Imperfect Desires

Ying didn't even have to look up to see who was behind her because that deep distinct voice was enough for her to know.

"Boyfriend? How come I never heard that our Ying'er has a boyfriend?" 

Ying scratched her temple and turned around to wave, "Long time no see, Zizi!"

Xin Zimen's frown deepened as he said, "We met just yesterday though." Ying pursed her lips and refused to talk actually she wanted to deny this allegation of having a boyfriend but the person beside Xin Zimen held her back. Xin Xiaoli was standing beside Xin Zimen and his eyes were also trained on her as if waiting for her reply.

Just yesterday she had claimed before him that she had a boyfriend. How was she supposed to deny it now? Wouldn't that be like biting her own tongue?! She really brought trouble to herself because of this tongue.

"Actually..." she began after much hesitation. "About this boyfriend..."

"So, you weren't lying to me yesterday?" Xin Xiaoli cut her off before she could even continue. She stared at his face with a blank look.

"Yingying!" Her trance was broken when Xin Zimen called her again. "Mind explaining yourself?"

"Why does Ying Jie have to explain herself? Having a boyfriend is not a crime," Xiu spoke up and Ying glared at her. She was the one who used the wrong words why was she suffering? Oh, right! She lied! That's why she was suffering. Her lies really caught her soon.

Xin Zimen noticed Xiu's presence and couldn't help smiling in amusement as he said, "Little lass, I never said having a boyfriend is a crime."

"Then what explanation weird uncle is looking for?"

"As her closest family right now, I deserve to know who is her boyfriend and why is she keeping it from me?" He looked at Ying again as he continued, "I thought our Yingying doesn't hide anything from me."

"I never hid anything from you, I swear!" Ying raised her three fingers to show her solemn stance.

"Ying Jie, is it the same guy I saw you hugging yesterday?" Ying wanted to puke blood when even Ah-Si went on to disclose that information. Was it really necessary?

"It's definitely the same guy!" Ying closed her eyes in resignation. There goes Xiu, the fire starter making it worse! No matter how much she loved Xiu, right now she was really not happy at the way Xiu was enjoying this trap. 

She slowly looked up at Xin Zimen who raised his brow at her. "Zizi, I really never hid anything from you."

Xin Zimen stared into her eyes for a moment before smiling at her. He placed his hand on her head and said, "Have fun on your date." Ying's eyes went round as he went on, "Don't forget to bring him home sometime."

"Ying Jie, what are you doing? Go already!" 

Ying looked at Xiu with squinted eyes before she took this time to run. Those questioning eyes of Xin Xiaoli were not something she could bear. She had to make a run for it. And she literally did.

However, she was just at the main door when Xiu shouted from behind her, "Don't forget to give his clothes back to him!" Ying's feet came to an abrupt halt as she tilted her head to glare at Xiu while Xiu smiled mischievously at her. Weren't her words insinuating something?

With a huff, Ying left.

Behind her, Ah-Si looked at Xiu to ask, "Is it the jacket she was wearing yesterday?" Xiu nodded her head. "Oh... No wonder she looked so weird when I caught her on a date."

"Is she really dating?" The question came from Xiaoli and was directed at Xiu.

Xiu could never go wrong with acting as she replied, "Yes. Why?"

Xiaoli shook his head, "Nothing. As long as she is happy." He smiled slightly before he turned to go to his room. 

Xiu watched him leaving but when she turned she found Xin Zimen's eyes looking at her constantly. She quirked her brow at him and asked, "Yes? What are you looking at uncle weird?"

"What are you doing here, little lass?"

"Didn't you say I am allowed to come whenever I want to?"

"I did," replied Xin Zimen. "And I stand by my words even now. I'm just unwilling to believe that you came here for a simple visit."

Xiu smirked at him. Indeed, he could see through a lot. And it was proven even more when he leaned closed to her to whisper, "You're indeed good at trapping people. Even I could never manage to send Ying'er on a date but you accomplished this. I don't know whether should I call you smart or cunning?"

"Call me whatever you want to," retorted Xiu. "But I would like to know how can you say I trapped Ying Jie? Don't you really believe she has a boyfriend?"

Xin Zimen shook his head, "As I said earlier, our Ying'er has a bad habit. She can hide nothing from her elders. If she had a boyfriend, I'd be the first one to know about it. I know her. I still remember the day she realized she had feelings for my son, the first person she looked for was me." Xiu's eyes widened to hear that. She never thought Ying was that close to Xin Zimen. "Besides, last night she called just to tell me how she came across an annoying man who helped her when she needed it, and now she owes him a meal."

"She even told you that?" Xiu was shocked. 

"That's because she doesn't have a habit of asking for help from others. This rumored 'boyfriend' of hers is the first person who helped her perhaps in her whole life. After all, it has always been she who was helping others. It'd be odd if she didn't mention him to me."

"So when Ah-Si brought up the guy from yesterday, you already understood what was happening?" inquired Xiu just for confirmation.

He nodded his head without any hesitation. 

"No wonder they say you're dangerous," mumbled Xiu to herself. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Let's check up on my brother and my niece."

Ah-Si was more than ready to check up on that. He had been worried sick for the past fifteen minutes. Even though it was just fifteen minutes but he felt it was longer.

Just as Xiu, Ah-Si, and Xin Zimen came to the entrance of the living room, they heard.

"Now, call me JJ like a good niece..." Xiu was amused at the way Jackie was coaxing the little girl who was blinking her eyes at him.

But the next minute everyone was left speechless when that little girl slowly and brokenly said out, "J... J..."