Qin Lan's face had gone white as paper.Her hands gripped the reins so tightly her knuckles blanched, but no matter how she pulled, the white stallion refused to obey.
"Chasing Wind"—the docile, almost catlike horse she'd trained for years—was suddenly possessed, as wild and furious as a creature from the primeval plains.
None of her commands worked.
The ground thundered beneath them. The violent jolts sent her body arching backward—
—and with a dull thud, she crashed straight into the solid, searing warmth behind her.
Jiang Xun's instincts took over.One arm snaked around her waist like a steel band, holding her steady, enclosing her completely in his embrace.
The world spun out of control.
Qin Lan's mind went blank.All she could hear was the stallion's frantic neighing, the wind tearing past her ears like knives.
Her whole body pressed against the man behind her—every rise and drop of the horse driving them into each other.
She could feel his heartbeat—strong, steady, impossibly calm.His arm firm against her waist.The heat of his body burning through layers of clothing.
Shame.Fear.And something else—something alien and electric—surged through her veins all at once.
Then—
A low, composed voice brushed against her ear, quiet but filled with unshakable authority.
"Don't move."
It was Jiang Xun.
Not a trace of panic in his tone—just the quiet certainty of someone who'd already decided the outcome.
She felt his hand cover hers on the reins. Her fingers were trembling, knotted with strain.
He leaned forward, chest molding against her back, and whispered something soft into the horse's ear—words only the three of them could hear.
"Whoa—"
Miraculously, the beast obeyed.
The horse's whole body shuddered. Then, as if someone had hit pause, it froze.
The arena fell silent.
Hundreds of people watched in stunned disbelief.
Qin Lan stayed perfectly still in Jiang Xun's arms, afraid that even breathing might shatter the fragile calm.
She could still feel his arm around her waist—hot, unrelenting, grounding.
And his heartbeat—steady, measured, utterly unfazed.
Thump.Thump.Each beat echoed in her skull like a drum.
The stable manager looked ready to faint.The crowd of students—all young women—stood gaping, their eyes blazing with jealousy so intense it could have set straw on fire.
But Jiang Xun didn't let go.If anything, he pulled her even closer.
His voice came low and teasing, brushing her ear like a smirk turned into sound.
"Coach, can you still hold on?"
"You—"
Hold on to your grandmother!
The words almost burst out, but before she could say more, Jiang Xun moved.
He guided her hands with his, tugged the reins lightly—and pressed his legs gently against the horse's flanks.
"Go."
A single command, quiet yet irresistible.
The stallion surged forward like a released arrow.
"Ah!"
Qin Lan's startled cry was swept away by the wind.
The speed was terrifying. Her mind couldn't even keep up—her body just reacted, pinned against him by sheer momentum.
The air sliced across her face, the world a blur of green and gold.
Every gallop drove her harder against his chest, until not even a whisper of space remained between them.
The sleek fabric of her riding uniform, usually a symbol of control and composure, became a torment—every brush, every tremor magnified.
She could feel the steady rhythm of his breath, the iron firmness of his chest, even his low, amused laugh vibrating against her spine.
Her brain stopped functioning.
I'm finished, she thought, half-crazed. The university's top equestrian coach—ruined in one day.
She tried to resist, to reclaim control, but Jiang Xun's arm was immovable.And his hand over hers—confident, commanding—left no room for defiance.
Acceleration.Turn.Faster.
Under his lead, "Chasing Wind" no longer felt like a horse but a living storm, cutting wild arcs across the green field.
Each turn slammed her closer into him.Each surge made her whole body tingle from the shock and friction.
Her strength, her discipline, her pride—shattered.
Shame flared like fire from her toes to her scalp.
She wasn't a coach anymore—she was a hostage to motion, to heat, to the terrifying awareness of his presence.
That unfamiliar tremor inside her grew, spiraling upward from her spine to the base of her skull until she nearly forgot how to breathe.
"Relax."
His voice came again, deep and resonant, carrying a calm that slipped under her skin.
"Trust me."
Trust you? In your dreams!
Qin Lan bit her lip, furious and flustered.This reckless, impossible man—this walking embodiment of chaos—
But when the roar of the wind drowned everything else, when all she could feel was his steady heartbeat behind her…
A strange, absurd sense of safety bloomed in her chest.
As if, in this moment, nothing could touch her—as long as he was there.
The thought alone was enough to set her face aflame.
I've lost my mind.
She wanted to scream.
Then—silence.
The horse slowed, then stopped with a clean, elegant halt, standing proud in the center of the field.
The world was still again.
Qin Lan remained in Jiang Xun's arms, gasping for breath, limp with exhaustion.Her legs trembled like water.Without his support, she would've slid right off.
Jiang Xun looked down at her—her face flushed, eyes bright, every inch of her trembling with life.
She looked less like a coach and more like a proud falcon caught mid-flight—momentarily caged, but still burning with defiance.
He released her, dismounted in one graceful motion, and turned back toward her, hand extended.
His stance was effortlessly composed—every move deliberate, unhurried.
Qin Lan stared at his outstretched hand, her thoughts a tangled mess.
She wanted to get down herself, but her legs wouldn't cooperate.
Finally, she placed her trembling hand into his.
His palm was broad, dry, and burning hot.
The moment he pulled, her body lifted easily from the saddle—weightless, almost floating.
But the second her feet touched the ground, her knees buckled.
With a startled gasp, she fell forward—
—and crashed into him again.
This time, face to chest.
The clean scent of soap and sunlight filled her nose.His heartbeat thudded right against her cheek.
"Coach," Jiang Xun murmured, his voice low, teasing."Falling for me already?"
"Who—who's falling for you?! My legs just gave out!"
She shoved him away like a cat caught in embarrassment, face flushed scarlet.
She tried to sound composed, but her voice wavered, roughened by adrenaline.
"You… you were reckless! Irresponsible!"
"Was I?"
He arched a brow, unconcerned.
Walking past her, he stroked the stallion's neck with easy familiarity, like greeting an old friend.
"I think he ran beautifully."
"You—"
Her words died in her throat. Rage warred with disbelief, then something far more dangerous.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus.
But when her eyes met his again, her heartbeat stumbled.
He wasn't the bulky, muscle-bound type—but his calm dominance, his absolute control, radiated a kind of power she'd never encountered before.
For the first time in her life, Qin Lan understood what it meant to be captivated.
Not just admiration.Not attraction.Something deeper.
It terrified her.
A wild thought crossed her mind, unbidden, ridiculous—
No wonder so many women fight over him.Being conquered by a man like this… feels like this.
Watching his retreating figure, her pulse raced.
Damn it.
This man—he's mine.
[Ding!]Special character detected: Qin Lan. Emotional link established.Affection Level: 30 — "Heart Stirred."Family Prestige +1500!
The familiar voice of the system echoed in Jiang Xun's mind.
He turned back, eyes half-lidded, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Coach," he said lazily, "today's lesson is over. I'm a bit tired."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked off toward the arena gates.
Qin Lan stood frozen, fists clenched, cheeks still burning.
Tired? Running away?
Not a chance.