Orgueil Banquet Hall, 18:00;

Unknown to where their son and to be daughter-in-law was, Xi Chongkun and Li Jungah took advantage of the event to oppress those who'd started to imagine taking over their son's throne since Rong Xinghe had announced his position in the Military. Of course, Rong Xinghe's presence alongside Xi Yuan was a stronger statement itself, warning and subjugating anyone who could possibly wish to replace Xi Yuan in the Xi Corporations. But even so, the Xi family's elders' opinions would prove to be a full stop to it all.

Every power-seeking individual around tonight talked in circles, trying to understand the authority status of the Xi family, and yet, not daring to suggest anything atrocious. But there was one person throughout the event, who wished to propose a name, desperately too, at that.

"I am simply worried about Yuan, Sister.", Luo Youyou's brother, Luo Chen, said to her, his voice loud enough for it to reach the old couple's ears as well as the girl's brothers, "He can't be exhausted too much, provided his workload. But what can we say? It's as if he's possessed by that Rong family's pathetic daughter. How could he even fancy someone so awful anyway?

"And if he really wants to do it, why not pass on his responsibilities to Xi Fang. Our Fang is no less capable, don't you think?"

Xi Chongkun was infuriated by the man's words obviously. It wasn't like he looked down on his nephew, or thought of Xi Fang as unworthy for the position. Why was this guy implying something so irrational or absurd, then? Li Jungah, on the other hand, had her eyes fixed upon the Six tigers. Not even the Xi family could endure the consequences of enraging the Superfamily; she knew of it. And as she'd expected, their expressions were petrifying, dropping down the temperature of the entire hall to a few degrees, a frightening cold aura radiating through them.

Even Luo Youyou realized that, as a shiver ran down her spine. Gulping, she quickly held onto her brother's hand, tugging onto it, attempting to silence him. But he didn't sense the upcoming danger until Zhi Al's hand landed over his right shoulder. As Luo Chen turned to face the man, internally, Luo Youyou could feel her legs trembling. She could only hope for mercy now. Nothing she'd say could pacify them at this point, of that she was aware.

"Urghh!", as a pernicious punch landed across his face, leaving behind a mark right under his left eye, blood spilling down over the clean floor, the man stared at the girl's brother opposite him, enraged.

Lu Wei and Zhi Xi exchanged glances among themselves and shrugged nonchalantly. Zhi Al was the most short-tempered of them all. Getting into fights, creating troubles, causing chaos, was what this brother of theirs did for as long as they could remember. Usually, they would've reprimanded the youngest of them sternly for what he'd done just now. But not this time. That son of a bi*ch had it coming.

"Oh my God! Chen...", Luo Youyou rushed toward her brother, tears brimming down her eyes. As the media turned to point their cameras at the dramatic situation, Luo Chen felt embarrassed, humiliated, even; sitting on the cold white floor. He was like a beaten dog, onlookers spitting at him. But he wasn't. He was the CEO of the Luo Corporations, damn it!

"I will kill you!", he stood up with a struggle, his eyes bloodshot with rage, as he pounced onto Zhi Al, "How dare you?!" But before his fist could reach Zhi Al's nose, another strong hand snaked around its wrist, twisting it such that the man shrieked out in agony.

"He is one of us. Off-limits!", Zhi Xi said indifferently as he stared down at the phone in his other hand, reading through the notifications at its top.

"Yeah.", Lu Wei smiled cunningly, grabbing a seat at the couch behind him, "You see, Al hates to have facial injuries. It takes a lot of time to heal. So we can't let you ruin our brother's face."

"This is illegal!", Luo Chen cried out in pain as Zhi Xi's grip tightened further, "L-leave me."

"Sorry for the invasion, Mr. Xi.", Zhi Bo glanced at Xi Chongkun apologetically, "But this has to be taken care of by us if you don't mind.

"After all, no one ever dared talk of our Sister in such a harsh and insulting manner as this disgrace of a person just did."

And for the first time that evening, Xi Chongkun understood the power and control the Six tigers enjoyed in Country X. They ruled the place they walked in, regardless of whose territory it was, just like their sister. They didn't care about the media, or the scandals, or the gossips. For them, as long as their sister's honor was at stake, they'd shed blood anywhere they stood. Rong twins were their bottom line: end of the story.

Questioning Xi Yuan's position was one thing. But associating their precious Kiddo to the monstrous Rong family, disrespecting her in public, calling her pathetic and awful; wasn't that a straight-up death wish?!

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Orgueil Banquet Hall, The VIP Suite; 18:05;

Xi Yuan slammed the door behind them, pinning her against the cold surface of it, kissing her at every spot accessible to him, as she moaned his name every now and then.

"Don't... Yuan.", the girl whispered, as he left behind a trail of love bites on her neck and her collarbone, his lips traveling down to her bosom next, his hands slowly pulling down the zip of the chain, to the end, this time.

As the gown slid down her shoulders, revealing her bra and the bare skin concealed underneath, the girl bit her lower lip, the way she always did, and held onto his face, making him look into her Hazel Brown eyes, "Yuan.", she said softly, "I have periods. First day."

Running his hands through his hair, the man closed his eyes, controlling his overflowing emotions. Then, after a while, he placed a tender kiss against her forehead, "I am sorry.", he said, "I should've asked."

"I don't mind if you really want to.", the girl laughed tiredly, her head throbbing with the same hammering pain again.

"I don't.", the man shook his head, "Nothing's more important than your health.

"Tell me, are you okay? How are the cramps? Do you want me to get you some chocolate? Or Ice-cream? Are your legs sore? Would you feel okay if you'd get some sleep? And-"

The girl placed her right index finger over the man's lips, pulling him close enough to rest her head against his shoulder, shutting her eyes close, "So many questions...", she sighed, "Let's just stay like this for a while. Okay?"

"Okay."

As he caressed her hair, massaging her head gently, Xi Yuan looked up at the ceiling of the grand suite. Why were there so many interruptions when it came to them? Either it would be the calls disturbing their moment, or her old childhood wounds, or his siblings. And now, menstruation? Excellent!

"Yuan..."

"Hmm?", the man looked down at the girl. She looked so pale, her face drained of any color. What was happening to her?

"I don't feel good.", she said slowly, losing herself to the darkness overpowering her eyes and her mind, as her hands lost the hold over his suit's collar and fell back downward, the tip of their fingers turning cold from the loss of his warmth.