Imperfect Desires

As soon as the huge tv screen lit up, Ah-Si put on a news channel. He didn't choose anyone in particular since he didn't have to. Currently, every news channel was covering the same news.

Every news channel's reporters had been crowding around Liu Nuan who was being bombarded with questions from left and right. 

In the past half an hour, Liu Nuan had experienced what it felt like to dream of heaven while being in hell, only to be thrown deeper into hell. She was dropped off right where she was picked up from with her suitcase and documents. 

In Liu Nuan's current mental state, she couldn't make sense of the situation as she had just stared at Xiao Li with doubt in her cautious eyes. She was really scared of what she had to go through in the past week. She was tired, hungry, and only wanted to sleep in the comfort of her room. 

"You're free now," that's what Xiao Li had told her. Seeing the fear and suspicion in her eyes, Xiao Li offered her a smile as he went on, "If you managed to get out of this city in the next 30 minutes, you're free! I won't bother you again. I give you my word." While Liu Nuan was still trying to make sense of his words with her disoriented brain, he tapped on his watch, "Time is quite precious for you. Don't waste it."

And then he watched her running off to hail a cab hurriedly. As she noticed that no one was following her, she let her guard down slowly. And as the cab neared the airport, she finally heaved a sigh. While she was in the process of getting her boarding pass, that's when she dreamt of getting out of the hell she experienced in the last week. 

And just the thought of escaping from that hell made her feel like she was on the way to heaven. Even when her joints were stiff from the lack of moment, even when she was on the verge of collapsing, even when the sunlight made her eyes sting, she didn't give up. She knew it was her only shot of escape and she had to hold on till the end!

She wanted to reach out to her father as soon as possible. She knew only he could protect her now!

But who knew she'd soon be caught in between all the reporters that shoved their microphones at her face and bombarded her with questions.

"Mrs. Zhou, is it true that you hid your real medical report just to target late Chen Xiu?" 

"Mrs. Zhou, did Chen Xiu really push you down the stairs or not?"

"You played the victim and sentenced her to death, aren't you ashamed of what you did?"

"Don't you remorse for what Chen Xiu had to go through just because of your lie and jealousy?"

"Give us a statement!"

"Mrs. Zhou, Chen Xiu was said to be suffering from severe mental depression. It's being said that you manipulated her vulnerability because you're jealous of her? What do you have to say about that?"

"You're never pregnant than why did you claim that Chen Xiu caused your miscarriage?"

"Your husband has already given a statement that he and Chen Xiu broke up before your marriage and had no relationship after that. Then what made you despise Chen Xiu to the point of killing her?"

The reporters were aggressive and sharp with their words and demeanor. Each question made Liu Nuan feel like the earth was shattering. And the camera flashes made not only her eyes sting but her brain malfunction as well. She hadn't seen light in over 10 days and now that so many blaring eyes were being shoved into her eyes, it made her feel like a splitting headache was trying to tear her brain apart.

Her stiff joints finally gave up as she fell on the floor, covered her ears, and kept shaking her head. Her body was trembling and she looked pitiful. But no one around her felt pity for her. Even if any of them had the slightest thought of showing compassion, they couldn't do it. Because the person who asked them to be here would never let any of them escape if they didn't accomplish their task.

"I didn't kill her! I didn't kill her!" Liu Nuan shouted at the top of her lungs before she lunged at the reporter nearest to her. "Yes, I was jealous of her! So what?!" she roared out. "I loved Jinhai first. I came into his life first. Who told her to put her eyes on what belonged to me? Who told her to act so kind and high and mighty? She was nothing but the dust under my feet and yet, she tried to dance all over my head!" She snorted in contempt, "A street rat like her deserved what she got! Just because she saved my life by donating her bone marrow, did I have to become her servant? Why should I? Did she even deserve to have gratitude from me? It was only right for someone like her to donate her bone marrow and save my life!"

She suddenly laughed hysterically, "What did she say to me? She would never ask for the guy who left her? Hmph!" She grabbed the reporter's collar and shouted, "Why did she have to act like if she hadn't given up, I wouldn't have gotten Jinhai? Who told her to be so proud? Who asked her to flaunt her kindness? Did anyone ask her to do so? She was only asking for people's hatred by trying to act like she was better than others!"

On the other side of the screen, Darren held Xiu's hand tightly. Xiu offered him a smile and whispered in a low voice, "Do you really think this bitch's words would get to me again? She hurt me once, it was because of my naivety. But if I let her do the same again, wouldn't that made me a fool?" She blinked at Darren in reassurance as she added, "Besides, I'm only a fool for you."

Darren shook his head slightly at her and smiled at her. He really thought Liu Nuan's words might hurt Xiu but the effect was completely different. 

"She really learned something from Suyin," said Su Xixi. "Even after all she went through, she'd still call others wrong. Only her logic is correct! I don't even have words for people like her."

"I watched her grow up, never thought she'd have such a cruel heart," remarked Xin Zimen.

"Dad, you even watched Sister Meihui grow up. How did that turn out?" retorted Ah-Si.

"Why do you look so pleased?" questioned Xin Zimen as he noticed the gleeful look in his son's eyes.

Ah-Si showed an even brighter smile to his father, "Pleased? I'm not just pleased. I'm extremely happy right now." He looked towards Xiu's as he added, "And this is only the beginning."

Xiu raised her brow at him as he winked back at her cheerfully.

Just as Ah-Si had said, it was truly just the beginning. Soon, the airport ushered in rows and rows of people who claimed to be from Chen Xiu's fan clubs and threw rotten eggs, rotten tomatoes, and whatnot at Liu Nuan while they cursed at her.

This scene was so eye-catching that the news reporters made way for these people to have their fun. And no matter how much Liu Nuan called for security, no one stepped up to maintain order around here. 

"This might get Suyin out of her hole," said Xin Zimen.

"Nah," replied Su Xixi. "She is not even gonna bat an eye regarding this. In fact, the moment these news reporters got to her, she is gonna..."

Su Xixi hadn't even finished her words when breaking news appeared on the tv screen. Xin Suyin had finally made a statement and declared that Liu Nuan had no relationship with her.

Su Xixi laughed out at that, "See? She just shook her hands off of this trouble! That's so like what she would do!" 

"Aunt Suyin is fast," said Ah-Si. 

Su Xixi rubbed his head saying, "My dear Si, she is not fast. She is too cunning. She would never let anyone taint her own name. If anyone dares to do it, she'd gladly cut off that piece of hers."

"Scared of a taint on her name?" mumbled Xiu as she heard Su Xixi's words and a devilish smirk appeared on her lips. 

"Got an idea, Sweets?" asked Darren in a hushed voice.

Xiu wiggled her brows, "If she can cut her own flesh just to keep her name, I'd gladly force her to cut her own heart out! Let's see for how long she can be proud of her name."

Xiu's eyes didn't show any happiness as she saw the scenes playing out on the tv screen. The so-called fans love? She was all too well familiar with it! These are the fans who turned their backs on her at the very first chance they got! What reporters seeking justice? Weren't they the ones having fun coming up with headlines with her name just to get noticed by their superiors?

She had become numb to all of it. She was too indifferent to what was happening with Liu Nuan. The only satisfaction in her heart was the fact that she could see that look in Liu Nuan's eyes. That look of desperation that she once found in her own eyes. That look of abandonment that she once had to go through. That look of isolation!