Imperfect Desires

Xiao Li had just come to get juice for Asteria who was feeling thirsty but he didn't expect he would be attacked when he wasn't even ready for it. This sneak attack caught him surprise but he didn't know that this caught the attacker by surprise as well.

Behind him, both Ying and Dr. Ling gasped when they saw this scene of him getting slapped but then they shared a look and burst out laughing happily. They were like typical friends who would laugh at you first and then come to ask, "Are you okay, Ah-Li?"

Xiao Li's attention was on his attacker and Bo Jiu had already taken a step back saying, "It wasn't intentional. I was just trying to kill a mosquito."

Ying tsked at Xiao Li, "Poor you, Ah-Li! Now, you're even getting mistaken for mosquitoes."

"With how he loves to suck up others' blood with his bone-chilling gaze, it was about time someone would treat him like a mosquito!" Dr. Ling added salt to wounds.

Xiao Li glared at both his friends before he looked at Bo Jiu who pointed at his face saying, "I'm not calling you a mosquito. I promise! And if you're too handsome to be a mosquito, you should know that." She held his chin and turned her face showing the girls, "See? There was indeed a mosquito. And I killed it." Although it happened by chance, it was a fact that her slap had managed to kill a mosquito.

Xiao Li was baffled at how proud she looked as if it was some sort of an achievement. He huffed and walked away to wash his face. Bo Jiu was left staring at his back with a frown.

"He is handsome. But why the hell his eyes looks so scary?" she muttered to herself.

Just then Ying and Dr. Ling placed their hands on Bo Jiu's shoulders respectively, "Comrade, you're awesome!"

"It was an accident," Bo Jiu emphasized her words. 

Ying looked at Dr. Ling and said, "It doesn't matter to us. Both of us enjoyed the show. So, thanks for that!"

Han Bohai came to stand beside Bo Jiu when Ying and Dr. Ling left. He offered her hand sanitizer and said, "Of all people, you just have to mess up with the wrong ones, eh?"

"He looked at me like he was gonna kill me," said Bo Jiu.

"Well, I won't dare to doubt that. So, be careful. He might really kill you."

Bo Jiu glanced at Han Bohai, "You're just trying to scare me."

"Am I?" Han Bohai played the ignorance game which Bo Jiu didn't buy.

"The way he looks at that little girl," she pointed at Asteria. "Even I don't feel right calling him scary."

"That's his daughter," replied Han Bohai. "Of course, he has to be gentle with her. But who are you? Why do you think he'd be nice to you?"

In another corner, Xin Zimen had been sitting alone. Keeping himself away from the others. He looked at the happiness that surrounded him, "Ai, are you seeing this?" he asked in a soft voice to no one in particular. He seemed to be talking to just himself. "Doesn't our daughter look happy? I know you can see it. You must be happy, right? Our daughter has found her home. Just like I found mine in you. I don't wanna be sad today but I really miss you tonight."

"Dad, what are you doing here?" asked Xiao Li who was passing by his side.

"Nothing," replied Xin Zimen.

"Then why are you sitting here alone?"

"I like being alone," retorted Xin Zimen. "You go ahead and have fun. Just leave me here."

Xiao Li couldn't argue with him since he could see his father wasn't in the mood to argue right now. So, he just chose to walk away. Since his father wanted to be alone, he'd just give him, his privacy.

But soon, Xin Kuan came to sit beside him but said nothing. He just sat there in silence. However, this silence couldn't last long because Su Feifei appeared before them, "Hi, brother-in-law. Hi, Brother Kuan."

"Hello, Director Su," replied Xin Kuan but Xin Zimen didn't even spare her a glance.

Su Feifei rolled her eyes at Xin Zimen and said to Xin Kuan, "Brother Kuan, how about you have a dance with me? I'd have asked brother-in-law but he doesn't dance with anyone except for his wife."

Xin Kuan smiled at her and said, "NO!"

"Why?"

"Just thinking about dancing with you is hurting my feet. You've stepped on them way too many times in the past. Let's not repeat history."

"I practiced. I promise I'll do better."

Xin Zimen gave her a glance, "Who did you practice with?"

"With myself," answered Su Feifei.

"That's it! I'm making a run for my life. Or more like, for the sake of my feet!"

Su Feifei looked at Xin Kuan who ran away and glared at Xin Zimen, "Brother-in-law, how can you do this with me?"

"What? It's not like I could force Brother Kuan to dance with you? I've done that before and he still has trauma from how you pummeled his feet."

Su Feifei plopped down on the seat beside him which Xin Kuan left and crossed her arms over her chest, "I wish my Sister Ai was here. I'd have complained about you!"

  "I also wish she was here," he replied softly.

Su Feifei paused and asked, "Are you missing her?"

"No. How can I miss someone who lives in my heart?"

Su Feifei grunted at that reply, "You're really..." She had no words to say for now. Maybe the right word was that she was left speechless. Taking a deep breath, she added, "It's alright to miss her. We all do." She took a pause and looked around, "And especially at a time like today. When you see everyone being happy, it'll only remind you of what's missing in your own life. You and I both know that the only missing piece of you is Wen Ai."

Xin Zimen hated the fact that he couldn't argue with her over this. But he really couldn't. Wen Ai was really the missing piece of him.