APCF – Chapter 74 The Akhal-Tekes Horse

Poor little Xingxing had no idea what had happened in that short hour.

Before, when he had no home, the dormitory was just a place to stay. But now that he had a home, the moment he saw the front door, he actually felt an urgent longing to return—like an arrow shooting toward its target.

He was eager to see his dad, his brother, and his sister. Eager to check if they were healthy and happy… If that little brat who flew a hot air balloon to cheer for him was around, he wanted to see him too.

Then, as he pushed open the door, he was met with the solemn expressions of his father and brothers.

“…Dad, brother, sister, I’m back,” Qi Xingchen said, almost thinking the family was facing a financial crisis. “What’s wrong?”

“!! Xingxing is back!!” Qi Yujie quickly stood up. “My soup is still simmering—I need to check on it!”

Upon seeing his handsome and youthful youngest son, Father Qi’s serious expression instantly melted into kindness. “Nothing’s wrong, we were just discussing some business. Come here, let Dad take a look at you.”

Qi Xingchen put down his backpack and obediently sat on the couch beside Qi Xiaoming. After observing him for a moment, Qi Xiaoming frowned and said, “You’ve lost weight. Later, don’t drink your sister’s soup—eat something else instead.”

Seeing that Qi Xiaoming still had the energy to guard against Qi Yujie’s cooking, Qi Xingchen knew there was no real problem at home. He joked around with his father for a bit.

At this moment, Qi Yunxiao asked, “Xingxing, are you tired?”

“Not really. I slept on the way back.”

Even someone as composed as Qi Yunxiao in the business world couldn’t suppress his concern for his younger brother. He stood up and said, “If you’re not tired, come with me. I have something to ask you.”

Qi Xingchen assumed he was going to ask about Kevin or the events of the banquet, so he cheerfully followed him into the study.

But Qi Yunxiao’s first question completely stunned him.

“Xingxing, do you have a girl you like?”

Qi Xingchen’s feelings for Bo Ye had been clarified with the help of Qi Yujie, so he immediately guessed that his sister had told his eldest brother. His face instantly fell!

Seeing his reaction, Qi Yunxiao knew Qi Yujie was right. He couldn’t help but press further: “Which family is she from? How did you meet? Through a friend, or is she a colleague in the entertainment industry? Does she like you back?”

After asking a string of questions, Qi Yunxiao paused and said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. I’m just asking—there’s no other reason. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“I… I don’t like a girl.”

Qi Xingchen didn’t want to hide things from his family, but he also wasn’t sure if they could accept the fact that he liked a man. He tested the waters and said, “But I think… I like a man.”

“……” Qi Yunxiao fell silent.

Qi Xingchen’s heart clenched. Liking the same sex was considered abnormal by many. Some even viewed homosexuality as shameful, perverse, and unacceptable to society.

What if his family couldn’t accept it? Would he have to leave home like the original owner of this body? But that would make his family sad, wouldn’t it? Still, he really didn’t want to give up on Bo Ye… Qi Xingchen clenched his fists, his thoughts spiraling out of control.

“…Xingxing.”

After about two minutes, Qi Yunxiao finally spoke softly. Qi Xingchen looked up at him.

“Are you sure… you really like men? Or is it just a fleeting impulse or influence from your surroundings, making you confused about your orientation?”

Compared to the general public, the entertainment and art industries had a higher proportion of people who liked the same sex. Qi Yunxiao worried that his younger brother, being in that environment, might have been led astray rather than genuinely having feelings for men.

But Qi Xingchen firmly nodded. “I’m not sure about my orientation, but I am sure that I like him.”

“…As long as you’re sure,” Qi Yunxiao let out a breath. “I support all of your decisions—but only if you understand his character, are certain he has no history of promiscuity, no medical issues, and leads a simple private life. Otherwise, we won’t approve of your relationship.”

“I’m sure he has none of those issues.” Qi Xingchen had absolute faith in Bo Ye’s character.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao finally relaxed completely, but what followed was a strong sense of curiosity.

Who was the “pig” that had managed to take away the precious “cabbage” the Qi family had carefully nurtured? What did he look like? How old was he? What did he do for a living? Was he outstanding enough? Was he good enough to Xingxing?

As the eldest brother, like a father figure, Qi Yunxiao’s head was spinning with concerns. He was terrified that he hadn’t considered everything thoroughly enough and that Xingxing might end up being wronged.

“Young Master, Second Young Master, dinner is ready.”

Suddenly, the butler’s voice came from the doorway.

Food came first. Qi Yunxiao decided to set aside his worries for now and take his younger brother downstairs to eat.

Unfortunately, Qi Xingchen once again failed to escape Qi Yujie’s evil clutches. A full bowl of soup was placed in front of him, and the peculiar aroma of the dish kept invading his nostrils.

