Earlston, Scotland;

Huang Biu didn't step out of the guestroom the entire day. She was too terrified to, actually. Ever since Xi Yuan had demonstrated to her a glimpse of his rage, she hadn't been able to even sleep, let alone face the man. God! He is a Devil, she thought.

'Lie low for some time.', Rong Yufan had called to tell her, 'Do not act rash. Try to know how close they really are.'

'What are you going to do if the hacker reveals your name to them?', she had questioned him.

'He won't.', the man had replied then indifferently, 'I've my ways.'

'Will it be worth it? Hurting Rong Xinghe?', she'd asked next.

'It will be.', he had chuckled, his voice calm, 'You need to know that there will be multiple failures along our paths before we eventually scar her for life. Did you really think that I hadn't anticipated for the Xis and the Superfamily to defend her? It's no longer easy to show her where she really belongs anymore, now that she has strong backups. But that just makes the game more fun, doesn't it?'

At this point, Huang Biu was no more sure as to who was more a beast, him, or Xi Yuan. Whilst one wished to destroy a woman he'd barely spoken to for years so desperately, the latter one desired to protect her with everything he had.

Ever since she was a child, she'd fancied Xi Yuan. She couldn't deny that. He was worth it all. The longing, the patience. He was the quiet, composed one. Aloof, and handsome. He barely talked to anyone, back then. Not even to the teaching staff. He would just silently submit his Homeworks and walk away. He was a straight-A student, still. Every teacher was fond of him. His problem-solving techniques would be exceptionally advanced and peculiar as compared to the other kids, regardless of the subject. Be it Literature or Mathematics or Science, Xi Yuan stood out in whatever he did. Even she was no match to his intellect. And as a result, no matter what she did, she never felt good enough to stand beside him.

He had motivated her to keep working on herself. But as she grew up, in her heart, he became even more irreplaceable. It was more than equality for her. As years passed by, she'd started to believe that she deserved him. That being with him was an overdue right of hers.

The only thing that'd slipped down her mind was that she had fallen for that kid in her High School. That many things had changed in between, and that he was no more the same Xi Yuan. That over those years, his definition of 'equals' had changed, for the better. He needed a Queen by his side, one with a blaze in her gaze and sharpness in her sword. Someone who was born to rule. An exact replica of his personality. She could never be that, for she lacked the self-worth and the confidence it demanded. That was something Rong Xinghe was just naturally born with. She was a Queen, with or without a King. End of the story.

______________

Earlston, Scotland, 17:40;

"Cats or Dogs?", the girl looked at the man preparing coffee for her as she sat over the kitchen counter.

"Dogs."

"Summers or Winters?"

"Spring."

"Black or White?"

"Grey."

"Bus or Train?"

"Plane?"

"What?!", Rong Xinghe stared at the man, putting her phone away, "You've never used public transport before?"

"Have you?", the man raised his brows, as he poured about four ounces of water into the espresso machine's boiler.

The girl almost jumped down with excitement, "Lots of times!", she exclaimed cheerfully, "It's so much fun. There was this time when I was helping a lady sell a bunch of erotic magazines in an all boys' dormitory--"

As the woman realized what she'd just blabbered on about, she covered her wide-open mouth with her left hand, waiting for the man's reaction. Xi Yuan simply blinked at the woman for a few seconds before he let out a helpless sigh, "You really have a world of your own, don't you?", he laughed, "Go on, Love. I want to know how this story ends."

"Please still marry me.", the girl shook her head, pulling the man closer to her as she clutched onto his shirt's collar. Planting a quick peck upon her lips, Xi Yuan tilted his head to one side, "Of course, Bub.", he said, "You could start a Pornographic Publication House, and I'd still marry you. Besides, wouldn't it be beneficial for me if you have a dirty mind in that area? I mean... the things you'd experiment on me--"

"Hush!", Rong Xinghe said as she placed her hand over his lips, "How shameless you are. Mr. Tang is in the next room..."

"He has a wife too.", Xi Yuan grinned, "He'll understand."

"..."

He did not even bother with the sweet talk at this point. Just outright unabashed. How was she going to handle it once they'd return to Country X? And God forbid, what if one of the Six men were to walk in on them? Not even the five years of Military Chief training seemed as challenging as that to her now.

Before the girl could see it coming, the man held both her hands behind her back with one hand, the other one resting over her right thigh, his teeth digging into the skin of her neck. As a moan escaped her mouth, Rong Xinghe leaned back a little, shutting her eyes close. Biting her lower lip then, she tried to suppress her voice, so as to not be heard by the house helps.

Only when his tongue had traveled from her collarbone to the mole behind her right ear, did he whisper to her softly, "I know your ankle is hurt but would it be too insensitive of me to do some unutterable stuff to you, like, now? I'll be careful, I promise."

"Well, if you're going to be careful...", the girl laughed, crashing her lips onto his, "But in the Bedroom."

"Or I could fire the staff and kill Miss Huang! Then... I'll never have to hold back my desires anywhere anymore, in this house.", the man suggested cunningly, earning another peel of genuine laughter from Rong Xinghe. A minute later then, the man turned off the coffee machine and carried the girl to the Master bedroom, banging the door close behind them.