Rules of Engagement

Chapter 1 Inexperienced

"That doesn't matter. Look, I just arrived. I'll wait for you. I'll be sitting next to the window, so you can see me when you are here." Once she hung up the phone, Elsa Xia looked at her watch. Half an hour had already passed from her appointed time.

Mark Le had already told her that his car was stuck in a traffic jam. It was rush hour and there were traffic jams all over the place. If she hadn't gone out early, Elsa Xia might've been stuck there too. That would've been even more of a hassle. She finished her last piece of bread and drank half a cup of her coffee before going to the restroom.

As she saw herself from the mirror, Elsa Xia was not looking well. The dark bags under her eyes were a result of dozens of sleepless nights. She looked so gaunt that they could place her in any horror movie and she'd fit right in. She sighed, washing her face with cold water. She'd worked overtime last night to finish the press release. It needed to possess absolutely no errors, and it took a lot of work. Once she was finished, it was already past five in the morning. Without rest, she quickly went to her meeting place with Mark Le.

Elsa Xia worked as a journalist on the society pages. On her spare time, she had agreed to sign a novel with Mark Le. It took her a long time to finish it and when she'd submitted it up to the publishers, she wasn't expecting that Mark would send her a publishing contract so soon. They'd only chatted on the Internet for a while so they hadn't seen each other yet. This was why Mark decided to meet up with her.

As she came out of the restroom, she noticed that there was a man occupying her seat. Mark had always said how he looked really feminine and how he was sometimes recognized as a women. Thinking of it, a smile generated at the corners of Elsa's mouth. However, as she moved closer, the man in front of her didn't look like a woman in the slightest. With black bushy eyebrows, hard facial features, and thin lips, no one would connect him with being a 'feminine beauty'.

However, thinking that it was probably just a misunderstanding, Elsa still approached him. "You're here."

The man was surprised by her words, looking at her up and down. Being a reporter, Elsa was accustomed to dealing with all types of people on various occasions. However, being in front of him, she couldn't help but blush. "Well," she started. "Just as we talked before, I don't think I can do that."

The man raised his eyebrows. He had no idea who this woman was. She looked so uninteresting as she was dressed in nothing but a business suit with a well tied-up ponytail. Her eyes weren't small, but the black spectacles emphasized the bags under her eyes.

He wasn't about to reply. However, as the blush grazed her cheekbones, he couldn't help but be a bit more curious. "Really?" he said in disbelief. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

The voice was different from what she'd heard on the phone. However, as she was dizzy, she didn't hear much of a difference.

"Yes. I've thought it over. Besides, it's a pure love story. Don't you think adding those racy scenes would ruin the beauty?" Realizing that she'd been talking to Mark for quite a long time, she decided to come straight. "Besides, I don't have much experience on that area."

"Ah." The man nodded and rubbed his nose, as if reeling it in.

Elsa nodded. "So can I stop?"

"But you can learn it. It really won't take much time," he suggested.

Elsa couldn't help but blush at the implications. "The references that you've sent me... Although I've read them all, I still don't know how to do it."

Although she added some passionate plays, she couldn't help but be uncomfortable writing it due to her lack of experience. The man suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. 'She didn't look stupid, yet why does she seem so silly?'

"So, can I refuse?" Elsa asked again.

"I think you should just give up on the editor." The man crossed his arms. "If you're asking my opinion, of course."

"What?" She adjusted her thick-rimmed glasses, gazing up at him. "What did you say?"

"Give up on your editor. My friend is here. If you'll excuse me."

Soren Wang stood up. He gave Elsa one last once-over before dragging his stare away.

"What? What just happened?" It was then did she realize that she had mistaken somebody else for Mark.

She'd thought he was Mark! Given how crowded this place was, he must've sat in front of her because there weren't any seats available. Her face flushed. She couldn't believe that she'd say everything in front of a man who didn't even know her. Before she could apologize, the man already moved to another table and sat down, leaving her for a tall figure.

