Chapter 28: Smoldering Emotions.

Hao Ren heard the voice of the system in his mind, *Ding: Task completed, Host is rewarded with Traditional Medicinal skills.*

The young man slowed down the car as his brain was overflowed with a warm tide of knowledge. Han Lingshi was still stuck in the hospital lobby so she did not notice this. After a few seconds, Hao Ren took a deep breath as he returned to normal.

He reached out his hand and placed in over Han Lingshi's balled up fist. He could sense that her hands were cold, and still trembled slightly. However, he did not say anything. Han Lingshi sensed his warm palms, and gradually calmed down.

They reached his apartment and Hao Ren bought her upstairs. Han Lingshi had yet to say anything. As they came inside the house, she leaned to the wall and supported her and was about to bend down to undo her heels when Hao Ren raised her chin with his index finger and said, "You have bowed your head enough for a day."

His voice was as if a silk web that wrapped around her. She watched him bend down and take off her shoes. He then led her to the couch. He served her water and said, "I will be back in a jiffy."

Han Lingshi replied with a nasal sound of approval and Hao Ren dashed to his bedroom, when he came back after five minutes, he found Han Lingshi leaning on the couch. He asked, "Lingshi, what do you want to eat?"

She did not react instantly, and said, "Something light."

Her voice was barely audible. Hao Ren furrowed his brows and approached as he wanted to have a heart to heart with her. However, when he stood before her, his expression changed. Han Lingshi had a faint blush on her face. He knelt before her, and brushed her hair away from the forehead. Han Lingshi opened her eyes wide when she was stunned.

She could sense Hao Ren's breath crashing on her lips and she wanted to back off, when he placed his hand on her nape and his forehead leaned against her. Then she heard his magnetic voice, "Lingshi, take deep breaths."

Han Lingshi was going to take a deep breath even if he did not tell her to. He placed his left hand on her back. Han Lingshi felt her heart was going to explode, she was so scared and shy from the sudden intimacy. She did not expect Hao Ren to be so bold.

However, just when she was thinking Hao Ren would take away her first kiss the young man put his hands away and leaned back to normal. He said, "Lingshi, I do not mean to be rude but you need to stop thinking about what happened in the hospital. Did you not realize that your blood pressure was all over the place because of so much stress?"

Han Lingshi was stunned and she asked, "You, what were you doing just now?"

She could not understand how this guy changed tracks so quickly. From romantic to scolding it all happened in a blink. Hao Ren realized what happened and said, "I apologize, I was checking if you have a fever."

Han Lingshi squinted her eyes and asked, "Oh, is that so? How come I have never come across such a way of checking temperature before?"

Hao Ren could not match her gaze and stood up as he said, "How would I know why you don't know anything? What does it have to do with me? Also, you talk so much, look we are getting late for lunch."

Han Lingshi pointed at herself in bewilderment and questioned, "I talk a lot? Huh? Say it again. You..."

She picked up a cushion and threw it at Hao Ren who ran into the kitchen chuckling. Han Lingshi sat on the couch for a few minutes, she couldn't help but think, why were her emotions and reactions so unreserved around Hao Ren? Had it been another man who came this close to her, she would have detected the lust in their gaze. However, recalling how even when Hao Ren's forehead was touching hers, she could not see anything but concern in them.

Just when she was thinking about it, she heard a few noises from the kitchen. She stood up, and curiously walked toward the kitchen to see what Hao Ren was doing. The house was big and the kitchen was similarly big too. It would not be a problem for three people to move inside without obstructing anyone.

She peeked inside from the entrance and was surprised to see how elegantly Hao Ren was dealing with the ingredients. However, when she saw his pink apron she could not help but smile. Hao Ren sensed her presence and asked, "What are you doing here? Go out, what if you catch smoke?"

Han Lingshi smiled and said, "You have a nice air vent set above the stove, mom."

After the connection in the living room, she felt even more connected to Hao Ren. The young man glared at her but he kept on chopping the leek in his hands quickly. Han Lingshi asked, "Ren, where did you find this pink apron? You look so cute in it."

Hao Ren smiled at her as he knew she was teasing her. He shook his head and focused on cooking food. He was done chopping the vegetables, quickly spread some flour on the counter to knead a dough. Han Lingshi asked, "What are you doing?"

Hao Ren replied, "Dumpling dough."

She looked at him curiously and after a few minutes, Hao Ren asked, "Do you want to knead?"

Han Lingshi was shocked and asked, "Can I?"

Hao Ren took two steps back and said, "Why not?"

Han Lingshi became excited as if Hao Ren had given her a toy. She stood before the counter and the dough, and was about to knead, Hao Ren put on a blue apron on her. As he tied the string he whispered, "I look cute in the pink, but not cuter than you in blue."

Han Lingshi blushed but did not falter. She asked, "How do I knead it?"

Hao Ren leaned over her shoulder and asked, "Want me to teach you?"

Han Lingshi again blushed and this time her heart picked up the pace again. She replied with a nasal sound, "Hmm."

