Xia Biming went to work and listened to her family and the doctor's orders. She slowed her pace down and lightened up her workload. She made plans to go shopping with Fang An Xi for a dress to wear to the gala on Saturday. Since she was going with her brother, she nagged him to go shopping too.
It was late afternoon on Wednesday they all had free time to go together. They met up a prestigious shop with handmade tailored suits and dresses.
Fang An Xi and Xia Biming arrived first and began to cruise the dress section. Fang An Xi grabbed about six dresses right off the bat and hurried to the dressing room.
'Oi, this girl is a shopaholic.' Biming thought to herself. She found a few dresses she liked and also went to try them on about ten minutes after An Xi.
An Xi came out first in a black mermaid gown and waited for Biming to come out. Biming's first dress was a vibrant magenta color with a sweetheart neckline. The skirt wasn't too full either.
"Wow Biming, you look great in anything!" An Xi started drooling over her sister.
"Stop messing around, Xi Xi! Look at you, you make every dress look like it was made for you. You're stunning in this one. Come one, I saw you grab so many dresses, go try some more on." She urged An Xi.
After a few minutes both girls came out again in different dresses followed by the ringing at the door indicating that a customer just walked in.
This time, An Xi's dress was a dark green colored dress with spaghetti straps and an extravagant diamonds embedded from the hem up. The dress was made of silk and hung closely to her body. Wang Xuan who just entered the shop stood frozen at his spot.
He stared at An Xi as if there was a spotlight shining on her and she was the only one in the room.
Behind An Xi came Biming, she strutted out in a royal blue dress with off the shoulder sleeves and a tight bodice with a loose skirt. This dress also had simple diamond sequencing at the waist. The skirt had a thigh-high slit that showed off her slim legs.
This time, the person left stunned was Xue Changmin. 'She really looks great in everything she wears.' The two of them locked eyes and they hadn't expected to see each other.
Of course, Xia Huanting just had to go and invite the two of them with him to shop. He forgot to tell the girls that he was bring them with him. He figured that since they were also attending, it wouldn't be an issue to get their suits at the same time. Efficiency, right?
"Oh, brother Ting, you're here. Hello Wang Xuan. Hello Mr. Xue." Xia Biming greeted them from the tiny stage. "Ting, come on, I already picked a suit out for you. Go try it on." She then walked towards her brother, passing Xue Changmin.
Xue Changmin watched her disappearing figure and finally snapped back into reality. "Let's go try some suits on too, Wang Xuan." He didn't notice that Wang Xuan was still staring at Fang An Xi and pulled him along.
In the back of the shop, they all happened to meet again. Xue Changmin entered when he heard Xia Biming giving her brother instructions, "I already gave them your measurements but try this on and they'll make the necessary adjustments. I think I'll get this dress I'm wearing right now since I don't want to try on anymore. I'll have them match our clothes since we are attending together."
After she finished telling Huanting, she turned around to find Xue Changmin standing behind her. He seemed to be star struck and she tried to alleviate the mood, "Hello Mr. Xue. I hope you find a suit you like. Excuse me, I need to change and head out with Fang An Xi since everything has been settled."
Inside the girl's changing area, Fang An Xi agreed to leave with Xia Biming. She didn't feel like trying dresses on anymore either when the boys entered the shop. They both agreed on the last dress they tried on. The seamstress took some minor notes to for the dresses to be tailored.
Neither of the girls need too much work done, Fang An Xi needed her dress to be resized at the bust. As for Xia Biming, she needed to get the dress hemmed and the waist tightened. Other than that, they were nearly perfect.
When the girls were gone, Huanting went up to Changmin, "Hey I think we should switch suits. I don't want to match with Biming, we are siblings. We don't need to dress like our mom still matches us like kids." He then handed the suit to Changmin.
The two were similar in height but Changmin was wider at the shoulders and thicker in general since he lifted weights on a normal basis.
Chang tried to refuse but Ting wouldn't listen to him. He had already picked out a different suit for himself. "I'm trying to help you out." Was all Huanting said to Changmin.
That night, Xia Huanting decided to visit Xia Biming at her penthouse. It was time for him to speak to his sister about their future.
Xia Biming cooked her brother's favorites that night as she waited her him. She made braised pork belly, shrimp shumai, lightly stir-fried cabbage, and an eggplant and garlic dip. Just as she finished cooking, her brother came in with a berries and Chantilly cream cake. One of her favorites.
"Oooo! Thanks for getting the cake Ting!" She stored the cake in the fridge while they ate.
"Well you cooked for me, so I had to get a cake. Are you feeling better now?" He messed with her hair as he sat down at the table with her.
She showed a slightly annoyed look, she hated when he messed up her hair. But let it go quickly, "Yeah I feel fine now. Why did you want to eat with me tonight? You hardly visit me here unless it's serious."
"Awh, you saw through me little sister." He messed with her hair again.
"Quit it, I already let you off the hook for doing it earlier. If you do it again I'll tell mom that you're seeing someone."
"Okay! Okay! I won't anymore. Hehehe, when did my cute little sister grow up so much? Mom praises you more than me nowadays." He said as he started to eat the food.
"Don't say that, you do all the hard work. I just draw and make my designs come to life. So, tell me, what's your real intention tonight?" she investigated her brother.
"I just wanted to see if you're doing okay."
"Mmmhhmmm." Biming didn't believe that was it.
"And to see how your love life is going." He finally confessed.