Because I Cannot Hurt You

 "Ah…" Yunru touched his chin and understood his theory. He chuckled. "It doesn't work that way, champ. Your aunt and I aren't married so we cannot stay together."

Zizi cleared her throat. She pursed her lips as she felt slightly disappointed, but she didn't understand why. Something tugged her heart as if she was rejected.

"O-of course. Don't even dream hah. As if I would ever marry a lowly man like you…" she averted her gaze. "Come on Siying. It's getting late."

She scurried away in her room as quickly as possible. She collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Everything until now that happened on this incredible night today flashed in her mind. From the moment they met until their dance.

The dance…

She felt as if the places where Yunru touched were still warm by his touch. The way he held her waist, the way their hands were intertwined, and the way he pulled her towards him and protected her from that molester... everything was spinning in her mind.

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

She tightly hugged Siying and buried her face.

What is wrong with me today? Why am I thinking of him so much?

Siying frowned. "Aunty! You are holding me too tightly!"

Zizi's mouth twitched. "It's just that you are too cute and cuddly. I cannot help it."

Siying pouted. "I know I am cute! But I cannot breathe!"

Zizi sighed. With his chubby hands, Siying patted her head. "Good Aunty."

"You...don't act like an adult."

"I am three! I am not a kid!"

Zizi snorted. "Sure. My bad. Now go to sleep or you will get dark circles on your pretty face. Then you won't be cute anymore."

"I am sleeping!" With the threat to his cuteness, he promptly covered himself in the duvet. Zizi giggled and joined him.

As she closed her eyes, a whisper gently escaped her mouth.

"Yunru…"

---

At the same time, Yunru was fiddling with his phone for a long time now. He hadn't seen Shuang's message yet.

Maybe she wants to meet me? Maybe she wants to say sorry? Or maybe she is mad at me for ignoring her messages?

He knew he would get his answer once he opened her message, but he couldn't bring himself to do that.

Shuang wasn't an arrogant woman. If she knew she made a mistake, she wouldn't hesitate to mend the situation. Most probably, Yunru thought that he would find her sorry in her message. And he wanted to end this silence, too, and get back together.

But…

Yunru exhaled a deep breath, feeling exhausted. He simply closed his eyes as he slowly fell asleep.

---

The next morning, Xiaosi woke up as he rubbed his forehead. Strangely, he felt a cold sensation on his skin.

Why is it so cold?

He opened his eyes and they rapidly blinked as he realized that he was sleeping on the bed. Beside him, he saw Chyou asleep. But besides Chyou, he didn't see Caihong.

Wait, I was on the couch. How did I come here? 

And where is Caihong? Did she already leave?

Xiaosi moved his right arm to get up, but he felt something was wrong. He turned his head and froze. The scene shook the living daylights out of him. It was difficult to believe what he was seeing.

Caihong kneeled on the floor, her head resting on the edge of the bed while her hand was held by Xiaosi. She hadn't woken up yet.

Xiaosi's mouth opened in an 'O' multiple times in shock. 

Why is Caihong sleeping like this!?

He tried to remember, but the events were all fuzzy in his mind. Everything was blurry and hazy. He faintly recalled seeing a woman standing beside him. 

Was it not a dream? Was it really Caihong? He wondered.

He tried to recollect further, but a dull pain shot in his head and he felt uncomfortable. Considering the situation, he could only conclude that Caihong brought him to bed. But why would she agree to sleep like that? He had no clue.

Xiaosi quietly leaned in and stared at her sleeping face. It was after so long that she was close to him like this. So near that he could easily reach her. Her beautiful features mesmerized him just like they always had in the past. He looked at his hand holding onto hers. 

A complicated expression marred his face. His fingers trembled as he wanted to touch her soft hand. But he couldn't do it. No matter how near she was to him, he knew he couldn't touch her. A painful smile escaped his lips and he slowly withdrew his hand from hers.

At the table near the couch, he saw a bowl filled with water it and a moist cloth beside it. His eyelashes trembled. He found it unbelievable what he imagined. He touched his forehead again and understood.

Did Caihong tend to me last night? 

At that moment, Caihong shifted in her place and her head slightly dozed off at the same end, breaking her sleep. She yawned and opened her eyes but froze instantly to see Xiaosi already awake. She stiffened and straightened up. Xiaosi stiffened just like her.

There was a beat of silence between them. 

Xiaosi said, "This I am on the bed…"

Caihong coldly replied, "Don't let it get to your head. I just did what I felt right."

"But why did you bring me here?" He questioned.

Caihong's brows knitted heavily. "What do you mean? What else was I supposed to do?"

"I don't understand."

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

Caihong was left dumbfounded. 

Did he forget his condition last night? 

"You were writhing in pain last night. I heard you gasping heavily, so I checked on you. You were clutching your head as if there was a really bad headache. You were sweating so much even when the air conditioner was running just fine."

Xiaosi slowly widened his eyes. Suddenly, fear gripped his chest hard. His heart loudly pounded as if he would get a panic attack any moment.

"O-Oh oh…" He was too shocked to say anything. 

"What happened to you?" Caihong narrowed her eyes.

*****

A/N - The weekly voting has started! If the book reaches 1000 powerstones this week, I will give a mass release to my dearest readers! ^^