Although Yaya hadn’t taken Mi Lang seriously, Lin Xiaoguai still inquired about his situation, since Yaya’s indifference now didn’t mean she would remain unmoved in the future.
"You’re asking about Mi Lang?" Rong Changxin was startled and said, "He’s quite good, capable, and has a good personality. You already know what he looks like. However..."
"He’s not without flaws. He’s an orphan and was even sponsored through university by our Charitable Foundation. But he’s quite competent and almost repaid all the money the foundation had initially sponsored him."
Lin Xiaoguai nodded and then asked, "Although university graduates no longer have job assignments, it’s not particularly hard to find a job nowadays, right? Why did he come to work at the foundation?"
"It must be out of gratitude," Rong Changxin guessed.
Lin Xiaoguai neither affirmed nor denied. Her intention wasn’t to do anything, but just to understand the situation, as she still had confidence in her goddaughter.
The newly opened Starshine Racecourse in the capital suburbs, reputedly started by someone from Hong Kong, wasn’t crowded when Lin Xiaoguai and Shen Chi arrived. There were just a few familiar faces.
They greeted each other among acquaintances, then everyone changed into riding gear to choose their horses.
Lin Xiaoguai could actually ride horses since she had learned with friends at a riding club in her previous life, but she certainly couldn’t say she was proficient. She could only manage a light trot and dared not attempt a full gallop.
Shen Chi was different. Though horse riding wasn’t taught in the military, over the years he had been on numerous missions and naturally acquired the skill, learning it quite well, almost rivaling professional horse trainers.
Lin Xiaoguai chose a gentle white mare, while Shen Chi picked a fiery chestnut stallion. The two refused the company of a horse trainer and began their leisurely ride.
Shen Chi didn’t trust Lin Xiaoguai completely, so he took the reins of her horse.
"Why is there no one here?" Lin Xiaoguai asked, somewhat puzzled.
"That’s not strange. Everyone is just starting to learn. This area is a public racetrack; it’s large, so beginners usually don’t come here." Shen Chi flicked his wrist, pulling back Lin Xiaoguai’s horse that tried to stray.
"This is quite boring with just the two of us," Lin Xiaoguai said, disappointed.
She remembered her previous life at the riding club where it was very lively, with people racing horses and others cheering them on. Although she didn’t like too much noise, she enjoyed such liveliness.
But soon, Lin Xiaoguai regretted saying that.
"Chairman Lin! What a coincidence, you’re here too?" Xu Meimei exclaimed in surprise, her eyes occasionally shifting to Shen Chi, her expression shy and timid.
Lin Xiaoguai’s face stiffened immediately. How unlucky could she be to run into this person?
Shen Chi’s expression wasn’t great either. He rarely took time from the kids and Wanwan to go out and naturally didn’t appreciate being disturbed.
However, Xu Meimei was thrilled. Hearing that Shen Chi’s guards had scouted Starshine Racecourse, she guessed Shen Chi would come, so she’d been visiting occasionally. Indeed, her waiting had paid off.
The only drawback was... She glanced at Lin Xiaoguai, wishing she wasn’t there.
Thinking that these two had children yet still went out on dates, Xu Meimei felt a pang of jealousy and was close to tears.
But she couldn’t let it go, faking a smile, she said, "Chairman Lin, is this your husband Shen Chi by your side?"
Lin Xiaoguai felt something wasn’t right with her words but still nodded, responding indifferently, "Is there anything else? If not, we’ll take our leave."
"Wait, that... Shen Chi, I can’t ride horses, but you seem very good at it. Could you maybe teach me?" Xu Meimei called out eagerly.
Both Shen Chi and Lin Xiaoguai looked at her incredulously.
How audacious was this girl to address Shen Chi by his first name?
Regardless of his status and position, even in terms of seniority, she shouldn’t address him so informally, should she?
Lin Xiaoguai was irked, wondering if Xu Meimei even cared about her presence.
Shen Chi wasn’t faring any better. His face darkened as he intoned, "Miss, please show some self-respect!"
Realizing the implication, Xu Meimei’s face flushed with embarrassment, an indescribable mix of grievance and sadness inside her.
How could he say that about her?
Holding back tears, she was about to say something when Shen Chi, not waiting for her to speak, led Lin Xiaoguai away by themselves.