Because I Cannot Hurt You

At the mall.

Caihong asked, "I saw a strange medicine last night. Have you ever heard about XX medicine? It's a sort of painkiller for headaches but I never saw it before."

Ah Cy blinked her eyes. "It seems to be a foreign brand. But I am pretty sure I have never heard it before. Maybe it's a new drug that has recently come out. Xu Pharmaceuticals have tie ups with foreign countries too for medicine imports, but we aren't informed about such a new drug with that name."

"Wait. It's not made in China?"

"No. I am sure of that. I know all kinds of medicine manufactured in China. And this one isn't one of ours."

Caihong was in deep thought.

Foreign...wait. We just recently moved to China. Then is Xiaosi taking medicine since the time we stayed abroad?

She was finding it all too confusing. 

Ah Cy asked, "Who is taking that medicine? Where did you see it?"

Caihong stiffened a bit.

She didn't want her to know that it was because of Xiaosi that she got to know it.

"I...I... think I just read an article somewhere. I just got curious about it."

Ah Cy said, "I see. But you helped me out. This is a discovery! I will tell this to Liang and check with him if we get any information about that drug. We can start a partnership with that firm if there are no issues! The more Xu Pharmaceuticals partners with such firms, the more we can serve people well."

Caihong paused. "That's a great idea. You...will you tell me about it once you get any information?"

Ah Cy nodded. "Sure."

Xinyi returned. "What are you two talking about?"

Ah Cy said, "Ah nothing. Just a bit about medicines."

Siying and Chyou eagerly showed their shopping. "Aunty look what we got!"

She chuckled. "Wow. You kids are on a roll huh. Alright. Let's have lunch. I am famished!"

---

Ah Cy said, "It's been a long time since we got together like this."

Xinyi smiled. "Indeed. I missed this."

The kids were busy in their own world, laughing and giggling.

Caihong stayed silent.

Ah Cy eyed Xinyi and she pursed her lips. She also got to know everything that happened to her. Honestly, Ah Cy and Liang were too shocked for words. Xiaosi was their close buddy and to think that he would do something so terrible…

"Oof! Don't show that moping face. We are all here to chill out so no showing sad faces."

Caihong sighed. "I promise I won't now."

Ah Cy grinned. Truthfully, she wanted to gossip about their husbands, but with Zhiyuan being Xinyi's husband and Caihong's ex-boyfriend, she knew it would get all awkward. Plus, Caihong and Xiaosi's relationship was already worse to the point that she hated even his mention.

I cannot even brag about my Liang, she sighed.

She glanced at Xinyi. "By what is this drawing stuff you brought?"

"Oh this. I am actually working with Shuang for one of her game projects…" she felt a little embarrassed saying it.

Caihong slightly widened her eyes in surprise. "Shuang?"

"En. As an artist for designing her game characters."

Ah Cy gasped. "You are an artist? Do you know how to draw? Wait why did I never know this?"

Caihong squinted her gaze. "Seems like she hid her talent from us."

Xinyi quickly said, "No, no! It's just my hobby. Shuang was too stubborn so I couldn't reject."

Caihong chuckled. "Well, I know how stubborn she could get. No wonder. And Ah Cy. I know you are itching to talk about Liang, don't you? And…" she looked at Xinyi, "if you want to talk about Zhiyuan, trust me, I won't be uncomfortable. So you don't have to be so cautious around me. Whatever it is, it's in the past now, and I have gotten over Zhiyuan and my relationship."

Xinyi hesitated at first but then softly smiled. "No, Caihong. I know. It's really not like that."

She nodded. "Then it's all fine."

Ah Cy almost spat out the water. "W-what nonsense?" She coughed and looked embarrassed. "I am not so desperate to talk about Liang."

Xinyi laughed. "Come on. It's so evident on your face."

"How long have we known you?" Caihong snorted. "You always liked to brag about him even in college."

Xinyi giggled. "I remember how Ah Cy used to drool over Liang whenever he played basketball."

Caihong rolled her eyes. "Don't even start about that. It always used to look like she was sexually assaulting him just by her eyes."

"Hey!" Ah Cy looked at them, horrified. "You two are ganging up on me…" she pouted. "So what if I drooled over him? He was always that sexy."

The kid's ears perked up. Leina asked, brimming with curiosity. "Mama, what is sexy?"

