Chapter 13 : The Wedding (1)

"Aren't you going home yet? If you don't want to sleep here then go home already." Xiulan glared at Hongqi who is currently sitting on her couch. Her patience is already at its max.

She just came back from the bathroom and finished applying a green tea facemask on her face. She was inside the bathroom for so long that she thought Hongqi already went home but he's still there sitting handsomely.

Actually, Xiulan gave Hongqi some time to think over her suggestion to him. She invited him to sleep here in her apartment instead of driving back to his suite since he said he's suffering from a stomach ache. But he insisted that he'll go home and kept refusing. He implied that it was inappropriate to sleep here.

Hongqi wanted to act like a gentleman and chaste. He wanted to make Xiulan feel that he respected her a lot unlike his previous treatment to his women. He wanted to add an incredible difference between how he treats her versus how he treats the common woman.

But it's already past 10 PM and Hongqi is still in her apartment for an hour already. She gave him some medicines and he already went to the toilet so many times. He was fine awhile ago but his tummy suddenly felt weird when he set his foot inside her apartment.

She wanted to get rid of him and she deeply wants to sleep immediately. She still has to go to Oriental Pearl Dragon Hotel so early tomorrow for her wedding preparations.

"My tummy still feels really weird." Hongqi reasoned out. He's actually just faking his stomach ache. He was dragging the time to check Xiulan's behavior and reaction. He's deeply worried that she might ditch him tomorrow.

But the aloof woman still took care of him even though it's obvious that she's so pissed off. He was not sure if she was only tolerating him or she's just really a kind woman. Either way, it's actually a good sign.

"You might be suffering from indigestion. Do you want me to call a doctor? I have some Chinese medicines here for indigestion if you don't want a doctor." Xiulan's eyes softened and there was a tinge of concern in her tone. She only gave him the basic pills for stomach ache awhile ago.

"If he becomes sick then what about the wedding tomorrow? He prepared so much. Also, it's a full day of being plastic with a bunch of people, his condition might get worse. Add to it, if he's cured then he'll go home. Damn it." Xiulan seriously debated in her head.

"It's fine. I'll just rest for a few minutes and I'll go." Hongqi gave a timid yet charming smile. He already has his answers so he'll go home after five minutes.

"Alright. I need to sleep now so you lock the door. I need to be in Oriental Pearl Dragon Hotel before 8 am tomorrow. Good night." Xiulan said before locking herself in her room. Of course she's not going to sleep yet. She has to make sure he will really lock the door.

With her response, Hongqi genuinely smiled. Unfortunately Xiulan didn't saw it. He really did hit a jackpot with Xiulan. A very kind hearted woman who is willing to cooperate with him. Her requests are not even that hard. She's also really pretty and her figure is beyond average. And top of it all, she's from the Song family. He'll take care of her dearly. He might not love her but he will treasure her like a family.

This incredible luck is making him delightful but worried. He's somewhat scared that there's a consequence with all the blessings he's getting. After all, he was a bad man. Whatever consequence it will be, he will try to solve and rise from it.

Xiulan was busy typing something on her laptop when she heard Hongqi bidding his goodbye outside her room and a few seconds she heard the tick sound of the door being locked and closed.

She tried to finish whatever she was typing before she went out of her room and check the locked door. She saw a note in between the gaps of her door. She took and read it.

"See you tomorrow, wife." the letter says.

It slightly made Xiulan cringe on how cheesy it was and also reality hits her again that she was indeed getting married tomorrow. It was a huge giveaway.

She sighed so deeply that she felt her rib-cage bruised from her violent sighing.

It's really happening and she never thought how fast it could be. She thought it will take months or years to prepare and plan the wedding. But no, that sly Hongqi made miracles and it happened so fast.

She went back to her room sighing and tried to sleep. But different scenarios are popping inside her head.

Morning already came so fast and Xiulan didn't sleep at all! Her body was resting but her mind did not. She thought of coffee. She needs a lot of coffee to get this day through.

After her small breakfast and a lot of coffee, she went to take bath and change to a casual dress. She didn't try to change into something with pants or complicated clothing since obviously she'll change her clothes again later.

She was about to get out of her apartment when the doorbell started ringing. She was alarmed by the sudden ring of the doorbell at this kind of hour. It was only 7AM.

She hastily checked who it was and it's Secretary Yang Bo. She opened the door for him and asked in bewilderment "Why are you here? It's so early."

