Chapter 37.1: Father’s Heart

This was an unexpected match. Manager Hu had selected five racehorses from the stables, all of them Class One horses with solid racing experience, each in peak condition.

By comparison, Black Rose’s condition was noticeably different. It looked too relaxed—even its strides during the warm-up carried a certain gentleness.

It seemed that pregnancy could change a woman, and it could also change a mare. This was nature’s transformation of a female under the influence of hormones meant for nurturing.

Old Master Ye looked at Black Rose and shook his head. “It doesn’t seem to have any desire to win. It’s completely in a lazy state.”

Ye Wenjing saw this and glanced at Ye Tianhui with a touch of mockery in his eyes. “Tianhui, didn’t you have high hopes for it?”

Ye Tianhui glanced at Ye Wenjing with a blank expression, then said, “Wenjing-gege, maybe you forgot what Grandpa said.”

Ye Wenjing: “Grandpa said—”

Ye Tianhui directly interrupted him, “Yes, Grandpa said it lacks the will to win, and looks lazy. But Grandpa also said, let’s give it a try. Since he said ‘try’, that means Grandpa thinks there’s still a sliver of hope. Otherwise, do you think Grandpa is so bored he’d waste time watching a race with a predetermined outcome?”

Ye Wenjing was left speechless.

Indeed, it was Old Master Ye who wanted to see how it performed in the race. Before the result came out, no one could say for sure. Otherwise, Grandpa’s decision wouldn’t be considered wise.

Standing to the side, Old Master Ye listened to the conversation between his grandchildren and chuckled. “Tianhui makes a good point. What we’re saying now are just personal opinions—they may not be right. In the end, we’ll have to wait and see what Black Rose does.”

He looked at Ye Wenjing with meaning. “Wenjing, you still don’t know much about horse racing. You should observe more and learn from Tianhui.”

Learn from Tianhui…

Ye Wenjing’s face turned red and pale in patches. Clearly, his little jab earlier had backfired. No matter what, Grandpa had just sided with Ye Tianhui and dismissed him. That alone was already his biggest defeat.

The others around them watched the scene and all understood—Ye Wenjing had been lectured by the old man. It was a bit embarrassing.

Still, everyone pretended not to notice, played dumb, and said nothing.

The atmosphere turned a little awkward.

Ye Tianhui didn’t pay it any mind. Instead, she said to Old Master Ye, “Grandpa, can I go take a closer look at Black Rose?”

Old Master Ye: “Go ahead. If you want to see, then see. Manager Hu, take her over.”

Manager Hu immediately responded and led Ye Tianhui over.

Ye Tianhui followed Manager Hu to the racehorse holding area. She walked up close to Black Rose and carefully observed it.

This horse was indeed born exceptional. Even among thoroughbreds, it was outstanding. It had a long, elegant neck, a deep and wide chest, a smoothly connected back and waist, a light physique, and long limbs. A horse like this would naturally possess explosive power.

But now, it looked tame and gentle. After a round of warm-up, the other horses had clearly gotten into the zone, but Black Rose still seemed leisurely and calm, showing no signs of the usual pre-race excitement.

And yet, it was about to participate in a short one-kilometer sprint. In races like this, the horse that bursts out of the gate first and gains the lead at the starting line could very well be the final winner. Trying to turn things around afterward would cost a lot—and this kind of relaxed state was very unfavorable for Black Rose.

She looked at Black Rose, and Black Rose looked back at her.

She raised her hand and gently stroked Black Rose’s head.

Black Rose seemed a bit surprised but wasn’t repelled—though it didn’t seem particularly welcoming either.

Ye Tianhui took the opportunity to scratch its itch, knowing most horses liked that.

Sure enough, Black Rose looked like it was enjoying it.

Ye Tianhui smiled and said, “You’re a thoroughbred. You were born to run freely on the racetrack. I’ve seen some of your race footage. I believe you love sprinting, love soaring freely, love the thrill of competition, and most of all—you love the feeling of being the first to cross the finish line, don’t you?”

