Imperfect Desires

Xiu had placed a cushion on Xin Zimen's lap and put her head on it. In this way, she could see Xin Zimen's face without having to move around her head. Also, this allowed Xin Zimen to stroke her hair lovingly. 

As he ate the flower pies she brought with his favorite tea, he felt like all the tiredness he had accumulated in the day had been shed off instantly. And since Xiu was a chatterbox, how could she not tell him about all sorts of things?

But as she continued to speak animatedly, he continued to listen attentively with a doting look in his eyes. He was neither impatient nor tired. He could listen to his daughter for hours, no, days! He'd definitely never get tired of her voice.

"You know your grandson is so unruly. Whenever I'm trying to dress him up, he always kicks my jaw with his small feet. One day I'm gonna eat his cute paws that always try to hit me. Also, he laughs so loud after hurting me that it makes me want to pinch him hard!"

"Don't tell me you really pinched him?" asked Xiao Li who came to join them and even took a flower pie to taste, being a natural at sneaking.

"Of course I did," answered Xiu and grinned. "But he kicked me harder in return so we are even."

Xiao Li chuckled and Xin Zimen also couldn't help smiling at her reply. He should have expected that from her.

"Poor Rowan that he got a mother like you," said Ah-Si who also didn't forget to pick up flower pies from his father's share.

"What about me?" retorted Xiu. She tucked out her bottom lip to show Xin Zimen, "Daddy, you can see for yourself. I bled because of him. All I did was squeeze his cheeks in return. Is that too much?"

Xin Zimen rubbed her head affectionately, "No. My daughter is always right."

Ava tugged at her father's shirt, "Dad, I also want huggsies! Xiu is getting huggsies from grandpa. I also want. Want! Want! Want!"

Ah-Si gave his sister a look, "You're the reason my daughter is becoming wilful."

"How is that my fault? I am getting huggies from my father. What does that have to do with you?" She took a pause and added, "By the way, isn't it time for your daughters to get their beauty sleep? Why are you staring at me here?"

"Why don't you directly say that you want to disappear from here?" 

"Yes," agreed Xiu. "I do want you to disappear. You get to spend time with Daddy every day. I don't. So, leave already!"

Xiao Li and Ah-Si gave her a look before they took their daughters and left her alone with Xin Zimen.

"My Ah-Lin must be really tired these days," said Xin Zimen.

"Oh, I'm so tired that I've lost so much weight. Didn't you notice?"

"As if I don't know you've been actively trying to lose weight."

"Shh..." Xiu put a finger on her lips saying, "I know that you know that. But we can pretend like you don't know the inside story."

Xin Zimen laughed at her antics, "Okay. I'm gonna pretend like I don't know." And with that, he started playing along with her, "Aiyo. My poor daughter has lost so much weight. What a devil grandson I have to tire my daughter like this."

Xiu was happy to see him playing along and ended up laughing out. "Daddy, you're not good at this."

"I know," agreed Xin Zimen. "It seems I don't have this talent."

"Then how did I got this talent?" asked Xiu. 

"It must be that you inherited it from your mom," answered Xin Zimen. "She was quite an actress. Especially when she tried to act innocent after making a blunder. And let's just say, there was never a day when she didn't make a blunder."

Xiu giggled happily hearing that. "Then Daddy, you must have had a hard time."

"Well, I got used to it," he told her. "I'd have lost half of my life if I didn't get used to it. She was a handful after all." He took another bite of the pie and said, "But I do wonder how you inherited these cooking skills. Because both Ai and I were a disaster in the kitchen."

  "I think this talent is exclusive to me," grinned Xiu.

Xin Zimen pinched her nose gently, "Certainly, it's exclusive to you. After all, my daughter is the best."

"That I sure am," Xiu took that compliment as narcissistically as possible. How could she disagree that she wasn't the best. If she didn't believe it, how else would others believe in it? Of course, she was talented enough to make people believe in something that wasn't even true. However, the ultimate truth was, she was the best and she won't let anyone disagree with that one!

"I wanted to make osmanthus cakes first but then I thought, I should try making flower pies. But if you want, I'll make osmanthus cakes next time."

"I'd eat anything that my daughters make for me," said Xin Zimen truthfully. "It doesn't matter what you cook. No matter the taste, I'll eat it all. So, if later on, you want to experiment with new recipes, let me know. I'll be the taste tester for you."

"Really?" Xiu seemed excited. "I was thinking of trying to make something original."

"Good," said Xin Zimen. "Go on. Daddy will cheer for you."

Xiu hugged him tightly, "My daddy is cool!"

Xin Zimen didn't say anything and let her hug him while he kissed her head. If he could eat the burnt food that tastes worst than poison made by his wife, he certainly could eat anything made by his daughter who was a much better cook than her mother. And he knew that even if Xiu experimented, the taste couldn't get as bad as her mother's food. 

But then again, making something taste like that was also a talent that only his wife possessed.