Imperfect Desires

Meanwhile at Xin Villa...

Sitting in the pavilion, a pair of black eyes were looking at the gorgeous lady sitting before him with fascination and admiration in his eyes. And those black eyes belonged to none other than Dylan Qiu while the person of his admiration and respect turned out to be Yan Ying. As for how this scene came to be...

Dylan had woken up at the break of dawn and while he looked out the window, he surprisingly found Yan Ying. She was already dressed up and seemed engrossed in watching the birds flying around. The garden in Xin Villa could be described as very formal with bonsai trees lined up in the perfect lawn in their wooden boxes. 

Dylan got dressed up as he came to the back garden where he crossed the pond which was like a small lake with flowering lily pads and a wooden bridge that crossed the middle so one could look down at the koi carp. As he reached the wooden pavilion surrounded with flower beds, he looked at Yan Ying who was staring at the screen of her iPad with furrowed brows.

"Good morning!" Dylan announced his presence and Yan Ying was so startled that she almost dropped her iPad. However, more than startled she seemed like she was caught red-handed as she turned off the iPad and smiled at Dylan politely.

"Morning, Dylan!" she greeted with her perfect and gentle smile. "Why are you up so early? Even Li and Ah-Si are still asleep."

"I had a bad headache and couldn't sleep any longer," answered Dylan honestly as he took a seat right opposite her. If it wasn't for the headache, he'd have been asleep for a long time.

"It must be because of the alcohol," replied Yan Ying but in her tone, Dylan didn't find anything weird. For instance, every other person would have scolded him for being dumb enough to drink and then drive but she seemed rather nonchalant about it. "Uncle Kuan!"

"Yes, young miss," came a prompt reply from Uncle Kuan who popped out from somewhere making Dylan startle. He honestly didn't even know that Uncle Kuan had been standing around.

"Ask someone to make sobering soup for Dylan," said Yan Ying and she adorably raised her hand adding, "And some jasmine tea for me. Please!"

Dylan was touched by her sweet gesture and felt complicated. Last night, he was really thinking about how to push Yan Ying away from Xin Xiaoli's life so that his sister's place won't be taken by anyone. In fact, his purpose for coming to see her at this time was also that he wanted to probe her and find out more so he could plan his next move. But before her gentle and kind self, Dylan was feeling at a loss.

 Later, trying to make small-talk, Dylan's interest shifted to Yan Ying's profession of being an archaeologist. And the more she talked about her researches and showed him pictures from the excavation locations, Dylan was beyond fascinated. 

"I find history to be like art more like abstract art. Art that's preserved by soil and dust. You only have to get your hands dirty and you might end up finding the jewel you never knew existed."

Seeing the passion in her eyes for what she does make Dylan feel inspired. He had never felt this kind of passion for what he did. But he had seen it in Darren's eyes and now, he was facing the same zeal in Yan Ying's eyes.

"Ying Jie, what exactly made you decide that you want to be an archaeologist? Someone inspired you?" Dylan didn't know how or why but he unconsciously started calling her 'Ying Jie' in respect. As if calling her a sister was given. 

Yan Ying looked at the jasmine flower floating in her cup of tea and replied, "When I was in middle school, I and Li went to a museum and that's where I read, 'Archaeology is just re-discovering literature which had lost its native speakers.' I was intrigued and couldn't stop myself from being attracted to this literature that seemed like a mystery."

Acting like a curious little kid, Dylan wanted to learn more and more. He was really surprised to see that she was being so patient with him. Even explaining the terms or things that he didn't know about. She didn't even mind it when he kept bugging her to tell more stories. In fact, she even passed her iPad to him and let him scroll through the photo gallery.

Other than artifacts and stuff, Dylan was surprised to see that there were plenty of photographs of nature. "Ying Jie, did you click these photos?" Yan Ying gently nodded her head in reply. "Wow! You're like a professional photographer as well."

"Young miss, breakfast is ready. Where should I serve it?" asked Uncle Kuan who had been standing right outside the pavilion. Dylan had again forgotten that he was there all that time. But he really wanted to question why Uncle Kuan was always around Yan Ying? Wasn't he the butler of the Xin family? Then why was he stuck around Yan Ying?

"What about Li and Ah-Si?" asked Yan Ying in return.

"Both young masters are awake," answered Uncle Kuan respectfully.

"Then you should be asking for their opinion instead of mine. Or just ask the special guest," said Yan Ying as she glanced at Dylan.

Dylan raised his hands saying, "Oh, leave me out of this. I'm so full from that sobering soup that I won't be eating anything now." He stood up from his chair as he noticed the time on his phone and added, "In fact, I should be leaving now. I'm already late."

He flashed his toothy smile to Yan Ying as he said, "Thank you for being so patient with my curiosity. I must have been a bother but you didn't make me feel like it."

"Curiosity is the most natural thing in humans. If we as humans won't be curious then who will be?" retorted Yan Ying. 

Dylan didn't know what to say to her. Even though he wanted to be hostile towards her but he couldn't bring himself to. How could one not like her? Indeed, she seemed too good to be true but he still couldn't associate her with the word, 'White Lotus'. It just didn't feel right.

But it was like a reminder to him that his sister's competitor wasn't an easy person.

"Ying Jie, come to my house for dinner. Mom would really be happy," invited Dylan knowing how his mother loved the perfect, gentle, kind girls like Yan Ying. 

"I will. But let Yi come back first," answered Yan Ying. Dylan's brows knitted together and seeing his confused look, Yan Ying chuckled while facepalming herself. "I mean I'm waiting for your dad to come back."

Dylan's face twitched to learn that his father Qiu Jiayi was actually addressed so casually by Yan Ying. He wondered what his dad's reaction would be if he heard that. 

As Yan Ying watched Dylan's receding figure, she frowned, "He is such a sweet boy. Why are there so many bad rumors about him?"

"No one can be saved from rumors in our society, young miss. There are a lot of rumors about you as well," answered Uncle Kuan.

Yan Ying puffed up her cheeks before saying, "I can't really associate him with the playboy image people have made up about him." Shaking her head, she stood up and said, "No wonder Yi is always so worried this son of his. Such a good boy he is that it'd be a tough battle for him if he really inherited the Qiu Corporation."

As she started walking, she looked back at Uncle Kuan and said, "Why are you still standing there? Let's go, I'm hungry!"