Chapter 296

During the weekend, the weather in Meng City was a bit gloomy.

Xiao Qi still went to the equestrian field early in the morning to practice horse riding.

These days, she had quite a lot going on and her mind was a bit messy. After riding around the field a few laps and breaking out in a sweat, she suddenly felt refreshed and clear-headed.

Interacting with animals was still the simplest. When galloping on horseback, that feeling was too awesome, like flying.

Before coming to the equestrian field, Xiao Qi also went to practice driving. She drove very well, not at all like a new driver. As usual, she also gave the coach cigarettes. The coach said he had already scheduled her road test and she had enough logged driving hours, so she could take the test next week.

The smoking coach was especially congenial.

Xiao Qi skillfully blocked her sense of smell.

When she arrived at the equestrian field, although the smell of animals was unpleasant, Xiao Qi still opened up her sense of smell, because different smells also showed the different physical conditions of the horses. Xiao Qi felt a bit like those new moms who would habitually smell the scents, including feces, from their babies’ bodies to judge if they were healthy or if something was wrong.

And to coach Steven, this made him even more satisfied. He felt his student not only had perfect talent and was hardworking in practice, but she was also not afraid to work hard and get dirty and tired. He had originally thought she was just a rich daddy's girl here to curry favor. But it turned out she wasn't at all. She came to the equestrian field just to groom the horses, practice horse riding, and eat.

Mr. Xiao, who had originally brought her here, didn't show up at the field often either.

On the contrary, as he got to know his student more, Steven felt she was very outstanding with distinguished temperament.

He was already discussing with Mr. Xiao to let Xiao Qi first participate in a small competition to get some experience.

Although equestrian sports were not on a very large scale domestically, he knew there was an autumn horse racing event in the capital sponsored by a luxury brand, which was decently big in scale. It would be just right for Xiao Qi to get some practice. Mr. Xiao knew the young girl had a lot of ideas of her own so he didn't make decisions for her. He let Steven ask her himself.

Xiao Qi got off the horse back, still a bit out of breath. Steven eagerly asked, "Sue, I want you to participate in an equestrian competition in the capital. What do you think?"

"The capital?"

Xiao Qi was stunned. It was so far away. She hadn't even been there before.

"Won't it affect school?"

"No. It's on the weekend. You'd miss two days max. Xiao said your grades are very good so it definitely won't delay your studies," Steven explained.

"Is there prize money?" Xiao Qi asked.

Hearing this question, Steven laughed loudly. He had seen his student's televised interview where she bluntly said she joined the marathon for the prize money so he was prepared.

"Yes. First place gets 100 thousand USD. Second place gets 30 thousand. Third place gets 10 thousand," he informed her.

Xiao Qi nodded, "Okay. Give me the specific time and arrangements on WeChat, coach."

Steven guaranteed he would make the arrangements properly. Arranging student competitions was something he used to do frequently. Finally, after what felt like centuries, he was going to be back at the arena, even if it was just a small competition. Steven already felt somewhat impatient. After getting back, he video called his old buddies right away to announce the good news and invited them to come watch in person if they were free.

His old buddies all giggled and agreed but after hanging up, they sighed again feeling that Steven had really fallen. He was so excited even for such a small competition and the student he was teaching was just an ordinary one with supposedly no prior experience other than with donkeys. Yet he was boasting about her... His old friends felt they could already foresee his tragic outcome.

His ex-wife had remarried and from what was heard, she was extremely blissful with her new husband, a supermarket owner, and they were planning to go to Huaguo for their honeymoon...

Steven's ex-wife was also Chinese.

His old friends looked at the competition schedule and the honeymoon plans and timing his ex-wife Olivia had made. They almost couldn't bear to keep watching.

It seemed Olivia did it on purpose because when she remarried, Steven didn't react much at all. He just said congratulations.

Unaware that he was already the subject of deep sympathy from his old pals, Steven excitedly started preparing for the competition while also modifying Xiao Qi's training. Previously, the training had always been kept simple, mainly focused on improving her rapport with horses and speed. Next, he would focus more on the content needed for the equestrian dressage event including cantering, half pass, leg yield, pirouette, rein back, changes of direction and pace, and advanced riding maneuvers etc. These all had to be completed within designated times and spaces with standard form. Professional judges would then score based on performance. Steven had not taught her these before. He had chosen to repeatedly hone her fundamentals because his philosophy was that one could only build advanced skills on solid basics. However, his previous student had been impatient with fundamentals and secretly found his own coach to practice the advanced techniques. He was also unsatisfied with Steven, feeling Steven was deliberately dragging him down and wasting his time and talent.

Xiao Qi didn't understand any of this. Her biggest advantage right now was her willingness to learn diligently and execute instructions faithfully without questioning or taking initiative on her own. Therefore, even though every session was just repetitive drills, she always completed everything meticulously beyond expectations.

For Xiao Qi, athletic practice was a relaxing form of learning while also relaxing mentally. She was essentially a person who tended to repress herself but sports had already changed her a lot.

Compared to previously, her current temperament was completely different, with more nonchalance. Her original sense of inferiority was also diminishing more and more.

After finishing horse riding practice and getting her hand painted in henna, Xiao Qi took a shower and ate dinner by which time the sky was already dark. She had spent almost the entire day at the equestrian club today because the coach said he would be changing up the training approach.

As she was getting ready to head back, she received a call from Honey: "Xiao Qi, you're on TV again. Where are you? Hurry turn on the TV. The local Meng City news is showing you."

Xiao Qi checked the time. It was past 8 pm. Based on the background noise, it sounded like Honey was with quite a few people. Curious, she asked, "I'm still at the equestrian field. Where are you? It's so noisy over there?"

"Some student council friends. We're at a new cafe that just opened in New District. Nice environment and they've got a TV. Want to join us after you're done?" Honey offered.

"I can watch TV here so I'll come find you guys after I see the footage," Xiao Qi replied.

The equestrian club dining area had a television that Xiao Qi switched on. It opened on the default local Meng City Channel One station.

Just as Xiao Qi turned on the TV, the anchors were introducing Qingmeng University's English speech contest finals. Qingmeng University held very high status in Meng City so almost anything from the school warranted coverage as though everything they did smelled like roses deserving air time.

The footage showed contestant Tang Baolin, a beautiful girl from Qingmeng University who was probably their campus belle. Then it introduced Xiao Qi, a new student from Enhua University, who won the grand prize in this speech contest...

Reading this news, the anchors seemed to freeze up awkwardly for a moment.

Watching herself on the screen, Xiao Qi felt increasingly disconnected from that person.

Currently with Honey were Li Ruisheng, Li Ruisheng's roommate, and two other student council members. Five people - three guys and two girls hanging out together playing board games. Honey said she wanted to record a video so she asked them to wait a moment.

Li Ruisheng very gracefully waited as he watched the girl giving a speech on TV. She was gorgeous, fitting to be Qingmeng University's campus flower.

But Honey excitedly yelled, "Look, my deskmate is coming up next!"

Then Li Ruisheng saw that girl on screen with teardrops clinging onto her eyelashes. Her expression held no grief and even had a trace of a smile, yet when she spoke, it made viewers feel distressed for some inexplicable reason.

Li Ruisheng had fairly decent English. He understood most of what she said. He stared dumbly, dazed.