Imperfect Desires

As soon as Xiu came to the kitchen, she found Jing Ge dicing the onions with tears in his eyes while Clara was busy stir-frying the beef in the pan. She really wanted to help her Uncle Jing but she knew Clara well enough. Therefore, she got herself busy with finding all the ingredients she needed. After she placed everything on the counter, she counted everything.

"Clara mom, there is no fresh spinach?"

"Sister Qin planted some in the backyard," told Clara and turned to her husband, "Ge, can you get some spinach for Xiu from the backyard?" Jing Ge nodded and opened the back door of the kitchen to leave.

While Xiu boiled the spaghetti, she heard Clara say, "Xiu, if you kept spoiling Nora like this, I'm gonna be in big trouble." Xiu raised her brow inquisitively. "Once you get married, who is gonna pamper Nora this way?" Xiu almost choked as she heard it. "Why are you so surprised? Aren't you planning on marrying?"

"I..." Xiu hesitated a little before replying, "I'm gonna marry but I'm not planning it so soon."

"Tsk. What a shame! I still have to wait for my daughter's wedding," lamented Clara.

"Whose wedding?" asked Jing Ge as he came back with freshly cut spinach in the bowl in his hand.

"Xiu's wedding," replied Clara.

Jing Ge opened his eyes wide as he stared at Xiu. "Who is the groom? Why is he in a hurry to take away our daughter? Besides, I have yet to even approve of him. I won't give away my daughter to just anyone."

Xiu chuckled at his reaction. His fatherly protectiveness always touched her heart. She really couldn't deny that she had come to accept these people like her family. They mattered the world to her now.

He held Xiu's shoulders and said, "Little Xiu, don't be swayed by anyone's honeyed words. Men these days are completely untrustable! You must put your guard up."

"Ge, she hasn't even brought her boyfriend yet and you're already judging him? Give him a chance first." Clara found her husband's reaction quite funny.

"I'm willing to give him a chance. But he has to prove first that he's actually the right one for my daughter." He seemed adamant about his decision. "I'll only allow him to be with my daughter if he manages to pass my test."

"Ge, if you kept being like this both your daughters are gonna be single for life." Clara almost snapped at him.

Xiu was amused. Moreover, she was feeling loved. "Both of you, calm down." She came between them and went on, "First of all, I'm not getting married until Nora finds her life partner. Second of all, Regan is my boyfriend and he obviously has to go through your evaluation. Third of all, as my family, you can say anything to my boyfriend just don't be too harsh on him. I really love him."

Jing Ge hugged this little one who talked with so much sincerity and love. "Little Xiu, if you love him so much, how am I gonna bring myself to put on that stern and cold fatherly look before him? I have yet to see him and you're already defending him?"

Xiu tilted her head up to look at him as she said, "Uncle, I just don't want to lose him."

Jing Ge nodded as he stated, "It's good to know that our little Xiu has finally opened her heart. Don't worry at all. I won't do anything harsh but as a father, I also have some conditions. So, you can't stop me from interrogating him."

Xiu laughed at the way he put it and nodded agreeably. As long as he was willing to accept Darren, she didn't mind what he did. After all, she believed in her Darren. There was no way he'd fail in such an evaluation. He had all the merits of a perfect life partner.

Later, Xiu finished all the work in the kitchen. She didn't even give enough time to Clara to complain before she got everything done. While working she learned that the Jing family's housemaid, Sister Qin had gone to her hometown and that's why Clara was alone in the kitchen.

She called Nora to help her in serving the food while she shoved both Clara and Jing Ge out of the kitchen. Since the time she had been living with Darren, she barely even did any kitchen work. He'd do everything from cooking, to serving and to even cleaning up after. At one point, she even thought he might even start feeding her as well. 

Sigh... She really felt useless around him. And she really wasn't used to that lifestyle!

However, here she was not useless. She could do everything and anything because this was her home. This was her family.

"Is Darren going to come tomorrow?" asked Nora as they were bringing dishes out of the kitchen.

Xiu frowned a little. "I don't know. He was gonna come with me tonight but suddenly got something urgent to do."

"Aiyo! Work is more important than you?"

Xiu narrowed her eyes at Nora and replied, "It was something personal. Not work-related."

"Ohhh..." Nora nodded and heard Jackson laughing out clutching his stomach with tears hanging right at the corner of his eyes. "What's so funny, little brother?"

Jackson looked at Nora and laughed even louder saying, "Nana was telling me that in elementary school..." Nora's face darkened as he stopped to catch his breath. She could tell what was coming. "In elementary school, your classmates bullied you by singing... Haha!"

"Singing? Singing what?" asked Xiu curiously.

♪Dora, boots

Come on, Dora

Do-do-do-do-Dora

Do-do-do-do-Dora

Do-do-do-do-Dora

Do-do-do-do-Dora, let's go

Dora, Dora, Dora the explorer ♪

The one who sang was unexpectedly Nora's mother. She was also having a fit of laughter making Nora's fume in anger.

"Mel! Why did you bring up that dark history?" Nora put all the blame on Mel who shared this long-buried story. Then she looked at her mother, "And you! Mother dearest! How can you laugh at your own daughter?"

Xiu also couldn't help it. She really couldn't keep her face straight. She patted Nora's back and said, "You and I are really meant to be sisters."

"Huh?"

Xiu presented the cakes she brought from home and said, "I made Dora cakes just for you!"

Seeing that plate of Dora cakes, Nora fumed again, "Xiu!!!!"

This was not a coincidence. This was definitely a conspiracy against her!