Another man seated right in front of him. That must've been his friend.

Even though his back was turned, she still felt uncomfortable. She turned her chair to make sure that her back was turned on him. She took a long breath, settling in her seat.

She took one last look and found that Mark was on his way here. Elsa was thinking whether she'd make a phone call to hurry him up. After all, she might be very busy these days and didn't have much time.

While she was thinking, her cellphone rang. In a somewhat weak voice, Mark said, "I'm sorry, Elsa. I had a car accident just now, and I was injured. Can we postpone the appointment today?"

"Are you okay? Where are you now? Should I come and see you?" Elsa shot up from her seat worriedly, her eyes narrowing.

"It's just a minor wound. I'm really sorry about this, Elsa."

She decided not to press this issue further as she waved her hand in dismissal. "It doesn't matter. We can talk later. Take care of yourself."

"We can set an appointment on another day," he apologized.

Good things never really came easy. After hanging up, she packed her bags and went to the hotel.

Tomorrow, she was going to step into the wedding hall. A simple ceremony was all she ever wanted. Elsa's hometown was far away from Linchuan City of S Country. It took about seven to eight hours to get there from her hometown. It wasn't very convenient, so there weren't many relatives and friends who'd go. It would be a very closed-off wedding.

As for Greenwood Li, since he was a native, he would have more guests. Since they were all for living a more frugal life, the wedding was scheduled for only six tables and they didn't even call in a wedding service company to manage the occasion. Elsa reserved a small and comfortable hall, which was her preference.

Although it was simple, she still had other things to deal with. Her family members wouldn't arrive till tomorrow. Since they were a stickler for tradition, she would go to the wedding site herself.

As soon as she came out, her phone started to ring. "Hi Dad," she answered.

"Zaza! Your mother, aunt and I will take the early bus tomorrow morning and will arrive in the afternoon. Perfect for attending your wedding banquet tomorrow evening." Johnson Xia's voice was filled with guilt. "We shouldn't have let you prepare the ceremony alone. If it wasn't for my health... All I've done just caused you more trouble, sweetheart." She could tell that he had been kicking himself because of that little ordeal.

"Dad." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Don't say that. You're weak, but your daughter can't even stay with you. I'm..."

"Hey, why do you mention that again? Let me speak." Without leaving him time to reply, Blanche Yang grabbed the phone from the other end of the line. "Zaza, don't listen to your father! When you're married, we won't lose anything. In fact, we'll gain a son. That's nice, isn't it? We'll be happy."

"Yes." Elsa choked. "Remember to bring some medicine, please. Have a safe trip. Call me once you've arrived. I'll pick you up."

She had booked airplane tickets for her parents, but since they considered it to be several times more expensive than a bus, they decided to refund the plane tickets. Unable to persuade them, she had no choice but to agree.

After some more chatter, her mother hang up the phone.

Having worked in a steel plant, Johnson Xia's legs were injured due to a work accident. He was the first one to be laid-off. He had to do hundreds of part-time jobs to support them. Although it took a toll on him, he was able to support for his family. Now just when they could enjoy their lives, his health was already declining.

In fact, he just had an operation last year. That was one of the reasons why Elsa agreed to marry Greenwood Li, just after three months of settling down with him. She was already twenty-seven, and she would not allow herself to see her father wait endlessly for her to walk down the aisle.

Greenwood Li was her classmate in high school. As he was not admitted by the university, he joined the army through family relationship. Now he left the army and worked in a suburban high school as a P.E. teacher.

Elsa's parents had always had a very good impression of Greenwood, and they were very satisfied with his current job. Besides, the two were classmates in high school, so parents of both sides acquiesced the marriage before they could meet with each other because of Johnson's relapse.

Elsa had already met Greenwood's parents before. His father was very serious while his mother was a chatterbox. She couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but they had been well-acquainted before the wedding.