. Ying Shengnan, sporting dark circles under his eyes, kept sneezing.

Ximi, nibbling on a steamed bun, asked, “Uncle, did you catch a cold last night?”

Ying Shengnan broke off a small piece of bun and popped it into his mouth, glaring at Zuo Yi as he approached. “Got woken up by a rat in the middle of the night,” he grumbled.

Ximi suddenly crouched on her stool, her face paling. “There’s… there’s a rat in the inn?”

“Oh, you bet,” Ying Shengnan said. “A heartless, dog-hearted rat.”

Qiao Shan and Xiao Jia came downstairs together and took their seats just as Lin Zhen brought out three bowls of pumpkin porridge.

She handed one to Xiao Jia with a gentle smile. “Professor Xiao, I know you like pumpkin porridge, so I made it especially for you.”

His preferences were something only Qiao Shan knew. He turned to her, his brow furrowed with a hint of reproach.

Qiao Shan quickly looked away, pretending to gaze elsewhere.

Xiao Jia took the porridge and politely said, “Thank you.”

Lin Zhen shook her head. “No need to thank me. I’m just happy you like it.”

Qiao Shan took a sip. It was good. “Your cooking’s better than Xiao Jia’s,” she praised.

Lin Zhen’s eyes curved with a smile. “Really? Guess I’ve got a knack for cooking.”

Qiao Shan teased, “Keep at it, and you might become a master chef!”

As they chatted, the innkeeper approached. “The ancient town’s horse ranch is open today. Want to go horseback riding? If you’re in, we can organize a group and head over together.”

The mention of horseback riding sent Qiao Shan’s imagination running wild, picturing herself galloping gallantly, bow in hand, shooting arrows from horseback.

“I’m in!” she exclaimed eagerly.

The innkeeper chuckled. “Great, you’re going. Now Mr. Zuo has a companion.”

Qiao Shan’s excitement dimmed. “He’s going too?”

The innkeeper laughed at her. “What, still holding a grudge? Last night was just a game—don’t take it to heart.”

Zuo Yi walked into the dining room just then, sitting at a table across from them.

He’d changed into riding gear—long pants paired with riding boots, looking sharp.

Qiao Shan muttered under her breath, “Who’s taking it to heart? Do I look like someone who can’t handle a game?”

Xiao Jia served her a bowl of fermented rice dumplings and spread blueberry jam on a slice of toasted bread, handing it to her.

She instinctively leaned in to take a bite.

To her, it was a perfectly normal gesture, but to Lin Zhen, watching from the side, it stung. Qiao Shan realized her mistake a moment too late—she’d almost forgotten she was supposed to be playing matchmaker for Lin Zhen. She scooted to the other end of the bench, putting some distance between herself and Xiao Jia.

Qiao Shan headed to the horse ranch, and Xiao Jia and Lin Zhen tagged along. Ying Shengnan and Ximi, however, had no interest in riding. They were far more excited about food and stayed behind to cook in the kitchen after everyone else left.

The inn’s kitchen used a traditional earthen stove. Ximi explained, “Rice cooked in a big iron pot over an earthen stove comes out perfectly—each grain distinct, way better than from an electric cooker.”

Ying Shengnan listened patiently to the young girl, then asked with a warm smile, “Ximi, do you have a boyfriend?”

Ximi scrubbed the iron pot with a loofah sponge. “Nope.”

“What’s the biggest age gap you’d accept?” he asked.

Without hesitation, she blurted, “As long as he’s younger than my grandpa.” Realizing something, she looked up. “Uncle, you’re not trying to hit on me, are you?”

Ying Shengnan’s smile was kind. “Me? Hit on you? Nah, it’s like this—I’ve got a younger brother, 29, named Ying Quhe. Super handsome, total foodie. You’re a cook, and he’s crazy about food. Interested in meeting him?”

“Uncle, are you trying to set us up?” Ximi shook her head. “No way. I’m not interested in guys.”

Ying Shengnan chuckled. “Don’t be so quick to say never, little lady.”

*

The horse ranch was about a half-hour ride from the inn, reachable only by tricycle.

They arrived after a bumpy journey. The vast flatland was enclosed by a waist-high wire fence, with a large stable housing dozens of fine horses. Qiao Shan ran over, guided by a staff member to stroke a chestnut horse’s mane, and snapped a selfie with it.

Qiao Shan knew how to ride—she wasn’t a beginner and didn’t need a staff member to accompany her. But per the ranch’s rules, she needed a male companion to ride with her.

The innkeeper paired up with Lin Zhen, and Xiao Jia didn’t know how to ride, leaving only Zuo Yi.

Qiao Shan couldn’t bring herself to ask him, but Zuo Yi spoke first to the staff. “I’ll ride with her.”

The staff handed them their horses.

They mounted together. Qiao Shan shot him a sour look, snorted, and spurred her horse into a gallop. Zuo Yi sighed, raised his whip, and followed close behind.

One red horse, one white, they raced across the ranch, transitioning from the wide open field to a narrow concrete path.

Galloping felt exhilarating. Qiao Shan’s desire to ride had first sparked when she was a child, watching The Princess Pearl. The opening scene, with the protagonists galloping across the grasslands, had radiated a carefree spirit she could feel through the screen.

