・・・☆・Forty Six ・・・☆・

It had been a fortnight since the negative test had come back. After taking the initial test, Yingyue had taken another two that evening just in case. For the tiny sliver of hope remained deep rooted until that third test showed no signs of an alternate answer. Then to add salt to the wounds the next morning, her late monthly arrival, appeared. In the two weeks the couple had kept everything very quiet not wanting people to know that technically they were considered trying for a child. Though they had been unsuccessful, the pair had agreed that they wanted a child and were going to start trying. 

But two weeks later here they were, keeping this quiet from the rest of their friends and family as they geared up for another over the top event they had to attend. However, this one was an important one that they couldn't miss. Not that they would want to miss this one. This was the annual party of Si's birthday his mother threw and they knew if either of the pair was not to attend that the matriarch of Daoming family would not be impressed and would demand them to attend. It would just be easier for them to attend the event. 

Yingyue did always enjoy the party thrown for Si's birthday. Not because it was an overly fun event to attend or because she got to dress more formally than normal. No it was because irregardless of who was going to attend, there was always some sort of big event which occurred and would provide the entertainment for the evening. Normally there was some sort of fight, whether it was between one of the other couples in attendance or like a few years back when some of the very drunk men, considering it was an open bar, got into a quarrel in the middle of the room. This year would be no different, and she had her suspicions for what it was going to be like exactly. Shancai was invited this time around and Si was supposed to introduce the girl to his mother, the only problem would be that no person would be good enough for Si in his mother's eyes. And there was definitely going to be an argument when the woman realised that Shancai was not from a wealthy background or trained in the same manner the girls that Si normally spent time around were. Shancai did not have the princess styled training sessions when she was younger and this was going to be a problem to the couple. If they were a couple that was Yingyue really didn't know with those two any more. They were so back and forth with everything that was going on, she had not got a clue what stage their relationship was at. But she assumed that Si was still serious about the girl considering he was bringing her around his mother, which was a pretty big step in a relationship. 

She was adding the finishing touches to her makeup when Ximen re entered the room from the bathroom where he had been doing his own hair. Yingyue took a second to just reassess his attire thus far in the evening. He was not wearing his suit jacket yet, and his bow tie currently laid untied but he still looked ethereal. She was surprised to see he was wearing his glasses normally choosing to forgo them for events such as this. But she didn't mind he was one of the few person who looked just as good with glasses on than he did without them. 

"Need zipping up?" Ximen's voice broke the gaze she had on him and when she finally looked him in the eye again she was met with a very cocky look. He had once again caught her checking him out She only nodded her head in response moving to hold together the back of the dress so it was easier for him to zip. She watched as he quickly moved his way so he was stood behind her and took very little time to actually zip the dress up. His arms then moving to hug her from behind as his head appeared in the mirror in front of her balanced on her shoulder. 

Yingyue couldn't hold back the smile that graced her features at the matching attire the pair wore, the baby pink of her dress being the exact same shade as his shirt. Despite their outfits not being made of the same material it still worked well, her satin dress fell graciously down to the floor in ripples and somehow made her look taller than she actually was. Though that was mostly down to the matching heels she wore that must have added about four inches to her height. 

"We're going to be the best looking couple there tonight." Ximen announced and Yingyue let out a little giggle at his words, used to them by now.

"You say that every time we go out to any event." Her words were accompanied by a rolling of her eyes.

"Of course I do, how can I not when I have the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon as my date." Yingyue blushed at his words, she should have been used to words like that considering just how often he showered her in compliments, but they never failed to make her feel all giddy inside. 

"Xi, stop it." Yingyue whined out in protest against the words.

"Nah, I'm going to keep reminding you of just how beautiful you are until the day I die, and then in the afterlife I'm going to keep doing it, irregardless of what you say." Ximen argued though this wasn't an argument of spite but more of one which required the pair to try to come to an agreement regarding what they both thought. Yingyue turned so that she was now facing him her arms automatically making their way to tie the bow tie he had left undone around his neck. She knew this had been done on purpose as he liked her tying his tie's whenever he had to wear them. Despite knowing he was fully capable of tying them himself, Yingyue enjoyed the fact that he wanted her to do it and therefore, never refused to do it on his behalf. 

"You're such a dork." Yingyue's little giggle accompanied her words as she finished the bow tie, smoothing down his collar. Her hands stopping to rest just the other side of his collar as she took a moment just a small one to engrave this into her permeant memories. 

"Yeah but you love me for it." 

"Of course I do, there is not a single thing you could ever do that would make me stop loving you." Yingyue tried to pour as much passion into the words she spoke as possible, trying to get across her true emotions as much as possible. She got the response she wanted when she was tugged closer by her fiancé and brought into a sweet but short kiss.

Reluctantly the pair had to leave the comfort of their own house in order to make it to the event with enough time to do their other main task. For they actually had to prepare Shancai for what was going to go down in the main room of the party. Therefore, they needed to be there early enough that they could whisk her away, help prep her, and then let her loose in the party room before there were too many people it looked dodgy them suddenly leaving the room. The only problem was Shancai and her tendency to really brush it close timing wise. 

The group of four, which included three of the F4 members, had been waiting almost twenty five minutes for Shancai to appear, yet there still had been no sign of the girl. Yingyue had need to use the toilet since before they had started to wait for the girl and she was now getting desperate and was debating just how much longer she would have to wait for the other girl. They still had 20 minutes until the party was actually supposed to start and therefore she could bet the younger girl wouldn't be here for another 10 minutes really liking to cut it really close. This would be enough time for her to head for the bathroom and be back in order to still wait for the girl to appear. 

