Chapter 63: Out In The Open.
Chapter 63: Out In The Open.
Hao Ren and Han Lingshi did not react much, they went back to their own conversation after the latter gave Hao Ren a subtle introduction. In just a few moments, Leonard Hamil was before them. He smiled bewitchingly at Han Lingshi and said, "I was wondering who it was, it turned out to be elder sister Han. I hope you had a pleasant evening."
Han Lingshi saw the man and smiled as she replied, "Greetings, Young master Hamil."
Leonard sighed and gave her a bitter smile. He was helpless against her, and he asked, "Do you really have to be this formal with me even outside the office, we grew up together."
Han Lingshi had a faint smile on her face and said, "I don't remember much of what happened in the childhood, however, I know that we were playmates a few times. Saying that we grew up together is an exaggeration."
Her words served two purposes, one was to clarify her relation ship with Leonard Hamil before Hao Ren, and second was to make sure that this guy(Leonard Hamil) learned his limits.
Sure enough, Leonard Hamil's face changed the moment he heard these words. How could someone as cunning as him not understand that Han Lingshi was drawing line with him before another young man.
Hao Ren was watching this and complimented in his mind, 'This guy sure is a mastermind, he can hold this temper. Sure enough, one should be wary of the silent ones.'
Leonard Hamil showed a helpless smile and then turned his attention to Hao Ren. He asked, "I wonder, who you might be sir? Our Miss Han does not agree to have dinner with just everyone."
Hao Ren raised his head, he was thinking how to counter this situation when Leonard Hamil had just started taking a walk over, but now that Han Lingshi has chosen violence, he could do whatever he wanted to.
He smiled at Leonard Hamil and said, "I am Hao Ren, CEO Thunder Technologies."
This made Leonard's eyebrows twitch a bit. Every big shot knew about the dark horse of the business and tech industry. Hao Ren was sought by many people, but they did not get past the manager desk. Yes, desk, the small office of Thunder Technologies made many people think they were just a start up.
However, when the calculated the profit they earned, the bigshots went crazy. They called the office to get an appointment but all in vain. Leonard Hamil controlled his surprised expression and said, "I did not expect to have come across the most sought after entrepreneur of the jade capital, I have heard about you for quite some time now."
Hao Ren shook his head and answered, "You did not hear about me, but the profit of my company, Young Master Hamil."
Leonard Hamil paused for a second before he laughed out loud. He remarked, "You sure have a good sense of humor."
Hao Ren chuckled along with him and said, "Some people have trouble seeing the humor in my words, but you, Young Master Hamil, are one of the rare ones."
Han Lingshi saw this and gently tapped her foot against Hao Ren's under the table. Hao Ren knew that she did not want Leonard near them anymore. This was a romantic date, and this unwanted third wheel was derailing the scenario.
Hao Ren asked, "Young Master Hamil, can I help you with something?"
Leonard Hamil realized that the situation was not suitable for him to stay for long and Han Lingshi was definitely not going to entertain him after her earlier words. He said, "Mister Hao, I was wondering if I could have a breakfast with you in the morning? We can arrange for it at my golf club."
Hao Ren immediately put up a guilty expression and said, "I apologize, Young Master Hamil. For the next two weeks the company is very busy with various procedures as a new product is about to come out in the market."
Leonard Hamil raised his brow and then nodded. He did not show his discomfort on his face and acted very reasonably but in his mind he was thinking, 'So your company is making another cleaning bot. Tch, launching another product of the same category in such a short time. Too young and too greedy.'
That was his opinion of Hao Ren. He nodded and said, "I hope there is time to sit and chat soon. Till then, have a good time. I will not disturb your meeting anymore."
In his opinion, Hao Ren had come here to discuss business affair. There was no way Han Lingshi would bet on a losing horse.
Hao Ren raised his brow, and looked at Leonard Hamil. Then he looked at Han Lingshi before looking back at the young man said, "Young Master Hamil, there seem to be a misunderstanding here."
Leonard was about to turn around, stopped. Hao Ren said, "Lingshi is here to have a dinner with me. We are on a date and not business meeting."
His words were like a bomb to Leonard Hamil. He snapped his neck and looked at Han Lingshi, who was obviously smiling with a faint touch of pink on her cheeks as she looked at Hao Ren.
After a moment of surprise, he smiled and said, "I did not expect Mister Hao to come in and make a move at the treasure of the capital."
Hao Ren smiled and said, "It was all coincidental."
Leonard nodded with a smile and did not say anything before he left. The people in the surroundings also heard this, and they even sneaked a few pictures but Hao Ren did not care about it at the moment.
Han Lingshi glared at him and asked, "Why did you say those words to him?"
Hao Ren sighed and looked at her, "First reason was to make it so that not everyone comes up and hit on you. Since one of the high society knows that we have something going on, the respectful ones will steer clear and the nosy ones will come to stand up in protest.
It will save trouble for me to handle these jerks right away. They will not make any moves against you and the Empress International. As for me, they will try to stomp me down but that is a good thing."
Han Lingshi swirled the wine in her glass and asked comically, "Oh, that is a good thing you say. Please enlighten me."
