16 Her Friend

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Captain Yu Injin - Yan Shi's closest friend

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July 7, 20xx

Paris, France

He was laughing.

But the moment, it registered to his brain that what he did was wrong, his expression changed.

He knocked his head and scolded himself "stupid!"

His intentions were different but he ended up making his wife misunderstand him.

'Now, her impression of you is pervert.'

'Just great!'

Palms up, he looked down at his hands.

'I'm not.'

Li Jie wasn't the only one who was talking to himself.

Inside the bathroom, Yan Shi let the water run down her face. When she stared at her own reflection, her cheeks were no longer burning in embarrassment.

But an angry expression crossed her face when she remembered what he did.

'What is wrong with him?'

She gazed down at the bump in front of her and groaned in frustration. Others prefer having ample ones but she hated it. Especially if being ogled at intently.

And her 'husband' never hid his interest on this pair, even blatantly mentioning his admiration unlike other men who would masked them well and pretend not to notice.

Slytherin.

'How could I have met such a pervert? Even if we are married, he has the right to go beyond the boundaries and do something unacceptable without my consent. And I was even sleeping, What if I never stirred?'

The next second….

'This won't do. We need to lay down the rules and reiterate what's been agreed on.' she murmured and marched out of the bedroom.

But the man she wanted to confront was no longer around. The bed had been tidied up and shown no evidence of being slept on. On the kitchen island, she found his short note. To check her breakfast inside the fridge.

She felt unmoved with the gesture that she crushed the paper into pieces and prepped her usual morning smoothie.

Opening the fridge to take out what she needed, she noticed how everything was arranged according to colors and in sets. The similarity of the arrangement with the clothes in the closet just now was uncanny that it formed a conjecture inside her head. But due to her annoyance, she brushed it off.

In the blender, she added a cup of cold water, a medium size ripe mango, a small slice of ginger, a handful of spinach, two tbsp of yogurt and flax seed. After blending it for a minute, she poured the content into the glass and drank it.

The mango's sweetness moderates the bitterness of spinach and the zing of ginger. The plain yogurt adds to its creamy texture.

The first time she tried green smoothie recipes, her stomach revolted that she vomited the next second it passed through the esophagus. But after drinking them frequently, she got used to the flavors eventually liking it and started adding other greens.

Ever since her diagnosis, she modified her preferences on food and leaned on healthy living. Numerous studies provided evidence that having a healthier lifestyle can beat cancer. If this can help her, she's more than willing to try it. As long as it diminishes the chances of depending on chemotherapy on the long run.At present, her doctor requires her to undergo chemotherapy every 6 weeks for the next 6 months.

Just imagining how painful her first treatment in Singapore was, she winced and her legs soften that she leaned on the counter.

It must have taken a few minutes before she was startled by her ringing phone.

******

Inside Carrousel du Louvre, one of the upscale shopping areas in Paris, a woman holding a floor length black gown turned back to Yan Shi with an I-can't-believe-this- expression.

"Do I have to wear this?" she asked, groaning inwardly.

Without lifting her head from choosing a strappy heel to go along with the dress, Yan Shi replied "Unless you want to attend a black tie event with your usual jeans and t-shirt get up, there's no need."

Because of familiarity, her words translated to 'Yes, you need to.'

To Injin, who first met the hazel eyed woman in a debate contest back in college, she remains baffled with Yan Shi. Beneath that gentle appearance and voice, there's a woman with a sharp tongue.

They say similar poles repel each other yet their friendship managed to last till present.

"It exposes a lot of skin." she complained.

Yan Shi fixed her gaze on her, meeting a pair of honey brown eyes which had became shades lighter due to the lighting inside the shop.

"Then wear this one."

Her hand lifted a gold sheath dress with deep V reaching the stomach and side slit, up to the waist.

Injin's eyes popped out in shock. The dress barely covers what has to be hidden.

There was no room for refusal.

An upward arc formed on Yan Shi's face when Injin finally entered the dressing booth. There was just an ounce of patience left in her, after the woman's repeated refusal of trying every single dress she sorted out for her. There was always wrong with it. If not too short, it's too exposed.

The idea of leaving the woman on her own accord crossed her head many times but she has no desires of letting her friend be an embarrassment in front of her bosses for tomorrow's event. The woman has no concept of matching colors. Till now, she never forgot how the woman became a laughing stock for wearing a green hooded t-shirt and red pants during a party. She was like a walking Christmas tree.Hence, even if hunger pangs were already attacking her, she forbore.

Yan Shi and the middle aged man on the side gasped in awe when a tall silhouette appeared to their view albeit the uncomfortable appearance.

The sequined sheath gown hugged her well-toned body like a second skin and its cap sleeves and dramatic V-back exposed a bit of skin without violating the dress code required for black tie events. It gives her that feminine and sophisticated elegance that's not easy to achieve overnight or even with an expensive looking dress.

Yan Shi walked to where she was standing and asked the shop manager"Can you alter the end? about two inches shorter."

That's why she chose this particular shop. They provide full services to their clients.

"Certainly Mademoiselle" the man replied.

"The dress is best paired with these strappy heels and silver clutch." she continued as she pointed to the objects she set aside.

"As for her long hair, go for low chignon bun. It will emphasize the naturalness of her chin and collarbones. You can decide with the make-up but make sure to conceal those dark circles under her eyes."

The man nodded repeatedly. For the first time, he met a person who impressed him. In his observation, the woman did an excellent job in choosing the dress and accessories that will bring out the attractive points of a person.

Much to his assistants surprised, their finicky boss nodded in agreement to all her request.

When the man snapped his fingers, the two moved forward to listen to his instructions.

******

An hour later, Yan Shi took away her attention to the plate of ravioli in front of her when she heard this words:

"Yan Dengfeng already signed the documents. Once I hand this to you, it means you are no longer part of the Yan family. Are you certain about this?"