Imperfect Desires

Xiu held her forehead in her hand before Han Bohai her shoulders shaking. He placed his hand on her face to make her look up because he was scared that she was crying again. But instead, he found her silently laughing. And soon, that silent laughter turned into a peal of roaring laughter.

He was confused by her reaction. He didn't know what made her laugh like this. He really didn't know what he said that she found so amusing. But he didn't care. Because he was lost in the sound of her laughter. It was unrestrained and gave a comforting feeling that eased up his mind. So, he leaned back and let her continue to laugh.

By the time she was done, transparent tears were hanging at the corners of her eyes. She wiped the tears and tried to compose herself again. 

"What's so funny?" he finally asked when he saw her getting down from the peak of hysterical laughter.

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "Do you remember, I used to tell you no one will remember me once I'm gone?" 

Han Bohai's facial expressions metamorphosed as he said, "Of course, I remember that. After that Liu Nuan wrongly accused you, you even used to say how people won't forget you now. That one incident will always come up every time your name would be spoken out loud."

Xiu nodded her head, "I truly believed that Chen Xiu's name would only get limited to being a vicious woman who took the life of someone's child." Shaking her head, she smiled, "But it was after meeting Regan that I realize that people didn't just remember me as a vicious person. Someone still cherished and adored Chen Xiu. Someone still trusted in her innocence." She sighed out, "It's ironic that the person who trusted me this much, really didn't even know me that well."

"I know how much he loved Chen Xiu," said Han Bohai. "I only signed with his company because of that. He never even tried to hide his feelings for a person who was already gone."

Xiu looked proudly at him, "I have an awesome husband, don't I?"

Han Bohai looked at her face and felt amused as he nodded along, "Yeah. You sure have an awesome husband."

"I know," she replied with a grin. "It's because he is awesome that I have come this far. I'd have never had the courage to open the book that I closed with my own death. If it wasn't for him, I'd have really let Chen Xiu stay dead."

Han Bohai could feel her happiness. He could see it sparkling in her clear eyes. And he really couldn't peel his eyes away from this contagious happiness. He could see how much she loved her husband. He had seen it before but now, it was different. Knowing that Darren was actually his Sister Xiu's husband brought a different family.

"I'm happy for you," he couldn't help saying. Xiu gave him an inquisitive gaze and he went on, "I always wanted to see happy like this. Even though you had to go through death to reach this happiness, I'm still very happy for you." 

"I also didn't think death would bring me to this happiness," she agreed. "I still find it surreal."

"You finally have what you always yearned for," he said. "The only wish you always had was to have a warm family that belonged to you. Now, life has really gifted you with a warm family."

Xiu chuckled at that, "It's a crazy family! But it's still mine! And I like that."

"Of course, you'd like it," began Han Bohai. "You have parents. A husband who gives in to everything you say. He is literally a fool for you. Then there is an uncle, who is also an equal fool for you. There is even a sister-like best friend who likes to argue with you but still loves you the most. There are even brothers who would do anything to protect you."

Xiu continued to listen attentively but even more attentive was her gaze that was fixed on his face. She touched the tip of his nose saying, "Why do I think you're saying something but mean something else?"

"I don't," he denied. "I really am happy for you."

Xiu shook her head at him, "That I already know. Of course, you happy to see my happiness. But..." She sat beside him and flung her arm over his shoulder as she pulled him closer. "Little brother, do you really think just because I have so many people I forgot about you?" Han Bohai's heart shook as he turned his face to look into her eyes. "Do you really think there is anyone who can take your place?"

"There are even more exceptional people around you," stated Han Bohai. "It wouldn't be a surprise if someone took my place."

Xiu knocked on his head, "But no one can do that! What you have, no one else has it!"

"And what is that?" he inquired curiously but with a dull feeling. 

"You're there when no one else was," she replied making his eyes widen. "Silly Xiao Bobo, no matter how good they are to me, they can't be as good as you were to me. My little brother, who scolded me, let me cry on his shoulder, cleaned up my drunken mess, watched me broken, heard me complaining, saw me falling down, and yet he stood by my side. You stood with me when no one even wanted to see me. Tell me, just how can someone take your place?"

Han Bohai felt choked up hearing her words. He was touched, to say the least. 

She poked his forehead as she continued, "You are someone more important to me than you think. You really have no idea just how much you mean to me. I might have more brothers now, but you're always the first. And you'd always be the first for me. Nothing can change that. No one can change that fact."