Rong Dai was very clear that in order to eliminate other people's prejudices against her, she had two choices.
Either she could acquiesce to their expectations and become what they wanted to see, or she could strengthen herself and become someone beyond their reach. There were no other options.
But she was fearless. She had enough confidence and courage to pursue the pinnacle!
After thinking for a moment, she took out her phone, opened Weibo, and reposted the official announcement from the TV studio, adding the remark: "Right and wrong, good and evil, justice is in people's hearts."
Then she turned off her phone and threw it on the sofa.
Huo Shao Ting happened to come out of the bathroom as well. The man had a very fit physique, with sharp, tempting lines.
Wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a couple buttons on the collar undone revealing his sturdy chest, he looked very noble yet alluring.
Rong Dai stared at him in a daze, her heart pounding like a startled deer, and her cheeks burned uncontrollably.
She was already so familiar with his face and even his body, yet she still couldn't help the throbbing in her heart.
When Huo Shao Ting approached her, Rong Dai finally snapped back to her senses. Flustered, she hurriedly averted her gaze, wanting to stand up.
But her legs went soft and she plopped back down on the sofa.
"If you like looking, then look. I'm yours, no need to be sneaky about it," Huo Shao Ting said, smiling.
He had noticed every enraptured look from his wife just now.
All men have a strong desire to conquer, especially in front of the woman they love.
He was only human, of course he was no exception.
Rong Dai's gradual changes recently had pleasantly surprised him, and the happiness wrapping around his heart grew thicker and thicker.
The stronger this feeling became, the more he wanted to give her everything he could.
Hearing this, Rong Dai's ears turned red. Pretending to be annoyed, she glared at him, "I wasn't being sneaky!"
Then she took the initiative to put her arms around his neck and acted cute, asking him to carry her to the bathroom.
In her past life, she absolutely could not have done this.
As the empress, every word and action had to be dignified and proper.
Even in front of her husband, she had to maintain the poise of the mother of the nation at all times.
If she ever went slightly over the line, she didn't need the empress dowager to remind her, or the imperial concubines to mock her. The emperor would definitely be the first to correct her.
Back then, she had thought that was what love was supposed to be.
Only now did she truly understand what love meant.
The emperor had never loved her at all, he only used her.
Otherwise, wouldn't a man be happier if his wife occasionally acted coy?
Yet the imperial noble consort was different. She received all of the emperor's favor.
The imperial noble consort could be willful, act cute, and pretend—she had every right belonging to a woman.
At first, Rong Dai had thought those behaviors were just tricks the concubines used to gain favor.
She didn't expect that those words and actions could only exist when one was cherished by their beloved.
Everything from her past life now seemed like smoke and clouds. Now, she finally had rights of her own.
Rong Dai had to admit, expressing her emotions and desires so openly, without armor or shackles, felt natural and free.
Seeing her become bolder and bolder pleased Huo Shao Ting. He wrapped his big hand around her slender waist and carried her princess-style to the bathroom.
But once inside, Rong Dai shooed him back out.
Rong Dai was really afraid of him. At his age, he was like a wolf or tiger, she really couldn't handle his stamina.
After a nice, relaxing bath, she felt much more comfortable.
"What are you looking at?"
After changing into a silk nightgown and doing simple skincare, Rong Dai climbed into bed and snuggled under the covers. Seeing Huo Shao Ting looking at his phone, she asked.
Huo Shao Ting walked over to the bedside and handed her his phone, while he began unbuttoning his shirt.
Rong Dai's cheeks immediately flushed. She stole a glance at him, and her heart started pounding uncontrollably again.
Vexed, she bit her lip and took the phone, turning away to look at it.
Huo Shao Ting's mouth quirked up in a faint smile. He took off his clothes and went into the bathroom.
Rong Dai saw that he had reposted her Weibo post.
After she had posted that Weibo, the number of clicks was shocking!
Although it shut some people up, there were still plenty of foul-mouthed people.
Huo Shao Ting had reposted her Weibo with the comment: "The rest of my life is yours."
Just five simple words, yet they made Rong Dai's heart inexplicably tremble.
She understood the meaning behind them.
Turning the phone off and putting it on the nightstand, she snuggled under the covers waiting for Huo Shao Ting.
Probably because filming had been so tiring recently, or perhaps the couple's brief separation had been too exciting, she soon dozed off.
Huo Shao Ting came out of the bathroom in a bath towel and saw his little wife already asleep, breathing evenly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
His heart softened. After changing into pajamas, he carefully got into bed.
As soon as he lay down, Rong Dai frowned and automatically snuggled up to him, mumbling in her sleep, "Shao Ting, go to sleep..."
Huo Shao Ting looked at her face. He gently put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, dear."
...
"Um...when we get back to Shenjing, can I still be your assistant? I know I'm a bit dumb, but...I really want to learn music from you."
Huo Mei Shu was about to board her return flight to Shenjing from Hang City. She had to take this New Year's flight or else the trip would be crammed.
She had been Gu Chengyan's assistant for almost a month now. Although she couldn't exactly call herself a real assistant.
She still hadn't worked up the courage to say what was in her heart, but just being able to see him made her very content.
Before leaving, Huo Mei Shu nervously mustered her courage and timidly asked Gu Chengyan the question she had held inside.
Gu Chengyan looked at her, noticing her scarf was a bit loose. He reached out to adjust it for her.
His hands were very attractive—slender, straight, fair, yet cold.
When they brushed Huo Mei Shu's neck, she couldn't help but shiver slightly.
But since her crush was fixing her scarf for her, even if she froze to death, she had to endure it!
"You did very well. I opened a studio in Shenjing. If you don't mind, you can come intern at my company..."
"I'm willing! Extremely willing!"
Before Gu Chengyan could even finish, Huo Mei Shu excitedly nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. Her eyes were practically shooting laser beams!
This girl, really... He hadn't even finished speaking.
"Take good care of yourself, don't catch a cold. Let me know when you arrive safely."
Seeing Huo Mei Shu still grinning foolishly, Gu Chengyan felt very helpless. He had been waiting for the girl to grow up.
Waiting for her to come to his side, but he didn't expect the lively little girl from childhood to become shy after growing up.
If he wasn't proactive, his wife could get snatched away.
"Okay, okay, okay... Gu Chengyan, you take care too. See you in Shenjing!"
Huo Mei Shu's eyes crinkled into crescent moons. She eagerly nodded, then walked towards the gate, looking back every few steps until she boarded.
