Imperfect Desires

Right after Ah-Si left the room, Darren heard Xiu groaning. She buried her face in his chest and continued to groan. It was equally funny and cute to him. 

"I thought I'll never have to say it ever again."

"Say what?"

"That I am..." she lowered her voice and whispered, "That I am Chen Xiu."

"Why so secretive?" questioned Darren.

"Because I just realized when wise people of the past said that walls have ears, they weren't joking around." She hit her head as she went on, "One should always lower the voice and be careful of one's words."

"Sweets, it took you so long to realize it?"

Xiu glared at him, "Are you also looking down on me now? Don't you think I'm enough to do that?"

Darren patted her head, "I'm not looking down on you. It wasn't just you who didn't notice, I also didn't realize that it was an inappropriate place to talk about all that."

"It seems I can't hide it forever," said Xiu.

"Nothing can stay hidden forever," replied Darren. 

"Do you think Ah-Si will tell someone about it?" asked Xiu.

"The person Ah-Si is mostly likely to tell is Xiao Li but since he didn't do it till now, he is less likely to do it now. He came to talk to you directly which shows how much unwilling he was to share it with anyone else. So, you can relax. I'm sure, he won't tell anyone."

Xiu nodded her head feeling a little assured to hear him say that. "Do you think anyone else was there apart from Ah-Si? Or someone saw the video he recorded without him realizing it? There is always a possibility."

Darren poked her forehead, "Now, you're just being paranoid."

"How is it my fault?" retorted Xiu. "So much happened today. My paranoia is justified." She pulled the blanket over her head and said, "If anyone else comes, tell them I'm not available. I've had enough for today. There is only so much I can take in one day."

"That's true," agreed Darren. "You should give your mind some rest now. Go to sleep. I won't let anyone disturb you."

Xiu yawned tiredly and closed her eyes, "I really need to catch some sleep before my mind explodes from so many shocks."

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. Darren looked at her sleeping figure lovingly. He turned his head slightly to kiss the top of her head. Soon, his eyes darkened with rage. 

Just as Xiu had said, he also thought there was a possibility that someone else other than Ah-Si heard their conversation. And that person had to be Liu Nuan. That would explain why she caused such a mess. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Since Liu Nuan was already with Xiao Li, he could set his mind at ease.

....

On the other hand, after Xiao Li met with his brother, he sorted out a couple of things before he decided to leave. He had to go and check up on Liu Nuan now.

However, before he could leave the house, someone held his arm.

"Take me with you."

Xiao Li looked at Ying and rolled his eyes, "We are not having this conversation again!"

"Yes, we are!" retorted Ying. "No, in fact, if you don't want to have this conversation, it's alright. We don't have to talk at all. I just want to go with you."

"Where is your boyfriend? Why isn't he keeping you tied up to the bed?" questioned Xiao Li.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Both Xiao Li and Ying turned their heads to look at Su Xixi who had coughed as she said, "Choose your words wisely, Xiao Li."

Xiao Li recalled what he just said and groaned, "That sounded wrong."

"It did and it didn't at the same time," said Su Xixi. She looked at her daughter and asked, "Where do you think you're going, young lady?"

"Mom, it's important that I go with him," said Ying. "You can't stop me."

"You're right," agreed Su Xixi. "I can't stop you. After all, I have never been able to stop you from anything in your life. You wanted to chase after Xiao Li, I couldn't stop you. You wanted to stay behind in this country, I couldn't stop you. You wanted to become a part of the syndicate, I couldn't stop you. You didn't want to marry anyone else, I couldn't stop you. If I never had a say in your life before this day, how can I have a say today?"

Ying's face fell. Although her mother only stated facts, all those things made Ying once again reminded Ying just how much she had gone against her mother in her life. As she had said, she was perfect for everyone except for her mother but she couldn't even blame her mother for saying that because she never tried to make it up to her.

"Li, where are you going?" asked Su Xixi ignoring Ying.

"I've something to ask Liu Nuan," stated Xiao Li honestly. "Do you want to come with me?"

"You can take her but not me?" questioned Ying.

"Auntie is not impulsive like you," replied Xiao Li. "Besides, auntie is very good at making people speak the truth."

"I'm also very good!" Ying shot back.

"The more you're insisting to join me, the more I don't want to take you with me."

Before Ying could say anything, the three of them heard a whistling sound and looked towards the stairs. All of them looked surprised to see Ah-Si whistling as he skipped down the stairs happily. Although he still had a pale complexion, his aura seemed to have lit up now. 

"Little son, aren't you supposed to be on your bed right now?" Su Xixi was the first one to question.

Ah-Si looked at the three of them and grinned, "I'm going back to the room to rest now."

"How are you feeling now?"

"Godmother, I'm perfectly fine now. Don't worry about me," said Ah-Si as he hugged Su Xixi and acted cutely. Seeing that Ying's face twitched.

"Why do you look so happy? Did something good happen? Won't you share it with all of us?" asked Ying.

"I can't be happy alone?" retorted Ah-Si.

"I don't think Nora's salty soup was this magical to make you turn into an entirely different person all of a sudden," remarked Xiao Li.

Ah-Si tutted at him, "Bro, are you doubting the power of love?"

"I don't think it's the power of love though," said Ying. She looked towards the stairs as she added, "You came from upstairs that means you went to up see Xiu. She must have done something to put you in such a good mood."

Ah-Si thought about his words before he said, "Godmother, do you know my Sister Xiu?" Su Xixi nodded her head. "Then you should also know that my Sister Xiu has a strange magic. She can make everything alright."

"What nonsense are you spouting now?" questioned Xiao Li.

"Bro, you're the one who used to say that whenever she is around, you instantly feel happy. She is like an energizer that makes everything seem easy. Didn't you say it to me?"

Xiao Li recalled his own words and nodded, "Yes, I did. So what?"

"Then how can you question her magic?" retorted Ah-Si. "Now, I totally believe you. She indeed is magical."

"Now, I'm all the more interested in knowing what she said to you to make you look so happy," said Ying.

Su Xixi pushed Ah-Si's hair away from his forehead as she said, "It doesn't matter what made you so happy. I'm just happy to see that our family's little one is happy. Earlier, I was really concerned about your condition. I even lectured your father. What a poor job he is doing at taking care of you!"

Ah-Si pressed his lips together as he imagined the scene of his father getting lectured. It made him want to laugh out. 

"And since your Sister Xiu managed to fix whatever was bothering you, then I also should say she has some magic in her hands. And I should personally thank her as well."

Ying scoffed, "You only know how to shower all your love on him." She made a face as she went on, "But why are you forgetting that he is no more the little one of our family. The youngest in the house is Ava! And soon, even her spot will be snatched!"

"How?"

Ying have both Xin brothers a look before she said, "Are you both forgetting that Xiu is expecting? Once she gave birth, her child will take the place of the youngest one in this family."

"That's true," agreed Ah-Si.

"I'm getting late," said Xiao Li. "I'm gonna take my leave now."

Thinking of something, Ying turned to her mom and said, "Mom, you haven't met Xiu yet, right? You should go with Ah-Si and meet her. She is super amazing. You'll love spending time with her. You go to her, I'm going out with Ah-Li."

Su Xixi held the back of Ying's hair and pulled her back saying, "Ah-Li, you can leave." Xiao Li smiled at Su Xixi and gave Ying a teasing wink before he ran off. "And you young lady go to your room. So do you, young one!"

Both Ying and Ah-Si shared a look before they turned towards their rooms.

Meanwhile, Su Xixi kept watching them as she wondered, 'Even my daughter is praising you highly... It'll be interesting to know you more, Bai Xiu.'