Black Rose quietly looked at her, as if it understood… or maybe it didn’t.

Ye Tianhui continued, “You’re pregnant, but it hasn’t even been a month. Physically, you’re not affected much. You absolutely have the strength to continue competing in this year’s Open Race—to prove your worth to the world.”

Black Rose moved its head slightly.

Ye Tianhui: “Give it a try. If you want to, then go out there and win this race. Earn yourself a ticket to this year’s Open Race. But if you’re really tired, want to slack off, and just want to lie around lazily—then forget it.”

With that, she gave Black Rose a final pat on the head and turned to leave.

Back in the stands, as she sat down, it was clear the Ye family had some questions about what she just did. Even Old Master Ye asked, “What did you say to that horse just now, Tianhui?”

Ye Tianhui smiled. “Grandpa, I just gave it a pep talk. Told it to go all out.”

Old Master Ye laughed. “That’s right. With a big battle coming, we do need to boost morale.”

But obviously, no one took it seriously. A few younger ones nearby even found it amusing. When it came to motivating a horse, who could do better than a professional trainer? Did she think a few words from an amateur would actually make a difference?

Everyone thought that but didn’t say anything aloud. In truth, anyone with even a bit of knowledge could tell that horse was in poor shape—so they were just waiting to see Ye Tianhui make a fool of herself.

As they thought this, the bell rang. The gates opened, and the six horses burst from the starting line at the same time. Everyone instantly held their breath, eyes locked on the scene ahead.

They watched as hooves flew and the horses galloped forward. The pounding rhythm of their steps filled the air. The crowd tensed, eyes wide and unblinking.

But amid the thrilling surge of the race, they saw one horse gradually falling behind—by nearly half a body length.

It was Black Rose.

Clearly, it had lagged behind the moment it left the gate. And in a short-distance race, half a body length was a gap that couldn’t be recovered from.

Old Master Ye kept his eyes fixed on the track, murmuring, “It won’t do… Looks like it’s no good…”

His meaning was clear—Black Rose wasn’t going to make it.

It seemed that this pregnant mare had already lost all her fighting spirit.

Ye Wenyin, standing nearby, glanced coolly at Ye Tianhui after hearing those words.

She was naturally quite pleased, with a hint of vengeful satisfaction.

Didn’t Ye Tianhui think she knew a lot about horses? Didn’t she insist on personally encouraging the horse? Reality had proven it was all unnecessary—if a horse can’t do it, it simply can’t.

Besides, there were deeper, long-term reasons behind this. Ye Lizhen had already discussed it with her—Ye Tianhui actually had the ambition to take over the management rights of the Ye family’s racehorses. That was pure delusion.

And yet, Old Master Ye had agreed to let her place successful bets in three consecutive inter-class races.

Ye Wenyin didn’t believe Ye Tianhui could correctly bet on three races in a row—there were simply too many variables in horse racing. Everything could change in a flash. Hitting all three? Based on what?

Still, she couldn’t help being a little worried. What if she did get them right? With the old man’s ambitions for the racetrack, Ye Tianhui’s status might suddenly skyrocket—and then there’d be no place left for her in the Ye family.

This incident might be small, but it was enough to show the old man how unreliable this so-called “military advisor” was.

As she basked in this small victory, Ye Wenyin turned her attention back to the racetrack—only to see that Black Rose had already fallen behind the leading horse by more than half a body length.

Even more now!

The spectators around them were also frowning more deeply. It seemed that pregnancy really had affected the horse—there was no sign of its former championship strength.

Old Master Ye frowned too, shook his head, and sighed.

Ye Tianhui stared intently at the racetrack, her eyes fixed on Black Rose, who was trailing behind the pack.

She had spent years on the battlefield, had seen countless horses, lived with them day in and day out. She knew every movement and reaction of a horse like the back of her hand.

