Imperfect Desires

The following morning, Nora again found Xiu at the balcony but instead of working out, she seemed to be in meditation. Nora was really surprised by Xiu's new morning routine. The girl who worshipped sleep was actually leaving her bed a bit early for the sake of exercise? It was really hard to digest.

However, Nora found this change as a positive one. So, she didn't even question Xiu lest the latter would choose to stop again. In fact, Xiu had really taken Dylan's comment to heart. When he had called her kiddo, she felt her blood boiling and that's why she decided to focus on taking care of her physique.

Later on like any other morning, Xiu dressed up in her office attire which consisted of a chiffon blouse and pants. After her breakfast with Nora, she left the apartment.

She walked for 20 minutes before reaching the bus stop. As Xiu had mentioned to Nora, she really did enjoy her bus rides. Being in the company of so many strangers rushing to their destinations gave her a sense of freedom that she didn't have in her previous life.

In the past, these strangers used to look at her from afar but now, she was part of this crowd herself. An unknown stranger whom nobody knew. That feeling alone was liberating.

Making her way through the bustling lobby of Spark Internation Group, she took the elevator to the eighteenth floor. She had just placed her purse on her desk when two envelopes caught her eyes. One was a handwritten apology letter from Qiao Liang which made Xiu scoff as she thought, 'Are we still in high school? What's with the handwritten apology? Do I look like a teacher?' She shook her head and looked at the other envelope.

Her lips upturned in a satisfied smile. It was the resignation letter from Yi Gougou, just as Xiu had hoped for it to be. Xiu could hear the murmurs going around in the department but she was in too good of a mood to spare them a glance. She settled in her swivel chair and turned on her desktop.

"Did you hear? Yi Gougou resigned."

"I did. But wasn't she sent to the ad shoot with Senior Yao?"

"Aye! For someone with Yi Gougou's personality, the ad shoot is a hell of its own."

"Senior, what do you mean?"

"Aiyo, my clueless junior! Our company works on an international scale with international endorsers. Those internationally renowned supermodels are always on their high horse. And with Yi Gougou prancing on her own high horse, how could she survive?"

"I heard Yi Gougou bumped into Supermodel Lily and the latter's dress was completely ruined by Yi Gougou's coffee. Instead of apologizing, Yi Gougou started yelling at her. Haiz! Supermodel Lily is already known as a hard person to deal with. Not professionally but personally. When Yi Gougou yelled at her, she landed a slap to her face making her fall. Then all her assistants took turns and poured their coffees on Yi Gougou's head."

"Tsk. Tsk. That was a harsh treatment. She must be thoroughly humiliated."

"But what about it? Yi Gougou was still shouting and yelling at her. Also, after what she did Ms. Bai still gave her a chance and she was ruining our company's image before those foreign people."

"Senior Yao was really in a difficult position because of her. He had to apologize so many times. Now, those foreigners might think that our whole company is filled with uncultured people like Yi Gougou."

"Good riddance. Our department doesn't need people like her."

Xiu had heard all the gossips and she even was aware of what happened at the shooting location. After all, a certain Senior Yao had called her last night to nag for an hour. He really was regretting listening to Xiu's advice. Because of Yi Gougou, his own job was in jeopardy along with the company's endorsing contract.

Xiu didn't mind at all. After all, what you didn't hear couldn't possibly hurt you or bother you, right? And Xiu had really done exactly that. She had placed the phone far away from herself until Si Yao was done rambling on and on.

During lunch, Manager Li called for Xiu and asked her to sit with her for lunch. Xiu raised her brows but complied as she took a seat beside her on the couch.

"I didn't expect we chose such an unprofessional person as an intern." Manager Li started the conversation while Xiu stayed quiet. "I have something important to discuss with you."

"Yes," Xiu said giving her complete attention to Manager Li.

"I've recommended you for a transfer to the top floor." Xiu coughed a bit as she choked on rice in her mouth. She picked up water to take a sip before mumbling her apology.

"I think I made it clear that I don't want to be an assistant," Xiu replied with knitted brows. "I have no interest in being a baby sitter of a second-generation heir."

Manager Li smiled slightly at her choice of words before speaking up, "Not just an assistant. Executive Assistant."

"Still a babysitter," Xiu said matter-of-factly.

"Listen to me Bai Xiu... Do you know what authority an Executive Assistant of the CEO has?"

Xiu shook her head and added, "No and I'm not interested in knowing either."

"Don't be so stubborn. As an Executive Assistant, no one would be able to challenge you. The only person above you would be the CEO. And this alone would be enough for your talent to flourish. It'll allow you to make connections which are very important in our world. If you still want to stay bundled up in your cocoon, it'll only lead to your downfall."

Manager Li's words made Xiu think deeply. It wasn't like she wasn't stirred by her words. But still, she was very happy and comfortable in her cocoon.

"I'll think about it," Xiu answered sincerely as she decided not to reject her so abruptly and went back to eating silently while Manager Li smiled in satisfaction.

A window of hope was better than the closed door of rejection.

However, more than being comfortable in her cocoon, Xiu was feeling reluctant because of the word 'CEO'. That title was scary and she had been under the knife once because of that title. But a reasonable voice in her head reminded her that it wasn't that title that shambled her world. It was the person who held that title.

As a way of moving on from the past, should she really accept this proposition? She might be able to rise above her fears instead of keeping them inside her.