Chapter Twenty-One: Shopping

Although she was prepared for it, stepping off the plane and seeing hundreds of devoted movie fans gathered at the airport, waving banners that read, "Rong Qing, you're the best, keep it up!" "Qing, you deserve to be the top domestic model!" "Rong Qing, Rong Qing, I * you!" made Rong Qing's eyes misty. According to the staff, these fans had been waiting at the airport for two hours already, afraid to miss her arrival. This heartfelt support and care fueled her determination, no matter how bitter, exhausting, or difficult the journey became. Nothing could compare to the honor and pride she felt at this moment.

"Let's go, they're waiting for you." Yan Lin looked at the star she was accompanying, clearly not a newcomer. After all she had experienced, after meeting countless people, she still treasured her original intentions like a child. Even in the muddy trenches of the entertainment industry, this sincerity could not be worn away, and such stars truly deserved respect.

Rong Qing stepped into the crowd, patiently signing autographs and posing for photos with her fans. As long as she had this support and emotion, she would press forward fearlessly.

By the time she finally reunited with the car waiting outside the airport, two hours had passed. Rong Qing, full of apology, glanced at the man exuding a gloomy aura in the luxury vehicle, signaling the driver to head home.

"I'm sorry, Ling Tian, I forgot about you." Rong Qing stuck out her tongue mischievously. Heaven knew, with her mind muddled by such overwhelming joy, remembering him was nearly impossible.

Huo Ling Tian's forehead veins throbbed. Damn woman, didn't she know how long he'd been waiting here, needing comfort? If his assistant hadn't told him she was surrounded by fans in the airport, he would've barged in and dragged her out himself! And she forgot him? Rong—Qing—even if work is busy and exhausting, your little devil is always running circles in my mind, never leaving!

Rong Qing saw the helpless frustration on Huo Ling Tian's face and felt a sense of triumph. She would never tell him this was revenge for the day before! Well, provoking the Siberian wolf had serious consequences. Rong Qing naturally wrapped her arm around his suddenly stiff arm, pulling his broad hand close and playing with his fingers one by one.

"Ling Tian, what do you want for dinner tonight?" Rong Qing asked casually, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw his icy, stern face melt into tenderness and satisfaction.

"Mm, I want your beef, pasta, your tomato and egg dish, celery with lily bulbs, rice..." Huo Ling Tian rattled off a long list under his breath.

Rong Qing had a headache. Please, don't mix Chinese and Western dishes together. Fine, pleasing him was most important: "Then tonight we'll have Chinese food, and tomorrow I'll make red wine steak. But we'll need to go shopping first."

Huo Ling Tian automatically ignored her last sentence, completely content with the dinner Rong Qing would prepare. At this moment, he was like a smug child—even as Rong Qing twisted his hand painfully and poked and prodded it, he didn't mind.

What! When the CEO of the Huo Corporation stood in front of the supermarket, he was utterly flustered. He finally realized how important the sentence he had ignored was. He looked at the enthusiastic woman dragging him forward, and felt utterly helpless. He, the esteemed eldest grandson born with a silver spoon in his mouth, was always surrounded by attendants, with everything prepared—he had never had the chance to shop.

Huo Ling Tian, dressed in an expensive Armani suit, pushed a shopping cart like a tagalong, following closely behind Rong Qing, though his furrowed brows showed his reluctance.

"Be good~ Onions are good for your health." Rong Qing watched as the bag she tossed into the cart was quickly thrown back by the man behind her, and she admitted defeat. Who could tell her that the usually intimidating, fearless Huo Young Master was now haggling like a child? Despite his many protests, Rong Qing tossed the discarded packages back into the cart.

Rong Qing wandered leisurely around the shelves, comparing prices and checking ingredients with utmost seriousness. "The sauce from this manufacturer is authentic. It makes excellent zhajiang noodles."

The man beside her casually tossed three or five bags into the cart.

"Hey. We'll never finish all that," Rong Qing urgently stopped his behavior.

"It's fine. We'll keep it and eat it slowly. We'll finish it someday," Huo Ling Tian said tenderly, as if this moment could last forever. He pushed the cart to another aisle.

"Please, we agreed on just three months. It won't be that long," Rong Qing muttered in dissatisfaction, as if everything had changed at that moment.

Passing through the snack section, with its dazzling array of treats, Rong Qing, like a mischievous kitten, kept piling snacks large and small into the cart. A big hand blocked her actions.

Huo Ling Tian frowned as Rong Qing pouted, reluctantly putting most of the puffed snacks back on the shelf, his expression relaxing slightly. Honestly, that pile of snacks would surely make her sick if she ate them all!

After circling the store, Rong Qing suddenly realized the man behind her was missing.

At that moment, Huo Ling Tian stood in front of a row of shelves, chin propped on one hand, looking calculating and deep in thought.

"Ling Tian, did we forget anything?" Rong Qing approached from not far away.

Huo Ling Tian grinned, his eyes filled with mischievous wickedness. "Qing, come over here and see which flavor you prefer. I think strawberry's nice!"

Rong Qing was puzzled. When she reached the shelf and picked up a package—Durex?

"Huo Ling Tian, you jerk!" She threw the package at him.

Huo Ling Tian picked up the item that had fallen to the floor. "Haha, so Qing likes this flavor, huh?" Cool and refreshing? Huo Ling Tian, looking like a triumphant devil, smiled and tossed a whole row of cool and refreshing and strawberry flavors into the cart.

At checkout, the cashier was stunned to see them scan one hundred Durex packs, casting curious glances at the couple. Rong Qing, crimson-faced, hung her head in embarrassment, while Huo Ling Tian remained unfazed.

Well, maybe she was just old, and times had changed, but how many rounds could they possibly go in one night... In her forties, she was in her prime, and the cashier aunt gazed admiringly at the tall, strong man—this, this was a true warrior among men!

－－－－－－Author's note－－－－－－
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