She could see it—Black Rose’s strong muscles had begun to activate, bulging with effort. Its entire demeanor was different from before—no longer gentle.

She stared at Black Rose as if watching a soul being awakened by the pounding of hooves, as if a spirit of freedom was breaking free from its shackles.

And at that moment, others began to notice too.

The crowd gasped. Some even covered their mouths in shock to stifle their exclamations.

The staff at the racetrack were staring wide-eyed.

Who would have thought—right there on the track—Black Rose suddenly surged forward, like it had just awakened from a deep sleep. Its hooves lifted high, and its previously irregular gait became sharp, swift, and powerful. Its speed kept climbing.

It was like someone had installed a motor inside it—its speed skyrocketed in an instant!

In the audience, the horse trainer could no longer contain himself. He forgot all about the distinguished guests nearby, clenched his fists, and roared, “Black Rose, run!!”

In the stands, not just the younger ones—even Old Master Ye had stood up. He clutched the railing, leaned forward, eyes wide open, holding his breath. The veins on his temples were throbbing.

Why is horse racing so popular in the human world? Because people can witness a lifeform unleash a power they themselves could never hope to match—a raw vitality that’s the purest testament to the will of the Creator.

And now, people were witnessing it again: a horse that had seemingly lost all will to fight was now surging ahead, rising up, blooming like a rose bud unfurling in full glory.

They watched Black Rose, watched the free-spirited soul galloping with abandon, and their hearts swelled with exhilaration and awe.

At that moment, whether it could win no longer mattered. What mattered was that it had found its vitality again.

And all of it happened in the blink of an eye.

The galloping horses, surging forward with immense momentum, were nearing the finish line. The crowd craned their necks, held their breath, waiting to see the final result.

Finally, Black Rose crossed the finish line first.

The crowd erupted into cheers. The trainer yelled in excitement, “My Black Rose! My Black Rose is amazing!”

Old Master Ye’s voice was hoarse with excitement. “Excellent, excellent! A true champion horse! An extraordinary steed!”

Manager Hu quickly brought over the race data and said in a low voice, “Black Rose won by half a horse’s head!”

His face was flushed with excitement, and he spoke rapidly: “But during the first half of the race, Black Rose was trailing by almost half a body. Normally, that kind of gap is impossible to recover from. But Black Rose caught up in the second half—nearly three-quarters of a body length!”

Bear in mind—Black Rose’s opponents were all top-tier racing horses, the best of their class. Yet Black Rose managed to not only catch up in such a short race, but also finish ahead by half a head.

And what was even more incredible—after finishing the race, Black Rose wasn’t even out of breath. For a horse like this, such a short distance was child’s play!

He took a deep breath and continued, “This horse’s explosive power is unbelievable! Truly a thoroughbred—a champion horse!”

Old Master Ye finally caught his breath and then let out a hearty laugh. “That was magnificent. I’ve just witnessed a miracle today. I’m beyond satisfied. Watching this horse makes me feel like I could fly!”

His words prompted a burst of laughter from the crowd.

Among the other grandchildren present, however, the mood was not so light. Ye Wenyong cast a thoughtful glance at Ye Tianhui.

He squinted slightly, thinking—looks like he’d underestimated Ye Tianhui.

Ye Wenyin, on the other hand, felt even worse. Standing on the edge of the crowd, she was actually a little embarrassed.

She hadn’t believed in Black Rose and had even presented statistical data. But now, after such a spectacular performance, her numbers looked laughable and irrelevant.

She took a deep breath and began thinking of her next move. But then, she heard excited cheering nearby—it was Ye Wenjing.

Ye Wenjing was clearly moved, entirely caught up in the excitement. He’d already forgotten all the mocking things he’d said earlier, thoroughly swept up by the sight of that galloping horse.

She curled her lips in a sarcastic smile. How utterly ridiculous.

