Chapter 45: You Said You Like To Eat It
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Xi Mo glanced at Ruan Yesheng's hand resting on her shoulder, fell silent for a moment, and said: “Try to get on first. Recall the steps I explained earlier, exert force with your right foot and leap.”
Ruan Yesheng pursed her lips, just as the word 'leap' fell from Xi Mo's mouth, she lifted her right foot slightly off the ground and attempted to leap a distance that was neither too high nor too low. However, she didn't even manage to surpass the horse's belly, let alone clear the saddle.
"...Wait a minute." Ruan Yesheng's right foot fell back to the ground.
After adjusting her posture, she attempted several more times, but still couldn't succeed.
Her face slightly tilted, avoiding looking at Xi Mo, seemingly embarrassed.
Ruan Yesheng wasn't someone who easily got embarrassed.
A person's life cannot be smooth. From growth to maturity, even the brightest individuals inevitably make mistakes and face embarrassing situations. Especially for someone like Ruan Yesheng, who is both a dancer and an actress, often facing the public. If there were mistakes during performances, it wasn't just an ordinary embarrassment. However, even in front of a large audience, she didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, she faced it openly, made adjustments, and continued with the next part of the performance. She believed that once a mistake had happened, feeling embarrassed wasn't useful; what mattered most was how to proceed and complete the rest.
She wasn't embarrassed, nor did she feel awkward. Flaunting her cheerful, mischievous appearance daily might make people think she wasa bit shameless. Some, harboring ill will, might even look at her as 'shameless.'
Only Ruan Yesheng knew that all her awkwardness, all the moments of feeling uneasy in her life, along with her heart, were entirely invested in Xi Mo.
Embarrassed that she could barely keep up with Xi Mo's horse-riding lessons, she felt nervous and scared. Several times, she couldn't even jump over the horse's belly.
Ruan Yesheng still maintained her posture with her left foot on the stirrup and her right hand on Xi Mo's shoulder. She paused, then pretended to smile calmly and said: “Just wait a moment more.”
After studying dance for so many years, she had always been confident in her body's coordination and flexibility. Performing high-intensity leaps and bounds on stage was a piece of cake. Even though she wasn't using her own body right now, that confidence remained. Unexpectedly, this moment of fear, where she couldn't even mount the horse, was witnessed by Xi Mo, which felt embarrassing.
Being seen by others wouldn't have mattered much.
It was Xi Mo specifically.
Ruan Yesheng felt embarrassed but didn't want Xi Mo to notice her embarrassment, so she added extra camouflage to her smile. She gazed at Xi Mo as if this straightforward gaze could make her disguise seem more composed. She said: “Do you think I'm too useless? I couldn't even get on the horse properly a few times. Maybe you're not interested in teaching me anymore?”
Xi Mo glanced at her a few times, not sure if she noticed anything, and calmly said: “It's normal to feel uncomfortable when you're just learning.”
Ruan Yesheng had disguised composure before, but now she was genuinely composed and smiled: “So, you're still interested in me?”
Xi Mo: "..."
"Have you noticed that you always miss one or two important words when you speak?" Xi Mo swept her with a gentle glance and said with a teasing look, "You missed the word 'teach.' Please add it and say it again."
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"I didn't." Ruan Yesheng remained calm. "I clearly said 'So you're still interested in teaching me,' and didn't miss the word 'teach.' Maybe you wanted to hear me say that, so you automatically overlooked it, right?"
If it were in the past when Ruan Yesheng said that to Xi Mo, Xi Mo's temples would have been throbbing by now. However, this time, she didn't show any signs of that. Her expression seemed even more 'composed' than Ruan Yesheng's, her gaze fixed on her.
Ruan Yesheng was looked at and felt a little unsure.
Ruan Yesheng felt somewhat unsure inside when she was being looked at. She didn't know if it was a misunderstanding, but she recently noticed that once she silenced Xi Mo with her words, Xi Mo seemed to show less visible anger on the surface, although she still maintained a proud demeanor. Facing her, Xi Mo became increasingly composed. Sometimes Xi Mo would retort, other times Xi Mo would be quiet, almost making Ruan Yesheng unable to control the situation.
