Han Lingshi's laughter echoed inside the car, and Mrs. Hao stopped insulting her son, after all, he was a guy and should have some dignity. Another reason she did not want to make fun of him was so that he does not cut her off. She still wanted to see her daughter-in-law.
Mrs. Hao said, "Why are you holding the phone? Give it to the girl, I want to talk to her."
Hao Ren looked at Han Lingshi whose laughter came to an abrupt stop, and passed the phone. Han Lingshi shook her head but the menacing person turned the camera to face her. She stopped and bowed slightly to the lady and said, "Hello Auntie, I am Han Lingshi. You can call me Lingshi, or Lingling."
Mrs. Hao smiled on the phone, she was slightly chubby and looked like a laughing buddha. She spoke softly, "What a good child you are. I will call you Lingshi first."
It was not sure if such a beauty would stay with her son, why must she scare her by acting over friendly? She continued chatting with Han Lingshi and asked her about her well being and some small talk.
Han Lingshi had mastered the art of communication and she had a good conversation with the lady. Mrs. Hao found Han Lingshi to be an amiable personality and was impress through and through. She said, "Alright, Lingshi, I would not bother you anymore, but if this guy troubles you, come straight to me, I will straighten him up."
Han Lingshi smiled and replied, "I will definitely call you aunty."
Mrs. Hao chuckled and said, "Tell that kid that he better not spend too much now that he has earned some money. Or I will break his legs."
The call was disconnected, and Han Lingshi said, "Your mother is a good person, I like her."
Hao Ren rolled his eyes and said, "You like her or her ability to grill and discredit me over everything?"
Han Lingshi chuckled and the young man said, "My mom was not like this before Hao Mei fell sick. She was a poised and elegant woman who did not like to even scold anyone."
The lady detected some longing and pain in his voice. She asked, "Tell me about your sister."
She was curious about his family now, because he was so good to her. Hao Ren smiled and replied, "My sister was seven years older than me, her name was Hao Mei. My mom and dad used to work so after school she would come to pick me up from day care and look after me. She raised me practically, and she left for college when I starting my middle school.
Every weekend she would take an eight hour train to come and visit home. We all loved her, in the hometown no one would say anything bad about her. She tutored many children to earn her way through college. An ace student, she was the pride of my family and also my only friend."
As he spoke, his eyes drifted away from reality it was as if he could see his sister before him, and Han Lingshi sensed a subtle pain in her heart.
Hao Ren continued, "I had just stepped in high school and she took us all to the amusement park in the city. I was happy that day, but then she fainted. We rushed to hospital but the results were bad.
The doctor said that she had a tumor that was closer to her brain stem and it could not be treated without risking life long paralysis. That day we all were shocked, Mei Mei did not talk to anyone for two days. Then she said that she does not want to be treated because there was not guarantee if it would work, and we did not have the money to get her targeted trial treatments. Within a month, she was confined to her bed."
Hao Ren closed his eyes as he took a deep breath to stabilize his trembling emotions. He sensed a soft and warm touch over his palm, and found Han Lingshi was holding his hand and watching him with an empathetic gaze.
The young man said, "In her last moments, I was there, I asked her not to leave, like the fool I was. You know what she said?"
Han Lingshi felt her throat getting heavy, so she did not speak but gestured with her chin. Hao Ren replied, "She asked me to hold her hand, as she was going to sleep. She said that she would always beside me."
Han Lingshi could not hold back her tear, because while Hao Ren looked calm his cheek was wet. He said, "She did not wake up after that."
The girl could tell how much he loved his sister. The person before her was completely different than the usual goof he played around her. She said, "Hao Ren, you hold her memories in your heart so vividly, I am sure she is watching over you from wherever she is."
Hao Ren nodded and took out his handkerchief and passed it to her. Han Lingshi did not resist and used the cloth to wipe her tears. He used another side of the handkerchief for himself and said, "Let's go shopping, we have to get dinner also."
Han Lingshi was surprised and questioned, "When did I ever agree to get a dinner with you?"
The young man rolled his eyes and said, "Fine, go back home after I am done shopping. I am not as rich as you are."
Han Lingshi chuckled and remarked, "Petty."
They came to a big shopping mall in the city, called, Orion. Han Lingshi parked her car at the front and then the two of them walked inside maintaining close proximity. The people were dazed by their appearance.
Han Lingshi was wearing a subtle formal attire, a royal blue shirt with frill collar and a black wide-legged pant paired with royal blue stilettoes. While Hao Ren was dressed in a black shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers. His charm was higher than the average people, and did not look bad walking next to Han Lingshi.
