Imperfect Desires

Seeing the bride, Nora suddenly raised her brows saying, "I've met her before."

"Huh?"

Nora nodded thoughtfully, "That's right. It was only once but I did meet her. She has a cafe, right?" Xiu also nodded in reply. "That's where Dylan took me once."

"Then how did you forget it?" asked Xiu.

"We barely exchanged any words. It's normal that I'd forget someone like..." Nora pressed her lips together, not completing her words. But Xiu didn't push her to continue either since even she could tell why Nora didn't remember meeting Qiu Meihui. 

While Francesca introduced Nora to Meihui, the latter smiled at Nora saying, "We've already met." Then she looked over at Xiu as she added, "Xiu, it's so nice to see you here."

Nora's brows furrowed up as she noticed Meihui's expressions but Xiu's smile didn't falter as she replied, "There is no way I'd miss your wedding, Sister Meihui."

Qiu Meihui smiled again as she went on, "That's my bridesmaid and my best friend, Liu Nuan. And that's her husband's sister, Zhou Liqiu."

Xiu gave them both a nod in a perfunctory manner. She had expected to see Liu Nuan here but she really didn't think she'd have to see Zhou Liqiu as well. What a mood spoiler!

"Is this Darren's girlfriend?" asked Zhou Liqiu. And as she saw Qiu Meihui nodding, she snorted, "It seems both my brothers are obsessed with the name, Xiu."

Xiu's expressions subtly changed but she pretended to not get the hidden meaning behind those words. 

"Qiuqiu!" Liu Nuan warned her in a low voice.

Xiu snickered inwardly as she thought, 'They still know how to put on a show. They are not even being subtle about it.' 

"Xiao Qiu, don't say that. Our Xiu is everyone's favorite." Hearing Qiu Meihui's words, Xiu couldn't help frowning as she stared at Qiu Meihui for a minute with a strange expression. Although Qiu Meihui's smile didn't falter, Xiu could tell there was a meaning behind that smile.

Soon, there were other people coming over to see Qiu Meihui and in this distraction, Nora pulled her best friend out saying, "Is it just I or those three girls looked at you strangely? Don't tell me you've beaten one of them before."

Xiu threw her hands up saying, "Although I wish to beat at least one of them, I still haven't. So, I don't know what you're talking about."

Nora had always been perceptive when it came to her best friend and she had observed the situation inside closely. It was very obvious to her that either it was Qiu Meihui or her best friend, they all looked at Xiu with bitterness. But Xiu looked at each of them with indifference. 

Nora pulled Xiu to a quiet corner and placed her hands on her shoulders, "Sis, I have only one question for you."

"What is it?"

"Friends or foes?"

"Huh?"

Nora shook her a little, "I'm asking whether are those girls our friends or foes?"

"I'm not acquainted with any of them. I've even only met Qiu Meihui a couple of times. How can they be friends or foes when I don't even know them."

"The hostility in their eyes said otherwise," retorted Nora plainly. "Anyways, if you say so, I'll believe it. But... if any of them do or say anything, you come to me. I'll deal with them."

Xiu shook her head saying, "Nora, my dear Dora, I can handle on my own. You focus on making your relationship better with your future sister-in-law."

Nora smirked slyly, "Hon, don't you think I can deal with a couple of Qiu Meihui's easily? I'm Nora Cartwright. I don't need to flatter anyone just to make my life easier."

"Why are you getting so worked up even before trying to make peace?"

"Because she seemed to not like you. And whoever doesn't like my sister doesn't deserve my good side."

Xiu smacked her head and walked away. She didn't have a way to explain to Nora that even though she didn't know anyone as Bai Xiu, she indeed was acquainted with those girls. However, she was confused about what she did to cause displeasure to Qiu Meihui?

She could understand why both Zhou Liqiu or Liu Nuan would not like her. After all, her name was enough to bring some hostility. But what did she do to Qiu Meihui? She hardly even knows her personally. 

But then she mentally shrugged, reminding herself that she couldn't please everyone. Even if she did something to cause trouble to Qiu Meihui, she wasn't gonna go back to apologize. If you have a problem, keep it. It can't possibly hurt her in any way. 

Xiu came back and sat down beside Darren at their table. "Why did you come back so early?" he asked. When Xiu didn't reply, he placed his hand on her shoulder. Xiu looked at him inquisitively. "Where are you lost?"

"I was just wondering... Dylan is so cute, why is his sister so not cute?"

Darren frowned at her words, "Did Sister Meihui say anything to you?"

Xiu shook her head saying, "No, she didn't. I'm just questioning her choice of friends but then again, I have no right to do so. I'll just shut up and sit back now."

Darren could tell that she wasn't saying what really was in her heart. Probably because she didn't think it was the occasion for that. But it was obvious that she wasn't looking very happy right now.

Suddenly a chocolate bar dangled before her eyes and she looked up to see Nora grinning at her. "I got this especially for you. It is the perfect cure for bitterness."

Xiu chuckled at her and took the chocolate bar asking, "Where did you get it?"

Nora looked around before replying in a low voice, "I stole it from Jackie."

Xiu hit her arm with the same chocolate bar but had no plans of giving it back to her. She really felt like eating something and this chocolate bar was really the perfect remedy for her.