Imperfect Desires

"For once, can you be a little less biased between us?"

Hearing his son's question, Xin Zimen turned his head to look at Ying who blinked innocently then looked back at Xiao Li and deadpanned, "No. I think I'd like to stay biased in this way."

"Dad! I'm your son!"

"Thanks for reminding me," retorted Xin Zimen making Ying laugh at Xiao Li's frustration. "On another note, there is no point trying to convince me that Ying is in the wrong. Even if she is, I still won't say anything to her. She's someone's daughter, you or I have no right to shout at her." 

"I knew it! You'll just find a way to side with her," said Xiao Li and looked at Ying who was making faces at him, standing behind his father. And whenever his father looked back, she would turn into an innocent girl. 

"If you think I'll say sorry to her, forget it." Ying certainly wasn't gonna say sorry to Meihui. Not this time around. Till today, Meihui had never said sorry for everything she did to Ying. Whether it was insulting, embarrassing, or even slapping Ying, Meihui had done it all. And even did it before many people. Yet, Ying never asked her to apologize for that. But just because she could take it down and move on for the greater cause didn't mean she was willing to apologize. This time, for Ying, Meihui went too far when she insulted a dead person. In her opinion, she could say anything to her since Ying was alive to defend herself. But how was Chen Xiu's soul gonna come back to prove her feelings and innocence?

Whether good or bad, once a person is dead, one shouldn't taint their names in any way. That had been Ying's belief for life. And she wasn't willing to change it.

While Xiao Li was fuming more and more because of Ying's incitement, Ah-Si ran back to them with a plate full of rose cakes. "Ying Jie, try it out. I asked the maids to make your favorite milk tea as well. I'm telling you these cakes are absolutely chef's kiss. You'd love it."

"If you're the one saying it, I'm already sold!" Ying finally walked out of Xin Zimen's protection zone and went up to Ah-Si to taste the rose cakes that Ah-Si had been so excited about. "Mmm..." Ying really liked the taste and even turned around to ask, "Ah-Li, would you like a bite? It's really good."

Xiao Li ground his teeth but still walked over to take a bite. However, Ying snatched the plate from Ah-Si and ran away while sticking her tongue at him she said, "You just yelled at me. Do you really think I'll share it with you? Dream on!"

Xin Zimen laughed at Ying's childish antics and continued to scroll through his iPad. Meanwhile, Ah-Si turned to his brother to question, "Why did you yell at Ying Jie?"

"I didn't yell at her. My voice might have gotten a bit harsh because of my emotions. But she is the reason. Why did she have to slap Meihui out of nowhere?"

Ah-Si's eyes widened up as he whipped his head around to look at Ying who had run quite away from the pavilion and now stood on the wooden path that had been made over the beautiful manmade pond. "Ying Jie, did you really slap Sister Meihui?"

Ying was already walking backward while eating her cakes happily, she nodded her head honestly and questioned, "Why is everyone's reaction so weird? Is it that hard to believe that I slapped her?" Ah-Si's head bobbed up and down implying that it was truly hard to believe that she could do it. "Why is that so?"

"Because you're a very nice person," answered Ah-Si sincerely.

Ying frowned, "Don't they call me the white lotus? Don't they say, I only act nice in reality, I'm the real bitch?" Tilting her head slightly she went on, "And since I'm the white lotus, it shouldn't be that difficult to believe."

Ying waited a minute for them to reply but both Ah-Si and Xiao Li just kept staring at her in silence. She lifted her hand to touch her face as she asked, "Is something on my face? Why are you both staring at me like that?" Seeing how they still didn't reply, her confusion intensified. "Zizi!" Since these two brothers of no use, she called out to Xin Zimen. 

Just as Xin Zimen looked up from his iPad screen, saw Ying, he abruptly stood up with his eyes narrowing into slits. "Zizi, what's up with that dangerous expression? Is it directed at me?"

"No, I believe that's directed at me."

Ying heard a deep voice from behind her and turned around. She was so shocked that she almost lost her footing. But before she could fall into the pond, her wrist was held by the newcomer who even asked in concern, "Are you okay?"

Ying nodded her head, "I am absolutely fine. It's just that I suddenly feel worried about you, Mr. Xin Zemin."

Xin Zemin smiled at Ying's expressions and shook his head, "Don't be. I'm quite used to it."

Both Ah-Si and Xiao Li once looked at their father's clouded expressions before walking over to greet Xin Zemin. "Uncle Min, what a pleasant surprise!"

Ying taking her chance ran over to Xin Zimen and placed the plate of rose cakes down on the table. She leaned closer to Xin Zimen and said, "Zizi, I thought I was wrong but now that he is here, I think I wasn't."

"What do you mean?"

 "When I turned through the driveway, I saw him pacing around looking in a dilemma. Seems like his worry for you won the battle. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to walk in the tiger's den on his own."

Xin Zimen's expressions softened without realizing it as he looked at Ying and said, "Is it just me or you've been talking weird lately? Did you caught the bug?"

"What bug?"

"The bug people only catch called the season of new love and change."

Ying eyes him strangely and hits his arm saying, "Stop trying to joke around. Your brother is here to meet you."

"So?" Seeing his nonchalant behavior, Ying was startled.

"Didn't you always disliked him?"

Xin Zimen patted her head saying, "It's not... dislike. It's more of anger I'm not able to let go of."

Meanwhile...

"Uncle Min, why are you here? Yesterday, dad was unconscious so you were able to leave unscathed but today, he is awake." 

Xin Zemin looked over at his brother's face before turning to Ah-Si, "I just wanted to check up on him. Even if he is sick, he won't tell anyone. So, I just had to made sure."

"His fever is unpredictable like him. It comes and goes on its own," replied Ah-Si.

Xin Zemin chuckled, "That's true. His fever had always been like that, it'd go away just as fast as it came."

Seeing how he was about to walk over to their father, both brothers again stopped him, "Are you sure you want to meet him?"

"Dad is in a good mood today but I don't think it's good enough," reminded Ah-Si worriedly.

"Relax, boys! I don't see the hostility in his eyes today. So, that's progress. Isn't it?" With that, he left them behind and entered the pavilion with a straight face. "You're Yan family's only young miss, Yan Ying, right?"

Ying laughed out awkwardly as she said, "I guess I'm famous. Even the person who doesn't live in the country knows me. How great!" Smiling sheepishly she added, "It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Xin Zemin. Last time I saw you it was..." Ying bit her tongue and stayed quiet as her eyes instinctively shifted to Xin Zimen's poker face.

"Won't you welcome me, little brother?" questioned Xin Zemin.

Xin Zimen sat back down in his seat and said, "I don't have a habit of welcoming uninvited guests."

"Ouch! You're still..." Xin Zimen lifted his brows as if waiting for him to finish that sentence. "Cute."

"Pfft!"

Ying couldn't help laughing out and slapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to people calling Zizi, cute."

Xin Zemin looked at Ying's amused face and said, "Why? Little Miss Yan doesn't think that my brother is cute? Even when he is brooding, I still find him quite adorable."

Ying noticed how Zizi's face was twitching and she couldn't help pursing her lips before saying, "I do think Zizi is cute but that's just me." Xin Zimen glared at Ying who in turn hurriedly made a run for her life saying, "I'll leave you two to catch up. Have fun!"

She had just run a few steps away when she came back and took her rose cakes saying, "Sorry! But I'm hungry. Hope you don't mind."

When she entered the house through the back door, she peeked out and muttered, "I pray for your safety, Mr. Xin Zemin. Hope Zizi goes easy on you with his piercing words."