Imperfect Desires

Xin Zimen looked around and seeing that everyone was standing in pairs, felt bitter inside. Even his son abandoned him here for his girlfriend. What rotten luck I have! He had promised himself that he won't think about it today but he still couldn't help playing with the wedding rings in his hand. Since he couldn't bring his wife with him, he brought the only things she left behind. 

Although the wedding ring was supposed to ease his mind and make him believe that Wen Ai was with him, it wasn't working. Instead, he was even more strongly hit with the emptiness. His hand clenched tightly as he thought to himself, 'It's difficult than I thought it'd be.'

"Ah-Xin!"

Xin Zimen's head immediately lifted up and he was greeted by Xiu waving at him cheerfully. She was quite a distance away from him and yet, she had shouted his name in excitement catching everyone's attention. As always, she didn't pay any heed to anyone and tried to run over. 

But her arm was held back as Darren reminded her, "No running around."

Xiu made a face at her husband but she couldn't say anything except... "Ah-Xin, Regan is bullying me."

"Sweets!" 

Xiu stuck her tongue at him and hugged Xin Zimen's arm naturally as she said, "He says, don't do this. Don't do that. It's already very annoying."

Xin Zimen patted her head and looked at Darren, "Didn't I tell you not to give her any grievance?"

Darren gaped at his wife who openly changed sides whenever it involved this person. Shaking his head, he replied, "Uncle Zi, you shouldn't even talk to me right now. You scared the hell out of me last night."

Xin Zimen pressed his lips together before saying, "That's different."

Not wanting to argue here, Darren moved aside to greet Dylan's parents while Xiu asked, "Ah-Xin, why are you standing alone?"

Xin Zimen sighed out exaggeratedly, "What can I do? Both my sons are unreliable. Both ran off to their wives. Since my wife is not around, I'm left all alone."

Xiu frowned unhappily, "Now I'm here. We don't need those unreliable sons." Xin Zimen smiled at her as she continued, "I'll stay here with you."

Xin Zimen shook his head, "As much as I appreciate it, I don't want you to stand for too long. Go inside and stop running around."

Xiu's shoulders slumped down, "Ah-Xin..." 

"Wow! Aren't you both looking cozy!" 

Both Xiu and Xin Zimen looked up to see Darren's father standing with an amused smile. It was obvious that his eyes held surprise but more than that he was indeed amused. 

"Hi, Father-in-law!" Xiu greeted without missing a beat. She didn't look like someone who was meeting her father-in-law only for the third time. 

"Oh hello, Daughter-in-law!" replied Zhou Xichen with equal enthusiasm as he added, "You're shimmering today. What's the secret?"

Xiu gave him a thoughtful look before replying, "It's called a secret because we can't say it."

"My daughter-in-law is savvy."

"Stop flattering her dad."

Zhou Xichen looked at his son and before he could say anything, Xin Zimen chimed in, "Yes, Xichen, stop flattering her your son is getting jealous."

"No, I'm not!" retorted Darren.

Even Zhou Xichen knew his son wasn't jealous. In his opinion, his son didn't have such petty emotions like jealousy. 

"Regi, take your wife inside," said Xin Zimen while urging Xiu to just go inside. Xiu was rather reluctant but she couldn't argue with him right now. So, she obediently walked inside.

"My elder daughter-in-law always ends up stuttering at your sight and my second daughter-in-law looks quite chummy around you."

Xin Zimen rolled his eyes at Zhou Xichen, "And your point is?"

Zhou Xichen shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. I just find it quite ironic."

"Get lost already!"

Zhou Xichen gaped at Xin Zimen, "You sent me the invitation!"

Xin Zimen shook his head and turned him towards Qiu Jiayi, "He sent you the invitation."

Zhou Xichen clicked his tongue in disappointment, "Zimen, you really know how to cut someone off cleanly. No wonder your brother doesn't dare to talk to you. He always trudges carefully around you."

Xin Zimen held his head before adding, "Xichen, your friend is inside. Even your son is inside. Why are you wasting time here with me? Is irritating me a hobby of you and your best friend?"

Zhou Xichen's lips curved up slightly as he asked, "Zemin is here?" Xin Zimen didn't reply. "That's surprising."

Qiu Jiayi moved up and whispered to Zhou Xichen, "Xichen, don't test Zi. If he blew up."

"But I didn't even say anything... yet..." Seeing how Qiu Jiayi's eyes narrowed, he sighed out, "Fine, fine. I'll go inside and say hello to my..." he looked at Xin Zimen and emphasized, "Dear friend."

As he walked inside, Qiu Jiayi shifted close to Xin Zimen and reminded him, "Don't lose your temper today. I know there are a lot of faces you don't want to see. But you have to be strong. Besides, you know Xichen is only joking around."

"Yi, you're stressing over nothing. I'm actually fine. There is nothing in this place that I'm not used to already." Qiu Jiayi looked at his best friend quite suspiciously but Xin Zimen didn't react. He wasn't lying anyway. It was true that he didn't really care about anything right now. There was really nothing new about this wedding. There were some faces he didn't want to see but so what? He won't let it show on his face easily.

"Actually, I'm more worried about my wife," said Qiu Jiayi in a low voice. "The way she has been glaring at Zhao Huan is quite dangerous."

Xin Zimen snickered, "Then you have nothing to worry about since Weiwei isn't bold enough to cause trouble in the presence of Xin Zemin. Besides, she won't do anything to ruin her daughter's wedding. She had done so much planning to achieve this day."

Although Qiu Jiayi didn't want to agree, he had no other option either. His best friend was right. The way Zhao Wei had waited for this wedding, there was no way she'd do anything to ruin it. Even if it meant smiling politely before Zhao Huan.