23: She must change everything!

After leading the racehorses back to the stables and settling them in, Lin Jianquan lowered his head to sort out the horse blankets nearby.  

Ye Tianhui looked at him. He was thin, quiet, and habitually kept his eyes downcast, allowing his long eyelashes to obscure his emotions.  

She asked, “Do you want to go?”  

Her words were brief, but she knew Lin Jianquan understood her meaning.  

Lin Jianquan froze momentarily before replying softly, “I’m a trainee jockey.”  

Ye Tianhui said nothing.  

Lin Jianquan continued, “From the moment I stepped into this stable, what I want no longer matters.”  

With that, he resumed his work.  

Ye Tianhui silently watched his back. She didn’t like this version of Lin Jianquan—a person so devoid of spirit, so seemingly resigned to his fate.  

But she couldn’t say anything to him.  

After all, there was nothing she could do to help.  

It was just like that horse, Teng Yunwu. She was certain it was the reincarnation of the Chi Yan, yet she could do nothing about it. She could only watch as Teng Yunwu remained confined to the stables at Happy Valley.  

Thinking of this, she let out a cold laugh. “One day, I will change all of this.”  

As she said this, she turned her head and looked out through the lattice window of the stable.  

The stables were built along the mountainside, with a lush green horse track winding into the distance. On the track, Ye Wenyin and Chen Jiarui were horseback riding, accompanied by a coach.  

Their equestrian attire was exquisite, especially Ye Wenyin’s. Her elegantly tailored blue riding suit, paired with a matching hat and gloves, and knee-high boots exuded a classical elegance. 

At that moment, a horse in the stable let out a soft whinny. Ye Tianhui raised her hand and gently stroked the horse to soothe it.  

Her gaze, however, remained fixed on the scene outside the window.  

To be honest, Ye Tianhui didn’t care much about the Ye family. If they acknowledged her, she would naturally be happy. If not, some money to settle things would suffice.  

She believed her hardships were only temporary. With her own hands, she was confident she could carve out a place for herself in this glittering world.  

Yet, at this moment, she found herself shamefully envying Ye Wenyin.  

At least now, as a stable assistant, she could only endure the smell of manure while watching her friends bow to circumstances and her beloved horse eat grass, dull and lifeless. Meanwhile, the young lady of the Ye family could ride gracefully on the lush green track, dressed in elegant equestrian attire.  

Some memories of her past life had become so distant that she started to long for them—the feeling of holding reins in her hands, galloping swiftly under the moonlight, the sound of hooves echoing through the vast desert like snow.  

As Ye Tianhui watched, Ye Wenyin happened to glance back, their eyes meeting across the distance.  

Through the dazzling sunlight, they could sense each other’s gaze.  

In that moment, Ye Tianhui understood—Ye Wenyin already knew.  

The way Ye Wenyin looked at her was probing, scrutinizing, and guarded.  

She must have known.  

In retrospect, from the very first time she met Ye Wenyin, her attitude had seemed peculiar, unusually attentive.  

Ye Tianhui could only guess that Ye Wenyin might have recognized her the moment they met.  

Anything was possible.  

Her adoptive “mother” in the mainland had always been wary of her. After she left Beijing, perhaps her mother had deduced her whereabouts. She already had contact information for the Ye family in Hong Kong. Under such circumstances, it was entirely possible that she had reached out to Ye Wenyin to inform her of Ye Tianhui’s situation, allowing her to prepare in advance.  

Taking it a step further, perhaps her mother had sent her photo to Ye Wenyin?  

If that were the case, then the events at the Jockey Club would make sense. Ye Wenyin had already recognized her and was deliberately testing her by giving her leftover pastries.  

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, someone approached to inform her that Miss Ye needed an assistant.  

Ye Tianhui quickly tidied herself up and followed along. Upon arriving, she overheard Ye Wenyin discussing training plans for a few new horses with the horse trainer. Chen Jiarui was adjusting the saddle of a horse nearby, while several other horses stood waiting, held by a trainer.  

With just one glance, Ye Tianhui recognized that these were the so-called “British Thoroughbreds” Gu Shizhang had mentioned. Judging by their equipment, they must be the prized horses the Ye family had recently acquired from auctions in England, specifically for the current racing season.  

The trainer explained, “When these four horses arrived at our stables, they underwent a full medical examination right away. Their physical conditions are excellent. Next, we’ll help them acclimate to the environment, adjust their internal clocks, and adapt to the climate. Once that’s done, we’ll start formal training. According to our plan, this process should be completed within a month.”  

Ye Wenyin glanced at the horses from time to time while flipping through the documents in her hands. Eventually, her gaze settled on a black mare. “These horses all come from Newhaven Park, which has bred many outstanding world champions. As for this black mare, her name is Black Rose. Her sire is the famous stallion Kentucky Pete, and her dam is Bergene, an American Grade 1 champion. Black Rose was auctioned to England as a yearling, and by the age of three, she had already gained renown there. Now, at three and a half years old, she’s at the peak of her prime.” 

Ye Wenyin nodded slightly. “But it still doesn’t seem very energetic. It looks like it needs more time to adjust to the time difference.”  

