30 Chapter 30 - A Simple Dinner

Shameful Author Note: Enjoy! :)

***

"Yes, yes, I understand. I have already sent you the updated systems and I will come tomorrow morning to check the startup." Han Sen had just finished programming the entire organization system of the company, which would be controlled by an AI that he improved just now. He sent it to Jade, who was on the other end of the line.

"Very well. The raw material is already here, equipment is functioning, and the company has the staff properly organized, all eager to start working soon. Few of the higher-ups know who you are, but they are all trustworthy." Jade received the AI through the Comlink, which quickly connected to the networks of Into Pieces factory and Moon Star building. Just the presence of this artificial intelligence would be enough to replace over a thousand skilled employees.

"Great, good job. I'm going to hang up." Han Sen resolved everything he had to do and ended the call.

After returning from sparring with Qin Xuan, he finished checking the learning progress of the new AI he created. It wasn't exactly "new," but rather, he improved the learning mechanics of the integrated systems, which skyrocketed its rate of improvement. He was absolutely certain that a better Artificial Intelligence technology could only exist in the Crystallizer civilization. And that was because Software Engineering was merely at Level 8. There were still two levels to go, but he wanted to stop here for now.

Anyway, the progress of the factory was already underway, everything was already settled, and whatever wasn't, the AI would be taking care of the problem together with Jade. Thank goodness Jade is a crazy and brilliant woman in business, otherwise her determination wouldn't withstand the amount of time she's been working.

"I think after that I will only deliver updates to the system and new business ideas for her to develop. Although I have more knowledge than her in this, I find business slightly boring..." Han Sen was thinking out loud about the whole idea of getting deeply involved in the business world and rejected the idea. Conferences, meetings, negotiations. They were all very boring things for him.

The main reason he started building this technological empire was, first and foremost, because he had the ability to do so and create a safe haven. It was a source of income that he knew would never run out with the knowledge he has now. And the EXP points he spent were not unnecessary either. Knowing Software and Hardware Engineering in an advanced society was like knowing how to light a fire in prehistory, very useful and something that is necessary.

With that idea in mind, which was quickly stored in his mental palace, Han Sen took a shower and soon returned to the room.

"Alright, now I need to dress properly..." He walked over to his wardrobe and selected the "romantic dinner" option, with the domestic AI quickly choosing a set of clothes from the closet for him to wear.

After getting dressed, while looking at himself in the mirror just to check for any irregularities, his mother appeared at the door of the room and saw how he was dressed.

"Are you going on a date?" She didn't even want to be shocked by her son anymore, honestly. She just accepted that this boy was some kind of divine being, just like her. Mom's pride.

"At a dinner, actually," Han Sen corrected her and walked up to her, twirling around while extending his arms, "Do you think I look good enough to win over a beautiful woman?"

"If she's going to eat your food, you might as well go looking like a beggar. The result would be the same." She adjusted his shirt collar and liked what she saw. Her son was as handsome as she was beautiful. Mama's pride.

"Well, then it won't be hard to conquer my sixth girlfriend-" Han Sen was leaving the room when he received a slap on the back from his mother.

Slap!

"Do not provoke me, boy!"

~°~

Qin Xuan was inside her aerocar and driving towards a more secluded part of the city. Not that it was dangerous, but rather less populated and containing more warehouses and such.

"What location is this that Han Sen sent for dinner??" Looking at the darker and gloomier landscape outside, Qin Xuan snorted angrily and wondered if she was being deceived now.

She was dressed in a beautiful white dress that complemented her flowing white hair, resembling a top Idol of the Roca planet. To complete her outfit, she carried a large cotton coat and a pretty shoulder bag, both placed on the passenger seat. Her captivating green eyes were lightly adorned with makeup, but the intensity of her phoenix-like gaze alone was mesmerizing. With rosy lips and flawless skin, it was clear that she had put effort into preparing for this dinner, although she couldn't understand why she had attached such significance to it.

"Where are you-" Qin Xuan was about to complain again when she saw that near where she was supposed to stop, a tall and well-dressed figure was waiting in front of one of the warehouses.

