“Huo Shao Ting, I know you have feelings for me, don’t you? Otherwise, you wouldn’t treat me so well. We grew up together as childhood sweethearts - we were meant to be together.”
Wen Shi Lan didn’t notice Huo Shao Ting’s displeased expression as she prattled on dreamily, thinking her words were full of tender affection as she gazed at him.
Huo Shao Ting felt a chill in his heart. This woman really had some nerve!
An arranged marriage!
How nice!
"Is that all she said?" The man's expression was cold as he glanced at Wen Shi Lan.
Wen Shi Lan had worked herself up into quite a state, thinking she could take advantage of the mood to get closer to Huo Shao Ting, so that her plans for later would fall into place naturally.
She believed that as long as Huo Shao Ting took her, he would not bear to let her go.
By now, she realized not only did Shao Ting lack feelings for her, he didn't have feelings for Rong Dai either.
Otherwise, how could that woman have said those things?
Since this was the case, why shouldn't she fight for him?
But just as she was about to approach him, she was frozen in place by Huo Shao Ting's glare, her body stiffening mechanically.
She hurriedly grabbed her phone from the table, looking at him ingratiatingly as she said, "There's more, I recorded everything."
As she spoke, she flipped through the recordings on her phone, but all she could find was Rong Dai's line "We're just an arranged marriage."
None of the other words had been recorded.
"Shao Ting, wait, I really did record it!"
Seeing Huo Shao Ting's impatient expression, Wen Shi Lan's face turned pale with nervousness, her fingers trembling as she frantically searched her phone, but no matter how she looked, she just couldn't find it!
Only then did she remember that when Rong Dai had said those things, she had been so excited that she seemed to have bumped her phone. Could it be that the recording stopped at that moment?
Wen Shi Lan was both annoyed and helpless. She was also worried that Huo Shao Ting would think she was making things up. Her eyes kept cautiously glancing at him.
Huo Shao Ting emanated an icy aura. All he could think about was Rong Dai's line in the recording: "We have no feelings, only an arranged marriage."
Is this really what that woman thought?
A nameless anger spread through Huo Shao Ting's heart. He really couldn't understand what Rong Dai was thinking.
"Give it to me." Seeing Wen Shi Lan's flustered state, his expression showed a hint of impatience.
Wen Shi Lan didn't dare disobey. She hurriedly handed her phone over, her voice soft and gentle, "I recorded everything, it can't be missing. Shao Ting, I know you've had it hard too. I really love you so much. I think we're the most suitable match."
"Granny was just confused for a moment because of her age. A year will pass quickly. Shao Ting, I'm not afraid of hardship. I really, really want to be your wife. I also hope we can have a happy family together."
As she looked at Huo Shao Ting's cold profile, her eyes were full of infatuation. Even her voice was filled with coquetry and longing.
"Shao Ting... I know you're looking forward to it too, right? I can face all this together with you. You don't have to bear it alone. I was too foolish before, and didn't understand your difficulties. But now I know. Can you forgive me?"
As Wen Shi Lan spoke more passionately, she even felt her eyes brimming with tears, moved by her own words. Unconsciously, she drew closer, wanting to sit on Huo Shao Ting's lap.
"Is this what you think?"
Huo Shao Ting swiped through her phone as he spoke. Catching a whiff of her overpowering perfume, he raised his head and stared at her.
That bone-chilling, creepy gaze again. Wen Shi Lan's body stiffened, her feet stuck to the floor as if glued down, not daring to get any closer.
"Did I say something wrong? I...Shao Ting, I really, really want to have a perfect, warm family with you. I think we can make it work. I can be a good wife to you."
Wen Shi Lan showed that pitiful, touching expression again, her voice soft and tender.
"Do you have a backup?" Huo Shao Ting asked patiently through gritted teeth. Deep in the depths of his somber eyes, anger was already simmering.
Wen Shi Lan's tender feelings were interrupted again. Although she felt a little wronged, she answered Huo Shao Ting's question obediently.
"Shao... Huo, I'm not that kind of despicable person. Recording this was an accident. I don't have a backup." Meeting his icy cold eyes, she didn't dare continue calling him so intimately.
When would she have had time to make a backup? She had barely managed to book the restaurant and get herself ready, instantly forgetting about this matter in her excitement.
"That's good then."
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Huo Shao Ting stood up, frightening Wen Shi Lan into taking two steps back.
But Huo Shao Ting didn't immediately leave. Instead, he pursed his lips, gazing at her with deep, brooding eyes.
Wen Shi Lan's heart pounded for no reason, unable to resist a surge of elation. Shao Ting did still like her after all.
She couldn't help imagining in her mind what would happen between them next, a rosy flush creeping onto her cheeks unconsciously, shy and delighted like a blushing bride.
"Shao Ting..." She stole a glance at Huo Shao Ting's unchanged expression, then couldn't resist her old habit again. Her voice was tender and mellow as honey as she raised her hand, wanting to grab his sleeve.
Her hints were already obvious enough, and this restaurant was attached to a hotel. Just behind them was a large heart-shaped bed strewn with fiery red rose petals, perfect for a couple. Wen Shi Lan had arranged it here specifically for convenience.
But Huo Shao Ting conveniently slipped both hands into his pockets, his gaze cold and voice icy, "Wen Shi Lan, I have no interest in you whatsoever. I'm already married and I have no plans to divorce. I'm a married man, so you'd better watch your behavior and words."
"Also, I only helped you because it was your father's dying wish. I think I've fulfilled that. If you have any other fantasies, I strongly advise you to erase those absurd thoughts from your mind immediately."
"Rong Dai is my lawful wife, married to me properly. My wife and I had a small marital dispute last night, because Miss Wen's overt behavior caused her to misunderstand."
His words were as cold as ice, hammering Wen Shi Lan's heart one by one. Her face turned deathly pale, and her cheeks felt slightly numb from the shock.
"So for the sake of my wife's feelings, and for her to maintain a cheerful mood, I would appreciate it if Miss Wen avoids me in the future when we meet. Otherwise, I, Huo Shao Ting, will not be so polite in speaking to you again."
"How you choose to think is your business, but my family can only belong to my wife. You are just a friend's daughter. I have no thoughts about you whatsoever. Also, any future children and happy family life I have will only happen with my wife Rong Dai, not you."
"You weren't before, you won't be now, and you will never be in the future. I hope you understand this point clearly, Miss Wen. If you offend me again, my attorneys at the Huo Group will be happy to speak with you. I'll have my assistant buy you a new phone and return yours. I don't want anything malicious affecting the harmony between my wife and I."
"Also, everything you just said was recorded here. To avoid any further harassment from you, Miss Wen, I advise you to behave yourself. "
Huo Shao Ting took out his own phone and played back the recording, glancing at her coldly before leaving the room without looking back.
Wen Shi Lan stood there in a daze, shocked speechless for a long time.
