Because I Cannot Hurt You

Things calmed down after Liao Yuan and Liao Yun's arrest. The news of Liao Yun's arrest broke the headlines in the media and internet. All his shady and illegal Underworld dealings came into light and also the truth of how he forced An Yueqin to stay with him for all these years.

The Liao Corps suffered a big hit in the market. Its reputation had drastically plummeted. Liao Junjie was weak and recovering, but he was doing all he could to manage the business.

As for Liao Yuan's arrest, that news was never exposed. After meeting his grandson that day, he immediately rushed to the Han villa next.

Han Huizhong or Zhiyuan weren't really shocked by his arrival.

Zhiyuan asked, "Are you here to plead with us to release Liao Yuan?"

He waited for his answer.

"No," Liao Junjie quietly responded. "To be honest, I wanted to. Yuan is my only family. Call me selfish, but I need him. He is the only one I have in my life. But it doesn't mean he hasn't disappointed me. He has. A lot. I wish he could have become like Luoyang. But he chose the wrong path. I am extremely ashamed of everything he did to you and Xinyi. I really am. I feel even guiltier that there is nothing I can possibly do to compensate for it."

Zhiyuan knew he meant it. His feelings, his letdown was genuine. The setback Liao Yuan gave him was more severe than what his son did.

The heartattack he suffered wasn't because of Liao Yun, but it was because Liao Yuan failed him.

He took a slow, deep breath. "As I said, I wish I could ask you to retract his punishment. But Yuan stopped me. He doesn't want this. He says he deserves this after how he hurt Xinyi. He will face his punishment, and I will respect his wishes." 𝙛𝘳𝒆𝒆𝒘e𝗯n𝗼𝘷𝚎𝚕.𝒄૦𝓶

Zhiyuan raised his brow. This time however, he believed him. Yunru had let Zhiyuan know about the conversation between Liao Yuan and Liao Junjie in the custody room.

His guilt wasn't enough to pay for what he did. But Liao Yuan wanted to serve his sentence on his own accord. That raised just a tiny bit of respect in Zhiyuan's heart for him.

"I see."

Liao Junjie nodded. "I do respect his wishes. But as a grandfather, I still want to protect him. Luoyang, in heaven, must be so saddened watching her son go through this," he faintly smiled, "I don't want to hurt Yuan or her soul any further. So, I humbly ask if you…you could spare Yuan from the media. Please don't expose his crimes and ruin his reputation. That's the only thing I ask of you."

There was silence for a beat.

"Grandpa Liao, you didn't have to ask me that. I wasn't going to do it anyway."

He trembled.

"Liao Yuan wants to face his wrongdoings, and I admire that. Honestly, I never imagined he would change with how far he went. I won't take back the charges against him because he owes that after hurting Xinyi and Siying. I won't forgive him for that. But the least I can do is not put a stain on his reputation. I have already discussed this with Yunru. The police won't make any statement about Liao Yuan. He will quietly serve his period. As for his disappearance until he serves his sentence, you can tell the media he went back abroad."

He shook his head. "Uncle Liao's arrest has already brought a storm for your company. Liao Corps will simply collapse if we release Liao Yuan's arrest news. Rest assured."

Liao Junjie wiped the corner of his reddened eyes.

Han Huizhong, who was awfully quiet for this whole time, sneered. "Ew. Don't cry like that. Such a crybaby. Where is the fierce rival that I enjoyed beating into a pulp?"

"Shut up, Huizhong! Back off! *Cough cough*" he clutched his chest and coughed.

"Kicking the bucket so soon already?"

Liao Junjie smirked. "I won't die so soon, not before you, Huizhong! Because I will be there for your funeral and have a big party at your graveside!"

Zhiyuan's mouth twitched.

Han Huizhong laughed disdainfully. "Forget about it. Just look at you coughing already after shouting just one time. At this rate, I will be the one to throw a party at your funeral."

"In your dreams! Yuan has handed me a very important job. To find a bride for him. I will find the best woman for him, see him get married and hold my great-grandchild one day!" He coughed again.

Xinyi, who brought tea from everyone, sighed. "Stop bickering already. Nobody is going to die."

"Huizhong started it!"

"The hell? You started talking about my funeral first!"

"You blabbed nonsense about beating me into a pulp first! Hah! When did you ever beat me? You have gotten senile, Huizhong. Poor you hallucinating like that," he sneered.

Han Huizhong glared at him. "Should I show you the number of my wins to your losses? I still have that data with me! You are so gonna fall flat on your face!"

"God knows how much you have lied with those numbers! I will show you my diary! There are facts in it. Facts!"

Xinyi grimaced. "You two hold such useless data from years back?"

"It's not useless!" Both exclaimed in unison.

She rolled her eyes. Zhiyuan helplessly chuckled.

Xinyi put the tray and asked, "Jokes aside. Grandpa Liao, have you thought about who would take care of Liao Corps in Yuan's absence? You shouldn't be working so hard at such a time after your attack."

Liao Junjie went quiet with that. "I understand. I want to wait for him to come back. So, I will take care of my health and not take the company's stress. For now, I will hold a meeting with the board of directors and think of what to do next."

"You don't need to do that. I will step up as the standing CEO in Liao Yuan's absence." Keung announced as he entered.