646 Sounds Cool

Since the time, Xiu had come, Jackie had been standing by her side. He even held her gown tightly as he usually did around her at a party. Actually, he usually would hold her sleeve but today she was wearing a sleeveless gown, so he couldn't help it.

But the one who tugged at her gown wasn't Jackie. It was little Ava who was trying to loosen Jackie's grip on the fabric of her gown. But when Jackie refused to let go, she stomped her foot.

She made a crying face, as she called out to him pitifully, "JJ..."

Out of all the people here, Jackie was definitely one who would fall for her drama. He patted her head and lightly pushed her towards her parents saying, "Enjoy with your parents. Mine are not around anyway."

Ava looked back at his with tears in her eyes and he warned, "Start crying and forget that I'd even talk to you again."

Xiu gaped at him and lightly pulled his ear. It was more for show than anything because he couldn't even feel the pain. "Jackie, how can you threaten your own niece all the time?"

Jackie looked up at Xiu and pointed at Ah-Si, "It's his fault!"

"What did I do?" Ah-Si who was suddenly dragged in got confused.

"He spoiled her rotten. She still has the illusion that a tear can solve everything."

"Because she is very young," replied Xiu in a very patient tone. "That's why she is a little possessive. She doesn't want to share her JJ with anyone. How cute is that?"

"That's not cute," replied Jackie with a straight face. 

Xiu had to take this little one to a side as she tried to talk to him. Seeing Xiu and Jackie talking at the side, Francesca asked Nora, "How old is he?"

"He is turning eight soon," answered Nora.

"He's clever for his age," Francesca pointed out.

"I don't know if I should blame mom for that or Xiu," replied Nora helplessly. "When he was young Xiu often took him to college and mom had always been taking him to her law firm. In a way, he got introduced to the adult world quite sooner than it was necessary. So, his understanding of things is different than others of his age." She pressed her lips together thought about it before saying, "Usually he isn't this stubborn. He even treats Ava very well. But today... It must be because Ava tried to separate him from Xiu that he got angry."

"He really loves Xiu, eh?" Francesca had a smile on her face. An understanding and loving smile. She could definitely see that her daughter-in-law had the potential of becoming a good mother. But then why was she so reluctant?

Soon, Xiu joined them back and urged Jackie saying, "Little brother..."

Jackie looked at her face before turning back towards Ava and holding out his hand to that little devil who was acting pitiful in her father's arms. But as soon as she saw Jackie's hand, she jumped down to take his hand. Jackie rolled his eyes at her reaction before taking her away.

"That's called Xiu's magic, you won't get it." This answer didn't come from Xiu herself. Instead, it was Nora who patted her boyfriend as she said these words.

"Did you girls meet the bride?"

Hearing Francesca's question both Xiu and Nora looked at each other.

"Let's go then. I'll take you to her."

Xiu shrugged her shoulders and Nora couldn't just say that she wasn't familiar with the bride. So, she followed along as well. 

"Only today I realized that I have never even met the bride before," whispered Nora to Xiu as they both walked behind Francesca. 

"Tsk. Tsk." Xiu clicked her tongue on purpose as she said, "What kind of a sister-in-law are you? You never bothered saying hi to your elder sister-in-law?"

Nora squinted her eyes at her best friend, "I never thought it was necessary."

"And why is that?" asked Xiu. "You should know that you both are gonna become part of the same family. If you're going to marry the second son, she's marrying the elder son. Eventually, you both are gonna be a family."

Nora nodded her head before saying, "I agree but let's not forget that I don't have a charming personality like yours. It's better if I keep my distance from this sister-in-law because eventually we'd be clashing."

Xiu snorted, "Aren't you very hopeful for the future?"

Nora shrugged her shoulders, "Can't help it, sis."

Xiu hooked her arm with hers intimately as she said, "Sis, let me rub some of my charm-ness on you."

"Eeeh! Go away!"

"No, I don't want to," said Xiu in a cutesy voice while snuggling up to her.

Nora laughed at her antics and said, "You're really one hell of a sister."

Xiu gave her a flying kiss, "I love you too."

Nora cringed at that. "That's my dialogue." She checked her temperature before asking, "Did my clinginess rubbed off on you too much? Or a ghost possessed you?"

"Mmm... I'll go with the ghost possession."

Nora shook her head at her. "Why is your answer always about ghosts?"

"It sounds cooler!" winked Xiu playfully.

"What are you girls doing?"

Both of them looked up to see Francesca who was watching them with amusement for a while now. These two were lost in their own best friend bubble that they didn't even realize when they reached the destination.

Both Xiu and Nora weren't embarrassed at all. Instead, they laughed it off together. 

"Let's go inside," with those words Francesca opened the door of the room.

However, the voices coming from inside made Xiu's body stiff. She could hear the voices clearly and she could clearly distinguish the people as well. But that momentary stiffness was immediately gone when Nora bumped her shoulder with hers and wiggled her brows inquisitively. Xiu shook her head while smiling back at her and entered the room, taking a long, deep, and relaxing breath.