Nan Jiaojiao, being the closest, sensed something was amiss and spurred her horse to dash over.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind.
Thinking it was another out-of-control horse, Nan Jiaojiao was too occupied to react properly. She whipped back, but instead of hitting the horse's rump, her whip was caught by a hand.
She abruptly turned her head back.
Gao Zhe was riding on his horse, nodded at her, and returned the whip to her.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhenzhen had lost control, completely depleted of strength, and fell off her horse.
Gao Zhe stretched out his arm to catch her around the waist and pressed her harshly into his arms, placing her between his chest and the horse's neck. His grip on her waist tightened, trembling slightly with tension.
"Lu, Zhen, Zhen!"
The man's face was so grim it looked like he could wring water from it, frighteningly cold. He glared at her with gritted teeth, as if his gaze alone could tear her apart.
