Chapter 110: The Meat Is Served

"Hiss..." A groan of pain escaped the man's lips.

"You little brat, do you have any idea how much you're playing with fire?" Huo Lingtian growled, his voice low and husky. His large hands gripped her firm, smooth buttocks, and his heavy, ragged breathing brushed against her neck, sending waves of shivers through her in the most intimate way.

After the storm of passion subsided, the man looked like a well-fed cat, radiating a languid air. A pitiful-looking little wildcat lay draped over him. Rong Qing clung to his body, her eyes swimming with remnants of their shared heat, her breath still catching as she struggled to recover from the intensity of the encounter.

Huo Lingtian stroked her body again and again; her fair, delicate skin felt as smooth as silk. Rong Qing felt completely drained, unable to laugh or cry. Why was this man's technique getting better and his stamina so formidable? How 'happy' would her future 'intimate' life be?

"No more, please..." Seeing the man’s powerful physique already beginning to recover its strength, she shrank into the quilt like an ostrich. "Wuwu... I want to sleep, I just want to sleep..."

Huo Lingtian scooped her up, quilt and all, into his arms. He kissed her earlobe, his low, sexy voice sounding to Rong Qing like a summons from a demon: "Baby, just once more, just once more..."

Without further ado, he launched another tempestuous round. When the clouds finally cleared, the baby in his arms had long since drifted into a deep, pig-like slumber. He lifted her gently and carried her into the bathroom, washing her clean with meticulous care before they finally lay down in bed together, wrapped in each other's arms.

By the time she woke up the next day, her body had mostly recovered. Rong Qing couldn't help but marvel at her own increasing resilience. After lingering in the hotel for half the morning, they finished getting ready to go shopping in the afternoon.

Because they were heading into the mountains for training, they needed to stock up on essential clothing and gear. Huo Lingtian drove Rong Qing to the largest shopping mall in the area—a massive American retail hub featuring a complete range of international brands. When the man, dressed in a sharp suit and driving a sports car, stepped out with a beauty possessing such classical charm, they immediately drew cheers and attention from the stylish local crowd.

There was no doubt that compared to the flirtatious American men, the Chinese man with his overflowing, domineering aura was even more intriguing. The open-minded American girls at the mall were practically ready to cheer for this top-tier man, their adventurous spirits stirring. Beside him, the woman was gentle and stunningly beautiful; unlike the typical blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauties, Rong Qing’s beauty held a classical allure, her black hair and dark eyes intoxicatingly seductive. The golden couple looked so perfect together that they were the envy of all.

At this massive American shopping center, there was no shortage of international stars and socialites. They were dressed in trendy, hot, and beautiful outfits, forming a unique and bright scene in the free-spirited American landscape.

"Sir, would you like to sit down and have a drink?" Among the crowd, there was no lack of bold women looking to strike up a conversation. One blonde, blue-eyed American girl, dressed in shorts and a tank top that barely contained her curvaceous figure, looked at the man with provocative, sultry eyes, casting a defiant gaze at Rong Qing. She wasn't about to let go of a man she had her sights on so easily.

Rong Qing offered a gentle smile, carrying the grace and dignity of her homeland, appearing as distant and unattainable as a high-mountain flower. In reality, her inner thoughts were dark: *Damn it, where did this dead woman come from? Daring to snatch her man! Get lost, already!*

As expected, her man was reliable. He pulled Rong Qing straight past the woman who had tried to hit on him, not even sparing her a glance. Rong Qing felt a secret thrill, while the once-invincible blonde gritted her teeth in frustration, stamping her heels in anger! Because of this small incident, the passionate American men and women gave up on their fantasies about these mysterious Easterners. After all, who would dare to challenge the authority and limits of such a powerful man, who was practically wrapped in a bloodthirsty aura?

"Miss, you look truly beautiful in this piece." One had to admire the top-tier service in America; there were even Chinese sales assistants. Looking at the girl’s familiar and ingratiating smile, Rong Qing wondered if she was really in the US.

Rong Qing tried on several down jackets; they were comfortable, natural, and offered excellent warmth.

"Miss, which one would you like? These are top international brands with guaranteed quality. Don't worry, if there are any quality issues within three days, we offer full returns and exchanges..." the Chinese sales assistant rattled on enthusiastically.

"No need, wrap them all up," Huo Lingtian said, calmly cutting her off.

The sales assistant, who had been so passionate just a moment ago, had her mouth drop into an 'O' shape. But the sharp girl immediately reacted, her smile becoming even more fawning and her tone incredibly gentle and considerate: "Right away! Sir, since there are so many items, we can have them delivered directly to where you're staying."

Huo Lingtian nodded and pulled out a card. The assistant sprinted to the register. The entire process was so seamless that Rong Qing was stunned! Only then did she realize they had bought over a dozen down jackets. *(/□)*, she couldn't exactly eat them, could she?

"Lingtian, it's too much. I can't use all of these," Rong Qing said, feeling melancholic.

"It's fine. It's freezing; just change into a new one every day. It's not too many."

Fine, their levels of consumption were simply not on the same plane... It was certainly nice to marry a rich husband. Clothes were worn once and discarded.

