Fang Yuan linked arms with Wen Baozhu, and the two returned to the private box together.
When they entered, Deng Yixiang was also inside. He plopped down on the sofa in a relaxed manner, picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. His eyes never left Wen Baozhu, and the corners of his lips curled into a smug smile.
The way he looked at Wen Baozhu was as if he were admiring his own possession.
The atmosphere on the racecourse was extremely lively. It seemed that several rounds of races had already taken place, and a new row of racehorses had lined up on the track.
Fang Yuan sat beside Wen Baozhu and pointed at the racecourse to remind her, "Your favorite, Race Pearl, is about to take the stage."
Wen Baozhu was in a daze. Her attention was wandering for a moment, and she didn't catch what Fang Yuan said.
Fang Yuan grabbed her hand and exclaimed, "Are you dressed too thinly? Why are your hands so cold?"
Only then did Wen Baozhu come to her senses. She took a deep breath and replied casually, "It's because Race Pearl is about to compete. I'm nervous for it."
Fang Yuan burst into laughter. "Baozhu, you're so cute."
In fact, Wen Baozhu couldn't manage a smile.
Her mind was filled with the threatening words Deng Yixiang had said before he left and what Fang Yuan had told her about Deng Yixiang's behavior. She felt a chill running down her spine.
The moment the starting gates opened, the racehorses all galloped towards the finish line together, surging forward like a fierce flood.
Wen Baozhu's eyes were fixed on the most eye - catching white horse. As it ran and bounded, her heart thumped violently.
Watching Race Pearl overtake one racehorse after another and take a commanding lead at the front, it seemed very likely to win the first prize in this race.
Everyone who had bet on Race Pearl began to cheer and pop champagne in advance halfway through the race for this rising star among racehorses.
Perhaps because Race Pearl's performance was truly outstanding, Wen Baozhu's mood was also lifted. Her attention was completely drawn away, and for a moment, she forgot about Deng Yixiang's warning and focused whole - heartedly on Race Pearl's race.
Just as it was about to cross the finish line, suddenly, no one knew what happened. Race Pearl at the front stumbled. The horse's front hooves lost control, and it flew forward, skidded, and fell directly to the ground.
Thankfully, the jockey was professional. He controlled the direction of the fall and quickly dismounted, avoiding serious injury.
Countless horses galloped past Race Pearl. It was the only horse left on the racetrack, wailing and neighing in the middle of the field, as if suffering great pain.
"Oh, what a pity..."
"It had just started to shine, and then this accident happened..."
The audience gasped in unison. Watching Race Pearl's downfall, they let out countless boos.
The race results were out, and it was almost the end of this competition.
Some people had already left their seats and were dispersing, but Wen Baozhu still kept looking back, watching Race Pearl struggling feebly. Her heart ached.
She couldn't help but ask Fang Yuan, "What will they do with the injured horses on the racecourse?"
Fang Yuan shrugged. "It depends on where the injury is. For a horse like Race Pearl with an injured front - hoof joint, it's usually euthanized."
Wen Baozhu was shocked. "Isn't it only five years old?"
In contrast to Wen Baozhu's surprise, Fang Yuan thought it was quite normal. "The cost of treating a horse with a broken front - hoof joint is very high. Moreover, even if it's cured, it definitely won't be able to race again. Why keep a useless thing that has lost its commercial value?"
She looked at Wen Baozhu with a smile. "Racehorses are just like people. Once they lose their value, they're no different from useless things."
Her casual words sent a shiver down Wen Baozhu's spine.
She wanted to continue asking if there was any other chance for Race Pearl to survive, but suddenly, a big hand landed on her shoulder.
Wen Baozhu turned around in horror. Sure enough, she saw Deng Yixiang's face.
"Beauty, the horse race is over. You promised me just now. Shouldn't you come with me now?"
As if there was no one else around, he blatantly invited Wen Baozhu. "The room number is 1308. I'll go up and take a hot spring first. Don't keep me waiting too long."
His words were so explicit that the young masters and ladies around all cast strange looks at Wen Baozhu.
Wen Baozhu shook her head and wanted to defend herself. "I didn't promise..."
But Deng Yixiang had already left.
When she turned her head again, she met Fu Lian's gaze.
He also stood up from his seat at this moment. His tall figure exuded an aura of intimidation. His eyes were deep and cold, and he hardly even glanced at her.
Fang Yuan walked over and gently linked her arm with Fu Lian's. She advised softly, "A Lian, please help Baozhu. She didn't mean to get entangled with Deng Yixiang."
Fu Lian's face darkened slightly. "She got herself into this trouble. Let her figure out how to solve it."
"After all, she's your younger brother's fiancée..."
"What does my younger brother's woman have to do with me?" Fu Lian twitched his lips and glanced at his watch.
When talking to Fang Yuan, his voice softened again. "There's a new Michelin - starred restaurant in Central. I'll take you there later to try it."
Fang Yuan was stunned for a moment. Seeing that he didn't want to continue the previous topic, she quickly reacted and nodded with a smile, also deciding not to mention it anymore. "Okay."
At this moment, the atmosphere in the private box completely changed.
The people around looked at Wen Baozhu with mockery and ridicule. No one really cared about the situation she was about to face.
Even if there were some who did, they just looked at her with the intention of watching a show and then left their seats and walked out.
Wen Baozhu's back was so tense that from behind, her body was extremely straight. But if one observed carefully, they could notice the slight trembling of her shoulders.
She was surrounded by great fear. She got up, holding on to the armrest, trying to escape, but was stopped by Deng Yixiang's bodyguards at the door.
The bodyguard said respectfully, "Miss Wen, Young Master Deng asked us to escort you up."
It was said to be an escort, but in fact, it was surveillance.
Wen Baozhu lowered her head. Her fingers tightened into her palm bit by bit and then slowly relaxed.
She remembered Fang Yuan's words -
Once you lose your value, you're no different from a useless thing.
If she was really slept with by Deng Yixiang today, would she have completely lost her value?
Needless to say, Fu Lian would never touch a soiled woman, and the Fu family wouldn't need a daughter - in - law who was immoral and promiscuous.
In front of her stood Deng Yixiang's bodyguards, and behind her was Fu Lian, standing by and watching.
She was caught between two fires.
Just then, a racecourse staff member walked over to inquire about the follow - up handling of Race Pearl.
"Just euthanize it. Do you still need to ask me about this?"
Fu Lian's voice was cold. "I donate so much money to the racecourse every year, and this is the useless thing you've raised for me."
The staff member was so frightened that he almost lost his balance. He quickly bowed and apologized. "Mr. Fu, we didn't think it through. I'll send someone to deal with it immediately."
Wen Baozhu bit her lip so hard that it was almost bleeding.
She was a bit dazed and felt that Fu Lian wasn't just talking about Race Pearl.
He was also talking about her.
She was just as useless as Race Pearl.
In a daze, Wen Baozhu seemed to still be able to hear Race Pearl's painful cries and whinnies in her ears.
The sound made her heart tremble.
The bodyguard had grown impatient. The politeness before was just a pretense. "Miss Wen, Young Master Deng doesn't like to wait."
As he said that, he was about to come and drag her away.