Because I Cannot Hurt You

Everybody nodded in unison. They gathered in Zhiyuan and Xinyi's room.

Xinyi said, "Why don't we play some games?"

They set out some games and it was decided that Zhiyuan, Xinyi, and Siying will be one team against Yunru and Zizi together.

Zizi coughed. "Don't drag me back!"

"I say the same to you, Princess."

Everybody was so immersed in the fun that they didn't realize when time passed so quickly. Zhiyuan and Xinyi's team was unbeatable in almost all the rounds.

"Princess, if you would have listened to me, we would have won the second game too easily," Yunru said.

"What do you mean? My move was perfect! Don't blame me!"

"Your awesome move left us to die."

"It's because you went off on your own! It's not my fault."

"As expected of a spoiled princess," he chuckled. "Will never admit her mistake."

Zizi fumed. But compared to before, she felt that she wasn't that angry at him like she used to.

Strange...

Siying giggled. "Uncle and Aunty lost. Boo Boo! My team is the best!" He proudly said, making Zhiyuan chuckle.

 Xinyi said, "I will bring something to drink."

Zizi thought for a moment. "I will come too."

Xinyi was surprised by her offer, but she nodded. As they left off, Yunru observed Zhiyuan for some time and asked, "Did something happen between you and sis?"

He stiffened and glanced at him. "As in?"

Yunru touched his chin and squinted his eyes. "You two seemed a little what should I say... fidgety around each other? The atmosphere between you two felt different somehow…"

At that moment, Siying's ears perked up at that conversation. His heart burst into excitement.

Mama and Dada are different now? So Mama and Dada are more lovey-dovey? He beamed.

Zhiyuan coughed. I cannot say that-

Siying flailed his hands up. "I played a prank on Mama and Dada and they kissed!" He laughed.

"..."

Yunru's eyes widened in shock. "Ohhh…"

Siying pouted. "But Mama ran away."

Yunru finally understood what changed between them. He teased. "Of course. Sis is really shy. But brother-in-law seems even shier than her."

"T-That is not true. It just suddenly happened…"

"And now you are fumbling," he chuckled.

Zhiyuan sighed.

Where are you Xinyi? Come quickly…

Yunru didn't pursue it any further.

I hope this small change grows into something even bigger and more inseparable one day. Let my sis get the happiness she deserves.

---

In the kitchen, as Xinyi and Zizi were alone, nobody knew what to say. Xinyi wanted to take this chance to talk to Zizi. When she was about to say something, Zizi coldly stopped her. "Don't bother talking to me."

Xinyi's shoulders slumped and she looked away, feeling disheartened.

As Zizi took out some light snacks, she saw that Xinyi was making one juice different from the rest. She added a pinch of lemon and salt in it and frowned.

"What are you doing? Why are you putting salt and lemon in the sweet juice? Bro doesn't drink that," she snorted.

Xinyi didn't expect she would talk to her. "Oh, this. This is not for Zhiyuan. It's for Yunru."

Zizi's ears perked up at his mention. Yunru...

She bit her lower lip. She had an urge to ask her more about it as she got really curious. Zizi cleared her throat. "Is that so? Yunru likes it that way?" She tried to be casual about it.

Xinyi beamed. She is talking to me.

"Yes. Juices are sweet, but he always likes that zest of lemon and salt. He likes the bitter-sweet taste."

"Oh, I see…"

"En."

Zizi fidgeted with her fingers. "W-what else does he like?" She immediately said to mask her embarrassment. "Don't take me the wrong way. Hah. It's just his taste is so weird. I am just curious how many more strange habits he got."

"Hmmm, his habits...He strokes his fingers through his hair when he is thinking something hard. Oh and when he feels embarrassed, he rubs the back of his neck unconsciously, and his eyes darts sideways."

Zizi blinked her eyes. "Does he even know what embarrassment is?"

Xinyi chuckled. "He does. It is rare I admit. Then...he likes to eat spicy food a lot, especially ramen and hotpot."

Zizi said in disdain. "No wonder that lowly man's words are so fiery and poisonous."

Xinyi coughed. "And you think that he is a responsible cop and eats all healthy food, but he actually doesn't like a lot of veggies."

