Miserable Hao Ren.

*Ding: Task completed, issuing reward, Passive Skill: Soothsayer* 

Hao Ren was confused, and wanted to ask what this skill meant but Han Lingshi cleared her throat and asked, "Mister Hao, would you be so kind and tell me how you intend to deal with the aftermath?" 

The young man turned to look at her and said, "I would be obliged, Miss Han, but first, please finish your meal. I put in a lots of effort in cooking." 

Han Lingshi nodded and picked up the spoon to savor the dishes. She gobbled up everything within a few minutes and Hao Ren asked, "Now, you can ask me questions and I will answer them. If I am missing something, you can fill in the blanks." 

The lady nodded and said, "Fine, I can understand that you wanted Mei to be under observation, but why send her to some place other than prison?" 

Hao Ren sighed and replied, "Miss Han, if she was to go to prison, we would not be able to keep an eye on her. What if Edgar Hamil reached out to her and tried to plan something else? She has been working under you for quite a long time, and she knows a lot of things about you. This is why send her to another location. She will still work for you and this time, with a greater dedication." 

Han Lingshi was doubtful but she said, "It is a possibility after all, fear often makes people responsible and respectful." 

Hao Ren nodded and said, "As long as you sign the binding contract, she will have no way out, but do not push her in a corner." 

Han Lingshi smiled and replied as if stating the obvious, "I know that already, but why did you not think about this when you tricked Edgar Hamil?" 

Hao Ren smiled and said, "That man is too vain to be worried about. The best way to take him out is by pitting him against Young Master Hamil." 

Han Lingshi raised her brow and questioned, "Do you think that Young Master Hamil would deal with his brother because of your word?" 

Hao Ren shrugged his shoulder and said, "Not for me, but for himself." 

He took out his phone and accessed a few things before he said, "When I was in college, the Idol Chan Ling had come over for an event. She was not a big star back then and I was a mere volunteer in the activities. I saw her with someone and clicked a picture secretly. I did not know that man's identity and decided to not make trouble. However, coming to the city I discovered the identity of that man by pure coincidence." 

Han Lingshi commented, "You mean to say that the man you saw with that idol was Young Master Hamil, as in, Leonard Hamil?" 

Hao Ren nodded and said, "Indeed, also I am guessing that they had recently tied up the knot in secret." 

He handed over his phone to Han Lingshi to see the picture, and sure enough, as someone who has seen the Hamil family up close from her childhood, she recognized Leonard Hamil. The young man was holding Chan Ling in his arms and the two were sharing some private moments. Han Lingshi was shocked, and said, "Aren't you too lucky? You can find such a scoop, I wonder why have you not made Leonard cough up a fortune to hide this scandal. Also, why do you say that they have married each other? " 

Hao Ren shook his head and replied, "Miss Han, this is not a scandal, but a mistake on my side to have clicked a picture of them in secret. If not for the fact that I have to deal with Edgar, I would have kept this as an anecdote. As for your question how I know about their marriage, well last week Leonard was in the trending post as he got a tattoo on his wrist. Same day as Chan Ling was spotted in a tattoo shop in another city." 

Han Lingshi was surprised and Hao Ren showed her the news on his mobile. He also showed her the two tattoos these people got. While they seemed to be lotus petals, but when placed next to each other, it was easy to make a connection because the initials of their names were hidden very cleverly. 

The lady was shocked and commented, "I did not know something like this existed. You are quite clever to figure it out." 

Hao Ren shook his head and said, "In the past few years, they have never been spotted together, but if someone knows about this picture and puts their brain together, they would be able to see, that often the two people have been around each other." 

Han Lingshi nodded, and asked, "So, how will you use this information?" 

Hao Ren said, "Shall we go for a little shopping? I do not have any decent clothes and shoes. I was thinking of doing my own business and there will be meetings in the future so I wish to look formal and presentable." 

Han Lingshi was surprised, and thought that Hao Ren was probably getting a bit too ambitious, but she decided not to advise him. She wanted to see how far he wants to go before waking up broke. She nodded, and the two of them decided to leave the place. 

They drove away in the same car under the gazes of many employees who thought they have seen the ghost, however, one person turned to look at them and said in a cold tone, "If I found out anyone moved their thumbs or lips to kick up a gossip, and believe me I will find out, all those involved with regret it." 

This lady was assigned to keep the people in line, and she was Han Lingshi's right hand, Maya Okudera. There have been people who took her not so seriously, Maya made an example of them. She had a name, Retainer Of The Empress. 

...

Hao Ren asked, Han Lingshi, "Do you think Miss Okudera would be able to hold them back?" 

Han Lingshi smiled and said, "She will. Do not worry." 

Hao Ren nodded and leaned back in the car, Han Lingshi had instructed Maya to issue a gag order after she left. Thinking about this, he said, "System, What is that skill you gave me?" 

*Ding: Soothsayer is a skill that provides you a slight advantage during negotiations. It will work over anyone except for your wife.* 

Hao Ren thought about it and exclaimed in his mind, "You mean to say that this thing will work in business negotiations?" 

*Ding: You underestimate the system skills, Host. This skill will work in persuasion, and manipulation of any argument. Mostly it is just plot armor so that you get away from critical readers, cause the author is a dunce.*

Hao Ren nodded thoughtfully and said, "That sure works for me." 

Just as he was getting happy, his mobile rang, and he sighed. Han Lingshi looked at him and said, "Are you going to answer that?" 

Hao Ren said, "Well, I will need your help in a bit, so please be prepared." 

He knew who this call belonged to, and he fished his phone out. The caller ID showed, "Mom." 

It was a video call request, Hao Ren said, "Remember I asked you, if you could to act like my girlfriend?" 

Han Lingshi shivered, but thanks to her habit of driving herself she managed to keep the car steady otherwise, it would have been wrecked from the impact of this sudden question. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down before she nodded as she focused on the road, while her heart beat sped up.

Hao Ren said, "It would be nice if you could answer me, because I am about to have myself disowned." 

Han Lingshi thought about it, Hao Ren has been doing her a lot of favors. He helped her with Edgar Hamil and eliminated a pesky assistant from her side too. If not for all this, that night he walked and controlled his urges. She was grateful to have found someone like him completely to the coincidence, because if it were to be someone else, they might have been blinded by the money or her beauty. She was not a fool, and she knew that Hao Ren had been trying hard to improve their relation, so she nodded and said, "I will do it." 

Hao Ren smiled, and accepted the call as he greeted, "Hello, mom." 

Mrs. Hao didn't care about his smile and happiness, she directly asked, "Did you smuggle some drugs or did you rob a bank? Where did you get this money? You better be honest with me now, understood? Or I will disown you!" 

Hao Ren had an urge to jump out of the car, while Han Lingshi was trying hard not to laugh. He said, "Mom, all the money is legitimate, I can even give you a witness. Lingshi, tell her that I did not do any dirty business." 

To get rid of the muzzle aimed at him, he turned the phone toward Han Lingshi, who was driving and suddenly went stiff. On the other side, Mrs. Hao was stunned too. She asked, "Ren, who is this girl?" 

Hao Ren replied, "My girlfriend? Are you thinking that I am not worthy of her?" 

He was trying to get back at his mother, but the lady said, "You? Even your ancestors are not worth this fairy. Are you sure this girl is not a robot? Or is she taking pity on you?" 

Han Lingshi could not help it and she parked the car as she started laughing out loud. Hao Ren was too miserable.