Imperfect Desires

Darren was in deep thought when he noticed Yan Ying shifting her weight from one leg to another before completely leaning against the tree behind her. Seeing her complexion, he touched her forehead and his brows knitted up, "You still have a fever? Who let you discharge in this condition?"

"I'm fine," she opened her eyes and pushed his hand away. However, he could tell that her push wasn't strong enough like usual. 

Darren pulled her ear while hauling her towards his car. "You're an impossible creature. If you're sick just stick in the hospital. Why do you have to show-off this much? There is nothing wrong with taking a break once in a while!"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" she was trying to let him know that he was hurting him but apparently the message wasn't getting across at all. Because Darren almost threw her in the backseat of his car while she kept fuming, "Regan! Can't you be a little nice to me? What's with this barbaric treatment?"

"Hello, ex-team leader!" 

Yan Ying shut her mouth and looked at the person in the driving seat. In fact, she smiled back at him saying, "Oh, hi Ben! Haven't seen you since the time you decided to follow this barbarian."

Darren who just settled in the passenger seat looked back at Yan Ying and said, "Instead of talking so much, just close your eyes and take some rest."

Yan Ying huffed at him while Ben spoke, "I guess, team leader Yan is still taking her life as a joke."

"Joke? Absolutely not!" She denied this statement rather sternly. "By the way, comrade, you forgot us all as soon as you changed parties."

She was referring to how Ben had left her team to work for Darren years ago. Someone was still hostile for losing a valuable teammate to a moronic foe. It was a pity that this moronic foe had a handsome face and dreamy eyes.

"He's not your comrade anymore," reminded Darren as he gestured Ben to drive the car.

Yan Ying snickered, "A comrade for a day is a comrade for life!"

"Team leader, the saying actually goes like, 'A mentor for a day is a mentor for life.'" Ben so conveniently chimed in.

Yan Ying leaned back in the seat to rest her eyes as she muttered, "Well, there is a certain someone who doesn't value that phrase. Even now, he actually dared to treat his mentor like a rag. I think he even treats me worse than a rag."

Darren rolled his eyes at her speech. "Ms. Mentor, it's not my fault that you never even act like a mentor whom I'd want to show respect." He took a pause and said playfully, "Besides, I don't treat you like a rag. Maybe, I don't give you the care as much as people give silk sheets. But I think I give you enough care that cotton sheets deserve."

Ben pursed his lips trying to bit back his laughter while Yan Ying glared at him through the rear-view mirror saying, "You idiot! How dare you compare me with cotton sheets?"

"I think there is some truth in my words otherwise you wouldn't be so agitated."

Darren's words instantly shut Yan Ying up as she crossed her arms across her chest moodily and closed her eyes. She really didn't want to waste her brain cells arguing with him. Not when she really didn't even have the energy to do so.

Darren looked back at her face and frowned slightly. As much as it was true that this woman could be considered his mentor, it was also true that he never talked to her like he did with everyone around him.

Actually, now that he thought about he realized that he and Ying were quite similar to Dylan and Xiu. 

By the time, the car halted before the hospital, Yan Ying was already in a deep sleep. Ben helped him carry her inside the hospital and Darren dealt with the paperwork. Her wound was cleaned again and she was shifted to a room.

"How's her condition?" inquired Darren to the on-call doctor.

"She's clearly very careless," stated doctor and Darren could only nod agreeably. "She fell in the water and didn't change her wet clothes for hours. Also, she was already shot on her shoulder. Although the bullet didn't cause any critical wound, it still got infected. I suggest to keep her here for two days for follow-up. Because I honestly don't think that Ms. Yan is gonna be careful. Her health had always been the least of her worries."

Darren didn't know what to say. In fact, he knew whatever the doctor said was right. There was no room for denial.

The person sleeping on the bed only opened her eyes when the doctor had left the room and tried to get up. Darren pushed her head down saying, "Don't even think about it!"

She looked at the time and seeing that it was 3 in the morning she said, "Why don't you just go home? Your girlfriend must be waiting for you."

Darren took a seat at the chair beside her bed and calmly replied, "My girlfriend went home to spend the weekend with her family."

"Damn!" Yan Ying cursed under her breath before trying again, "I really can't stay in the hospital. I have to leave."

"Why?" 

"I have to meet someone. That person came all the way here just because of my call and I ditched our meeting on Thursday without even giving a reason." Yan Ying was frustrated already. There was so much going on and she had to get back to her work. She really couldn't waste her time here in the hospital.

Darren looked at her face carefully. "Ms. Archaeologist, what are you digging up this time?"

Yan Ying sighed out, "I can't tell you that."

"Is it related to Ava's kidnapping?" asked Darren and she shook her head in reply. "Then?"

"Don't get involved, Regan. It doesn't concern you," replied Yan Ying seriously. "I told you once that often the pit we dig becomes our own grave. So, we should be mindful of our actions." She turned to look at him and added, "Now, will you please let me leave? It's a really important matter."

Darren pretended to think before smiling at her, "No! You're staying here until the doctor says otherwise and I'll be keeping watch on you."

"Why are you being like this man?" she whined.

"Ying, just take a break. Give yourself a little breather. The world won't end if you stayed in bed for two days. Why are you being stubborn?" He rubbed his hand over his face in exasperation and continued, "That year when I was desperately trying to get up from my wheelchair, it was you who said that I should take it easy. You were the one who said that only my willpower and aggression won't get me anywhere. I need to be patient. Why don't you take your own advice?" Yan Ying raised her brow at him. "Be patient. The world can wait, your health won't. The reason why I never give you respect a mentor deserves is that you... You're the person who doesn't even value her own self. How can you expect me to do it then?"

She suddenly smiled at him widely, "I thought people take my words as a joke. I really didn't expect you to remember what I said years ago."

Darren scoffed, "I still take you as a joke. But even clowns sometimes teach us a thing or two."

"Hey! This tongue with that face of yours is a very dangerous combination!"