421 A Little Too Much (1/2)
Xiu only gave a smile as her response as she sat down and seeing that the broth was boiling, she added the meatballs which would take longer to cook.
”You're not surprised to hear me say that?” inquired Cali as she sat opposite of hers and looked at Xiu's face through the steam that was emanating from the pot between them. ”I mean, the current Regan Darren Salvay is anything but a jerk.”
”Right. Regan is a sweetheart,” noted Xiu pleasantly. One could see hearts popping out of her eyes.
”Exactly. Then why are you not even flinching at what he was like?”
”I've heard most of it from Dylan.” Cali raised her brow in confusion. When did Dylan start describing Darren as a jerk? Even if Darren had any bad habits, Dylan would never talk about it. He was way too loyal to do something like that. ”You're taken aback?” Cali nodded her head. ”Dylan didn't like me back then and thought that I'd actually stop going out with Regan if he said all that. But to be honest, I didn't take him seriously most of the time. I thought he was just messing with me.”
Cali sighed out, she should have expected something like that from her dearest love. He was the only one dumb enough to use such schemes. She rubbed her forehead trying to figure out why or how did she even fell in love with that dumb creature! But she loved him way too much, there was no way out.
”I can't believe he went that far,” said Cali. ”But I do believe that whatever he told you must be the truth. Regi had a bad boy image because of how much famous he was and how bad his attitude was.” Xiu looked at her curiously as she went on, ”Actually, he doesn't even seem like himself anymore. I guess he is the one who really evolved with time and circumstances.”
”Dylan said his playboy image before Regan's is actually nothing. Even Regan said it was true.”
Cali pursed her lips before nodding hesitatingly. ”Since he has already told you then you should believe it. He neither really believed in long term relationships nor true love because of how he saw his own family situation. I think he had only one serious relationship and that was in senior high.”
Xiu nodded not taking those words to heart at all. The Regan she was describing and the Regan in her life were two very different people. And as Regan once said, it was all because of Chen Xiu's sudden appearance in his life that he started seeing things very differently.
Xiu checked that the mutton rolls changed color, she took one with her chopstick and placed it on Cali's bowl saying, ”You should try it.” Cali nodded and picked up her chopsticks but seeing the way she was holding her chopsticks and struggling with rice, Xiu laughed out, ”Oh my, even my younger brother doesn't hold chopsticks like that anymore.”
Cali looked up at Xiu who apologized for laughing, ”You can use the spoon and fork if you want. No need to punish yourself like this.”
”Yes, he's seven years old. His name is Jackie.” There was affection in Xiu's tone that surprised Cali. ”Actually, he is Nora's brother but since her parents are my foster parents, he is my brother as well. Besides, he had been attached to me since he was two. I taught him how to read, write, use chopsticks, and almost everything.”
Cali was glad to hear that Xiu hadn't been alone like she had been worrying since she heard about her aunt's death. She could see how much Xiu was attached to the foster family and since she had already seen the bond between Nora and Xiu, she was even more relaxed now.
”What about you?” Cali looked up at her. ”Do you have siblings?”
Cali shook her head saying, ”Nope, I'm all alone.”
After that, their conversation was very casual. Neither Cali mention anything about Destiny nor did Xiu tease Cali about Dylan. She could say anything to Dylan at this point but couldn't do so with Cali with whom she was not that close yet.