My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 142

Chapter 142: Is She Acting, or Is She Serious?

After quickly browsing through the photos, Jiang Xue, holding the robot Elder Sister, hurried towards Xiao Luohan with Cang Ling.

“I want Cang Ling to take some pictures of us,” Jiang Xue said to Xiao Luohan while the staff was changing the saddle. “It’s a ‘couple’s ride,’ and it’s my first time…”

Even though they would come back again in the future, the “first time” experience was still the most important.

“Okay, where do you want to take the pictures?” Xiao Luohan asked, looking around. “If you don’t have a specific location in mind, I was thinking about a few spots I noticed while riding.”

Jiang Xue had only suggested this on a whim and didn’t have any specific ideas, so hearing that Xiao Luo had some places in mind, she immediately nodded. “I’ll follow you!”

The double saddle was back in place, and this time, it was Jiang Xue who sat behind, holding the robot Elder Sister.

Cang Ling was tireless. As long as there was enough spiritual energy, her stamina was practically infinite. She followed them with the camera.

The racetrack staff also followed closely behind.

As they were taking pictures, they happened to run into Jiang Mei and Xie Xitong, who had just finished their “training.” After exchanging greetings, they went their separate ways.

There wasn’t much scenery within the racetrack, but there was plenty of vegetation outside.

“That old tree looks quite ancient,” Xiao Luohan said, guiding the horse towards a giant tree in the distance. “Let it be a witness to our first time here.”

“A three-hundred-year-old ginkgo tree,” the staff member said, keeping a distance so as not to block the camera.

“It must be beautiful in autumn, right? Covered in golden leaves,” Jiang Xue said with emotion. “Xiao Luo, how do you want to take the pictures?”

Xiao Luohan shook her head, looking at Cang Ling.

“To commemorate your first ‘couple’s ride’ after officially confirming your relationship?” Cang Ling said, then took a few steps back and first took a “formal” picture of them with the horse, the robot, and the tree—the old photos Grandma Xie had shown her usually had this kind of group photo.

Then she slowly adjusted the angles, capturing various subtle and not-so-subtle interactions between the two girls, taking many pictures, planning to choose the best ones later.

After finishing there, Xiao Luohan went to a reed field.

The fluffy reed plumes swayed gently in the wind, inviting touch. Seeing this, Jiang Xue couldn’t help but think of what Elder Sister Red Fox had said earlier.

—”Xiao Luo likes fluffy animals.”

And reed plumes were also fluffy.

Xiao Luohan dismounted and, after asking the staff, walked towards the nearest reed plume and reached out to touch it.

She seemed to prefer the wind carrying the reed plume to her hand, so she stood there motionless, her hand outstretched. Soon, a fluffy plume brushed against the back of her hand, and she turned her palm slightly, letting it brush her palm as well.

It felt very comfortable.

Cang Ling snapped many pictures, then nudged Jiang Xue, urging her to also come and touch the plumes.

Jiang Xue, however, thought of the weeping willows at N University. During their bike ride there for the “comprehensive evaluation admission” exam, she and Xiao Luo had had to wear masks to prevent the catkins from getting into their noses and mouths!

Her thoughts easily wandered, so although she seemed to be touching the reed plumes with Xiao Luohan, she was actually imagining strolling through N University with Xiao Luo next year or the year after.

Although her mind wasn’t on the present, her smile was filled with happiness, as if she was in a beautiful dream.

Cang Ling, satisfied with this, hummed as she took pictures, not bothering to wake her from her “daydream.”

Xiao Luohan’s attention was mostly on the reeds. Seeing that Jiang Xue was also happy, she relaxed and moved on to another cluster of reeds.

“Reed fields are often mentioned in travelogues,” she said to Jiang Xue. “Every part of the reed is medicinal. The roots are sweet and refreshing. Mother used to make a ‘reed root and mint drink,’ and in winter, she would stew dried reed roots with lilies to make porridge. But my stomach was weak back then, so I could only have a few sips.”

“Then let’s buy some reed roots and make those things after we get back,” Jiang Xue suggested. “Wei Mommy loves researching ‘food therapy,’ maybe she’s also heard of the drinks and porridge you mentioned…”

At this point, she suddenly remembered that Ms. Wei was probably Xiao Luo’s mother’s counterpart in this world.

Mothers from two completely different worlds, yet making the same food… was this just a coincidence, or a subtle connection between the same soul?

She discreetly observed Xiao Luohan’s expression and, seeing her simply smile and agree, without any emotional fluctuations, was slightly relieved.

But even if Xiao Luo minded, she wouldn’t overthink “what if Xiao Luo is upset after hearing this.” If Xiao Luo truly didn’t like this topic, she would tell her immediately.

No reminder or warning meant that it was okay to talk about it. This could also be considered a way of testing Xiao Luo’s boundaries.

At the same time, at the racetrack.

Xie Xitong asked to sit in front before getting on the horse—both to reassure Jiang Mei and to control her own behavior.

