Because I Cannot Hurt You

At the Mall.

Liang was sure that Zhiyuan was slowly falling in love with Xinyi. But there was no use telling him that.

It will only make sense if you realize it yourself, Zhiyuan. I don't want you to think that you love her because I pointed it out to you. 

He smiled. "Zhiyuan. Xinyi was always important to you, but now her importance is growing inside you in a different way. And you have to figure that out on your own. I will only say not to run away from your feelings or lie to yourself."

Zhiyuan asked, "What do you mean?"

"Whatever feelings you hold at the moment, let them consume you. Don't ignore or disregard your thoughts. Don't think that they are meaningless or that you don't have any right to have those feelings. It's perfectly fine. Just feel them and they will slowly lead you to the answer you are looking for."

Liang shook his head. "The thing is, you and Xinyi have been living in a comfortable space for the last seven years. But ever since Xiaosi came back, he has triggered a change in your space. He has acted as a sort of catalyst to change the equation between you two. And you are not understanding these different feelings arising in you."

Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

"So the only way is to face your feelings. Confront them. I am glad you came to talk to me because I am sure you would have done something as stupid as locking away your feelings, not to trouble Xinyi. That would have made the situation worse instead of making it better."

Zhiyuan coughed and looked away in embarrassment.

Liang teasingly smiled. "Spend more time with Xinyi. That is what you need right now."

The answer will come knocking on your heart, my friend.

---

Yunru said, "Done. Thank you for your statement, Princess."

Zizi nodded. She curiously asked, "What happened to those thugs?"

"They are under arrest. We have the evidence and your witness statement. We have charged them with illegal drug selling and other criminal activities. Soon, we will also catch their ringleader," Yunru grinned.

Zizi blushed a little, seeing the brilliant smile on his lips.

"Well then. Your help was much appreciated."

Oh... right. I have to leave now…

She slowly got up. She glanced at Yunru. "You don't have the courtesy to drop me outside?"

Yunru smiled. "This is a police station, not a five-star hotel where the manager will escort you outside, spoiled Princess Han Zizi."

Zizi gritted her teeth. "Don't call me that! Shameless! No wonder you are so lowly and unlikeable. Another officer would have definitely offered to walk me out."

Yunru rolled his eyes. "Fine. I will come with you."

As they walked away, Shuang watched them leave together. Her brows furrowed. "Was that Zizi?"

Outside the police station, Yunru asked, "Anything else, Princess Han Zizi? After all, I am your personal servant."

"Shut up. There is another thing. It's really torturing to look at you."

"So look somewhere else."

Zizi shot a deadly glare at him. "I mean your tanned skin! Look how dark you have become. Don't you know how to take care of your skin?"

Yunru blinked his eyes. "I am busy taking care of the citizen's safety. Why should I look at myself?"

Zizi's brow twitched. "That is why your attitude sucks. Self-care is just as important. Do you want to die as an ugly old man in the future?"

She coughed. "That's why I have brought this." Zizi took out an exquisite bottle of cream and forced it into his hand. Yunru curiously inspected the bottle and raised his brow.

"It is not poison that you are observing it so carefully."

"I cannot be so sure since it's Princess who gave me who hates this lowly man."

The top of her head fumed as if a volcano would erupt any moment. "Fine! You just don't appreciate my goodwill! Give it back to me."

"I am sorry. Just joking," Yunru laughed.

"No. Give it back to me!" Zizi raised her arm but she fell too short especially when Yunru raised the bottle, away from her reach. 

"You cannot reach me that way, Princess," he smiled, having fun teasing her.

Zizi gritted her teeth and tip-toed but still fell short by miles. Realizing that her face bumped into his chest, she blushed a little and looked away. "G-Give it back…"

"I promise I won't make fun of you anymore. So please tell me what do I do with this?"

