Huo Shao Ting had actually already woken up when her hand touched his hair. He was a light sleeper, the slightest sound could startle him awake.
He had heard everything Rong Dai said, his heart thumping uncontrollably for a moment. Of course he didn't want a divorce.
Although the two had grown apart after getting married, the subtle changes in her recently had attracted him, making him want to get to know her.
He really wanted to know what was in her heart, and to enter her world.
In Huo Shao Ting's world, he had never given up on something without trying his best first.
Before he could say anything, he heard Rong Dai speak again. He decided to just continue lying there with his eyes closed and listen.
Rong Dai looked out the window at the setting sun, its brilliant rays coloring the clouds different hues.
Her eyes were gentle, sighing lightly. Her gaze fell back on Huo Shao Ting.
"Other than my parents, siblings, and even him... it's probably just typical of men. But you've shown me something different, yet it seems this kind of good fortune probably won't happen to me again. My sins run too deep..."
Rong Dai's eyes instantly dimmed. In her past life, she had caused her clan to suffer such a tragic fate, and she herself had not met a good end either.
Yet somehow she had received the mercy of Heaven, or rather, its punishment.
Because when one died, everything disappeared like smoke. Only in living was there true suffering.
"Huo Shao Ting, this year I will be a good wife to you, and thank you for what you've done for me."
She whispered softly, retracting her hand. Her gaze fell back to the sunset outside the window, her eyes unfocused, her whole being cloaked in a layer of melancholy.
Huo Shao Ting heard every word she said clearly. His mind was full of bewilderment and confusion.
The things this woman said were so strange.
Wasn't Lady Anyi alone? She only had this one daughter beside her. She hadn't even revealed who her father was, let alone having any siblings.
And who was this "him"?
Was this woman delirious?
Although these were his thoughts, Huo Shao Ting still made a mental note of it.
She wouldn't say such baffling things for no reason. Perhaps there were some things he needed to investigate to get to the bottom of this.
Huo Shao Ting pretended to sleep for another half hour before "waking up". As soon as he raised his head, his gaze happened to meet Rong Dai's directly.
The sunset coming in through the window fell on them, cloaking them in a layer of golden light, soft and gentle, evoking a beautiful sense of time standing still.
Huo Mei Shu couldn't help but cringe at how poorly timed this was. She quietly retreated back out into the hallway to wait.
The glow made his eyes transparent, she could even clearly see the color of his irises. Rong Dai's ears turned red, her cheeks flushing as well, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.
She couldn't help raising her hand to clutch at her chest, aggravating the scabbed over wounds on her arm, making her frown slightly in pain.
"You're injured all over, don't move around randomly."
Huo Shao Ting also came back to his senses. He awkwardly averted his gaze and got up to pour her a glass of warm water.
"Thank you."
Rong Dai didn't dare look him in the eye. She carefully took a small sip from the cup he handed her.
Huo Shao Ting looked down at her fluffy head, really wanting to reach out and stroke it, to tell her what was on his mind.
But he was also a little worried it would startle her. She had been badly frightened this time. It would be better to wait a while longer to talk about it.
"There are still a few video conferences for work I need to attend at the company. I'll head back to the hotel first. Mei Shu is here to take care of you. She won't mistreat you. If you don't feel comfortable with Mei Shu looking after you, a nurse can come tomorrow."
His voice was low and magnetic, the husky tones softened to be very gentle, sounding like a melody. The blush on Rong Dai's ears still hadn't faded, and she didn't dare look at him either. She silently nodded, cradling the cup.
Huo Shao Ting waited several seconds, but she didn't say anything. He felt a little glum, but still said goodbye before leaving the hospital room.
"Big brother, don't worry... I won't mistreat sister-in-law. I was in the wrong before, I will apologize to her."
Seeing Huo Shao Ting come out, Huo Mei Shu leaned against the wall and called out to him. She then hurriedly lowered her head again to look at her toes that she was lightly kicking.
This time, Rong Dai had gained good fortune from a bad situation, allowing Huo Mei Shu to resolve her prejudice.
The cause and details of the incident had been thoroughly investigated. Although she couldn't empathize with the kind of terror Rong Dai felt, she could understand Rong Dai's inferiority complex.
She probably felt guilty toward big brother because of this incident, and that she had schemed against their Huo family. Thinking she was unworthy of big brother, that was why she had rejected all friendly overtures, right?
These past few days, she had often come to see Rong Dai. Recalling how she had fought fiercely with Zuo Ran when they found her, even now it still made her heart race anxiously.
Huo Shao Ting looked down at her, his handsome face still cold and stern as before: "It's good that you understand now. I'm going back for a few video conferences, then I'll return. Don't go anywhere, someone has to stay by her side."
Huo Mei Shu instantly felt like a mouthful of old blood was stuck in her throat. She looked up sharply at her big brother, feeling torn between laughing and crying.
He was still her own elder brother after all. He really wasn't polite at all!
"In the past, being good to you and protecting you was my duty as the eldest brother. Now you've all grown up. Especially you, you should hurry up and find someone to protect you. I need to protect my wife now."
Huo Shao Ting pondered, then added another sentence.
Huo Mei Shu: "..."
What had she done wrong today? Was her big brother trying to force feed her dog food?
"Rong Dai is my wife. I hope you learn to respect her in the future. And thank you for respecting me so diligently. But if there's anything about my wife that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy, come talk to me about it. Don't make things difficult for her. It's not easy for her being the daughter-in-law of the Huo family, and even less easy being my wife."
They had barely been married for a while before she was kidnapped. Others kidnapped for money, she was kidnapped and forced to die together. How could that not be difficult?
Huo Mei Shu: "..."
Alright! She had come today to be abused!
