Imperfect Desires

Crazy Xiu:Wake up sleeping beauty!

 Wakey-wakey!

 Come out of the dreamland and see who's with me.

 *attached a picture of Cali laughing along with Nora*

 Isn't that a sight to behold? Oh, wait, I should say that's a beauty to behold! Hehe...

These were the messages that awaited Dylan. His eyes lingered on the photo that Xiu sent for a long moment. He was so engrossed in staring at it that he didn't even realize how his cursing had attracted the attention of everyone in the room. Not that he cared.

"What's up with you now?" 

This question came from Dylan's mother who was already used to his antics but still couldn't help getting a headache because of her son's random moments.

"Umm... Nothing. I'll be right back," saying that Dylan excused himself.

Cranky Boss:What the hell is this?

          Where are you?

         And why are you with Cali?

         Where did you meet her?

Xiu smiled contently staring at the string of messages that Dylan kept sending one after the other. Oh, how it pleased her. 

Crazy Xiu:Didi, I must say, she's even better looking in person.

Dylan rolled his eyes at her reply.

Cranky Boss:I know that!

           Don't try to change the subject, just tell me what are you up to?

'Aren't you eager to know?' Xiu thought to herself before trying in her reply.

Crazy Xiu:Why do you care what I am up to? Besides, it's not like I'm gonna kidnap her or something.

      Take a chill-pill, my over-the-top dramatic boss!

Cranky Boss:Guess what!

           I don't believe you very much right now.

          You're definitely up to something.

           Spill the beans already!

Xiu laughed out attracting the attention of Nora and Cali. 

"Found something funny?" asked Nora giving Xiu the look. 

Xiu waved it off, "Nah. Just a crazy fly buzzing around."

Nora didn't have to think much before understanding what Xiu was talking about. A knowing smile on her face was enough proof that she understood Xiu's planning very well. "So, when is this crazy fly gonna fly here?"

Xiu's smile widened looking at her best friend who knew her so well that it was partially amazing and partially terrifying. "Soon. Very soon."

With that reply, she sent another photo to Dylan. This time Dylan's mind went blank as he looked at the phone screen. He almost dropped the phone because of the impact that this photo had.

Crazy Xiu:I'm not planning anything but...

         This gorgeous young man might have other ideas.

Attached to it was a photo of Cali with a tall man who looked quite young. Dylan's hand clenched into a tight fist as he noticed how uncomfortably close that man was standing to Cali and was offering her a drink that looked like she was gonna accept. 

Cranky Boss:WHERE?!

Xiu didn't reply. Oh, not so easy. If he was a dunce didn't mean she wasn't gonna smash some common sense into him. If he wasn't gonna realize his feelings on his own, then this sister-in-law was more than happy to provoke him. 

Cali being offered a drink was really nothing surprising to Xiu. From the time she sat with them, she had been offered a drink from half a dozen people already which included both males and females. Since Cali wasn't trying to be a hardcore tomboy at the moment with the way she looked, she attracted quite a lot of attention because of her western looks. 

Although Cali had turned down each person without even batting an eye as if she had been too used to this kind of thing. And if she really was, Xiu wouldn't actually be surprised. However, the particular picture that got Dylan in that raging mode was the result of Xiu's perfect angle to click the photo. 

Crazy Boss:XIU! I asked WHERE ARE YOU?!

Within five minutes, Dylan's patience had run out as he sent several texts asking her to give him an address. After Xiu was thoroughly irritating her, she typed in the address and sent it to him adding...

Crazy Xiu:Before coming, I'd like you to make sure to ask your heart why it's so restless. 

        Because if you're coming for a 'friend' let me remind you that 'friend' of yours is capable of making her own choices.

Dylan was left dumbstruck after reading her messages. She had managed to hit a mark. Once again, Dylan was forced to think about why it affected him? Why seeing Cali with someone else got him feeling so weird? And what was this feeling? Could it be jealousy?

Shaking his head at his own thoughts, Dylan heaved a heavy sigh before running up to get his car keys and back to the lounge to shout, "Dazi, you're coming with me."

"Where?" was Darren's reply.

"You'll know when we get there," answered Dylan impatiently.

"No, you tell first," retorted Darren stubbornly.

"Trust me, you'd regret it if you chose to stay," was Dylan vague reply making Darren curious.

He got up and walked up to Dylan as he questioned, "What's up?"

"I have one word for you..." Darren quirked his brows in anticipation. "Xiu."

"Let's go."

Dylan smiled seeing Darren's reply. See, it was that easy to convince Darren to come with him without even asking for an explanation. 

....

"Xiu'er!"

Xiu looked up from her phone screen at her best friend who was calling her name in a loud voice to get her attention.

"What?"

"Put your phone down." Xiu did exactly as she was told and put her phone down. "Now, you should talk to Cali, she seems very interested in Chinese culture."

Xiu raised her eyebrows before shifting her attention to Cali. "Really?"

"Hmm... Since I'm here I wanted to try something different but apparently, I don't know where to begin," answered Cali.

"That's what I am here for! I'll be your culture guide. And in my opinion, culture starts with traditional alcohol. So, I should say I'd be your alcohol guide," Xiu patted her chest feeling proud over her extensive knowledge of alcohol since she was a pure alcoholic in her previous life. "But before we begin, let's see what taste would you prefer."

"Taste?"

"Hm. Flavor. I mean between grain, cereal grains, fermented sorghum, glutinous rice, and snake. What would you prefer?"

Cali's eyes twitched at Xiu. "Snake?" she repeated. "You don't actually mean..."

"Oh no, I do." Xiu was very serious talking about it. And seeing how Cali's eyes widened, she elaborated. "Although snake wine is prepared by brewing a whole snake in rice wine, it poses no threat to the drinker since the venom dissolves in the liquor. So, you don't have to worry at all." Cali was still not very convinced. "You should really give it a shot. It's one of the oldest recorded alcohol in the history of our country. Besides, in ancient times it was believed that it could cure everything from rheumatism to hair loss. And it's part of the culture."

"You have tried it," asked Cali cautiously.

"Of course, I have!" Receiving a look of disbelief from the two people before her, Xiu coughed awkwardly and went on, "But if snake wine is off-putting, we can always begin with Baijiu. It's 'white alcohol'. Everyone loves it around here."

"I think I can try that," said Cali while Xiu happily jumped up from her seat and went somewhere and when she came back she held a tray with three small cups, some snacks, and a white porcelain bottle in it. 

As she placed the tray on the table, she said, "Well, if we're gonna try. Why not now?" She wiggled her brows in amusement as she poured the baijiu in three cups and went on, "It's a tradition to drink baijiu with food rather than on its own. So, I brought these dumplings and wontons. Now, let me broaden the horizon of your taste buds."

While Cali laughed at everything Xiu did, Nora was regretting the moment she asked her best friend to introduce the Chinese culture to Cali. She should have known her best friend needed just an excuse to put more alcohol on the table. But since Cali didn't seem to mind it at all, she also kept quiet about it.