Imperfect Desires

"Ying Jie?"

Hearing her name, Ying opened her eyes and looked up at Ah-Si who was baffled to see Ying Jie. Not only was she in this building, but she was also just lifelessly sitting in the doorstep.

Clearing her throat, Ying stood up from the floor and straightened up. 

"What are you doing here?"

Ying stared at Ah-Si with a cold stare, "Why can't I be here? I'm pretty sure I'm a free person who is allowed to live wherever I want to!" Saying that she slammed the door shut leaving Ah-Si staring at the closed door with his mouth agape. He had never seen her acting like this before. He flinched when the door opened again and Ying's neck craned out, "Sorry. I'm just not in the mood to entertain a guest. I'll invite you inside some other day. For today, I'm sorry."

With that, she closed the door again.

Ah-Si scratched his head and walked over to the place he intended to visit in the first place. Seeing Ying here was a surprise but hearing her cold and harsh words were dumbfounding to him. She was always either calm or cheery. There had never been another impression he had gotten from her.

*Ding-Dong!*

He rang the bell and waited patiently. The door was opened after a moment and a sleepy Xiu came into his view. She was rubbing her eyes as she looked at Ah-Si in surprise, "Huh? Nono is not home."

"Nono?" he repeated in confusion.

"I mean Nora is not home," explained Xiu.

"I know," replied Ah-Si.

"Oh my! Are you here to see me then Si bro?" 

"Umm... Nora is gonna bring Ava here in a while. I'm here for that."

Xiu's face fell as she invited him in, "And here I thought you're here to see me. What a waste of my excitement." She walked over to the kitchen as she asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"I'm fine. There is no need for anything," Ah-Si refused her politely.

Xiu shrugged her shoulders and said, "Then I'll just help myself." She took a drink from the fridge and came to give some company to the guest. It'd be impolite if she went back to sleep even though Ah-Si wasn't here for her, he was still a guest. "Oh, how's weird uncle?"

"Who?" Ah-Si raised his brows in confusion.

"Your dad. How's your dad?" 

"He's fine. As always, he's busy. More so now that bro is getting married. Too much stuff to do for him." He took a pause when he noticed the change in Xiu's expression which he couldn't understand. "I'm still amazed at how casually you speak to my dad. He had never been an easy person."

"He really isn't an easy person but he is actually a very simple person," stated Xiu without even thinking. Her perception of Xin Zimen was completely opposite to what others thought of him. 

Ah-Si laughed at her, "It's really a first that someone called my dad simple." He stayed quiet while she drank her juice in silence as well. "Where is Darren? It's Saturday, normally he's always around you, isn't he?"

"He went on a business trip, it's been..." she looked at the clock to check the time before continuing, "Over two hours now."

Ah-Si nodded his head, "So since he isn't here you're trying to catch up with sleep?"

Xiu looked down at sleepwear and shook her head, "Nah! I'm afraid I'll miss him too much so I'm trying to sleep it off."

"But you said he's only gone for over two hours," reminded Ah-Si.

"That's a long time for me," replied Xiu innocently. "I slept for half of that time and I still think it's been way too long since he left."

"Your relationship is really..."

"Choose your words wisely," Xiu cut him off. "I take my relationship with Regan very seriously. Most of the time, I do sound like a desperate girlfriend but I don't like hearing it from others."

Ah-Si smiled softly, "I was gonna say, your relationship is really amazing."

Xiu grinned brightly, "Well, thank you. I know that already."

Xiu didn't know how long Nora was gonna take but she was certainly not in the mood of talking right now. In fact, she just wanted to lay down quietly with an empty head. It would be perfect if her mind would stop working the overtime.

"Xiu..."

"Hm?"

"How did Nora's parents react? I mean after they met Ava? Is everything okay with her?"

Xiu's lips curled up slightly as she noticed his concerned look, "If you're that worried why don't you ask her yourself?"

"I did. She just brushed it off saying everything is fine."

Xiu shook her head, "She wasn't brushing you off. Everything is really okay." Seeing Ah-Si's confused look, she went on, "Clara mom and Uncle Jing love Nora very much. Even if she really committed a crime, they are the kind of parents who would be willing to take the blame for their child. They are also the most understanding parents I have ever met, what could possibly go wrong?"

Ah-Si finally relaxed as he heard the confirmation from Xiu.

"In fact, your daughter has also made her way to their hearts already. They are so obsessed with their granddaughter that my little brother is feeling insecure now."

"Insecure?"

Xiu nodded her head in response, "Jackie thinks his value is going down and no one loves him anymore. He was the youngest in the family but now Ava is. There was bound to be this clash."

Ah-Si laughed along with Xiu and felt lighthearted as well. "Hopefully, he'll also warm up to his niece soon."

"Don't worry about that. Although Jakie seems too cold and mature for his age, he is still a kid. Soon enough he'll be the one pampering his niece." There was no way she'd get it wrong. It was just a matter of time. Once Jackie really opened up his heart to Ava, no one would be able to come between them.