Imperfect Desires

Weddings are held to celebrate the union of two people with the blessings of friends and family. However, in today's society, weddings have become a social gathering where people either try to show their status with their clothes or they try to matchmake others. Well, any such gathering is incomplete without gossips and awkward encounters. 

Actually, the awkward seating arrangement had always been the highlight of any wedding. And this wedding was certainly no exception. When Xiu followed Darren to his table, only then did she realize that she not only had to bear with Dylan but also some annoying faces from the past; Zhou Jinhai and his wife, Liu Nuan.

If it had been any other time, Xiu might have taken a detour but since she had Darren by her side now, how could she do that? She pushed Dylan to the other seat and sat beside Darren without a care in the world. As if it was the most natural thing to do for her.

"Xiao Xiu," the voice belonged to Dylan and Xiu spurted the water at his face when she heard him calling her that. That's how shocked she was. Dylan wiped his face with a napkin and glared at Xiu hatefully.

Xiu coughed a couple of times and leaned closer to Darren as she said, "Bro, don't creep me out like that. I have a weak heart."

Darren smiled to himself as he asked, "Is it that unbelievable that Didi is talking casually to you?"

Xiu shook her head in negation and replied, "It's even harder to believe that he's willing to talk civilly with me." Taking a pause she added, "Ah, most of the time he talks like a street shrew on a high dose of caffeine."

Darren couldn't stifle his laughter anymore. Dylan's face twitched as he said, "Great! Alright, Dazi now you're even ganging up on me with her." He pointed at Xiu and went on, "And you, Xiao Xiu, stop picking a fight with me. Please, I beg you! I'm getting dizzy."

"Dizzy? Tsk. Tsk." Xiu clicked her tongue and looked at Darren saying, "Didn't I say this Uncle is getting old. For now, he's just dizzy later he'll start having joint pains. Then fainting spells. Later, it'd be broken bones that would lead to bed rest and then... Only God can bless his soul." She made a cross gesture with her hand and added, "May he rest in peace."

Dylan stood up from his chair to shout at her when Darren said, "Sit back down. Don't create a scene."

Dylan shared a look between Darren and Xiu before clenching his fists and sitting back in his chair. "She just cursed me to death on such a joyous occasion."

"Won't you introduce your girlfriend, Dylan?" A beautiful voice came from across the table. Without even lifting her eyes, Xiu knew that the voice belonged to Liu Nuan. 

Dylan's playful expression swapped with a serious look as he said, "Liu Nuan, don't be a busybody. Besides, Xiao Xiu is Darren's girlfriend, not mine." He lowered his voice and added, "She's a cup of bitter coffee and I don't like coffee."

"I heard that," said Xiu making him scowl before he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. Xiu turned to Darren and whispered, "Boyfriend, do you know these two sitting with us on our table?"

Darren saw the curiosity in Xiu's eyes and answered, "I knew them once. Not anymore. Now, those two have nothing to do with us."

Xiu nodded her head but added, "But that Zhou Jinhai called to look for Dylan last Friday. I thought you guys must be close." Xiu was just testing the waters to see where this would lead to. She knew she wouldn't get a straightforward answer from Dylan and honestly, she didn't want to waste any more of her brain juices on him.

Darren touched her head and said, "Don't think too much. Zhou Family's precious young master has nothing to do with us."

Liu Nuan stood up from her seat and came beside Xiu's chair as she said, "Hi, I'm Liu Nuan. I have been a very good friend of Darren since we were young." Saying that she extended her hand towards Xiu.

Honestly speaking, Xiu had only a couple of personal interactions with Liu Nuan as Chen Xiu. It was hard for her to tell whether Liu Nuan was a white lotus or was she genuinely this kind and friendly. But the thing was that Xiu had no plans on finding out this unnecessary information now as Bai Xiu. But out of politeness when she raised her hand to shake with her, Darren held her hand and said, "Had been. We had been friends in the past. My girlfriend doesn't have to greet you now."

"You really hold grudges," said Liu Nuan in a sad tone before she went back to her seat and looked at her own husband whose eyes had been staring blankly in a distance from the time he heard Dylan say 'Xiao Xiu'. 

"Xiu, what are you doing here? Our seat is on the bride's side," Nora's voice broke the stifling atmosphere around Xiu and she looked at her best friend giving her an inquiring look. Nora's eyes fell on Darren and her demeanor changed as she said, "Ah, no wonder." She had a look of enlightenment. "I got it, you want to sit with your boyfriend. But I don't want to be stuck at that table alone between desperate singles. That table is not for me."

"No hot guy to hook up with?" Xiu asked as if inquiring about the weather.

"Not even one. Only girls with sad stories," replied Nora honestly. "And the boys at the table next to mine are typical rich brats that I despise the most."

"Just sit with us then. Dylan doesn't have a date for tonight anyway," offered Darren and pointed at the empty seat beside Dylan.

Nora turned her face to look at Dylan and the latter smiled in a mysterious way as he said, "And they met again..."