Ruan Yesheng didn't know what Xi Mo was thinking. She had her guesses, but she was afraid of guessing wrong, so she decided to stop guessing altogether.
Xi Mo suddenly asked Ruan Yesheng: "Do you believe in yourself?"
"Certainly."
Xi Mo asked again: "Then do you believe me?"
Ruan Yesheng paused.
Her answer, of course, was "of course." Naturally, it didn't require even a hint of hesitation.
But she hadn't expected Xi Mo to suddenly ask her this, which caught her off guard.
"I believe in you," said Ruan Yesheng. She actually regretted not saying it immediately. Delaying such words by a few seconds made them seem less impactful.
Xi Mo's tone softened a bit. "The main reason why you tend to be this way is probably due to some psychological burden regarding horse riding. Fear of falling affects your mind, making it difficult for your body to keep up. Most people are afraid when they start riding horses. Horses pose some danger to beginners, so you shouldn't feel pressured about it."
Ruan Yesheng asked her, "Were you afraid when you first started learning to ride?"
Xi Mo seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying, "I was scared too."
This hesitation wasn't very noticeable; one wouldn't discern it without careful observation. However, Ruan Yesheng knew her too well and chuckled, "Are you lying to comfort me?"
"You can take it as me comforting you," Xi Mo admitted, her eyes showing a hint of fluctuation. "I admit I wasn't scared at first."
This time, Ruan Yesheng didn't say anything more; she held back a smile in her eyes. She couldn't pretend she was, she felt she genuinely wasn't scared, and since Xi Mo didn't know, it didn't matter.
Xi Mo seemed to have a knack for mind-reading as she looked at the smile in Ruan Yesheng's eyes and said, "If you truly feel that way, then so be it."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo continued their earlier discussion about horse riding, saying, "In short, when you mount the horse, don't be nervous or scared. Don't think about anything else; just think about getting on. I promise not to let you fall. Since you said you believe in me, I hope you believe I can do this. Otherwise, I wouldn't make this promise to you."
Ruan Yesheng felt warmth in her heart, didn't say anything more, and decided to try again.
She gripped the reins and the mane with her left hand, held onto the saddle with her right hand and jumped off the ground, but perhaps still not used to it, she still couldn't get on.
Failing, Ruan Yesheng cautiously glanced at Xi Mo.
Xi Mo gestured towards her shoulder, "If you're not comfortable supporting yourself on the saddle when you try again later, you can lean on my shoulder for support, but remember to always hold onto the reins with your left hand."
Ruan Yesheng said, "Wouldn't that possibly make your shoulder ache?"
"Actually, the key to mounting is leveraging. The leverage when gripping the reins and mane and when pushing off with your right foot is crucial. If you execute the movement seamlessly, focusing your leverage on these two points, even if you initially use my shoulder for support with your right hand, it won't be very painful."
With this, Xi Mo changed the subject, "But if you don't get on, it means you haven't mastered the leverage, and then, of course, my shoulder might ache."
Concerned about causing her harm, Ruan Yesheng hurriedly refused, "Then I won't lean on your shoulder."
"No.” Xi Mo said firmly: “You must."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo finished speaking and signaled for Ruan Yesheng to mount the horse. Seeing Xi Mo's expression, Ruan Yesheng knew that not getting on the horse was not an option, not leaning on her shoulder was also not an option. She also realized that Xi Mo was blatantly setting a trap by using her shoulder. If she truly cared, she would naturally try her best to grasp the correct leverage technique.
Since neither option was viable, and to ensure Xi Mo's shoulder would be more comfortable, she had to gather her courage to do it all at once. However, as a novice in horse riding, executing everything smoothly during the mounting wasn't that perfect. Luckily, this time she genuinely didn't think about anything except getting on the horse, to prevent adding more burden to Xi Mo halfway through. This brave attempt surprisingly managed to get her on the horse, and she subconsciously tried to focus her leverage on the reins and the bounce off her right foot.
Xi Mo naturally sensed that the force on her shoulder was not heavy, and her expression softened considerably. She said, "Try dismounting now."
While dismounting, Ruan Yesheng stumbled a bit but managed to get off eventually. Xi Mo remarked, "Practice more, and you'll get used to it quickly."
