Huo Shao Ting was a brilliant cook, and dinner was ready in no time.
"Mmm, smells so good!"
Rong Dai put down her tablet, sniffed the air, and got up to head over to the dining table.
Huo Shao Ting had prepared a lavish dinner.
There was coconut chicken with bamboo shoots, steamed bass, stir-fried zucchini, pumpkin oatmeal porridge, and a dish of fluffy egg fried rice.
He had also specially stewed bird's nest with abalone for her.
Rong Dai knew from her little sister that he could cook, and had joined him in the kitchen a few times before, so she knew his cooking tasted great. But this was the first time he had personally cooked just for her.
As she looked at Huo Shao Ting, she found it hard to believe that such an amazing man would belong to her.
"Have some soup first. It's not too rich, so you can drink more on a hot day like this."
Huo Shao Ting pulled out a chair for her and ladled out some soup, sounding gentle and caring.
Rong Dai sat down. The aroma of the hot, sweet soup was enticing. "Thank you, Shao Ting," she said softly.
Huo Shao Ting sat down across from her, gazing at her intently. "I'd be even happier if you called me 'husband'."
Rong Dai's ears instantly grew hot. She fell silent instead of answering him, and obediently sipped her soup.
Throughout the meal, Rong Dai ate until she was stuffed, because Huo Shao Ting attentively kept piling food onto her plate.
She didn't have the heart to waste his kindly intentions, so she slowly finished everything he gave her. By the time she drank up that bowl of bird's nest soup, she felt like throwing up.
The food was practically wedged in her throat.
"Shao Ting..."
"Call me 'husband'."
Rong Dai had originally wanted to invite Huo Shao Ting to take a walk downstairs with her, to help digest the food. But as soon as she called his name, he interrupted her.
Huo Shao Ting stood there, gazing at her solemnly.
Rong Dai fell silent again...
When she had first arrived, she had called him 'husband' before.
But after getting to know him these past days, he had come to hold an increasingly special place in her heart.
Calling him by this weighted term felt hard to say out loud.
Blushing, she looked at him as her cheeks grew hotter and hotter.
"Husband..."
Hearing her call him 'husband', Huo Shao Ting's handsome face lit up with joy.
"Let's go for a walk."
Huo Shao Ting stepped forward and gently cupped the back of her head, lightly kissing her forehead.
Rong Dai felt half amused, half exasperated. It turns out calling him 'husband' wasn't so difficult after all. She really was making a big deal out of nothing.
The husband and wife held hands as they leisurely strolled around the neighbourhood until Rong Dai's fullness had subsided before returning upstairs to wash up and rest.
She knew Huo Shao Ting had a habit of reading before bed every night, usually Chinese texts, but tonight he was reading a foreign script.
Rong Dai thought about the fashion show she had watched earlier. Jinxiu Fang was a high-end brand domestically, and worked with many top international brands too.
She wanted to build a cherished career of her own.
Embroidery had always been a Chinese cultural treasure. She loved the exquisite embroidered patterns, and the threads - creating what she desired one stitch at a time. The sense of accomplishment was indescribable.
If Jinxiu Fang could accomplish this, why couldn't she?
Plus, she was currently on a break from school. Although design placed importance on aesthetics and fashion sense, cultural classes were equally important.
She was studious by nature. When it came to learning, she had tremendous drive.
It wasn't for praise or to gain others' attention.
Rather, she found the process of learning tremendously enjoyable in itself, because it helped her become more excellent.
"Dear...husband."
As she leaned over to speak, Huo Shao Ting immediately looked over. She hastily corrected herself.
Huo Shao Ting freed up one hand to cradle her head. "What's on your mind?" he asked gently.
Rong Dai looked at the foreign script in his book - it was gibberish to her.
"I want to learn this language. When my break ends, I'll return to school. I know my skills here are already quite accomplished, but there's still so much I want to study."
"I love embroidery. In the future, I want to build my own brand and head towards the international market. As your wife, I don't want to seem inferior, constantly doubted by others."
"I can disregard those doubts, but I don't like hearing them."
Hearing her say this, Huo Shao Ting felt happy, yet also very distressed.
Her desire to improve was a good thing.
Although she no longer needed to prove herself to anyone, he knew first-hand, from standing at the pinnacle, how greatly superlative excellence could benefit oneself.
Fairness was controlled by the mighty. Only the weak constantly clamored for fairness.
But competition had always been ruthless - whether overt or hidden.
The eternal, unchanging principle was that might made right.
Regardless of era, only when one was strong enough did one have the power of choice.
The weak only had the right to passive choice.
This was the law of survival.
"Alright, as long as you're willing, don't force yourself."
Huo Shao Ting turned and kissed the tip of her nose, his voice gentle and doting.
Rong Dai nodded, gaze bright as she looked at him.
How fortunate she was to have met him.
She wanted to learn these novel things - to hone herself into an even more outstanding woman, and to prepare for the future.
This man was so exceptional. As his wife, if she didn't even grasp these basics,
others would doubt her, even if she could disregard it.
But some would inevitably doubt his discernment and capabilities because of her shortcomings - something she was unwilling to see.
What she wanted was to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, always.
Not to simply gain convenience basking in his radiance at all times.
The lessons of her past life were too deeply etched. She profoundly understood -
a woman's fate rested in her own hands.
Excellence and resilience were indispensable.
To maintain a sober and astute mind, she had to constantly hone her intellect.
Like a sharp sword, only with frequent honing could it become ever more keen.
Left sheathed, it would only grow dull, eventually abandoned.
"Thank you, husband."
She took the initiative to cling to his shoulders, her voice soft.
Huo Shao Ting's breathing suddenly grew ragged. Setting his book down, he clutched her waist tightly. "Don't tempt me, or I won't be able to restrain myself," he said thickly.
Rong Dai's face flushed crimson. A hint of slyness flitted through her beautiful eyes.
Huo Shao Ting's tolerance, understanding, and thoughtfulness made her bolder and bolder, and more receptive in certain matters.
Her slender fingers slid across his chest as she purred temptingly, "Husband..."
Her husky, seductive "husband" set Huo Shao Ting's blood aflame. Heat rushed from his feet to his head, and his breathing grew heavy. He flipped her over and pinned her down!
Her subtle changes easily aroused his passion. Rong Dai hadn't expected her actions to stimulate him so greatly. Engulfed by the storm, she regretted rashly "provoking" him...
