The 3 B's- Beauty, Brains and Bravery

Chapter 548  "She only had you"

Logar, Afghanistan;

Rakhatal, 12:00;

"Good morning, Zayan.", Rong Xinghe stepped into a tent that matched her own in size. A reserved smile played on her lips, her voice resonating with a masculine timbre. "Where are you heading?", she asked, noticing the man preparing his rifle. "Inspection of the villages around.", Zayan Mirza chuckled, his eyes on the weapon in his hands, "It's the routine. Anyway, meet Jarood here.", he said, pointing his chin to the man standing roughly five meters from him. Rong Xinghe and Shawn Florence glanced at the man in his fifties, and offered him a faint nod, acknowledging his presence. Even though their interaction was for, but barely seconds, Rong Xinghe felt something off about that man. Jarood's hawk-like eyes were sharp and skeptical, revealing a mistrust that lingered in the air. There was an unmistakable chill in his demeanor- as if he wasn't entirely welcoming her presence. Now that was a problem, wasn't it?

"He's been serving Commander Fadhil for as long as I can remember. Jarood Mia is practically family. When I'm not around, he'll be looking out for you.", Zayan Mirza explained, rising from his seat.

"I see.", Kefayat Zahir replied, glancing at Jarood one last time, "I could join you for the inspection as well.", he offered modestly, fully aware that Mirza would likely decline.

"That would be too troublesome, really. There have been numerous attacks on our men lately, and we can't afford to risk your safety, Janaab.", Zayan said, shaking his head firmly as he walked out of the tent, with Rong Xinghe and Shawn Florence trailing closely behind him.

"Maybe some other time then?", Shawn shrugged, clicking his tongue.

"Definitely.", the man replied, nodding as he slid into the passenger seat of his jeep, "Feel free to explore the base while I'm gone." From the corner of her eye, Rong Xinghe noticed Jarood glaring at Zayan Mirza as he spoke.

Once the black jeep disappeared from their line of sight, Shawn Florence turned to Jarood with a broad smile, "Could you ask the boys to prepare some Kahwah for Sir?", he requested, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Jarood merely nodded in response, walking away from the two quietly, his expression inscrutable.

"Have you ever heard of Arizona bark scorpions, Aayan?", Kefayat smirked, his gaze locked onto Jarood's frail figure.

"What?", Shawn asked, raising his eyebrows as he followed the woman's line of sight.

"They're the most venomous scorpions in North America. Just one bite can kill an adult human within one to three days.", Zahir said in a low voice, a scoff escaping his lips, "Gotta steer clear of those little creatures."

"Right.", the Hybrid smiled, lightly squeezing Kefayat's shoulder to remind him to stay alert before walking away moments later. He needed to warn the other Hybrids about the situation, as they were all present at the same base, operating under different names and roles.

Each of them was undercover with two main objectives: to assassinate Ahmed Ali Fadhil and to uncover the man's master plan against Xanvoria. They were walking on thin ice here, and they were all aware of that. Staying uninformed about individuals like Jarood could be life-threatening, and they needed to remain vigilant.

______________

Aelorion, Xanvoria;

Imperial Multi-Speciality Hospital, 12:15;

"Xiao Xinghe... didn't do it, Yuan," Li Jungah shook her head furiously as soon as she saw her son, tears brimming in her eyes. "She didn't…"

"I know, Mom.", Xi Yuan managed a soft smile, pulling a stool up beside her bed, across from his father, "How are you feeling?"

"I will be fine. Don't worry about me.", she sighed, "But I need to speak to her right now. Where is she? The poor child is being accused so... unfairly. She must be so hurt."

"Sister-in-law had to leave on a mission. She's not here, Auntie.", Xi Wei explained gently, glancing at the ever-quiet Xi Yuan, "Everything happened so quickly that brother didn't even get the chance to see her off to the Air Force base."

"What?!", Li Jungah gasped, her eyes widening as she turned to her husband for confirmation. Only when Xi Chongkun responded with a small nod did she turn to face her son, disbelief written across her face, "Yuan... how could you let her leave like that? I had your father by my side. I had the entire Xi family. But she only had you. Goodness, this is a disaster…" she groaned, pressing her fingers to her forehead in frustration.

"I'm sorry, Mom.", Xi Yuan breathed shakily, his gaze fixed on the cold hospital floor, regret heavy in his voice, "I'll make it up to her. I promise."

As an unsettling silence settled over the room, Li Jungah closed her eyes, deep in thought. After a minute, she whispered, "Her brothers.", opening her eyes, she added with concern, "Please tell me none of you have crossed the Superfamily yet." Her gaze fell sharply on Xi Chonglin and Luo Youyou, two people she knew all too well, her unease evident in the way she studied them.

"A patient shouldn't be worrying about such things.", Lu Wei's calm yet firm voice echoed across the room as he entered, with Mo Zixuan trailing closely behind him. The tension in the air was palpable, and it was clear why. The Xis had been disrespectful to the Superfamily for hours, and it wasn't limited to Xi Chonglin and Luo Youyou. Even distant relatives had been causing trouble through the internet and phone calls, acting self-righteous and haughty.

The Xi siblings were well aware of the chaos their family had stirred up. As much as they were ashamed of their relatives' behavior, the rapid escalation of the situation was terrifying. While some supported Rong Xinghe, many attacked her character, questioning her upbringing and etiquette. Worse, fingers were pointed at the Superfamily, accusing them of raising the Rong twins poorly and spoiling them with 'too much love'. What was the most unsettling, though, was the deafening silence from the Superfamily in response to these hurtful remarks. Not a single member had retaliated yet.

When the eldest of the Superfamily appeared before them, the Xi trio and Xi Yuan exchanged uneasy, apologetic glances. Lu Wei, however, met their expressions with a simple, serene smile as he calmly approached Li Jungah. His and Mo Zixuan's movements were deliberate, exuding a quiet power—like the confident stride of monarchs who knew the weight they carried in every step.

"You scared us all, Auntie.", Lu Wei chuckled, a short burst of laughter escaping him, "But it looks like I lost my bet with Tao."

"You bet against my survival?!", Li Jungah squinted her eyes in mock anger. Xi Yuan shook his head, realizing Lu Wei was trying to lighten the mood. "How much did you bet?", she asked, still incredulous.

"A thousand dollars.", he admitted, grinning.

"My life is worth just that to you?", she nearly shouted, playfully grabbing Lu Wei's left ear and giving it a firm squeeze. "What a brat! I'm calling your mom and dad immediately about this."

As laughter erupted in the room, Xi Yuan cast a grateful glance at the two men. He had to admit that the Six men were holding the family together at this point. He, for one, felt too overwhelmed to think of anything or anyone other than her. All he could focus on was how she was doing, the way they had parted, and the voice message she had sent him. He missed her more than ever.

While the Six Tigers shared his concern for their Kiddo, they understood when to speak up and when to stay in the background. Xi Yuan had become family to them, and they couldn't bear to watch him suffer alone. Their patience with the Xis stemmed from Xi Yuan's unwavering faith in their sister. Had it been the other way around, had he not trusted her, the Six men would have happily watched the world burn around them, grinning deviously all the while.

But since Xi Yuan hadn't failed her, the Superfamily was determined not to fail him.