The horse trainer agreed. “We plan to start it on some light exercise, so Miss Ye can try riding it today.”  

Ye Wenyin smiled. “Of course, I’d like to know what it feels like to ride a horse that’s famous across Britain.”  

As soon as she spoke, preparations began. Chen Jiarui picked a horse and was already ready to mount it. However, Ye Wenyin decided to head to the changing room first. Since the horse trainer and others present were all men, they naturally asked Ye Tianhui to accompany her.  

Ye Tianhui followed Ye Wenyin to the changing room. Once there, Ye Wenyin casually opened her bag and instructed Ye Tianhui, “I’d like a cup of coffee.”  

Ye Tianhui noticed that there was a coffee machine nearby, but she wasn’t familiar with how to use it. After examining it for a moment, she pressed one of the buttons, and sure enough, the machine began to work.  

Watching her, Ye Wenyin suddenly remarked, “I’m not a petty person, so you can rest assured.”  

Hearing this, Ye Tianhui replied calmly, “I believe Miss Ye isn’t. Miss Ye is kind and gentle.”  

This response seemed to satisfy Ye Wenyin, who then, as if casually, began asking about Ye Tianhui’s background and her job.  

Finally, she asked with curiosity, “It must not be easy for someone from the mainland to find a job like this, right?”  

Ye Tianhui answered, “That’s true.”  

With that, she handed the coffee to Ye Wenyin.  

Ye Wenyin took the coffee and smiled as she looked at Ye Tianhui.  

Although the two were about the same height, at this moment, Ye Wenyin, wearing riding boots, naturally exuded a more commanding presence.  

Her elegant, refined equestrian outfit and neatly tied up hair radiated an aura of British aristocracy.  

By contrast, Ye Tianhui, dressed in the uniform of the stables, looked completely out of place next to her.  

Holding the coffee with an air of grace, Ye Wenyin looked down at Ye Tianhui and said, “Ye Tianhui, you’re quite clever and more capable than I expected.”  

Ye Tianhui smiled. “Miss Ye, thank you for the compliment.”  

Ye Wenyin continued, “But unfortunately, ‘a pig that eats well still ends up slaughtered.’”  

She said the second part so quickly that Ye Tianhui didn’t catch it.  

Understanding this, Ye Wenyin took a small sip of the coffee, then immediately spat it out into a tissue.  

She handed the tissue to Ye Tianhui. Seeing this, Ye Tianhui lowered her head, took it, and threw it into the trash bin nearby.  

She understood that Ye Wenyin had done it on purpose, deliberately giving her orders. But it didn’t matter—she could do as she pleased.  

After disposing of the tissue, she turned back to hear Ye Wenyin give another instruction. “Help me put these into the storage cabinet over there.”  

Ye Tianhui looked over and saw a silk scarf spread out on the dressing table. On it were a watch, a diamond-studded hair clip, and a pair of earrings.  

Although she had been poor in this life, she had seen such things in her past life. She could tell that both the hair clip and earrings were expensive, and as for the watch, its golden gleam clearly indicated it was a luxury brand.

Those foreign luxury watches are outrageously expensive.  

She said, “Miss Ye, these items are too valuable. If even one goes missing, I couldn’t afford to replace it even if I sold everything I own. Please wait a moment, and I’ll call our manager to help secure them properly.”  

Hearing this, Ye Wenyin frowned immediately.  

She chuckled. “You’re like an eel, always slipping away as if afraid someone’s going to take advantage of you.”  

Ye Tianhui didn’t care about the comment. She went out and immediately called Jessie. Jessie understood the importance of the situation and promptly consulted Manager Hu. Manager Hu then brought over two security guards. Together, they fetched a safe and, in Ye Wenyin’s presence, placed the jewelry into the safe. The key was then handed to Ye Wenyin.  

Manager Hu smiled and said, “Miss Ye, next time you visit, if you bring valuable jewelry like this, let us know in advance, and we’ll be prepared.”  

Taking the key, Ye Wenyin looked slightly awkward. “I just forgot.”  

Naturally, wearing jewelry while horseback riding wasn’t practical. She had arrived in her riding outfit but brought these items, which was indeed an oversight.  

Manager Hu didn’t comment further and kept smiling politely, assigning a riding coach to accompany Ye Wenyin for her practice.  

—

Once Ye Wenyin went to ride, Ye Tianhui returned to the stables. After cleaning up the area with Jessie, she had some free time. She headed to the management office next to the stables, where there was a phone. She dialed Gu Shizhang’s number, but after ringing for a while, there was no answer.  

She had to hang up. After thinking for a moment, she decided to call Jiang Lingfeng instead.  

This time, the call was answered quickly. A voice came through: “Who’s calling?”  

Ye Tianhui said, “Hello, I’m looking for Jiang Lingfeng. Is he there?”  

The voice immediately replied, “Hold on—”  

Then the person shouted, “Feng Ge, a pretty lady’s calling for you!”  

Soon, there was some movement, and Jiang Lingfeng answered the phone. “Hello?”  

Ye Tianhui: “Lingfeng, it’s me.”  

