Chapter 262

The frantic pounding on the door struck terror into Rong Qing’s heart. Huo Lingtian’s impatient, explosive shouts only revealed the urgency and restlessness of the man outside. With reluctant, dragging steps, she finally cracked the door open just a sliver. The moment half her body appeared, a powerful force seized her, pulling her forward uncontrollably. Huo Lingtian caught her hard, embracing her slender figure tightly, his expression darker and more frenzied than ever before.

“I thought you were gone. That you didn’t want me anymore!” Each word was punctuated with an even tighter hold, squeezing her body until it hurt.

“I did leave home, didn’t I? I don’t want you anymore!” Seeing the ferocity in his eyes, the woman wisely swallowed the rest of her words. “Our contract is over. Should I stay just to watch you get engaged?”

As the words reached her lips, she tasted only bitterness. Remembering that it was Huo Lingtian who had wronged her first, she found her courage again. She pouted, her big eyes glaring at him, daring him to say something wrong.

Looking at this stubborn little rascal, Huo Lingtian’s days of anxiety and worry melted into helplessness and affection. “You—when will you ever take my words to heart? You’d rather believe some ridiculous gossip than wait for me to come back?”

Holding her, Huo Lingtian felt a sense of fullness; as long as she was by his side, he could withstand any pressure, face any struggle, unravel any scheme, and build the Huo family empire.

Rong Qing looked at him, feeling guilty. It seemed all their problems had grown from her own insecurity and unfounded suspicions, creating a gulf between them. Wu Yuxin’s words had only been the spark that ignited their conflict. Whether it was last night or after meeting Wu Yuxin, she hadn’t sought out Huo Lingtian for the truth, but had instead leapt to conclusions on her own. Ultimately, it was the inequality at the start of their relationship and her resulting inferiority complex that had made everything spiral out of control.

“Huo Lingtian, everything between us is over.”

“Don’t you dare!” Huo Lingtian glared fiercely, his large hand restraining her, afraid she’d say something even more outrageous.

Rong Qing’s lips curled in a seductive smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief like a little fox. “I meant the three-month transaction is over. Apart from that forced contract, we’ve never had the basics of a relationship, have we? So…” Seeing his eyebrow twitch, she grew even more playful. “So, whether I’ll return to Xiangshan Villa depends on how you perform.”

“What? No way!” Huo Lingtian nearly blurted out his refusal. He couldn’t understand—after all their intimacy, after living together so closely, what more relationship did they need? Shouldn’t he just take her home and start a family?

Rong Qing pushed him away, her expression proud, as though she were a queen looking down on her subject. “Fine, if there’s no basic respect or understanding between us, then…” She shrugged innocently.

“Rong Qing!” Huo Lingtian ground his teeth, terrified she’d say something about them being wrong for each other, or separating. “I agree! But you can't ignore my calls, or disappear again!”

“All right…” Rong Qing smiled. As a reward for the Huo family’s obedient president, she tiptoed and placed a light kiss on his handsome face. It was as soft as a feather, yet sent a thrill through him.

The sound of something heavy dropping to the floor startled the two from their sweet moment. Meng Lin, who had just entered, stared wide-eyed, her jaw nearly hitting the ground as her shopping bags landed with a thud.

“Heh heh,” Meng Lin gave a dry laugh. “Hello, brother-in-law!”

This one sentence made Huo Lingtian’s heart blossom, his annoyance at the interruption melting away. He shot her a knowing look—how clever she was to see through things so quickly.

Rong Qing shot him an annoyed glare, then impatiently shooed Meng Lin away. “You should go. I have an announcement to prepare.”

Huo Lingtian knew when to retreat. Now that he’d found her, there was no need to push; better to give the little rascal time to sort out her feelings. He walked over to Meng Lin, frowning at the pile of junk food on the floor.

“Take good care of her. Make her nutritious meals, and don’t let her eat too many snacks. I’ll reimburse you.” With a few words of instruction, he scooped up all the snacks and walked out.

“So naggy,” Rong Qing muttered, but the smile at her lips betrayed her delight.

Meng Lin watched that perfect man appear at her door, so gentle and attentive—she couldn’t help but feel envy, jealousy, and resentment. Looking back at the proud and ungrateful Rong Qing, she thought, truly, fortune favors the foolish!

After several days out of the spotlight, Rong Qing nervously dialed Yan Lin’s number. His calm, sarcastic tone made her feel even more guilty. “Don’t let your quarrel with Young Master Huo affect the work of the staff. Besides, he’s been working himself to the bone every day—your disappearance is like giving him a long vacation.” Rong Qing wanted to retort, but facing the stormy temperament of her manager, she decided to keep the peace. After all, she was in the wrong and had worried him.

“Your scenes are done. I’ve booked you for a show—‘Happy Spin!’ They’ve invited you as a guest. The show is high quality and well-received, which will boost your exposure. No matter how good an art film is, it won’t make you a star overnight,” Yan Lin explained.

Rong Qing considered it. Though her focus was on acting, the release of “Years of Splendor” wasn’t until November. This meant she’d have a gap, and her fame could easily be drowned out in the entertainment tide. Participating in a popular variety show would raise her profile and be a good challenge.

