I Want a Lifetime with You
Chapter 179

"How does it look?"

Shi Nuan was anxious when she saw that Fu Chengyan didn't say anything. She looked down to check on herself instead. She had never worn something like this and neither did the people in the periodic dramas. She felt strange wearing these clothes. However, when she saw the fiery passion in Fu Chengyan's eyes, her insecurity melted away.

Shi Nuan curled up her lip, "It looks alright, doesn't it?"

"It's gorgeous!" Fu Chengyan managed to squeeze those two words out of his mouth as he regained his senses. He smiled as he helped Shi Nuan adjust her clothing. "You can wait for me outside. I'll be out very soon!"

"Sure!"

Shi Nuan left the room and saw that Su Shaoqing and Li Heng had changed too. They looked like totally different people in their gear and she was impressed by how they looked. It even made her forgot Su Shaoqing's usually foolish demeanor for once.

Shi Nuan blinked as she saw Li Heng and Su Shaoqing come out. She then greeted them first. "Li Heng, Su."

Li Heng gave a light nod in acknowledgment but Su Shaoqing couldn't help but notice that there was a difference in how she addressed them. "Mrs. Fu, you greeted him as Li Heng but called me Su instead. You're being more formal with me on purpose, despite us knowing each other for a longer time!"

"Why don't I call you Shaoqing then?" Shi Nuan laughed as she didn't expect Su Shaoqing to pick on something as trivial as that. She had just decided to call him Su because it was just more convenient than his full name Su Shaoqing while Li Heng's name was shorter anyway. She had made it a habit.

Su Shaoqing's eyebrows relaxed as he was satisfied with her response. However, he added, "I saw the look on your face when you saw both of us just now. If Chengyan had seen it, he would definitely be jealous!"

"Jealous of who?" Fu Chengyan walked out at that very moment and he scanned Su Shaoqing from head to toe. "May had good taste." It obviously meant that Su Shaoqing was inferior compared to him.

Su Shaoqing was perplexed, "Chengyan, how can you say that? Don't I have many good qualities? Am I not eligible enough? Even if I don't fit Mrs. Fu's taste, what about Li Heng? He's definitely on the same pedigree as you are!" Su Shaoqing was bent on creating some mischief.

Li Heng glared at Su Shaoqing when he heard what he said. "Shaoqing, are you trying to get yourself in trouble?" Li Heng's voice carried a tinge of frostiness which was different from Fu Chengyan's brooding style. Shi Nuan looked at Li Heng and felt that he was certainly a complex character.

Fu Chengyan held onto Shi Nuan's hand as they walked and said, “Just ignore them. They always behave that way. Let's go and replace you a horse!"

Fu Chengyan and Shi Nuan then left the other two. Shi Nuan followed Fu Chengyan from behind as she was gently pulled along by him. Her eyes were fixated on his figure from behind. He looked really good in his riding breeches as she had expected. His all-white breeches paired with black leather boots made him look amazing.

Fu Chengyan had a large frame but wasn't muscle-bound. The lines of his body looked very pleasant. His figure was the epitome of what a male model's figure was supposed to be.

Fu Chengyan stopped in his tracks and checked on Shi Nuan. He saw her ogling at him and couldn't help but curled his lips into a grin. His eyes were filled with gentleness and glee. Shi Nuan was awestruck. Then, she finally blinked as she said, "Yan, you look really good. You're the most handsome person that I have ever seen."

"Oh? Is that so?" He squeezed her small hands and smiled. It was early winter and the weather was still relaxing and comfortable.

Someplace far away, Su Shaoqing's eyes glistened and he turned to look at Li Heng who was behind him. However, Li Heng had looked away and seemed to not be in the mood to talk to anyone. Su Shaoqing pursed his lips and watched as Li Heng left. But he then went after him a while later. "Don't you think it's rude of Fu Chengyan to just leave us like that while he takes Mrs. Fu for a ride? What are we really here for?"

"Wasn't it your idea to be here?" Li Heng shot a glance at Su Shaoqing. "You're the one that's looking for trouble. Who are you trying to blame?" Li Heng's voice was cold as he didn't bother to be polite with Su Shaoqing.

He had just been made to feel bad over the fact that he was single and now Li Heng had criticized him too. Su Shaoqing felt that he could no longer continue being friends with them. He then left with a turn of his head. Li Heng narrowed his eyes and looked around. His mind was filled with images of that person. They had both came horse riding here and she told him that they would be together forever. Pei Huan. Oh, Pei Huan! It's been three years now. Why haven't you returned?

Fu Chengyan chose a docile-looking horse for Shi Nuan because this was her first time riding. He was worried that she was too scared and that she wouldn't be able to control the horse. He then walked with her as he held the reins of the horse. When she sat on the horse and she stroked the horse's neck gently then said, "Yan, he's a really good boy!"

"Yes!" Fu Chengyan looked up and saw her face filled with delight. "Shall I let go for you to try?"

"Sure!"

