Imperfect Desires

"Xiu, did you really beat someone?" asked Xiao Li when they all stopped joking around or it should be said when they stopped teasing Dylan.

"I did," answered Xiu. Even before he could ask why, she elaborated, "That bloody son of a bachelor actually dared to cheat on Ash with her best friend. How could I let him be? I had to teach him a lesson."

Ah-Si clapped as he said, "Sister Xiu, that's awesome! He definitely won't be forgetting this lesson."

Ashley looked at Ah-Si as she asked, "Brother Si, did you also taste the beating?"

She had been wondering that for a while now. Since earlier they talked ambiguously she wasn't certain about it so she had to ask now.

Ah-Si grimaced but told her honestly, "I did. She beat the hell out of me."

"I say, you had it better," commented Nora. "You didn't see what she did this time around. That guy would be having nightmares every single time he felt turned on."

Ah-Si breathed out, "I also think she somehow went easy on me back then."

Ashley looked at Xiu and asked, "Sister-in-law, why did you beat your own brother?"

"Because he made my best friend cry," replied Xiu matter-of-factly.

"You did?" Ashley turned to Ah-Si.

He rubbed the back of his neck saying, "Well, I'm guilty of that."

Ashley couldn't help laughing a little when she heard this. She didn't expect that her sister-in-law would have been savage enough to beat even her own brother for her best friend. It only showed that Xiu would stand up for people she cared even before people who were family to her. She was really someone one could trust and depend on. At least, she found an emotional pillar in her.

"But isn't it unfair?" questioned Xiao Li as he put he crossed his arms behind his head and laid down the green grass lazily soaking the sun.

"What's unfair, Li bro?" asked Xiu in return.

"One hand can't clap, my sweetheart sister," reminded Xiao Li. "If he cheated, he didn't do it alone. Ash's best friend should hold the same amount of responsibility as he did."

"I am with Li bro on this," added Darren.

Xiu thought about it and punched Nora's arm, "Why didn't you remind me of that?"

"Perhaps I was having too much fun," replied Nora. "So, I forgot about the other party involved."

Xiu rubbed her hands together, "After going back, let's tie up that bitch."

"Xiu," called out Cali to Xiu. "Stop being violent. You already have an eight-year-old son. Do you have to think about beating people all the time?"

"Why can't I?" retorted Xiu. "I'm only thirty."

"Just now you said you're getting old," reminded Cali.

"That's different!" Xiu took a pause and added, "Besides, who said I was gonna beat that bitch up after tying her up? I have better ways to deal with a 'friend' like her." 𝙛𝘳𝒆𝒆𝒘e𝗯n𝗼𝘷𝚎𝚕.𝒄૦𝓶

"Still," insisted Cali. "Isn't it tiring?"

"Definitely not!"

Cali shook her head at Xiu, not knowing what to say to her. "You've loved kickboxing since you're young. I never thought it'd turn into such a passion of yours."

Xiu grinned at her not saying anything to her in reply.

"Does anyone know when Ying Jie is coming back?" asked Dylan. "Sometimes I feel really bad for Bohai. Although I also had a long-distance relationship with Cali, however, we could at least talk to each other daily. I'd even fly over to her whenever I had time. But those two don't even get to talk for months because of Ying Jie's job. How does he cope with that?"

"By taking more jobs than needed," replied Xiu. "Can't you see how he could be seen almost everywhere you look? It's because he had been accepting way too many jobs offer to distract himself."

"Poor him," Dylan genuinely felt bad for Han Bohai since he could somewhat relate to him.

"Ying is coming back in two months," told Xiao Li. "And I also heard this is her last field operation. She'd be taking desk job after this."

"Really?" everyone was surprised to hear that.

"Isn't her job her life?" asked Xiu.

"Priorities changes," answered Xiao Li. "Now, she wants to build a family with Bohai. And she doesn't want to repeat the situation of her own life where she had to separate from her parents."

"It's about time they start planning their family," commented Dylan. "They got married around the same time as me and Cali."

"You should stop worrying about their family and focus on yourself," said Xiu.

"Why does everything take a turn and end up at me?"

"Not telling you," retorted Xiu. "Anyway, it's enough to rest for now. Let's gather ingredients for our dinner now."

"I'm gonna take Rowan for fishing," said Darren. "Anyone else wants to join?"

"Me!" Ashley jumped up and tagged along with Darren, "I want to join you, bro."

"Okay," replied Darren.

"I'm also coming," Xiao Li also went to get his fishing gear.

"I'll just stay here," announced Dylan. "I can't move."

"That's what we expected from you," said Nora. "I'll go with Ah-Si to see if we can find some meat around here."

"I think you can buy it around here," said Xiu.

"That's what I'm going to look for," replied Nora.

"I'm going to pick fresh vegetables," said Xiu. "I heard there is a greenhouse here and they have the freshest vegetables there."

"Sweets, there is a fruit ranch as well where you can pick fruits," told Darren to his wife. "You can check that out as well if you want to."

"Got it!"

"Xiuxiu, I'll go with you," Asteria announced as she came over and heard their words. "I'll go to pick vegetables with you."

"You can play here," said Xiu. "I can do it myself."

Asteria shook her head, "I want to help."

Xiu rubbed her head saying, "Okay, let's go then.." She happily crossed her arm with Asteria and went to find the greenhouse.