Tl: Hua
They hugged each other in the snow.
Behind them came pure laughter, applause, and congratulations, one after another, like waves; even the whistling wind and snow were covered by the joy.
Jiang Sicheng shouted to them across the crowd, “Don’t waste this chance. Quickly propose!”
The two had no time to care about anything else for the time being.
Qi Xiaoyu unzipped his down jacket and wrapped Xun Qian in it, while burying his head in Xun Qian’s neck and taking a deep breath of Xun Qian’s scent.
It’s good that Xun Qian is fine.
Xun Qian was also hugging him tightly.
God knows how worried he was when he heard that Qi Xiaoyu went to participate in snow horse racing. No one knows better than him how many unexpected events and risks there are in horse racing, especially in such snowy conditions, not to mention that Qi Xiaoyu had fallen off a horse before.
When the plane landed in the airport in The North Country, he didn’t even have time to change into cold-resistant gear before rushing over in a basic riding suit.
Fortunately, when he was studying equestrianism before, he came to the north country for a one-month winter camp to learn horseback riding and skiing.
Although he hasn’t been here for many years, he is familiar with the climate and horses here.
The teacher who taught him equestrianism in the winter camp, the champion rider of the three major snow horse racing events in the north country, is now the organizer and initiator of the entire competition.
As soon as he heard that Qi Xiaoyu was going to participate in the competition, he contacted the teacher to help him add an extra place.
Qi Xiaoyu hugged Xun Qian, feeling Xun Qian’s body temperature and heartbeat, and wanted to say something, but after opening his mouth several times, no words came out.
Xun Qian stroked his hair and didn’t say a word.
At this moment, just hugging like this, feeling each other’s existence and the love that permeated their hearts, was more reassuring than anything else.
After hearing Jiang Sicheng’s words and seeing the two just hugging, the people in the audience shouted louder than before, “Hey, the brother who won first place. Quick! Use the momentum of the horse race just now to propose.”
“If you don’t propose now, are you waiting till when?”
“Just in time to give him the first place trophy later, so hurry up and get him to say yes to your marriage proposal.”
“Quick! We’re all waiting.”
There are nearly 30,000 spectators in the stadium. Although not all of them, there are several thousand of them, extending from one end of the snow to the other.
With the shouts of thousands of people, Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu can no longer immerse themselves in their own world.
Qi Xiaoyu still buried his head in Xun Qian’s neck. If he heard these words normally, he would probably be embarrassed, but at this time he just wanted to laugh.
The happiness he felt now was unreal and a bit dreamy.
He felt the importance of the person in front of him more than ever before. After a mixture of cherishment and tension, the love in his heart increased many times.
Xun Qian was also laughing. Hearing these words, he whispered in Qi Xiaoyu’s ear, “If I propose to you today, will you agree?”
Qi Xiaoyu raised his head, looking at Xun Qian with sparkling eyes. The meaning was self-evident.
Xun Qian’s eyelashes were covered with snow, “Although I didn’t prepare a ring, I’ll get a trophy for taking first place today. There is also a pony, which I will give you as a betrothal gift. Is it enough?”
Qi Xiaoyu still looked at him with glittering eyes, even cuter and more lovable than White-browed Hero.
Then, before Xun Qian could say more, Qi Xiaoyu came close and kissed the corner of his lips, “Okay, it’s settled.”
He used to think that there was still a lot of time to prepare slowly.
But today.
He hoped to spend his life with Xun Qian until his hair turned white.
Someone in the audience wailed, “Today’s portion of dog food is again so delicious.”
****
Xun Qian pulled Qi Xiaoyu onto the horse, and they left amid the congratulations and cheers of the crowd.
They went to receive the award first and then thanked the teacher.
At the same time, when Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu completed the hasty and romantic proposal ceremony surrounded by the crowd, Tang Yuning was doing basic examinations in the infirmary as the ambulance was still on the way.
He broke his leg. The horse was running very fast at the time. His thigh and ligaments were fractured and strained in many places. He might not be able to get off the ground in a short time. Even if he recovered, if his rehabilitation did not go smoothly, he would not be able to walk and film normally like before.
The office of the horse farm was concentrated in a small building, and next to it was the infirmary.
When Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu walked out of the teacher’s office with the trophy, they saw Tang Yuning lying on the hospital bed and being pushed out by the medical staff.
Tang Yuning was still awake, his complexion cold and depressed. It was as if the one who was hurt wasn’t himself, or if there was something that deserved more grief.
When he saw Xun Qian coming out, he said something to the medical staff, and the bed stopped in front of Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu.
Tang Yuning looked at Xun Qian. His deep eyes seemed to contain many surging emotions, but it was like dead water without any waves. He faintly asked, “Did you really win that year?”
There was more affirmation than doubt in his words.
With one hand in the pocket of his tight breeches and one arm wrapped around Qi Xiaoyu, Xun Qian looked at Tang Yuning and tugged at the corner of his mouth, “I only blacklisted you before because I sympathized with what happened to Mr. Tang Yide that year, but I didn’t feel guilty.”
In fact, as early as the last time Qi Xiaoyu fell off a horse in the crew of “The Departed,” he had the idea of having a horse race with Tang Yuning, but his leg was not healed at that time, and later there were many more important things waiting for him to do, so he kept putting it on hold.
