Imperfect Desires

The next day when Xiu and Darren went to the parental class, Xiu was in a bad mood. Recently, her mood swings had gotten worse. And her temper was also getting worse. Right now, the fact that all the other ladies in the room were eyeing her husband left Xiu in a bad mood. She was annoyed by it all.

But when she tilted her head to look up at Darren, her dear husband's eyes were glued to her. The gentleness and love in his eyes made Xiu feel bad for feeling irritated. What was the point of being jealous? Why should she be jealous?

She had the best husband in the world! All those ladies must be jealous that's why they kept looking her way. But then again, her husband was handsome, anyone would want to look. It was alright, she could let them see him all they want.

After all, he was just like a pastry they could only see but can't eat. However, to her, he was the cake, she could not only see but touch and even eat it to her fill!

With this thought, a strange smile made its way to her face. Darren chuckled at her expressions and ruffled her hair while shaking his head. He could practically read all her thoughts on her face right now. She was being too obvious about it. But he loved every minute of it. It felt like she was showing off now.

And as always, he would comply with anything she wanted. 

On their way back, Xiu turned to Darren and said, "Baobei, I was thinking. Maybe we should start shopping for our son now. We haven't even set up his room yet." Then she thought about it and added, "But I'm confused about where to make his room. Currently, we live in the villa beside Daddy's place. Although he said it was built for me, I don't know if we should continue to live there or not. Besides, our home at the hilltop is also almost completely renovated."

"How about we keep the hilltop house as our vacation place?" suggested Darren.

"Huh?"

"During weekends, we can go there to live. But on weekdays, we can live in the villa where we are. It'll be easier for me to get to the office from there. And in the future, it'll be easier for our son's schooling as well."

Xiu contemplated his suggestion and nodded agreeably, "I didn't think that way. Indeed, my husband is smarter." Darren smiled but didn't respond to her random compliment. "Then what about the house you bought after our marriage?" Before he could say anything, she went on excitedly, "I know it! We can give it to Mama as her marriage house. Oh my gosh! I'm so smart as well. No wonder I found a smarter husband."

Darren laughed out and pinched her nose, "Yes, yes, my Sweets is just simply amazing."

Xiu was silent for a minute before saying, "It seems we'll have to set up two rooms for our son. In both houses, he needs his own space. I think we should select different themes for both places."

Darren was amused with her track of thoughts, "You're finding excuses to buy more things for our son now. When did you come to love shopping? Didn't you particularly not like shopping before?"

Xiu nodded her head, "I still don't like shopping. However, last time with Daddy and Father I saw some really adorable baby shoes. I didn't know why but I felt like I wanted to rob the store off. Everything was so tiny and so cute. I wanted to buy it all. But I stopped myself from showing it otherwise, our house would have been filled with those shoes now."

Darren also agreed with that, "Indeed. My fathers-in-law would have definitely bought the whole store if they had found out that you liked it."

Xiu couldn't even refute those words. She knew her fathers best. Both were possessive and both wanted to spoil her. Although she loved being pampered by them, she was worried about her son a little. Her little tiger was definitely gonna be smothered with love.

The thought really amused her.

Darren patted her head, "Just let me know when do you want to go shopping. I'll go with you. But since you're not supposed to walk for hours, it'll take days to buy everything." He took a pause and added, "Or maybe I should talk to Xiao Li, he might arrange the whole shopping mall at home for you. It'll save us the trouble."

Xiu didn't like the idea, "Don't do that. Li bro will go overboard. It's better if I just take some discomfort and go shopping myself."

"I'll follow whatever you say," responded Darren.

When they reached back home, Xiu was expecting to meet Francesca as they had decided last night before she got lost in flirting with her husband. However, she was given a surprise when she saw Nora, Ying, and Cali waiting for her there as well.

Seeing the way these girls looked at her, Xiu stepped behind her husband and poked her head out to look at Francesca, "Mama, why did you let them in? I don't think they are here with friendly intentions."

Nora rolled her eyes at her best friend and dragged her over saying, "Don't worry, even if my intentions are not purely friendly, I'll still be your one and only best friend."

"I don't like you," muttered Xiu.

Nora gasped at her, "Xiu darling, I didn't think you'd change so much." She intentionally dropped her head on Xiu's shoulder before hugging her tightly, "I don't want to be abandoned. Don't let me go!"

Xiu tried to push her away, "AH! Get away from me!"

Nora laughed out, "I'm sorry but you're so cuddly now."

Xiu glared at her and looked at Darren, "She called me fat."

Nora knocked on her head, "No, silly! I called you cuddly. It's so fun to cuddle you know." 

Xiu looked at her in displeasure, "You always loved to hug anyway."

Nora shrugged her shoulders, "What can I say? I'm a cuddle person."

"Go and cuddle with your fiance!" 

"How stingy!" retorted Nora.

"Stop wasting time, Nora. We are here on a mission!" reminded Ying from behind.

"Ying is right. You can continue this debate another time," added Cali as well.

Nora looked at them both before sighing. She turned serious as she faced Xiu, "Darling, my baby, we are here on an important mission today and we need your cooperation."

"What the heck are you up to now?" questioned Xiu as she eyed them all suspiciously.

"It's nothing much," began Cali since she didn't want Nora to spill everything in detail in her excitement. "Since we are arranging a baby shower for you, we contacted a designer from Italy to specially design your dress for the big day."

Following the lead, Ying went on, "And that's why we are here to take your measurements."

"But you have my size already," Xiu's words were directed at Nora.

"Those are old measurements. Your whole size is different now."

Xiu took a deep breath and turned to Darren again, "She again called me fat."

Nora held her hand and pulled her over saying, "Yes, you are fat. Get over it now!"

Xiu looked at her with resentment shining in her eyes but didn't say anything since she couldn't refute her words. She knew she was fat. 

Nora made Xiu stand in a proper manner before taking her measurements herself. With how much experience she had with clothes, it was no big deal to take some measurements. After she was done, she patted Xiu's shoulder, "I used to feed you so much but it never showed. I was always jealous of the fact that nothing made you fat. But now, I'm relieved." She pinched Xiu's plump cheeks as she went on, "You look so round and cute with some fat on your bones."

"Watch out! I'm hungry, I might bite your flesh off to curb my hunger!"

Nora instantly stepped back and zipped her lips when she heard Xiu's threat. It couldn't be helped, her best friend didn't look cute at all when she was angry. 

"Xiu, what color do you like?" asked Ying.

"Why are you asking her?" Nora chimed in. "Ying Jie, the baby shower is a surprise for her. We can't spoil it like this. We'll pick the color ourselves."

Xiu stared at Nora and nodded, "Just let this idiot decide it. She knows my taste best."

Nora smirked proudly, "Of course, I know your taste well. Why else would I have pushed you to date, Darren? It was because I knew you too well."

"Nora, the matchmaker of the decade," said Darren as he sat down while watching these girls bothering his wife.

Nora blushed at that, "Don't flatter me. Your wife is the renowned matchmaker around here."

"We all know that," said Darren.