Huo Shao Ting looked at her straight back and frowned before walking over.
Wen Shi Lan was fuming inside and gritted her teeth as she followed him.
Rong Dai stood by the window, looking at the bustling world below the hotel, things she had never seen before and found very novel.
"Today is the third day. Do you want to choose yourself or should I announce it?"
When Huo Shao Ting was still five or six steps away from her, he stopped, frowning at her as if looking at something very disgusting.
His tone was cold and hard, completely devoid of warmth, not even trying to conceal the disgust in his eyes.
Rong Dai sighed inwardly, life as a woman from the future really wasn't easy!
But she couldn't really blame Huo Shao Ting for this. After all, these things were brought upon herself by the original owner.
Hmm, the new word she had just learned was quite apt.
During their shotgun wedding, although it was forced, Huo Shao Ting had treated the original owner decently. But the original owner had always acted lukewarm towards Huo Shao Ting, barely humoring or paying him any attention.
After so many attempts at warmth met cold indifference, who would still be willing to keep up pleasantries?
But that wasn't even the worst of it. At least she still had a chance to change things.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, she took a deep breath inwardly.
Her face revealed a proper and demure smile as her gaze fell upon Wen Shi Lan. Her tone was very gentle and full of sincere apology, "First of all, I want to apologize to Miss Wen for my reckless words that day. I wasn't thinking clearly after my recent surgery and hurt Miss Wen with malicious words. I'm very sorry."
Her apology was gentle and sincere without the slightest reluctance.
Wen Shi Lan was taken aback, instinctively wary. What was Rong Dai planning?
Even Huo Shao Ting couldn't figure out her motives. He found it odd that this was the first time she had spoken so clearly and coherently, and also the most he had ever heard her say.
"Miss Wen, do you accept my apology?"
She looked at Wen Shi Lan with a smiling expression. She had messed up that day, she was too reckless!
This woman was a pampered concubine. Scolding her in front of Huo Shao Ting was practically asking for death!
Although it was supposed to be monogamy, it was common knowledge that the rich and powerful had mistresses everywhere, an open secret.
As long as they didn’t threaten her position as the main wife, even if concubines lined up out the door, she wouldn’t feel threatened.
To her, these were just insignificant concubines, people who couldn’t even have a place at formal family banquets, let alone be seen in public. Why should she care?
Back when she was in the imperial palace, the Emperor had over twenty ranked imperial consorts alone in his harem!
If she had fretted over every single one, she would have worried herself to death a hundred times over!
Offending Huo Shao Ting over a mere concubine and smashing the rice bowl that was currently keeping her alive, that would be an unprofitable deal! Too foolish!
Moreover, the tricks of this concubine were nothing to her. Having navigated the treacherous imperial harem for decades, could she still not handle the likes of her?
Rong Dai quickly psyched herself up, the smile on her face sincere enough to move heaven and earth. But in Huo Shao Ting's eyes, it seemed somewhat fake.
"Lady Rong, there's no need to apologize. I didn't take what happened that day to heart. I know you were unwell then and..."
"That's good then. Since Miss Wen has accepted my apology, may I ask you to wait at the side for a moment? I have some things I wish to say to my husband."
She deliberately emphasized the word "husband".
Wen Shi Lan's face instantly paled. She couldn't help but clench her fists. This vile woman was deliberately provoking her again!
But she also knew Rong Dai's words were reasonable. Her eyes flickered pleadingly at Huo Shao Ting.
"Go and wait over there for me," Huo Shao Ting understood her hint and responded coldly, one hand slipping into his pocket as his chiseled features hardened.
Although reluctant, Wen Shi Lan had no choice but to leave.
Meanwhile, Rong Dai maintained her gentle smile. After Wen Shi Lan was out of earshot, she took the initiative to speak first.
She looked at Huo Shao Ting with bright, determined eyes, "I know you're upset, but this was grandmother's wish. We've barely been married and if we announce a divorce so soon, I fear grandmother may not be able to take it."
Her smile faded as she tilted her head, gaze worried as she glanced at Huo Old Madam sitting in the distance.
"You don't want grandmother hurt either, do you? Can you give me a year? I'm dependent on you for my livelihood right now. If I leave the Huo family, I may not even survive. So this year, I will look for a job. After all, you are also a victim in this matter, I shouldn't keep using your money."
Her voice was gentle without the slightest self-deprecation, like a well-bred lady.
"I know you have feelings for Miss Wen. I was reckless before. I apologize for that here. This year, I will not interfere with your relationship with Miss Wen. However, can the divorce agreement wait until a year later? If you don't believe me, you can draft an agreement for me to sign first."
Rong Dai lowered her stance but did not seem servile at all.
Grandmother was Huo Shao Ting's weakness. If not for that, Huo Shao Ting would not have agreed to marry the original owner on Grandmother's matchmaking in the first place.
Therefore, when negotiating terms with Huo Shao Ting, she had to bring up Grandmother.
Secondly, she needed to explain her plight.
No money, no job, dependent on her husband's family for survival.
This was her current "miserable" life.
Whether in her past or present life, Rong Dai believed in one saying: a woman must have money in her purse.
No one in this world could be relied upon. The only dependable things were herself and money.
Although money couldn't solve everything, without it, nothing could be solved.
Like right now, she was clearly despised by her husband who even harbored thoughts of divorcing her.
Yet she could not readily agree because she had no money.
Having just arrived in this unfamiliar world, leaving the Huo family, she estimated she would be back in the cold palace within two days.
Finally, she had to lower her stance because she was asking a favor.
Although unwilling, given her current circumstances, she could not put on airs. When she had first become Empress, had she not lowered herself to seek aid too?
Asking favors wasn't shameful, but one must do it with the right attitude.
She believed that as long as Huo Shao Ting wasn't an unreasonably violent man, he would have no grounds to reject her suggestion.
After all, prestigious households cared about face. Especially a top household in the capital like the Huos. Divorcing right after marriage would be a disgrace.
