Imperfect Desires

Meanwhile the pair of Xiu and Dylan that looked like long lost sibling quibbling over everything all the time was actually working in perfect harmony in the kitchen this time around. Under Xiu's guidance, Dylan did everything that she asked for.

As for the matter of Xiu's savings that were spent on Dylan's car, they had come to an agreement. As for what they decided, that was kept a secret between them. There was no point in sharing it with others when both the parties involved were absolutely okay with it now.

"Whose car is at the front?"

They both heard Zhao Wei's voice from outside but didn't pay attention to it as Xiu gestured Dylan to keep stirring the soup who obliged silently.

"Oh, it's Regan. But who is the girl with him?"

Xiu and Dylan stopped whatever they were doing as they looked at each other. Turning off the stove, they both ran out of the kitchen through the backdoor and looked at Darren sneakily standing at the side of the house. Xiu was surprised to see that Darren appeared to be in a very good mood. He didn't even get angry or said anything when that gorgeous and tall girl kicked him. 

Xiu was furious at Cali but she couldn't go ahead because Dylan held on to her shoulder. "Don't bother. That's very normal between those two."

Xiu didn't expect this reply from Dylan. She bit her lips and silently watched Darren and Cali's interaction from not so far. They couldn't eavesdrop even after they both got on all fours and crawled behind a bush like the pair of most annoying and nosy kids that they were. One had to say it, both of them really had a great understanding of each other. 

Finally, Darren fist-bumped with Cali before turning to walk inside the house. "Hey, Sweets' boyfriend!" He turned around when he heard Cali calling him. "Say hi to your new girl."

Darren narrowed his eyes at her and she laughed at him before driving away. 

As for Xiu, she was left feeling something strange... Jealousy? Oh, that's what it felt like for sure. Or maybe not. Actually, what bothered her was how Cali addressed her as a 'new girl'. It was like a sudden reminder that Darren had plenty of girls in his life before he actually fell for Chen Xiu. And this was not a very good feeling.

"Who is she?" asked Xiu trying to keep her complicated feelings buried. "Is she Regan's ex-girlfriend or something?"

Dylan rolled his eyes at her question and even lightly pushed her head. "Oh, please! Calling her Dazi's boyfriend would be more appropriate."

"Huh?"

Dylan knew she didn't get it, so he elaborated, "She is Calista, one of Dazi's friends from back home. They had been together since high school." Xiu was still frowning with her own thoughts running amok. He sighed at her reaction and showed his phone to her. It was a photo of five teenagers. She could recognize Dylan and Darren but not the other three. Actually no, she could recognize the only girl in the group because she was the one whom Xiu just saw with Darren.

"This is Asher and this one is Xavier. As for this one, you already saw her." Dylan introduced Darren's friends to her. "Ash, Vier, and Cali had been friends since middle school but Darren joined the group later on when he moved back to Norway."

Xiu suddenly recalled something, "I think Regan mentioned this girl before." She tried to refresh her memory as she said, "I think he said she always looked for trouble or dangers. I can't recall clearly."

"You don't have to," said Dylan before he looked at the photo in his hand and said, "She has a very questionable personality."

"What? Questionable personality?" asked Xiu and Dylan nodded without any hesitation.

He scrolled through his photo gallery and pulled out another picture. But this one was a solo shot of Cali while she was standing beside her bike. "Look at her, what impression does she give you?"

"She has amazing body proportions," said Xiu with a sly smile making Dylan want to slap her head. Seeing that Dylan was judging her, she continued, "Hmm... She looks like an adventurer. There is no innocence in her eyes only a wish for a thrill. Oh, damn! I love those tattoos. So cool!"

Xiu even zoomed in on all the visible tattoos and admired without holding back. Her reaction was also aligned with what Dylan expected actually. At least, from her. There were about seven tattoos visible to her and each tattoo was small but looked beautiful.

"She's a doctor, by the way," said Dylan seeing how Xiu's jealousy was long swapped with a look of admiration for no reason at all. He really wanted to tell her that she was gullible but didn't do so. Like how could she fall for a woman's charms so easily considering that she was a woman herself! 

Xiu's eyes widened at this revelation and he added, "An orthopedic surgeon to be precise."

Xiu gaped at him in disbelief before trying to say something, "But... But she doesn't..."

"She doesn't give the vibes of a doctor, right?" Xiu nodded without any hesitation. She was willing to believe anything but Cali being a doctor? How? "That's why they never judge a book by its cover. Just because you look cute doesn't mean you're actually cute. Looks can be deceiving." Xiu glared at his words which he conveniently chose to overlook as he went on, "Even though she doesn't look like it, she's an awesome doctor."

Xiu found something weird in Dylan's tone but couldn't pinpoint what exactly was it. However, she could tell that Dylan sounded different about him when he talked about Cali.

He didn't pay attention to the look in her eyes as he rubbed her head and said, "The reason why I said that she's more suitable to be Dazi's boyfriend is the same. She had always been like a brother to him. He never even looked at that tomboy as a girl because she never even acted like one."

Xiu nodded her head in understanding. She didn't need this long explanation after she recalled how Darren described Cali to her a while back. But she still listened to Dylan for some reason. In fact, only now did she realize why she listened. She placed her elbow on his shoulder and leaned close to his face. Seeing her eyes sparkling with evilness, he was alarmed but it was too late.

"I wonder, my little Didi, she's a boyfriend to my Regan. What is she to you?" Her eyebrows danced in amusement while Dylan's eyes widened instinctively. 

"What do you mean? She's just a friend. Actually more precisely she's a friend of a friend," said Dylan in his defense.

Xiu wasn't convinced as she grinned at his reaction. "Oh, really? Then why do you know her so well?" 

Dylan was stunned. He really didn't know what to say in his defense now. "I... I..." he was stuttering trying to find some words.

"What are you both doing?"

The voice of Xin Zimen came timely as Dylan found a way to escape from this question which suddenly felt really difficult to answer. He abruptly stood up and said, "Uncle Zi, we were looking for some... herbs."

"Herbs?" repeated Xin Zimen and looked around them to only find grass and bushes. Where the hell were herbs? 

Xiu was really sick of this stupid person who couldn't even find a better excuse. She stood up and swatted her clothes saying, "Weird Uncle no 2, we were just having a little chitchat."

"Here?" asked Xin Zimen completely overlooking the way Xiu called him again. Xiu and Dylan shared a look before nodding in sync. Xin Zimen sighed at them, "Whatever. Just go inside now."

"Yes," said both of them and started walking down the same path that they used to come outside.

While silently walking, Xiu leaned closer to Dylan and whispered, "Didi, we don't keep a friend of a friend's photo in our phone for no reason at all." She patted his shoulder and added, "I think you either re-evaluate your relationship with her or delete those photos. You'll look like a stalker otherwise."