The CEO's Bargain Bride

Chapter 12: "Come Stay with Me"

Sophia Shen quickly placed her hands behind her, unsure where to look.

Alexander Qin remained expressionless as he walked ahead.

“Let’s go,” he said.

The tall, black steed was resting nearby. Before Alexander even got close, the horse trotted over and nuzzled him with its head.

He took the reins with one hand and extended his other hand toward Sophia.

“I’ll help you up.”

Sophia immediately took a liking to the majestic horse. Its sleek black coat shimmered in the light, and its strong, agile limbs made it the perfect picture of a "prince of horses."

Without hesitation, she placed her hand in Alexander’s, using his strength to gracefully mount the horse.

After a gentle pat on the horse's neck, Alexander swiftly mounted as well, one hand gripping the reins, the other firmly wrapping around Sophia, pulling her into his chest.

Sophia stiffened slightly, unaccustomed to the closeness.

At that moment, Alexander lightly tugged on the reins, and the horse sped forward. The wind rushed by their ears, warm and soothing like the summer breeze. Slowly, Sophia relaxed, focusing on the freedom of the ride.

“The pace is fast, but you can trust me to hold you steady,” Alexander’s deep voice finally broke through the wind.

Sophia was slightly surprised.

She hadn’t expected him to explain things to her like this.

Her ears tingled, and she cleared her throat, “Watch where you're going, don’t get distracted.”

Although the words could have sounded like a reprimand, it came across almost like a playful tease, making Alexander chuckle softly.

His riding skills were indeed impressive. With his steady guidance, Sophia felt no fear as they raced around the track.

Her soft body pressed against his firm chest, sinking slightly into him.

Though Sophia was of average height for a woman at 5'3" (160 cm), Alexander, towering at 6'2" (188 cm), easily loomed over her. From his angle, he could perfectly see the flush on her cheeks.

“There’s a designated area for racing on the farm. I’ll take you there,” Alexander said.

Sophia eagerly nodded, not wanting to fall behind.

“Then hold on tight.”

With that, he pulled her even closer, her back against his chest, as the two of them continued their ride together.

A city like A is full of hills and slopes, and the farm near the hills was no exception. Once they left the horse arena, the road became more uneven. As the horse galloped, the bumps grew more pronounced, causing Sophia Shen to lean into Alexander Qin’s chest.

“If you’re scared, you can hold onto my arm,” his deep voice whispered beside her ear, soothing her nerves.

Sophia hesitated for a moment before slowly extending her left hand, gently gripping the arm he had wrapped around her waist. Her movements were cautious, like a kitten exploring a new environment, testing the waters.

Alexander’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he observed the young woman nestled against him, her soft body pressing lightly against his. She felt fragile, like a delicate flower that could be easily crushed. A surge of heat flickered in his eyes, and he urged the horse to run faster, like a young man eager to show off.

Before long, time seemed to fly by. The summer sky was as fickle as a child’s face—one moment sunny and warm, the next, torrential rain began to pour.

Alexander frowned slightly, almost forgetting about the weather forecast.

He leaned down and enveloped Sophia entirely in his embrace.

“Just hang on a little longer. We’ll be back soon.”

With that, the black steed tore through the rain like lightning.

Meanwhile, at the estate, Alexander's grandfather stood beneath the eaves, watching as dark clouds gathered in the sky. The rain came pouring down, yet the two of them hadn’t returned. His brow furrowed in concern.

“This brat! Out gallivanting and not checking the weather. What if they catch a cold?”

The butler, who stood beside him, handed the old man a blanket, speaking softly, “This is the first time young master has lost track of time for a girl.”

Hearing this, the old man chuckled lightly.

“Forget it, it’s the young people’s business. I’ll stay out of it. Go tell the kitchen to make some ginger tea. When they get back, they’ll need it to warm up.”

Despite the heavy rain, it wasn’t cold, and with Alexander sheltering Sophia, she was almost entirely shielded from the downpour. His strong, masculine scent filled the air, making her heart race.

She held onto his arm, squinting as she watched the trees blur by in the rain, silently wishing time would hurry up.

Soon, they arrived back at the farm. Although Sophia’s legs were wet, Alexander had made sure the rest of her stayed dry. In contrast, he was drenched. When they dismounted, someone took Sophia inside to dry off, while he himself braved the rain to enter the house.

Since the farm had ponds and water, they kept a supply of clean clothes nearby. Sophia took the clothes and headed upstairs.

She couldn’t help but be surprised at how well the farm had been prepared. When had a regular farm become so well-serviced?

What she didn’t know was that this wasn’t just any open farm—it was one of Alexander’s private estates. Everything was deliberately planned in advance.

After dinner, the rain had stopped. The old man decided to stay for a few more days, leaving only Alexander to see Sophia off.

Summer rainstorms were often quick to come and go. Just as the two of them were leaving, it started raining heavily again. Suddenly, Sophia’s phone vibrated.

She opened it and saw a weather update about the rainstorm. There had been a mudslide on a road segment they would have to take to get to her home, and repairs were ongoing.

“That mudslide’s in our way. What should we do?” Sophia asked.

Alexander tapped on the car's navigation system.

“You could take a detour, but with all the rain today, the roads are clogged. It’ll be late if we go that way.”

Sophia glanced at the navigation screen. It was a sea of red with deep crimson spots.

“This is a total traffic jam, isn't it?”

“Let’s not worry about that. I’ll take you to a nearby hotel instead,” Sophia suggested.

Alexander’s fingers traced the steering wheel.

“No need. You can stay at my place,” he said, his gaze fixed ahead, his tone calm and indifferent.

Sophia froze, her scalp tingling.

Stay at his place… was that really appropriate?

But it felt a bit awkward to refuse, especially since they were married.

“Okay, fine,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

They turned onto the second ring road, picking up speed. In half an hour, they arrived at Alexander’s home.

As usual, he opened the shoe cabinet, where several pairs of women’s shoes were neatly arranged. He pulled out a pair of off-white slippers and placed them in front of Sophia.

“After you came here last time, I prepared some clothes and shoes for you.”

Sophia paused, her hand still on the shoes. She felt a pang of guilt. He had prepared everything, while she hadn’t even told her family about their relationship. She felt more and more like a bad person.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice awkward.

Alexander reached out and gently patted the stray lock of hair on top of her head. “It’s nothing. Go freshen up. I’ve already drawn the water.”

As he leaned in close, his warm breath brushed against her ear, and a flush spread from her neck to her ears.

Flustered, she hurried into the bathroom.

Alexander chuckled softly, watching her flustered retreat. He murmured under his breath, “Such a silly girl, not even bringing a change of clothes.”