As soon as she arrived there, she saw that it was Han Sen. Parking in front of him, she grabbed her belongings from the passenger seat.

"Good evening, Miss Qin Xuan. Did you like the location of our dinner?" Han Sen asked with a smile after she opened the car door and he helped her out like a gentleman.

"Are you thinking of kidnapping me or something?" She looked at him with sharp eyes, her conscience reminding her of the various weapons she carried with herself. But she was just joking, as she knew he wasn't that kind of person.

"Even if I wanted to, I don't have that kind of courage." Han Sen smiled at her and took the coat from her hand, leaving only the bag on her shoulder. Seeing how she was looking at him after what he said, he had to correct himself, "I was joking. I do have courage - Ouch!"

"Silver tongue." Qin Xuan pinched Han Sen's waist and refused to look at him again. But the smile on her face couldn't hide her satisfaction with his disguised compliments. She had spent enough time with him to know that this was how he usually praised her.

Entering the warehouse, darkness engulfed both of them and few things were visible with the moonlight streaming in through the upper windows. And despite being very powerful, Qin Xuan was not able to see much in all this darkness.

"You can clap, please?" Han Sen closed the warehouse door and stood beside her, indicating what she should do.

"Alright..." A little surprised by this, she wondered what would happen if she did it and clapped.

Clap! Clap! Light!

Just as she clapped her hands, the lights inside the warehouse began to turn on one by one at a speed they could keep up with, but it was fascinating to see. As the light illuminated the place, Qin Xuan's jaw held on to not drop after seeing all that.

Almost like in a field of roses and daisies, the green grass was just one step away from them. Following a path of stones that she found very beautiful, they would arrive at an open cottage, where a table could be seen in the center, illuminated by lights that gave a more "refreshing" feeling, along with a small candle illuminating in the middle of the table. Behind the table, it was also possible to see something like a kitchen, with an oven, and so on.

After placing their coats, his and hers, in a suitable location, Han Sen caught Qin Xuan's attention by gently touching her back.

"Shall we?"

Still in shock, she walked along the stone road delicately and couldn't believe all this preparation he had done just for a dinner. She had never had something like this, her life only filled with the expectations of the Qin family and endless leadership of a group. Her time to pamper herself and have something like this was so minimal that she simply decided not to have them. That's why this kind of setting, prepared just for her, was more effective than just some random dinner at a famous restaurant.

Han Sen helped her sit at the table, but he himself did not do so. Still standing, he went to a small cellar and grabbed an unbranded bottle of wine.

Opening a fruit wine from a rather special collection, which he casually made with artificial aging technology and miraculous powers in the kitchen, it was possible to see its texture just by the way it was poured into the glass, smooth and velvety. Serving it into two glasses, he handed her one and took the other.

"To a good dinner, isn't it?" Han Sen offered the toast, raising his glass to her.

"To a great dinner." Qin Xuan was enchanted by the smell of the wine, being able to sense it even before he poured it into the glass. Looking at Han Sen handing her the glass and proposing a toast, her heart opened even more to this new fascinating experience.

Enjoying and sipping some wine, Han Sen decided to let Qin Xuan appreciate the wonder of the taste of his creation alone. He went to the kitchen, grabbed a black apron, and put it on, then rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.

Qin Xuan, after returning from the wonderful journey she had taken after drinking this wine, saw Han Sen behind the kitchen and raised her eyebrow.

"Are you going to cook?" That was another surprise she wasn't expecting. One that he knew how to cook, and the other was that she would be served personally like this. Her heart even beat faster when she saw how he was wearing an apron, which, although more casual, further complemented how handsome he looked.

"I personally don't like to try food that is not mine. And after today, you will think the same as me." Han Sen smiled at her and took out the things he was going to prepare, grabbing all the utensils that were already perfectly organized.

"So I would like to try this food that will change my palate so much." Smiling at him, Qin Xuan got up from the table and went to the kitchen counter, deciding to watch him cook.

"So get ready for me to capture your tongue." Han Sen winked at her.

~°~

"And then?" He asked after finishing his meal and seeing Qin Xuan take her last bite. The way she ate was very funny, because since the first time she put the food into the mouth, she seemed to be tasting something sacred and unique.

