Because I Cannot Hurt You

Xiaosi dusted his coat and sighed. "It's just a joke, Zhi. Why do you even care? Those are old times I was talking about when…" his lips curled in a provocative smile, "you were with someone else. Why does it matter to you what I felt about Xinyi at that time?"

Xinyi's brows tensed up.

Zhiyuan coldly said, "Past or the present, I won't let your filthy remarks about her slide like that. If you cannot talk respectfully to her, then keep your mouth shut. I already made it clear to you. Don't involve Xinyi and Siying in your fight."

"Our fight, Zhiyuan," Xiaosi strangely became serious.

He smiled. "No, Xiaosi. It's only your fight because I have got no interest in a whiny child's fight who doesn't even want to come forward and clear things out. You are just acting like a stubborn child. And also because...I still hope to get my best friend back one day."

Xinyi faintly smiled.

He thought Xiaosi would laugh it off as usual, but he didn't. There was a fierce rage in his eyes, wanting to swallow Zhiyuan whole.

The air around him turned chilly. "Get me back? Come out of your little dream world, Mr. Han. That is never going to happen because you already closed that path ages ago."

Then the smile returned. "Take care of Chyou. If anything happens to her, you can't imagine what I would do. Clearly, I am not welcomed here. But I hope my daughter will be welcomed at the Han villa."

Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes.

Xinyi quickly said about Chyou's stay at their home for a few days.

Xiaosi said, "I am getting late," He bent to pick Chyou in his arms and kissed her cheek. "Be a good girl. Aunty Xinyi is really nice. She will take good care of you."

She slowly nodded though she was a little afraid of Zhiyuan now after how he suddenly attacked him.

"You have packed everything, right?" He smiled. "Don't worry even if you missed anything. The uncle and aunt here are 'good' friends of mine. They will see to all your needs."

"En," she softly said.

Xiaosi put her down. He smirked at them and left.

Zhiyuan quickly sat beside Xinyi. "Are you okay? Did he say or do anything strange?"

He gritted his teeth. Even now when he thought back to how he saw Xiaosi leaning so closely towards Xinyi, fury would erupt in his heart, especially after how he made her sick on the ship.

Xinyi's eyes slightly dimmed.

'They got married to us...who always held an unrequited love for them.'

"Zhiyuan...D-Do you know…"

Xinyi let out a breath. She smiled and shook her head. "Nothing."

Zhiyuan held her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"En."

"Great. You take rest. The doctor said I can take you back home. I will go and complete the discharge formalities."

Zhiyuan looked down at Chyou, who seemed a little alert of him. "I am sorry for scaring you. Your father and I sometimes goof around like that. I wasn't serious about hitting him."

He had to lie.

Chyou seemed relaxed now. "Really?"

"En."

Xinyi quickly said, "Yes, yes. Your Uncle and Dada always fool us like that and make fun of us. They are meanies!" She pouted.

Chyou nodded hard. "They are meanies. I was scared too! I will scold Dada!" She harrumphed.

They chuckled.

---

As Xiaosi stepped in the car, he got his phone. His brow raised in surprise to see Caihong calling him.

"Hey, dear wifey. Has the sun risen from the west today? How are you calling me on your own accord?"

"I want to meet you right now."

Xiaosi narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure it's me and not Zhiyuan? Maybe you called the wrong number."

"Stop with your nonsense and meet me right now."

Her voice felt even more distant and furious than before.

"Alright. How can I reject your wish? You have asked something from me for the first time. Let's have a nice chat at our home."

But Caihong hung up without a word.

Xiaosi sighed.

---𝗳𝒓𝚎e𝚠𝒆𝐛𝐧𝐨v𝚎Ɩ.co𝓶

Back in Zhu villa, Xiaosi was lazily checking his phone when Caihong came storming in. Her eyes were red and wet, making Xiaosi squint his gaze.

"You cried."

"And why do you think I must have cried?"

"What has happened?"

Suddenly, a loud, crisp sound of a slap echoed in the Zhu villa. Xiaosi's face was harshly turned to his side as the sting of her slap burned on his cheek.

He blinked his eyes rapidly and was confused.

Caihong's jaw clenched as tears trickled down her cheeks. "You...you lied to me that day."

Xiaosi stared at Caihong's tear-stained face and sharply inhaled.

"Lie? What lie?"

Caihong grabbed his collar in fury and yelled. "That you slept with me because you always hated Zhiyuan! That you slept with me because you wanted to snatch his happiness by hurting me! But you lied! I didn't know that you were hiding your disgusting feelings inside!"

Xiaosi stayed still.

"I don't understand."

She gritted her teeth in hatred. "Zhu Xiaosi! Did you...did you force yourself that night on me because you always loved me?"

His eyes slightly widened in surprise.

"On that graduation party that night seven years back, did you drug me and sleep with me because you actually held feelings for me? You fooled me this entire time! You always had an unrequited love for me and then you couldn't see me with Zhiyuan, so you forced yourself on me! Your jealousy ruined my entire life!"

Her grasp on his collar tightened. "That night….you snatched everything away from me. My love, my dignity, my happiness, and now you have the nerve to say that you always loved me?"