Volume One, Chapter 19: Growing Accustomed to Her Care

Rong Shaoqin returned to the family estate. Upon his arrival, he found Grandmother Rong on the phone, weeping and sniffling. He sat beside her, patiently waiting for her to finish. Initially, he had no interest in listening, but as he caught her repeatedly urging Sang Haining to take good care of herself, he realized who was on the other end. He feigned indifference, but secretly, he pricked up his ears. The more he heard, the more uneasy he became.

Once Grandmother Rong hung up, Rong Shaoqin frowned. "Why did Haining go to the countryside? Is she visiting relatives?"

"It’s all because of your mess," Grandmother Rong said, rolling her eyes. "If you had settled this scandal earlier, would Haining have to worry so much?"

Rong Shaoqin asked in a deep voice, "What exactly is she doing in the countryside?"

"She went to find that elderly man named Sun," Grandmother Rong replied.

"I’m going to get her," Rong Shaoqin said, his expression shifting as he stood up to leave.

"Come back!" Grandmother Rong commanded sharply. Rong Shaoqin paused.

"If you had wanted to bring her back earlier, I would have supported you," she continued. "But Haining has already put in a full day of hard work there. If you drag her back now, isn't that just wasting all her efforts?"

"She didn't even consult me about such a big matter," Rong Shaoqin felt deeply moved. He never imagined that Sang Haining would go to such lengths for his sake. Yet, she was being too reckless. If she went to see Old Man Sun on her own, what if she were mistreated? He still couldn't sit still.

Grandmother Rong watched him, her eyes darting around. "Don't worry, I sent bodyguards with her, so she’s safe. I’m just worried about her being exhausted. The bodyguards told me she hasn't revealed her identity yet; she’s been doing heavy manual labor for that old man all day—cooking, chopping wood, drawing water..."

Watching his reaction, she sighed heavily. "I wish I could hold Haining in the palm of my hand to cherish her, yet she’s suffering for you. And you, you don't even know how to appreciate her, thinking her kindness is just an act, and even contemplating divorce... Well, perhaps it’s for the best. Once this storm passes, you can get the divorce and have your peace."

Rong Shaoqin pursed his lips and said nothing. He was exhausted and had been hungry, but now he had lost his appetite. His mind drifted far away.

"I’m going to rest," he said, heading upstairs in silence.

A servant offered to run a bath to help him relax. Once the servant closed the door and left, Rong Shaoqin undressed and stepped into the tub. As soon as his feet touched the water, he recoiled; it was too cold. Rong Shaoqin had a high body temperature but was sensitive to the cold. Sang Haining knew this habit and always ensured the bathwater was at the perfect temperature. The estate servants clearly didn't know, and the water was too cool.

Exhausted, Rong Shaoqin couldn't be bothered to ask them to change it. He took a shower instead and collapsed into bed. Having not eaten a proper dinner and missing his bath, he felt drained. Lying there, staring at the empty half of the bed, he pulled out his phone and called Sang Haining, but the call didn't go through.

Rong Shaoqin grew even more annoyed. She knew how to talk to his grandmother but couldn't be bothered to send him a message to let him know she was safe. He tossed the phone aside and fell asleep in a foul mood.

The next morning, he woke up to get ready. Usually, by this time, Sang Haining would already be up, having picked out his clothes for the day. Now, he had to do it himself. He opened the suitcase he had brought from home and stared at the neatly packed yet numerous items, feeling a headache coming on. He grabbed a few pieces of clothing at random and tied his tie in the mirror. Although the suit fit, it looked incredibly awkward—nowhere near as polished as when Sang Haining styled him.

For over a year, he had grown accustomed to her care. Now that she was suddenly removed from his life, he found everything going wrong, and his irritation deepened to his very core. When he received a callback from her, he felt resentful and intentionally didn't answer, heading straight downstairs for breakfast.

At the table, struggling to contain his frustration, he feigned nonchalance. "When will Sang Haining be back?"

"Naturally, she’ll come back once she’s solved the problem!" Grandmother Rong replied, making no effort to hide her schadenfreude.

Rong Shaoqin told himself that this was his own grandmother and he couldn't lose his temper. So, he swallowed his indignation, ate a few bites of breakfast, and hurried to the office.

The secretary felt like Rong Shaoqin had eaten gunpowder that day, lashing out at everyone. He didn't think too much of it, assuming the Rong family’s troubles were getting to him. He warned the staff to work harder and avoid any laziness, lest they face the boss's wrath. Consequently, the office atmosphere became even more stifling than the previous days, with everyone walking on eggshells.

Compared to Rong Shaoqin, things were much better for Sang Haining. After a day of hard labor, she was sore and tired, so she slept soundly that night and didn't hear Rong Shaoqin’s call. Thinking he might have had something important to say, she called him back later, but since he didn't answer, she didn't persist.

Waking up early, Sang Haining felt refreshed despite the lingering soreness. Like the day before, she went to find Old Man Sun, helping him with chores and chatting. The rest of the time was spent cooking delicious meals for them to share. After two or three days, not only had she not lost weight, but she had actually gained a little, and her arms had even developed some muscle.

One day, while chatting with Old Man Sun, her phone rang. She guessed it might be Grandmother Rong or Rong Shaoqin. To her surprise, it was Sang Zhaoting. She had blocked his number long ago, but since this was a new, unknown number, she had answered. She was about to hang up when Sang Zhaoting said, "The Rong family is facing constant turmoil. I have a way to help. Come out and let’s talk."

Once bitten, twice shy. Last time, she had been tricked into meeting him under the guise of her mother's belongings. She should have refused, but considering the timing—Rong Shaoqin’s birthday was on the 18th—she knew she would have to return for that. With the intention of outmaneuvering Sang Zhaoting, she agreed to the meeting.

At noon, she bid farewell to Old Man Sun. He was reluctant to let her go. "I truly hate to see you go, child. Apart from my children, whom I rarely see, you’re the only one who has treated this old man so well." Because of a dispute over demolition compensation, he had offended the wrong people, and his neighbors avoided him. Before Sang Haining arrived, no one dared talk to him, and he could only vent his grievances to his late wife’s portrait. Now, seeing Sang Haining leave, he couldn't hold back his tears.

"Grandpa, I’ll come to see you again in a few days," she promised.

"Really?"

"Really. I’m not lying to you. Stay well. There’s soup I made in the fridge; remember to heat it up tonight. Don’t keep it for the next day, or it won’t be fresh..." Her parting words moved him to tears. He insisted she come back whenever she had time. Only after she promised did he reluctantly watch her leave.

Sang Haining had the bodyguard drive her back to the city. After an hour-long drive, she didn't head straight to the estate but went to a Western restaurant to meet Sang Zhaoting.

"The Rong family’s problems are things I have no way of solving," Sang Zhaoting admitted. "If I hadn't tricked you, how could I have gotten you to meet me?"

Sang Haining sneered. She had guessed he had no good intentions. "So, why did you really ask for me?" she asked coldly.

"I heard some inside information," Sang Zhaoting said. "The Rong family’s current crisis is likely insurmountable. You should divorce him to avoid getting dragged down. As it happens, I have a much better marriage prospect for you..."