Imperfect Desires

"It seems like my Sweets is very lucky. One father is willing to cook and the other is willing to feed her. Wow!"

"Jealousy is not good for health, Regan!" retorted Xiu as she opened her mouth and Xin Zimen put a spoonful of porridge into her mouth. "Mmm... I didn't know dad is such an amazing cook."

Xin Zemin smiled at her contently, "Do you like it?" She nodded her head repeatedly. "Then dad will cook for you from now."

"Aren't you busy?" inquired Xiu.

Xin Zemin placed his hand on her head, "I've been busy all my life. It's about time I should take a break for something that matters."

"If I get to eat such good food daily, I'll be more than happy," announced Xiu.

Xin Zimen pinched her nose, "Our silly lass really knows how to eat well."

Xiu grinned at him as she replied, "I didn't know it myself before but now I think eating is my talent."

"I thought sleeping was your talent," said Darren.

Xiu looked at her husband, "I'm evolving here, husband. Why are you looking back at this moment? One needs to evolve with time. Before I was only good at sleeping, now I'm good at eating as well. Who else has this talent?"

"Right. Not everyone can have this talent," was Darren's reply as he wanted to roll his eyes but ended up losing his focus and had to close his eyes for a moment.

"Dad, Ah-Xin, you tell him do I need any other talent apart from eating and sleeping?" Xiu acted pitiful before both Xin brothers.

"No, my daughter doesn't need to have any other talent," said Xin Zemin without any hesitation.

"Yes, our silly lass just has to eat and sleep well. The rest should not be her concern."

While Darren lifted his spoon to eat, Francesca offered, "Son, do you want mom to feed you as well?"

Darren looked at her, "When have I asked you to do that?"

Francesca huffed, "This is why I say you're not cute at all! I wish my grandchild is like Xiu."

"You've already said that," reminded Darren.

"Then I'll keep repeating it," retorted Francesca. "You weren't cute when you're a kid and you still aren't cute at all."

Darren didn't listen to her and continued to slowly eat as well. He paused and complimented, "My mother-in-law is a pretty good cook."

"Do you like it?" asked Zhao Huan with a big smile.

"Oh, I love it. It's actually eatable, unlike my mother's food." Francesca glared at him but couldn't say anything to refute his words. She really sucked at it and there was no way around it. "But still, since I survived till the age of eight on her burnt food, I can't really complain. It actually helped me a lot."

Francesca perked up, "Right? Even though my food was burnt, it turned you into such an amazing person."

Darren smiled at his mother as he replied, "No, it made me realize how desperately I needed to learn to cook. For the sake of my own survival."

Francesca really wanted to hit him but couldn't do so right now since he was already a patient. "You get better once, I'm gonna beat you."

"Then I'm gonna stay right where I am," replied Darren.

Xin Zemin watched how his brother was feeding his daughter and actually felt happy. It almost seemed like his younger brother was coming back to his side even if the reason was his daughter. He didn't care. He knew a lot of things couldn't go back to how they had been once but he still wished to have his brother stand by his side instead of being so estranged all the time.

"I almost forgot to ask, did you all eat?"

Hearing Xiu's question, all the elders shared a look. And with that one look, Xiu could tell that none of them had anything. Perhaps since she had been unconscious. What a troublesome family!

"You all are old enough to know that you need to care about your health. If you won't be healthy, how will you take care of us?" She sounded really mad all of a sudden. "Go and eat something!"

"We'll watch you both eat then we..."

Xiu looked at Zhao Huan and she stopped talking, "Mom, I act like a kid. I'm not really a kid. We can eat." She took the spoon from Xin Zimen's hand. "See? My right hand is working very well." She even took a bite on her own to show them. "Now, all of you leave and have something to eat. Don't show up again without replenishing your own energy."

"Why are you sounding like a parent?" inquired Francesca in confusion.

"Because you all are acting like kids," replied Xiu making Darren chuckle softly.

"Little lass," Xin Zimen rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "I guess you didn't hear, when one gets old, they turn into kids. So, we are definitely acting according to our age."

Xiu squinted her eyes, "Ah-Xin, fool someone else with that age talk! None of you look old to me." She took a pause and added, "And don't say it's because you have good skin care products."

"I wasn't going to," he retorted. He sighed and got up to leave, "Fine, eat well. I'll back later."

Xiu nodded, "You'll find me right here! It's not like I'm allowed to move."

"Since you know you're not allowed to move from your bed, don't think about running around," instructed Zhao Huan and Xiu had to nod her head in agreement.

Seeing them all leaving, Xiu looked at her husband and said, "I didn't know it's this tiring to deal with parents."

Darren smiled at her, "You'll get used to it."

Xiu smiled awkwardly, "First, I'll need to get used to the fact that I have my own parents. Even though they are not mine."

"They are your parents," emphasized Darren. "No matter how it happened, they are your parents now. Don't try to push them away."

"When did you see me pushing them away? I've already accepted them. It's just that one voice in my head repeatedly telling me that I'm deceiving them."

"Even if you want to call it deception, continued with it... This deception has given everyone a new reason to live."