Imperfect Desires

"By the way, I've been wondering for a while now... What's up with that baseball bat of yours?" 

Xiu almost choked on the juice that she had been drinking but she blinked at him as if she didn't understand his meaning at all.

"It's customized so I assume there's a story behind it," Xin Zimen sounded very certain with his own conjecture.

"There is no story," she refused to budge. He didn't have to know it. 

Xin Zimen smiled seeing her reaction. "Oh, there is always a story. But you don't want to share that's a whole different story." Seeing her hesitation, he decided to drop the topic. He suddenly laughed to himself saying, "Let me teach you how to throw a punch. Otherwise, you might really break your knuckles next time."

"I know how to throw a punch," grumbled Xiu seeing him laugh at her so carelessly. But with the way, he threw his head back and guffawed really eased her nerves. It made him look really different.

He pinched her nose saying, "No, you don't. You purely were acting on instinct just like right now I don't even know why I'm pinching your nose." He slapped his own hand muttering, "This hand has a mind of its own now." Xiu couldn't help giggling at him. "Does your boyfriend know that his Sweets is not exactly just sweet? She also has some spice to her.

"What am I? A candy?"

"Hmmm... Good question. But if you're a candy, tagline would be; Sugar and Spice, but everything nice."

"That's not even original."

"But you're definitely original with your ways." He was serious now. "But seriously, does Regan know?"

Xiu pursed her lips before looking at him, "Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he does." She took a brief pause to add, "But he knows that Nora is my bottom line. And if you dare to touch my bottom line then you should be prepared for the consequences."

They sat in silence after that. She didn't know why he was giving her company here. But something told her that he was trying to make her feel better while talking about anything and everything or just with this comfortable silence.

"I just recalled, I think I heard you say something about going to jail twice..." Xiu bit her lips cursing herself for speaking too much in anger. "Now, I think that must be one hell of a story to tell."

"No," replied Xiu sharply. "It's a horrible story. It's so silly that I can't even believe it myself." Seeing his quirking his brows waiting for her to continue on, Xiu could only tell him how she and Dylan ended up in jail for the first time. And let's be honest, she expected the reaction she was getting right now.

"HAHAHA!" Xin Zimen clutched his stomach from laughing too much. "What the...! You both actually pulled each other's hair? And that too in the middle of the road?! That's so... Childish!" His laughter was getting loud now. "And you both even called Regan for help not knowing that Regan was associated with the both of you! What a funny pair you guys are!"

"Yeah, you can laugh all you want. Even I can't believe it till now!" Xiu could only grumble to herself for acting so immature with that stupid boss of hers. 

"You know it's actually quite funny but my wife used to pull Yi's hair as well whenever he did something wrong." Xiu raised her brows hearing this new information. She couldn't imagine the way Dylan's dignified looking father must have reacted to that. "It's true. Yi was always finding trouble with Ai. And that's why they mostly were in trouble."

"And I've been wondering how Dylan could be so different from his parents," voiced out Xiu as if she finally got enlightened.

"Just because Yi looks all mature now, don't let it fool you. He was once worse than his son. I guess time and responsibilities finally managed to shape his personality."

He shrugged his shoulder as if he was just sharing a normal thing and heard footsteps which made him look at the doorway. "Brother Kuan, you're back."

Xin Kuan looked at Xiu while nodding to Xin Zimen. He finally looked away from Xiu and said, "I have something to tell you."

"I should go and check on Nora," Xiu being the understanding and observant one silently got up to leave. She could tell that the newcomer had something to discuss with Xin Zimen and she was in his way. Besides, she had to check up on her best friend as well.

"Who is she?" questioned Xin Kuan when Xiu left them alone. Also, he felt like something was wrong with the way Xin Zimen looked at her. That soft and gentle emotions glimmering in his eyes were appalling to Xin Kaun who had never even seen him act like this around his own sons.

"She..." Xin Zimen stopped to contemplate. How was he supposed to say it? How could he say something when he was uncertain himself. "I honestly don't know at this point who or what she is." He even managed to laugh at his own words surprising Xin Kuan even more. "Anyways what do you have to say? And where have you been for the whole day? Do you know how exciting the show you missed was?"

Xin Kuan frowned at his words. There was actually something exciting to this indifferent man? That was shocking. But he wasn't gonna voice his views to him right now. "Young miss asked for the DNA sample just like you said she will."

The smile on Xin Zimen's face disappeared as he turned to look at Xin Kuan and raised his brow slightly, "So? Did you give her the DNA sample?"

"Yes, just as you asked me to," answered Xin Kuan. "I thought she'd take the sample to the lab as soon as possible but she didn't."

"What did she do then?"

"She spent the whole morning at Feifei's apartment and when she came out, she was carrying a lunch box. I'm assuming that she cooked because first of all, Feifei was not home, and second of all, Feifei would rather survive on instant food than do the effort to cook for hours." Xin Kuan's description of Ying's aunt was on point. Director Fei could spend hours with the criminals but it was a hassle for her to spend even half the amount of time or effort trying to cook a healthy meal.

"So, did she send the samples to the lab or not yet?" 

"She did. Just a couple of hours ago and she has been standing outside the lab all this while as well. It appears she's more interested in the results than you are."

Xin Zimen didn't react to his words. He still looked as calm as before. There was not a single fluctuation palpable in his eyes. He looked like someone who had nothing to do with this whole matter. 

"I still don't get. What are you trying to do exactly?"

At Xin Kuan's question, Xin Zimen looked down at the ring on his left hand and smiled, "A little something to make her rest in peace."