Xiulan's question came off too informal for Yang Bo but he understands her sudden surprise. After all, he was also surprised by Hongqi's demand that he should fetch Xiulan in her apartment.

Hongqi never lets Yang Bo fetch any of his women before. Though Yang Bo was there to end the relationships and pass messages, but fetching Hongqi's lover from their respective home was a new thing.

"Good morning, Miss Xiulan. Master Hongqi sent me to fetch you. He said that it was better if someone will accompany and drive you to the hotel." Yang Bo flashed a smile. For some reason, his mood is better today.

Yang Bo accomplished most of his tasks and he's joyful that his master is getting married. Like finally, no more awkward break up tasks for him. He kind of felt a sudden freedom. He's also very very happy that his master is getting married to a woman like Song Xiulan. Sophisticated, conservative, beautiful, smart and most of all kind!

"I see. Let me just leave the car keys and we'll go." Xiulan softly said and smiled. It's good that Hongqi asked Yang Bo to fetch her. She was not feeling well from the lack of sleep and the coffee has now entered her blood stream. She might get a nervous breakdown later because of too much coffee.

As soon as they arrived in her hotel room, bunch of women with bright pink uniforms were waiting for her and approached her with such enthusiasm.

"Is she the bride? Very beautiful!"

"So gorgeous even without any makeup!"

"As expected from Xing Hongqi! He definitely will pick a bride in the same tier as him."

The women chitchatted and praised her so much that it was borderline annoying already. Obviously they were showering her with too much sugar coated words. But deep down they were not genuine at all. It made Xiulan more exhausted. So early in the morning but she has to oblige to such treatment.

Is it really a requirement to have this kind of majestic beauty make over in a wedding? When some of her colleagues got married, it wasn't like this. But there was a huge difference since their husbands is not Xing Hongqi.

"Ugh. That man is so dandy!" Xiulan grunted to her heart. That man is so obsessed in making everything aesthetically beautiful. She remembered Hongqi sent too many overly expensive branded clothes to her apartment a week ago. He implied that his future wife should always be fashionable.

She understands why Hongqi wants her to be fashionable, it's not like her clothes were ugly but there's a deeper meaning. His exes were celebrities and decorated with luxury by him. It's a matter of 'how a man treats his lover' image and lowkey expressing his expensive taste.

He doesn't want others to think that he was stingy or unfair. After all, he is god damn rich. The more he splurge expensive things on his lover, the more people will think of his wealth and conclude that he's really no ordinary man. Clothes are also a way to indicate the social status of a person. Another socialite points for him to broaden the gap between him and the others.

Xiulan actually managed to see through Hongqi's greatest vanity. He always wanted to have that good and cool image. Even though he has countless of scandals, he wanted to bury them with other positive stuff like philanthropy, generosity, fake friendly façade, and humbleness.

She's actually not sure if its plain narcissism or he's trying to send a message to his enemies. Whatever reason it was, it makes her tired and overly pretentious.

While the women are busy with Xiulan's hairstyle, she started to doze off and finally got her sleep while they were doing their work. It was so relaxing for her when someone is touching or massaging her head.

The women giggled and started to whisper the gossips.

"I bet Hongqi's former women are now burning in jealousy."

"Truly. Especially, Gong Yuming. That woman is a skank!"

"Keep your voices down. The Miss is sleeping."

"But I'm really surprised that Hongqi married a simple woman. Though from a very rich and powerful political family, she's really humble."

"Very different from Hongqi's type, to be honest."

"Wanna bet? They will get a divorce because of incompatibility."

"I'm betting my salary for next month."

"Me too! Me too!"

The women started betting and giggling. Unbeknownst to them, Xiulan is not actually fast asleep. She only rested her eyes and somewhat in a dreamlike state but she can still actually hear her surroundings. Maybe it was her instinct that she was not with familiar people.

She also wanted to join that bet but of course she can't. Kidding aside, divorce is a not a good idea for the both of them since there is a huge money involved. As much as she wants to divorce and escape from him, she really can't with that huge compensation.

Whenever she remembers the reason why she has to oblige with Hongqi's ridiculous plans, she starts to curse her father for being stupid. But at the same time pity him since his daughters were no good.

The women suddenly became quiet and softly murmured and bowed their heads in unison. "Good morning, Master Xing."

Xiulan thought that it might be Hongqi. But when she opened her eyes, she saw an older version of Hongqi.