Imperfect Desires

When Xiu arrived at the hospital, she met with Zhou Xichen and after talking with him, she entered the hospital ward to see Zhou Jinhai. He didn't seem to be in a good condition. Even though he had woken up, his condition wasn't very good. After all, he had gotten shot twice. 

When he heard some noise, his eyes opened slightly and when he saw Xiu, he was left staring at her intently. His lips parted and a hoarse and weak voice said, "Thank god you're okay."

Xiu raised her brow, "Are you saying that to me as your brother's wife or as Chen Xiu whom you owed a life?"

"Both," he replied in an almost inaudible voice.

Xiu sighed out heavily, "Do you know where I am coming from? I went to see Chen Xiu's grave. I must be the first person in history to have gone to her own grave. It felt kind of weird and creepy. Maybe I should not go there again."

"I could never visit your grave," he said. "I couldn't even face you. I still can't."

Xiu's lips curled up, "Then don't. You and I only have bad memories of each other. So, let's not see each other again. If you think it's your life that you owe me, then make sure you don't give up on this life. I was called a coward for taking my own life but you better not become one. Get better and let me see whether you have it in you to face the world or not."

She wanted to leave but before she could she heard his feeble voice call out to her, "I still am skeptical about whether you're Chen Xiu or not. However, I don't care about it any longer. I'm sorry!" Xiu stared at his face as he continued, "I've always wanted to tell this to you. I really am sorry."

Xiu didn't stay around for long and left after staying for ten minutes. Now, she had nothing in this big Capital. 

"Uncle Kuan, can you send me back home now?"

Xin Kuan felt uncomfortable with her smile but still arranged for everything according to her wishes.

....

Since Xiu wanted to get home, she reached home before the sun could go down to hide behind the darkness. And the first thing she did was running to her husband. 

Seeing her, Darren smiled and opened his arms wide for her. Xiu ran into his arms and buried her face in the crook of his neck, "Baobei, I missed you so much."

Darren caressed her head, "Me too. I missed you too." He pushed her a little away to see her face as he inquired, "Are you okay?"

"Now that I have seen you, I'm perfectly fine," she replied with her signature cheeky grin.

"Did you run around there like you just ran to me? Didn't I tell you to be careful?"

Xiu felt wronged, "I only ran now because I was impatient to see you."

"I was wondering where this bloody sweet smell is coming from," came Nora's voice from the door.

"Aiyo, it was such a comfortable scene without this daily dose of dog food," added Ying.

"Indeed!" agreed Ah-Si.

Xiao Li threw them off and came to hug Xiu, "My sweet little sister, did you have fun? Don't run off like that again. Brother missed you a lot."

Xiu hugged him back and nodded her head sweetly, "I won't do it. Thank you, Li bro. Everything went smoothly because of you."

Xiao Li rubbed her head lovingly and in a spoiling manner, "There is no need for that. That's the least I can do for my sister."

"Hello! I also need a hug from my sister!" exclaimed Ah-Si and rushed over to hug Xiu even though she was still in Xiao Li's arms. 

"Why am I standing here? That's my best friend!" said Nora as she also joined this group hug.

"You might be the best friend, I call her a sister!" said Ying as she also went in.

"You all are squeezing me!" shouted Xiu who was stuck between these bears who came to hug.

.....

In the next few days, Darren was able to walk on his own better than before and without any help. The bandage on his head was also opened now. 

Xiu was very excited for him as always, she needed to celebrate it as well.

"Oi!" 

"What?"

"Cali is here."

"Huh?" Xiu was ignoring Dylan when he suddenly told her about Cali. She looked behind him and really found Cali standing there with a smile on her face. "Oh my gosh! When did you come back?"

"Just now," replied Cali as she hugged Xiu. 

"Where did you even go?"

Cali touched her head, "To get some answers for you."

"For me?" Cali nodded her head. "So you found the answers?"

Cali again nodded her head. Xiu pulled her hand and took her to a side to sit down, "Then do tell me, what answers do you have for me?"

"I have been wondering why Aunt Carina would become a surrogate for someone else. So, I did some digging and found out some things. Wen Ai met Aunt in Italy during a trip. At that time my Aunt was in trouble and Wen Ai saved her life. That's how they became friends. Later on, when the Novell family was in trouble, Aunt asked for Wen Ai's help. Wen Ai again helped her out but Aunt had no way to repay her."

"So when she found out about Wen Ai looking for a surrogate, she decided to help?" Xiu finished her words for her. 

"It seems like that."

Xiu nodded her head in understanding, "I thought so it'd be something important otherwise your aunt wouldn't have kept quiet for so long."

"It was the only way she could repay Wen Ai for what she did."

"But she had to pay a bitter price for it," added Xiu. 

Cali shook her head, "I don't think she minds it though. Aunt must have known about the dangers even from the beginning. But she still didn't back out."

Xiu waved her hand, "It doesn't matter any longer. They both are not in this world anymore. Now, we are here. And I still want you to be my cousin. Or you can choose to be my cousin-in-law."

"Cousin-in-law?" Cali was shocked and confused.

Xiu pointed at Dylan who was trying to eavesdrop, "That uncle is actually my cousin. Our mothers are blood-related sisters."

"What?!"

Xiu tsked, "Even I haven't come to terms with that. Don't give me that horrified reaction."

Dylan laughed out when he heard her talking like that, "No matter what you do now, you can't deny our relationship."

Xiu acted like she was gonna bite Dylan's flesh off but he was still in the mood to tease her by sticking his tongue out.

Xiu picked up the cushion and threw it at his head, "Get out of here. Can't you see we are talking?"

"That's my girlfriend. You're my sweet cousin. Why can't I stay here, kiddo?"

Xiu picked up her sandal this time and threw it at his head, "Try saying that kiddo again! I'm gonna bloody fry you, little fish! Oh, no! You're not a little fish. You're crab! Smelly crab!"

Dylan's laughter echoed throughout the house and anyone who heard it could tell that he must have done something to annoy Xiu again. They had gotten so used to it that they didn't even bother paying attention to it.

"These two are at it again," said Ying.

Han Bohai pressed down her hair saying, "Let them be. As long as they are happy."

"Well, it's not like I can come between them. Even Regi avoids coming between them. Even though one is his wife and the other is his brother like best friend."

"That's also true," agreed Han Bohai.

"You really are gonna be a henpecked husband."

Both of them looked up at Su Xixi who gave them a dirty eye. Seeing how Han Bohai was styling Yan Ying's hair, she really had nothing to say.

"Ma, if your husband is not a henpecked one. Why are you jealous?"

"Jealous? Do you want a beating?"

Ying stuck her tongue out at her mother, "You can try beating me."

"No, no!" Han Bohai tried to intervene. "No beating, please. Mother-in-law, even if you want to beat, let Ah-Ying go. I'll get beaten in her place."

Su Xixi facepalmed herself, "You really deserve a beating for even saying that." She huffed and left them alone.

Ying watched her leaving and shrugged her shoulders, "She is missing my dad. There is no other explanation for her cranky mood."

Han Bohai pressed on her head, "Don't say it like that. If she is missing your dad, that's quite romantic."

"Mr. Superstar, why is everything so bright in your eyes?"

"The star of this superstar's life, it's because I have the brightest star like you in my life." He tapped the tip of her nose.

She wrinkled her nose, "You're really something."