Now that Tang Yuning had done it again and again, it could only be said that he had brought it upon himself.
Tang Yuning revealed a compassionate, even slightly despairing smile.
Ever since he was a child, in his life, Tang Yide was his idol and spiritual role model.
Tang Yide was good at horse riding, singing, enthusiastic, and naturally romantic.
Even though he didn’t have a mother when he was a child, Tang Yide gave him an enviable childhood—preparing birthday surprises for him on his birthday, taking him to the playground on Children’s Day, and actively participating in and preparing for any activities at school. Many children of the same age had envied him for having such a father.
Tang Yide was the all-around idol in his heart.
When the accident happened, he went to the horse farm to check, and the tracks of the horse’s hooves on the ground showed that the accident must have been man-made.
He couldn’t accept that it was Tang Yide’s handiwork. He could only convince himself that it was Xun Qian who did something to kill Tang Yide.
But today, he seemed to have to accept the fact that he couldn’t accept the most.
****
When Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu came out of the office building, the other people in the program group were standing in the snow waiting for them.
Seeing the two men come out with their trophies, everyone counted down 123 together and then simultaneously pulled out a hand-held ribbon spray canister from behind their backs.
In an instant, a sky of colorful ribbons fell down towards the two in a white blanket of snow.
Everyone gathered around the two, laughing and saying congratulations at the same time.
Qi Xiaoyu smiled, “What are you congratulating us for?”
Gu Meiling held the spray gun in both hands, and she maintained the elegant posture of a goddess even in the cold weather. “You forgot to turn off your microphone just now. We heard what you two said. Don’t deny it now.”
“Hahahaha, now we’re waiting to eat wedding candy.”
The crowd also rushed up to touch the golden trophy in Qi Xiaoyu’s arms. “Is this a token of love?”
“No, it’s a proposal gift.”
Everyone made a fuss around Qi Xiaoyu, but no one dared to talk to Xun Qian.
Even Jiang Sicheng, who had urged them to propose, was much more tamed in front of Xun Qian. He only dared to quietly say to Qi Xiaoyu, “If you guys want to get married, the wedding has to be held after me and Qingqing. I promised to give Qingqing the most luxurious wedding ever, so don’t embarrass me.”
Facing Qi Xiaoyu’s friends, Xun Qian raised the corners of his mouth, trying to show a kind smile to others, and said in a very gentle voice, “Thank you; I will send you all wedding invitations at that time.”
When he opened his mouth, everyone was shocked.
He is beautiful and aloof, with a reserved and noble demeanor between his eyebrows and eyes and a natural inclination to keep strangers away. This deliberate gentleness was a bit strange.
The group of people immediately became reserved, hiding behind Qi Xiaoyu and waving their hands, “No, no, uh… no, thank you, Third Master.”
****
After a burst of laughter, it was almost time for lunch, so everyone returned to the restaurant together.
Xun Qian and Qi Xiaoyu walked hand in hand, keeping a distance from the people in front.
The cameraman walked backwards, took a video of the two of them, and then quickly ran away.
As they got farther away from the stadium, the noise also faded.
They trudged through the thick snow, their footprints mirroring each other.
Qi Xiaoyu grabbed Xun Qian’s hand and stuffed it into the pocket of his down jacket.
The world was silent, but there was also some joy in it.
After they walked for a while, Qi Xiaoyu smiled and said again, “Fortunately, you’re fine.”
Xun Qian pinched Qi Xiaoyu’s fingers that were intertwined with his in the pocket and said with a gentle smile, “It seems that you don’t know your husband well enough.”
If it were any other time, Qi Xiaoyu would definitely say that Xun Qian was shameless, but now, he just turned his head away, with an unconcealable smile on his face, and deliberately said, “My next movie has a horseback riding scene, so I want to practice first.”
“Okay, if you want to practice when we get back, tell me anytime.”
After walking forward for a while, Xun Qian remembered that Qi Xiaoyu had never filmed a horse-riding scene again after falling off the horse and was moved and sad for a moment, “If something like this happens again, be sure to tell me.”
Qi Xiaoyu thought for a while, “Tang Yuning said that he found a videotape of your sister at Mrs. Xu’s place, so I wanted to get it from him no matter what. Now… I’ll go get it back from him after he finishes the surgery.”
Xun Qian suddenly stopped and held Qi Xiaoyu, “No need.”
“Hmm?”
“No need to ask Tang Yuning to get the videotape back.”
“But…”
Xun Qian held Qi Xiaoyu’s hand tightly and interrupted him, “I don’t need these to remember my sister.”
He used his other hand to brush off the white snow on Qi Xiaoyu’s hair, “Even if my sister knew, she would say what’s important is to live in the present.”
Qi Xiaoyu looked at him and understood what he meant but still felt a little sorry, “Then… OK.”
****
Qi Xiaoyu had decided to return to S City on Sunday and had already agreed with the program crew to take a few days off in advance.
On that day, Xun Qian accompanied Qi Xiaoyu to finish recording the program in the restaurant, rested for a night, and prepared to take Xun Qian’s private plane back to S City early the next morning.
After returning, there are still many things waiting for them to do. First, they have to visit the graves of Xun Qian’s sister and father, then celebrate the New Year, prepare for Qi Xiaoyu’s new movie, and prepare for their wedding.
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