However, perhaps because he was getting used to it, Qi Xingchen actually found it not as bad as before. He used a small spoon to take slow, careful sips, completely unaware that beneath the table, his family members were furiously typing away on their phones, their fingers flying as they texted at lightning speed.

Qi Yujie had created a three-person group chat.

Rain After Sunshine: [Big brother, did you find out who Xingxing likes?]

Qi Xiaoming: [.]*

Xiao: [I didn’t want to pressure Xingxing. Since he didn’t bring it up himself, I didn’t ask either.]

Rain After Sunshine: […Why didn’t you ask?!]

Qi Xiaoming: [.]*

Xiao: [Yujie, fix your expression—Xingxing is looking at you.]

Rain After Sunshine: [Fine.]

Rain After Sunshine: [Actually, I have a theory. Do you want to hear it?]

Qi Xiaoming: [.]*

Xiao: [Go ahead.]

Rain After Sunshine: [Big brother, did Xingxing tell you whether he likes a man or a woman?]

Qi Xiaoming: [?]

Xiao: [A man.]

Qi Xiaoming: [!]

Rain After Sunshine: [Dad, don’t be shocked. Whether it’s Xingxing, us, or anyone else, we all have the right to choose whether to be with a woman, a man, or to live freely without any partner. You absolutely cannot act like one of those novel parents who break up couples by force.]

Xiao: [Agreed.]

Qi Xiaoming: [.]*

Rain After Sunshine: [Dad, I’ll talk to you about this properly later tonight. But for now, let me share my guess—I did some digging and found that Xingxing has a really close relationship with a celebrity named Bo Ye.]

Xiao: [I’ve heard of Bo Ye.]

Qi Xiaoming: [I have too.]

Rain After Sunshine: [Dad, where did you hear about him?]

Qi Xiaoming: [Spring Festival Gala.]

Rain After Sunshine: [Oh, I see… Anyway, back to my theory. Xingxing personally went to watch Bo Ye’s performances, ate regular boxed meals himself but ordered the best food for Bo Ye, took him to the aquarium late at night… In short, he treats Bo Ye incredibly well. So, I suspect that the person Xingxing likes is him.]

Dad & Brother: “……”

They were feeling a little jealous.

Qi Xiaoming: [That Bo kid—what kind of person is he?]

Rain After Sunshine: [Not sure.]

Xiao: [I can’t really judge. We once considered hiring him as a brand ambassador, but the deal didn’t go through. But I trust Xingxing’s judgment.]

Qi Xiaoming thought for a moment: [“Trust” is the most useless emotion in the world. Seeing is believing. Maybe I should check him out myself.]

Qi Yujie quickly stopped him: [No, don’t! Dad, you’ll scare him!]

Having spent years navigating both domestic and international business circles, frequently dealing with major figures in the corporate and political world, Qi Xiaoming had developed a stern and serious demeanor.

In reality, he was indeed a serious person, just much more gentle with his children. But if he suddenly showed up unannounced, he might end up scaring off their future brother-in-law.

Xiao: [How about I go instead?]

Xiao: [When Xingxing returns to the show, I’ll pretend I’m just visiting the set and take the chance to observe Bo Ye.]

The other two thought this was a great idea. They exchanged glances and gave him a thumbs-up in agreement.

“Dad, Brother, Sister,” Qi Xingchen asked curiously when he noticed they hadn’t started eating. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, right, hungry. Let’s eat now.”

The Qi family wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol, but since their youngest son had returned home and all four family members were finally gathered after more than half a month apart, Father Qi was in a good mood. He opened a bottle of low-alcohol white grape wine and shared a couple of glasses with his children.

During dinner, Father Qi asked about work, and Qi Xingchen answered honestly. The meal was filled with warmth and laughter. Afterward, the housekeeper cleared the table and brought out desserts and fruits. They had only eaten a few pieces when a loud rumbling noise suddenly came from outside.

It sounded like a truck passing by.

The Qi family’s villa was a standalone property, so it was unlikely that a neighbor had brought in a truck. The gardeners usually used small pickup trucks to transport soil and fertilizer, which never made such a racket.

The peaceful atmosphere was broken. Qi Yunxiao’s face instantly darkened. Qi Xingchen, afraid his older brother would lose his temper, quickly volunteered: “Brother, wait here. I’ll go check it out.”

“Xingxing, I’ll go with you.” Qi Yujie stood up and followed him.

The two walked past their garden and had the security guard open the gate. Sure enough, not far away, a truck was parked with its cargo compartment fully enclosed, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Qi Xingchen opened his mouth, intending to ask the truck driver what was going on. But before he could say anything, the passenger door swung open, and a young man with silver-grey hair, Qi Jiaze, jumped out nimbly. Taking three steps in two, he dashed toward Qi Xingchen and tackled him into a hug.

