Imperfect Desires

Han Bohai had come to this place more than he had even gone to his own house and yet, he had never discovered that there was more to this place than meet the eyes. He really was startled by the hidden places that Xiu finally introduced to him.

"What is all this and why are you giving it to me?" inquired Han Bohai as he frowned at her in confusion. "Besides, how come I never knew you had so many secrets?"

"I never tried to hide anything from you," said Xiu. "It's just you who never really paid attention before."

Han Bohai was taken aback by her words and fell into deep thought. But Xiu didn't let him think on his own for long as she explained to him the content of the folder she passed to him. And seeing it, he was even more startled. 

They spent hours in that condo discussing various topics. It was close to the break of the dawn when they decided to leave this place. 

"It really feels like I came back." Han Bohai heard Xiu's voice and looked at her with a raised brow. So, Xiu elaborated for him, "It's been years I've been trying to live as Bai Xiu and purposely kept myself distant from things or places related to Chen Xiu. Perhaps, that's why today I feel like I've finally come back where I began from."

"This place isn't where it all began but it's definitely the place where you decided to end everything."

Xiu smiled at him in reply as she fastened the seatbelt. "Technically, nothing ended here. Instead, this became the starting point to the life I have right now."

Han Bohai was stumped for words. He started the car and drove out of this place. It was early morning when they reached the hotel where Bo Jiu had booked the presidential suite. 

Xiu collected the key card from the reception before she took the elevator with Han Bohai. 

"Xiao Bobo, do you think Chen Hana will ever wake up?" 

Han Bohai paused a little before answering, "Do you want me to tell you the truth?"

"Obviously," replied Xiu.

Han Bohai licked his dry lips before telling her, "I don't think she'll ever wake up."

Xiu's expressions didn't change at all when she heard that response from him. In fact, it was something she knew in her heart as well. And she had made peace with that fact since the time she learned about Chen Hana's condition.

"And why do you think like that?" asked Xiu.

"Her relationship with you was really complicated, Sister Xiu." Xiu raised her brows at him inquisitively. "She always looked at you with a conflicting gaze. There is no doubt that she loved you but there was always something holding her back from showing that love."

Xiu opened the door of the presidential suite and entered with Han Bohai following her even now. The very first thing she did was find a bottle of water and drank it. Her eyes wandered around aimlessly as she thought about something. 

"She lost her whole family. She must have loved all of them as well," she said in a small voice. "She was scared of loving me because she couldn't forget the feeling of losing everyone she called family."

"Did you forgive her for everything?"

Xiu shrugged her shoulders, "I don't even know what I'm supposed to forgive her for. Expect for love, she provided me with everything. I'm not sure whether I need to forgive her or I need to ask for her forgiveness."

"She was lost after you're gone," told Han Bohai. "I truly believe that she considered you a daughter. Maybe that's why she lost her patience and got herself into such trouble. But as for why she won't wake up... Isn't it obvious? She thinks you died because of her lie. That's why she doesn't want to open her eyes in this world again where she can't see you."

"Maybe you're right," said Xiu after a long moment of silence.

Both Xiu and Han Bohai looked over when they heard the sound of the door opening. Bo Jiu walked out with disheveled hair as she gazed at them before falling on the sofa. 

"You came quite early," said Bo Jiu. "I thought you'll come close to noon."

"Are you done sleeping?" 

Bo Jiu yawned as she replied, "You and I have one thing in common, Xiuxiu. We both value our sleep way too much. Do you really think I'll ever say that I'm done sleeping?"

Xiu shook her head at her saying, "I thought people with your kind of skills didn't value sleep that much."

"Don't prejudice against us hackers!" exclaimed Bo Jiu. "We might be night owls but we don't scrimp on our sleep!"

"Dress up," said Xiu. "Let's have breakfast and then we'll plan the course of action for the day."

"Roger that, boss!" Bo Jiu gave her a mock salute.

Xiu walked over to the other bedroom and found clothes for herself to change into. She used the hotel's phone and called Darren who was also waiting for her call all this while. That's why he hurriedly took the call and asked, "Sweets, how are you? Is everything okay? What are you doing?"

"Why so impatient?" She sat down at the edge of the bed and answered him, "I'm absolutely fine. I told you I'll take care of myself. Do you really think I won't keep my promise?"

"I'm still worried," replied Darren. 

"I just called to let you know that I'm fine," said Xiu. "I just went to check my condo. And I also heard that you actually wanted to buy that condo. Why didn't you tell me that before?"

Darren went silent for a moment before he asked, "Why did you go back there?"

"I had to get some stuff from there," she replied. "And stop overthinking. I'm fine. That place is my home, it can't hurt me. The thing is, that place can hurt you, so why did you still want to buy it? Doesn't that place hold the painful memories of yours?"

"You lived there," he said in a soft voice. "No matter how painful it is, it's still a place that had your presence."

"Aiya!" sighed out Xiu. "You're really impossible." She smiled to herself. "Did anyone find out that I'm absent?"

"Not yet. But it won't be long before everyone learns about it. I'm quite nervous right now."

"Why?"

"Your fathers aren't really easy to deal with. Uncle Zi is enough to make me nervous and now I have to face his elder brother as well. Although Uncle Ze feels like an easygoing person, don't have any doubts. He isn't a simple person any longer."

Xiu chuckled at his words, "You should take a deep breath and keep calm. Also, take care of yourself. I'll be back before you know it."

They talked for a while before she hung up and went out to find both Han Bohai and Bo Jiu glaring at each other. She frowned at these two who seemed to be sizing up each other. 

"Yo! Let's go!" 

Both Han Bohai and Bo Jiu stopped their glaring and followed her out. They went to the restaurant to have some breakfast and discussed some details before they decided to take action. However, who knew that the plan won't work as they wished it to. Xiu wanted to stay lowkey but someone was eager to cause trouble for her.

Because just as their car had moved to a relatively secluded area, around five black cars appeared out of nowhere and Han Bohai had to step on the breaks to avoid the collision.

Han Bohai cursed out and looked at Xiu, "Sister Xiu, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Stay inside. Let me check what's up."

"Don't!" Xiu held his wrist to stop him.

"They aren't here for you."

"You know who they are?" questioned Bo Jiu.

"Have you ever seen someone believing a crazy person?"

Bo Jiu knitted her brows at her question. "Only a crazy person would believe in another of his kind."

Xiu smirked at her, "Smart! Now, let me show you an interesting play acted out by a crazy duo!"

"Sister Xiu, you mean..." 

Before Han Bohai could even complete his sentence, Xiu had already alighted down from the car. Several men came out of those five black cars looking malicious and dangerous. However, Xiu wasn't fazed at all as she stood before her own car with a straight back. She wasn't scared of the scene before her eyes.

"Oh, look! It's the crazy pair of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law!" Xiu exclaimed in surprise as she looked at the two ladies who were hiding behind those dangerous-looking men.

"It seems even death doesn't want to keep a bitch like you!"

Xiu smiled at that old woman and sighed out, "Oh, no wonder you're still alive."

"You!"

Xiu raised her finger and put it on her lips as she indicated for her to stay quiet. "You don't scare me any longer."