Imperfect Desires

"h.e.l.lo, Ying!" greeted Darren clearly in a very bad mood.

"You look like you swallowed a fly," remarked Ying as she took a step towards them. She stared at Xiu carefully for a moment longer before flas.h.i.+ng her most sincere and warmest smile that was known as her biggest weapon. She extended her hand towards Xiu as she said, "You must be the Sweets I"ve heard so much about lately. Hi, I"m Ying. Yan Ying."

Xiu held her hand to shake before replying, "Xiu. Bai Xiu."

"Pleasure meeting you," said Yan Ying before turning to Darren, "Are you planning on staying like this for the rest of the day?" Darren frowned at her words and realized that he was still standing in the same posture as before with his arms wrapped around Xiu"s waist. he reluctantly pulled away and heard Ying saying, "That"s more like it. Please leave a way for us singles to live. Be more considerate."

"What are you doing here?" asked Darren before adding, "I thought you"re gonna look for someone today."

"And I thought you"re gonna sleep for the day," retorted Ying before adding, "But guess what? We both are here, aren"t we?" She patted his shoulder as she went on, "Life doesn"t go the way we want, so stop questioning it. Just go with the flow."

Xiu"s eyes brightened as she heard those words. She now tried to read through Ying but all that she saw was a gentle smile on her face and a sparkling glow in her eyes. And a very bright personality.

"Dylan, why are you standing there?" Ying didn"t pay attention to Xiu"s eyes as she was busy ordering Dylan around. "Get me the dishes. Let"s make ourselves useful since we are already here." Then she finally looked back at Xiu and said, "Tell me what to do. Today, for the first and perhaps last time, Ying is really at your service."

Xiu looked at Darren who blinked his eyes in rea.s.surance. "It"s not every day when she is so easygoing. Take full advantage of this time, Sweets. Just order her around freely."

Xiu bit her lips but nodded. "Everything is almost done. I was going to make some drinks for everyone but I really don"t know what they like so..."

"Leave that to me," said Ying and got herself busy with finding the things she needs to make everyone"s favorite drink. While holding the water bottle, she suddenly hit her head but since the bottle was still in her hand she ended up hitting her head with the bottle and winced a bit. "How forgetful of me..." she muttered to herself and came to Xiu"s side again. This time, she held her hand and said, "Thank you!"

"Huh?" Xiu was confused. "For what?"

"For actually putting so much effort into all of this," said Ying as she pointed at the meal she cooked. "Also, thank you for making this one smile again." This one was directed at Darren and Xiu knew that. She didn"t know what to say so she just nodded her head and saw how Ying went back to her work while still telling Dylan to serve all the food.

"Who is she?" asked Xiu to Darren as he helped her down from the counter.

"I wonder," muttered Darren.

"What do you mean?" asked Xiu.

"Well, I can"t really call her a friend but then again, I can"t call her an enemy as well. She"s more like a... Frenemy? Yes, that"s the right term." Darren was nodding to himself while Xiu was completely lost. Seeing her confusion, he added, "Actually, she and I are just like you and Dylan. There is no clear relations.h.i.+p but there is a connection."

"Oi! Regi! Your girlfriend is not gonna run anywhere. So, just help around," came Ying"s voice.

Darren rolled his eyes at her and scoffed. "But I"m certain about one thing, she"s really annoying!" Xiu chuckled softly seeing Darren"s expression. She had never seen him acting like this before. He never looked so fed-up with someone.

"I know you just called me annoying," said Ying as if she really heard him. It was just a guess on her part but she knew Darren well that"s why her guess. .h.i.t the mark perfectly.

Darren turned to face her, "I said it, so what?" he narrowed his eyes at her and added, "Besides, I said nothing wrong."

Ying narrowed her eyes at him and wanted to retort but she held back. It was really not wise to insult him before his girlfriend. She"d save all the insult for later. Darren was taken aback when Ying simply took a calming breath and chose not to jump at him with a knife. That was odd! And so not like her!

He went around to face her and held his hand against her forehead, "Is your fever not gone? Or did it damage your brain somehow?"

Ying shoved his hand away like always and said, "If I"m keeping my silence, don"t push me."

Darren laughed softly, "But that"s the thing. Silence doesn"t really suit you." 

Seeing how Darren and Ying were busy going back and forth with their bickering, Xiu looked at Dylan who looked back at her. "They look like you and me."

Xiu agreed with Dylan. "Were they always like this?"

Dylan shrugged his shoulders, "I don"t know. I never really asked Darren about his friends.h.i.+p with Ying Jie. I just know that they got really close after his accident. As for the rest, he never really shared or maybe I didn"t pay attention."

"Dylan, what really can you pay attention to?" Xiu was really not surprised that Dylan"s reaction was that he didn"t pay attention. With his tendency to lose track of things, it was already a big miracle that he managed to become the CEO of a successful company. Like, the guy was oblivious to his own feelings it was really no wonder that he was oblivious to a lot more things going around him.

"You can"t blame me. I also have a life," retorted Dylan feeling wronged.

"So you do know that you have a life," said Xiu as if she suddenly realized something. She hit his head saying, "Then stop wasting that life."

Dylan pouted his lips but didn"t say anything to her. It was of no use. He knew Xiu was not gonna listen to him. Besides, the battle of wits between Darren and Ying looked more interesting to him.