Rules of Engagement

Chapter 16 Good Morning, Elsa

It seemed that Mr. Zheng had no choice but to buy the dress. He followed the salesgirl to the cashier desk to pay the bill.

Soren put his arm around that woman's shoulder intimately and sent Mr. Zheng off. "Mr. Zheng, welcome next time," the woman said with a smile.

Feeling depressed, Elsa called his name, "Soren..."

Soren came forward quickly and laughed, "Please forgive me. I forgot that it's inconvenient for you without glasses. I'll take you to the fitting room."

"No, I don't want to try it. Let's go." Elsa handed back the dress to him and asked, "Where are my glasses?"

"What's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?" Hearing her nasal voice, Soren reached out his hand to touch her forehead. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Elsa surely felt very uncomfortable. But she didn't know why she was uncomfortable.

"No, I'm not sick. I just want to go out, okay?" Elsa felt like she was about to be pathetic.

The charming voice of the woman sounded again. "Ren, come and look at this. Hurry up."

Under this situation, Soren cut Elsa short, took her hand and walked to the woman. "Hey, Ren, do you like this color? how about making a suit with this for you? You must look very handsome and gentle in it." The woman said with a smile.

"I don't need so many clothes." Soren felt a little helpless.

"Once it is done, you can put it on. You'll look good in it." Her smiling voice continued and suddenly, she kissed on Soren's cheek and said, "You surely will look good in it."

Then she walked around Elsa. Her voice also surrounded Elsa, sounded pleasant. Withdrawing her gaze, Elsa felt empty in her heart. She thought she would never have such an emotion like this again. What's the matter with her?

Soren touched his cheek and complained impatiently, "Your saliva was left on my face. Please help Elsa to choose some dresses."

She knew about Elsa, while Elsa had no idea of her. "Soren, where're my glasses?" Elsa asked, biting her lips.

"Mom, where did you put Elsa's glasses?"

"In the cabinet of the cashier." The woman's voice was still smiling. She took hold of Elsa's hand and said, "Elsa, come here to have a look at this color."

Mom? Elsa was still in a daze. What was he talking about? The depression in her heart suddenly disappeared, which made herself stunned. Why did some feelings suddenly appear and quickly disappear?

When Soren put the glasses on Elsa's nose, Susie Qi turned over her notebook. She pointed at a piece of cloth and asked, "Isn't it beautiful, Elsa?"

It was not until now that Elsa saw the woman clearly. It was hard to believe that she was the mother of Soren. She looked less than 40 and was dressed in stylish clothes. She wore an outstanding dress of great texture, a pair of fashionable black Martin boots and a decent makeup. As she spoke, a pair of exquisite leaf-form earrings swung among her long hair, giving out a bright light. And her voice was as beautiful as that of a singer.

Even if Elsa had put her glasses on, she would never think of her as the mother of Soren.

"Elsa, I will make you two long dresses with this cloth, what do you think?"

Elsa blushed by her thoughts before and said with shyness, "Actually, I don't need so many clothes either."

"You have just got married for a few days, but you two already talk in the same way to me now? That's so boring!" Susie closed the notebook and looked a little angry. However, due to her personality, she didn't need others to coax but would adjust her mood quickly. She took Elsa to a clothes stand and said, "Then take a look at these clothes. Take whatever you like back home."

"Mom, aren't you afraid that you might frighten Elsa. How long have you been here? I even haven't found a chance to introduce you to each other." Soren said with a resigned smile, "Elsa, this is my mother."

"Mom." Elsa was so embarrassed. Fortunately, her feelings would not be known by anyone...

Susie patted Soren on his shoulder and said, "Then why don't you say that you have scared me? All of a sudden, I received a phone call and it said that you were going to get married. I couldn't come back even if I could fly. You made me miss such an important occasion."

"Then why didn't you tell me when you came back. Why didn't you tell me that you bought this shop here. I can't afford your dresses of 30000 or 50000 dollars."

Susie burst into laughter and said, "It writes on the tag that it is three thousand and five hundred. I gave him an extra zero. Why not make more money of people like him? You are really my good son. If I hadn't come here as soon as I got off the plane, you would have wasted such a large deal of money."

Soren put his arm around her shoulder and said, "Fine, you are the cleverest one. Why don't you pick some dresses for your daughter-in-law?"

Ignoring Elsa's unwillingness, Susie quickly picked four dresses for her. Susie had really good taste. The clothes she chose were simple and elegant. Elsa tried them on one by one, each one suited her very well and was eye-catching, which set off her graceful and capable temperament perfectly.

Then Susie selected some shoes for Elsa, too.

