Imperfect Desires

While Han Bohai made his way inside the hotel and towards his room, he was still lost in his thoughts. For some reason, Ying's parting words were ringing in his mind and it was making the deeply buried sorrow start a riot within him. It wasn't easy to keep his face calm right now.

Even when he entered his room, he couldn't shake off the melancholy that had suddenly engulfed him. It was like someone suddenly jabbed at the wound that had barely scabbed after years.

He fell back on his bed without changing his clothes. Just as he came from outside, he fell back on his bed staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Just like a star..." he whispered to himself as he closed his eyes letting a distant memory replay in his mind bringing a sweet smile to linger on his face...

*Flashback*

"Xiao Han!"

Hearing that soft but sweet voice, he pretended to ignore it.

"Oi, little brother!"

He still refused to look at her as he kept going through the contract that she is supposed to sign but he is given the task of reading through it thoroughly since she was too 'lazy' for that.

"Han Bohai!"

Her voice texture was changing but he knew she wasn't mad at her. In fact, it was impossible for her to be mad at him or anyone for that matter. He just couldn't believe that the person who claimed to be too 'lazy' was actually dancing gracefully to the beautiful melody of zither and flute.

If she was tired, wasn't she supposed to rest? What was up with this sudden dance practice in the middle of the night? And why was he dragged into this?

"Xiao Bobo! Aren't you like a big celebrity throwing your weight around?!"

He finally took a deep breath and looked up at her, "Sister Xiu, I told you not to call me Xiao Bobo. I don't like that nickname." He took a brief pause to add, "And I've said it a thousand times, stop saying that I'm like a celebrity. I don't have any desire to be a star."

Chen Xiu who had been cheerfully dancing stopped to look at him. "But I love that nickname. As long as I'm here, I'll call you Xiao Bobo whenever I feel like it. You can't stop me." Seeing how she crossed her arms over her chest, he furrowed his brows while she went on, "As for being a star... You never wanted to be a star's assistant as well. But see, here you are after four years still sticking to me like glue."

He bit his lip and refused to comment over it. How could he? What she said was true. Originally, he was supposed to be just a substitute assistant for Chen Xiu, and even that he found a big hassle but now, even after four years when he was close to graduating university, he still had no desire to leave her side.

From a celebrity Chen Xiu, she had become Sister Xiu in his life. She was like an elder sister that he never had. 

"No matter what you say, I can assure you that I wholeheartedly believe that you'll be an even more amazing artist than me in the future." 

He shifted his eyes back to the documents in his hand as he replied offhandedly, "Did that last role of a fortune teller got to your head, Sister Xiu? Why are you predicting my future all of a sudden?"

 She squinted her eyes at him and came to his side saying, "Silly Bobo! That's not a prediction. Mm... Maybe it's a sister's wish that she believes is gonna come true."

"If you're really wishing for something, wish for your own self. Not for me!"

She completely disregarded his words as she said, "Your eyes shine brighter than the stars. There is no way you won't become one."

Seeing her feeling content with her own conjectures, he didn't try to dampen her mood. In any way, he had no plans of becoming an actor. He wanted to be an artist director, not the artist.

Chen Xiu hurriedly crouched down beside him and blinked her charming eyes at him as she said, "Xiao Bobo, will you forget me after reaching that height of fame?" She pouted adorably as she continued, "Please remember this big sister, eh? At least we had some good old days to brag about. So, don't you dare forget me."

"You underestimate yourself a lot, Sister Xiu." Xiu frowned at his words as he went on, "It's not easy to forget a person like you. In fact, you have a way to carve yourself so deeply in one's memory and heart that it might become painful."

"Aww..." She propped her elbow on his desk as she added, "How adorable you are! Now, I'm certain that you'll miss me once I'm gone." She suddenly jumped over and started the music again to practice the dance move she had learned during the day.

He didn't understand the meaning behind her words but he could clearly see the happiness in her eyes and even on her face. It wasn't very often when he saw her in such a good mood.

"Sister Xiu, are you that excited to get this part? Isn't it just a cameo? You're barely gonna be in five scenes and one of those is this dance routine. Why do you like you have accomplished some huge feet?"

"Aiyo, my silly Bobo! It's not about that the character is big or small. In all of the script, I loved this character. An unrestrained beauty, wild, passionate, knew exactly what she desired in life." She laughed out beautifully before adding, "Also, don't forget, she is the only character who was willing to die in a battle rather than being a prisoner of war."

 As she described the character she was gonna play in the next show, she couldn't help beaming about it. Indeed, he was surprised to see it.

*End of Flashback*