Imperfect Desires

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

"Xiu!"

As soon as the door was pulled open, the little guy who didn't even reach Xiu's waist clung to her body. Xiu tussled the little guy's hair saying, "Baby brother, I feel like you're missing me very much these days. How come you're calling me every single day?"

Jackie looked up at her with a sad expression, "I really do miss you very much." He held Xiu's hand and dragged her inside. "As you can see no one cares about me in this house anymore."

"Huh? How is that possible? Who dares to ignore my little-"

Xiu didn't have to continue as she looked at the scene before her. 

In the lounge, Nora, Clara, Jing Ge, and even the housemaid, Sister Qin were all gathered around the three-year-old princess Ava who was stuck between them. 

"Husband, isn't she such a cutie?" Clara was gushing over her granddaughter.

"I love her giggles," said Jing Ge as he teased the little bun who in turn started giggling again. 

Xiu looked down at the cold prince whose hand was tightening around the hem of her dress. Oh, he looked really mad.

Xiu bent down to face him and asked, "Don't tell me my little brother is actually jealous of his niece now? That's not right. Besides, you don't even like that kind of attention."

Jackie looked into her eyes in a bored manner, "Attention? No thanks. She can gladly have all this attention, I don't want any share of it. But what I do want is..." Xiu raised her brows at him in question when he abruptly stopped to look at the others again and shouted, "Mom, I'm hungry!"

"Jackson, you're old enough to get your own meals. Get something from the kitchen yourself, please."

Xiu's lips turned into the shape of an 'o' as she gaped at Clara who didn't even look in her son's direction.

"I came back from school two hours ago and yet, no one has asked me for a meal. Because apparently, that little devil needs more attention."

Xiu pursed her lips to hold back her laugh. Even if he said he wasn't jealous, Xiu couldn't overlook the way he was behaving. That was some level of jealousy and it was rare for Jackie. Well, anybody would feel that way when their position is threatened. And right now, Ava had already taken over Jackie's position as the youngest one in the house.

"Xiu, it's good you're here. You decide whether my granddaughter looks more like me or her mother?"

Xiu was about to walk over when Jackie held her hand and pulled her back, "Don't you dare fall in the trap of that little devil. I won't forgive you for that!"

"Relax! I'm here for you," Xiu patted his head and walked up to Ava. She poked her cheeks saying, "Isn't she still too young? I mean at least I can't see any similarities between her and Nora or even you Clara mom." She scrunched up her face at the little girl making her laugh as she said, "But, Aww... She's so adorable."

"You're also falling in the trap!" came Jackie's angry low voice from right beside her ear. Xiu was startled as she turned and see how the little guy was standing at the table to reach her height. 

"I'm not falling in any trap, little brother."

"Yes, you are," he complained. "You can't do this to me. You said I'm the only little one you love. How can you go back on your words now?"

Xiu picked him up in her arms which he didn't resist at all as he does with Nora every single time. She brought him to the kitchen and made him sit on the counter as she said, "And I still stand by my words, you're the only little brother I love." Saying that she looked around and continued, "There is seafood porridge here, do you want to eat that or should I make something else?"

"I want pasta," he answered and she nodded before getting busy. 

As she sat down with him watching him eat heartily, she said, "Clara mom is right though, you shouldn't disturb her for everything. I know you're not liking this new change that came so suddenly. But you have to accept that Ava is really young and needs attention, care, and love." Jackie didn't respond but she knew he was listening to her. "You'll get used to her presence. After all, as her uncle, you'll have to take care of her."

"I don't mind her presence it's the fact that everyone in this family since yesterday is acting like they have found a new toy. Everyone is busy playing with that toy now. Does that make sense?"

"Someone once told me that kids have magical powers."

"I might be seven, but you seriously can't fool me with that."

Xiu shook her head at his deadpanned expressions but didn't waver, "But I'm telling the truth. The magical power is simple, they have the ability to melt anyone's heart and attract that person towards themselves." She paused before adding, "Especially well-behaved kids like Ava."

"Are you saying I'm not well-behaved?"

"You are. You're the best but... You have that serious look on your face that kind of doesn't suit your age."

Jackie didn't mind her words as he questioned, "Your point here is?"

Xiu cleared her throat before saying, "My point is that you should give this some time. Slowly, you'll also get used to Ava's presence and you'll also understand why everyone is so obsessed with her. Because something tells me, you're gonna be the best uncle in the whole world."

Talking to kids has never been easy. It takes a lot of patience and energy. And Xiu exhausted all her energy as she spent all her time with Jackie. She was supposed to leave in the evening but was held back for dinner as well. 

After dinner, she decided to head back. But she didn't tell anyone that she didn't bring a car. She had taken a taxi and was planning on taking a taxi back as well. However, now it was past 9 and she'd have to walk to the main road to find a taxi. She could have asked anyone to drop her home or stay over but she neither wanted to disturb anyone nor did she plan on staying over.

It was just a five-minute walk to the main road and she didn't think anything could go wrong. Nothing could really go wrong, right?