Imperfect Desires

673 Things We Do For Love

And this time around, he would make sure she takes revenge. He'd hate to let any one of those people get away with what they did to her. Xiu's kindness was not placed in the right place or on the right people. These people broke her in a way that they didn't deserve any of her kindness. Even if she could forget all that, he knew she won't be able to set herself free from it.

"Sweets, are you really sure about this?" He asked one last time before they entered back inside.

Xiu patted his hand saying, "I know you think I'm weak but trust me, I'll try my best to be strong."

"That's not what I meant," retorted Darren with a frown.

Xiu passed him a smile as she went on, "Okay, okay. What I really want to say is that now I don't just have you." Darren raised his brows at her inquisitively. She lowered her voice as she added, "Now I have a little tiger inside of me. I'll have to be better than this."

Darren's brows eased up.

"Things we do for love," said Xiu as she looked around at the people mingling in this banquet.

If someone had told her a few days ago that she'd be daring enough to walk up to Xin Suyin and pretend like everything was alright, Xiu might slap that person. But today, after that initial shock, she felt rather relaxed. It was as if an inner force was urging her to not step back. And the magnetic pull of that inner force was so strong that Xiu couldn't hold back.

.....

Earlier, the very first person to notice Xiu's absence was Xin Zimen. He was talking to people around him but his attention never left Xiu. But the moment he got a little distracted because of Su Feifei's antics, Xiu was gone.

His eyes wandered around the hall but he didn't find her.

"Little brother, who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for..." In his frantic state of mind, he didn't even realize who was the one asking the question and almost blurted out that he was looking for Xiu. As for why he felt this frantic, only he could tell.

He looked up at his brother and replied, "None of your business."

Xin Zemin laughed at him saying, "How come your answer is always the same? I believe I taught you more than just a few words."

"With a teacher like you, no wonder I forgot everything," retorted Xin Zimen.

"You really have come to hate playing nice, eh?" Xin Zimen shrugged his shoulders but stayed silent. "Why don't you go over and say hello to mom and dad?"

"All the more reason for you to go over," said Xin Zemin with a smile gracing his face. "Have you ever done anything to please our parents? Isn't your main goal to annoy them? So, go ahead and say hello."

"Is it just me or you've changed?" Asked Zizi with a perplexed look on his face.

His elder brother smiled and raised his hand to touch his head but as usual, Zizi stepped away. His brother looked discouraged but be still said, "You haven't met me in years. Obviously, I have changed." He took a pause before adding, "And relax, I won't touch you."

"Oh." There was uncertainty in his tone.

But contrary to what he said, Xin Zemin taking advantage of his distraction, still ended up touching his head as he said, "Sorry, I lied. But I couldn't help it."

While Zizi was glaring at his brother he saw Xiu walking back with Darren. Leaving his brother, he ran up to these two with a worried look. Well, at least, he wanted to run up with Xin Zemin stepped in his way as he raised his brows to ask, "That girl... Why are you so concerned about her?"

"I'm not obliged to answer," replied Xin Zimen and tried to leave again.

"Be careful, little brother." His elder brother's words halted Xin Zimen's steps. "Don't look so eager. Let's not forget, every person in this room is trying to find that one weakness they could use against you. And our parents are also one of those people. So, take your steps wisely." He patted his brother's shoulder before leaving.

Xin Zimen was frozen on his spot. Because for once, he didn't have a way to refute his elder brother's words. It seemed funny but he couldn't deny that indeed he had way too many people around him who were looking for a way to tear him down. None of them would dare touch his sons but he couldn't say whether they'd think of using Xiu or not.

His heart chilled at the thought and so did his eyes. One could feel the cold aura emitting from his body.

"Why are you standing frozen here, Ah-Xin?"

Instead of Xin Zimen finding Xiu, it was the latter who came to find him. Well, he just happened to be in her way and she couldn't resist asking him why he was just standing there. But when he turned to look at her, she said, "Or you're trying to freeze others with that look."

His eyes instantly calmed down when he saw her. But soon, his brows knitted up as he looked at her face closely.