Xinyi and Caihong eyed Ah Cy. She coughed again and said, "Sexy is your Dada. You will understand once you get a boyfriend."

"What is a boyfriend?"

"..."

"It's someone who you want to spend your life with like how I and Liang do."

Leina's gaze sparkled. "So like Siying?"

Xinyi widened her eyes and burst into laughter. "You want to marry Siying?"

"En! We will marry!"

Siying blushed furiously and felt shy.

Somewhere Liang sneezed. "Achoo!"

Zhiyuan raised his brow. "Caught a cold?"

He glared at him. "Somebody is talking about my Leina getting married! Zhiyuan! I will never hand my daughter to your son!"

"..."

Zhiyuan was speechless. "You and your dumb brain. Seriously…"

As they kept walking, his sight fell on a restaurant where he was surprised to find Xinyi sitting with Caihong and Ah Cy.

"Liang. Look over there."

Liang grumbled and glanced in that direction. "Oh yes. I forgot. Ah Cy told me that she was going to this same mall with Xinyi and Caihong," he chuckled, "wow we came to the same place too."

Zhiyuan softly smiled as he stared at Xinyi. "Let's meet them now that we are already here."

But suddenly, he saw a man approaching their table. Zhiyuan frowned.

Who is he?

Back in the restaurant, a man stepped up to their table and looked at Xinyi. "Sorry to disturb your gathering ladies, but it seems like I recognize someone here." He smiled. "Soo Xinyi, aren't you? Remember me? We were in the same class in college."

As Xinyi looked back at him, she was shocked as she recognized him. "Qin Fuhua."

Qin Fuhua smiled. "It is a surprise to see you."

Her mouth was slightly open as she looked at him. "Y-yeah.. it's a surprise really…"

This is unbelievable. I said his name just this morning and now we actually met. What a coincidence…

Ah Cy and Caihong quietly observed him. Caihong's brow raised as she remembered something. "I know you. Shuang used to talk about you sometimes."

"Yup. An Shuang, Soo Xinyi, Han Zizi and me - we were all in the same class. That's why I know you and Ah Cy too."

Ah Cy said, "Oh please. I know you too. You were the bad boy of the class, always getting into trouble. You were a bully. From juniors to seniors, everybody knew you."

Qin Fuhua snorted. "It cannot be compared to the tigress Ah Cy getting into fights every other day."

She glared at him. "You!"

Xinyi then realized.

Maybe that's why I only remembered Qin Fuhua's name this morning. He had a reputation in our class which is hard to forget.

Qin Fuhua amusingly smiled. "Xinyi is still the same I see. Always the quiet and shy person in any group."

Xinyi coughed. 

The kids curiously looked at this new man who joined their group and started talking to their Mamas. Qin Fuhua's face brightened. "You won't introduce your kids?"

Ah Cy proudly said, "She is my sweet angel, Xu Leina. She is three."

Leina chirped. "Hello, Uncle! Nice to meet you!"

"Wow. You can already speak so nicely at just three."

Leina's nose grew in pride. "I am the smartest in my class!"

He chuckled. "Yes, yes. I can see that. Xu...That means you married Liang."

"Uh-huh," Ah Cy smiled with pride. "I got the best hubby."

"Who didn't cause any less trouble himself. And you point fingers at me. Hah!"

"He is still better than you!"

Qin Fuhua shook his head. "Who's next?"

"Me!" Chyou raised her hand. "I am Zhu Chyou! I am six years old!"

"Zhu...so you are Zhu Xiaosi's daughter?"

"Yes!" Her eyes sparkled in delight. "Zhu Xiaosi is my Dada! And Zhu Caihong is my Mama!"

Caihong slightly stiffened but kept quiet.

A glint of surprise flashed past his eyes, but he quickly hid it. He instantly noticed the change in the atmosphere.

Caihong and Xiaosi's daughter? When did this happen? Wasn't she dating Han Zhiyuan?

But he was sensible enough not to question it.

He ruffled her head. "A pleasure to meet you, dear." His glance fell on Siying who seemed a little shy, clutching Xinyi's hand.

"He must be your son, right Xinyi? Who is the lucky man?"

*****

A/N - Qin Fuhua is here! Will this meeting change something in Zhiyuan? 

Happy reading!