Imperfect Desires

Oftentimes, we get so tired of everything and we sigh out, 'Life is hard.' But yet, the same life is said to be precious. What we don't realize is that; neither life is hard nor life is that precious.

It's always the people in our life that defines our life. We don't get tired of life, we get tired of the people in it. Life doesn't become hard all of a sudden, it's always the people who make everything seem hard for us. Most of all, life in itself isn't that precious. The people we love makes it precious for us.

People don't give up on life on their own. No one is born with that courage to face death on their own will. But when the people who gave us the courage to live turn away, that's when we lose the courage to live as well.

Xiu could be described as the perfect example of a person who chose death over life once everyone left her alone. It wasn't that life wasn't that precious anymore but the people in that life just stopped being precious to her. It also wasn't that she had the courage to give up on life but it was also those people who forced her to take that last step towards her death.

In this life, however, she was given a chance to meet the people who truly made her realize how precious life is. When she first lived with Nora, she found her a very loud and outspoken person. It showed how honest and sincere she was.

And the best part of being Bai Xiu was that Xiu learned to let go. The things, the people, the fame, everything that she held dear and kept clinging on to. She finally learned to let it all slip away. Because at the end of the day, she was the only one for herself. And if she would keep holding grudges, she won't be able to focus on being 'the new version' of herself as she so liked to put it.

"Ms. Bai, people call you Heartless Witch behind your back." Bo Jiu knew that Xiu was aware of her nicknames around the office. It's just that she never cared but why?

"Behind my back? I think I've heard them calling me Heartless Witch right at my face as well." Xiu replied, feeling not even slightly bad about it.

"Don't you care? Doesn't it hurt?" Bo Jiu asked.

"And why should an Emporer be bothered with a few petty peasants opinions?" Xiu retorted with a palpable arrogance. "If I so much care about what they think about me, won't I be lowering myself to their level? When walking the stairs, we keep our eyes on the next step, not on the step below. Just like that climbing the ladder in corporate life, you have to learn three things."

"What are those?" Bo Jiu was listening attentively as she asked.

"First, always mind what you see but never be like those who turn blind-eye to injustice. Second, hear everything but filter out the words that make you question yourself. And third, always speak your mind but never let others be in control of your judgment." Xiu spoke patiently and righteously.

"I'll remember your words. Thank you, Ms. Bai!" Bo Jiu sincerely showed her gratitude since she felt like sticking with Xiu would allow her to learn a lot.

Unbeknownst to her, someone had been watching her from a while through the blinds in an office room.

"She is the candidate you told me about?" The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties and clad in a professional business suit, she looked exquisite.

"Yup. That's Bai Xiu, one and only." Manager Li answered in a polite manner. From her polite and humble way of talking, one could guess that the other woman wasn't someone ordinary.

"She's wayward," the other woman commented while tucking her caramel locks behind her ear.

"Oh, tell me about it..." Manager Li replied knowingly.

"She also seems flaky." The woman again remarked with a glint in her eyes.

"You have no idea how eccentrically she behaves."

"She's also stubborn."

"As stubborn as a mule." Manager Li couldn't help but say.

"Perfect! She's just the right candidate." A beautiful smile slipped on the woman's face as she seemed quite excited.

Manager Li looked at her with an odd expression and said, "Really?" She couldn't believe that this woman would actually like Bai Xiu. Well, she had confidence in Bai Xiu but...

"I'm as sure as eggs is eggs." The woman replied with a peal of laughter and continued, "I need someone as strong as her for that stubborn ass of a thing I call the boss. I can already imagine seeing her throwing him in a fiery pit and roasting him alive."

"That's a bit excessive. Don't you think?" Manager Li questioned with tightly knitted brows. "He's the boss, after all."

"Nothing is excessive for that problematic, short-tempered and grumpy big-baby. I'm sure she'll be able to handle him very well." The way her pupils were contracted, Manager Li was getting an eerie feeling. "Do you think she'll be able to clear the screening tests? I mean I won't be able to act biased in an official matter."

"Don't worry about that. She's smart. I'm afraid if I let her stay here for another year, she might take my job from me." Manager Li said with conviction.

"Is that why you're sending her away?" The other woman asked again.

"Li Qi'er, my dearest sister... I'm sending her away because I believe that this department isn't doing justice to her. She has boundless potential and we're restricting her here. Being a part of your department will give her access to Qiu Group of Corporations' head office." Manager Li spoke with a rare gentleness that her sister, Li Qi'er had never seen before.

But Li Qi'er knew that if her sister was complimenting Bai Xiu than that girl really deserved the best of the best.

"Okay, then. Next week, the screening will start. Send her for that." Li Qi'er spoke and left her sister's office, not without taking another look at Xiu who was answering the queries of Bo Jiu at the moment. The more she looked, the more she thought that Xiu was perfect.