The 3 B's- Beauty, Brains and Bravery

03:05;

Throwing pebbles into the river Grail a few meters from City A, Diablos sat over the old timber jetty, thinking of the minutes he'd spent with the girl. She was beautiful tonight. Like a painting filled with vibrance and vigor.

Should he have kept her in the dark, he wondered. He'd noticed her shoulders trembling as she'd stormed out of the mansion earlier. But she deserved to know. Every bit of it. And he knew that.

"I figured you'd be here.", Nifhel approached the man from behind shortly after, "What's on your mind, Boss?", he asked.

"Sit down.", Diablos said, patting the empty wooden surface next to him. Complying to his boss's commands, the man perched down beside him, waiting for the other one to break the silence. "I really love her, you know?", Diablos smiled sadly, glancing down at the stones in both his hands, "It's so difficult to let go."

"Then don't."

"What?", Diablos turned to his confidant in surprise. All these years, no one had been as much against the idea of him pursuing Rong Xinghe as this man. Understandably, so. They were literal opposites. He and her. Why the sudden change of opinion then?

"I heard her talk about you. About the Devil.", Nifhel sighed, "You were right. Nothing is ordinary about her. She is capable of looking at things in ways not everyone can. She saw the light in your darkness. It's a shame it took so long for me to acknowledge that. I am sorry."

"It's alright.", the man shook his head, "I don't have a chance with her anyway."

"You're giving up on her?", the relatively older man was shocked.

"She is in love.", Diablos said, "The bare thought of that man makes her smile. What Xi Yuan does to her is what she does to me, Nifhel. I can't snatch that from her. She would just hate me forever if I stretch this any further. I know she doesn't love me.

"But I certainly can't bear to see hatred in her eyes for me. That would kill me. So I think it's time to be the bigger person, huh?", the man laughed lightly, a pinch of trepidation in his tone. 

The older guy looked at the man next to him with mixed emotions. Diablos was still, deep down, a kid who'd lost a lot. A wary, terrified child his former boss had brought along from Country N, one evening. No matter how ruthlessly he handled things in the darker parts of the world, he protected the ones he loved with just as much passion. Fiercely, and strongly. But to express his love by releasing it free; demanded courage as nothing else ever did. It was just unfortunate and unfair, how he was losing the only person he'd ever loved. 

"I hope Xi Yuan fails as a husband.", Nifhel said, attempting to cheer up the man. 

"I don't.", Diablos chuckled, "After the life, she has had, I really wish for Xinghe to never shed a drop of tear in pain again. I want to see her wrapped in nothing but bliss, and laughter. She deserves it."

__________

10:00, Elite Saphhire Penthouse;

The next morning, Rong Xinghe woke up to the sound of her phone alarm going off. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, the girl sat up on the bed. To her left, Xi Yuan's laptop was placed with one of the FRIENDS' episodes on. Above the screen was a sticky note, 'You look irresistibly ravishing when you laugh, Ma Jolie. Enjoy the coffee while you watch this ep.', it read.

Unable to conceal her smile at the simple yet adorable gesture, the girl picked up the coffee cup from the side table and pressed the space bar lightly. It was indeed a hilarious one, the episode. As the show came to an end, the girl climbed down the bed and walked out of the room, her eyes searching for her darling. 

Xi Yuan was on a phone call in the living room, his back facing her. The conversation seemed intense. Placing the cup over the table, the girl hugged him from behind, pecking the man on his left cheek gently, "Good Morning.", she whispered to him.

"Hello to you too.", Xi Yuan turned around, relief washing away the stress in his eyes, "How are you feeling today?", he asked her. 

"I will be okay.", the girl answered assuringly, peeking at his phone screen. It was her Bro Lu. Confused, the girl turned on the speaker, "What's going on, brother?", she asked the man, "Anything serious?"

"What the hell were you thinking going on a date with someone so dangerous?!", the man questioned, agitated, "Come to the Zhi family mansion. Right now. We need to talk about this."

"Oh... okay.", the girl gave in eventually, "But I want Sisters-in-law to be there too."

"Why?"

"I'll need some witnesses in case you guys try murdering me, you know?", the girl pointed out with a giggle.

"..."

Xi Yuan soon disconnected the call and pulled the girl in for a long, intoxicating kiss. It wasn't until the girl was out of breath did he let go. "What was that for?", the girl laughed out. 

"I was worried about you all night.", the man smiled, "You were struggling and sobbing, even in sleep. You had nightmares. So I just can't explain how glad I am to see you laughing like that."

"I am so sorry, Yuan.", the girl apologized sincerely, "I didn't mean to--"

"No.", Xi Yuan cut in, tucking the girl's hair strands behind her ears, "We're partners, Love.", he said, "In everything. That's the deal."

"Hmm.", Rong Xinghe smiled, "I am famished, President Xi."

"Breakfast is ready.", the man laughed, holding onto the girl's hands, "I have something very important to discuss with you anyway. Come." Just when the couple had stepped into the dining room, Rong Xinghe's phone rang up. The girl pulled it out from her pocket as Xi Yuan picked out a plate for her. As David Florence's name appeared across the screen, the girl brought it to her ear, "What's up?"

"We've successfully located Maksoor Khan.", the Hybrid jumped straight to the point, "It's time for Andrea's justice, I believe. I just need the Alpha's orders to drag him down to the MCO."

"Keep the bastard alive.", the girl instructed, a coldness audible in her tone.