Zizi harrumphed and flicked back her hair in arrogance. "Apply it on your hands and face before heading out of your house. This is a branded product which of course you wouldn't have even seen in your entire life with such a low salary that you got," she snorted. "I feel gracious today so I give this to you."

"How did you feel so gracious today?"

She sneered. "Because I pity your body. You already act like a kid who doesn't like to eat his veggies right?"

Yunru widened his eyes. "Who told you that?"

Suddenly, he recalled how he saw Xinyi and Zizi laughing together when they returned.

"I see…" he narrowed his eyes. "Sis told you last night. So you two were laughing at my expense."

Damn it, sis! Why did you tell her?

Zizi chuckled. "Of course. It shocked me indeed. I got to know your weird quirks last night. You act all so cool and mighty but you are even worse than a kid. I mean, who picks veggies at your age?"

Yunru cleared his throat. He touched the back of his neck and looked away. Zizi blinked her eyes.

'He unconsciously touches the back of his neck and averts his gaze when he feels embarrassed.' 

"Hah! You are feeling embarrassed!" Zizi pointed her index finger at him.

She felt a sense of achievement as she read his actions. It filled up a feeling in her as if she understood him even if it was a little bit.

Yunru stiffened.

How does she know that? Was her observation skills always that awesome?

"So what? At least it's still better than you acting like a five-year-old pampered princess. You haven't grown yourself," Yunru snorted.

"You you!"

"So there we are. Two kids in an adult's body. I think we pretty much match," Yunru touched his chin.

Match…

Once again, her heart started beating loud and fast. She thought as if he said it in terms of a couple and she didn't know why it affected her.

What is happening to me? I really need a check-up. Why am I getting so happy thinking of being together with him?

Last night Siying mentioned how they should sleep in a room, mistaking them to be a couple. Then Han Huizhong brought out the topic of how he wants Yunru to be his grandson-in-law, and now Yunru said that they matched.

Gosh, this is too much! E-everybody is linking us together as if we are some couple…

Not that from the deepest parts of her heart she actually minded. In fact, she seemed annoyed and bothered on the outside, but was actually a little happy for no reason.

"So anyway! Don't forget to put on the cream. At least take care of your body from the outside," she haughtily said. "Goodbye!"

Zizi dashed away to hide her red face. Yunru shook his head and headed back. But he bumped into a familiar figure on the way.

Shuang stood in front of him, folding her hands on her chest as she quietly stared at him. Yunru remained silent.

"It was Zizi, right?" Shuang asked.

"Hm."

"What was she doing here? Wait. Don't tell me you arrested her again?"

"No. She got involved in the case I was working on last night. I called her to give the witness statement."

"I see..."

There was a period of brief silence after which she asked, "Did you see my message last night?"

"I didn't," he truthfully stated.

"Why not?"

"Busy in a case."

"After which you seemed to spend the night at Han villa."

So she heard that too.

"Grandpa Han insisted."

"You could have read it after enjoying your time there."

Yunru didn't respond.

Shuang said nothing. After a long pause, she said, "Are you that angry that you won't even read my messages now? I wanted to sort things out with you and apologize to you over your favorite hotpot. We will never reach anywhere if you ignore me like this."

Yunru parted his lips to say something but in the end, he chose not to.

"What is it? Say it."

"Nothing."

"I know you have something to say. Just be direct as we always are."

He faintly smiled.

If I were to be too direct, then everything will end here and I don't want it to. One more...just one more time...

A dull pain enveloped his chest. 

"Sir. You got a call," Another officer interrupted.

Yunru nodded. "Coming."

He walked past her and whispered, "We will talk about this later."

Shuang blankly stared at him and kept rooted to her spot. She stood there for a few moments before she left.

A minute later, Zizi peeked and came out of her hiding spot. She remembered she forgot some of her stuff in his office so she returned to collect it, but she saw Shuang talking to Yunru.

She didn't know why but she instinctively hid. But at that distance, she couldn't hear their conversation.

Why was Shuang here?