Imperfect Desires

Xin Xiaoli's eyes followed Zhao Wei's figure until she came and stood right before him. For some reason, she looked uncomfortable being here. Xiao Li could notice that but he didn't voice it out. Instead, he turned to Ying and said calmly, "Don't let anyone come here."

Ying shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and stepped away giving them the privacy they needed. However, she hadn't gone far. Since they were right around the corner, the other people didn't know about Zhao Wei's presence. And that's why Ying had to keep watch because if others got to know, even she won't be able to predict the consequences with so many possessive parents around here.

Xin Xiaoli silently looked at Zhao Wei waiting for her to start talking. But Zhao Wei only felt fidgety under his gaze. She had so much to say but now that she stood before him, she really had nothing to say at all.

Slowly, she gathered her courage and asked, "How is Xiu?"

Xin Xiaoli's eyes flashed with a strange light but he answered honestly, "She is doing well. She and her baby both are safe for now."

"B-Baby?" Zhao Wei's words faltered along with everything else she had come here for. She covered her mouth with a trembling hand as she questioned, "Xiu is pregnant?" Xiao Li looked at her changing expressions and nodded. "That is such wonderful news."

Xiao Li's eyes narrowed slightly as he reminded her, "Is it really wonderful news to you?"

"Of course, it is," Zhao Wei didn't hesitate to answer. "It's Xiu and Regi's first child. Why wouldn't I be happy about it?" She wasn't lying. Everything else apart, she was really happy to hear this news. She had always treated Darren as a family member, why wouldn't she be happy to hear about this? As for Xiu, she had liked that girl from the moment she first heard about her. All her feelings towards both of them were genuine.

At the wedding, she did go overboard when she raised her hand at Xiu but it was only because she momentarily lost her reason. Or perhaps, her love for her own daughter got the best of her. Whichever reason it was, she knew it in her heart that she was wrong. 

Xin Xiaoli was silent for a minute before saying, "First child who almost died even before coming to this world."

Zhao Wei's happiness suddenly vanished as fear took its place. How could she forget? Her daughter almost took an innocent life. The thought made her heart clench. Closing her eyes to calm down, she asked, "How is Regi?"

"Alive," was Xin Xiaoli's precise answer. He waited for a while before asking, "Aunt, why did you come here?"

"I was worried about Xiu and Regi. So, I just wanted to know how they are doing."

"Is that all?"

"Huh?"

"Is that the only reason for you coming here?"

Zhao Wei nodded her head.

"Aunt!"

Zhao Wei closed her eyes briefly and sighed heavily, "Meihui wants to see you."

Xin Xiaoli chuckled dryly, "Oh... That's why she sent you as a messenger."

Zhao Wei shook her head, "I know you won't wanna see her right now. And I didn't come to deliver her message. I just wanted to hear about Xiu and Darren." She turned to leave but stopped to say, "You don't have to come and see her right now. I think it's better that you take your time."

"You don't want me to see her?" questioned Xin Xiaoli. "Why? Do you think I won't be nice to her?"

Zhao Wei turned around and said, "Do you blame me?" Seeing Xin Xiaoli's silence, she smiled self-abasingly, "I know you do. I deserve that. I asked you to fix something I broke. It was never your job to fill the void in Meihui's life that was created by me." She took a brief pause before adding, "It's just Dylan said, I'm the reason why my daughter ended up here. If I had stopped taking her side, she would have not gone overboard."

"You don't wanna remind me that she is my legal wife now?" asked Xiao Li with a complex emotion in his eyes.

"Does it matter to you?" she retorted and when he didn't reply, she went on, "I thought so. I feel like the person I've been most unfair to is you. I ended up exploiting your love for her and you continued to let me. I never realized how much I was hurting you because of my own selfishness. But trust me, I just wanted to be a good mother. But I ended up being the worst."

"I'll come to see her when I feel like it," said Xin Xiaoli and Zhao Wei nodded before walking away. While he watched her retreating back, Ying came around the corner and looked at him.

"I thought you loved her," she said.

"Don't I?" questioned Xiao Li.

"I can't see the fire of this love in your eyes anymore," said Ying with a heavy mood.

He put his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her head saying, "Maybe because fires are meant to burn everything. My love also burned down to ashes." He took a pause and said, "It's not nice to eavesdrop."

"You knew I'm listening in," replied Ying. "If you didn't want me to hear anything, you'd have long said so." She looked at the side of his face, "I can't believe you actually started lying to me. I never thought our friendship would come to this."

"Stop being dramatic," said Xin Xiaoli. "It's not like you just figured out everything."

"I hate you," Ying shot back.

Xin Xiaoli smiled at her and said, "What a surprise! I also hate you!"

"You do?" Xin Xiaoli nodded his head. "You!"

Ying raised her leg and tried to kick his abdomen. He timely stepped back but Ying raised her fist to punch him. He stopped that with his hand and pulled her hand behind her back saying, "Stop it!" Ying humphed and turned her head away.