310 Baby Dragon

"Oh, you're still here," said Xiu distastefully making Dylan's mouth go ajar.

After noticing the look on Darren's face, Dylan felt like he was hit by a truck. He had been standing here all this while, you know! But they both couldn't see him. After all, they were lost in each other's eyes all this while.

What a surprise that he was ignored! Well, not really!

It wasn't a surprise to Dylan that his presence had become so little for both of them. And honestly speaking he didn't mind it for the first time as well. What made him look so sad was the fact that for the first time in years, he actually felt lonely. For a split second, he wished that there was someone who would run up to him as Xiu did with Darren.

He wished to have that someone who would trust him like Xiu had trust in Darren's feelings for her. It felt strange to accept it but he couldn't deny it that his best friend had really hit a jackpot with someone like Xiu who could be caring, feisty, and loving. A full package that one would not be able to resist. Even more so, he was envious to see that Xiu's every little emotion was reserved for Darren and Darren only.

Dylan cleared his throat and replied, "Yes, I'm still here. Thanks for noticing!"

Xiu turned to him saying, "I think you misunderstood something here, Dylan. Let me rephrase myself... You should be leaving now." Seeing her shooing him away Dylan found her cute. 

"Why should I? I'm seeing my best friend after so many days," on purpose, Dylan made a beeline towards Darren but Xiu stood in his way like a wall. "What?" Dylan frowned at her in annoyance. He wasn't really annoyed at all, but it felt so good to tease her. He had grasped one very important thing about Xiu's nature, she would take everything but Darren was her reverse scale. She would really stop using her mind when it came to him. 

"I told you to stop acting like a mistress between me and my boyfriend," growled Xiu in a low voice that sounded really scary but it reminded Dylan of a baby dragon who would try to scare others away with her little claws. Oh my gosh! She was really adorable! "What are you smiling about?"

Dylan squeezed her cheeks as he cooed, "Super adorable baby dragon! I love it! HAHA!" Saying that he laughed and fist-bumped with his best friend before turning to leave them alone. It was better to not annoy her any more than this. If that baby dragon really sharpened her claws, he was gonna land in some trouble.

Xiu puffed up her cheeks while she rubbed her cheeks that he squeezed so hard. What was wrong with him? She scowled. 

"He's childish," muttered Xiu to herself. Darren rubbed her head affectionately but didn't voice out that her childish nature was an equal match for Dylan's. But since they both made his life seem more lively, he didn't mind their childishness. Not even a bit.

"What did you cook? Why does it smell so good in here?" Darren finally spoke up as he looked around the kitchen that was brimming with delicious and mouth-watering aromas. It even made his stomach growl in anticipation. He rubbed his stomach and smiled sheepishly at Xiu, "I guess I'm really hungry."

Xiu chuckled at his reaction and started going on and on about what she made in the past three hours. Just listening to her made Darren feel tired. He held her hands in his own and said, "It must be really tiring."

Xiu shook her head saying, "No. It's not tiring at all. I actually felt so happy doing it." Darren didn't know what to say. She really looked happy... Genuinely happy... But suddenly she bit her lips in worry and voiced out, "Do you think everyone will like the food?"

Darren kissed her cheek. "Yes, Sweets. Everyone will like it. In fact, they'll love it."

"How are you so sure?" asked Xiu with uncertainty.

Darren massaged her hands as he said, "Because I know how awesome my Sweets is. Also, they all have already fallen for your charms. After eating this meal, they'll fall for you so deep that they won't find a way out." His knuckles brushed against her cheek as he added, "Just like I can't find my way back. But then again, I don't want to." 

Xiu rubbed her forehead. "Either I'm an idiot or you're too good."

"Why?" 

"Because I actually believed those cheesy words of yours," answered Xiu making him laugh.

He hugged her tightly as he reassured her, "I promise they'll be really happy with this meal. Not just because of the taste but also because of the effort and love you put into this one meal." He kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes, "Sweets, everyone in this family has a complicated life but every single one of them is a very simple person. You can read their emotions right at their face. And if I say, they already like you a lot. I mean it. If they weren't such amazing people, I'd have really grown up like an orphan."

Xiu was surprised to hear those words. When Darren first told her that this was his family as well. She really didn't expect that his feelings for this family were actually so deep and strong. But after meeting them one by one, she could actually see why Darren valued them so much. He was right, either it was Zhao Wei, Dylan, Qiu Jiayi or Xin Zimen, all of them made her feel so comfortable that one might end up envying this family.

Seeing her lost in thoughts, Darren rubbed her head and said, "Stop thinking. This is not just my family now. It is yours. No need to be so cautious around them."

Damn! She didn't want to cry but he was really making it difficult for her. Why was he so good with words? And why was she so easy to fall for his words?

Xiu managed to hold back her tears even though her eyes were stinging now. She smiled through her tear-filled eyes that she was holding back and said, "If it's really my family then all the more reason for me to give my best."

Darren understood her words as he took an apron from the side and put it on saying, "Tell me what you need, Mademoiselle! I'm at your service." Xiu giggled at him while he added, "Anything can be fixed as long as I'm here with you. Right?" 

Xiu nodded her head without hesitation. Everything could indeed get better as long as he was with her. So what that her Tangyuan soup was ruined by Dylan. She could just start from scratch. There was nothing to worry about.