She had always thought this older cousin of hers was a fool. And clearly, he was.

He had just mocked Ye Tianhui earlier, and now he’d been completely slapped in the face—did he not feel ashamed?

Nearby, Old Master Ye was still brimming with excitement. “Tianhui, your eye for horses is exceptional. You were the only one who saw that Black Rose could win.”

Manager Hu also looked delighted. “Miss Ye truly has a deep understanding of horse racing. You could tell the horse’s potential with just one look!”

Old Master Ye laughed heartily, utterly pleased. “Tianhui, tell us—how did you motivate that horse?”

Ye Tianhui smiled. “It was nothing special. I just told it: Do your best—you must win.”

Everyone laughed when they heard that.

Black Rose’s victory had put Old Master Ye in an excellent mood. He personally went to the stables afterward, spoke with the staff there in detail, and learned about Black Rose’s training regimen.

After seeing Black Rose’s performance, his confidence soared. He even gave words of encouragement to the stable staff.

According to the racetrack’s policies, if Black Rose won a prize, the stable workers would receive a share of the winnings. But Old Master Ye also promised that if Black Rose achieved outstanding results, he would personally give extra bonuses to those in charge of the horse.

After hearing Old Master Ye’s speech, the staff were naturally invigorated. One by one, they eagerly rolled up their sleeves, determined to take good care of Black Rose and ensure her training went smoothly. They were intent on making sure Black Rose would compete in this year’s Open Race in top condition.

Old Master Ye was extremely satisfied and prepared to head out to Happy Valley.

Before leaving, Manager Hu found a chance to speak privately with Ye Tianhui. “Congratulations, Miss Ye, congratulations. Your status now is completely different. I apologize for how I treated you before—please forgive me.”

He had once tried to fire Ye Tianhui. Deep down, he hadn’t taken her seriously. But now that she had soared to new heights like a phoenix, he naturally felt a bit worried that she might hold a grudge.

Ye Tianhui didn’t mind at all. She said, “It’s nothing. Manager Hu, you were just doing what you had to, weren’t you?”

There was hidden meaning in her words, making Manager Hu a little helpless, unable to say much—he could only smile bitterly.

Indeed, he had tried to fire Ye Tianhui because of Ye Wenyin. Back then, who would’ve thought there was such a complicated entanglement between the two women of the Ye family? He couldn’t afford to offend Ye Wenyin, so of course, he had to drive Ye Tianhui away.

Seeing this, Ye Tianhui became even more certain that her guess had been right.

Looking at it now, although she had entered a wealthy family, the road ahead was long and full of challenges—there was still a long way to go.

She smiled and said, “Manager Hu, my friend Jessie in the stables is quite capable. Please look after her a bit more.”

Manager Hu naturally agreed repeatedly, and then asked about Lin Jianquan. “He’s also your friend, isn’t he, Miss Ye? If it weren’t for you, he probably wouldn’t be alive now. Would you like to see him? He’s training in the stables’ training room—not far at all.”

At the mention of Lin Jianquan’s name, Ye Tianhui looked off into the distance.

At the far end of the green, grassy racecourse stood a small white building—that was the training room. Lin Jianquan was there undergoing training.

That training must be grueling—designed to push young boys to the limits of both body and spirit, beyond what most people could endure.

Now that she had entered the Ye family, a few thousand Hong Kong dollars was no longer a big issue. Helping him would be easy—just one word from her, and Manager Hu would immediately assign him a more comfortable job. He wouldn’t have to suffer anymore and could enjoy a peaceful life like an ordinary person.

But so what?

She wasn’t a savior—she couldn’t rescue other people’s lives.

She knew he had his own pride.

Smiling, she said, “No need. Let him focus on his training. I should be able to see him on the field at the upcoming Interclass Race soon, right?”

Manager Hu immediately understood what she meant and smiled. “Of course. In another week, Lin Jianquan will make his debut at the Interclass Race.”