Hao Ren smiled and said, "In business, if you defeat the enemy, all that belongs to them will be yours. Although I don't need anything from them but if they are willing to send such things to me, it would be good."
Han Lingshi nodded and said, "Spoken like a proper opportunist."
Hao Ren chuckled and they began to joke around. The sight of the couple having fun soon became the sensation in the high society. The extent of this situation was so much that when Hao Ren and Han Lingshi came out of the restaurant, they spotted a few cameramen waiting for them with journalists.
Han Lingshi stood behind the glass doors of the entrance and frowned. Hao Ren came over after tipping the staff and put his arm around her. He asked, "What happened?"
Han Lingshi gestured with her chin. The cameramen were already clicking pictures. He smiled and picked out his phone as he asked, "Xiao Mei, how did they find out about us so quickly?"
Xiao Mei replied, "A certain handsome jerk named Leonard prompted them."
Han Lingshi chuckled and said, "Xiao Mei, you are quite a snarky one."
Xiao Mei replied with a modest voice expression, "Thank you for the compliment, Mistress."
The lady was surprised by the address, but Hao Ren sighed and said, "Journalists are like hounds. They will travel in the search of blood, and as soon as they picked up a scent, they will gather in a pack. However, we can also tame them into obedient mutts."
Han Lingshi looked at him and said, "Sometimes the things you say are so masculine that it makes my soul tickle."
Hao Ren looked at her in shock and said in a low voice, "My love, you are drunk?"
Han Lingshi leaned close to him and put her arms around his waist and asked, "Would you like to sample the wine too?"
Hao Ren looked in her eyes, brushed her hair away gently as he said, "I would, but I have to drop you home. Drinking and driving is dangerous, no?"
Han Lingshi nodded and looked at him with a faint blush on her face as she mumbled, "Whatever you say, darling."
Hao Ren did not doubt her words but he wondered how shabby her liquor holding capacity was. He opened the door and walked out. The journalists gathered and stormed toward them. Hao Ren took Han Lingshi in a protective embrace and said, "If you have any question, then behave like educated people. We will answer. However, respect our dignity."
His voice was calm but they all heard this, paired with his cold assassin eyes, and the sooth saying skill. The journalists were intimidated. They all stopped at a distance. Han Lingshi raised her head to look at him and when he turned his gaze at her. The cold vanished, it was akin to a completely different person the moment he looked at Han Lingshi.
A journalist asked, "Sir, can you tell us about yourself?"
Hao Ren turned cold again and said, "My name is Hao Ren, and I am the CEO of Thunder Technologies."
The reporters thought about it and the cameramen exclaimed, "Your company manufactured that cleaning bot Koro-koro?"
The reporters woke up and reacted quickly. Hao Ren nodded in answer and said, "Not only did we manufacture it, but also designed it."
The journalists nodded, and when they wanted to ask more questions, Hao Ren said, "Miss Han and I are dating. We have only been seeing each other for the past few months. I hope that you all don't print or say anything that is too exaggerated like we hid it or something. We both value privacy and our relationship is not for the people to scrutinize.
Otherwise, I might file a few complaints against your channels."
His cold tone sent a shiver down the spine of the people. They nodded, Hao Ren said, "In a few days, the Thunder Technologies will be holding a press conference and then we will be calling you over. I hope you all are ready for this."
A reporter asked, "Sir, can you tell us what the conference is about?"
Hao Ren replied, "Product launch. If you don't mind, can we leave?"
The people moved aside and Hao Ren guided Han Lingshi to the car. They have gotten the answer they were looking for. All this time Han Lingshi did not speak much, and her face had a faint blush but her cold eyes were staring at the media people. While the journalists thought that the lady was warning them silently, the truth was that she disliked them for disturbing her time with Hao Ren.
Ever since Han Lingxue had come over, the couple had not been staying together. So, the time they spend with each other was less, and paired with Han Lingshi's stay in the Hawk Nation, they craved for some privacy.
...
Hao Ren drove the vehicle and time to time he looked at Han Lingshi, who was mumbling a few things in her sleep. Hao Ren had a smile on his face because he found her very adorable. Soon, they arrived at her villa, and as he carried the lady in his arms. He found Han Lingxue standing at the door with a mobile in her hand as she recorded the scene.
Hao Ren chuckled and asked, "What are you doing Xuexue?"
Han Lingxue smiled and said, "I am making sure that you don't do anything naughty to my beloved sister."
Hao Ren had a helpless reaction as he took Han Lingshi inside the house and gently settled her in the bedroom. He carefully took off her shoes and jacket. Then Han Lingxue followed him to the kitchen where he made some lemonade. He said, "In the morning, add some brown sugar to it and give it to her."
The younger girl nodded, and Hao Ren went in the bedroom to leave a gentle kiss on her lips as he left the room. Han Lingxue closed the door and locked it after seeing him off.
...
Hao Ren was driving his car, but he was not going home. Instead he was going to deal with the Golden Emissary. Xiao Mei had managed to successfully lure the man out of the city. Since the prey was out in the open, why won't he hunt?
...
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