Zizi was speechless. "What? Is he a kid?" 

"Exactly! I am tired of telling him that it isn't good for him, but he just shrugs it off," she sighed.

Zizi snorted. "Just telling him won't do anything. Force the veggies down his throat. That lowly man deserves this."

Xinyi giggled. "I did just that. Don't tell him this, but I have a trick. I used to mince the veggies and add them to his food. He didn't even realize that he ate what he hated. He used to even praise my cooking and ask me to make it again."

Zizi widened her eyes and burst into laughter. "Hahahaha. OMG. You are awesome Xinyi! I so want to tease him now."

"No, no! Don't tell him or he would become alert of the food. If he becomes suspicious, he won't eat," she laughed.

The two of them returned whilst still laughing at Yunru's cost. Zhiyuan and Yunru were dumbfounded at the scene.

When did this happen? Xinyi and Zizi are laughing together? Didn't Zizi hate Xinyi?

As Zizi approached Yunru, her hands slightly shook in nervousness. "Your juice."

Yunru was still dumbstruck and in that state he raised his hand that grabbed her hand instead of the glass, making Zizi freeze. Zizi watched his hand hold onto hers, making her heart skip a beat. Yunru snapped out and quickly took his juice. 

Just what happened that she came all talking with sis so happily? Is this her ghost?

Zizi quickly sat back again, hiding her flustered face and clasping her hand that he just held.

Zhiyuan whispered the same question to Xinyi. "Am I dreaming? Zizi was laughing with you?"

Xinyi softly smiled. "En. At first, we didn't. Then somehow we started talking about Yunru. But I am really happy...she talked to me like the old days again."

Zhiyuan gently smiled and nodded. "It makes me happy too. I don't know what brought this change, but I hope this continues."

---

Two hours later, it got really late and Siying was already drowsing into sleep, so they decided to head to bed.

"No! I will sleep with Aunty Zizi!" Siying shook his head vigorously.

Though he heavily missed sleeping with Zhiyuan and Xinyi, Siying promised not to sleep with them until their plan succeeded.

Zhiyuan furrowed his brows. "You still want to sleep with her?"

"En!"

"But…"

Zizi said, "It's okay bro. I don't mind. He is my nephew after all."

He sighed. "Alright."

As they stepped outside Zhiyuan's room, a maid came up to Yunru. "Sir. Old master has asked me to show you your room."

"Oh cool."

Zizi bit her lip and quickly said, "Let it be. I-I will show it to him. It's in my room's direction…"

Yunru chuckled. "Alright, Princess. I just hope it is not a ploy to lock me in some haunted room."

Zizi glowered at him. "Hah! I was just doing you a favor! I thought you would lose your way. After all, a lowly man like you wouldn't have ever lived in such a huge mansion, don't you?"

She wanted to be furious at him but…

Damn, he looks so handsome while laughing. Something is seriously wrong with me today.

Yunru said, "Just joking. Thank you for the help, Princess."

When Zizi showed him his room, she nervously said, "If you need anything, you can ask me. My room is nearer to yours...Hmph. I don't want you to complain later on that we don't treat our guest properly," she quickly hid her intentions.

Siying woke up exactly at that time. He adorably rubbed his eyes. "Uncle. Why are you going there…?"

Yunru ruffled his head. "Because it's my room, my nephew."

His small brows frowned questioningly. "But why not sleep with Aunty and me?"

Zizi froze. She stood rooted to her spot like a log of wood. Her mouth opened and closed many times in utter shock, unable to say anything.

S-s-same room? Yunru and me…in the same room? What are you saying Siying!?

Her face heated at that thought and imaginary steam escaped her ears.

I-I should say something. I should say that Siying is wrong. 

But she failed to do so in the end.

"Huh? Why do you think we should be in the same room?" Yunru asked.

Siying pouted. "Because Mama and Dada are always in the same room. Mama and Dada are together. Uncle and Aunt should be together too."

He simply and literally considered it as a couple. Just like how the mother and father live together so he felr that Uncle and Aunt should too. To him, the term 'Uncle and Aunt' felt like a couple who stay together like parents.

"So we will sleep together!" Siying chirped.