“Brother! You’re really back!”

“Mm, I’m back.” Qi Xingchen staggered back two steps from the force of the hug, then patted Qi Jiaze’s back. “Have you been getting into fights recently?”

“No fights! Didn’t you tell me not to bully my classmates? I’ve been super well-behaved—not a single fight!”

Qi Jiaze let go of Qi Xingchen and looked him up and down.

“…Damn, why did you lose so much weight? Didn’t the show take care of you properly?”

“The show is fine,” Qi Xingchen quickly waved his hands. “I didn’t lose weight. I just got more toned because of the intense training.”

Qi Jiaze was skeptical. Meanwhile, Qi Xingchen’s attention was still on the truck behind him. He asked curiously, “Jiaze, why did you come in a truck? Did the family take your car away?”

“…Damn, I was so excited to see you that I almost forgot.”

Qi Jiaze ran his fingers through his bangs. “No, I came to deliver a gift for you.”

The moment he heard the word “gift,” Qi Xingchen’s pupils shrank instinctively. The Qi family’s gifts were always extravagant and outrageous. He was pretty sure he was developing “Qi Family Gift PTSD.” He quickly refused, “I told you before, no gifts!”

Besides, what kind of gift requires a whole truck to transport? It must be something expensive again!

“You said ‘no expensive gifts,’” Qi Jiaze read his mind with a smirk. Walking to the back of the truck, he added mysteriously, “This one isn’t expensive. You can accept it without worry.”

Hearing this, Qi Xingchen relaxed a little—but not completely. After all, Qi Jiaze’s definition of “expensive” might be quite different from normal standards.

Qi Yujie, on the other hand, was extremely curious about what the gift could be. She and Qi Xingchen both looked toward the truck’s cargo area.

Then, right before their eyes, the truck’s doors swung open.

Two white horses leaped gracefully out, their movements as light as swallows, tracing elegant arcs through the air—

Before landing on the soft grass, raising their heads, and letting out clear, resonant neighs.

Qi Xingchen: “……”

He had seen people gifting kittens, puppies, and even hamsters before, but never in his life had he seen anyone gift a horse.

Was this little brother even acceptable anymore???

Qi Xingchen’s brain went blank. Beside him, Qi Yujie frowned in thought as she observed the horses, then suddenly let out a surprised “Huh?” and jogged over.

The horses, seemingly uneasy in their new environment, shifted around restlessly. Qi Yujie showed no fear, gently stroking their manes. “Fine head, high neck, thin skin, sleek coat, sweat like blood… Jiaze, where did you find golden Akhal-Tekes?”

…Akhal-Tekes? The legendary horses often mentioned in novels and TV dramas?

But weren’t Akhal-Tekes supposed to be golden? Why were these white?

Hearing this, Qi Xingchen couldn’t help but move closer to take a look. It was only then that he realized the horses weren’t actually pure white—they had a faint golden shimmer under the light. Their musculature was astonishingly perfect, like sculptures carved with meticulous artistry—exquisite yet untamed.

No boy could resist such temptation. Qi Xingchen instinctively reached out and gently stroked one of them.

Qi Jiaze caught the movement and shot Qi Yujie a triumphant grin. He then answered, “I ordered them from Turkmenistan. Took almost a month of negotiating before the ranch agreed to sell them to me.”

“How much?” Qi Yujie asked. “No way it was less than two or three hundred, right?”

“Money isn’t important, as long as my brother likes them.” Qi Jiaze sidled up to Qi Xingchen. “Brother, do you like them?”

“I do,” Qi Xingchen replied without hesitation. “But don’t waste money next time.”

He knew that when Qi Yujie said “two or three hundred,” she wasn’t talking about hundreds—she meant millions.

“Mm-hmm, got it.” Qi Jiaze nodded absentmindedly.

Qi Xingchen sighed, already trying to figure out how to pay Jiaze back. Since he was still a minor without a stable income, the money spent was technically from their parents—not ideal.

Qi Jiaze, unaware of his thoughts, grabbed his sleeve with one hand and led a horse with the other, chatting about his adventures buying them as they headed toward the Qi family’s backyard.

The Qi estate had a stable, but it had never been used before. Jiaze tied up the horses and said, “I’ve already arranged for the caretakers to come tomorrow morning. No need to feed them tonight.”

“Alright. What about water?”

“Here’s how you do it…”

Qi Jiaze explained some key points about caring for the horses, their habits, and other important details. Qi Xingchen carefully memorized everything, then suddenly remembered something.

“…Jiaze, I don’t know how to ride.”

“I remember you practiced a little with Brother Liang Jing before… Never mind.” Qi Jiaze pulled out his phone. “I wasn’t paying much attention in my equestrian classes anyway. Let’s just ask Brother Liang Jing to teach you.”