Imperfect Desires

Seeing how quiet Ying was, he asked, "You don't agree?" Ying still didn't reply and he ended up frowning, "But Sister Xi... Anyways, I guess she was just making fun of me back then." He was contradicting his own thoughts.

In fact, the words he told Ying originally came from Chen Xiu. He just remembered it very well. How could he not? He had spent more than four years as her assistant just because he loved her personality and character. Perhaps, that's why until now he believed in everything that his Sister Xiu used to tell him.

"I should really go now," said Ying. She had no mood of arguing with him. Although she was having fun talking to him, she really needed to stop here.

"I'm too shy to say but I hope you stay."

Hearing him, Ying's face was like a big question mark was painted on it. From her non-existence experience of flirting she could tell he was smooth. Real smooth. But who was she? She was Yan Ying! Was she really gonna back off that easily? Never!

"I have met so many snakes, cakes, and fakes in my life. How come you're so out-of-date?"

Han Bohai's face twitched at her remark. "And how come you're so unromantic?" Ying opened her mouth to speak when he continued, "And don't make the same argument that this is the first time we are even meeting. I find you interesting, that has nothing to do with time." Ying closed her mouth since she was about to say exactly that! "Let me tell you, it's love. It's often like instant noodles, ready in 2 minutes. And sometimes, it's like wine that takes decades to become a fine wine. So, time has nothing to do with love." 

Ying looked down at the jacket he lent her and thought for a moment before replying, "I'll offer you that meal."

"Really? What's the catch?" Ying quirked her brow amusingly when he asked that. How come he knew there was a catch? 

"You said you have a black belt in karate?" He nodded his head. "You really have to win in a match against me."

"Okay." Saying that he extended his phone towards. She looked at the phone and then at him inquisitively. He sighed out, "Add my WeChat. How else are we gonna find each other?"

"How about leaving it to luck?" suggested Ying.

"Don't try to play with me," he said and she resigned as she took her own phone and scanned his WeChat code. 

After adding him on WeChat, she giggled to herself, "This is my first time having a celebrity's personal contact information." She searched for something on the internet and exclaimed, "Wow! You have millions of followers on Weibo. What if I sell your contact information to these fans of yours? How much do you think I'll earn?"

"Are you for real?" 

"Chillax! I won't really do it..." He was stunned when she used the same term as his. She seemed to be enjoying herself very much at the moment. 

To be very honest, Ying didn't believe him when he said he found her interesting. She never believed in love at first sight. And she wasn't gonna fall for it that easy either. However, the only reason she was willing to add him as a friend was because she couldn't find anything disliking about him. 

As he said, he was resourceful, funny, so-called knowledgeable, and compassionate. She had lived in a friendzone for years, having another friend won't hurt. Besides, this friend was really peculiar. And as an archaeologist, she had always been fond of peculiar things.

"Ying Jie!"

Ying's eyes went round as she heard her name again and looked at Ah-Si coming over to her side. Who would tell her why he was here? And why was he coming over to her? Wait! Why was she anxious to see him? She didn't do anything wrong. Right? 

"What are you doing here?" asked Ying. "Shouldn't you be taking care of your daughter? Be a responsible father!"

Ah-Si's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm trying to take responsibility for my daughter's mother. Is something wrong with that?" As he spoke, his arm also went around Nora's waist pulling her towards himself. 

And that allowed Ying to finally notice Nora's presence. "Oh, you're Ava's mother."

"Nice to meet you," said Nora with a sweet smile. 

"Likewise," replied Ying and continued, "I heard a lot about you from your best friend. How come you're nothing like she said?"

"But you're exactly like she described," said Nora looking at Ying's face.

"How did that kiddo describe me?" asked Ying curiously.

"She said you're beautiful." 

Ying's brows went up. She didn't think Xiu would describe her that way to her best friend. It sounded so not like something Xiu would say.

"I can totally agree with that."

Ying turned to Han Bohai and glared at him.

"No one asked you."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I felt like I should still speak out my mind."

"Don't bother."

"Ahem!" Ying looked at Ah-Si who coughed to get her attention. "And he is?"

"He is just a passer-by," replied Ying while pushing Han Bohai away. "A total stranger."

Han Bohai gaped at her in disbelief, "Wow! You're really something." Ying squinted her eyes at him dangerously and he got the hint, "Fine, fine. I'm leaving."

"I'll return the jacket after dry cleaning it," called out Ying from behind.

"No need for that," he showed over his shoulder.

When she looked back at Ah-Si and Nora, she smiled awkwardly since their expressions really made her feel guilty for something she didn't do.

"I thought he was just a passer-by..." Ah-Si's words were insinuating something.

"He is. But a very friendly and kind passer-by who just helped me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really!" was Ying's firm reply.

Ah-Si sighed in disappointment as he said, "Ying Jie, are you hiding your boyfriend? But why? I'd be more than just happy if you have someone in your life. There is no need to hide it. You don't really have to lie like this. Right at my face too."