บท 8: Uncle Touched Kiddo's Bottom-line

'Kiddo?' Xiu's eyes widened up dramatically as she realized that he was calling her a kid!

However, she overlooked the fact that in her loose-fitting pajamas, with a malnourished body, that small face and long hair that was even falling before her face, she did look like a teenager.

"Who are you calling a kid?" Xiu was officially in a bad mood now. All her anger from earlier was bursting out on that stranger who was eyeing her from head to toe as if to say, 'Obviously you're the kid here.'

If there was one thing that would be on top of the things that Xiu liked about Bai Xiu's body that would be her height. She was taller than she was in her previous life and she even took pride in that now. But since she could only reach his shoulder, he made her feel short and it further ignited her anger.

"Open your eyes and see clearly! There is no kid here." Xiu fumed with hostility in her honey-brown eyes.

Not knowing why this adorable looking 'kid' was arguing with him, the man straightened his posture and spoke civilly and like a responsible adult, "Look, little kid. I know today's generation doesn't want to be treated like a kid but still, this is no manner to talk to your elders. Also, where are your parents? How can they allow you to wander out of home in the middle of the night?"

Xiu didn't want to press this matter but his tone of coaxing a child made it worse as she said, "Then like a good elder, give the pack of noodles back to me, UNCLE." She emphasized on 'uncle' with childlike innocence. Since he was treating her like a kid, she'd treat him accordingly.

The man's mouth opened wide in disbelief as he glared at her and repeated, "Did you just call me uncle? Does this young master look that old to you?"

Xiu rolled her eyes at the way he called himself 'this young master'. If the limited edition Patek Philipe on his wrist or his premium handmade leather shoes weren't much of a screamer than his own words confirmed that he was one of those born with a gold spoon in their mouths.

Playing along with him Xiu gave him a spurious smile saying, "I didn't call you old." The man was satisfied with her answer until her face turned back to a grave look and she added, "I called you ancient."

"A-Ancient?" The man's breathing got ragged as he couldn't believe he was being treated this way and that too by an adorable looking 'kid'! How could he take it lying down? This was an insult. A straight strike to his ego! "Hey kid, now you're taking this too far. Be a good girl and don't touch my bottom-line!" His voice held a certain raging temper that felt like it would make Xiu burn. But she was unfazed.

Instead, she nodded her head as if she understood him and just as he gave a smug grin, Xiu lifted her foot and stepped on his handmade leather shoes with all her strength and weight.

"Ouch!" She took him by surprise or shock, he didn't know himself. But one thing was sure, she had directly snatched the noodle pack from his hand like a real gangster and turned to leave. While he was recovering from this unbelievable event, he saw her taking a couple of steps back and she kicked his knee this time making him grunt and even bent down to rub his sore spot. "What was this for?" He shrieked at her receding figure.

"Because you touched my bottom-line, UNCLE!" With that, she trotted over to the cashier counter leaving him baffled and stunned. He had indeed touched Xiu's bottom-line when he said, 'Be a good girl.' That simple sentence was worse than the cursing in her life. Why? Because she had been the good girl all her life only to end up with nothing in her hands. Not even her pride or self-respect. And in this life, she hated being a good girl.

That innocent good girl was gone. Not even her she'll remained. Now's Xiu was anything but a good girl. At least, she held this belief.

The man she left behind was however had some other things going on. It was the very first time in his life that someone had dared to treat him this abrasively. He couldn't believe it at all. And just when he came out of his daze and followed after her, his phone buzzed inside his pants pocket.

First, he was planning on ignoring the call but the caller id made him do otherwise. "Hey, buddy! What's up?"

"Dylan, where are you? I thought you'll be here by now," a pleasantly smooth, soft and euphonious voice of a man could be heard from the other side.

The man who argued with Xiu whose name was Dylan looked around the shop and found Xiu at the cashier counter with another woman. "I'm on my way." He replied over the phone while observing the interaction between Xiu and Nora.

Nora was still clad in her hotel uniform with a small scarf wrapped around her neck. Because of her western genes, she gave off a mature vibe even at the age of only twenty-three. Her body was also well-matured and when compared to Xiu, she looked older.

Right now, Nora was paying for everything at the counter while she rubbed Xiu's hair lovingly and spoke tenderly, "See baby Xiu'er, I paid for everything. I love you so much that I'm willing to buy the world just for you."

Nora was trying to cheer up Xiu who was looking like a volcano ready to burst and it worked at some level when Xiu gave her a small smile. However, this gesture of their love was perceived in a whole new way by someone whose eyes were about to bulge out.

Nora and Xiu took their shopping bags brimming with snacks while Nora placed her hand around Xiu's small waist and led her out saying, "I'm gonna cuddle you like a teddy bear tonight."

Xiu had already expected that because Nora was one of those people who loved cuddling. She had a human sized teddy bear in her room just for cuddling purposes. And after every breakup Xiu would end up in that teddy bear's position.

"Dylan, what the hell are you doing?" The smooth voice with a tinge of impatience came again jolting Dylan awake from his daze.

"Oh, Sh*t! Buddy, that pair of girls look like a couple." Dylan voiced out softly while his eyes were still stuck on the disappearing figures of Xiu and Nora with a thoughtful look on his face.

There was silence at the other side before Dylan heard a piercing cold voice, "Then are you waiting for them to invite you for a threesome? Or a night show?"

Hearing such a blunt remark from his best friend's mouth, Dylan choked on air and started coughing profusely. He knew he had a overly whimsical mind but when did his cold hearted but perceptive best friend turned like him?