Imperfect Desires

Although Xiu was familiar with her brain's capability to roam from one place to another, she genuinely wished to not do it in the coming days. Not only for the peace of her own mind but also for Darren. In his condition, she didn't want him to worry about anything. 

Even if staying in this room was pretty boring, she just had to bear with it. Because even if she was allowed to go outside, she didn't want to leave with Darren. 

Darren continued to stroke her head and it made her easily drift to a peaceful sleep. 

Meanwhile, when Xin Zimen came out of their room, he was met with his son's inquiring gaze, "Dad, why did you call me back?"

"Follow me," said Xin Zimen and took him to a private space where no one else could hear the conversation between them. "Leave Liu Nuan for now."

"Huh?" Xiao Li was confused. "Did Ying tell you something?" Xin Zimen nodded and he went on, "And you still want me to leave it?"

Xin Zimen shook his head saying, "I didn't say you should leave it entirely. First, you need to figure out whether Ah-Si is right or not."

"You're doubting his words?" questioned Xiao Li.

"No, I just want you to be certain. I trust my son but Ah-Si doesn't have any proof whether what he learned is correct or not. So, first, find evidence to prove that Liu Nuan is really not Suyin's daughter. Only then we can do the confrontation."

"Are you planning on confronting Aunt Suyin directly?" Xiao Li further inquired.

"For now, we'll start with Liu Nuan. We can get to Suyin when I feel like it."

Xiao Li nodded his head and went to act according to his father's wishes. 

On the other hand, Ah-Si was still not able to relax at all even after sharing his worries with his elder brother. Although he didn't tell him the whole truth, he had expected it to let him breathe in ease but it didn't happen. In fact, his anxiety had grown to a new level because of what he learned from the conversation between his brother and Ying.

If Liu Nuan was really the one who tried to kill Xiu then the question was why did she do it?

*Flashback*

At the wedding, he had only come out of the banquet hall because his daughter was feeling uncomfortable with so many strangers trying to touch her. To make her feel better, he had thoughtfully taken her out to the garden to get some fresh air.

Ava was more than glad to be out in the open. She hurriedly squirmed out of her father's embrace as she wanted to get down. Ah-Si put her down and watched as she ran out happily. Finding her too adorable in her pretty dress, he had taken out his phone to made a video to share this excited version of their daughter with Nora.

However, who would have thought that he'd hear something that'd change his whole life? It was purely accidental. He definitely didn't want to eavesdrop on Xiu and Darren. However, when he saw Xiu's pale face, he was stunned to his place. He couldn't bring himself to move. Especially when they started talking.

Ah-Si felt like he was under some kind of a spell because no matter how hard he tried to force himself to leave, he couldn't do it. He knew it was something he wasn't to know and yet he heard it all. And he even forgot about his daughter who had run off to another site already.

 Even after Xiu and Darren left, he was not able to move. He only jerked back to reality when Xiao Li had come looking for him. He shook his shoulder and asked, "Ah-Si, what are you doing here?"

Ah-Si looked at his brother in a daze as he answered, "I don't know. I'm also wondering what am I even doing here?"

Xiao Li flicked his forehead, "You're supposed to stay inside with me. Why are you wasting time here?"

Ah-Si blinked at his brother blankly before questioning, "Bro, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Xiao Li rolled his eyes at his younger brother, "Is this really time to discuss fantasy? Have you been reading too many light novels on the web these days?"

Ah-Si nodded to himself, "Indeed, it does seem like a fantasy, no?" Xiao Li shook his head at his brother and looked over at Ava who was about to get into the water fountain in this cold weather. He ran off while Ah-Si was left staring dazedly at the pillar before his eyes as he continued, "However, why does whatever she said sound so believable? She said Liu Nuan isn't Aunt Suyin's daughter. She said Aunt Suyin's daughter was Chen Xiu. She said Aunt Suyin tortured Chen Xiu and made her kill herself. Aunt Suyin killed her own daughter without knowing it. And how did she know it all? Because Chen Xiu got reincarnated as Bai Xiu. Does it even make sense?"

When he turned his head, only then did he found out that his brother was nowhere to be found. Then who the hell was he telling all of this to? But thinking about it again, he thought it was actually better this way if his brother didn't know about it. None of it made sense to him, how could he worry his brother along with himself. Besides, he already knew his brother's condition on this wedding day, he didn't want to add unnecessary trouble.

"Why are you still standing there?"

Ah-Si took his daughter from his brother saying, "Nothing. I was just contemplating life."

"Stop doing it. That doesn't suit you," said Xiao Li as he tried to ruffle his brother's hair but he ducked down. Xiao Li chuckled but didn't try to do it again.

But while they went back inside, they didn't realize that there had been another person passing by. 

Liu Nuan had been crying all alone since her confrontation with her husband and her mother earlier. And she didn't want to go back inside either. She didn't feel like there was any need to do so. That's why she decided to use the back door to just leave the venue.

Who knew that while passing by, she'd end up hearing Ah-Si talking to himself in a daze? And the content of his nonsense made her blood boil. It really sounded like he was spewing nonsense but all of this nonsense made sense to Liu Nuan.

Her mother's contempt towards her made sense. No wonder her mother wanted her dead so badly! All of it made sense to her. Even though Ah-Si's words had no evidence, in her already broken down state, Liu Nuan had already lost all reason. If Ah-Si said Bai Xiu was Chen Xiu, then no matter how ridiculous it sounded, she was gonna treat her like Chen Xiu!

And since everyone hated her because of that Chen Xiu. Then she was gonna kill that Chen Xiu at any cost! She won't have it any other way! 

Also, so what if it was really just some nonsense? She'd still rather kill Xiu then to take any chances! That vile person had to die!

*End of Flashback*

Even now, Ah-Si was unable to understand anything. Although it sounded reasonable to say that Liu Nuan tried to kill Xiu because she learned that Xiu was the Chen Xiu whom she hated, then the question was how did she learn it?

He strained his brain trying to think whether there was anyone else around when Xiu and Darren were talking but honestly, he didn't know it. Because he was so bewildered he couldn't even focus on half of the details they had talked about. He had only caught on to the main points.

As for the details... He only learned it from his phone recording! Yes, since he was filming Ava, the recording was still going on when he was dazedly eavesdropping on Xiu and Darren. He hadn't shown the recording to anyone and he didn't dare to do so either. He actually wanted to delete it but didn't know why he kept it till now.

Maybe because it was the only evidence he had that proved that he hadn't gone crazy. That proved that whatever he said was not just his imagination or hallucination. He heard it all. More than proving to anyone else, he had kept this recording to keep reminding himself that he wasn't going crazy.

But still, he felt like it won't be too long before he'd really lose his mind completely. How could he not lose it? He wanted to talk to someone about the whole thing but whom?

The only person he could think of was his brother or Nora. But after learning how his brother believed that Chen Xiu was actually their sister Xin Xiulin, he didn't think it was right to tell him about this. As for Nora... Was he really ready to tell her that the best friend she cherished actually had someone else's soul in her body?