The 3 B's- Beauty, Brains and Bravery

City A, Country X, 09:00;

Whilst Rong Xinghe examined their situation at hand in Panjshir, the girl's brothers realized just how far-sighted Lu Wei had been to expect a daunting media attack. Apparently, one of the photographers had slipped inside the palace arena after Rong Xinghe's scream had reached the reception hall. The paparazzo had then, quite luckily, captured Xi Yuan's back, hurriedly rushing towards an ambulance, carrying 'someone' in his arms. Xi Fang and Xi Wei were following behind him as well, the expressions on their faces giving away anxiousness. It was just one picture, of the men at the back exit of the castle, but it was enough to cause an uproar.

"It was a local newspaper.", Mo Zixuan walked over to the Five Tigers waiting for him at the Hospital's entrance. "Goes by the name 'The Tribute'.", he added, "They have published the photograph in its front page, obviously. However, to our relief, it hasn't been able to catch much attention across the country.

"The public is still awwing over the grandness and the glamors of the wedding. Still romanticizing the idea of Xinguan."

"It's a print release?", Zhi Xi pinched the space between his brows, exhausted, "How on earth will we stop that?"

"What's the range of the newspaper?", Zhi Bo asked, giving the problem some thought. 

"The capital and the regions around it, I am afraid.", Mo Zixuan replied, walking over to one of the clean and lightly padded benches, "The First Edition of the rag is already out. We won't be able to suppress this for too long, but. Someone is bound to hype it up via the digital or broadcast media."

The man then let out a deep breath, glancing at the quiet Xi Yuan listening to their conversation, himself indulged in thoughts. "I have to admit, though.", the Media Magnet managed, "Yuan handled the whole situation much too impressively."

As the Five Tigers, Xi Fang, and Xi Wei looked at the man, muddled, he explained, "Xinghe won't be dragged into it at this point, thanks to his presence of mind then. Be it his impulse, or his faith in her, Yuan did the right thing. 

"I mean, even if this picture goes viral, they'd have a theory, at most. And with no absolute evidence pointing against her, we'd be able to firmly deny all such hearsays. We'll just accept that Mrs. Xi was attacked at the event and that she is recovering now. We'll give them the truth that makes sense. Nothing dramatic. Nothing they don't need to know."

Xi Yuan nodded faintly at the men, his mind elsewhere still. He had managed to protect her, yes. But what about the scars he'd passed onto her unknowingly? How he wished to fly to Afghanistan right away and get to her and hold her hands, with the assurance she needed, more than anything else right now. How he desired to hold her into his arms and whisper into her ears that he loved her and that he trusted her. How he craved to listen to her with the sense of security she always did, when around him. 

"She'll be alright, Yuan.", Su Rugguang said to the man, interrupting his train of thoughts, "You did what you had to. She'll understand."

"I hope so", Xi Yuan smiled wryly, "Only if there was a way for me to know how to talk to her now, or where exactly she is in that foreign land..."

"We'll have to speak to the Three Militaries' commanders if we're to even enquire the possibility of that.", Zhi Al shook his head, "She and the Hybrids are undercover right now. One wrong move on our part and she might end up in a grave life-threatening danger over there.", the youngest of the Six explained.

Zhi Al was the closest amongst the Superfamily men to Rong Xinghe's professional life. This man was better aware of the procedures to communicate with soldiers on such classified missions than anyone. Given his several visits to the MCO for security software's implementation issues, Zhi Al had, over the years, gotten to know about such things himself. And so, he could be considered as someone reliable on the matter, Xi Yuan concluded. 

"I understand.", the man responded, his voice lacking any ounce of strength now. He felt trapped. Suffocated, by the mess they both were in. They were husband and wife now. The closest two people ever could be. Yet, they'd never found themselves this alone, and apart, and scared. What would he do if something were to happen to her, Xi Yuan wondered. What would he do if she chose to never forgive him for everything that happened? And what if... he'd never even get the opportunity to explain himself to her? What if he'd never get the chance to apologize to her for how he made her feel, even if it was unintentional? 

______________

Kabul, Afghanistan, 13:30;

Abram Orlov rushed across from the Kabul Serena Hotel, toward a small roadside stall, pulling his wallet out from his pocket. "A pack of cigarettes.", he said to the young seller, turning to the man next to him, clearing his throat. 

"Lashkar ul-Mujahidin's security team? Seriously?!", he whispered, barely concealing the disbelief in his tone. 

Rong Xinghe shrugged, picking up one of the newspapers from the heap next to the shop, its contents printed in the Pashto language. As she stared at the pictures in it, her hands reached for the turban on her head, adjusting it a tad. Cross-dressed in nothing but Black, the woman looked handsome, one could say. With a hint of Grey, her beard and mustache were Black, her eyes Forest Green. She'd even used a lens. How... cautious of her, the Hybrid thought. 

"I had to.", she said just as softly, "The wedding was broadcasted across the world. Believe me, they'd recognize me here. Especially, Fadhil. The man has met me before and given that we're enemies now, he would definitely watch out for me. 

"My male get-up is not everyone is familiar of, anyway. And the security team... because Fadhil might show up there, in the organization's base. If not, I'd still have access to a lot of information, and ammunitions, and explosives. Now, do you get it?

"Anyhow, you can address me as Kefayat here. Kefayat Zahir."