"They are all my old girlfriends. Grandma is getting on in years, so while her legs are still nimble, she's going out traveling," the old lady said with a smile, as she pulled Rong Dai over to introduce her to the other three old ladies.
Rong Dai was very well-behaved, with a gentle smile on her face and a sweet softness to her voice as she greeted the other old ladies.
She had a sweet tongue, and after going around the circle, the few old ladies were especially fond of her, and even asked for her WeChat ID.
"Where are you planning to go for your trip, grandma? And about how long before you'll be back? I'll miss you if you're gone too long." Rong Dai watched as Uncle Li loaded the luggage into the car, and admired in her heart this old lady's constitution and temperament, to be able to decide to leave on a whim like this.
If she went away, then Rong Dai would have no one left in the Huo household to protect her, and life from now on would be extremely difficult.
"Don't worry, grandma has bodyguards with her, and big brother has already had people arrange the whole itinerary," the old lady hadn't answered her yet when Huo Mei Shu came downstairs, carrying a bag that Rong Dai didn't know the contents of, but recognized the red cross that she had seen at hospitals before - it was probably some kind of medication.
Rong Dai knew that Huo Mei Shu didn't like her.
Huo Shao Ting had never talked to her about this, so of course she didn't know. Being mocked by Huo Mei Shu like this, she really had no way to retort, so could only force an apologetic smile.
The old lady took the medicine box, admonishing Huo Mei Shu to be more respectful to Rong Dai, then hurried off upon hearing the other three old ladies calling for her from the car.
"Don't worry, grandma, Mei Shu cares a lot about me. You must pay attention to safety and keep in touch with us."
Seeing the displeased look on Huo Mei Shu's face, Rong Dai quickly gave her a way out, half-supporting the old lady onto the car while cheerfully exhorting her.
The old lady nodded, repeatedly reminding her that she and Huo Shao Ting must cultivate their feelings well.
After sending off the old lady, Rong Dai felt a twinge of melancholy in her heart.
"Hmph! Hypocrite!"
Huo Mei Shu didn't like the look of her, coldly ridiculing her before heading upstairs.
Rong Dai also felt a headache coming on, but for the time being there was no way for her to change the original host's impression on the Huo family - she couldn't very well say she had transmigrated here could she? That would surely get her branded as a weirdo? No one would believe such an absurd theory.
The living room was empty, mother-in-law and Huo Shao Jie were not home either, so she could only head upstairs to continue working on the script.
As long as she accepted this role, she would have money in hand, and things after that would be easy to resolve.
...
Over at Wen Shi Lan's side, upon receiving this good news brought over by Rong Dai, her whole being bloomed with delight. She immediately made reservations at a restaurant, calculating Huo Shao Ting's free time, and called his private number.
Seeing Wen Shi Lan's call come in, Huo Shao Ting put down the cup in his hand, faintly frowning before rejecting the call without a thought.
Wen Shi Lan's expression froze. She called back repeatedly, seven or eight times, but was rejected every time by Huo Shao Ting.
It wasn't until the tenth call that Huo Shao Ting, annoyed by the disturbance, finally picked up.
"Shao Ting, could I invite you to dinner tonight? I don't have any other intentions, I just want to thank you for taking care of me this time, and I also have some things about Rong Dai that I want to tell you."
Before he could speak, Wen Shi Lan rushed to get the first words in, even bringing up Rong Dai.
Although Rong Dai's words had put her mind at ease, she still couldn't be certain of Shao Ting's feelings, so speaking this way would be a bit safer.
Her heart fluttered anxiously, and after about five or six seconds, she finally heard Huo Shao Ting's low voice over the phone: "Where?"
Wen Shi Lan was overjoyed: "At the French restaurant we ate at last time..."
"The name." Huo Shao Ting said impatiently, especially when recalling how Rong Dai had misunderstood him repeatedly because of her, which made him very uncomfortable.
Wen Shi Lan felt a chill. She had thought he would remember it, since it was the place he had brought her to eat at!
She didn't have time to think further, and didn't dare delay any time, hurriedly telling him the name.
Huo Shao Ting gave an indifferent hum of acknowledgement then immediately hung up. Hearing the busy tone over the phone after he had hung up, Wen Shi Lan finally came back to her senses, her clasped fingers turning white around the phone.
Night fell. Wen Shi Lan carefully applied her exquisite makeup, changing into an elegant little dress that accentuated her curves. At the reserved restaurant, she anxiously awaited Huo Shao Ting's arrival.
"Boss, you made dinner plans with Ms. Wen tonight." Seeing him about to leave work and head home, Zhang the assistant hurriedly reminded him.
Recalling that he did indeed have this matter, Huo Shao Ting headed for the restaurant after getting in the car.
It was rush hour in the capital and traffic was heavy. During this time, he received a WeChat message from Huo Shao Jie:
That woman actually asked Huo Shao Jie to borrow money? What did she need money for?
Huo Shao Jie: "Big brother, sister-in-law doesn't have a job, could it be that you haven't even given sister-in-law money for her personal expenses every month? What can she do when she needs to socialize and see friends? Won't others laugh at her?"
Before Huo Shao Ting could figure out this issue, another message came in from Huo Shao Jie, and upon reading it his expression turned cold.
When had he ever not given her personal expenses?
"Did madam's allowance for this month get transferred over?" he asked, withdrawing his phone to question Zhang who was driving.
"It was transferred. Boss, didn't you say to transfer 1 million from your private account over every month on the first? Finance prepares the monthly statements, but...it seems like madam has never touched that card."
Seeing his somewhat gloomy expression in the rearview mirror, Zhang didn't really understand.
"Go withdraw 100,000 in cash and put it in the trunk, I'm bringing it back tonight." Huo Shao Ting coldly instructed, then got out of the car and headed for the restaurant.
"Shao Ting, over here!" Wen Shi Lan had waited a long time for him. Seeing him finally appear, she immediately beamed radiantly, her voice holding a hint of coquetry as she called out to him.
Huo Shao Ting's expression was cold. Despite walking side by side, his icy manner made Wen Shi Lan not dare get too close, seeming especially estranged.
"Shao Ting, what do you want to eat? I remember last time you..."
"I didn't agree to come eat with you. You wanted to talk about Rong Dai's matters right? You have ten minutes."
Huo Shao Ting sat down, speaking coldly, and even glanced at his wristwatch, clearly counting down the time.
Wen Shi Lan's face turned ghastly pale. How could this be?
That cheap Rong Dai had clearly said Shao Ting had feelings for her, so why was he still so cold towards her?
"Shao Ting..."
"I believe I already made myself very clear last time. Don't call me Shao Ting, you can call me Mr. Huo, or big brother Huo, I can accept those. Only my family members can call me by that name."
Hearing her call him that again, Huo Shao Ting felt an inexplicable annoyance rise in his heart, and his expression grew even colder.
Wen Shi Lan's eyes immediately reddened, tears swirling in her eyes.
She felt so aggrieved, unwilling, and pained inside. She loved him so deeply, how could he not see that?
She hurriedly grabbed her handbag off the table, took out the phone she had used to record Rong Dai earlier, and opened the audio file.
"Shao...big brother Huo, no matter how things are, do you still have to treat me so coldly? Big brother Huo, I like you so much, I don't believe you feel nothing at all! If it's because of grandmother and Rong Dai, I can wait for you!"
Extremely wronged, she placed the phone on the table with reddened eyes.
Huo Shao Ting's expression grew darker and darker as he listened to Rong Dai's recording over the phone, even giving rise to a surge of unnamed anger in his heart!