“All right. You arrange the time.”

The Wu family was considered an aristocratic clan in X City, but unlike the Huo family’s diverse ventures, they dominated real estate. With foreign capital coming in and the city’s prosperity, competition in real estate had become fierce. The Wu family’s conservative ways in recent years had led to a decline from the glory days of Wu Tianxiong’s generation. Their cash cow—real estate—was under pressure, and the family maintained a lavish front with difficulty.

Wu Yuxin, touted as the most promising of her generation, was sweet and charming, favored by the old master. But with the family in crisis, they desperately needed a powerful alliance that wouldn’t threaten their own interests. The old master set his sights on an alliance with the Huo family, whose eldest grandson Huo Lingtian was a force to be reckoned with. But before they could secure the “cake,” Huo Lingtian himself dashed their hopes, leaving the Wu family embarrassed.

Wu Tianxiong glanced over his four disappointing sons at dinner. The eldest, Wu Liangang—Yuxin’s father—was weak and foolish, obsessed with eating and sleeping; the second, Wu Lianlin, was a dissipated rake; the third, Wu Lianhai, did nothing serious, mingled in showbiz, kept mistresses, and was always in the gossip columns; the youngest, Wu Lianhao, had just entered university, spent years abroad, and returned with a ruined character. Not one was worthy—if any were half as capable as that Huo boy, he’d be offering incense in thanks, not worrying himself sick and considering selling off his granddaughter.

“Grandpa, I only want to marry Huo Lingtian. No one else!” Wu Yuxin sat closest to the old master, snuggling up and acting coy.

Wu Tianxiong’s heart sank further. With Huo Lingtian uninterested, what could he do? Beg that wolfish boy? Maintaining a calm exterior, he gently coaxed, “Yuxin, you know what kind of man Huo Lingtian is—he’s always been headstrong. Grandpa… can’t do anything about it.”

Sure enough, the young woman’s face twisted with jealousy, her noble manners cast aside as she cursed, “It’s that little tramp clinging to Lingtian, drugging him with some kind of love potion! Hmph, once she disappears, Lingtian will be mine.” Her last words were so venomous, they startled the old master.

He kept his expression neutral, giving a show of mild rebuke. “Yuxin, don’t go too far.”

Wu Yuxin sneered, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. It’ll be flawless.”

The old man eyed his granddaughter, doubting it would be so simple.

Ever since Rong Qing demanded a proper relationship, Huo Lingtian had launched an all-out campaign of romance. Every day, he sent flowers to her set, bombarded her with sweet texts, and found every opportunity to shower her with affection, making Rong Qing’s head spin.

Meanwhile, since Europe’s fashion icon Aaron arrived in China, he had much more free time and spent it hovering around Rong Qing. He’d invite her to dinner on behalf of the production team, or claim to be unfamiliar with China so she’d be his guide. Torn between Huo Lingtian and the European celebrity, Rong Qing was run ragged.

After a TV interview, with Aaron by her side, Rong Qing quickly broke into the fashion world under his guidance. The commercials she filmed for the Vienna brand were met with rave reviews, and she was soon invited to model for a famous clothing company.

She might not have had a blockbuster film yet, but her presence was growing across TV ads, movie trailers, and runway shows. Her stunning beauty lingered in the minds of many, causing a sensation both at home and abroad. Silently, she became a fixture in the public eye—when the storm finally broke, she would already be an unshakable star.

As Rong Qing and Aaron stepped out of SK Television, a luxurious black Bentley pulled up. The door swung open, and Huo Lingtian stepped out in a light camel knit sweater and linen trousers. Used to seeing him as the ever-composed CEO in sharp suits, his casual style now made him look even more relaxed and approachable. He glanced at Aaron beside her, his eyebrow arching, but in the next moment, he stood directly in front of Rong Qing, his voice full of plaintive affection: “Baby, I’ve been waiting so long for you. Didn’t we have a date?”

His intimate tone made Aaron’s face darken with jealousy—he clearly remembered this was the man who embraced Rong Qing at the David fashion show. Realizing their likely relationship, the strong sense of rivalry made Aaron instantly wary.

Huo Lingtian curled his fingers around Rong Qing’s wrist, tracing lazy circles on her palm with his thumb, his gaze bold and possessive, making her blush with embarrassment and frustration. Yet she had no way to deal with this shameless man.

Rong Qing’s silence only fueled Aaron’s jealousy. “Qing, don’t you have a photo shoot to do?”

Huo Lingtian’s broad fingers teased her palm, making her cheeks burn. She shot him a fierce glare, but he was warning her in his own roguish way.

With a sigh, Rong Qing finally offered Aaron an apologetic smile. “Aaron, I have something else to do. I’m really sorry…”

In the end, Huo Lingtian whisked her into his luxury Bentley, leaving the international superstar standing alone at SK’s entrance, his expression stormy as he angrily kicked at the stone beneath his feet.

－－－－－－Author’s note－－－－－－
Dear readers, I’m sorry for entering the VIP section so soon. After this, I’ll try to update regularly, about 3,000 words per chapter. I can’t add extra updates these days because of exams. Thank you all for your support.