Imperfect Desires

While resting her head on Darren's shoulder, Xiu didn't even realize when she fell asleep. She hadn't gotten a chance to rest today at all. She had been dragged around since the time she woke up in the morning. So, the exhaustion finally caught up to her.

Even though there was music playing around as everyone was dancing happily, she was still able to sleep peacefully. Perhaps, it was because she was really happy. Or it was because she was leaning against her husband. 

Darren softly touched her face and whispered, "Sweets, wake up!" Xiu mumbled something under her breath and moved just to nuzzle further into the crook of his neck. Darren smiled at her, "If you want to sleep, let's go inside. You can't sleep here."

Xiu rubbed her eyes and opened her eyes slowly, "Where are we?"

Darren brushed her hair away from her face, "Look around."

Xiu blinked her eyes and finally noticed where they were, "Ohhh... It's our wedding." 

Darren nodded his head, "Yeah. It's our wedding." He patted her head and said, "Let's go and cut the cake. Then you can go inside and sleep. Or we can skip it as well." Xiu looked up at him with squinted eyes and Darren chuckled, "Not skipping. Not skipping for sure."

He supported her body and brought her around towards the cake. Xiu laughed out when she looked at the cake. Only because there seemed to be three chibi characters placed on top. One was Xiu, the second was Darren and there was another one of a little tiger cub. Xiu was laughing at that little tiger. 

Her laughter was so infectious that everyone started smiling along as she cut the cake with Darren. 

Usually, at weddings, it'd be the bride and groom whom the guests would see off but in this wedding reception, the guests were seen off by the bride and groom. 

"Little lass, do you have to stand here? Just go inside already. There is no need to see everyone off."

"Xiu, Xiao Zi is right. You should go inside and rest. You must be really tired."

Although everyone told her to go inside, she still insisted on staying here to see everyone off. 

While saying goodbye, Bo Jiu placed a small giftbox in her hand and said, "Xiuxiu, can you say sorry to your brother for me?"

"Which one?"

"That cold one," she replied.

Xiu chuckled, "Why? What did you do to Li bro?"

"I accidentally hit him."

Xiu's lips parted and she looked surprised. "Don't worry. Although he looks cold, he is really sweet. He won't even remember that hit for long."

Getting her reassurance, Bo Jiu nodded and left.

After everyone was gone, Darren said to Xiu, "Now, shall we also go inside to rest?"

Xiu shook her head, "Didn't I tell you, we are going somewhere?"

"But you're clearly sleepy," Darren pointed out.

"It doesn't matter. I got my energy from my short nap. Get a car, we are going out!"

Darren asked the driver to get the car out and Xiu told him the destination. Darren only found out about the destination when they got there. He looked at the apartment building before him and frowned, "What are you gonna get from here?"

Xiu didn't answer and pulled him along. They went to the floor they had their apartments and she opened the door of the apartment where she lived with Nora. It had been months since she last came here. However, this place was still as clean as she left it. 

It seemed someone came here to regularly clean it these days. She walked over to her own room and started going through the stuff in her closet while Darren plopped down on the bed and loosened his necktie. He had already thrown his suit jacket at the side and now, he was taking off his cufflinks.

Xiu came out with a big box when Darren was rolling his sleeves. She placed it right by his side and opened the lid. She took out several random things from the box. Even Destiny's letters and the mystery box were also inside this cardboard box. 

"Found it!" she pulled out the gift box and waved it in front of Darren's eyes. "Remember this?"

Darren looked at it and his brows raised up before he nodded his head. "You still haven't opened it?"

"Didn't you tell me to open it on the day I feel really happy?" She grinned while unwrapping the gift. "I don't think I can get happier than I am today. So, we are opening it today. This was the very first gift you gave me. I always reminded myself to open it when my heart really feels full."

As she managed to unwrap it and looked inside, her smile froze. She pulled out the bottle of wine and glanced at him, "You gave me wine? But you said the gift will make me happy. And it's something I asked for."

Darren chuckled at her expression, "Sweets, this is exactly what you asked for that night. And it's a proven fact that wine can make you happy."

Xiu groaned, "But not today! Today getting wine as a gift is torture! I can't even drink it!"

Darren couldn't help laughing even more, "Who told you to open it today then?"

Xiu felt wronged. She was deceived! But...

Seeing the name and year of the wine, her eyes brightened up. For a wine enthusiast like her, this bottle was a gem! Who would dare open it to drink? This must go into her collection! It'd be part of her precious collection.

It was a good thing that Han Bohai never touched her wine collection which she had kept as Chen Xiu. Now, she could add one more bottle to it.

"I'm still happy," she told him.

Darren was amused at the way her mood changed instantly as always. Such simple things made her so happy. While shaking his head, he ruffled her hair. Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of something in that box that made him frown.