Turning Antagonist to Protagonist: He is Both Soft and Fierce-Chapter 251 - 246: Feels Like a Villain Tugging His Bride

Chapter 251: Chapter 246: Feels Like a Villain Tugging His Bride

Lin Qiao thought about the scene of the two sitting on horseback, shook her head, fearing she might sound too harsh in her refusal and explained, "I’ve never ridden a horse, I’m a bit scared."

"Don’t be afraid, you won’t fall."

Song Tingfan saw she wanted to say more and added, "Are you distancing yourself from me?" After speaking, his expression turned slightly sad.

How could she dare to be distant? Lin Qiao shook her hand repeatedly, "No."

"Then let’s ride together."

"..."

They hesitated for a moment, and Lin Qiao ultimately agreed. Riding wasn’t that bad, and her rear wouldn’t get sores.

Song Tingfan’s lips curled up slightly, and his steps halved in size.

"Lady Song, where are you heading?" A cheerful uncle selling vegetables on the street greeted them warmly.

Lin Qiao had been selling things on the street for several years, naturally getting familiar with them. "Going home for two days, Uncle Wang, it’s sunny here. You can set up at my shop front."

"That’s great, thank you, Lady Song." The uncle felt a bit embarrassed and picked out some vegetables for her, "Take them home to eat."

"No need, Uncle Wang, keep them to sell."

"Oh, come now, take it to eat. Eh, who’s this?"

After stuffing the vegetables to her, the uncle glanced at Song Tingfan.

Lin Qiao smiled, "Uncle Wang, you’ve seen him before, he’s my young uncle."

"Ah? He’s your young uncle? How much he’s changed, a few years ago he was still like a child, now he’s grown sturdy." The uncle was surprised for a moment, then smiled and praised.

Song Tingfan politely greeted him, "Uncle Wang."

"Good, good, you’re back, now your sister-in-law can relax, not needing to fetch water early in the morning." Uncle Wang said honestly, as no woman would fetch water before dawn except her on this street.

Upon hearing this, Song Tingfan glanced at Lin Qiao beside him, made up his mind to take them to Lunan City this time.

Lin Qiao never felt anything bitter about it, fetching water wasn’t a daily chore, "Uncle Wang, you sell your vegetables, we’ll head off first."

They reached the donkey shed where two donkeys had retreated to the corner, forced by a chestnut-colored sturdy horse, which seemed impatient, occasionally pawing at the dry grass.

"Anming." Song Tingfan reprimanded lightly, and the sturdy horse instantly behaved, affectionately nuzzling him with its head.

Song Tingfan raised his hand to gently stroke its head and then untied the rope, leading it out, towering more impressively than it seemed in the donkey shed.

Lin Qiao instinctively moved aside a bit, but Song Tingfan noticed and softly reassured, "It doesn’t kick people," patting the horse’s side gently as he spoke.

Warning it not to harm her.

Anming tilted its head slightly, lowering it near Lin Qiao as if wanting her to touch it.

Lin Qiao hesitated for a moment, then boldly brushed it, finding the mighty horse unexpectedly docile, she felt delighted, "It’s called Anming, it’s quite gentle."

"Indeed, it is gentle." Song Tingfan didn’t explain that Anming was the most spirited among hundreds of horses.

He swiftly mounted, extending his hand to Lin Qiao, signaling her to hold on.

Not one to fuss, Lin Qiao reached out to him, feeling rough calluses, she paused for a moment, and in the next instant, a powerful force pulled her up to the saddle.

The horse moved twice, lifting its front hooves.

Initially, there was a bit of distance between them, but now Lin Qiao was tightly pressed against Song Tingfan.

Song Tingfan tugged the reins lightly, nudging the horse’s belly, "Anming, go."

Anming was a warhorse, naturally fast, yet not too bumpy.

The chest thumping against her back felt fiery; uncomfortably, Lin Qiao scooted forward a bit, trying to avoid taking advantage of this villain.

Yet she couldn’t hold for long, as the horse began to jostle a bit, with nothing to hold onto, she had to lean back again.

She didn’t notice the brief smile that flickered in the eyes of the man behind her.

His deep voice said, "A bit bumpy, hold onto my arm."

Facing the jolting, Lin Qiao couldn’t bother with anything else, only hoping she wouldn’t be bumped off; falling off would likely break her limbs.

Gripping his arm, she could feel the solidity through the fabric.

He’s grown much sturdier than three years ago.

No wonder he couldn’t fit it.

Thinking this, she turned her head, barely able to see his chin, "Young uncle, you haven’t bought new clothes."

"There’s a suit at home that fits." Song Tingfan lowered his gaze slightly, his sight falling upon her long eyelashes and faintly red lips.

At first, she wasn’t quite used to sitting on a horse, but after a while, Lin Qiao found it much better than sitting in a donkey cart, faster and cooler.

The "big furnace" behind could be ignored.

Just the horse attracted attention, let alone a man and woman riding on horseback; quite a few people stared as they passed, though they couldn’t see clearly before they could only watch the horse’s rear.

A group of children was playing at the village entrance, forcing the horse to stop and slowly lead around them.

"Horse, such a big horse," some children exclaimed excitedly, pointing beside them.

Entering the village, more people gathered to watch, fearing rumors, Lin Qiao said, "Young uncle, I should get down, there are many villagers, we don’t want to hit anyone."

"You’re not getting down." Song Tingfan stopped the horse and dismounted, walking ahead while leading the reins under many gazes.

Once he was down, Lin Qiao felt even less at ease on horseback, coughing slightly, with the illusion of a villain dragging his bride.

The villagers recognized Widow Song but not Song Tiefan, curious women asked, "Madam Tingfan, who is this?"

Before Lin Qiao could reply, she added, "Tingfan’s not home, you shouldn’t taint his name like this!"

Lin Qiao: "..."

Unable to hold back, she rolled her eyes, these years without Song Tingfan, her temperament fully restored to "factory settings," retaliating sarcastically, "Aunt, do you live by the river? You really mind too many affairs."

The woman, taken aback, quickly retorted, "Widow Song, you better not be defiant, your husband’s family is still around, being caught with a man means you’re pond-bound."

"Then sink it, I’d like to ask, why should I be sunk for being with my young uncle?"

Lin Qiao paused before adding, "If that’s the case, you’d be sunk thousands of times."

The woman seemed less timid than before, gaining some fierce courage; Song Tiefan withdrew his gaze, coldly saying, "Then let them come and bind me."

Now he didn’t shout but could intimidate people even more.

The onlookers were startled, realizing this person was Song Er’s Song Tingfan.

He was still alive.

Seeing everyone too stunned to speak, Lin Qiao thought "tsk tsk," indeed those returning from battle are different.

But speaking of which, cough, the villain surprisingly brimming with manly charm.

Surely many would come to propose marriage.

At that time, she’d carefully help him choose, then he’d marry and have children, and her task would be completed.

From then on, she could pursue her own life, travel around, fulfilling her dream of seeing the world.

Suddenly, a joyful, raspy voice called out, "Niu Niu!"

Song Qin hurried over, looking him up and down, moved to tears, "You’ve finally come back, grown sturdy, and taller too."

Song Qin seemed in better spirits than three years ago, clearly well cared for, Song Tingfan’s expression softened, "Grandma."

Then he glanced at Song Rong behind her, "Grandpa."

Though Song Rong wasn’t as emotional as Song Qin, still somewhat incoherent, "Good you’re back, good you’re back."