Imperfect Desires

"I thought we were having a baby shower," said Xiu when she was dragged to the salon with the ladies.

"Xiu, this is also part of the baby shower," answered Nora. "I read somewhere that we should pamper the mom-to-be. So, here we are to give you a relaxing day."

"It's only noon," said Xiu. "Did we have to come here so early?"

"YES!" said Nora and Cali simultaneously. 

Meanwhile, Ying was trying to find a corner to hide but in the end, Cali caught her and dragged her back, "Dear Ying'er, don't run like that. You're a woman! Learn to embrace it!"

"Between you and I, the one who needs to really learn how to be a woman is you!" retorted Ying. "You're the renowned tomboy. I just got used to playing with dirt and blood with time."

"Both of you continue, I'm gonna bring Xiu baby for her massage."

With that, Nora pulled Xiu along and got her inside to get changed before getting a relaxing massage. Xiu had to say that it was effective. Her muscles had been tense in recent weeks. But now she could lie down, close her eyes and enjoy herself to the fullest. This was truly a heavenly feeling.

After the massage, Xiu got her manicure, pedicure, and facial. Xiu had no idea what Nora was planning but her job was to stay quiet and let her best friend work her magic. Whatever that magic was only time with tell.

When Xiu was pushed into the chair again, she looked at Nora incredulously, "Why do I have to get makeup and all now?"

"For the baby shower, duh!" replied Nora. "Doesn't mom-to-be have to look awesome?"

Xiu watched how she took the seat beside her and raised her brow, "Then why are you getting a glam up?"

Nora smiled shyly, "Doesn't this aunt-to-be also needs to look great for her baby nephew?"

"Why do I feel like you're lying to me?"

"I am lying to you," answered Nora straightforwardly. "But what can you do about it?" Nora wiggled her brows provocatively. "You promised me that today I am allowed to do whatever. So, I'm just gonna take the reins of everything now."

"Maybe I shouldn't have promised you anything," muttered Xiu to herself.

After the whole glam up, when Xiu looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't blink her eyes. The make-up look was quite natural and yet, it enhanced her beauty. Even she who had been annoyed with her chubby face came to find it quite adorable right now. 

Then she looked over at the three musketeers who had been following her since this morning and smiled proudly. She indeed had one hell of a gorgeous group of ladies in her life. Each one of them looked like they were ready to walk down the ramp. And they still had yet to change out of their casual clothes.

Xiu got to see her gown for the baby shower when she reached home. She didn't even know why these ladies actually as far as customizing this dress for her. But she loved it nonetheless. After all, it showed that they loved her very much.

The gown wasn't sparkly or something. It was a simple white gown but it looked elegant and refreshing on her. Nora put a slash over her shoulder that read, 'Mom-to-be.' And they finally allowed her to enter the hall that had been prepared for the baby shower. It wasn't actually at the villa she loved in. The baby shower was arranged in the villa where Xin Zimen lived with his sons. 

But since it was right beside this villa, it wasn't much hassle.

Balloon, flowers in white and blue dominated the decoration of the hall. There was a small camelia tree in the big pot placed in a corner that Xiu had never seen before. But everything else looked so gorgeous that she soon forgot about the tree.

She was pushed to sit in the middle of the round sofa as Nora announced, "Since you can't live without your husband, I decided to make this baby shower a co-ed affair. Traditionally, it's just a girls' affair. Isn't that right, mom?"

Clara shrugged her shoulders, "How would I know? No one ever threw me a baby shower."

"More like you were excited to become a mother," retorted Nora.

"Are you looking for a beating?"

Nora instantly shut up when she heard her mother's threat. It was better not to mess with her on this happy occasion or the memory of her getting a beating on the baby shower of her nephew would be added to her dark history.

"Moving on, we have planned a lot of activities for today. So, you all better be prepared now!" Then she looked at Xiu and said, "Xiu, do you want to say anything?"

Xiu looked at Darren who sat beside her and said, "I am just here for the gifts. The rest doesn't matter to me."

"How typical of you!" said Nora and rolled her eyes at her best friend.

"Maybe we should just give her the gifts and send her away. We'd be able to enjoy more once she is gone," suggested Dylan.

"Why don't I throw you out first?" Nora shot back.

"This baby shower is for her. How can you even think about having a baby shower without the mom-to-be?" Cali also shot her boyfriend a look.

"Today is not my day," Dylan said ruefully.

Xiu jutted her chin out proudly and stuck her tongue at him, "You're right, Didi. Today is my day after all!"

Dylan made a face at her words and didn't continue.

"Which game should we play first?" asked Nora.

"How about we eat first?" suggested Xiu again.

"And here we go again," Dylan couldn't just shut up. "Xiu, are you here for anything else other than food and gifts?"

"Those are the only things that matter," replied Xiu. "What do you think? I'd come here to spoil my mood by staring at your scary face? No Way!"

"I'm scary?" questioned Dylan in shock. "You're the scary one around here. Everyone knows it already. One minute, you're crying like it's the end of the world, and the next minute, you'd be laughing like it's the time of your life. Tell me, isn't that the scariest thing?"

"I don't think so," answered Xiu.

"You're just stubborn who doesn't want to see reason!"

"Then you're the biggest dumbo who knows I'm stubborn and yet are trying to argue with me."

Dylan pressed his lips together as he realized she was right. The one who was the biggest dumb around here was him. He knew he couldn't see eye to eye with Xiu and yet starting this argument. No matter how hard he tries to not do it, she just always end up making him get worked up with her words. It wasn't his fault!

At least, that's what he made himself believe all this time.

"Xiu, we'll open the gifts at the end and we'll eat after playing a couple of games," Nora decided to interject before they start brawling out here.

Xiu pouted at her, "But I'm hungry. You made me sit for three hours in that salon. I'm so hungry now."

"Let me bring some snacks for you," said Zhao Huan and instantly went to get something for Xiu.

Nora glared at Xiu, "There is no way you can change."

"I know," retorted Xiu. "But it's truly not my fault. This little tiger is always hungry. As his aunt, you should be mindful of his hunger."

"And now you're trying to guilt-trip me here," Nora's shoulders slumped down as she fell on the sofa beside Ah-Si. "Look, your sister is playing with me."

Darren finally voiced out, "Didn't you say to her that she can only eat after playing a game?"

Nora gaped at him, "I didn't ask her to play with my emotions!"

"But she is best at that game," replied Darren while rubbing Xiu's head.

Xiu pushed his hand away in annoyance, "Baobei, can't you see that I just got a hairstyle? Don't ruin it so soon. My whole effort of staying still in the chair for three hours would be wasted!"

"Fine! I won't ruin it!" Then he looked at Nora and asked, "By the what games did you plan? Maybe we can choose what to play?"

Nora nodded her head and instantly told him, "I'm thinking about... First, I have written baby's traits like IQ, eye color, hair color, personality and all on this board." Nora pulled out a whiteboard from somewhere and went on, "We are gonna let you both guess what the baby's traits are gonna be like. Whether he'd be like Xiu or Darren?"

"Oh, I like this game. But I want the baby to be like my Sweets.

"No!" Xiu instantly rejected. "He has to be like his father! At any cost. Or I don't want him at all!"