Imperfect Desires

Xin Zimen watched his son leaving the room and shook his head. He stretched his hand to pick up the photo frame from the table at his side and looked at the woman smiling softly with her black orbs gleaming with happiness.

"Your sons didn't inherit a single thing from you," he remarked in a slightly low voice. 

"Are you complaining, Xiao Zi?" 

Xin Zimen heard the voice and looked up at his only friend who just walked inside the room. 

"Brother Kuan, I'm not complaining. It's just that it would have been so easy for me if at least one of my sons had turned out to be like their mother," Xin Zimen lamented rather sadly. "She was stubborn, strong, cunning and shrewd. But Ah-Li and Ah-Si have none of these qualities. Not even one."

Xin Kuan stayed quiet for a moment longer as he observed Xin Zimen's expressions as he kept staring at his wife's photo with an indescribable yearning palpable in his eyes. Right now, he couldn't find that intimidating aura around Xin Zimen that people feared. Because at this moment, the Xin Zimen before him was just a husband who missed his wife and a father who was really worried about his sons.

"The situation in the Xin family can get worse," reminded Xin Kuan. "Although Ah-Si having a daughter shouldn't be an issue, those people are definitely not gonna let this go. I'm certain they'll try to drag you down again."

Xin Zimen's eyes flashed with a strange emotion as he placed the photo frame back and turned to look at Xin Kuan. "They can drag me all they want. I don't mind as long as they don't try to pull my sons into their evil plans." He closed his eyes slowly as he whispered, "As for me, it can't get any worse than this." The corner of his lips lifted up in irony as he continued, "I have no wish to continue this game."

Xin Kuan lowered his eyes as he understood what he meant. 

"Xiao Zi, are you sure about finding Carina Novell? This matter isn't as simple as it seems."

Xin Zimen stood up and walked towards the desk as he replied, "If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't get Ying involved in this matter. She is the only one I can trust. Although my heart is not at ease because I know it's as simple as it seems. However, I'm certain she can take care of herself." He shuffled through some documents before asking, "Did she find anything?"

"She did..." replied Xin Kuan.

"And?" urged Xin Zimen to him to continue seeing that Xin Kuan wasn't saying anything.

"I think you should wait for Ying. She still is looking for something. Even though the puzzle pieces seem complete, she's insisting that something is missing."

Xin Zimen smiled slightly, "I don't expect anything else from her as well. Let her have fun as long as it keeps her mind off other stuff." He took a pause before frowning, "Where is she by the way? Didn't she come with us?"

"Regan dragged her back to the hospital. And he is also keeping a watch on her," answered Xin Kaun exactly as he had learned.

Xin Zimen ended up chuckling, "We don't have to worry then. Regi won't let her leave unless her fever goes down. Good! At least, there is still someone who can restrain that troublemaker."

Just as he sat in the leather chair and turned on his laptop, Xin Kuan spoke up, "Xiao Zi..."

"Hmm."

"What are you trying to do?" asked Xin Kuan and Xin Zimen raised his brow in question. "I mean about Carina Novell." He sighed heavily before adding, "Technically speaking, she has nothing to do with you. But my intuition says that this matter can put you in a difficult position. You're gonna get implicated like last time. Are you ready to face something like that again? Last time, your wife was standing with you. This time, you'd be alone."

"Difficult position?" Xin Zimen repeated. "I'm already the most hated person in the whole family. The despicable younger brother who seized his elder brother's position and power. Can I be any more despicable? I don't think so." He smiled at Xin Kuan and added, "And who said I'm alone? Don't I still have you?"

"I really can't understand you sometimes. You seem even more complicated than your late wife. At least, I could guess what she was planning. You! Sigh. It's already a miracle that I can keep my sanity around you." Xin Kuan harrumphed when he couldn't get a single normal reply from Xin Zimen. 

But then again, it wasn't the first time at all.

While on the other side of the things...

Yan Ying slowly opened her eyes to see that Darren's eyes were closed. She sneakily got off the bed and picked up her phone before tip-toeing her way towards the balcony. She dialed the number and waited for the other person to pick up.

"Are you trying to play with me?" came a stern feminine voice. 

"Play? With you? No way!" Yan Ying replied nonchalantly completely disregarding the fact that the other person was serious and angry at the moment. "Anyways, where are you?"

"Atlantis Hotel," she heard the reply.

"Okay. I'll come to you... *Achoo!*" she sneezed because of standing in the cold night breeze barefoot on the marble floor. "As soon as I get out of here," finished Yan Ying while rubbing her nose.

There was silence at the other end before she heard the other person say, "Don't you think you should give me an explanation for ditching me?"

"At this point whatever I say will sound like an excuse. So, I won't bother," answered Yan Ying.

"Then give me the answer that I came here for..." 

"What do you want to know?"

"Did you really found my aunt? If yes, then tell me where she is right now." 

Yan Ying pursed her lips and contemplated before saying, "I can't tell. Not now. Let's talk face-to-face about this."

"But..."

"And the answer to your question is, yes. I found Carina Novell." 

With that, she hung up and looked up at the sky before turning around. 

"AH!"

Her heart almost jumped out of her chest as she saw Darren standing behind her like a grim reaper. Damn! That look was scary!

"What are you doing here?" she pushed him aside and walked back to the bed.

"That should be my question," retorted Darren.

"I just had to talk to make a phone call. It's not nice to leave someone waiting for you," replied Yan Ying languidly shrugging her shoulders. 

Darren stroked his jaw but didn't say anything. He knew whatever he said won't have any effect on this person at all.