Their attire seemed to be like a couple dress-up. Han Lingshi did not care about the gazes and Hao Ren was trying not to laugh out loud. They entered a low-key luxury brand showroom. The attendant saw them and came forward to greet, "Hello, Sir, Ma'am. How can I help you?"
Han Lingshi said, "This gentleman would like a few suits, could you please suggest some that suit him well?"
The attendant bowed and said, "It would be my pleasure, Ma'am. Sir, please follow me over here."
They came to the men's section and the attendant said, "Sir, this is the Tycoon Series, it was launched last month and is the latest designs from our company. They are low-key and also practical."
Hao Ren nodded and touched the sleeve of a suit as he nodded and asked, "Miss Han, help me select three, different colors and occasions."
Han Lingshi thought about it and nodded. Soon, she finished selection and then Hao Ren went to the trial room. When he came out, Han Lingshi was dazed, she never thought that Hao Ren was handsome before this. She mumbled, "Sure enough, clothes make a man."
Hao Ren came closer to Han Lingshi and the attendant said, "The golden boy and the jade girl. I have finally seen what this idiom means."
The two people looked at the attendant who said, "Sir, Ma'am, you both look very good together."
Hao Ren smiled and said, "Thank you, can you also suggest me some pair of shoes and ties that will go with the suits?"
The attendant moved quickly and then Hao Ren changed back in his normal clothes. They came to the counter and paid around 450,000 for the bill. Three suits, three pairs of shoes and ties. Han Lingshi said, "You lack one thing now."
Hao Ren asked, "What is that?"
The lady said, "A good watch."
He nodded and Han Lingshi led him to a store called, Jikan. This was a brand that manufactured the first wrist watch in this world and they were not a luxury brand. The cheapest watch they sold was above a million. Hao Ren whispered, "Miss Han, this place is a temple, why are we here? We can go to Sigma or Hiemer. Right?"
Han Lingshi nodded internally, at least he was not going vain yet. To spend millions on a watch when he did not have such money. She said, "It is your fees."
Hao Ren was surprised and furrowed his brows but the girl quickly replied, "Do not think of it like a monetary fees. Actually when I was staying over at your place, I came to check on you and my gaze fell on your monitor. So, that night I also invested around ten million in the same company. The result was sky high."
Hao Ren opened his eyes wide, and thought what a beggar he was, his entire profit was lower than her investment. Han Lingshi said, "You know, it is all my personal asset now, I do not have to use the company money. However, this all happened coincidentally and is related to you."
The young man replied, "It is still not something I would accept a fee for. You made the investment with your own money. I did not tell you anything, did I. How come I get a share of it?"
Han Lingshi frowned, this guy did not even take compensation for the flash marriage, and has been doing things for her, how could she convince him. Suddenly, it occurred to her and she said, "Fine, it is not a fee, but a gift. Before you say that this gift is too expensive, let me tell you, that half of its value is a gift, and other half is for you to make sure that I get my meals on time. You will have to cook for me as long as the watch is ticking."
Hao Ren was surprised, and nodded. They came to the counter, and the attendant passed them the brochure, Jikan was known for hiring uniquely abled people for service, such as deaf, mutes, and people whose lower extremities could not function, as an act of empowerment and these people were all very nice with their customers. This was another reason Jikan had a high reputation.
Han Lingshi did not look at the watches, but she was noticing Hao Ren's expression. She noticed his eyes flashed when he saw a piece called The Gent. The piece was worth seven million, it was made from a solid block of platinum and the dial was gilded with diamond clock hands, and twelve ruby gems.
It was an automatic mechanical movement, and was known to sync with the pulse of the wearer. Han Lingshi smiled and asked the attendant to show them the watch. The attendant carefully bought out the piece and Hao Ren was attracted to it instantly. Han Lingshi paid the bill without hesitation and helped him tie the watch on his left hand.
She said, "Remember, you have to cook for me as long as this watch ticks."
Hao Ren smiled and asked, "Miss Han, this watch will tick as long as I am alive, are you perhaps proposing me to cook for you till the day I live? Do you know what it means to gift a man a watch?"
Han Lingshi was stunned, and suddenly she realized the ambiguity of her actions, and she blushed. Hao Ren smiled at her expression and leaned over to whisper in her ears, "I won't mind cooking for you, forever, Ling Ling."
His words tickled Han Lingshi's heart so much that she shivered and pushed him away before she walked out of the store with a face that was almost bleeding. Hao Ren chuckled and followed her, but the joy in their hearts did not last for long.