Imperfect Desires

'A teacher for a day, a teacher for life!'

That's the principle that led Bo Jiu to follow Xiu without any problem. Since Xiu played the role of her mentor when she first entered the corporate world, she had decided to respect and follow Xiu. Even though she had studied abroad, she had never forgotten her values. 

It was purely an accident for Xiu to find out about Bo Jiu's hacking skills. But she was really against this unethical practice. And even strongly reprimanded Bo Jiu. 

However, when she really needed someone talented, she could only look for Bo Jiu. One; she knew Bo Jiu would blindly follow her and give her whole loyalty. Two; Xiu couldn't trust anyone else. 

It was easier to trust someone whom she knew already. And Xiu had become really familiar with Bo Jiu since the first day they met. Xiu had to say that her vision was absolutely accurate. Because Bo Jiu really turned out to be exactly like Xiu had expected her to be. 

Within two hours, Xiu landed in the Capital with Han Bohai and Bo Jiu following her. It was the second time she had come to this city after her rebirth. The first time, she felt painfully nostalgic but this time around, she felt excited for some reason. 

This city or its people really couldn't hurt her any longer. Now, it was her turn to hurt them back like she was hurt back then.

"Jiu, you go to the hotel," instructed Xiu.

"Huh?" Bo Jiu was taken aback by that. "You won't come with me?"

Xiu shook her head at her, "No, I have to go somewhere first." Seeing Bo Jiu's conflicted look, she went on, "Don't worry, I won't start the plan without you. For now, I have to go somewhere personal. Besides, it's still hours before the break of dawn. I'll be back to join you for breakfast. Go to the hotel and sleep for a few hours."

Bo Jiu pursed her lips but still nodded her head, "Okay. Take care of yourself. I'll wait for you."

Xiu hummed in reply and watched her hailing a cab before she left. Then she turned to Han Bohai and said, "Xiao Bobo, do I need to tell you where I want to go right now?"

Han Bohai pressed his lips and shook his head. He knew very well where she wanted to go right now. Although he didn't know why she wanted to go there, he'd still follow her anywhere. 

He had already asked his assistant to bring a car which had been waiting for them at the side. "Brother Han," called out the little assistant, Wen Qing. "Here are the keys."

"Thanks, Wen Qing," said Han Bohai with a genuine and sincere smile. 

The little assistant smiled back at him and said, "Let me know if you need anything else." Her eyes did fall on Xiu's figure but like a good assistant, she didn't dare question Han Bohai. It wasn't her place and she knew it.

"I will," replied Han Bohai. "Get inside, I'll drop you home first."

Wen Qing shook her head, "Thank you but I already have a ride." Saying that she ran off towards another car that had been waiting at the side for her. 

"Your assistant is quite tactful," remarked Xiu as she got inside the car and buckled her seatbelt. "I wish I had one like her."

Han Bohai glared at her, "Sister Xiu, you won't ever find a better assistant than me!"

"Oh?" was the only response Xiu gave him as the corner of her lips tugged up.

Han Bohai grumbled something under his breath but she didn't pay any attention to him. Currently, she was focused on the scenery outside. Even though it was past midnight, the Capital city was still bustling with life as always. It was still as she remembered it. This city always looked alive but the people in this city were definitely not as alive or vibrant. 

After half an hour, Han Bohai parked the car under a familiar residential building. Xiu didn't immediately alight from the car. Instead, she rolled down the windowpane and leaned her head against the side as she continued staring intently at the building before her eyes. It seemed like a long time ago since she last came here.

And it had indeed been a long time. It had been a lifetime since she last came to this place where she once took her last breath.

Han Bohai patiently waited for her to alight from the car. And when he watched her stepping down, he frowned as he asked, "I still don't understand why you wanted to come here. In fact, I thought you'd want to stay far away from this place as possible."

Xiu didn't answer him as she entered the building with him following her behind cautiously. "You didn't try to sell this condo?"

Han Bohai knitted his brows at her. He already was trying to hold himself back from shaking her and questioning her why the hell did she leave this condo in his name?! Was it to make him suffer? Because if that was the intention then she succeeded, after all, he suffered a lot!

"Who will buy this unlucky place?" He was trying to show his anger by being snarky but seeing the look in her eyes, he sighed out, "Your husband once offered to buy this condo but I refused. Your ex-boyfriend also wanted to buy this place but I definitely refused. You left it to me. Why would I give it to others. Even if I don't live here, it's the only place that brings me close to you. I can't possibly let it go."

Xiu chuckled softly at him, "You're really loyal, Xiao Bobo."

"Did you just realize that?" retorted Han Bohai. 

Xiu didn't reply to him and allowed him to open the door of the familiar condo for her. As the door opened before her, she took a minute to take deep breaths before she stepped inside the condo and turned on the lights in a familiar manner as she looked around.

For a moment, her breath hitched. The scene before her eyes was exactly as she remembered it. Every single thing was exactly at the same place as she left it. Every single thing in this condo was chosen by her. She had selected everything with her own hands because she wanted to decorate this place with her own colors. Because she wanted this place to belong to her. And once upon a time, it did belong to her.

As she wandered around, she came to her most favorite spot and opened the cabinet, looking at the rows of her collection, she couldn't help laughing out, "I thought you'd throw it all out."

Han Bohai's face darkened when he saw her walking over to her most cherished wine collection as he said, "I really wanted to. But your wine collection is quite expensive. I just couldn't bring myself to throw it."

Xiu laughed at his answer, "Silly! If you really wanted to get rid of it, you could have sold it all at a high price. Don't forget how I collected these babies."

"Your real baby might get angry if you didn't stop calling this wine collection as your babies," retorted Han Bohai.

Xiu placed her hand over her stomach and her eyes softened, "He won't mind. He is gonna always stand by his mother's side. There is no way, he'd mind it."

"Sister Xiu," called out Han Bohai when he saw her aimlessly wandering around. "You still haven't told me why we are here."

"I'm here to just look around," replied Xiu. "This might be the place where I have suffered the most bitterness in my life but this is also the place that was closest to being a home to me." She looked at him and smiled, "I have quite a few cherished moments that I spent here with you."

Han Bohai's heart shook at her words and bit his lips as his eyes stung. Wasn't that the same reason why he wasn't willing to part with this place? He couldn't bring himself to sell this condo. It was the place he said goodbye to his Sister Xiu and now seeing her before him, made him feel surreal.

"Did you come to the capital for the Xin family?" asked Han Bohai when he saw her sitting down on the sofa. 

Xiu leaned back in the seat and shook her head, "Nope! I'm here for a person who repeatedly made me feel like a worthless person."

"How are you gonna meet her?" inquired Han Bohai.

"I have my ways," replied Xiu. "You don't worry about it. I only allowed you to come because you're too worried about my health."

"I can't lose you twice," said Han Bohai. "That's why I'm not going anywhere!"

Xiu smiled at him before she felt under the sofa for something and soon pulled out a secret compartment making Han Bohai's eyes widen. She pulled out a folder from inside and extended it towards him saying, "This is for you."