Imperfect Desires

A sneaky hand tried to steal a piece of chicken stealthily but another hand smacked him. Dylan looked at his mother's glaring eyes with a pouty face. Tucking his lower lip out a bit, he whined, "Why are we waiting? Dazi is not coming!"

"Unlike you, Regan always comes when I call him," replied Zhao Wei with a prideful look.

"Huh! That was when he was single. Now, he is taken. Why would he come running to you when he has a gorgeous lady to accompany him?" 

That was the statement that fell on Xiu's ear as she walked through the lounge with Darren towards the dining hall. Her brows shot up in surprise. 'Did Dylan just referred to her as a gorgeous lady? Really?' She couldn't believe what she just heard but she had to.

A moment later, she heard Darren clearing his throat to get their attention and as two pairs of eyes caught on to their presence, Xiu was dumbfounded to see that petite figure with such an adorable smile. Xiu didn't know whether it was her imagination or the aura around Zhao Wei really was so bright and serene that it put her nerves on ease. From no angle, she looked like Dylan's mother.

"Regan!" Zhao Wei excitedly stood up and Darren embraced her in his arms. Zhao Wei looked at her own son mockingly as she said, "So, you were saying something?"

 "Woah! That was fast..." said Dylan as he glanced at Darren inquisitively. "You didn't even pick up my call but you ran here at the speed of light just because my Ma called you? Such hypocrite are you!"

Darren scratched his ear saying, "An annoying bee is buzzing around."

"Dazi!" Dylan exclaimed as he stood up to glare at his best friend for calling him 'an annoying bee'. "How can you insult me like that?" He looked at his mother complaining, "Ma, why aren't you saying something?"

"Yes, say something Wei Ma," urged Darren as well.

Seeing both Dylan and Darren looking at her, pushing her to pick a side, Zhao Wei's brows drew together. Was she ever able to pick one between these two? NEVER!

She lifted both her hands to pull both of their ears saying, "Don't ever make a mother choose between her kids? I love you both and that's why I won't pick a side. Keep your childish arguments between yourselves."

As she let go, both of them rubbed their earlobes looking at each other with accusing gaze. As if to say, 'This is all your fault'. However, Zhao Wei decided to ignore these two who were still acting like teenagers since her eyes caught sight of a lone figure standing at a distance observing them with curiosity and fascination in her eyes.

Zhao Wei came up to Xiu's side and said, "You must be my Regan's Sweets that I have been hearing about." Xiu tried to smile as she nodded her head in response. "Bai Xiu, am I right?" Xiu wasn't really surprised that she knew about her name as she nodded again. "Why are you just standing there?" Xiu raised her brows at her in confusion and Zhao Wei shook her head before wrapping her arms around Xiu saying, "Give me a hug, we can't have such an awkward introduction."

As Xiu was hugged in such a way, she was baffled for a moment. She didn't know why but the way Zhao Wei's hand patted her back made Xiu drop all the baggage of stress that she had been carrying for a while. Somehow, her embrace was calming enough to make Xiu grow out of her insecurities.

Zhao Wei pulled away slightly to look at Xiu's face before she smiled warmly, "Nobody did justice in describing you except for my granddaughter." Xiu looked at her dumbfoundedly as she went on, "My Asteria said that you look like a Princess in her storybooks. I honestly thought she was exaggerating but now..." She looked Xiu up and down before nodding in appreciation. "She certainly wasn't lying."

Xiu tucked her hair behind her ear in embarrassment. She certainly wasn't expecting that compliment from Zhao Wei. "Aww, she's blushing. How adorable!" Zhao Wei pinched her cheeks making Xiu's eyes go round. "Looks like you're not used to compliments. But how is that possible?" Zhao Wei looked at Darren and asked, "Regan, your girlfriend looks like a princess. Am I right?"

Darren came to Xiu's side and as he wrapped an arm around her waist, he said, "Nope."

"What?" Zhao Wei was shocked to hear him denying that. 

Darren pinched Xiu's nose saying, "How can she be merely a Princess when she's the Queen of my heart? My Queen!"

"Ohhh...." Zhao Wei smiled brightly at his cheesy comment.

"Booohoo..." However, Dylan was cringed out by his comment.

And as for Xiu, she was left starstruck, lovestruck or if there was any other struck available, she was feeling all of it at once. How could such a cheesy thing make her heart race so fast? How? How does he do that? Just how? 

Dylan joined in again to rain on her parade as he said, "Oi! Don't look so touched by those words. It isn't his original." He turned to Darren and went on, "Why are you acting like my dad? Even used his line?"

Darren smacked Dylan's head saying, "We learn from our parents the best. You have a problem with that?"

"Just because you don't have anyone to say these words to, don't ruin this moment for Regan," said Zhao Wei and added, "Xiao Xiu, don't worry about what this idiot son of mine says. He has a habit of spouting nonsense when he is hungry."

"Ma!" whined Dylan. "How could you? Don't give any more reasons for this monster to tease me! She already has a lot to say."

"What the hell are you saying? Don't try to taint her image. Such an adorable girl can't be a monster!" Zhao Wei defending Xiu and it touched Xiu's heart since she did it even when she didn't know Xiu very well. But even then she stood up for her in front of her own son.

"Adorable?" questioned Dylan as he looked at Xiu strangely and added, "This is the very first time I'm even seeing her this quiet. That mouth of hers always has something to say. And I bet she has a lot to say even right now. She is only trying to look good before you."

Xiu gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes at Dylan in a dangerous way as if to say, 'I'll destroy you for this remark!'

Zhao Wei's expressions weren't any better as she pushed Dylan back to his seat saying, "You sit down and start eating. That's the only way, your mouth will stay busy."

Dylan didn't argue back since he really was hungry now. Then she pulled Xiu's arm and made her sit beside her saying, "You sit with me. I have a lot to talk about."

"Oho! Here we go now," said Dylan knowing what his mother was like. For a moment, he looked at Xiu with sympathy.

"Hedi!" Zhao Wei raised her voice keeping a sharp edge to it making Dylan drop his eyes back to the food.