The Ger's Contract Marriage [BL]
Chapter 565: Bullying Xu Hu Zhe

Chapter 565: Bullying Xu Hu Zhe

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of damp earth and the last traces of morning mist as their procession made its way down the road. The rhythmic clatter of hooves against the dirt and the occasional rustle of the golden leaves created a peaceful yet lively atmosphere, interrupted only by the excited squeals of two small dragon cubs.

Xiao Long was practically bouncing in Xu Feng’s arms, his bright eyes fixated on the two magnificent figures riding alongside their carriage. His tiny hands waved wildly, reaching as if he could somehow leap out and join them.

"Ba! Ba! Baaa!" he called out, his joy endless.

Da Long was equally entranced but far more composed, his small hands clapping as he locked his gaze on Xuan Yang. "Pa! Pa! Papa!" His voice was steadier as he tried to make the right sound... sounds that had meaning to the adults. Yet, it was no less filled with awe.

Xu Feng shook his head, exasperation laced with amusement. "They’re going to be unbearable if they keep this up," he muttered, shifting his gaze to the overly smug riders outside.

Xuan Jian, atop his pristine white stallion, exuded an effortless grace that made him look like he had stepped out of a painting. Every movement was calculated, precise, yet utterly relaxed. His long hair, only loosely bound, swayed slightly with the motion of his horse, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.

Beside him, Xuan Yang rode his jet-black stallion, its powerful strides cutting through the morning mist with an intimidating elegance. He was more reserved in his display but still deliberate, ensuring that Da Long in San’s hands, had a clear view of him.

His sharp gaze flickered toward the carriage often, and despite his usual composure, there was a flicker of pride in his eyes at his son’s delighted cries.

"They’re completely shameless," Xu Feng sighed dramatically, leaning back against the cushioned seat. He knew full well that if he had a chance, he’d be showing off just as much.

Seated at the front of the carriage, Xu Hu Zhe chuckled, his amusement obvious. "They’re making sure the young masters are entertained," he remarked.

Xu Feng shot a glance toward the two little ones who were still enraptured by the sight. He could tell he wasn’t as close to the window as Xiao Long wanted, and he quickly transferred him over to Si’s hands.

"Next time you should ride..." Xu Feng began responding to Xu Hu Zhe, then hesitated. "Uh, does the blue horse have a name?" He directed the question toward his brother.

Xu Zeng perked up at the mention of the horse, his silver hair catching the light as he turned toward Xu Feng. "I think we should call him Blue," he said, clearly pleased with himself. "Xu Hu Zhe thinks the name is too plain for a war horse, but I believe it suits him. What say you, brother?"

Xu Feng blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden responsibility of choosing a side.

Should he support his blood brother or his sworn brother? Did he even have an opinion on the horse’s name? And... did this mean his brother agreed that the blue horse was best suited for Xu Hu Zhe?

"It would be a perfect mount for Hu Zhe, right? I think he’d look heroic riding like Jian and Yang!" Xu Feng responded enthusiastically, nodding toward their silent shadow.

A low, nearly imperceptible hum came from Xu Hu Zhe, a sound Xu Feng immediately identified as disagreement. He might have thought it was subtle, but nothing escaped Xu Feng’s sharp ears.

"What—you think you’re not good enough for the stallion?" Xu Feng shot back before Xu Hu Zhe could even form a proper retort.

The horse was clearly of fine quality—not that Xu Feng knew much about horses, but still, it looked just as impressive as Xuan Jian’s and Xuan Yang’s mounts. It would be a perfect fit for the animal lover.

Xu Hu Zhe shifted slightly, his hands tightening on the reins out of view of those in the carriage. "It’s not that," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "It’s just... not mine."

Xu Feng narrowed his eyes. "Oh, so if I claim it’s yours, you’ll ride it?"

Xu Zeng snorted, clearly entertained. "If that’s the case, we can settle it easily."

"Well..." Xu Feng seemed to pull himself back from the ball of feisty energy that clouded his mind. There was a big point missing here. "It’s not my horse to give away." He looked at his brother with a small smile.

The conversation might have been playful, but there was a layer of seriousness beneath it. Xu Feng knew about Xu Hu Zhe’s inferiority complex—it was something that had no place in their family. He refused to let the man continue thinking he wasn’t worthy of something as simple as a horse.

