Imperfect Desires

650 Dì Mèi

Those were the first words that came out of Nora's mouth as soon as her best friend, Xiu walked up to her side.

Xiu looked behind her at Zhao Huan and smiled softly, "She is... Your future aunt-in-law."

"What?!"

Xiu chuckled at Nora's response before patting her shoulder, "Listen girly, do a better job at greeting your elders. You're eventually gonna be a part of the Xin family." She took a moment before adding, "And besides, why are you looking for me? Shouldn't you be clinging to your boyfriend?"

Nora's brows furrowed up and Xiu could perceive the change in her mood as well. "Did I say something wrong?"

Nora wanted to pull her hair out in exasperation but couldn't do it since she had done her beautiful braid with much difficulty. So, she resorted to shaking her best friend's shoulders as she told her, "Bestie, I'm in big trouble! My future seems bleak at the moment. My parents strongly dislike Ah-Si. And they haven't even met him yet. I just met Ah-Si's grandparents and they seem to hate me as well. I'm afraid if I try to go and say hi to this aunt-in-law, I'll further get in trouble." Her shoulders slumped as she went on, "I don't have your charms. People always feel at ease around you. Why can't I seem to impress anyone?"

Xiu's brows knitted up in displeasure before she smacked her head saying, "Do you also need a beating like your boyfriend?" Nora instinctively took a step away from her. "Let me clear this up for you, Ah-Si's grandparents have no say in Ah-Si's life. I don't think Ah-Xin would let that happen. The only person you should care about is Ah-Xin. And he already likes you. Isn't that enough that you're getting another amazing father in the form of your father-in-law? I don't think there is anyone luckier in this room than you."

The corner of Nora's lips curved up a little before she said, "Isn't Qiu Meihui luckier? I mean Mr. Xin Zimen is yet to be my father-in-law but he is already Qiu Meihui's father-in-law."

Xiu gave her a sideways glance. "From what I've been seeing, I'm not certain about Qiu Meihui. Whether she is luckier or not is something still very difficult to say."

"What do you mean?" inquired Nora uncertainly.

Xiu shrugged her shoulders, "If only I knew the details myself. But I'm just as clueless as you are." She twirled her hair and went on, "But I think you'd be able to impress Zhao Huan. She is a very nice person."

Nora's brows raised up slightly, "From your interaction with her, I can certainly tell that she is a nice person."

"What do you mean?" Xiu looked perplexed by her words.

"Dear bestie, if I didn't know better I might actually think she is your mother." Xiu's eyes widened as Nora continued, "No, you don't look like her. It's just... I don't know how to describe it. But you guys looked quite harmonious." historical

Nora was left gaping at her outburst as she watched Xiu walking away from her. She scratched her neck awkwardly as she whispered, "It's not like I called her your mother. Why are you getting so worked up?"

Truth be told, Xiu also didn't know why she reacted this way. What Nora had said was something she had felt herself. But the problem was that no matter how familiar she felt with Zhao Huan, it didn't change the fact that her heart always got sad around her. Last time, she didn't notice this feeling but this time around, she felt it. It seemed strange how a part of her wanted to get close to Zhao Huan but another part felt extremely... Sad?

However, as always if she needed answers she would choose to follow that part of herself that wanted to get close to Zhao Huan. That was the only way she could figure out what she was feeling.

While walking distractedly, she was about to bump into someone but the person before her saved her before she could. Xiu looked up and her eyes narrowed.

"Watch where you're going dì mèi. If my brother saw you getting hurt because of me, he might turn this white wedding into a red one."

"Strange... I can't tell whether you're being funny or serious." Looking straight at Zhou Jinhai's face, Xiu's face didn't give anything away. Not like she was feeling much that she could give away through her expressions.

"I don't have a habit of joking when it comes to my brother," was his reply.

"Oh?" Xiu raised her brows at him. "Why is that so? Is it because you're guilty?"

"And why should I be guilty?" he retorted.

Xiu smirked at him, "Because in your heart, you know very well that everything you have belongs to him. Rightfully!"

Xiu was surprised to see that Zhou Jinhai's expressions didn't change. Not even a little. He neither looked shocked nor offended. In fact, he looked very calm about it as he nodded, "Indeed, everything I have, never really belonged to me." He looked up a Xiu as he asked, "Did he tell you all of this?"

Xiu snorted, "Do you really think he would say something like that?"

"No..." he paused before he pressed the bridge of his nose. "He would never bring this topic up. I've waited to hear him ask for everything I took from him but he never did. Darren is actually a lot prouder than people might think."

"I think I know him very well already. Yes, he is proud. So what? He has the right to be. He can accomplish everything on his own. He never needed a family name to back him up. Besides, if you really had wanted to give him what belonged to him, you wouldn't have waited for him to ask for it. You would have given it already!"

[1] "dì mèi": The wife of your younger brothe