The 3 B's- Beauty, Brains and Bravery

12:30, Vinston-The Wedding Collection;

"How much is it?", Xi Yuan walked over to the cash counter, pulling the Debit card out of his pocket. 

"Sir, your suit would be worth 350k USD.", the store's bookkeeper smiled with hospitality, his accent British. 

"Alright.", the man nodded, handing the card over to the foreigner, "And what about Military Chief's gown?"

"11 Million Dollars, Mr. Xi.", the cashier replied modestly, looking through his computer screen. 

"Fine. Her brother will be paying for it, so I'll give you his account details.", Xi Yuan shrugged, "I hope it won't be too much trouble."

"Of course not, Sir.", the man shook his head, "Please be seated over there while I take care of the finances. It's an honor having esteemed guests such as yourselves in Vinston, you see."

"Sure."

The Xi twins joined their elder brother in the store's seating arena shortly after they'd ordered coffees for themselves. "So... how did Xiao Xinghe look?", Xi Fang turned to his twin, "I heard she picked out from Jenifer Marshall's collection. The lady's quite an eminent designer, isn't she?"

"She is!", Xi Ying sighed, rubbing her chest so as to calm herself down, "You have no idea how stunning and breathtaking Sister-in-law looked in that gown.

"She is an absolute beauty, you guys. You know, when she stepped out of the changing room, holding onto that gown like the Queen she is, my heart literally skipped a beat.

"Let me forewarn you, brother.", the girl laughed, holding onto Xi Yuan's right hand, "You better brace yourself before you watch her walk down that aisle. I mean, I saw her without makeup today, and my heart is still fluttering at the sight of what I saw. God knows what will happen on the Wedding day."

"Brother was no less charming, Ying.", Xi Fang remarked, "He appeared extraordinarily appealing today. The female staff here couldn't stop drooling over him when he got into that suit, you know."

Xi Yuan stared at both his siblings quietly. It was absurd; their observations. Rong Xinghe did not need to put on a wedding gown to impress him. The woman could throw a potato sack upon herself and she'd still amaze him in the end. That was the amount of control she held over him, his soul, his mind.

At this time, Rong Xinghe approached her darling from behind and leaned forward a bit, resting her chin over his left shoulder, "Hey, you.", she whispered, her lips curling up in a contented smile. 

"Hi.", the man smiled back, "Do you want to order some coffee too?"

"Café Mocha.", the girl answered, sitting beside him, "Oh, and by the way, what was my dress's price? It's weird. They didn't tell me anything, neither was there any tag clipped to the gowns."

"You liked the gown, right?", Xi Yuan raised his brows, massaging the nape of her neck gently. 

"I did."

"Then that's all that matters, Love. Think of it as a present from your brothers, okay?"

"But--"

"Xinghe.", the man cut in, planting a soft kiss against the woman's forehead, "Let it go. Just this once."

"Fine.", Rong Xinghe gave up, resting her head against the man's shoulder, "God, I am exhausted. Why is shopping so tiring?"

"Close your eyes for some time. I'll wake you up once we're done here, hmm?"

"OK."

_________

14:00;

Nifhel glared at the man eagerly scribbling over the chart, one of their men had brought to him about an hour ago. He had gone crazy, the man thought. It was the final draft for the Military Chief Security Team's positioning plan, that he was holding onto, at the moment. A chart that described where each one of Rong Xinghe's security staff stood round the clock, in order to protect her. 

"Don't tell me you're seriously considering this, Diablos.", the man inhaled a long shaky breath, "Extricating the MCST's classified details? Really? Have you forgotten what'd happened the last time you'd lured the woman here, huh?"

"I am not going to blackmail her this time, Nifhel.", Diablos chuckled, "Don't worry."

"Then what are you going to do? Candle-lit dinner? Fancy date? Gifts? Chocolates?", Nifhel commented, a pinch of sarcasm in his tone.

But upon listening to the man's words, Diablos turned around, an ebullient smirk across his mouth. "Exactly!", he said, "Oh, and that reminds me, light this mansion up a bit, would you? And ask someone to clean it as well. She doesn't like unhygienic men."

"You are kidding, right?", the man raised his brows, "We've got calls flooding from Italy right now, and that's what concerns you? Hygiene?!

"I remember how she'd dealt with, about a hundred and fifty of our men, all by herself on her last visit. That woman is insanely good with combat, Diablos. Are you even sure you want to cause such a ruckus while we're dealing with those slick and sly Italian Mafias?"

"She's worth it all.", the man smiled, reverting his gaze back to the white chart on the table. 

"When are you going to do it? At least, tell me that."

"Tonight."

_________

Xi Family Mansion, 14:30;

"What do you mean she knows about it!?", Xi Chonglin turned to his wife, shocked, "I haven't told anyone about the 100 Million USD loss to anyone, but you. How could've Sister-in-law Jungah known about it then?"

"Me neither.", Luo Youyou said anxiously, "We can't let Yuan know about this, Chonglin. And definitely not, Fang. Otherwise, everything we've done to win him over up until now would be just in vain.

"We'll just stay away from Yuan's wedding preparations, as she wants. This is so frustrating, damn it. Li Jungah is treating us worse than animals, you know. We're family too, and yet... 

"When will this problem of yours be solved, by the way?", the woman questioned her husband.contemporary romance

"I've hired a few Private Investigators to locate the party I'd loaned the money to, and they have a lead from Japan. Hopefully, I'll find that bastard before Yuan's wedding.", Xi Chonglin explained, loosening his tie tiredly, "Please be patient, Youyou. I'll put an end to this, as soon as possible. I promise."

"I hate being bullied like this, Mr. Xi.", Luo Youyou complained, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms, "Especially by Li Jungah. That woman acts all high and mighty now that her son rules over the Xi Empire. She belittles me and insults me as if I am her puppet. As if I owe her. Don't get me wrong, but sometimes, I wish that she would just disappear from our lives. Forever."

done.co