Imperfect Desires

"Are you going alone?" asked Darren as he looked at his wife all dressed up. 

"Nope," replied Xiu. "I have my own team to follow me."

Darren frowned at her playful remark and showed an uneasy expression, "How about I go with you?"

Xiu walked to his side and placed a hand against his cheek saying, "I'd love to take you with me but your doctor hasn't allowed you to travel yet. You just take care of yourself and get better soon. I'll be back before you know it."

"How will I get better if I continued to worry about you?" retorted Darren.

Xiu was going to the Capital. The city where Chen Xiu died. He knew what that place meant to Xiu and he also knew why she was going there but he still couldn't help getting worried for his wife. He didn't want to stop her from whatever she was up to but he really wanted to follow her around. However, because of his current condition, he was not able to do so. Even though his health had recovered a lot, he was still not allowed to travel yet.

"But you don't have to worry about me," said Xiu. "Believe in me. I'll be fine."

Darren held her hand and said, "How long?"

"Just one week," replied Xiu.

"Will that be enough?" inquired Darren and seeing Xiu nod in reply, he sighed out. "I thought your plan was on the right track. Then why do you want to go yourself?"

Xiu pressed her lips together. She had indeed started her plan long ago and it was on the right track. Staying behind the curtain, she had been watching the show that she orchestrated with interest. But there was something she wanted to do herself. 

Xiu placed her forehead against Darren's and said, "There is someone who I have to meet. Not for my sake, but for yours."

Darren's eyes widened slightly at her remark and he went silent for a while. "It's been a long time."

Xiu chuckled at him with no humor in her eyes as she said, "My darling husband, it might have been a long time but I won't forgive her."

Darren could really not find a way to say anything to her to convince her. He could only sigh and kiss her softly as he told her, "Take care of yourself out there. And don't you dare get in trouble that you can't solve!"

"I know," replied Xiu.

"But is it necessary to sneak out of here?" asked Darren as he looked at her again.

"Do you really think my fathers would let me walk out of here alone?" retorted Xiu and Darren pursed his lips because he couldn't retort. "And I don't want them to know what I am up to."

"Even if you somehow managed to sneak out, by tomorrow morning, there will be a search party," reminded Darren. It's not like he didn't see the over-protectiveness of her fathers. 

"That's why you're here," replied Xiu with a sweet smile. "Be a good husband and cover for your wife. Just give me a head start, I'll manage the rest."

"Manage the rest?" Darren raised his brows at her. "Sweets, you can't hide from Uncle Zi."

"I don't want to hide from him any longer either," was Xiu's response with a soft smile on her lips.

Since Darren couldn't argue with her, he hugged her and kissed her before letting her leave. Outside the room, Han Bohai was waiting for her. 

"Does it take an hour to say goodbye?" questioned Han Bohai as he stared at his sister who said she'll join him in ten minutes after saying goodbye to her husband but it had been an hour since he had been waiting for her outside.

"Do you want me to remind you of the time when it took you three hours to say goodbye to me even though you're just going home to see your uncle?"

Han Bohai's lips twitched at the reminder and to hide his embarrassment, he hurriedly said, "Let's go. We're late already."

"Did you prepare what I asked for?" 

"I did," replied Han Bohai as he looked around before pulling out a suitcase. Then he looked at Xiu and asked, "Sister Xiu, this body is different than your previous one. I never doubted your flexibility back then but are you sure you'll be able to fit in this suitcase now? Besides, in your condition..."

"Do you have a better plan?" Xiu interrupted him. "There are people outside everywhere. This is the best way for me to sneak out. I'm not a professional. I won't be able to deceive the professionals around here. Besides, it's only for a few minutes. I'll come out as soon as we get inside the care."

Han Bohai could only reluctantly nod as he watched her stretching her body before she really fixed herself into that suitcase he brought. He did as he was told and closed the suitcase before picking it up and walking out the door. He had his car parked right in front of the door and as soon as he placed the suitcase in the backseat, he unzipped it to let Xiu breathe before he got behind the steering wheel and drove away.

Only after getting out of the residential block was he able to breathe a sigh of relief. He felt like a criminal while helping Xiu but there was no way, he would refuse to do what she told him to do.

Xiu had also come out of the suitcase as soon as Han Bohai had unzipped the suitcase. But she had been hiding under the backseat and only came up to sit and relax after they were far away from the house.

"You really didn't have to go through this trouble," said Han Bohai.

"Look, even if I am able to accept both of my fathers, it won't change the fact that they have nothing to do with what I am up to. Why should I bother them when it's my own agenda?"

Han Bohai couldn't say anything to her. He knew what troubles Xiu and he also knew he couldn't push her. She had already used up all her willpower to accept the twisted fate that she had with her two fathers. And he believed, that was her limit now. Even he thought he won't be able to take any more surprises much less her who had to go through all these twists and turns.

"Have something to drink," he passed a water bottle to her and continued to drive attentively. "By the way, do you know that my uncle's been courting your mother-in-law?"

Xiu knew he was trying to distract her and she didn't mind talking about this topic either as it brought a smile to her face. "I know. Mama told me everything your uncle's been up to."

"Wow! You have a good relationship with your mother-in-law," said Han Bohai.

Xiu shrugged her shoulders but he could see through the rearview mirror that she looked smug as she said, "Of course. Mama is the world's best mother-in-law. And I'm her world's best daughter-in-law."

Han Bohai chuckled at her shamelessness and didn't say anything. He soon pulled into the parking lot of the airport and helped her out. As they walked inside the airport, a person flew right into Xiu's arms. "Xiuxiu! Xiuxiu! Xiuxiu!"

Han Bohai was taken aback by this over-excited species while Xiu rolled her eyes at the enthusiasm of this person. "Have you forgotten how it felt to run errands? How come your enthusiasm is back so soon?"

The person pulled away with a sheepish smile as she said, "I can be your errand girl for life. Just say the word, your highness!"

"Shut up!" was Xiu's response. "It's been a few months since I last saw you, Bo Jiu. How come you haven't changed a little?"

The always enthusiastic Bo Jiu smiled at Xiu saying, "But you've changed a lot after resigning. I miss you a lot at work."

"I highly doubt that you miss me," replied Xiu. "Shouldn't you be glad that there is no one around to order you?"

"I'd rather have you around to order me however you want," was Bo Jiu's response.

Xiu soon lost her playful smile and looked at Bo Jiu seriously, "Do you have everything ready?"

"I have it all," replied Bo Jiu. "This Mochi is all ready to make a mice crawl out of its hole now."

"Good," commented Xiu and looked at Han Bohai who had worn a baseball cap and pulled it low to hide his face while he also pulled his turtleneck up to cover his mouth. "Xiao Bobo, are you sure you want to come with me?"

"I'm certain," said Han Bohai with conviction.

Xiu nodded at him and gave a nod to Bo Jiu before saying, "Then let's go. It's time to put an end to everything. It started with me, I'll end it myself."