Chapter 110

Van gently took her hand, leading her through the spacious living room and pushing open the glass doors to the backyard. The backyard was also expansive, showcasing natural landscapes that ranged from wild meadows to rocky paths and dense woods. A winding stream cut through the garden, and as evening mist thickened, a faint blue haze lingered over the water. A canoe rested quietly on the shore. Moonlight bathed the scene, and from one corner of the yard, a small horse bounded toward them with light, quick steps. Its coat was a deep chestnut, sleek and glossy, but its mane was a striking golden color—fine and fluffy, swaying in the breeze and shimmering faintly under the moonlight. Winnie unconsciously held her breath, her eyes wide and her hand lightly covering her mouth as she stared in awe at the small horse. It trotted up to her, its slender legs moving gracefully as if it were gliding on clouds. When its hooves touched the ground, they made a crisp sound. The horse came to a halt, exhaled softly, and raised its head to look at her with large, expressive eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and intelligence. It was remarkably small, standing at about 1.2 meters tall—roughly at Winnie's waist. "It doesn't have a name yet. What would you like to call it?" Van asked, holding its reins gently. "Little Horse?" Winnie suggested hesitantly. Van chuckled. "This type of horse is internationally known as a 'pony.' Naming it 'Little Horse' is like naming a dog 'Dog.'" Winnie scratched her head lightly, thinking for a moment. Suddenly, she said, "Rich!" Van couldn't help but laugh. "Hmm, alright." "Can I pet it? Will it kick me?" Winnie asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "It won't, It's very gentle, and its bloodline is pure," Van explained. This pony had been specially chosen by him from a royal British ranch. He had arranged for a private plane to pick it up, and it took quite a bit of time to clear customs, even using his connections to ensure it arrived on time for her birthday. "The pony has already adjusted here for a few days, the days of acclimatization are behind it," Van added. She lowered her head, gently wrapping her arms around the pony's neck. "Rich, I hope you grow up quickly." "It will stay this size forever, it won't grow any bigger," Van interrupted her fantasy. "Really?" Winnie paused, staring closely at the pony. "It's really so cute..." She hugged it tighter. The pony seemed to feel squeezed and started gently struggling. The pony's size was even smaller than half the length of her skirt. "But I don't have such a big yard, and there's no one to take care of it," she said, her tone carrying a bit of frustration. "You can board it here with me," Van replied calmly. Winnie was slightly stunned. "Isn't this my gift?" "It's your gift, but I'll take care of it for you. Whenever you want to see it, you can come here and spend time with it," Van said, looking at her gently. Winnie blinked, feeling a bit lost, her half-drunken state clouding her thoughts. It felt as though she had fallen into some kind of trap, but she couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. "Of course, you can also choose to take it back with you, and I'll arrange for someone to take care of it. Your over 300-square-meter house might be a bit small for it. It may not have been in such a narrow place before, but it should be fine to walk around downstairs," Van said lightly. Winnie looked at the pony, then at Van, her eyes filled with confusion. "What's wrong? Is this not okay? Or... would you like me to buy you a bigger house?" Van asked with a light laugh. Winnie shook her head, feeling a bit confused, but unable to refuse. She lowered her head and smiled. "Can I ride it?" "If you were ten years old, then yes," Van teased. "Then what can I do?" Winnie asked curiously. "Play with it, watch it grow up," Van said softly. "How many years can it live?" Winnie continued asking. Van's gaze softened, and he answered quietly, "If everything goes well, it can live for forty years; if not, maybe just a decade or so."