Because I Cannot Hurt You

In the end, Zizi couldn't stop Shuang from leaving and neither did she have the mood to visit An Guoting and An Yueqin anymore. Instead of going to Han villa, she turned her way towards the Soo house.

Soo Enlai was elated as usual. "My dear Zizi! I am so happy to see you!" He hugged her hard, joy bursting in his heart. "That brat is still not back. You can wait for him in his room. Hehe, until then, I will bring some refreshments for you!"

Zizi giggled. "Dad, hasn't Yunru forbidden us to enter the kitchen?"

He snorted. "I can handle a glass of juice just fine. I am not a kid he has to babysit. I am his father, not the other way around!"

He eagerly dashed off towards the kitchen while Zizi sighed and waited for Yunru in his bedroom. Her mind was filled with thoughts about Shuang's departure.

Then a strong pair of arms encircled her waist from the back, and chin propped on her shoulder. "My Princess is already here." He dipped his head and kissed her cheek.

Zizi beamed, turned and hugged him hard, taking in his scent. She tiptoed and kissed him on his lips, which he returned with equal fervor. Parting breathlessly, he pecked on her forehead and smiled. "Alright. Tell me. Who bullied my Princess?" He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"I am not upset."

He narrowed his eyes and pinched her nose. "Lying to Chief Yunru, aye?"

"Ow, ow!" She painfully rubbed the tip of her nose. "You shouldn't be mean to your fiance."

"And you shouldn't hide things from your fiance either."

She mumbled and looked away.

"Did you visit Uncle Guoting and Aunt Yueqin? Did it not go well? He suspiciously asked.

"I was planning to…But I didn't because I met Shuang on the way."

"So? What's the problem?" 𝒇𝐫ℯ𝑒𝒘ℯ𝑏n𝑜ѵ𝐞l.c𝗼𝗺

Zizi wasn't sure if she should break this to Yunru. Shuang didn't explicitly tell her, but it was implied that she didn't want An Guoting or Caihong to know her real feelings.

"You have to keep this a secret!" In the end, if not anybody, Zizi at least wanted to let Yunru know about this.

He made a gesture of sealing his lips. "My lips are locked. They only open when I want to kiss you."

Zizi choked in her throat. "You…"

That was buttery smooth flirting just like how Zizi always did.

He grinned. "Well, I am learning from the best. Alright now. Tell me."

Zizi pursed her lips. "Shuang left the An residence."

He blinked. "Left?"

She nodded and repeated the conversation she had with Shuang. The expression on his face turned grim. "Oh."

"I…I don't know what to do. Should I tell Dad? He will talk to her, and everything will be sorted out. It's hurting to see her leave her like this!" Her eyes ached.

Yunru smiled and softly flicked on her forehead. "Silly, she won't go. She loves Uncle too."

"But the feeling of being an outsider is weighing her heart more than her love for him."

"Didn't you feel the same, Princess?"

"I-I used to…"

"You even ran away from home to the beach, remember?"

Her mouth twitched. "Why do you remember that so clearly?"

"Everybody does. You had made everyone panic, after all, including me," he squinted his eyes and pressed her chin.

Zizi guiltily coughed. "So-Sorry…"

He shook his head. "Making you apologize is not my point. The point is that you needed some time alone at that time. Shuang needs it right now."

"But she doesn't just need SOMETIME. She is going forever!"

"She won't. Look, I understand her feelings. I really do get what she is trying to say. She might have convinced herself that she is leaving. But trust me, she won't be able to. She loves uncle very much. She will probably distance herself from him slowly. But she won't leave him altogether."

He sighed. "Right now, it's really overwhelming for her. Aunt Yueqin is back. She needs time to digest this change. It won't be easy for her to accept her though she might say otherwise. She wants time. For herself, and she also wants to give this time to Uncle and Aunt after getting reunited. Let her be alone for a while. She would come back on her own."

Zizi hesitated. "I don't feel that way…She seemed pretty serious."

"She is trying to fool herself and the others too. Trust me. She is going to miss Uncle like crazy," he smiled. "As for Aunt and her, they can slowly work things out between them. There is no hurry. They don't have to immediately love each other like mother-daughter. The bond will gradually and eventually form over time just like it did with her and Uncle."

She gave this a serious thought and slowly nodded. "If you say so."

He lightly pinched the tip of her nose again. "Chief Yunru is always right."

"A-Are you sure that I shouldn't tell this to Dad?"

Yunru tilted his head. "You can, but you shouldn't. At this point, anything that he will say won't have an effect on Shuang. She would just think he is trying to console her or desperately make her feel a part of his family, which she doesn't want. Sometimes, distance is important to realize how much someone is important to you. His words wouldn't mean anything to her now.

But after a few months, the same words would hold more weight because it would mean that Uncle never gave up on his daughter. He wanted her before, and he wants her now too. No matter if Caihong is there or you or Aunt Yueqin, he still wants Shuang to be by his side too or his family won't be complete. That is the feeling which Shuang wants the most of all, and it can only come through separation."

Zizi felt her eyes tear up. "You are so awesome, Yunru. I love you the most!" She jumped into his hug again.

Yunru chuckled and kissed her hair. "And I love you too, Princess."