Each time Elsa walked out of the fitting room, Soren's eyes would be filled with admiration and appreciation. Elsa walked out shyly. Soren took her over by hand and stood in front of the mirror with her. Everyone would be amused by the perfect couple in the mirror.

However, Susie was still unsatisfied with the result. She took out her tape measure and measured up Elsa's body from head to toe. While praising her good shape, Susie smiled and said, "I'll make two more sets for you. You can pick them up later."

"Mom, I don't want to bother you with this. I think I don't need anymore. Those we just selected are enough for me." Elsa felt very embarrassed.

"No it's not enough. Girls should have more beautiful dresses." Susie put her tape measure away and took the size down. "I have to catch the plane later. I will call you when the clothes are done."

Soren frowned his eyebrows, "Won't you stay for dinner? Elsa's parents are also here."

"Really? I'm so sorry, Elsa. Please help me to apologize to your parents. As I couldn't attend your wedding ceremony and haven't met with your parents. I'll reschedule the dinner and make an appointment with you next time. I have something urgent to deal with. It's an appointment made before and can't be changed now."

Elsa nodded and said, "It's okay. It's the same to have dinner later."

"Good girl." Susie smiled and patted her cheek. "If Ren bullies you, remember to call me."

"I will." Susie was an adorable woman. A touch of blush flashed across Elsa's face as she nodded at Susie.

When Elsa left, she was filled with bags of clothes and shoes. If it weren't for the fact that Elsa had insisted on not taking anymore, Susie would have added a few scarfs to her.

"Mom is just this kind of person. Don't be embarrassed. What's more, you look beautiful in those clothes." Hearing his simple compliments, Elsa blushed with shyness.

She had received too many gifts from the Soren's family. She didn't know how to return all these back to him.

Soren continued, "My mother is a designer. She always says that only the right figure may match her clothes. You seem to be the right one. "

"Really?" Elsa admitted that she was a little boring and didn't know how to reply him.

"My mother has a good taste. If she thinks you are the one, then you must be." He smiled, "I also think the same."

Elsa's face turned red as she could read the deeper meaning in his words.

They walked back slowly to the entrance of the theatre. The opera was about to end after all the time they had spent on trying clothes. A lot of people walked out. Soren held onto Elsa's hand tightly as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he loosed his grip. He stood aside in the opposite direction to prevent her from being hit by the crowd.

"Soren..." Elsa called his name. She felt like having something to tell him.

But when he turned and fixed his eyes on her, she didn't know what to say. Just as Elsa slightly squinted her eyes, he followed her move and gently kissed on her red lips. He held her cheeks lightly, as if she was a fragile porcelain doll, that the slightest movement would break her.

Elsa tasted a little sweet. She wasn't used to closing her eyes while kissing. When she saw her parents out of the corner of her glasses, she pushed him away immediately and said shyly, "Dad and mom are coming."

It was hard to say whether it was because of the good performance tonight or because they had just seen this scene that Blanche and Johnson kept smiling all the time.

At night, they didn't say anything more to each other. Soren just gave Elsa a hug when she finished showering from the other bathroom.

But that hug lasted for such a long time that Elsa felt that her legs became weak because of standing for so long. Then he released her and let her sleep on the small camp bed alone.

Lying in bed, Elsa felt her heart beating fast.

After a while, she calmed down and fell asleep. The next morning, Elsa woke up in the appetizing scent of the breakfast. Although she was always a vegetarian, there were not many vegetarian-friendly restaurants that were able to cook nice dishes of vegetables. Only the food cooked by her mother could meet her taste. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and saw herself under the quilt on the large bed. With one hand propping up his head, Soren said, "Good morning, Elsa."

"Why... Why... Why are you in my bed?" Elsa was totally in a mess. She could not help but feel a sharp pain in her head. "No, no, I mean that how could I be on your bed?"

She thought that he knew her baseline was sleeping in the same room. As they were not familiar with each other yet, it was reasonable to sleep in separate beds. With red eyes, she was a little angry and tried to push Soren away.

But he was so strong that Elsa couldn't make it. Soren didn't step back. Instead, he pressed her on the bed with his arms around her waist and looked down at her. His tough muscles leaned against her body which made her feel hurt. She couldn't push away Soren, nor move herself. Elsa scolded in a low voice, "Soren, you're shameless!"

"Why I'm shameless?" He asked with a smile. Her eyes were misty as she didn't wear her glasses. He took her hands to touch her clothes.

Elsa's hand was taken by him to stroke her clothes slowly. Sometimes it could touch her skin. Her face flushed. "You are shameless! Get up!"