"Xi, I'm going to nip to the toilet, I'll be back as soon as I possibly can." She announced not really needing to address the other two men, knowing they were going to listen in to any conversation the couple had anyways. 

"No worries, do you want to take your phone to contact me if we're not here when you get back?" Ximen went to take her phone from where it was being held inside his suit jacket considering she had no pockets and couldn't be bothered to bring a bag with her tonight. 

"I shouldn't be too long, will you just wait here until I'm back."Yingyue offered not really wanting to take her phone into the bathroom knowing she would have to rest it most likely on the floor when she was actually using the toilet. 

"Of course, I wouldn't dare enter there without you anyways." And with his promise she set off down the corridor. 

Less than 10 minutes later Yingyue was back however what she didn't expect was for Shancai to be there. Even then, not with her hands placed upon Ximen's chest. Who did this girl think she was. Clenching her fist Yingyue ensured that her heels clicked loud enough to mark her re-entrance to the room. Ximen immediately looked up at the sound and Yingyue watched as his face of disgust quickly swapped into one of relief as he saw she was back. Shancai had not noticed that the older girl was now back in the room and continued on as if the way Ximen was acting was not hostile. 

'Wait tell me why this dress is not formal enough. Is there a special meaning to this birthday party?" 

"Si's birthday is a very important thing to the Daoming family." Lei was the first to answer the question.

"How important is it?" Shancai questioned again and Yingyue had to wonder if Si had told the younger girl anything about the party when he invited her to come. 

"Politicians and people of power will try to get along with the Daoming group." Ximen started to answer the younger girl having taken a step back in order to distance himself from her. 

"Actually the birthday party is more about Si's mom than him." Lei continued on

"Who is the real power behind the Daoming group." Meizuo finished their little three person explanation.

"Daoming Si's mom? But what does that have anything to do with whether I dress formally or not?" Shancai continued on and Yingyue wanted to just sit the girl down and explain to her just how their part of society worked. 

"Si's mom is a very scary woman." Meizuo was ready to start the scaring

"She's hard to deal with, especially in scrutinising young girls as Si is the only successor of the Daoming group. And he has brought a girl home, your future together." Ximen added on to their 'warning'. 

"Future?" Shancai questioned completely oblivious to what the boys were trying to get at. 

"We're referring to your married life. Shancai you're the first girl Si has ever brought home. His mom will scrutinise you as if you are his fiancé." Lei tried to key the girl into what the boys were talking about.

"Fiancé?" Shancai seemed to panic at the word and Yingyue thought it would probably be best for her to make herself known to the girl and maybe aid in some way. Not that she was really wanting to after the little scene she had walked in on.

"You know like set to marry, engaged? Don't even think of trying to flee now, you're here might as well get the whole scary meet the in-laws out of the way." Yingyue's voice spooked the girl who was trying to make a run for it, distracting her long enough so that she could be hauled elsewhere away from the main entrance. 

Watching Shancai being pulled away caused Yingyue to let out a little laugh at the girl trying to fight off the two as she followed behind them Lei at her side. Lei looked at Yingyue with a tight smile knowing this exact situation would play out that Shancai would be nowhere near dressed up enough for the evening, considering the girl had done no makeup or hair for the evening and had therefore, asked Yingyue to bring some of her own in order to help prepare the girl properly. 

The new group had now gathered in one of the bedrooms in the manor. Shancai was sat on the bed with Yingyue moving around her adding small amounts of makeup to the girls face, so she looked like she normally did but enhanced enough she would fit in with the other woman at the event. Meizuo and Ximen were currently rooting through jewellery boxes, which also belonged to Yingyue, trying to find something to spice up the young girls outfit. Lei seemed the most laid back as he watched his three friends work. Yingyue watched as the two boys tried to find pieces of jewellery for the girl but Lei kept batting their attempts and ideas down stating they didn't suit Shancai.

"Can I not wear any of them, I don't think they suit me with my background." Shancai tried to protest as she was trying to fight Yingyue and what she was doing in terms of makeup. 

"Have more confidence, you're the special prize winner of the Chinese Cuisine Culinary Competition." Lei tried to encourage the girl but he was met with Yingyue who had turned around to look at him with an eyebrow raised at his choice of things he could have used to encourage the girl. 

"But we're just attending Daoming Si's birthday party. Do we need to be so formal?" Shancai was still protesting as she batted away Yingyue's hands, the older girl moving to take a step back deciding what she had done would be enough. 

"Shancai, having similar social and economic status still matters to some people. Regardless if it's their family background or ethics, there isn't really a big difference. Si's mom is especially strict in this area." Meizuo tried to clue her in to the old fashioned society that still existed. 

"Similar social and economic status?" Shancai continued to question. Yingyue felt it was probably best for her to try and get involved in explaining the importance of this to Shancai. Moving to sit next to the younger girl, Yingyue reached out to take her hand.

"Take me and Ximen for example Shancai, our parents arranged our marriage because we were both from the same status. It might sound ridiculous but for some people this is really important, Si's mom is one of them." Yingyue put her words into the equation watching Shancai to see the girls reaction and watching as it seemed to dawn on the younger girl what they were getting at. 

"So just pretend to be from a well-known family today, for Si's sake." Meizuo was finally getting to the end of what the group were trying to tell the girl. 

Lei suddenly pulled out a gold necklace with a lock on it to show Shancai. Yingyue pondered where it had come from considering that it didn't belong to her like the other items in the room did. Had he really had it on him this entire time and just wanted her to bring her items for the fun of it. Rolling her eyes, Yingyue packed away the last of her stuff before going to move it to another room, the one that was reserved for the members of F4 to use if they wanted to ever stay the night, knowing it would be safe from the other guests imposing and trying to take her belongings and she could just come and collect it the next day.