Imperfect Desires

Ying soon found herself at the table where her grandmother, Shania was sitting along with the elders of the Xin family. 

"Hi, Shania! You're looking hot today!" Ying's grandmother gaped and glared at her granddaughter but the said granddaughter had already shifted her gaze to others at the table. "Hello, elder master Xin and elder mistress Xin! I haven't seen you both in a long while." 

Surprisingly enough, even the patriarch and matriarch of the Xin family greeted her with a friendly smile. It wasn't difficult to see how fond these elders were of Ying. But then again, as Ying has said earlier, she always gave respect where it was due. It was indeed one of the factors why everyone around her pleasing to the eyes.

"Where is Bohai?" 

Ying looked at her grandmother and smiled, "Didn't you say you'd stay out of my relationship? Why so curious now?"

"I just want to say hi to him," retorted Shania.

"I don't want him around you," answered Ying straightforwardly. "You're not a good influence."

"I'm your grandmother!"

Ying nodded her head, "Indeed. That's why I know better about your influence."

"Yingying!"

"I told you there was a good show here," Su Feifei hit Han Yiheng's shoulder as she wiggled her brows. "This is my favorite kind of show."

Seeing how Feifei hugged Ying, Shania was pissed off as she gritted out, "If my influence is no good, do you think hers is better?"

Ying shook her head, "No, gummy! She is worse than you but at least she makes everything seem fun."

"I'd take that as a compliment," said Feifei not getting offended at all.

"How is it possible that Su Feifei won't find everything a compliment to herself?" Su Feifei looked at Zhao Huan and smirked. "How come you never change?"

"Do I have to?" questioned Su Feifei.

"I think you're at the age to change a little," said Elder Mistress Xin.

"I agree with that," Shania also chimed in.

Su Feifei frowned as she replied, "You old ladies are just jealous of my freedom."

"Pfft!"

Everyone finally noticed Xin Zemin who had been silently listening to the ladies around him. He had to say it, he loved every person from Su and Wen clan. The kind of confidence these two clans had was indeed remarkable. He could easily say that apart from Wen Ai, only Su Feifei was capable of challenging his mother and being so nonchalant about it.

But then again, who would dare go to complain about a Su family descendant? Even his own Xin clan wasn't enough to take that risk.

"I'm sorry," he hurriedly apologized. "I'm just amused to see how Feifei still has no-filter on her mouth."

"Feifei would rather stop breathing," chimed in Han Yiheng knowingly. 

"Gentlemen, this is who I am. Why should I try to betray who I am? If I can't even be loyal to myself, I can't possibly be loyal to anyone in this world."

Shania shook her head at Feifei saying, "Ah-Fei, you need to find a life partner first. Then talk about loyalty."

"Wait! You're still not dating Yiheng?" questioned Elder Mistress Xin with surprise in her voice.

"Eeehh..." Feifei pushed Han Yiheng away from herself. "Who wants to have him as a life partner? Please, say something that makes sense. I don't want a loner like him in my life."

"As if you've millions of friends. You also have only me!" reminded Han Yiheng. "Besides, I don't want to reduce my life by even thinking of dating you."

"At least, I'm fun. Unlike you, Mr. Boring. You can even bore the boredom to death!"

"Yiheng, isn't your daughter in high school now?" asked Xin Zemin.

"Yes, she is," answered Han Yiheng.

"And you still get in petty fights with Feifei?"

Han Yiheng cleared his throat and said, "She starts it. Always."

Su Feifei hugged her niece's shoulders, "Dear Ying, do you hear the sound?"

"What sound?" asked Ying in amusement.

"That's the sound of betrayal!"

"Hahaha!" Ying laughed at her aunt before saying, "You all really need to find another hobby."

"But I like this one," said Feifei.

"I believe only an oddball like you enjoys these arguments," said Han Yiheng.

Feifei huffed at him, "It'd be better if I just go and find my brother-in-law. He is better than you all."

"Haven't you always been dissatisfied with Zimen?" inquired Elder Mistress Xin.

Feifei smiled at her in reply saying, "Oh, no! I think you're talking about yourself."

While Elder Mistress Xin's eyes narrowed at her, Feifei's free spirit had already sprinted away to find her said, brother-in-law. Meanwhile, Han Yiheng also pulled Ying aside to find his nephew.

"I hate the fact that her stubbornness reminds me of Wen Ai."

Zhao Huan sneered, "No, you hate the fact that there is someone like Wen Ai who dares to defy you." She took a pause before adding, "In fact, you hate Wen Ai because she was the reason Xiao Zi learned to stand for himself. In the end, you never wanted anyone to challenge your authority."

"Zhao Huan! Have you forgotten your manners? Don't forget I'm still your mother-in-law."

"Sorry!" Zhao Huan raised her hands in defense. "I forgot how much you hate the truth. My bad. It's really my bad." With that being said, Zhao Huan also made her distance from their table. She had already been drifted apart from this family since she couldn't have a child. It was only her husband who had been stubbornly holding on to her till now. Otherwise, this relationship might have long been broken.

However, this was something she had made peace with already. What she really wanted to know now was why her husband kept holding on to her. She had deluded herself for a long time with the thought that Xin Zemin held her back because he loved her. But she couldn't do any longer. Especially with the existence of Destiny Novell, she really couldn't bring herself to stay in her delusions.