While the stallion wasn’t his to give away, if Xu Zeng was willing to push it to Xu Hu Zhe, then Xu Feng would fully support it. After all, they were family—and what was family for if not to uplift one another?

They were clearly good at bullying Xu Hu Zhe into confidence... because that’s how you get people to be more confident... but he couldn’t promise something that wasn’t his.

If need be, he would have to call in yet another favor to Jian or Yang—whoever was able to find another mount of such high quality. Then he could "gift" a fitting horse to Xu Hu Zhe... maybe he could even get one to match Xu Zeng’s temperament, and there was also Bai Mo!

Were such beautiful horses easy to come by?

Luckily, just as Xu Feng was slipping down a slippery slope, Xu Zeng came to the rescue, rubbing Da Long’s head, who had looked over at the conversation as if to say, ’What could be more interesting than my Papa and my Father!’

The little boy was infatuated by the scene outside the carriage.

"If my brother gives Blue away, then I give Blue—" Just as Xu Zeng was making this bold statement, he scrunched up his brows as something seemed to redirect his confidence. "With your Torann and Garden Snake, who owns the horses?"

Xu Feng was excited to have a partner to bully Xu Hu Zhe into nice corners, but the more his brother spoke, the more he began to regret it. ’Garden Snake?’ Without much thought, he still replied to his ’precious’ brother’s question.

"The horses aren’t mine. Jian has his horse and Y-A-N-G has his own horse. I sometimes borrow the mare... ahem, for a ride through the hillsides with Momo." Starting confidently while enunciating Yang’s name—it wasn’t Garden Snake—then finally, Xu Feng’s shoe caught up with him.

He did borrow the mare once...

Xu Feng remembered too well the time he "borrowed" the estate’s mare to ride off into the forest with Momo and almost got eaten by a family of giant boars. He shuddered at the memory, shaking his head as if to dispel the thought. But it was the beginning of his interactions with Dong Yang.

"Ah," Xu Zeng weighed his words carefully, his sharp gaze studying his brother. "If that’s the case, then Blue will be exclusively Hu Zhe’s."

Xu Feng blinked, momentarily thrown off by his brother’s decisive response. Did 2+2=6?

He had been gearing up for a longer conversation, but this was... surprisingly straightforward, but not? Not wanting to lose the momentum, he scrambled for the finishing touch. "What about Cobalt the Warhorse? That’s a good name for your stallion, Hu Zhe. It even sounds cool, just like your name!"

A quiet pause settled between them. Xu Hu Zhe’s grip on the reins relaxed. His usual demeanor wavered for a fraction of a second, his expression betraying a flicker of something soft, something appreciative.

"Cobalt," he finally said, his voice firm yet careful, as though tasting the name for the first time. "My horse’s name will be Cobalt."

It was subtle, but there was no mistaking the quiet happiness in his tone. Despite his attempts at restraint, there was a warmth there that hadn’t existed moments before.

Whether the newly dubbed Cobalt was aware of his new identity or not, he certainly played the part. The leader of the three horses neighed loudly, tossing his head with what could only be described as majestic pride before picking up the pace.

It was as though Cobalt was trying to match the regal air of the two magnificent beasts running freely beside him—the horses Jian and Yang were mounted on.

With much fanfare—very much fanfare—their group successfully reached their first destination. The journey, however, had been filled with endless back-and-forth between Xu Hu Zhe and Xu Zeng, who continued to bicker over some trivial matter that Xu Feng had long stopped trying to follow.

His attention, instead, was entirely elsewhere.

Xuan Yang on horseback was just as devastatingly handsome as the day of their "wedding." At the time, it had all been for show, a formality cloaked in false pretenses. But now? Now, it was something real. Something that sat deep within Xu Feng’s heart. He never wanted to be parted from Xuan Yang or Xuan Jian again.

Maybe... they should hold another wedding? A real one this time. One where all three of them stood side by side.

The silver haired ger shook his head, forcing himself out of his spiraling thoughts. He was tumbling down rabbit holes left and right, all thanks to the sheer handsomeness clouding his reasoning.

Still, he couldn’t help but smile as he locked eyes with Xuan Yang, who sent him a cool half smile in return. The kind that made Xu Feng’s stomach flutter despite himself.

Oh no. He was beyond doomed.