Imperfect Desires

When Xiao Li came to check up on Ah-Si, the latter was drinking soup. Nora was keeping an eye on him or more like looking expectantly at Ah-Si's face. 

"How does it taste?" she asked.

Ah-Si smiled at her, "It's very good."

"That's a relief," said Nora as she heaved a sigh of relief. "It's my first time making chicken soup, so I was a bit nervous."

Ah-Si didn't say anything and continued to drink the soup. Seeing Xiao Li, Nora stood up and said, "Can you stay with Ah-Si? I have to go check up on my best friend."

Xiao Li nodded his head and let her leave. He sat beside his brother and crossed his arms against his chest as his eyes continued to stare at his brother's face. Although one couldn't see a single frown on Ah-Si's face, how could Ah-Si hide anything from his brother?

"If it's not to your taste, why are you forcing yourself to drink it?"

Ah-Si's spoon paused as he looked up at his brother, "It's her first time making it." Xiao Li rolled his eyes at his brother. "She spent two hours stewing it, I can't just leave it just because it's a little salty. At least, she tried her best."

"How can I forget my brother is very thoughtful," said Xiao Li. He let Ah-Si finish the soup before he asked, "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm good," replied Ah-Si. 

Xiao Li eyed him, "I've clearly warned you not to ever feel alone. If something is bothering you, you can always come to me. I'm here for you. Why did you take so much stress and get yourself sick? It's not like you're familiar with your own condition."

Everyone said Xiao Li was very protective of his younger brother. And it wasn't a lie either. It wasn't only because he loved Ah-Si, it was also because to him, Ah-Si was still the same sensitive kid who took years to get normal after their mother's death. Wen Ai's death left Ah-Si with a psychological trauma that everyone was aware of. 

Xiao Li knew his brother well. Ah-Si would become vulnerable in situations he didn't understand. If he was mentally prepared, something serious could also happen to him. Back when Nora left him, he had faced the same situation. He had almost gone into shock and that's why both Xiao Li and Xin Zimen didn't stop him from leaving the country. They both thought it was best for him.

He touched his brother's head and said, "Why did you cry?"

Ah-Si lowered his head saying, "I didn't."

"You think you can lie to me?" 

Ah-Si went silent. He took a while before replying in a small voice, "I dreamed about mom."

Xiao Li's body stiffened as soon as he heard that. He held Ah-Si's face and made him look at him, "You're okay?"

Ah-Si nodded his head, "I'm fine. Don't worry!"

"How am I supposed to not worry?" said Xiao Li. "I thought you stopped dreaming about that incident. Why didn't you tell me anything?"

"It's not that I didn't tell you," replied Ah-Si. "It's just been too long since I last had that dream."

Xiao Li rubbed his forehead before asking, "Then why did you dream about it again?"

Ah-Si shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe because I was missing her." He held his brother's hand to reassure him, "But it's alright now. Except for crying, nothing else happened. Really!"

"You think crying is nothing?" retorted Xiao Li. 

"That's not what I meant," said Ah-Si in a soft voice. He took a brief pause and asked, "Bro, did you find out the truth?"

"What truth?" 

"About Chen Xiu and Liu Nuan?" 

Xiao Li looked at his brother carefully, "Why are you so curious?"

"It concerns me as well," said Ah-Si. 

"Chen Xiu and Liu Nuan both aren't Aunt Suyin's daughters," answered Xiao Li calmly making Ah-Si's eyes widen in shock. "Aunt Xi said, Aunt Suyin never had a child of her own."

Ah-Si's expressions changed as his mind reeled again. "Do you mean your suspicions that Chen Xiu was our sister can be true?"

 Xiao Li pressed his lips together before nodding his head, "The things I've found clearly prove that Chen Xiu was our sister."

"But is there anything that can prove it otherwise?" questioned Ah-Si.

"I can only be certain once Chen Hana wakes up and tell me where she found Chen Xiu. There is no other way for me to confirm what I have."

Ah-Si bit his lip before asking, "But why do you want to confirm it?"

"What?"

"I mean, even if it's proven that she was our sister, what's the point? She is no longer here." Xiao Li could tell that Ah-Si sounded like he was on the verge of crying again. 

"Even if she isn't around anymore," began Xiao Li. "I still want to know the truth. I want to know it so that I can destroy everyone and everything that destroyed our sister. If mom was alive, she'd want to do the very same."

Ah-Si nodded his head at him, "Right. Mom would want to do the very same."

Xiao Li ruffled his hair playfully, "That's why I have to get to the truth as well. I can't let my sister's soul suffer like she did when she was alive." He stood up to leave as he said, "Take care of yourself and take plenty of rest. I'll come to see you after I come back."

"You're going to see Liu Nuan?" asked Ah-Si. Xiao Li thought for a minute before nodding. "Don't let her off easily. She is anything but innocent. Even if Chen Xiu wasn't our sister, Liu Nuan had made her suffer. She deserves to get payback for what she did."

Xiao Li's eyes flashed with surprise. He leaned down as he asked, "What do you have in mind?" Ah-Si whispered something in his ear making his brows jump up in shock. He looked at his brother in disbelief, "Stay here. I'll handle it myself."