Imperfect Desires

IAmMochi: Xiuxiu, how did you do it?

Xiu's brows raised up at that question. What did she mean why how did she do it? What did she do? Instead of thinking all on her own, she decided to ask the person directly.

XX: What did I do?

IAmMochi: Yesterday's show on national tv! Don't tell me, you have nothing to do with it!

Xiu's lips curved up slightly into a devilish smirk.

XX: Of course, I have a hand in all of that. But I'm not the only one involved.

IAmMochi: That I could tell already. Anyway, I have all the information about Zhou Liqiu that you asked for. And guess what! She is not Zhou Xichen's daughter!

Xiu's brows bunched together and then she suddenly recalled that when she met Darren's father, he had told her honestly that Zhou Liqiu wasn't his daughter. At that time, she really was confused but over time, she didn't care about Zhou Liqiu's identity.

XX: Then who's her father?

IAmMochi: That is a little complicated. It's the Zhou family's internal stuff and I couldn't delve deeper into it. Let me find an insider to do the job.

XX: Forget it. I have an insider beside me. I'll just do it myself.

Xiu looked at Darren who reading a book at the side and contemplated whether to ask him or not.

IAmMochi: That's great. So, how are you planning on taking care of her?

Xiu also wasn't certain about that. Although she didn't like Zhou Liqiu now, however, once upon a time she actually treated her like a little sister. But in the end, that little sister betrayed her. If it wasn't for the wrong medicine, she might not have suffered from auditory hallucinations that eventually ended up convincing her to take her own life.

That was one of the main factors that led to her suicide. However, she really wasn't sure how she wanted Zhou Liqiu to pay for what she did to her. 

IAmMochi: Xiuxiu, you there?

Xiu rubbed her temple and sighed out.

XX: How many times I have to remind you that I'm older than you? Stop calling me Xiuxiu!

IAmMochi: Xiuxiu, don't be so distant. 

Xiu rolled her eyes and felt like smashing something. This person used to be so scared of her, and now. Sigh! People really know how to change with time.

XX: Forget it. What else did you learn?

IAmMochi: Zhou Jinhai is no longer a part of the Zhou family. And although he married Liu Nuan with grand fanfare, in the end, she was nothing but an abandoned wife. He'd put up a front for people but in reality, they both lived separately.

XX: How do you know it? Isn't this considered insider's news as well?

IAmMochi: Not really. Because Liu Nuan lived in the Capital at Zhou Family house while Zhou Jinhai had been living here. There had been plenty of rumors about their relationship but I never paid attention before this.

IAmMochi: But the most interesting one is Niu Peizhi. She is in the most miserable state right now. I don't know who is it but it's like she provoked someone she wasn't supposed to. For the past five years, she had repeatedly been to the hospital. And each time, it because of some broken bone! It's as if someone is playing with her. Just as she gets off the bed, she is forced back on it.

XX: You find it funny?

IAmMochi: I find it satisfying. It's called slow torture. Mental and physical. Now, she lives in fear even in her own house. I heard she had stopped even going out of the house to avoid getting sneak attacked like that. But in the end, she somehow ended up falling down the stairs in her own house and got her leg broken.

XX: Who is behind it?

IAmMochi: That might need a little bit of investigation. However, do you realize how miserable her life? Fear of the unknown is great but she is living in the fear of certainty. Because no matter what she does, she will have to go through the pain.

XX: Do you think I'll feel pity for such a woman?

IAmMochi: Don't waste your pity on her. Even her dearest son, Zhou Jinhai doesn't pity her condition. But then again, he should be the one to receive some pity. Not the other way around.

XX: Stop your nonsense and come up with a plan for Xin Suyin. I want her to lose everything dearest to her. Find her weakness!

IAmMochi: I'm already working on it. Quick question, do you want a partner with the same goal?

XX: What do you mean?

IAmMochi: There is someone else who wants to watch Xin Suyin's destruction as much as you do.

XX: Who is it?

IAmMochi: It's better if you don't know. Just think about it. He's an insider, you're an outsider. If you both work together, you can cause quite some damage.

XX: I'll let you know after thinking about it.

IAmMochi: I'll be waiting then.

Even after Xiu closed the laptop, she was thinking about the discussion she just had. There were a lot of things that were running through her mind right now. Who had such animosity with Niu Peizhi? Not that she minds it. Even breaking every bone of her body won't be enough to compensate for what she did to her. 

But it was certainly satisfying to know that she hadn't been living a happy life. It seemed like all those who contributed to her death had been living a difficult life. That's why they say karma is real. People really don't understand that what goes around, definitely will come around.

"Regan!"

"Hm?"

"Zhou Liqiu is not your sister?" 

Darren paused slightly and looked up at Xiu inquisitively. 

"Your dad said she wasn't his daughter."

Darren took a deep breath and nodded his head, "She really isn't my dad's daughter. However, both Jinhai and I treated her like a sister."

"Then who is her father?"

"I only know it was a servant of the Zhou family. It was said that he took a liking to Niu Peizhi and took advantage of her intoxicated state."

Xiu snorted, "What? A snake got bitten by a snake?"

Darren gave her a small smile, "Yeah. The trick she used on my dad was eventually used on her. However, it was all my dad's plan." Xiu gaped at him in surprise and Darren chuckled softly at her reaction. "He used that servant to his advantage. Niu Peizhi had forced him to marry her but dad used her trick on her. After that, even his mother couldn't bring herself to accept Niu Peizhi as her daughter-in-law. Especially because Niu Peizhi got pregnant."

"But I thought Liqiu had a good relationship with Niu Peizhi," said Xiu in confusion.

"That's because Liqiu had tried every means to prove her loyalty and love for Niu Peizhi. She doesn't even know why Niu Peizhi despises her so much. But even with that hatred, Niu Peizhi used Liqiu well."

"No wonder she changed my medicine just for her so-called mother," scoffed Xiu.

"Even though my dad's mother had come to hate Niu Peizhi after Liqiu's birth, she couldn't throw her out of the family. At the end of the day, she was still Zhou Jinhai's mother. So, the only reason she got to enjoy her life all these years had been because of Zhou Jinhai's existence. If he wasn't around, someone would have already trampled on her long ago."

Xiu thought about it and agreed. Indeed, if it wasn't for Zhou Jinhai's existence Niu Peizhi wouldn't have been so out of control. Xiu hated that woman who only knew how to trick people. She actually found it satisfying that Zhou Xichen beat her at her own game. Since she loved trickery so much, it served her right to be played in the web of her own games.

"Regan, you really don't want to take back what you lost? Originally whatever Zhou Jinhai had belonged to you only."

Darren shook his head at her, "I'm fine with what I have. I'm more than fine. I have a simple family which has my mother, my beautiful wife, and our little son. Isn't that enough? Why would I throw myself in the power struggle? Do you even know how dangerous these noble families get when it comes to money and power? I'd like to keep my distance from it all." He took a pause and went on, "Mama left Salvay family after giving up a fortune only because she wanted to keep me safe and keep me away from power struggles. She didn't wish for me to grow up in constant fear."

"Well, I think Mama took the right decision. You and I needed the same thing, a family. And now, we are a family. And I think that's perfect!"

Darren rubbed her head as he nodded his head, "Yes, it is perfect."