Imperfect Desires

*Flashback Continued*

"Sister Huan!" Wen Ai waved at Zhao Huan excitedly. As she came to her side, Wen Ai continued, "I'd have gotten up to hug you but as you can see, I'm not able to do so for now." Zhao Huan looked at the big baby bump that she was using as a table to hold her bowl of nuts, she nodded in understanding. "Why are you standing? Just take a seat."

Zhao Huan sat down beside her. Right now, Wen Ai's legs were placed on the table before her while she continued to look at the tv screen. However, since Zhao Huan was here, she considerably turned off the tv and gave all her attention to the guest.

"Is anyone there?" she suddenly called out. "Bring something for my Sister Huan. My sister-in-law has come to my marital home for the very first time." Then she looked back at Zhao Huan and added, "By the way, Sister Huan when I sent you so many flowers, chocolates, gifts, letters of apology, and even threats, you didn't come to see me. How come you're here so soon just after learning that I'm pregnant?"

"I was upset with you, why wouldn't I come for my nephew? I should be the first one to be here for him," replied Zhao Huan, and hearing that Wen Ai smiled at her. "Don't even think that I forgave you. I'm still very much upset with you."

"I can tell," was Wen Ai's reply with a mysterious smile playing on her lips. 

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? How can you even hide your pregnancy for so long?"

"Don't be offended Sister Huan," said Wen Ai. "I had my reasons to do this."

"What reasons?" asked Zhao Huan.

"Aiyo, Sister Huan why do you always have to know about the reasons?"

"I'll keep asking until you give me an answer," replied Zhao Huan.

"You're indirectly asking me why I created that scene at your wedding, isn't it?" Zhao Huan didn't agree but she didn't disagree either. "If I say I had to put some pressure on Ah-Xin, would you believe me?" Zhao Huan shook her head without hesitation. "Why?"

"No one can corner Xiao Zi and make him do something he doesn't want to do. He isn't that gullible."

Wen Ai smiled at her, "You seem to not know my husband well. I don't blame you though. You've not really interacted with him for as long as I have."

"You're saying I'm wrong?" asked Zhao Huan.

Wen Ai nodded her head in response, "My Ah-Xin used to be very gullible. He was such an adorable little bean that it frustrated me!" Zhao Huan's brows arched up in surprise. "Back in elementary school, I was in an accident. Well, I was about to be hit by a car but he pushed me and got hit instead. He had to spend 3 months in the hospital for that."

Zhao Huan was shocked to hear that. She certainly didn't know about it.

"Back then, we didn't know each other though," she added with a nostalgic look in her eyes. "I had just joined his school and we had only been classmates for a couple of days and yet, he risked his own life to save mine." Zhao Huan intently listened to her with a frown. "I was born with the Princess Syndrome. So, I obviously assumed he did it because he liked me."

Zhao Huan pursed her lips, "So you agree that yoou have a Princess Syndrome, huh?"

"My family is one of the last living royal bloodlines. Obviously, I was born a Princess and everyone treated me like one. Why wouldn't I get that syndrome? It'd be shocking if I didn't get it."

"Where are you going with this?" 

Wen Ai sighed out, "I went to see that stupid boy who saved my life in the hospital for three months. Because I thought I should treat him well. And since it was the first time someone put his life on the line to save mine, I had decided to marry him. I had to have that boy as my husband. There was no way I was having it any other way."

"But you have so many bodyguards who'd put their lives on the line for you," reminded Zhao Huan.

"They get paid to do it," said Wen Ai. "Ah-Xin wasn't obligated to save me and yet he did it."

"Oh," responded Zhao Huan. "He must really be in love with you back then."

Wen Ai shook her head, "My bubble was burst when he came back to school and I realized that I wasn't special to him. He didn't save me because he liked me. He did it because he was that kind of a person. He did it because his brother told him to be good to others." She burst out laughing as she recalled how badly she wanted to beat him when he said that. She spent three months feeling special and then he just went to destroy the castle she built in her imagination. How cruel!

Zhao Huan's smile stiffened as she said, "But Xiao Zi doesn't even talk to his brother. How could he have followed his brother's words?"

Wen Ai looked at her, "I told you, he was gullible. He isn't anymore. It happened around when we were in middle school. He slowly started changing. From the good boy, he turned into the cold, and distant boy. Unapproachable." She took a pause to add, "Do you know what happened to make him like that? Do you know what happened that changed the dynamics between two brothers?"

Zhao Huan shook her head, "Zemin said he also doesn't know what happened. Xiao Zi suddenly distanced himself from him. And somehow they just drifted apart."

Wen Ai smiled bitterly, "Isn't that unfair? Brother Ze didn't even realize when or how the brother who worshipped him like a deity, drifted away... And by the time he noticed his absence, Ah-Xin had already gone too far."

*To be Continued*