Huo Shao Ting looked at her, his deep eyes full of confusion.
What exactly was this woman trying to do?
They had been married for so long, yet she had barely said a word to him on her own initiative.
She gave him the divorce agreement but was unwilling to sign it, and now she came to apologize and was able to articulate so much reason and logic. Was this woman having her appendix or her brain repaired?
Rong Dai confidently waited for his answer, but after waiting for a long time, Huo Shao Ting still hadn't spoken. Instead, he just kept staring at her intently.
Her heart couldn't help but beat faster. Could it be that her method wasn't working?
She had already lowered her stance with this strategy of using softness to overcome hardness.
As the head of the Huo family, Huo Shao Ting shouldn't disregard the Huo family's reputation. Could her attitude have not been sincere enough?
Rong Dai's mind spun like a kaleidoscope, with hundreds of little question marks intertwining.
Finally, she concluded that her attitude had not been sincere enough.
"It's just one year's time. You can tell me how to cooperate with you however you want. I will definitely keep secret about you and Wen Xiaojie. If there are areas where you need my help, I will certainly not decline to assist. Or you can have someone write an agreement now, and I can sign it for you immediately."
Rong Dai blinked her dark eyes at him, her attitude extremely sincere. She was just short of taking out her heart for him to see.
This was the first time Huo Shao Ting had seen her reveal such spirited eyes. Something in his heart suddenly felt severed, an indescribable strange feeling.
He didn't insist on getting a divorce. He had focused on his career all his life, and marriage was not an absolute necessity to him.
It was just that since Grandmother had made the match, he had gone along to please the elderly woman.
What he hadn't expected was that his new wife's attitude toward him was so cold it made one gasp. In all this time, the number of conversations between them could be counted on one hand.
They didn't even spend their wedding night together, already sleeping in separate rooms.
In his mindset, since he had married this woman, he would definitely see it through to the end and give her due respect, just as his parents had, treating each other with courtesy and spending a lifetime together, even if there was no passion.
But Rong Dai after the wedding made him feel at one point as if he had married a block of wood.
At least when you hugged a block of wood there was some warmth, but this woman was as cold as an unmelting iceberg.
He disliked forcing people. Since she was unwilling, he wouldn't keep imprisoning her in the Huo family either.
As for him and Wen Shi Lan, that was even more impossible. She was just the daughter of his uncle's friend. He was fulfilling the entrusted duty, doing his best to take care of her, that was all.
Rong Dai didn't know what he was thinking. When Wen Shi Lan looked at Huo Shao Ting her eyes shone, she wasn't blind.
Plus, adding in what she had seen with her own eyes when they cooperated at the hospital those times, she believed the one Huo Shao Ting admired was Wen Shi Lan.
And the original owner's presence was blocking the other's true love, no wonder she was hated.
"...Or you can feel free to make any requests. I will definitely do what I can."
Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Rong Dai's heart thumped anxiously.
She had thought dealing with this younger generation would be easy, she hadn't expected he would be so hard to converse with.
If this were the Emperor, with her speaking to this extent, he basically would have responded with a sentence or two already. But this man didn't give her even half a word.
This man was exceptionally difficult to get along with.
Rong Dai made a judgment in her heart, even mentally marking Huo Shao Ting's name in red.
"Fine, I'll give you one year's time." Huo Shao Ting's voice was no longer as icy as before, but it wasn't gentle either.
Having said that, he turned his head and left.
Rong Dai stood stunned for a moment before reacting that he had agreed.
"Phew - finally I can relax."
She gently covered her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. Then she tidied her emotions and walked over toward Grandma Huo.
"Grandma," her voice was soft and tender, sounding like she was coquetting when addressing someone this gently.
"Good child, what did you two say? Did he bully you? When we get back, Grandma will teach that rotten boy a lesson!"
Seeing her come over, Madam Huo immediately beamed, grasping her hand and caressing it. Her eyes glared at Huo Shao Ting's retreating figure, looking at Rong Dai dotingly.
Rong Dai smiled and sat down on one side, also clasping the elderly woman's hands, speaking gently, "Grandma, don't worry. Shao Ting treats me very well. Miss Wen has to keep following Shao Ting because of company matters only. Don't overthink it, Grandma, we are doing very well."
"You're the only one who will cover for that rascal. I know him well!" Madam Huo glared at her pretentiously, but her gaze looking at Rong Dai was full of delight and satisfaction.
"Grandma!"
Just as she was speaking with the old woman, Huo Mei Shu's voice rang out, carrying traces of anger.
Rong Dai's heart leaped wildly, she almost forgot about this auntie.
"Mei Shu, you come sit by Grandma too!" Madam Huo called out vigorously. Looking at Rong Dai and Huo Mei Shu, her eyes were full of doting.
Although Huo Mei Shu sat down, the way she looked at Rong Dai was very unfriendly.
Rong Dai wondered in her heart, she had been staying in her room these past few days, she didn't remember ever offending this auntie.
Could the original owner really be so detestable that she aroused resentment wherever she went?
"Grandma! You're too partial! My mother begged you for this jewelry set so many times! It's very important to her. How could you give it to her?!"
Huo Mei Shu's face was ugly as she pointed to the jade jewelry around Rong Dai's neck accusingly.
Only then did Rong Dai react, quickly glancing toward Madam Huo. Sure enough, Madam Huo's face was black.
Ah, why was she so unlucky?
But there was no helping it since her life was in their hands. She had to be prudent and careful.
Before the old woman could speak, she quickly smiled and said, "Mei Shu, you misunderstood Grandma. This jewelry set originally belonged to Mother. I had never seen such fine jewelry before, so I borrowed it from Mother to experience and broaden my horizons. After the banquet ends, I will return the jewelry to Mother, I guarantee I won't damage it."
Seeing her speaking so obediently and politely, Huo Mei Shu looked as if she had seen a ghost, staring at her for a long time.
"Grandma, isn't that right?"
Seeing her give no reply, Rong Dai hurriedly blinked at the old woman.
The old woman had seen a lot in her lifetime. Of course she understood the meaning in Rong Dai's gaze.
She sighed lightly, patting Rong Dai's hand. Her eyes looked toward Huo Mei Shu, "This jewelry originally belonged to her. If you're so afraid your junior will damage it, then don't lend it out."
Huo Mei Shu's face froze for a moment as she stared at Rong Dai dubiously, "Grandma..."
"It's fine, Grandma. This jewelry is valuable and I was also afraid of damaging it. It's better if I take it off first. Keeping Grandma company at the meal later, I'll also be able to eat to my heart's content."
Rong Dai quickly smoothed things over. Since she had to rely on others' shelter, she had to be tactful in handling matters.
Although she had Old Madam as a backer, Old Madam was not an omnipotent lifesaver. She couldn't neglect this mother-in-law either.