With Fu Chengyan's encouragement, Shi Nuan rode by herself for a while and realized it wasn't as scary as she thought it was. The horse seemed to understand what she wanted and was quite friendly. Suddenly she felt a gush of wind sweep past. When she regained her senses, she saw Su Shaoqing and Li Heng racing on the track. The magnificent sight that unfolded in front of her reinvigorated the need for excitement in her. "Yan, Li Heng and Su Shaoqing seem to be racing. Who do you think will win?"

Shi Nuan turned to look at Fu Chengyan who was behind her. "Yan?"

Fu Chengyan looked up. "Li Heng!"

"Oh? How do you know?" Shi Nuan glanced at Fu Chengyan and returned her gaze towards Li Heng and Su Shaoqing. "Yan, is Li Heng really good? Who would win in a race between both of you?"

Fu Chengyan raised an eyebrow. He narrowed his eyes and looked over her face before staring at her quizzically. "What? Do you want me to race with them?"

"Can you?" Shi Nuan asked in anticipation.

She was already happy enough to be here and she even got to ride a horse. She didn't want to do anything too challenging. Fu Chengyan knew that Shi Nuan wasn't really interested in horses. All she wanted was to satisfy her curiosity. He then helped her down the horse. "Alright! But we have to ask both of them first!"

"Sure, let's go!"

When Fu Chengyan saw how happy Shi Nuan was, he couldn't help but stroke her hair. "I can see that you're really excited even more so than I am."

"Of course!" Shi Nuan laughed excitedly as she held Fu Chengyan's hand. "I want to see how good you really are!"

Fu Chengyan let out an adoring smile and asked, "What if I lose?"

"Lose?" Shi Nuan bit her lip and made a reluctant face. She then said, "If you lose so be it! It's no big deal after all!" Although she had not thought about what would happen if he lost, it had never crossed her mind that he would lose. But she could see that Li Heng was really skillful. So it really isn't much of a deal if he lost anyway.

However, it was going to be a race where she would never know the results. The reason was that Fu Chengyan received a call from his family and they wanted him to return at once.

Fu Chengyan frowned as he ended the call. Shi Nuan saw his expression and asked, "Did something happen?"

Li Heng and Su Shaoqing came over coincidentally and looked towards Fu Chengyan. "Are you not racing?"

Fu Chengyan shook his head. "Unfortunately no, something came up at home and I need to head back. I don't know what's going on yet!" Fu Chengyan then glanced at Shi Nuan, "I can't accompany you anymore and I'm afraid you have to go home on your own."

"Don't worry about me. You have something more important to attend to. Besides, you can spend time with me anytime you want!" Although Shi Nuan was understanding, Fu Chengyan was still upset. He lifted his eyebrow slightly at Li Heng and Su Shaoqing. "Till next time!"

Li Heng nodded. "Indeed." He then looked in Shi Nuan's direction. "If you don't mind, why don't you join me and Shaoqing for a meal? And we can send you home afterward as it's getting late."

Although the question was directed at Shi Nuan, he was asking for Fu Chengyan's permission in essence.

Fu Chengyan nodded. "Sure, sorry for the trouble." Fu Chengyan patted Shi Nuan on her shoulders. "I feel so much better if you can go with Li Heng and Shaoqing!"

Shi Nuan chuckled when she heard him. "I'm glad you're worried about me but I'm an adult too. I'll be fine even if Li Heng and Shaoqing don't send me home. You should go and attend to your matters and not worry about me."

After Fu Chengyan left, Shi Nuan smiled and looked towards Li Heng and Su Shaoqing. "I'll be in your hands."

"You're welcome."

Shi Nuan rode in Su Shaoqing's car as he felt that she was more familiar with him since she knew him longer. Besides, she was more of a serious person and so was Li Heng. If they shared a car, it would likely be awkward for both of them. Besides, Li Heng had never bothered to be courteous to anyone other than Pei Huan. Su Shaoqing was worried that he might say something that would offend Shi Nuan instead. Shi Nuan didn't really mind but since Su Shaoqing insisted, it would be rude for her to decline.

"Aren't you curious?"

Su Shaoqing looked at Shi Nuan as she sat there quietly.

Shi Nuan paused for a second before looking up at Su Shaoqing. "What is there to be curious about?" She was going through the pictures on her phone which she took at the equestrian club. There were some of Fu Chengyan and also those from when Li Heng and Su Shaoqing were racing.

She held the phone in her hand as she looked at Su Shaoqing. "What do I need to be curious about?"

"About the reason Fu Chengyan was called back to his family home for?" Su Shaoqing said as his fingers tapped on the steering wheel. He seemed to be insinuating something. "Hasn't Fu Chengyan brought you to see the Fu family after such a long time?"

Shi Nuan furrowed her brows slightly as she nodded. "That's true."

Su Shaoqing curled his lips. "Aren't you curious as to why he hasn't brought you there?"

"It's me that decided to keep our relationship a secret for the time being," Shi Nuan said. "That's why I haven't met them. Is that a problem?"

Su Shaoqing was so surprised that he almost floored the accelerator. "What did you say? It's you who wanted to keep it a secret and not Fu Chengyan?"

Shi Nuan's eyes widened. "What's so strange about it? It was my decision. You know how my family is. So I don't think it's a good idea to let others know about my relationship with Yan. I don't want my family to take advantage of him or cause him any unnecessary trouble!"