That was when she first wanted to try horseback riding.

Her horse’s hooves pounded faster, the wind rushing more fiercely against her face. Qiao Shan raised her whip, singing loudly into the breeze, “Let’s roam the mortal world together, live free and bold, gallop wildly and share the world’s splendor~ Yah!” She cracked the whip on the horse’s back.

Zuo Yi, trailing close behind, watched her go wild with a series of dangerous moves, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.

The faster he chased, the faster Qiao Shan urged her horse onward.

Soon, he noticed something wrong with her horse. He shouted, “Stop! It’s dangerous!”

The wind carried his voice, muddled, into Qiao Shan’s ears.

The gusts were too strong—she didn’t hear clearly. She turned back, stuck out her tongue at him, and kept riding.

This lunatic! All Zuo Yi could think of was yanking her off the horse and giving her a good scolding.

The next moment, a scream echoed across the ranch.

Qiao Shan’s horse charged forward, showing no sign of turning at a bend. Its hind hooves kicked, and it leaped over the wire fence.

Qiao Shan nearly fell off. At the last second, she grabbed the reins, her body dragging briefly on the ground before she hauled herself back onto the saddle.

The chestnut horse carried her out of the ranch, bolting into the wilderness.

The staff sprang into action. Zuo Yi grabbed a lasso pole, spurred his horse out of the ranch to chase her, with the staff following close behind.

Qiao Shan realized the horse was out of control. She tugged at the reins, trying to stop it.

But the harder she pulled, the more the horse resisted, completely ignoring her commands. Its wild nature took over, bucking several times to throw her off.

Desperate, Qiao Shan could only hope the staff would rescue her soon. Her only task now was to stay on the horse—falling would mean broken bones for sure.

In her panic, a white horse pulled up alongside her, a few meters away.

The man on it wielded a lasso pole, its tip a loop of leather rope. For a fleeting moment, Qiao Shan saw his eyes—wolf-like, resolute, all-or-nothing.

“Hold on tight!” Zuo Yi’s first attempt with the lasso missed.

Qiao Shan wanted to cry. Come on, can you do this? If not, let the staff handle it!

Zuo Yi had to manage the reins with one hand, control his horse’s speed, maintain his balance, and wield the lasso pole with precision. He raised it again, aimed at the chestnut horse’s head, and threw. The swinging rope finally caught the horse’s head.

He pulled his horse back, deftly tightening the lasso, and the rope finally subdued the horse.

When the staff caught up, the chestnut horse was under control. They gave Zuo Yi a round of thumbs-up.

Bold as she was, Qiao Shan was genuinely terrified this time.

Her legs gave out as she dismounted, and she crouched on the ground, her face pale and numb.

Zuo Yi dismounted and walked over, looking down at her. “Still acting tough?”

Still shaken, Qiao Shan clung to his leg, finally finding a sense of safety. “Wah… I’m done acting tough. Never again on a horse, never! That beast has no humanity!”

Zuo Yi tried to shake her off but couldn’t. Glancing at the staff behind them, he said, “Come on, let’s head back before they worry.”

After the wild chase, they were far from the ranch.

She looked at the horse and shook her head vehemently. “No way. I’d rather die than ride again.”

Zuo Yi raised an eyebrow. “Walk back?”

Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. “Yeah, walk.” She tried to stand but failed, clutching his pant leg and looking up at him pitifully.

“Cramping again?” Zuo Yi asked.

She shook her head. “No… legs are just jelly.”

Zuo Yi crouched down to check her legs. Her pants were torn by the wire fence, revealing angry red scratches on her pale calves. He frowned, reaching to touch her wounds but pausing just short of her skin.

Qiao Shan caught his movement. “What, trying to pinch my wounds to make them hurt? Don’t be so cruel, Zuo Stingy.”

Zuo Yi sighed, exasperated. “That’s not what I was doing. Forget it—you wouldn’t believe me anyway.” He turned, patting his shoulder. “Hop on. I’ll carry you back.”

Qiao Shan didn’t hesitate, climbing onto his back with a hum.

As she clung to his shoulders, she said, “You know, that moment when you threw the lasso reminded me of a song—a grand, epic one. Guess what it is?”

Zuo Yi took steady steps, carrying her. “True Hero?”

Qiao Shan slapped his shoulder, cleared her throat, and said, “I’ll sing it for you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Hey-yi, hey-yi… Give me a blue sky, a rising sun, give me green grass stretching far away, give me a soaring eagle, a mighty man, swinging a lasso pole to catch my horse…”

Zuo Yi paused. “What are you singing?”

“Lasso Pole! Isn’t it great? You’re that lasso-wielding man who caught my horse.” She paused, then sang again, “Hey-yi, hey-yi… Lasso-wielding man, so mighty and grand, your galloping steed like a gust of wind, the boundless plains yours to roam, your heart as vast as the sea and land. Lasso-wielding man, you’re in my heart, I’d melt into your broad chest…”

Zuo Yi cut her off, his tone odd. “I’m in your heart? You’d melt into my broad chest?”