Huo Shao Ting did not agree immediately, but closed his eyes, leaned the back of his head against the chair, and tightened his grip on Rong Dai's hand a few more times.
He suddenly pulled Rong Dai into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Rong Dai's heart was pounding wildly, and before she could speak, she heard his voice, tinged with exhaustion: "Let me hold you for a while, just for a while."
Hearing the heavy weariness in his voice, Rong Dai's stiff back relaxed, and her racing heart gradually calmed down as well. Her hands also gently stroked his back.
"Big si..."
Huo Mei Shu had come in from outside, and was just about to call out to Rong Dai when she saw the two of them embracing each other. She immediately fell silent, staring at the ceiling as she walked past with great exasperation.
If she kept eating dog food like this, she would go blind!
Huo Shao Jie had dealt with the Huo Feng family, and his forehead was already beaded with fine sweat.
This wasn't because he was afraid of the Huo Feng family, but because he was afraid that big brother would settle accounts with him afterwards.
Going to Africa to film a documentary, this was clearly meant to have him die in Africa!
So when he saw his big brother hugging his sister-in-law, he very tactfully disappeared automatically. With sister-in-law there, big brother could keep his temper under control, and his trip to Africa would be postponed indefinitely.
What Huo Shao Jie didn't expect was that after so many years, the hostility in big brother's heart towards the Huo Second Master's family still hadn't diminished.
It wasn't that he had forgotten, it was that big brother tormenting himself this way, hatred would make a person lose their calm and reason, and it would also consume the light in their heart.
There was also the fact that today he had truly been shocked by his sister-in-law's imposing manner!
Sister-in-law had fought the entire Huo Second Master's family and held her own, he and Huo Mei Shu had been completely useless.
This sister-in-law really was a dragon in hiding, astonishing when revealed.
Everyone in the Huo household was very tactful, and no one went to disturb the two of them.
Huo Shao Ting held her for a long time before the churning anger and hatred in his heart gradually subsided.
Rong Dai maintained this posture, though half her body had gone numb.
"You didn't rest all night, go upstairs and take a hot bath first, I'll make you some breakfast, then you can get some good rest, okay?"
Sensing his relaxation, Rong Dai also breathed a slight sigh of relief in her heart, her voice gentle as she spoke.
He had a poor stomach, such excessive fatigue and irregular diet would sooner or later take a toll on his health.
"I'll listen to you." Huo Shao Ting said softly into the crook of her neck. The stubble on his chin scratched her fair neck, leaving it slightly red.
He took the chance to lightly peck her pink neck before finally letting her go.
Just now, he had almost lost control.
He had only just uncovered the truth from twenty-some years ago, but the evidence had long since faded, he had no way to mete out punishment to the Huo Second Master's family outside of the law.
But he had plenty of ways to kick them out of the game, just thinking about the family incident from twenty-some years ago made him want to kill someone!
Rong Dai stood upright, seeing the red veins in his eyes and the stubble on his chin, the fatigue on his face was so obvious, it made her heart inexplicably ache.
He also carried many secrets she didn't know about, but she could feel his state of mind.
This man, when gentle, could be extremely meticulous.
When ruthless, was enough to make others cower at the mere mention.
This required a strong inner heart, and hadn't she also been the same in her past life in the imperial harem for thirty years?
For a moment, she felt that she and the man before her had an affinity.
"What do you want to eat? Porridge or noodles?" Her voice was just as gentle.
She didn't ask Huo Shao Ting what had happened just now. She knew what he needed now was quiet, a space that brought him peace.
"Handmade noodles." He looked up at her. At this moment he was like he had shed all his armor, revealing his vulnerable side to Rong Dai.
He wasn't a god, he wasn't invincible at all times.
He also needed care and warmth.
All these years he had been fighting alone, behind him was the family he needed to protect for his father, he could not fall.
For so many years, he had already gotten used to being alone.
But he had also forgotten that when stripped of everything bestowed upon him, he was just an ordinary man.
In front of the Huo family, he could no longer show weakness.
But in front of Rong Dai, she was his wife, he could show her his most fragile side.
"Go take a bath, I'll call you when it's ready."
Rong Dai understood the look in his eyes. How could she, perceptive as she was, not understand the emotions flowing in his eyes?
It was just that while his sincerity made her happy, it also put great pressure on her.
She was not, after all, that Rong Dai.
Watching him go upstairs, Rong Dai turned and entered the kitchen. In her heart she sighed lightly - things had come to this, she could only take it one step at a time now.
Her identity was still an extremely dangerous matter. It wasn't that she didn't trust Huo Shao Ting, but that she didn't trust this completely unfamiliar world.
Her past life had made her understand all too well that the hearts of those not of one's own kind differed.
Although everything in this afterlife was very advanced, such fantastical and supernatural happenings were too inconceivable. She was cautious by habit from her past life.
Until she felt completely safe, even if Huo Shao Ting had suspicions, she would not say it aloud.
If before she herself told him plainly, their relationship could only end and be settled, she was also willing to accept this outcome.
With many tangled thoughts weighing on her mind, Rong Dai turned on the faucet. The gentle water flow pulled her mind back a little.
She carefully made the noodles for Huo Shao Ting, prepared two small refreshing side dishes, and brought up a warm glass of milk upstairs.
Entering the bedroom, Huo Shao Ting still hadn't come out of the bathroom. Rong Dai couldn't help frowning - it wasn't good to bathe for too long.
She knocked on the door, but there was no sound from inside. She couldn't help feeling anxious.
"Shao Ting, are you done with your bath? Could you say something please?"
Rong Dai's face was slightly pale. She couldn't help knocking on the door and calling out.
But there was still no sound from the bathroom.
She bit her lip and turned the bathroom doorknob, walking in. She knew Huo Shao Ting had the habit of not locking the bathroom door when bathing.
She saw that Huo Shao Ting had actually fallen asleep in the bathtub!
Rong Dai's nose turned sour, and her eyes welled up with an ache.
Counting on her fingers, recently she had caused Huo Shao Ting no small amount of trouble, from the audition, to Zuo Ran, and now Wen Shi Lan.
Each matter had caused considerable impact. Even if Huo Shao Ting didn't say it, she knew in her heart that these things did have some effect on the Huo enterprise.
He had been busy all night, and had to deal with the Huo Second Master's messy affair after coming home in the morning. How could he not be tired?
A feeling of guilt crept into her heart. Looking at Huo Shao Ting leaning in the bathtub, her ears grew hot, and her cheeks also felt hot and burning.
"Shao Ting, wake up, you can't sleep in the bathtub."
She squatted by the side of the tub, her gaze focused hard on the man's face, not looking where she shouldn't.
She called Huo Shao Ting several times but he still didn't respond. Rong Dai grew anxious, reaching out to touch his shoulder to try and shake him awake.
"Shao Ting, ah--"
