Imperfect Desires

"I heard you had a fight with Ah-Si?" questioned Ying as she slightly shifted to sit on the stairs now. He hummed in reply and she frowned. "Why? You both never even argue. What happened?" Xin Xiaoli kept staring at her with a look that made her point at herself, "Because of me?" He nodded. "Why? What did I do?"

"He is angry because he thinks that I asked you to not come home and that's why you're not staying with us."

"Aww... He stood up for me. How cute!" She looked really touched to hear that. "I'll remember to treat him even better in the future." Xin Xiaoli rolled his eyes at her. "But how did he misunderstand it? You just asked me to keep my distance from Meihui."

"If you can misinterpret my words as 'Don't come to this house again.' He's no different." Ying scratched her head. How was it her fault? He was angry when he said it, she was also angry. So, she also thought differently. "Forget it. He will be fine in a few days. You should worry about yourself."

"Me? What's there to worry about me? I'm young, free, wild, and healthy." She cleared her throat as she went on. "Okay. Maybe I'm not young anymore but I'm still healthy and health is wealth and this wealth has no stealth."

He pulled her ear again making her yelp. "This is the reason why everyone is so concerned about you. You're taking your life and happiness way too casually. I know I hurt you but you simply let it go with a single sorry."

"What else am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know. Maybe try yelling at me. Or beating me. Do something at least."

"I don't want to," retorted Ying. "If I did any of that, your guilt will be gone. But I want you to suffer in that guilt for a bit longer. You should also know how it hurts."

"This is your idea of revenge?" 

"Of course!"

Xin Xiaoli held his head with his hands. He could only laugh at her. Either she was too nice or she was too naive. It was still unknown to him. 

"I feel like your future boyfriend will be very... lucky."

"That's given. He is lucky to have a gem like me."

"You're talking as if you already found him."

"Why do you think I didn't find one?" Xin Xiaoli looked at her suspiciously and laughed it off. "Oi! Don't just laugh. I do have a boyfriend!" 

"Really?"

Ying pursed her lips. Why did she say that? Out of nowhere! But seeing his look of suspicion, she didn't want to back off from this lie either. 

"Yes, really! We haven't spoken in two years. Do you really think a charming lady like me can't find a boyfriend in two years? It's easy-peasy for me."

"Like I'd believe your lie," said Xin Xiaoli straightforwardly.

"You really underestimate your best friend, eh? Look at me, how am I not good enough?"

He pinched her nose, "The problem is you are too good for this world."

Ying swatted his hand away, "No need to flatter me with the obvious. Besides, the best way to forget your love is to find a new one. I just went along with this theory."

"I still don't believe you," was his reply making her frustrated now. "If you had a boyfriend my dad would know."

Ying shrugged her shoulders, "Believe it or not. It's your choice." Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she fished it out to attend the call.

"Team leader, you're not ditching us again, are you?" came a not so happy voice from the other side.

"Relax, Marky! I'm not ditching you guys. I promised you a meal and I'm on my way for that."

"We're waiting, get here fast."

"Don't worry, child! Seeing my generosity, you'll shed tears today." With that, she hung up the call and saw Xin Xiaoli giving her an odd look. "What?"

"You're up to no good," he stated the obvious.

"I'm a good person and I'm always up for the good." Saying that she stood up and dusted off her clothes before walking over to her car. "Bye! Call me if you need me!"

.....

On the other side of things...

Xiu was stood frozen with her one hand on the doorknob and the other was still holding her phone. She kept staring at the person standing before her and the person before her, also did the same. He was rooted to the ground with a complicated gaze.

The person before her was none other than Zhou Jinhai. Her... No, Chen Xiu's ex-boyfriend. 

And anything belonging to Chen Xiu, she wasn't gonna let it get to her. Not again. The other day, she let his wife affect her but he wasn't gonna do the same. She won't allow that!

He looked different than she remembered him. But only because she had always seen him in prim and proper suits. Right now, he wasn't wearing a suit. He was wearing a casual loose shirt and trousers. His hair was a mess and he looked like he just woke up. He was even wearing slippers.

In fact, she would say his condition wasn't any better than Dylan's. The only difference was she couldn't smell alcohol on him. But then again, she knew he wasn't very fond of drinking.

"Xiu, who is at the door?"

Dylan asked as he came downstairs with a towel around his shoulders. When Xiu didn't reply, he came to stand behind her, "I'm talking to you."

Xiu suddenly awakened from a trance as she said, "You have a guest." 

Dylan looked up and his eyes widened. "Jinhai? What brought you here?" His eyes slowly shifted towards Xiu unconsciously but he didn't find any expression on her face. She seemed way too indifferent. But he knew how good of an actress she was so he wasn't gonna fall for it.

"I'm going inside," she said as she turned around and went inside the house leaving Dylan and Zhou Jinhai at the door.

'She must be hurt to see him here,' Dylan thought to himself but apparently he was thinking way too much.