Imperfect Desires

-Qiu Family House-

"Meihui, you're back!" 

Qiu Meihui looked up at her mother and Francesca who were having a discussion in the lounge and smiled softly while nodding her head.

"Did you give the invitation card to your special friend?" asked Zhao Wei as she glanced at her daughter who seemed distracted. "I wonder what kind of a special friend is it that you ran off to deliver the very first invitation card on your own." She had been curious about it for whole day. After all, she knew her daughter didn't have any contact with her old friends now. Then where did this special friend come from that Qiu Meihui decided to go personally for the invitation?

Qiu Meihui didn't reply but her mind wandered off to Ying's indifferent face that had been bothering her even till now. And then Ying's cutting words ran in her mind... 'You always chose pride over love and your loved ones.' Those words were like sharp knives piercing through her heart but only because she had nothing to deny Ying's words with. 

She always thought she'd win from her. At least now, she'd have the upper hand but seeing how Ying reacted, Qiu Meihui was left feeling defeated all over again. It was like her whole world spun by knowing the truth that the person she had taken as her biggest competitor in life had never even taken note of her. She had always been trying to either outdone Yan Ying or ruining everything for her but Yan Ying had never even looked her way.

Even till the end, Yan Ying had just focused on loving a man even knowing he wouldn't be hers. And what about her? Qiu Meihui just let her jealousy get the better of herself. 

She felt someone touching her shoulder and her trance was broken as she looked at Francesca with a raised brow. "Where are you lost? Your mom is saying something."

Qiu Meihui looked at her mother, "I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something."

"It's alright. You must be tired. Just take rest. We can discuss the details in the morning." Zhao Wei didn't mind at all. She could see that her daughter was looking troubled and she didn't want to disturb her.

Qiu Meihui stared at her mother for a long while. She never really thought that her mother was easygoing. In fact, in her personal opinion, her mother was the most difficult person to deal with. Then how come she couldn't see it anymore? How come her mother was so understanding now? Was she always like this? 

She first went to her daughter's room to check up on her. But since Asteria had already gone to sleep, she went to her own room and fell down on the bed just like that.

As she rolled over, her eyes caught sight of a family photo hung on the wall. It was a photo of her 16th birthday party. She still remembered that night vividly...

*Flashback*

"Did you have to do it?" Zhao Wei was asking with a stern look on her face.

"What did I do wrong?" retorted Qiu Meihui stubbornly. "You can't hold me accountable for this. You should be mad at Yan Ying for ruining my birthday. She spoiled my cake."

"And you slapped her right in front of everyone..." said Zhao Wei keeping her voice as calm as she could.

"It was my important day and she ruined it! How was I supposed to stay calm?!" Qiu Meihui's voice raised an octave which made Zhao Wei frown at her.

"Keep your voice down," she advised softly. "And don't you dare think for a second that I didn't see you pulling tricks on Yan Ying and making her fall down right at the birthday cake. Even when she knew you're to blame, she calmly and maturely apologized to you repeatedly. Even when you slapped her, she still apologized!"

Qiu Meihui snorted like a spoiled brat, "So what? She should be apologizing! I didn't invite her to my birthday. Why did she come here?"

"Meihui!" Zhao Wei was on the verge of losing her temper now. "Don't you ever feel bad for insulting her before everyone? This isn't even the first time. Because of you, no one even wants to befriend her."

"How is that my fault now? She isn't worth it. A white lotus like her deserves no friend," shrugged Qiu Meihui not losing her attitude at all. "Besides, she doesn't need friends. She has Xiaoli wrapped around her fingers. In the pretense of friendship, she's coveting him and thinks I can't see it at all."

Zhao Wei rubbed her forehead trying to ease the headache that was threatening to get worse by seeing Qiu Meihui's attitude of no remorse at all. It worried her to death. "I can't even understand what's your problem with Ying is. She is such a sweet girl."

"If you like her so much, you should take her in as your daughter because I can't compare with her. I don't wanna be like her at all!" Qiu Meihui gave her mother's words another shape. Zhao Wei didn't mean it this way.

She could only helpless sigh as she said, "It's such a shame that you're never able to understand your own mother. And I feel like a failure for actually not being able to raise you any better." Zhao Wei turned to leave but stopped at the door, "You're very proud of your friends who love pulling pranks on others and even help you in insulting and belittling others. But let me warn you, one day these friends would all leave you alone."

Qiu Meihui rolled her eyes ignorantly, "Stop preaching, mom. I'll prove you wrong. Because one day, you'll also realize that what you think of Ying is absolutely wrong. She isn't as sweet as she appears to be. And then you'll regret it because you'll end up losing your own daughter as well."

*End of Flashback*

Looking back now, Qiu Meihui didn't know who won. Because she certainly felt lost. After all, her friends indeed started keeping their distance from her when she chose to marry an ordinary man out of their social circle. And she indeed married him just to spite her own mother.

But did she regret doing all that?

If she said yes, she knew her whole life would seem pitiful because all she had were regrets.