Imperfect Desires

According to Xiu's wish, Xin Zimen gathered everyone for dinner. Although the room didn't look cramped even with all those people gathered around, Xiu thought it looked quite full now. Just as Nora had said, she really needed to think carefully before saying anything to Xin Zimen. He would do anything for her.

"Why are you all staring at me?" questioned Xiu when she noticed everyone looking at her strangely.

Hearing Xiu's question, Xin Zimen said, "Stop staring at her. Let's have dinner now."

As everyone sat down to eat, Xiu's eyes ran over every person in the room.

"Oh, my Superstar is finally here!" As soon as Xiu's voice fell, everyone's eyes moved simultaneously towards the door. Han Bohai who had just entered through the door, also halted in his steps at Xiu's voice and found himself under the scrutiny of everyone's eyes. "Why are you just standing there?"

"Yes, don't just stand there, Bohai," said Xiao Li. "Your seat beside Yong is waiting for you. Ouch!" He glared at Ying who had kicked him from under the table. "Why did you hit me?"

"When did I?" Ying played oblivious. "Don't you know that I'm injured? How can I even hit you?"

Xiao Li snorted in reply, "As if that small injury is enough for you to behave."

Han Bohai came to sit beside Ying silently. He didn't even look at Xiu for more than a minute in fear that he might not be able to control his emotions before her.

Nora went to Darren's side of bed to place a bowl of porridge before him and said in a low voice, "Dylan's mom is in the hospital that's why he isn't here."

Darren was stunned, "What happened?"

Nora pointed towards her mom as she said, "Clara Cartwright happened."

"Huh?" He was confused.

Nora patted his shoulder saying, "My mom can be pretty dangerous. Since she isn't going easy on Qiu Meihui, her mother's health took a wrong turn." Seeing Darren's worry, she went on, "But don't worry, she is fine now."

Darren blinked his eyes and told her, "Thank you for letting me know."

Nora waved it off and went back to join everyone around the table. Looking at her little brother, she called out, "Jackie, help your niece with her food."

Jackie wasn't happy at being called out like this, "She has her own hands."

"But she is little," said Nora. "Can't you help her?"

Jackie looked at his bowl of rice as he answered, "No, can't do." Before Nora could argue with him, he went on, "If I won't let her try on her own, how will she learn to do it?" He looked up at his sister and went on, "It's not like you're planning to feed her with your own hands for life."

"She will spill everything," said Nora after listening to his lecture.

"It's okay. If she'll spill it, I'll clean it up for her. But she has to eat on her own." Jackie's reply left no room for discussion of any kind.

In fact, this discussion made everyone take turns to look at this little over seven years old who spoke too wisely for his age.

"Your son is wise," remarked Zhao Huan as she looked at Clara who was sitting beside her.

Clara smiled at her saying, "I know. My seven year old is wiser than my twenty four year."

"Mom!" Called out Nora. "You can't insult me. Not here."

Looking at Nora's face, Clara shook her head, "What's wrong with saying the truth here? Your future father-in-law should also know what kind of daughter-in-law, he is planning to bring home."

Both Nora and Ah-Si were stunned by her words and shared a look. They had chosen to sit far away from each other so as not to make her parents angry but what was this situation.

Xin Zimen looked at Clara and said, "I like Nora just as she is."

"That's good to know," said Clara.

Seeing this small exchange of words between her mom and Xin Zimen, Nora wasn't sure about what to think right now.

"Xiu, why aren't you eating?" Asked Ying when she noticed that Xiu had only been looking at everyone in silence but hadn't even touched her food yet.

Xiu's daydreaming broke short and she looked at Ying and grinned, "Because I have no one to feed me."

As if on cue, Nora said, "Little brother, now you have no opinions?"

"Xiu is sick," was his reply.

Nora gnashed her teeth. "You're just biased dear brother."

"So what if I am?" Asked Jackie with a challenging gaze.

"Mom, your son is being rude!"

"Mom, your daughter is being petty!"

Clara placed her spoon down on the table with a little force making both Nora and Jackie to lower their heads.

"Both of you..." Clara's voice was dangerously low. "Behave!"

"Pfft!"

Xiu burst out laughing seeing this.

"I love this family," she said making Clara smile gently at her. "I missed this so much."

"We are missing you more," said Jing Ge. "So get well soon."

Xiao Li looked at Xiu and asked, "Should I help you eat?"

"Nah. I'm fine. I was just messing around." Saying that she picked up the chopsticks with the hand that she could use. Luckily, her right hand was working so it wasn't difficult to eat on her own.

"Mama, how was your day?"

Francesca looked at Xiu and sighed, "It was super tiring!" She took a pause and went on, "But since I listened to you and went to have a relaxing time with myself, I feel really good now."

"So, where is blueberry cheesecake?"

Francesca chuckled at her question, "I brought it but your Clara mom said we should give you the desert after the dinner."

"Oh..." Xiu's face fell but she didn't complain.

"But she won't be able to sleep if she had something sweet after 9 o'clock."

"How do you know that?" Questioned Nora as she looked at Han Bohai and he was lost for words.

Seeing how Xiu was also staring at him waiting for him to reply, he bit his tongue. He was really being careless these days.

"Sorry, I was talking randomly. I confused you with someone else."

Nora eyed him suspiciously, "But what you said is true. That's why I'm asking how do you know that? When did you get so familiar with Xiu?"

"I wasn't talking about her." Argued Han Bohai.

"Nora, why are you giving my Superstar a hard time?" Xiu had to speak in. She didn't know why Han Bohai said it, but she didn't want him to fumble around for excuses. "Can't you let me be happy knowing that my Superstar also knows me a little? Do you even know how privileged I feel right now?"

Nora stared at Xiu, "He just said he isn't talking about you."

"I'll just pretend like he is," replied Xiu as she stuck her tongue out at her. "Besides, stop focusing on others. Look at my Ah-Si, pay him some attention. Can't you see he looks like he has been the one sick for years now." Ah-Si touched his sallow face as he was called out and looked at Xiu who went on, "What is up with you?"

"I've been wondering that as well," said Ying as she turned to Ah-Si. "What is up with you? Haven't you been sleeping well?"

Ah-Si blinked his eyes avoided looking at everyone as he said, "How can I sleep well? Taking care of two girls isn't that easy."

That was a good excuse to hide what was bothering him lately. He had been the one to take care of both Asteria and Ava. Even Jackie would join them for a while. While Jackie didn't need anyone to take care of him, the girls weren't as mature as he was.

"Then you should leave the girls with Xiu," said Ying. "She doesn't have anything to do anyway."

Xiu was startled, "No!" Her reaction was extreme but she didn't care. "I'll keep my distance from kids. Thank you very much!"

"You don't keep distance from Jackie though," reminded Ying.

"He is not a kid," retorted Xiu without hesitation. "He is my loveliest brother."

"That was me though," Han Bohai grumbled under his breath unhappily. But obviously no one heard his voice. However, Darren had noticed his expressions carefully. Since the time he mentioned how Xiu couldn't sleep after eating sweets, Darren had been focused on him entirely.

He felt like something felt out of place. However, he felt the same about everyone in this room right now. He could tell everyone had something going on that they couldn't speak of. It really bothered him now. He felt like he was the only one unclear of the situation right now and that feeling didn't sit well with him.

"I'm actually trying to help you here," Ying continued. "If you spent some time with the girls, it'd be your practice for future."