Although she did not fully understand what he had just said, Rong Dai knew that this man would never deceive her. So she nodded earnestly.
After Huo Shao Ting finished speaking, the bedroom suddenly became quiet.
Since the recent incident with Zuo Ran, subtle changes had taken place in both of their hearts. They had become much more intimate with each other, yet it seemed like there was still an intangible wall between them.
"Um... have you dealt with everything regarding the company?" Rong Dai was suffocated by the atmosphere and her heart was racing. She quickly changed the subject and didn't dare look at him.
"There's nothing much going on with the company. I got off work early and came back to take you to meet someone," said Huo Shao Ting as he put the manuscript back in the drawer. His gaze fell upon the documents she had just taken out on the table.
"It seems a bit rude for me to meet people like this." Rong Dai glanced awkwardly at her own feet, which were hopping up and down like a rabbit's.
"Your studies are still important. Do you want to continue with them?" Huo Shao Ting ignored her attempt to change the topic. His wife did not need to worry about being rude when meeting anyone.
Following his gaze, Rong Dai looked over at the design sketches that had belonged to the original owner of this body. She naturally understood how important it was for a woman to be knowledgeable.
Embroidery was one of her ways to make a living. She certainly needed to continue the original owner's unfinished studies.
She had to integrate into this world and become one of its people, instead of being vigilant at every moment about being a soul from ancient times.
"I only took a temporary leave from school. I still need to continue my studies," she replied to Huo Shao Ting. The original owner was a designer, so she happened to know how to paint. She also needed patterns when doing embroidery, so that was at least tangentially related to what she had studied.
She also understood that education was highly valued in this life. Embroidery was one of her sources of income, so of course she had to continue the original owner's studies.
She needed to blend into this world and become one of its people, instead of being on guard at all times about being a soul from ancient times.
"Good. If you want, I can arrange the best school for you. Although this school is decent, there is too much padding of grades. When I, Huo Shao Ting, do something, it's either the best or nothing at all."
Huo Shao Ting nodded. The way he looked at her was different from before - in addition to gentleness, there was now trust.
When she met his gaze, Rong Dai's heart skipped a beat. The tips of her ears couldn't help turning red.
"I understand, but my studies will have to wait until after filming this drama series is done."
Despite her flustered heart, she didn't miss the deeper meaning behind Huo Shao Ting's words.
In her previous life, wasn't it the same? Either be the best, or don't bother.
Common people all loved beautiful things, and talent was one kind of beauty. She did not believe any man would only love a beautiful appearance without exploring the beauty beneath the skin.
Attracting someone with physical beauty would eventually lead to losing everything when that beauty faded - this was the principle behind the idiom that attractions fade but affections flee.
What was obtained through talent was eternal.
She firmly believed this. In her previous life, she had also been a woman with poetry books and self-pride in her talents, but she had to admit that compared to Noble Consort Xian, her talents did not even catch the Emperor's eye.
After thirty years in the imperial harem, she had gradually lost the naive and carefree girl she once was. Every day when she woke up, the only thing on her mind was managing the massive inner palace. Where was there even time to indulge in poetry and books?
In her previous life she had been too silly and foolish, wasting so much time on trivial matters. Even after all she did for the Emperor, he still ruthlessly executed her clan members.
Seeing that she had her own plans, Huo Shao Ting nodded approvingly.
"I will have someone take care of this matter," he said. He could give her many things, but there were also many things he could not give her.
He had witnessed the turmoil in the Huo family with his own eyes. Although he was confident he could ensure she would have food and shelter for life, he did not think that was the best he could give Rong Dai.
The best he could give her was to help her succeed.
Rong Dai did not know his thoughts, nor did she know he was considering things so far into her future.
"Thank you," Rong Dai calmed the ripples in her heart and looked at him earnestly as she thanked him. At the same time, the pressure in her heart grew heavier.
All of this required money!
If she didn't get any income into her account soon, she really would be crushed to death by Huo Shao Ting's wealth.
"Mm. Get changed first. You must meet this person."
Huo Shao Ting nodded. Rong Dai was about to hop over to find some clothes when he suddenly picked her up in his arms.
"Ah!" Rong Dai cried out in fright, subconsciously putting her arms around his neck. Her breathing grew chaotic and her cheeks couldn't help but flush.
"Remember that I am your husband. You can tell me anything. You don't need to conceal anything in front of me." Huo Shao Ting looked down at her, seeing her startled and bashful appearance. The warmth surging in his heart almost overwhelmed him.
He had never experienced this before. This feeling made his heart ache. But he didn't dare make too many demands of her.
Although he had also noticed some changes in her, he still felt like his wife was full of secrets, and those secrets were the reason she was unwilling to open her heart to him.
He didn't want to force her. He could only get to know her needs little by little and unravel her secrets.
"Mm," Rong Dai responded softly, lowering her eyes. The better Huo Shao Ting treated her and the more considerate he was, the more she felt like a thief. Her heart felt like it was being lingchi, that excruciating death by a thousand cuts.
That sharp, stabbing pain made her very uncomfortable, but she had to restrain herself.
In the past half month, Rong Dai had done a lot of thinking. When Huo Shao Ting was not around, she could fully follow her own heart.
But as soon as she saw him, the psychological barriers she had constructed would instantly collapse, leaving her completely defenseless.
Her heart was like a fleeing thief's, with nowhere left to hide.
She longed to bask in that ray of light, but she clearly knew her own identity - once she made contact, her true self would be exposed and she would lose everything in the end.
The painful struggle of hovering at the edge, along with the joy and greed of wanting to get close to Huo Shao Ting, tore at her heart like a saw, back and forth.
"How about this one?"
Lost in thought, she didn't notice Huo Shao Ting had already put her down at the bedside and gone to pick out clothes for her.
Not until he spoke did Rong Dai come back to her senses.
Seeing the dress he held, she nodded, "Okay."
She wasn't in the mood. The sense of loss after clearly understanding the situation made her heart ache to the point she could hardly breathe.
Sensing her change in mood, Huo Shao Ting's deep eyes showed a probing look. He put the clothes down and walked over to her.