"You accept how much to be my cook?" Qin Xuan took another sip of wine, her cheeks growing redder. Her gaze at Han Sen was that of a predator who found the perfect prey. A prey that would create magical delicacies like the one she just ate.

"Well, my price is quite expensive. But for family members, I work for free." Han Sen made it very clear what he meant by that. And it was great when he saw Qin Xuan understanding it too.

"Silver tongue." She was blushing even more after he "invited" her to his "family", knowing she couldn't win against this eloquent man. He made her blush countless times already at this dinner, and she didn't know how to react to his subtle and dangerous advances anymore.

"Well, shall we move on to the second part?" Han Sen suddenly stood up, picking up the dishes from the table and taking them to the kitchen, throwing them in the trash. Then he clapped his hands again while she looked at him without understanding.

Clap! Clap! Crack!

Qin Xuan heard a strange sound coming from above and instinctively looked up. Her eyes widened in amazement as she witnessed the roof of the warehouse splitting in two, allowing the light from the stars and the moon to flood in. As the light entered, the lamps and even the candle on the table extinguished, yielding to the brilliance of the outside world. Before long, they were able to see space and the stars from their vantage point, beholding the timeless beauty of the universe.

"Cool, right?" Han Sen suddenly appeared next to Qin Xuan, "There's a much better view up there, let's go."

Getting up from the table, Qin Xuan grabbed the wine bottle and went with him to a type of elevator, which soon started to rise. And to her surprise once again, there was a cottage very similar to the one below, but this time with more comfortable seating and a telescope.

"Don't need to compliment me, I know I'm very good." Han Sen kept his hand on her back, but Qin Xuan didn't gesture for him to stop, instead she leaned closer to him.

"You are quite conceited, aren't you?" Qin Xuan wanted to pinch him again, but her hands were occupied with the glasses and the wine in the other hand. Leaving it for later, she let herself be guided to the sofas in the new cottage.

Now seated, he poured another glass of wine for her, which she gladly accepted. At some point, he wanted to stop giving her, but seeing the beautiful Qin Xuan with such a sexy look was something he wanted to remember for a little longer.

"Now it's time for me to know your secrets, Miss Qin." he toasted her again.

"And what secrets do you want to know?" Lit by the moon and stars, she and he were sitting closer than they normally would be, just inches apart. Han Sen even had his arm behind her head, leaning on the sofa.

"Do you have any interest in me?" He asked a question that caught her off guard, her heart beating faster in that exact moment.

"T-That was a v-very delicate question..." Qin Xuan refrained from giving the answer she wanted to give. It was a fact that this newcomer, whom she met due to an accident, continued to surprise her month after month, with his astounding growth. It was almost as if she was watching a rocket take off.

"But I would really like to know." Han Sen approached her even closer, so imperceptible that she didn't even notice, "I am a person who likes to have everything under control, to understand people's minds and what they might think about me as well. I am quite curious."

"As well? And what do you think about m-me?" Qin Xuan detected something in what he said, her eyes wandering between his lips that were very close and his beautiful black eyes, with that hint of dark blue if seen well.

"Did I not make it so clear as the light that illuminates us?" He slowly moved his hand towards the back of her neck, pushing her face closer to his.

"Y-you should be clearer..." Qin Xuan could already feel the warmth of his body and how good his scent was. Her slight intoxication mixed with the heat rising in her body made her blush even more, feeling her face getting closer to his.

"If you insist."

With a little effort, Han Sen captured the red and silky lips of the white-haired beauty in front of him. With the taste of wine still lingering in both mouths, she and he surrendered to the sensation that surged through their bodies.

Qin Xuan, delivering her first kiss like this, felt the unanimous sensation that she hadn't explored life until now. With her lips being kissed by this man in front of her, she could only feel herself being carried away by a sea of new sensations. She felt her dress slowly being taken off, but did nothing to stop its fall.

As they brought their bodies closer to each other, they decided to surrender to the moment and how everything seemed perfect. With the light illuminating their now naked bodies, the virginity present in both was broken, the soft moans of a couple of lovers echoing in this endless night.