Imperfect Desires

Xin Zimen felt like someone just punched him in the stomach and he couldn't find a way to breathe now. He didn't know why but the idea that Xiu 'disliked' him, just pierced his heart brutally. He was speechless. It wasn't that he had nothing to say, it was because he couldn't seem to form words.

And his internal struggle might not be visible to anyone else but Su Xixi who was standing closest to him could feel it. She could even see his trembling hands. It momentarily shocked her. She suddenly realized that Xiu's importance in Xin Zimen's life was a lot more than what she had initially suspected. Just one frown of Xiu was enough to affect Xin Zimen.

And this made her look at Xiu all over again in a whole new light. She was wondering why it was. In the week she had spent around, she could see the uncanny similarities between Wen Ai and even Xin Xiulin. It sounded bizarre, but she had to say Xiu was really like a grown version of Xin Xiulin. 

Xiu stepped over to Xin Zimen placed her hand on her hip saying, "Ah-Xin, I'm very displeased with what you did to my little brother." Xin Zimen looked at her in a daze as she continued, "Is he a kid you can scold? He is a father of a kid, why do you seem to forget that?"

Xin Zimen took a deep breath and said, "You said you dislike me."

"When did I say that?" retorted Xiu.

"You just nodded," he reminded her.

"I nodded because you if I'm pointing at you," replied Xiu. "Why would I dislike you? But I do dislike the way you're trying to upset my little brother. He just recently got better, you shouldn't scold him so harshly."

"Is this about me confiscating that bowl of noodles?" asked Xin Zimen.

"Not really," said Xiu. "But it's related to that."

Xin Zimen held her shoulders and asked her in a stern voice, "You don't dislike me right?"

Xiu frowned at him, "Why are you repeating that? I love you. I respect you. I admire you. Where did dislike fit in all of that?"

Xin Zimen heaved a sigh of relief and closed his eyes. It was as if relief had washed down his senses and he could finally breathe again. She didn't dislike him. It made him beyond happy.

"That's good," he muttered in a small voice with a smile.

Xiu glared at him, "What's good about it? I think you're really not understanding what is happening here."

Xin Zimen looked at her and asked, "What is happening here?"

"I'm scolding you because you scolded my little brother!" said Xiu firmly.

Xin Zimen gave her a smile as he nodded, "Okay. Go on!"

Xiu felt like she was punching cotton, why was it so ineffective? And why was he smiling about being scolded? Was she losing her momentum? Was that it?

Xiu shook her head, mentally and physically prepared herself before exuding a dangerous aura as she said, "Don't think I'm joking around here! I'm serious! Treating my little brother like a kid is no small matter! How can you even confiscate his car keys? He only wanted to make me happy with that bowl of noodles. What was his fault? Why did you have to reprimand him so much that he was on the verge of crying?"

While Xiu continued on, Xin Zimen lowered his head and obediently listened to everything she had to say. No matter how much nonsense she spouted, he didn't utter a word in return. He didn't feel like doing it. He was enjoying himself very much right now. Such a loving scolding, where else would he get to hear it?

Seeing this scene Ah-Si was left feeling pursing his lips, he didn't want to laugh out. He knew Xiu was daring enough to do what she said but watching it with his own eyes was indeed better than his expectations. It was beyond hilarious. Just who else in this world could make his father lower his head like this? No one!

Even if Xin Zimen avoided Su Xixi, it was because he never wanted to bow before her and their equally intimidating personalities always clashed. That's why Xin Zimen would keep his distance from Su Xixi just to save himself a headache. 

But Xiu was different. And her position in Xin Zimen's heart was clear for anyone to see. She could walk all over Xin Zimen and the latter wouldn't say a word. That showed how much he loved her. And this love didn't need any reason. It came straight from the deepest part of his heart and spread in each and every nerve of his. This love came naturally now and it was beyond his own control now.

And even Su Xixi could see the intensity of this love now. Although she wondered why it was like this, she really didn't care. At the end of the day, she was just glad to see this lighthearted version of Xin Zimen that even Wen Ai couldn't bring out. And seeing him being reprimanded by a girl half his age made her feel quite satisfied as well. It was amusing, to say the least, and she really wished to laugh out but she didn't want to spoil the fun as well so she held back. No matter, now she had something to tease Xin Zimen with in the future. That was exciting!

 Xiu snapped her fingers to bring Xin Zimen out of his daze of happily being scolded and narrowed her eyes unhappily, "Give me the car keys."

"Huh?"

"Ah-Si's car keys! Give it back now!" repeated Xiu.

"Oh," responded Xin Zimen before he took out the keys from his pocket and placed them in Xiu's hand. "Here it is." But before she could retract her hand, he said, "But won't you ask why I confiscated the keys?"

"Wasn't it because of the noodles?" she questioned with raised brows.

Xin Zimen shook his head, "How can I be so unreasonable to take the keys just because of that matter?"

"Then what is it?" asked Xiu curiously.