Imperfect Desires

*Flashback Continued*

Xiu was staring at him in disbelief. Although she couldn't see his face, she could tell that he wasn't joking with her. A strange feeling seeped into her heart and even before she could name that foreign feeling, all she felt was a deep sense of happiness. 

She would sound like a fool if she said it out loud that she was feeling happy knowing that he didn't know her. It was like someone finally pulled her away from under the spotlight; a place every single eye was glued on her.

Xiu had always felt like she was standing on a stage and as a performer, the spotlight was always on her and the audience was always hidden in the shadow. She could feel their stares but she could never tell who or how many were looking at her, judging her, wishing to tear her apart. It was a scary feeling. 

However, now that suddenly someone pulled her away from the spotlight, she felt so calm and happy that words weren't enough for her to describe her emotions. Turning her body, she took off her mask from one ear and showed her face to him as she asked, "You haven't seen this face before, right? You really haven't, right?"

"I have," Darren's reply made her feel perturbed but just as she was about to fix back her mask, he went on, "I have seen it on your phone's lock screen."

At this response, Xiu didn't know why but she ended up laughing. It suddenly felt so good being a part of the crowd. For the first time in years, she felt like she was one of the normal people. Losing her earlier temperament, Xiu extended her hand towards him and said, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Xiu. Chen Xiu. Chen for the break of dawn and Xiu for beautiful. So, Chen Xiu for beautiful as the break of dawn."

There literally wasn't any chandelier in the bookstore, but Darren was still dazzled by the way her raven orbs sparkled under the light. It was as if she had a supernatural ability to make every single light capture her and only her. And that charming smile on her pink lips made him starstruck for a moment without his own awareness. "Isn't the name just right for me?" 

The way Darren perceived this scene was very different. Her aura, her personality, every single thing about her suddenly felt like it didn't belong to a normal person. Without knowing it, he thought that she was the star that demanded attention from others and captured their souls without their knowledge. He was startled at this realization. He never thought he would meet such a person.

"I don't know about your name but your attitude definitely doesn't match that face of yours," replied Darren after he got over his shock.

Xiu hit his head without restraint making him scowl as she said, "And you have nothing nice to say."

Following that, they both exchanged their phones and Xiu's first question was, "You didn't go through my phone, right?"

"I have manners unlike someone," said Darren as he was obviously shading her for looking through his phone without his permission.

Xiu felt guilty but it vanished even before she could savor that feeling of guilt as she said, "Oi! I was trying to find who is the owner of the phone. It's a pity that you had nothing useful."

"Excuses excuses. Such a pretty face and such lies. Tsk. Tsk." Clicking his tongue, Darren walked away from her without another word. Xiu was left cursing him from behind while she raised her hands as if to strangle him.

"Jerk! He called me a liar!" She mumbled to herself before smiling and saying, "But he also called me pretty. Okay, I'll let you go because you have good eyes." Someone tapped on her shoulder startling her again and as she looked at her assistant's face, she asked, "What?"

"Stop talking to yourself, Sister Xiu. People will call you a lunatic. Let's get out of here before your fans get the hint that you're back," Han Bohai observed the look in her eyes all the while he talked to her.

Xiu looked in the direction Darren left and a look of longing flashed through her eyes. Then she turned to Han Bohai with a look of disappointment and said, "Let's go."

Weaving her way to the nanny van as she settled inside, Xiu took off her hoodie and mask. Her expression was of someone who lost something. And she actually felt like something was lost as for what, she couldn't tell.

She unlocked her phone and stared at the screen for a long while before typing a text message. After pressing the send button, she leaned her head back to take a nap.

On the other hand, Darren had already left the airport when he received the text message. When he parked the car at the red light, his gaze fell on huge screen that had a perfume advertisement and the model was the girl he just met. "Woah! I didn't even notice it before," he said to himself before he picked up his phone and saw the text from an unknown number. It read:

'Unsolved riddles, unknown aches

kind or cruel forever is always at stake

In this world of farewell

We said hello like

stranger from hell.'

Darren's brows furrowed as he tried to connect these words with that beautiful face. He honestly couldn't believe that she was one who wrote this.

When he drove back home, Dylan was waiting at the door like one of those ancient filial wives who couldn't go to bed before their husbands come back from work. Darren laughed at his own thought and slapped Dylan's head who was dozing off at the doorstep.

"Why are you here?"

Dylan yawned as he stood up and said, "You're back. I was waiting for you. Wait, I'll get you water."

Darren didn't say anything and went inside. Just as he sat, he heard Dylan's voice, "Did you get your phone?" Darren replied with a hum and Dylan added, "Is anything missing?"

"Although she's a nutjob, I'm sure she didn't do anything to my phone," was Darren's reply as he took the water bottle from Dylan. Taking a brief pause, he looked at Dylan and asked, "Didi, do you know any Chen Xiu?"