"Even though you're my wife, I hope that spiritually, you're still the independent person you are. Having scheming skills means you'll analyze the pros and cons."
"That way, even if I'm not able to look out for you, you'll still be able to protect yourself well, and I'll be able to rest easy," Huo Shao Ting said very seriously.
At his level, a good-looking exterior was just an empty shell to him.
When he had married Rong Dai at first, he had thought they would be able to respect each other like his parents had for their whole lives.
Because to him, marriage wasn't a necessity.
What was most important was that he was very clear that finding a wife whose soul resonated with his would be extremely difficult.
And coincidentally, he was just that lucky.
To be able to gain a wife like this, Rong Dai's changes, perhaps she hadn't noticed them herself.
But he had seen everything clearly, she was different from other women.
"Before you were hospitalized, I had always thought marriage wasn't a necessity for me. If getting married could reassure my family, even without an emotional foundation with the other person, achieving a marriage of mutual basic respect and deference wouldn't be a bad thing."
He looked at Rong Dai, his expression suddenly changing, tightly grasping her hand and staring into her eyes.
"But after you left the hospital, you were the first woman to make me feel impulsive, nervous, and uneasy."
"After my father passed away, I understood the burden on my shoulders. My life and my work isn't just personal, it's also my family's."
"So I'm more rational and restrained than ordinary people, but only with you have I felt impulsive, gotten nervous over you, feared losing you."
"Even when the company was in such danger before, on the verge of bankruptcy, I had never been so afraid. When I saw you lying on the ground covered in blood, I hated that I hadn't killed the people who had hurt you!"
"Rong Dai, I know your changes, the difference between you and her is too great. That ink jade, from the Upper Yuan Empire, it has your name on it."
Upon hearing him say this, Rong Dai stared wide-eyed in shock.
Seeing her reaction, a huge weight lifted from Huo Shao Ting's heart. Although he still hoped to get her verbal confirmation, he knew it would be hard.
Even if it was about himself, he wouldn't be able to speak of things from a past life either.
Because speaking it out meant admitting it, which could potentially threaten himself. It wasn't an issue of trust or lack thereof, but an instinct.
"I found experts in this field domestically, because after we married, you never asked anything of me, didn't even talk much.
He opened his mouth to explain, he hated beating around the bush the most.
The awkwardness between them the last few days had instead helped him think through many issues clearly.
Treating his woman was different from treating work, he couldn't keep forcing the other side to reveal her hand while he made plans.
Rong Dai was shocked inside, so he had noticed something off about her so early?
She had thought she was disguising things pretty well.
"Others might think it's because of Zuo Ran that your personality changed so drastically, but I know the personality differences between you and her, although I'm not very familiar with her either."
Huo Shao Ting explained very seriously, keeping his eyes on her the entire time.
"I'm not saying these things to get a response from you, just want you to know, my wife is the present you, the present you has given me a new perspective on marriage."
"You've also made me passionate about life again. You don't have to say anything or explain. When you feel the time is right, when you're willing to speak, I'm also willing to listen."
"You need to understand, the present you is a newborn you, don't be shackled by the past. I also hope you can give yourself a chance to accept me."
Hearing him speak this way, Rong Dai truly couldn't help being moved.
She glanced down slightly at his warm palm, and countless thoughts flashed through her heart.
There was a voice at the bottom of her heart, like rays of light breaking through layers of fog on an overcast day. Her uneasy heart settled down, like a wandering small boat finding a haven from the wind.
"Okay."
A few seconds later, she raised her head, gaze firm as she looked at him and responded.
He had already said so much. Although she still couldn't speak of things from her past life, she believed in the man before her eyes.
She was also afraid that if she missed an opportunity like this, she would truly regret it for life.
Whether the heavens were punishing her or not, since she had been given this chance, she had to seize it and try no matter what.
Huo Shao Ting's gaze was deep and gentle. He clasped her nape and couldn't help placing another kiss on her forehead.
Rong Dai's heartbeat sped up uncontrollably again, and the tips of her ears along with her cheeks couldn't help flushing red.
Fortunately Huo Shao Ting didn't continue, but devoted his attention to eating.
Rong Dai knew her own cooking skills, but she hadn't expected Huo Shao Ting to eat everything up clean.
She wasn't too clear on his tastes, so she had made several dishes, dishing out a bit of each.
"I'm not too clear on your tastes, so I made a few more dishes." She gave a wry smile.
"My wife's cooking is good, I like it all."
Huo Shao Ting's face was perfectly calm as he spoke. But he had eaten until he was a little stuffed. He paused, then added, "I can't handle spicy foods, instant noodles and such I also can't eat, because I damaged my digestive system in the past when I was busily working at the company and eating randomly."
He didn't like beating around the bush. Being direct like this could also save her some overthinking, and they could understand each other faster.
Rong Dai silently committed this to memory. She thought of how the young aunt had fought with him over this issue previously, so his digestive issues must be quite severe.
It looked like she would have to make more nourishing foods to benefit his digestive system. Bad digestion would negatively impact his health.
After the meal, Huo Shao Ting brought her to tour the CEO floors.
"Mei Shu said you didn't go home much before, so were you living at the company then?"
Rong Dai couldn't help asking him. The Huo Company was extremely wealthy, and this entire highrise was Huo Company's. This floor was entirely the CEO Huo Shao Ting's private domain.
"Mm, I'll go home to live from now on."
He grasped her hand, voice light as he responded.
Rong Dai's ears instantly turned red. That wasn't what she meant at all!
Huo Shao Ting stole another kiss on her cheek in the private elevator.
"The company's affairs were busy before, and there was nothing worth troubling myself over at home either. Living at the company was more convenient. But now my home has you, so I'll go home to live."
He said gently, which was also a promise of sorts to her.
Otherwise, with a husband who didn't return home multiple times a day, what kind of husband was that? A husband was only a husband within one zhang.
"To facilitate handling company matters, I had this floor remodeled into a private living area."
The two of them exited the elevator, arriving at the top floor of the highrise.
Compared to the solemnity of the CEO floors below, there was more of a living atmosphere here, but the mood was still rather cold. With one look you could tell this was the residence of someone living alone.