After all, there were too many opportunities for physical contact when sitting behind, like wrapping her arms around Mei-jiejie’s neck, touching and caressing, hugging her waist… she would do it if she wasn’t careful.

But even sitting in front, she could still find ways for subtle interactions.

Like leaning back slightly and resting against Jiang Mei.

The protective vests at this racetrack were thin and elastic, so even through the vest, she could still feel Jiang Mei’s warmth and softness.

Jiang Mei actually had some objections to this, but perhaps because A-Xi had always liked leaning against her like this since she was little, and it wasn’t for long, she would straighten up after a while, so she didn’t say anything, just controlling the horse as it walked around the track.

Finally, the staff member following them couldn’t help but say, “Miss, this is very dangerous. Please sit up straight while the horse is moving!”

Only then did Xie Xitong straighten up, first sincerely apologizing to the staff member, then asking Jiang Mei, “Mei-jiejie, do you want to try galloping with me?”

Before Jiang Mei could answer, she added with a smile, “I wouldn’t trust anyone else, but if it’s Mei-jiejie, I’m not afraid at all! You’re definitely capable!”

Jiang Mei: …

“You overestimate me,” she replied calmly, but still urged the horse to gradually speed up.

The two-person horse for couples could also gallop, but for safety reasons, the staff had emphasized during the “training” that the speed had to be controlled within a certain range, not like galloping on a single horse.

However, speeding up a little, letting the wind brush against their faces and blow through their hair, was still possible.

Jiang Mei took Xie Xitong for three laps around the track.

“I remember back in our country, Mei-jiejie would always receive flying kisses and cheers whenever she rode alone,” Xie Xitong said, noticing the silence in the audience stands, and casually brought up the past.

That was when she was still in middle school. Mei-jiejie, having just come of age, had been like a sharpened sword, radiating a captivating aura.

At the racetrack, she had sat with Jiang Xue, and every time Mei-jiejie galloped past the audience stands, cheers would erupt, and some girls would even whistle.

They were all adults, young and passionate. Seeing a charming and valiant “older sister,” they would act on their impulses. Even if they were rejected, they wouldn’t be discouraged for long, either parting ways amicably or even making a new friend.

Later…

After graduating from university, that sharp sword had been tempered by time and work, gradually sheathed, its edge hidden, only unleashed when necessary.

She had seen the most dazzling Jiang Mei, but she also liked the current, more composed Jiang Mei.

Xie Xitong, lost in thought, didn’t know that her words had made Jiang Mei ponder.

What did she mean by that?

Emphasizing the cheers and flying kisses from the audience, was it a hint? Or was she jealous?

Was A-Xi “acting” based on their fake relationship? Or was she serious?

She thought about it, then reverted to her usual way of thinking.

How did she usually respond to such words?

“…That was when you were little, right?” she said calmly after careful consideration. “It seems to have left a deep impression on you, that you still remember it now.”

“Middle school isn’t exactly ‘when I was little,'” Xie Xitong retorted, then continued with a smile, “But it was about Mei-jiejie, so of course I paid more attention and remember it better.”

…She was saying those ambiguous words again, blurring the lines.

Although Jiang Mei had read many works about love, this was her first time playing the role of someone in a relationship.

Moreover, she was currently in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation—she wanted to make Xie Xitong give up, but she also didn’t want to hurt her deeply and leave lasting emotional scars, making her completely averse to relationships, even with her peers. So she was hesitant about how to respond to Xie Xitong’s words and actions.

—Xiao Linghan, in her consciousness, wanted to transform back into a fox and throw her into Xie Xitong’s arms.

Despite her impatience, Xiao Linghan didn’t plan to interfere in their relationship prematurely. She would let the other version of herself experience it slowly.

Around 11:30 AM, after returning from taking pictures, they returned the horses and protective gear, washed their hands, and ate the food they had brought in the owner’s office.

Cang Ling couldn’t eat or drink without a “ritual offering.” Her portion of food and drinks had been stored in the refrigerator before they left, so she could only watch Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan eat.

The owner, finding her expression endearing, offered to buy her lunch, but Cang Ling declined, saying she was “on a diet.”

If she couldn’t eat, she could still do something.

So Cang Ling used the owner’s computer to look through the photos she had just taken, quickly selecting the ones she liked best and sending them via WeChat, planning to have them made into a photo album when they got back.

“Teacher Sui seems to have a long-term partnership with a photo studio owner. I’ll introduce you later,” Jiang Xue said, eating a cookie.

They hadn’t been sitting there for long when Jiang Mei and Xie Xitong entered, one after the other.

“That was refreshing! I still want to see Mei-jiejie ride alone!” Xie Xitong said, collapsing onto the sofa contentedly. “Just to revisit my ‘childhood memories’!”

Jiang Xue: ?

She was confused. Hadn’t A-Xi been the one persuading her uncle to only consider two-person horses last night when they were discussing the horses?