Imperfect Desires

-Qiu Family House-

Last night, Dylan had real trouble sleeping. Who knew that even he would be an overthinker? But since he slept almost at the break of dawn, he didn't wake up at his usual time.

"QIU HEDI!!!"

His mother's loud voice scared Dylan even in his sleep. And soon, his ear was being pulled by his mother as always. Seriously! Did she think he was still a teenager or something? Why was she always pulling his ear?!

Dylan opened his eyes while trying to stop himself from shouting. "Ma, what is wrong with you? What have I done now?"

"How dare you try to hide things from me now?" Zhao Wei was really furious. Mostly because she was used to her son sharing and complaining to her all the time. But since he hid something, she wasn't very pleased with him.

"Mother Empress! This unfilial son of yours beseeches you to let this poor son go!" Zhao Wei's face twitched at his performance. "Bestow your mercy!"

Zhao Wei let his ear go and poked his head, "You're really unfilial!"

Dylan rubbed his ear saying, "Would you mind telling me what have I done to empurple my Mother Empress?" 

Zhao Wei eyed him dangerously. Dylan cowered back hiding under his comforter. This spoiled kid was really not comfortable with his mother's gaze. Why did she look so mad?

"You have a girlfriend and you didn't even bother telling your mother? Why am I the last person to know about this?"

"I have a girlfriend?" Dylan stared at her dumbfounded. "How come I have a girlfriend and I'm clueless about it?"

Zhao Wei almost shoved her phone screen on his face. "Then explain this!"

Dylan looked at the pictures of him and Cali from yesterday. Momentarily, his guilt for Xiu was completely forgotten. He asked that little devil to send him the photos but no, she just had to send it to his mother instead! How delightful!

"About that..." he tried to speak but didn't know how to continue, "She's not my girlfriend..." Zhao Wei's unhappy frown suddenly shifted to sparkling eyes when he concluded his sentence with, "Yet!"

She sat down beside him and eagerly looked at him, "So, I can expect some progress huh?"

"I'm trying here," answered Dylan.

"I don't have faith in you though," was Zhao Wei's straightforward reply. It sounded more like a dis. "Who is she? What's her name? When can I meet her?"

"Easy there now, mother Empress!" Dylan smiled at his mother awkwardly. She was more excited than he was. "Give me a break. I'll tell you everything."

Zhao Wei pouted in disappointment and got up to leave saying, "Whatever happens, you better keep me updated. If you hid anything, I won't go easy on you."

"Ma, you're being nosy in your adult son's love life, that's not very nice."

"The day you started acting like an adult, I might really stop being this nosy. For now, you just worry me so much." Indeed, Zhao Wei was more concerned with knowing what he was up to. Since this son of hers was bad at many things. Not only that he was a hopeless case when it came to romance! She didn't want to see him end up defeated. "Tell me if you need help."

Dylan scratched the tip of his nose. "Ma, even if I need help I won't come to you."

"Why not?"

"Because you're only gonna tease me rather than helping me."

Zhao Wei pursed her lips as she couldn't argue with that. That was her original plan. She had always found pleasure in teasing him.

 "Besides, you know nothing about dating. It was dad who courted you and he is the only guy you ever dated. Technically, you're dating life is even more miserable than mine."

Zhao Wei glared at him and Dylan slapped his mouth trying to shut up. He really was courting death now! Why was he inciting his own mother?! But it was his tongue's fault. He really was not the one to blame.

"It's not called miserable dating life, it's called a fortunate one since I found my life partner at the very first try. Unlike you, who is still confused about how to go after a girl. What a disappointment!"

"Ma, there is a vast contrast between your generation and mine. You can't expect me to have the same experiences as you but that also means you can't just assume that I didn't learn any better than you. Perhaps, my life experience has taught me more than yours." Zhao Wei glanced at him carefully. "Now, I'm not saying that you're not wise and experienced. It's just that you can't always help me."

Zhao Wei's brows quirked up as she craned her neck and looked around his room. Then she looked into the bathroom, his closet, under his bed, then opened the window to look outside and kept frowning all this time. Dylan was also perplexed to see her acting like this.

"Ma, what are you doing now?"

"Oh?" She looked back at him and came close to stare into his eyes saying, "I'm trying to look for my naive son. Have you seen him? He is a spoiled brat who likes to cling to me whenever he feels lost. He is adorable most of the time, but I hate it when he whines like a baby to get my attention. I'm missing him so much. I'm gonna go look for him now."

Dylan gaped at her in disbelief and seeing how she was about to leave, he leaped over and hugged her waist saying, "Ma, your clingy boy is right here. Who else are you looking for?"

Zhao Wei smiled to herself, "Huh? You? You can't be my son."

"Whyyyy?"

"Because you're talking like such a wise person. I really can't believe you're my son. No way!"

"Maaaaa!"

Zhao Wei chuckled while wincing at the way he whined again right beside her ear. She ruffled his hair and shook her head at him, "I thought you don't need mom now since you can do everything on your own."

Dylan kissed her cheek saying, "No matter what age I am at, I'll still be you clingy, whining, attention seeker! I won't have it any other way!"

"Eew! You haven't even brushed yet, get away from me."

She tried to push him away but he refused to budge. Just last night, he had so many things bothering him, and now here he was feeling completely content with just hugging his mother. That's why he was the attention seeker. He could mostly talk big but he'd always be his mother's big baby!

Hugging his mother could bring him peace at any time. No matter how badly he was hurt, just her presence had been enough to make him feel better. It was the charm of a mother and son's relationship.