Under Xi Mo's guidance, Ruan Yesheng practiced mounting and dismounting. Being a quick learner, she gradually became proficient, and her confidence grew. Once accustomed to leveraging, Ruan Yesheng no longer leaned on Xi Mo's shoulder but relied on the saddle instead. However, there was a momentary pause during the next attempt, which could easily lead to a failed mount. Xi Mo quickly took two steps forward, one hand supporting Ruan Yesheng's hip and the other hand on her waist, about to help her up.
Unprepared for this touch from Xi Mo, especially in such a sensitive spot, Ruan Yesheng shuddered and immediately hoisted herself onto the horse's back at lightning speed, sitting upright in the saddle.
Xi Mo: "..."
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
One stood on the ground, and the other sat on the horse, facing each other.
For a while, Xi Mo said, "What are you avoiding?"
Ruan Yesheng then seemed to awaken as if from a dream, looking down from above. Her eyes held a captivating, watery charm as she asked, "Where did you touch me?"
Xi Mo almost choked on her words, feeling her blood pressure rising, "I didn't touch, just supported."
Ruan Yesheng playfully pretended to be shy, "Supported, more or less the same as touching."
Knowing each other for many years, Xi Mo certainly understood her penchant for playful pretense. In these situations, the things she said were nonsense. So, Xi Mo coldly retorted, "According to your logic, touching, then is 'more or less the same' as sleeping together?"
Ruan Yesheng: "..."
Xi Mo: "..."
The atmosphere became extremely awkward for a moment.
Xi Mo felt a bit flustered by this awkwardness. The weather was dry, but there was always a breeze to cool things down, so it shouldn't have felt genuinely hot. She didn't know where this sudden heat came from.
"Do you know how to mount now?" Xi Mo averted her gaze, seemingly unsure where to look. She glanced at the ground, paused, then lifted her head to ask.
"Almost." Ruan Yesheng replied, never breaking her gaze from Xi Mo, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. "What's on the ground?"
Xi Mo casually remarked: "Ants."
The sunlight was clear as Ruan Yesheng sat on the horse. Her shadow blended with that of the horse, silently casting onto the ground.
Ruan Yesheng recalled Xi Mo's gaze from earlier and the direction of her sight when looking at the ground. She paused for a moment, then her lips curved into a slight smile.
"Now, let me teach you how to get the horse moving under your command. To direct the horse, you need to use your body movements to give instructions. The most important thing is to exert force with your legs. For instance, lightly squeezing the horse's belly with your legs will make it move forward. In short, your waist, hips, thighs, calves, and so on, your entire body needs to work together to find a coordinated rhythm with the horse. The horse is sensitive to your actions and will react accordingly. If your movements are too abrupt or if you're too tense, the horse, being intelligent, will sense that the rider isn't proficient and may not cooperate, or even take advantage of you," Xi Mo explained seriously, arms crossed. But as she noticed Ruan Yesheng staring at her shadow on the ground with a subtle smile, she immediately stopped and said, "Focus, why are you looking around?"
Ruan Yesheng shifted her gaze back from Xi Mo's shadow and hastily replied, "Sorry, I was looking at the ants."
Xi Mo: "..."
"I got distracted, my fault. I'll pay full attention later, not missing a single word."
Ruan Yesheng's knack for surrendering and acting obedient was ingrained to the core. Xi Mo felt her eyelid twitch but kept a straight face, opting not to speak. Instead, she fetched a rein from somewhere and attached it to the horse's bit.
"Let's start, do as I say later." Xi Mo grabbed the rein, about to move forward, but paused for a moment and turned back, saying, "I'll be leading in front the whole time, so don't worry."
Ruan Yesheng nodded.
Xi Mo used the rein to guide the horse, which obediently followed her instructions, moving slowly forward. Amid this slow movement, Ruan Yesheng adjusted to the feeling of riding and practiced different postures and movements under Xi Mo's guidance.
Time seemed slower than the horse's steps at this moment.
Ruan Yesheng hoped it could be even slower.
The training continued until noon before they paused. Both went to the building for a lunch break. The training was exhausting, and Ruan Yesheng was famished. When the staff came to serve food, she sat gracefully, sipping a mouthful of wine. Only when the staff had walked away did she pick up her chopsticks.
