Imperfect Desires

-Xin Villa-

"She's a lot more clever than I thought."

Yan Ying could only nod in agreement with that statement of Xin Zimen. She also agreed that Xiu was a lot more clever than she originally thought.

"But being clever is one thing, she's a lot more caring person," said Ying thoughtfully. "Although she often comes off as a rude person, in reality, she's like a rambutan; spiky on the outside, but sweet inside."

Xin Zimen lifted his eyes and gave her a look. "How come a foodie like you can only think of fruit to compare with a sweet girl?"

Ying brushed away her hair from her face saying, "I'm not a foodie! I only eat more when I'm stressed out."

He tapped the pen in his hand repeatedly on the tabletop as he was lost in deep thought. "How come she is allowing you to stay close to her? And she's not even curious why you're protecting her?"

"I think the only thing she's curious about is; One, who is her father. Two, who ordered me to follow her." Ying's words were conclusive. She had already seen Xiu's stance over this subject. Xiu was not even the least bit bothered by her presence. "It might be because of the little incident that happened the other night." Xin Zimen glared at her as she reminded him of that again. "I'm sorry but if my grandmother calls you even you can't ignore her. So don't glare at me for getting distracted for just a minute."

Xin Zimen leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table as his face propped on his knuckles while his eyes stayed focused on her. Ying was feeling weird being scrutinized by his deep eyes. What was he looking for now?!

"What? Why are you staring?"

"I remember I told you that you don't have to inform me about her situation every minute. If something happens, look for me or else, don't bother. So, I wonder what is your real intention for coming all the way here?"

Ying laughed ironically. Bloody hell! The more she was trying not to be obvious, the more she seemed obvious to his prying eyes. Her hands went around her neck as she took off the pendant and placed it on his table. 

"I came to give it back to you," said Ying as she looked at the pendant. It had two platinum rings interlocked dangling. "I was ten when Aunt Ai gave this to me. I believe it's time for me to give it back so that you can give it to the rightful owner of it."

"Rightful owner? Who is exactly that rightful owner?" asked Xin Zimen raising his brows at her inquiringly.

"This was for her daughter-in-law which I am not. You should give it to Meihui." It took a lot of effort on her part to get those words out of her mouth but she still accepted it that she wasn't the rightful owner. And she never took something that wasn't hers. 

However, Xin Zimen thought otherwise...

He stood up and came around the table to stand before her. His hand lifted and he flicked her forehead making her yelp. "What? Why are you bullying me now? Isn't it enough that your son bullies me?"

"Stop repeating yourself!" Xin Zimen tsked at her while he rubbed her head. "Silly lass, the rightful owner is right here. Why should I pass it to anyone else?"

"I'm not the right-"

Xin Zimen intercepted her words, "Wen Ai meant to pass down this pendant to our daughter." Ying's eyes widened at him. "It's a family heirloom of Wen Clan. All firstborn daughters received it. It wasn't for her daughter-in-law. It was for her daughter. And since she always loved you like her own daughter, she passed it to you."

"Why would she...?" Ying couldn't understand it.

"Wasn't my wife your godmother?" questioned Xin Zimen and Ying could only nod in reply. "Then why couldn't she pass it to you?" He took a pause before continuing, "Do you know what those two interlocked rings represent?"

Ying shook her head back and forth. 

"Xiao Ai once told me the history of it... She said when her grandmother gave it to her mother, she said, the rings represent how our personal wishes overlap with our responsibilities. But it never means we need to give up on one."

Ying had a look of appreciation and admiration as she heard those words. In other words, he meant that we can't free the one ring from the other because if we did, one of the two would break. So, we need to learn to balance between those two.

"But when her mother passed it down to her, she said, the rings were like a relationship of a husband and wife. There always comes a time when two clashes together."

Ying could only agree again. If a husband and wife are a part of each other then the clashes are unavoidable. Nobody's perfect but it's the fact how your imperfect self is willing to accept another imperfect person to build a perfect life together.

"Now my question is, what did Wen Ai tell you when she gave it to you?"

Ying fell into deep thought. She was only ten, the memory wasn't clear but she could vaguely remember something. "She said life and death are like these interlocked rings. Death brings us the fear of losing something as precious as life but at the same time, it allows us to value that precious life as well. She said, she never thought it'd take death to make her realize how precious life is." Ying took a pause before adding, "I think she was talking about..."

"You don't have to say the name. I know what she meant by that." He took the pendant and placed it back in her hands. "It's yours. Don't always give what is yours to others."

"Xiaoli wasn't mine," she replied.

"That's why I'm okay with you giving him up so easily. But this pendant connects you to my wife. Just for Xiaoli, you can't forget what status you hold in this house. And you can't give up that status just for anyone! It's rightfully yours because your godmother gave it to you."