Imperfect Desires

Dr. Ling looked at the complicated expression of Xiu and reassured her, "You don't have to worry so much. He is really fine."

Xiu smiled at her in reply and nodded her head. 

"Now, you should go back to rest," said Dr. Ling. "Even Xiao Li is waiting for you inside."

"Li bro is inside?" asked Xiu with furrowed brows and Dr. Ling nodded in reply. Xiu squinted her eyes at Dr. Ling before questioning, "Are you personally familiar with Li bro? The way you say his name has some familiarity to it."

Dr. Ling was surprised to hear that. "Is it okay for you to notice such a small detail?"

"When you've been cautious for too long, it becomes a habit," replied Xiu.

Dr. Ling stared at Xiu's smiling face and told her, "Well, I do know your Li bro personally."

"Oh? How?"

"We had a mutual friend since kindergarten," answered Dr. Ling.

Xiu thought about it before her eyes widened, "You're Ying Jie's friend?"

Dr. Ling gave her a surprised look, "You even got that? Wow! You're indeed smart."

"Nah. I'm pretty dumb," said Xiu. "But I have my moments."

Dr. Ling laughed out because of what she said and how she said it so boldly and feeling proud of herself. Dr. Ling laughed so much that she even fell on her butt. 

"Are you alright?" Xiu asked when she saw her falling back. She was crouching beside her one moment and the next, she fell back from her uncontrollable laughter.

Dr. Ling wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and said, "I'm fine. I just..." Before she could say anything, her eyes caught sight of someone and she forgot what she was about to say.

Xiu looked at her face before she turned her head and saw Xin Zimen coming over. Xiu's eyes moved back to Dr. Ling and she pressed her lips together.

"Little lass, what are you doing here?" asked Xin Zimen as soon as he came near Xiu.

"I'm just having a chat with the doctor," replied Xiu.

Only now Xin Zimen's eyes moved towards Dr. Ling who was still sitting on the floor. Xiu also looked at Dr. Ling. She noticed how earlier Dr. Ling's eyes were stuck on Xin Zimen's face but now that he was looking at her straight, she apparently didn't know where to look.

"Why is she on the floor?" asked Xin Zimen.

"Don't look at me like that," warned Xiu when she noticed how he looked at her. "I definitely didn't do anything. She fell on her own."

Xin Zimen's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Ah-Xin, are you doubting my words?" She controlled her expressions and blinked at him, "Look at my face. Doesn't it look like the epitome of sincerity right now?"

Xin Zimen crossed his arms over his chest, "You're a pretty good actress. It's hard to say whether that sincerity is real or fake."

Xiu gaped at him in disbelief. "How can you doubt me?"

Dr. Ling finally got off the floor and said, "Actually, I did fall on my own. It has nothing to do with her."

"See?" Xiu pointed at her.

"Maybe she is lying," said Xin Zimen.

"And why would she lie for my sake?" retorted Xiu.

"Maybe because you threatened her and she is scared of you?"

Xiu snorted at that, "Who can possibly be scared of a cute and harmless person like me?"

Xin Zimen bent at his waist as he placed his hand on her head and said, "The cute and harmless person recently sent someone to the hospital."

Xiu cleared her throat, "That wasn't me."

"Oh?"

"That really wasn't me," argued Xiu. "Let me tell you a secret... A wandering and vengeful ghost possessed me. Trust me, I'm very harmless."

Xin Zimen rubbed her head and smiled at her, "As if I'd fall for that ghost story of yours." He took a pause and added, "This story is just like the one when you said you're an actress in your past life. Both are lies."

Xiu looked aggrieved. At least one of those was the truth. She was an actress in her past life! Why won't you believe it?! She shook her head to herself. It was actually good if he didn't believe her. What was the point in learning about her past? It all seemed rather funny to her now!

Xin Zimen turned to Dr. Ling who had been looking at their interaction with a stunned look. She had known Xin Zimen since she was a kid. But it had to be the very first time she had actually seen him smiling so casually. That serious look of his that she was used to was suddenly shaken. His whole person seemed so different with just a simple smile. 

She was so lost in her own world of admiring his looks that she didn't notice when he called her. Xiu chuckled to herself seeing this and pinched Dr. Ling's hand. 

"Ah!" Dr. Ling looked down at her hand that was pinched while Xiu grinned at her.

"Ah Xin is calling you," said Xiu.

Dr. Ling looked flustered as she said, "Oh, I'm so sorry." She bowed to apologize sincerely. "I zoned out for a while."

"I don't blame you," Xiu voiced out and Dr. Ling looked at her. Xiu beckoned her down and when Dr. Ling leaned down, she whispered, "With such a handsome man before your eyes, it'd be wrong not to daydream, no?"

Dr. Ling's eyes went round while Xiu continued to grin at her in amusement. She found Dr. Ling's reaction very amusing. She had interacted with Dr. Ling for the past couple of days and she had seen how serious she'd seem whenever she was focused on her work but currently, before Xin Zimen, she seemed like a whole different person.

"I hope my little lass didn't bother you," said Xin Zimen.

Dr. Ling waved her hands immediately, "No, not at all. She is very cute. I wanted to talk to her myself."

Xin Zimen rubbed Xiu's head lovingly as he agreed, "Yes, she is indeed very cute." Xiu gladly let him do it and even leaned into his touch. "And I would like it if you take care of her in the future."

"She isn't my doctor," Xiu pointed out.

"You don't need to worry about that," said Xin Zimen to Xiu.

"It's about me, why am I not allowed to worry about it?"

"Because your health is our priority, your priority is clearly your husband's health."

Xiu coughed softly, "Isn't that how it should be?"

"No," retorted Xin Zimen. "Only if you get better can you help Regan."

Xiu pouted, "I'm trying my best."

"What's up with that look?"

"Since the time I woke everyone is telling me to concentrate on getting better. It's not like I don't want to. But why are you all rushing me so much? I need my time as well."

Before Xin Zimen could say anything, Dr. Ling spoke up, "I think she is right." Xin Zimen looked at her and she went on, "You all should let her take her time. If you continued to repeat the same thing, it might do more harm than good."

Xin Zimen contemplated her words and looked back at Xiu, "I'm not trying to rush you. It's just that I really miss seeing you jump around. Obviously, I want to see you get back on your feet again but I'll try to be more patient about it."

"You think I don't miss it?" retorted Xiu. "It's only been a few days and I'm already missing the time when sleeping all day was a choice and not an obligation."

Xin Zimen pressed his lips before saying, "Why is it still about sleep?"

"It's not just about sleep. The food is too bland and too nutritious," added Xiu. "I've never even been a health-conscious person. It suddenly reminds me of the days I had to go through dieting."

Xin Zimen rolled his eyes at her, "Indeed. Your mind is filled with either eating or sleeping. And whatever space is left, you've already given it to your husband. There really is nothing else, is there?"

"Apart from these three things, my life has no meaning," said Xiu in a dramatic tone. "Now, I'm missing all three. I can't sleep how I want. I can't eat how I want. I can't even be with my husband how I want. See? How miserable my life is right now?"

"Little lass, you're really..." Xin Zimen didn't know what to say. Was there even a point in saying anything to her?

"Let me give you the word you're looking for, it's crazy!"

Xin Zimen pointed at her as he looked at Dr. Ling, "Do you think she is on drugs right now?"

Dr. Ling shook her head in reply, "I don't think so."

"Ah-Xin, that's the real me. Did you forget so soon?"

While Xiu was starting at Xin Zimen, she heard an unfamiliar voice call out, "And here I was wondering who is the one calling you Ah-Xin again."