Imperfect Desires

346 Lock Me Here?

Nora was standing like a kid who was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. She could only lower her head as if the ground was the most interesting thing in the world right now. Someone, please help her, she had never felt this nervous in her entire life. Also, why nobody warned her that standing before Ah-Si's father was this nerve-wracking?

"I don't think you're seeing things, sir," came the answer from the maid who was called Miyabi. Even her eyes were staring straight at Nora with a strange look. After all, they had never come across this kind of situation before. "It's really a young woman who came out of Young master Si's room."

Xin Zimen craned his neck to look inside the room and found no one which made him frown. "You slept here alone?" he asked and seeing how Nora only nodded, he sighed out in disappointment. "What a disappointment of a son I have!" He turned to look at the maid as he kept talking, "Can you believe it?"

The maid nodded her head because she actually believed in her young master's character. It'd sound weirder to her if he had stayed in the same room with Nora. "Sir, shouldn't you be happy that your son is a gentleman?"

Xin Zimen scoffed displeasingly, "What's the point of being a gentleman when he's worse than a single dog!"

"I..." Nora wanted to say something but when Xin Zimen turned to look at her, she lost the words.

Xin Zimen's eyes were now staring at his granddaughter who was snuggled up against Nora's chest. If he remembered correctly, this little granddaughter of his wasn't even close to him since she didn't like interacting with strangers and he was still a stranger to his own granddaughter. But now, she looked so calm and peaceful as if she felt protected and safe in those arms.

Did he find it weird?

No!

He found it quite interesting and amusing instead.

Seeing how Xin Zimen was looking at the baby girl in her arms, Nora tried to explain, "I tried to put her in bed but she refused to let go." She even indicated towards Ava's hand which was still clutching the front of her shirt.

"That's weird. Normally, our little princess wakes up by this time and demands for her breakfast. Why is she sleeping today? Is she sick?" The maid turned to touch Ava in Nora's hands and frowned even more mumbling to herself, "She seems to be fine. Then why is she still sleeping?"

Xin Zimen listened to her words clearly and a strange smile appeared on his face. "Take Ava with you," he said to the maid and looked at Nora. "And you, young lady, follow me."

Nora was taken aback a bit but she nodded silently and followed him. He called another maid and ordered her, "Take our guest to Ying's room and find her a new set of clothes." He looked at Nora who was surprised now as he continued, "You should freshen up first." Saying that he left her with the maid.

Nora was still confused when the maid put a set of fresh clothes before and showed her the way to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Xin Zimen went to Xin Xiaoli's room and found Ah-Si sleeping there just as he had expected him to. He clicked his tongue as he rolled his eyes, "No wonder you can't even get yourself a wife! Your daughter has to work overtime to find a mother instead! What a shame!"

He tried calling his son to wake up but when he didn't, Xin Zimen simply kicked him awake.

"Ah! Dad! What are you doing so early in the morning?"

Ah-Si wasn't expecting to wake up like this. He was actually having such a good dream. And it wasn't every day that he got a chance to sleep 'till this late after all, his daughter would eventually wake him up early in the morning. But today she didn't... Thinking about that, Ah-Si's eyes widened as he shouted, "Ava!"

"Stop right there," Xin Zimen's voice halted Ah-Si in his steps. He was gonna run over to his daughter but for some reason, his father stopped him. "Before thinking about your daughter why don't you tell me why there is a woman in your room?"

Ah-Si's jaw almost hit the floor as he recalled that Nora was still in his house! No, in his room! With his daughter! And his father saw her! He couldn't tell which was worse at this point!

"Da-Dad, about that..."

"Save it," said Xin Zimen sternly. "I don't mind it at all. I was actually happy knowing that my son was coming out of his monk-like personality until I saw that you slept in a different room."

"That should not be your dialogue," said Ah-Si.

Xin Zimen shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not from the cave era neither do I have such conservative ways of thinking. If I did, I would have kicked your ass when you became a single dad out of nowhere."

Ah-Si cleared his throat feeling like his father was now picking on him and that too on purpose. What a morning!

"What is your relationship with her?" asked Xin Zimen after being quiet and when Ah-Si opened his mouth to say 'nothing', he cut him off adding, "And don't even think about denying it. I am not willing to believe that you let a random woman stay in your bedroom."

It was really dangerous to have a father who knew you so well. "She was drunk and slept on the couch. So, I just put her on the bed. It's really not a big deal."

"That's not what I asked though." Ah-Si's eyes widened while his father went on, "I asked who she is to you, I never asked why she is here. And since you're so ready to find a way out of this question it's making me rather curious to know who she is."

"Dad! What are you up to?" called out Ah-Si as he saw his father leaving the room and followed him but before he could step out of the room, the door was closed. He tried to twist the knob but turned out it was locked. "DAD! How can you lock me here?"

"I'll open this door when I feel like you're ready to tell me the truth," said Xin Zimen and strutted away leaving his son yelling from inside the room.