After buying the clothes, they went to buy protective gear—all sorts of frostbite creams, blood-clotting and anti-inflammatory medicines, and cold remedies were gathered, along with several rolls of bandages. Looking at the massive box of supplies, Rong Qing’s expression shifted from initial helplessness to numbness, and finally, to total disbelief. Taking all this to the mountains would be a burden!

In Huo Lingtian’s words, it was fine; there would be specialists to transport it for her, so she didn't need to worry.

Rong Qing thought that if the conditions and time allowed, the man would probably want to pack her up and ship her there himself.

Finally, seeing the back seat piled high with items, they returned home with a full haul. On the way back to the hotel, even though she had no sense of direction, she clearly noticed they were heading in a different direction than before. "Lingtian, aren't we going back to the hotel?"

"We're changing locations." He didn't want to spend his darling's last few moments before training in a place without a large bathtub, a soft king-sized bed, or a carpet so hard it chafed the skin.

The silver-white sports car sped toward the Imperial Hotel.

After a short period of rest and preparation, and under Huo Lingtian's escort, Rong Qing finally arrived at the foot of the towering mountain, where the film crew was already standing by.

***

Like all the world's top wealthy families, Vales Hawkins—this pretentious American aristocratic gentleman—was not only involved in arms smuggling and running casinos, but he also fronted a particularly pretentious production company that dabbled in fashion, dining, and even the entertainment industry. It was said that this American underground emperor owned 40% of the shares of the Hollywood studios, and he was the one funding the films of the great director Evans.

However, this business tycoon—who had more money than he could count, was escorted by bodyguards wherever he went, spent his spare time lounging in casinos, and partied all night with American hotties—hadn't been having a good time lately. You could say he had nothing better to do, but why on earth did he decide to fund that old man Evans's commercial blockbuster? This move had finally turned his boring, pampered life upside down.

He didn't yet know that the domineering, dictatorial Chinese emperor, Huo Lingtian, had his most precious treasure wandering right under his nose. He couldn't eat or sleep well, and even when he was in bed with a girl, he felt distracted and disinterested. He was terrified that if something happened to Huo Lingtian’s beloved on his turf, that bloodthirsty beast would storm into his estate with a gun and wipe out his entire operation.

That was why, for the past few days, he had been repeatedly pouring in money, demanding the absolute safety and comfort of the actors, and insisting they couldn't be wronged. You tell me, was it easy for him? To be able to say such pretentious things with a straight face.

The production crew's funding was fully in place; even the staff were staying in five-star hotels. Rong Qing had checked into the hotel at the base of the Cordillera Mountains three days ago. Not only were the living conditions unexpectedly good, but even the protective gear provided was from top international brands. She couldn't help but click her tongue in surprise. The Americans were truly damn rich!

They began their intensive training in the afternoon. To create a realistic battlefield environment, all actors had to undergo weighted physical training and learn combat techniques. Today's task: a 5,000-meter weighted run and 100 rounds of sparring.

Although this was a macro-commercial blockbuster dominated by bloody combat, Rong Qing’s role was particularly prominent. The burden on her was heavy, testing and challenging the will of the actors. The two Hollywood male stars accompanying her faced even more strenuous tasks.

Rong Qing wore tight black sportswear, with weights strapped to her ankles. The mountain wind was bitingly cold, and she ran directly into it. Her heavy, ragged breathing whistled in her ears; she only felt the weights on her ankles growing heavier, her muscles aching. Watching the two male actors pull far ahead, she gritted her teeth, feeling all her strength gather in her feet. Drop by drop, sweat soaked through her clothes.

She had never undergone such rigorous training. Not even three kilometers in, she felt her lungs burning, her breath coming in gasps, and her movements grew sluggish, as if the weights on her legs were dragging her down.

*Can't stop, absolutely cannot stop.* Stopping meant admitting defeat. Her flagging resolve suddenly cleared. Her eyes stung with moisture as she saw the director standing in the biting wind, and saw the expectations of the crew and the coaches. Perhaps stopping now wouldn't affect her performance in the film, but the sense of responsibility and dedication in her heart would be compromised.

She pushed her heavy feet forward, slowly advancing. Even though her aching limbs were unbearable and her head spun from oxygen deprivation, she didn't stop her running. Even if she was slow, she didn't give up, moving forward with the unwavering determination of a snail.

At that moment, the male stars, who had been far in the lead, slowed their pace. They felt a sense of admiration for this woman's great perseverance; even for them, with their strong bodies, such weights were hard to bear, let alone for such a slender woman. They instinctively gathered around her, driving Rong Qing forward. The three of them moved in a line, breathing and moving in rhythm. Rong Qing adjusted her breathing, and her steps became much lighter; she no longer felt it was unbearable.

She lowered her gaze, emptied her mind, and gradually found her rhythm. Before she knew it, she had successfully completed the five kilometers.

Rong Qing could hardly believe it. Looking at the tracks she had left behind, she stumbled and almost fell to the ground. She forced her body to remain upright, refusing to collapse. The aching in her waist and the fiery sensation in her chest reminded her that she had done it—she had really done it!

Having pushed past her body's limits, her body, though drained and uncomfortable, actually felt much lighter.

Old man Evans, dressed in thick winter clothes, had a face flushed red from the cold, his hands turning purple. He seemed not to notice, remaining expressionless, but the uncontrollable smile at the corners of his mouth betrayed his mood.

"Half an hour, meet me at the training ground." Having dropped this, the old man walked away with a cocky air.