Imperfect Desires

For some reason, Xiu's angle changed when she threw the bouquet, and instead of making an arc backward, the arc was made at a 90-degree angle making the bouquet land perfectly in the lap of Francesca Salvay.

That not only shocked Francesca who suddenly got the bouquet but it made the people waiting behind Xiu groan and whine.

"Xiu!" yelled Nora. "You did it on purpose!"

"Sister Xiu, how can you take my dream from me?!" Han Bohai also whined.

"Xiu, you're really something," said Cali.

Xiu looked at Dr. Ling to see if she had anything to say and got the reply, "I was dragged here against my will. I don't even care!"

Xiu grinned at them, "I didn't do it on purpose. The bouquet found its rightful owner on its own. I had nothing to do with it."

"As if we believe you!" huffed Nora.

Xiu shrugged her shoulders and shouted, "Mama, hold the bouquet tight!"

Francesca was still staring at the flowers in her lap in a daze. Just how the hell did she get involved in this? She was just sitting here!

"Congratulations, Mama!" said Darren.

Francesca glanced at him, "Stop it, Regi."

"Okay," Darren zipped his lips and held his wife's hand to take her away from the pack of disappointed wolves who were ready to pounce on her to demand justice. Darren obviously wouldn't give them such a chance at all.

"Okay, gather everyone for photographs!" announced Clara to gather everyone around.

The photographer made everyone take their positions. "3, 2..."

"Wait for me!"

A loud cry made everyone turn their heads. A young girl with a backpack was running over in a full denim attire. She put her hands on her knees and panted. She looked at Xiu and asked, "Am I late, Xiuxiu?"

"If you had been any later, my son would have been born," replied Xiu.

Bo Jiu scratched her head foolishly, "I still love your sarcasm, Xiuxiu."

"As someone associated with Xiu, I should have never expected you to be on time," said Dylan and earned a slap on his arm from his mother.

"Well, I have my reason to be late," replied Bo Jiu.

"Let me guess, you're stuck in the traffic," Nora offered an excuse for her.

Bo Jiu shook her head, "I couldn't find the bug."

"Bug?"

"She means she could find the bug in her code," elaborated Xiu for her. "Don't just stand there, get here already. We are getting photographs."

"I'm not part of the family," replied Bo Jiu. "Is it alright for me to be in the photo?"

"You're getting here or not?"

"At your service, my queen!" Bo Jiu hurriedly took off her backpack and found a position to stand with everyone for the photo.

After group photos, everyone got their individual photos with the bride and the groom. And since the others couldn't just hover around like idiots, just as the garden lit up with bright lights, the rest of them found their way to the cocktail table. 

As Nora sat down with Bo Jiu, the latter asked, "Didn't you get the order wrong? The bouquet is thrown after dinner and the toast. Am I wrong? But I think that's what happened at my sister's wedding."

"What does it matter? It's not like caught it anyway!" said Nora in disappointment.

Bo Jiu gulped down her drink and said, "Why do you look so down? I caught the bouquet at my sister's wedding, I'm still as single as one can possibly be."

"Thanks for saying that," replied Nora. "But you're forgetting that I already know you're not the one who caught the bouquet. Did you forget that you invited Xiu to the wedding?"

Bo Jiu closed her eyes as she suddenly remembered she chose the wrong words. "Well, the one who caught it also didn't get married yet. I promise!"

Nora chuckled at her reaction. Seeing how her daughter was getting bullied by her own brother, Nora decided to leave the seat to go over and help her daughter.

While she left, someone else sat down at her seat but since Bo Jiu was busy choosing the drinks before her, she didn't notice that. She happily slid the glass of drink over saying, "Drink it one go and wash down all the sadness in your heart."

Xin Xiaoli was surprised but since he came to take a drink and he was being offered one, he didn't refuse. He just took the glass and guzzled it down.

"Feeling better?"

"No, I'll have another one," answered Xiao Li.

Hearing the voice, Bo Jiu almost fell down her chair but Xiao Li instantly held her arm to support her. "Are you that drunk?" He questioned.

Bo Jiu stared at his face in a daze, "I also want to know if I'm that drunk after taking a couple of cocktails. When did you turn into a man?"

"I was always a man," replied Xiao Li.

Bo Jiu shook her head and rubbed her eyes but the face and the person didn't change so she sat up and cleared her throat. Looking around when she saw Nora, she mumbled, "When did she leave?"

Xiao Li took another cocktail and replied, "When you weren't paying attention." With that, he walked away.

Later when everyone gathered around for dinner, Bo Jiu looked around the table and when her eyes set on Xiao Li, her brows raised slightly. It was because of the gentleness in his eyes with which he was looking at the little girl sitting beside him. Earlier when he faced her, there was a coldness in his eyes so she was really taken by surprise to see that gentle and soft look on him.

Suddenly, Dylan stood up from his chair and clicked the glass with his spoon to get everyone's attention. "Being the best man, it's my responsibility to offer this toast."

"Dylan, just sit down," said Xiu. "If you all are skipping so many steps, let's skip this one as well."

Dylan glared at her, "You didn't even skip a kiss, you have no right to talk about skipping here."