Imperfect Desires - Chapter 993
“No matter how I think about it,” started Dylan as he watched Xiu leaving. “I believe our stars just don’t align together.”
Darren bumped his shoulder with Dylan, “Your star doesn’t have to align with hers, it’s enough that mine fits perfectly well with her.”
“Yuck!” was Dylan’s response. “How long have you been even married for? Is it okay to sound so corny even now?”
“You’re that one person who should never point out what kind of love is between Sweets and me,” said Darren quite seriously. “I don’t think I have to remind you how long or what it took for us to be where we are today.”
Dylan became quiet instantly when he heard that. What was left there to say now? Of course, he knew everything about the love that actually managed to come back from death. How could he forget that? He usually did try to ignore this fact but for how long could he ignore it? Deep down in his heart, he knew all of it.
“Don’t say anymore,” said Dylan. “I can’t take it.”
On the other hand, Xiu walked back to her son who loved talking big, and said, “Give me the fish. I’ll prepare it for you.”
Rowan grinned at his mother and offered his fish to her but hesitated before placing the fish in her hand.
Xiu tapped his small nose, “What now?”
“Mommy, you teach me how to do it. I’ll do it myself,” said Rowan.
“You?”
Rowan nodded his head.
“Why?”
“Baba says I’m a big boy. I should learn to do my own things now. Doesn’t Baba also cook? Why can’t I do that?” His small face showed his serious expressions as he added, “Besides, I don’t want to tire you out.”
Xiu ruffled his hair, “My little man, stop talking big. I’ll just do it myself. Have you looked at your small hands? How will you handle such a big fish?”
“It’s not that big though,” pointed out Rowan innocently. “Mommy, you tell me how to do it. I promise I’ll do it.”
“Aiyo, my baby, you’ll get hurt,” said Xiu in distress. There was no denying it, it was really not easy to raise an emotionally mȧturė kid. But she liked her son this way.
“That’s alright,” said Rowan. “When I fell down the stairs last time, you said kids only grow after falling down a little. A little bit of pain can’t extinguish the fire inside of me.”
Xiu shook her head and held his hand, “Come then. Let’s do it together.”
“Yay!” Rowan jumped up and down excitedly. “Mommy, don’t worry! I’ll be a good ȧssistant.”
“I know,” said Xiu. “After all, you’re my son.”
“Mommy, you’re bragging again,” said Rowan.
“How am I bragging?” retorted Xiu with a straight face feeling no shame at all. “Aren’t you, my son?”
“I am,” replied Rowan.
“Then? Isn’t that what I just said?”
“No, you’re clearly complimenting yourself by using me,” said Rowan.
“What did you say?” asked Xiu as she raised her brow at him.
Rowan smiled at her, “I said, even if you fool me, I’ll willingly pretend as if I got fooled.”
Xiu smiled back at him and patted his head, “That’s more like it, my dear baby boy!” Feeling good, she added, “Let me tell you how to clean up the fish before grilling it.”
“Okay!”
While helping and learning from his mother, Rowan was too happy so he decided to share something with his mother, “Mommy, I wanna be an actor.”
Xiu’s hand movements paused for half a second before she continued her work and nodded her head, “Okay. Best of luck to you, my son!”
“You agree?” asked Rowan in surprise.
Xiu looked at him, “What made my son think I won’t agree? It’s your life, baby boy. Not mine. I can’t tell you what to do in life. You’re gonna have to make that choice on your own. Mom can only show you the right way and mom will always accompany you as well.”
Rowan went over and hugged her neck from behind. “I knew it. You’ll agree.”
“Then why did you look so surprised earlier?”
Rowan pouted, “When I said that to Uncle Bobo he said, the entertainment world is too chaotic. I’m too innocent for it. Also, he said you won’t allow me to be an actor.”
Xiu patted his arms around her neck saying, “Although the entertainment industry is indeed chaotic, that doesn’t mean I’m still as helpless as I once was. I have the power to protect what or whom I love. If that’s the path you really want to walk on, I’ll certainly help you as much as I can.”
“It’s just as I say, my mommy is perfect!”
“Do you want to enter the industry now?” asked Xiu seriously. She didn’t know where this dream came from but she wasn’t gonna squish it just because she had a bad experience. Besides, she knew she was capable of protecting her son. So, there was nothing wrong with letting him do what he really wished to do.
“No,” replied Rowan. “I’m still too young. But it’s mostly not about age. I feel like I have a lot to learn. Give me two years. I’ll work hard and improve myself. I promise I’ll make you proud.”
“I don’t want my son to carry such a huge burden of making me feel proud. I’m already a proud peacock. You just do what you want and how you want to do it.”
“Then I’ll bring you a lot of awards in the future,” promised Rowan.
Xiu smiled at him, “I’ll be waiting then.”
Rowan gave her a toothy grin as he continued to wonder about his future plans while Xiu observed all the changes on his face. He genuinely looked excited and hopeful for the future. For a split second, Xiu saw herself in him. Back then, at the same age, she also fell in love with the world of acting.. And then it slowly became all of her world.