Huo Shao Ting came down soon after, and saw that she was holding that bag as if it was some important object. She felt that this woman seemed to have come to life somewhat. She used to be lifeless, and although her face was quite good-looking, there was gloom written all over it. Anyone looking at such a face for long would feel uncomfortable. Since this woman was willing to change, he had the patience for it.
"What do you want to eat? There's still an hour before we have to attend the event."
The man loomed over her as he asked condescendingly. Rong Dai didn't really like people talking to her like this. She frowned slightly and moved away some distance to avoid Huo Shao Ting's shadow.
She took out her phone to check the time. It wasn't even twelve yet. Puzzled, she asked him, "Isn't the event at three in the afternoon?"
Huo Shao Ting noticed her subtle movement. He pulled out a chair and sat down, his deep gaze sized her up. "The organizers are being unreasonable. Can I control that?"
Rong Dai was rendered speechless. This did seem to make some sense.
She turned to look at the luxurious décor of the mall. In her mind, she calculated the cost—just one dress here cost eighty thousand yuan, and that was the most basic style. The people who came here were all either rich or noble. She estimated this meal was beyond her means.
She immediately shook her head, "I won't eat anything. I had too much in the morning. Let's just go to the venue?"
Huo Shao Ting saw the concern flashing through her eyes and didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.
Shopping with him, the CEO of the prestigious Huo Corporation, and she was actually worried about not having enough money?
He didn't want to force her either. His eyes coolly glanced at her as he got up from the chair. "Then let's go."
Rong Dai heaved a sigh of relief and hurried to follow him.
She had never imagined that she, an empress who had spent thirty years in a harem, who had schemed against countless concubines and even dared to defy the emperor, would lose so much face over a measly few tens of thousands of yuan.
Sitting in the car, Rong Dai was preoccupied, feeling complicated emotions. An invisible sense of urgency weighed on her heart.
She needed to earn money and learn how to make a living, so that a year later when she really left the Huo family, she wouldn't end up on the streets. But the amount of change in this modern world was too vast. Everything was new to her. If she wanted to make a living, she would need to observe and consider carefully first.
Seeing her silent with a worried look on her face again, Huo Shao Ting knitted his brows.
"What is this place?" The car had stopped, and Rong Dai looked puzzled at the luxurious and stylish storefronts outside.
"Don't you just go to the event after buying clothes?" Huo Shao Ting frowned at her. He felt something was off about her but couldn't pinpoint what.
Rong Dai had wanted to say she could change in the restroom when they got to the venue. But Huo Shao Ting continued speaking, "I'll come get you in half an hour."
With that, he closed the car door and the car sped away, leaving Rong Dai standing dumbly outside the store entrance, inexplicably nervous.
"Mrs. Huo, this way please." Just as her heart was thumping anxiously, the store manager personally came out to welcome her.
Rong Dai took a deep breath and put on an appropriate smile before following the manager inside.
Since Huo Shao Ting had brought her to this event, it was to prevent her from embarrassing the Huo family. She would have to hold up her end.
Huo Shao Ting circled back to the mall where Huo Mei Shu was waiting expectantly.
"Brother, what are you playing at? I still have classes today. When do I have time to go shopping with you? Who are you buying clothes for?" Huo Mei Shu looked extremely unhappy and puzzled.
"Come with me to Hermès' new product launch. You can pick anything you like." Huo Shao Ting glanced at her coolly and started walking ahead.
Huo Mei Shu's eyes lit up. She hurried to catch up and probed nosily, "It's not for Wen Shi Lan, is it? Seeing how generous you're being, I'll do you this favor. But don't blame me for not warning you—Grandma and Mom won't allow you to marry her. Also there's the matter of Rong Dai..."
Huo Shao Ting halted. Lowering his eyes, he looked at her coldly. "Why would I buy clothes for Wen Shi Lan? Does the Wen family lack money? Do you think I'm the kind of person who casually spends money on women?"
He really didn't understand why these two kept thinking there was something between him and Wen Shi Lan.
"Huh? It's not for her? Then who...Brother, don't do anything rash. Although Rong Dai is a bit lame, she doesn't have any ulterior motives. Grandma likes her too. Just yesterday she was sucking up to Mom all evening..."
Huo Mei Shu was taken aback, looking a little panicked as she hurried to catch up and ask.
Huo Shao Ting took a deep breath to restrain his irritation. It seemed he would have to call a family meeting to set things straight.
"The clothes are for your sister-in-law, Rong Dai. Is that clear?"
Huo Mei Shu was stunned again. This was even more wrong!
Could something she didn't know about have happened between the two after they got home last night?
Although she disliked Rong Dai a little, Rong Dai was still better than those women who only had eyes for her brother's wealth.
On Rong Dai's side, after getting ready in the salon, she looked at herself in the mirror and was quite impressed. The makeup techniques in this modern age were actually so amazing.
But she had no time to admire herself. She carefully protected her dress, afraid of wrinkling or dirtying it, anxiously waiting for Huo Shao Ting.
When nearly forty minutes had passed with no sign of Huo Shao Ting, she couldn't help wanting to call him to ask. Just then, she heard the sound of a car engine.
Seeing the familiar car, she breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over carefully in her dress to get in the car.
Seeing how she was so carefully protecting her dress, Huo Shao Ting looked a little exasperated. He then handed her a box, "Make do with this for now."
"What is it?" Rong Dai asked puzzledly. Opening the box, she saw it contained a full set of diamond jewelry.
She didn't know much about diamonds, but she understood jewelry. With such workmanship, even with just these simple three pieces, it had to be worth over ten million yuan based on this era's monetary system.
"I can't accept this. It's too valuable. What if I damage it..."
I can't afford to compensate for it!
Rong Dai felt miserable inside. No woman disliked beautiful and precious jewelry, especially herself.
Huo Shao Ting's brows furrowed as he looked at her coldly and sharply. "Do you think I have abundant free time every day? From this morning until now, how much time have you wasted? This is a must for attending events, it's not a gift for you."
He had overestimated this woman. Her nature hadn't changed one bit!
Seeing him get angry, Rong Dai felt somewhat intimidated. After hesitating for a moment, she carefully and cautiously put on the bracelet, earrings and necklace from the box.
"Could you help me with this?" Rong Dai held the necklace, feeling a little nervous and cautious as she asked him.
After all, this was her lifeline. If she offended him, she would suffer, so she had to be extra careful protecting this jewelry.