However, just as she was about to pick up some food, she hesitated when she glanced at Xi Mo sitting across from her.
Xi Mo subtly twitched her lips, but her expression remained unchanged as she said, "Eat casually. The chefs here were chosen by my father; the food is delicious."
"Didn't you ask me to watch my diet to avoid affecting your figure?"
Xi Mo sneered, "If I could be easily affected, how could I survive in this industry?"
"You said it."
"I did."
Ruan Yesheng clapped her hands lightly, a mischievous glint in her eyes as if she could drip mischief. "Then I'd like to have charcoal-grilled chicken legs, braised elbows, chocolate ice cream scoops, and matcha mousse."
Each item mentioned was a high-calorie food that actresses, who were particular about their figures, would steer clear of. Xi Mo silently looked at Ruan Yesheng for a while and said, "Okay. But this is a one-time thing. You can ask the staff. The kitchen should be able to make charcoal-grilled chicken legs and braised elbows, although they don't usually prepare these dishes. I'm not sure if they have matcha mousse and chocolate ice cream scoops today, but you can choose other dessert flavors."
Ruan Yesheng had never intended to actually eat those dishes; it was just a joke. Surprised that Xi Mo had agreed, she felt a mix of happiness and slight guilt. "...Never mind."
"Why suddenly change your mind about eating?"
Ruan Yesheng casually made up, "I can't eat them. Imagine, if a plate of braised elbows is brought out, and the paparazzi see it, tomorrow's headline will be 'Shocking! Movie Queen Xi Mo shamelessly indulges in braised elbows!' The bold and unrestrained image of braised elbows doesn't match your elegance. It's like wearing a high-end evening gown with precious jewelry and squatting by the roadside devouring elbows. Can you picture yourself doing that?"
Xi Mo probably imagined herself in that scenario, her expression darkening as if struck by lightning. She slowly shook her head.
Ruan Yesheng suppressed a smile.
"However, there are no paparazzi here," Xi Mo said. "As I mentioned, they can't enter. Do you like braised elbows?"
"I do. But I have to dance and maintain my figure. Especially since becoming an actress, the dietary restrictions are strict. I haven't had this dish since then," Ruan Yesheng's bright eyes seemed to dim slightly. "My mom used to make delicious braised elbows."
Xi Mo remained silent, picking up a piece of broccoli and eating it slowly and deliberately.
Ruan Yesheng was accustomed to Xi Mo's silent eating habits and began to eat her food as well. After a while, she noticed Xi Mo lifting her head, casting a hesitant look that seemed to have taken a while to decide.
"Are braised elbows really that tasty?" Xi Mo's expression was complex.
After a while, a large, glossy braised elbow lay sprawled on the plate, grandly occupying the center of the table.
In contrast, while the surrounding delicate dishes resembled elegant beauties, the braised elbow stood out like robust warriors such as Zhang Fei or Li Kui.
"Go ahead," Xi Mo gestured with her eyes.
"You go first," Ruan Yesheng insisted.
"Go ahead," Xi Mo frowned, refusing to yield. "You wanted to eat it yourself."
"I said I didn't want it later; you ordered it," Ruan Yesheng corrected her.
"You said it was delicious."
"I did say it was delicious, but I didn't order it."
"You said you like to eat it, so I ordered it."
Caught off guard, Ruan Yesheng blushed: "..."
Her blush caused even Xi Mo's earlobes, hidden by her hair, to inexplicably turn red: "..."
“...really?" Ruan Yesheng whispered.
Xi Mo picked up her water glass, drank from it while turning her face aside, then after a moment, turned back, remaining silent. She picked up her knife and fork, preparing to cut into the braised elbow.
"You don't eat braised elbows like that," Ruan Yesheng, initially flustered, suddenly found Xi Mo's posture resembling someone carefully slicing into a steak, which made her chuckle.
Rarely showing a modest and eager-to-learn expression, Xi Mo's voice lowered, "Then how should you eat it?"
"By gnawing on it."
Xi Mo: "..."
Author's Note:
Hey, why is this braised elbow so sweet?