Hao Ren moved his hands around her and put his palms over hers. He whispered, "Gently feel the dough."

He pressed her hands gently against the half knead dough, and Han Lingshi shivered. She felt as if Hao Ren had caressed her spine. Hao Ren said, "Knead it, and fold it."

Hao Ren was focused on the dough before him, while Han Lingshi's thoughts were running wild. After a few minutes, she leaned her back against Hao Ren's firm chest. Suddenly, Hao Ren said, "Yeah, it's done."

Then he took his hands back, and turned around to prepare a wet cloth. Han Lingshi turned around in a daze. Hao Ren looked at her, and their eyes met. They were standing just a few inches away from each other, and Han Lingshi moved her hands behind her back. So that Hao Ren does not see how tight her fists were balled up.

Hao Ren did not break the eye contact and placed the wet cloth over the dough and asked, "Lingshi, why are you always so flustered when I am close to you? Have you fallen for my charm?"

Han Lingshi was stunned and then she pushed Hao Ren as she chuckled and asked, "What are your charms?"

Hao Ren took a step back and said, "I will show you."

He extended his hand to her, and the lady raised her brow. She gave her hand in Hao Ren's hand and the young man said, "Xiao Mei, play the sonata of love."

The next moment a soft romantic piano tune echoed in the house. Hao Ren placed one of his hand on Han Lingshi's waist as the two danced inside the kitchen slowly. Han Lingshi said, "Is this all?"

Hao Ren smiled and said, "What if I told you that the business is about to kick off in the evening?"

Han Lingshi was surprised and asked, "So fast? Well, if efficiency was charm, you would win."

Hao Ren smiled and said, "What if I told you that the conservative estimate of my company product is to reach a million downloads with in a week?"

The girl was surprised, they did not stop dancing, but began to discuss business. Hao Ren did this so that Han Lingshi gets used to his touch and scent. Earlier in the hospital he sensed her going stiff, and even at this moment. She was not completely relaxed but she did not reject his touch.

Hao Ren knew that in a relationship comfort and ease while being in presence of each other mattered a lot. He did not know where all these thoughts came to him, because all these things were not taught to him by anyone and never did he pay attention to such things in his teenage either.

After some thought, he shoved the responsibility to the system. The two people danced for a few minutes, but the music did not stop, they made dumplings together and Hao Ren patiently guided the newbie under his care.

Han Lingshi asked on the lunch table, "Ren can you tell me what is the product that you want to sell first?"

Hao Ren replied, "The first product is an Operating System, but I do not plan to monetize that."

Han Lingshi was confused, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Hao Ren thought about it and said, "Come along with me, you will know."

She nodded, and Hao Ren bought her to the study. He made her sit on the chair and said, "Xiao Mei, wake up."

Han Lingshi was confused when the monitor screen lit up and a charming voice sounded, "Good Afternoon, Boss."

Han Lingshi was surprised and Hao Ren asked, "Can you tell me who is sitting before you?"

Xiao Mei replied, "I would have to access the web-cam boss."

Hao Ren said, "Go ahead."

The notification light on the Webcam turned on and Xiao Mei said, "This lady is Han Lingshi, president of the Empress International. Elder Grand daughter of the old Media tycoon, Han Litian. Her father is currently serving in the military at a high designation while her mother is from a political background.

Han Lingshi is worth three billion yuan, she is the main reason behind the success of the Empress International. However, the power struggle in the Han Family runs deep. Since she is your wife, you ought to be careful too, Boss."

Han Lingshi was shocked and turned to look at Hao Ren, who was smiling and Xiao Mei said, "Greetings, Madam. Do not worry, I only ran a background check on your relationship status, and your marriage registration showed up. Going by your reaction, you do not want others to know. Should I camouflage it?"

Han Lingshi asked, "What do you mean camouflage?"

Xiao Mei replied, "As long as someone looks up for this information, they will not find it. I can delete the relevant information from the server archives of the government, hmm, to think they have such lax security in the civilian data records, oh yes, please do not worry this information will be safe in my records and I can place it back as soon as you tell me to. Should I proceed?"

Han Lingshi thought about it and said, "Xiao Mei, you can conceal this information till your Boss reaches a net worth of One billion yuan."

Xiao Mei replied instantly, "I understand. I will keep that in mind, I mean server."

Hao Ren said, "Show her the copy of the OS you designed."

The screen changed and a simple looking monitor appeared before Han Lingshi, she could not tell how it was different than a normal OS, other than the change in icons and animation style. However, after a few minutes, she said, "This feels more smooth for some reason."

Hao Ren nodded, as he replied, "That's just one of the perks. Do not worry, just wait for the product launch report."

...

Afterwards, Hao Ren sent Han Lingshi away. He asked the lady if she wanted Xiao Mei on her phone, but she denied saying it was too abrupt for her to be in touch with an AI. However, she promised that she would not tell anyone about it. While Han Lingshi left to work, Hao Ren also made his way back to his office. He was going to dropped a bomb at the people of the world.