After the couple returned to their apartment, Rong Dai recalled the pungent smell of disinfectant at the hospital and felt uncomfortable all over.
"I'm going to take a shower first, then make some noodles for you later," she said.
Huo Shao Ting looked at her affectionately and stroked her hair. He kissed her forehead and said gently, "Go ahead."
Rong Dai nodded and went to the bathroom to bathe.
Huo Shao Ting carried two large bags of groceries into the kitchen and carefully put everything away.
When he opened the refrigerator and saw the frozen dumplings and tangyuan, his eyebrows immediately furrowed.
These frozen dumplings and tangyuan were of course not bought by Rong Dai, but by Huo Mei Shu.
Huo Mei Shu was a bona fide rich young lady. At home, apart from getting water to drink in the kitchen, and occasionally making cakes when she was in a good mood, she never touched anything else in the kitchen.
Of course, she didn't know how to cook.
But in Shenjing, she had sworn to take good care of Rong Dai.
What could she do if she didn't know how to cook?
It wasn't right for them to only eat takeout and delivered meals all the time. So she had stocked up on a lot of ready meals at the supermarket for the two of them.
Although Rong Dai was picky with food, after all, she was used to luxurious food and clothing in her previous life.
Even during the ten years she spent in the Cold Palace, she earned money with her embroidery skills, and never deprived herself when it came to food.
In addition, her own cooking skills were very good, so the food that entered her mouth was particularly picky.
Of course these ready meals did not suit her palate.
But she was busy with the intense filming schedule, and did not have much time to rest, let alone time to cook for herself.
Moreover, this was Mei Shu's thoughtful gesture, so she just made do with it.
Huo Shao Ting cleaned out all these frozen foods which he considered junk from the fridge, and put all the fresh ingredients he had bought inside.
Then he rolled up his sleeves, tied on an apron, and personally cooked dinner for Rong Dai.
Rong Dai took a warm shower and felt much more relaxed all over.
After changing into loungewear, she went to the kitchen.
She happened to see Huo Shao Ting, who had taken off his suit jacket, standing there in just a white shirt with sleeves rolled up, wearing an apron.
He looked every bit the perfect househusband cooking at home.
He was always stern-faced, and even when cooking, his expression was still unusually cold.
But somehow, this very sight of him was even more attractive.
There was an old saying, a woman should be able to handle the inner chambers as well as the great hall.
This was used to judge whether a woman was virtuous and capable.
But how many people used this criterion to assess a good man's qualities?
Who would have thought that the prestigious Huo Group's CEO could also cook at home?
She leaned against the door frame, unable to help staring at him in a daze.
"Like what you see?"
Huo Shao Ting suddenly looked up and met her gaze.
Rong Dai's ears instantly turned red, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
She smiled lightly and nodded, her tone a little teasing, "It looks good. Who would have thought the prestigious Huo Group CEO could also wield a kitchen knife?"
Hearing her words, Huo Shao Ting raised his eyebrows, "Your husband can do a lot more, and only for you alone."
The deeper meaning of his words was very obvious.
Rong Dai: "..."
Her ears kept burning, and she shot him an embarrassed, annoyed glance.
This guy's words were increasingly...hard for her to parry.
He would say romantic things and flirt with her at the slightest opportunity. It was difficult for her to connect him to that cold and aloof man from before.
"Can't be bothered with you," she huffed.
"Go rest on the sofa. The kitchen is full of oil fumes," Huo Shao Ting stopped her and gently advised her.
Rong Dai shook her head, looking at him earnestly, "Shao Ting, I know you lack nothing. There is little I can do for you. But I remember every bit of your kindness in my heart. I'm grateful to have met you."
"You've done so much for me. I also want to do my best for you in some ways."
Her voice was calm, but contained deep emotions.
Huo Shao Ting was no ordinary man. He understood what she meant.
He turned around to face her, cupping her cheek with one hand.
They looked into each other's eyes, clearly seeing the feelings contained within.
His voice was gentle and mellow, "I know. But you're still unwell today. We have plenty of time in the future."
"Be good and go rest on the sofa. I'll be done soon," he coaxed her like a child, kissing her forehead.
He understood clearly that for her, expressing herself this strongly already took tremendous courage.
How could he not sense her sincerity?
Rong Dai hugged him tightly without a word.
The more intimate moments they shared, the softer her heart became.
"Mm..."
After a few seconds, she conceded with a murmur. Only then did she let go of his waist and obediently go to the sofa in the living room to rest.
Although she no longer felt the same as when she was on set, her body was still a little uncomfortable.
Although she was just resting on the sofa, she wasn't idle.
She took her tablet and watched the latest fashion show of the season - Brocade Embroidery Workshop's.
In its fashion designs, Brocade Embroidery Workshop largely preserved traditional Chinese elements, but also made huge adjustments to incorporate international fashion trends.
Although very innovative, these clothes were extremely impractical for ordinary people.
Most of Brocade Embroidery Workshop's clothes were only suitable for high-end occasions, and were very expensive.
As Rong Dai watched, she took notes of her own ideas and concepts in a small notebook.
The clothes she wanted to make should not only have high-end custom options, but also be affordable to the general public.
In her previous life as the Empress, she was very clear on the philosophy of benevolent rule.
The upper class was only a small portion of people. The clothes they needed were not just expensive, but also took a long time to produce.
Most importantly, these people paid great attention to wearing occasion-appropriate attire.
Even for similar occasions, the same outfit would rarely appear twice.
Because they represented the forefront of fashion trends.
But Rong Dai did not wish for her works to only make a single appearance, before being relegated to the closet as collectibles.
That would go against her aims.
She was not lacking money now. She just wanted a personal career of her own.
And this career would allow her to put her learning to good use, to maximize the happiness she could bring to others - that was her philosophy.
She noticed something - in her opinion, the current fashion world was somewhat deformed.
All the models were identikit tall and skinny figures, obsessed with a bony aesthetic.
But from her time living here, although many people were very thin, this warped, extreme pursuit of a bony figure had undermined most people's health.
Moreover, some people did not avoid being thin, they just couldn't lose weight.
Another thing was, ordinary people were mostly disadvantaged when it came to height.
Yet most fashionable clothes were only suited to those tall, "kissed by God" figures that ordinary people could not pull off.
This was her understanding of modern fashion. She knew it was difficult to change the world.
She had never thought of changing the world. She would only adhere to her own principles.