Jiang Lingfeng sounded surprised. “Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Is something wrong?”  

Ye Tianhui: “I just have a question. Are you busy right now? If you are, we can talk later.”  

Jiang Lingfeng: “Not at all. Go ahead and ask.”  

Ye Tianhui then asked, “We’re currently holding temporary residence permits. If—just hypothetically—if I were to get into trouble and be arrested by their police, what would happen?”  

Jiang Lingfeng’s tone became serious. “The current policies of the Hong Kong authorities toward us are unstable. There’s no definitive rule. If it’s handled well, they may treat it like any local resident’s case. If not, they might deport you back to the mainland.”  

Ye Tianhui: “So it depends on the authorities, and there’s no strict regulation?”  

Jiang Lingfeng: “Exactly.”  

Ye Tianhui understood. “Got it. I might have more questions for you later. Let’s meet up sometime.”  

Jiang Lingfeng: “Sure. If anything comes up, just give me a call. If I’m unavailable, leave a message with whoever answers, and I’ll call you back.”  

Ye Tianhui: “Okay. I’m moving soon. I’ll let you know my new number once it’s ready.”  

Jiang Lingfeng: “Moving?”  

Ye Tianhui then explained her current situation. Jiang Lingfeng agreed it was a good arrangement. “That’ll save on rent and food expenses. It’s a good deal, and the work doesn’t seem hard either.”  

Ye Tianhui was satisfied. “Exactly. That’s why I’m planning to be careful and do my best!” 

After hanging up the phone, Ye Tianhui thought about Ye Wenyin’s actions that day.  

Ye Wenyin’s hostility toward her was blatant. Asking her to take care of such valuable jewelry was clearly setting a trap.  

If this spoiled young lady casually accused her of theft without any witnesses around, it would be impossible to clear her name.  

If the police got involved, with Ye Wenyin’s social status and connections, it would take little effort to create a reason to pressure the authorities. She could be deported or even meet a mysterious end at sea.  

For someone of her standing, even if ten or eight people like her were thrown into the sea, there wouldn’t be so much as a ripple.  

If she fell into this trap, she wouldn’t be Ye Tianhui anymore.  

But even if she avoided this particular situation, she couldn’t dodge trouble forever.  

Right now, Ye Wenyin’s schemes were small-scale antics. If she got serious, there would be no shortage of ways to deal with her.  

What good was it to know a little self-defense? Two fists couldn’t beat four hands.  

For a moment, she worried about Lin Jianquan. The fact that Ye Wenyin had taken an interest in him was troubling.  

If Ye Wenyin wanted to target her, could she start by going after Lin Jianquan?  

Although she wasn’t close to Lin Jianquan, they worked together at the same stables. Since Ye Wenyin had seen them coming and going together, she might misunderstand and cause trouble for Lin Jianquan. That was something Ye Tianhui absolutely didn’t want to happen.  

She wanted to find out more about Lin Jianquan’s situation, but it wasn’t easy. The Ye family’s horses were kept in a dedicated stable, with strict boundaries between the stables and tightly managed areas. Without permission, she couldn’t wander around.  

Even if she could sneak over, Ye Wenyin was likely waiting to catch her slipping up. If she got caught, there would be no leniency, and she’d undoubtedly be deported.  

Under such circumstances, Ye Tianhui had no choice but to behave herself and try to gather information through Jessie. Jessie handed her a key and said, “This is for one of the empty stables nearby. It’s separate from the other stable areas, so it’ll be convenient for you to stay there.”  

Ye Tianhui thought it was a good idea. The stables had air conditioning and hot water, and most importantly, it was free. Although living there meant occasional night shifts and taking care of the racehorses’ morning exercises, it still saved money.  

Feeling pleased, she decided to set aside her worries for now and focus on moving. As her shift ended, she took the key and prepared to leave.  

To her surprise, as soon as she stepped out of the stables, she saw a tall figure standing outside the red-walled enclosure.  

It was Gu Shizhang.  

He was dressed simply in a gray hooded utility jacket, casual sneakers, and a fisherman’s hat. For once, he wasn’t wearing glasses.  

The brim of the fisherman’s hat was slightly tilted down, accentuating his high nose bridge and deep-set eyes. His striking appearance carried a cold, metallic charm.  

Looking at this version of Gu Shizhang, Ye Tianhui found him both familiar and unfamiliar.  

Her familiarity with men stemmed from her time on the mainland, where military blues and grays dominated. Everyone dressed plainly, following the rules and routines.  

Since coming to Hong Kong, she had noticed the variety in how men dressed—some even wore flared jeans and styled their hair into large curls, looking almost like women.  

To her, such men were too concerned with appearances and lacked masculinity.  

She didn’t see these meticulously dressed Hong Kong men as “men” but as people from a different world, foreign and incomprehensible.  

But Gu Shizhang was different.  

If he had been in the mainland’s sea of blue Zhongshan suits, he would’ve stood out as too trendy and fashionable. His distinct Hong Kong flair was cold, subtle, and uniquely appealing.  

Under her gaze, Gu Shizhang smiled and said, “You called me?”