Imperfect Desires

Xiu had expected to find a lively atmosphere at the dining table considering how she saw Jing Family. If not anyone, at least, Nora and Jackie would keep chattering throughout the meal. But it wasn't the case with this family.

True to her words, Ying didn't let Xiu touch anything after she entered the picture. And she was the one who called everyone for this sumptuous late supper. Xiu just had to take a seat right beside Darren. On her right was Xin Zimen who was also seriously focused on eating. 

Xiu became apprehensive yet again seeing their reaction. Did they not like the meal? Why was it so silent here? She really couldn't understand what was going on. She was biting her chopsticks when she felt a warm hand held hers. Xiu looked up at Darren who gave her a reassuring smile and blinked. Xiu felt herself calming down.

Since she had been lost in trying to impress everyone, she completely forgot a single detail. This silence had only descended when Qiu Meihui joined them on the table with her daughter, Asteria. It was Xin Xiaoli who drove the mother and daughter here. But the tense atmosphere in the room really wasn't something even he expected.

However, there was a person who couldn't help looking over at Xiu. Ying could clearly see the despondent bearing of Xiu. She frowned at first as she looked at every other people gathered at the table looking gloomy as if someone died or something. When no one made an attempt to say something, she took it upon herself.

"Zi..." she called out Xin Zimen who was sitting right next to her side but she still spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Hmm..."

 "How's the food? I feel like I haven't had this delicious meal in ages," Ying tried to subtly praise Xiu as she went on, "I'm afraid I might end up eating the bowl with the food."

"Why am I not surprised?" laughed Xin Zimen at her remark of eating the bowl along with the food.

Ying narrowed her eyes at him while Xin Zimen frowned at her expression. Changing her expression to a forced smile she indicated something with her eyes as she continued, "Isn't this Kung Pao chicken just amazing? Even better than those takeout that you love."

Xin Zimen didn't understand what she was trying to convey but he still spoke out his heartfelt feelings, "That's true. I haven't had such an amazing Kung Pao chicken in a long time. It's simply delicious. I might really start hating takeout meals after this."

Ying smiled in satisfaction as she noticed the corner of Xiu's lips going upwards slightly. Ying found her smile delightful. She didn't know it herself why but with Xiu, she felt a strange kind of affinity. Maybe it was since Xiu was younger than her by five years or so but it brought a protectiveness to come out for her.

"And this sesame-ginger beef is the most flavorful I've ever tasted," Ying chimed in continuing to focus her attention on Xiu's face. She picked up the bowl and served more for Xin Zimen saying, "Zi, you should taste these Dragon Noodles. I'm telling you, it's Fuego(meaning 'on fire')!" She even went ahead to exaggerate by kissing the tip of her fingers as if she was lost for more words.

Xin Zimen silently slurped on the noodles and while chewing when he saw Ying's anticipating look, he said, "It's good. No, actually it's really on fire. Reminds me of my wife."

"How so? Your wife couldn't even cook!" Qiu Jiayi finally spoke up as he was getting tired of a certain someone only involving Xin Zimen in a conversation. He was also feeling weird in this atmosphere but he couldn't say or do anything since the boss at home was his wife, Zhao Wei. 

"That's why I'm reminded of her," answered Xin Zimen which earned him a very dissatisfied look from his best friend. 

"Oh, uncle Zi, that means when mom told me that you and your wife were equally dumb in the kitchen, she was telling the truth?" Dylan questioned curiously.

Xin Zimen nodded his head without any hesitation and with a smile at those memories said, "If we didn't have a cook, and we had to prepare our own meals. Boy, we would have poisoned each other to death. That's how dumb we both were in the kitchen."

Xiu finally chuckled a little but kept her head down. Looking at Xiu, Xin Zimen touched her head and added, "Little one, thank you for all of this. You have a talent and magic in your hands. I'm officially a fan."

Ying finally heaved a sigh of relief that Xin Zimen finally noticed Xiu. Just because all of them were eating with gusto didn't mean that the person who put all the effort and work into this actually was a mind reader. They had to compliment a little.

Following his best friend's lead, Qiu Jiayi also chimed in, "I especially love this Pepper Steak. It's to die for!" He smiled genuinely at Xiu and went on, "Regi, you're about to lose your muscles. Because I don't think you'd be able to put down your chopsticks once you tasted these delights."

Darren felt really happy as he squeezed Xiu's hand under the table and said, "I'd gladly lose all the muscles for anything that Sweets make for me." Xiu looked at his face while he smiled at her and added, "Besides, she wants me to get a layer of fats to protect my muscles."

Xiu glared at him for telling this to everyone while everyone chuckled at his words. "That's a very sneaky way to say that she doesn't want anyone else to look at you," said Dylan while looking at Xiu whose face was getting red now from this uncalled embarrassment.

"It's her right to do so," finally Zhao Wei chose to join this lively conversation as she went on, "She cares about him so much that even now, she didn't forget to make the Caprese Chicken Lasagna for Regan." 

Xiu had only made it because Darren wasn't really fond of Chinese food. He could eat it but it wasn't his favorite though. So, she decided to just whip up something that he could eat with delight, and it was Dylan's suggestion to make the Chicken Lasagna. But now when she looked at Dylan munching on the lasagna, she suddenly thought that he wasn't thinking of Darren when he suggested her to make lasagna.

"Wei Ma, that's because my Sweets can't possibly forget me," said Darren with a sickly sweet smile on his face directed towards her. "I'm always on her mind."

"Show-off!"

"Narcissist!"

Both the remarks came from Ying and Dylan simultaneously. However, Darren didn't care about them acting like idiots as he said, "Well, I'm a show-off and a narcissist. Who wouldn't be if they have the most amazing life partner?"

"I suddenly don't feel like talking to him," said Dylan as he went back to concentrating on food.

"Everything is well and good but why are you all being so stingy all of a sudden?" began Ying as she looked at these old people. "All talk and no action is no good. The little girl did so much to impress this crazy family, shouldn't you be rewarding her?"

When Ying brought this up, they all shared a look. "Right, what do you want Xiu?" Zhao Wei was the one who asked.

Dylan finally looked up and said, "Oi! I also helped. Where is my reward?" 

"This is not about you, Didi!" Zhao Wei warned her son.

Noticing all the eyes on herself, Xiu was flustered. They were really serious about this reward thingy? Xiu didn't know what to say to that. But she held Darren's arm and answered, "I have everything I always wanted sitting right beside me."

"Aww... That's so sweet!" said Zhao Wei.

"Yuck!" was Dylan's response. "You really know how to rub it in."

Xiu glared at him for his stupid remark and so did the other people at the table.

"Sweets is absolutely right. There is no need for any formalities here," agreed Darren with his girlfriend as if that was not already expected.

"Very well then..." began Xin Zimen before he looked at her and added, "Then how about you grant us a wish instead?"

"What can I possibly offer you, weird uncle no 2?" she was holding back her laughter when she said that.

Xin Zimen looked at people around him and said, "If you don't mind this crazy family, how about being a part of it?"

Xiu was left stunned.