Because I Cannot Hurt You

Xiaosi carefully laid Caihong on the bed. Elder Sun checked her ankle and nodded to himself. He looked at Mia and asked her to bring some herbs.

Two minutes later, Elder Sun was applying meticulously a herbal paste on her bruise. Caihong softly gasped in pain and shut her eyes. Suddenly, she felt Xiaosi squeeze her hand. She slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him.

"Just a bit more. It won't hurt after this, okay?" He mumbled.

She wasn't sure if he was consoling her or himself. She stared at his tense expression that watched and traced Elder Sun's every movement as he treated her sprained ankle. He would occasionally knit his brows or jump in his place as he saw the wound.

"Careful!" Xiaosi narrowed his eyes. "Don't press too much on her bruise. It will hurt!"

Caihong slightly widened her eyes at his... concern. Her eyelashes trembled and she gently lowered them.

Elder Sun blinked his eyes at him and laughed. "Don't worry, son. I am being careful. I am here to treat her wound, not aggravate it. Rest assured. Your wife will be fine."

The elderly women of the village giggled.

"That's so sweet."

"Isn't it? He cares so much about her."

"Just look at him how cautiously he is staring at Elder Sun's treatment."

"He is so protective just like that other husband who came here with his wife."

Their giggles and whispers reached Caihong's ears and she shifted a little uncomfortably. Xiaosi noticed it and glared at her. "Don't move! Do you want to make it worse?"

"..."

Caihong bit the corner of her lip. 

Why does everything feel so changed today with him?

A while later, Elder Sun said, "It's done. After a night's rest, her foot will be much better in the morning."

Xiaosi gravely nodded. "And how about walking?"

"Of course, she will be able to walk, but she will slightly limp initially. But it will heal with time."

"After how long?"

Caihong tugged him and urgently whispered, "Don't ask so many questions! He knows what he is doing!"

"Then he shouldn't have a problem answering me."

Caihong grimaced.

Elder Sun laughed heartily. "Don't worry, child. I am not offended. In fact, I am happy to see how much he loves you. It's so evident."

She stiffened and so did Xiaosi.

"Haha. He is like those men who are cold to everyone except their wife."

Caihong looked up at him and pondered over the elder's words. Suddenly, she felt her cheeks heat up and she looked away, feeling strange and embarrassed. 

This is weird. Why is it affecting me? Loves me…? How is that possible?

Xiaosi gritted his teeth. He realized he acted out of his character in a rush of emotions. He didn't want to stretch this conversation any longer. "I think we are done here."

Elder Sun laughed. "Yes, yes, I am."

Caihong quickly said, "Wait! What about him? He is also hurt at his temple…"

Xiaosi said, "I am fine. No need to bother."

She frowned. "Do you think it is just gonna disappear on its own? Without any treatment?"

Elder Sun said, "Of course. You were next in line anyway. Don't ignore it. A wound is a wound, no matter how big or small it is."

Xiaosi sighed in exasperation. "Whatever."

He sat in front of Elder Sun while he tended to his bruise. He wiped the blood and put another medicine on it. 

Elder Sun slowly knitted his brows as he traced his fingers on his forehead. Then he brushed them backward through his hair and gently pressed on certain points on his scalp. He took his pulse too. His brows furrowed further in deep thought.

Caihong asked in confusion as she observed his strange actions, "What are you checking, Elder? The wound is…"

Xiaosi didn't care. "Is it done?"

"It is…" Elder Sun said, "but something feels different in your head. Son, do you get frequent headaches?"

Xiaosi froze. His gaze slowly lifted in horror as he looked at him. "What?"

"Your blood flow here... doesn't feel right to me. Not just headaches, do you feel that you often tend to forget things?"

Caihong slightly widened her eyes and recalled that night when he was convulsing in pain. Even before that, when he brought Chyou from the Han villa, he had suddenly dashed away in his room, pressing his forehead.

Xiaosi panicked. His heart thudded in his chest. "No, I don't. What nonsense. I am just fine!"

Caihong was stunned. "What no? You did have a bad headache that night and you even forgot about it the next morning when I told you."

Xiaosi stiffened. He clenched his fist and said, "That was a tiring day in office. I was in back-to-back meetings so got a headache. So what? Headaches are common! That doesn't mean I am sick!"

"But-"

He suddenly got up. "Thank you Elder for treating my wife. But you are not a certified medical professional to comment on my condition. I am just fine."

He didn't know how Elder Sun got to know about it, but if he kept talking, then Caihong would find out which he didn't want at any cost!

"Xiaosi! That's no way to talk to him when he is helping us so much!" Caihong flared. "Apologize to him."

A kind woman said, "Oh no son. You are misunderstanding. You are right. Elder Sun doesn't have any degree that the doctors in the city have. But he is experienced and knows a lot about medicines. By just a pulse, he can understand everything about a person's condition. He knows every type of herbal medicine and has treated many serious conditions too in our village."

The other women nodded.

Xiaosi shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He bowed. "...I am really sorry. I didn't mean to be harsh. I really apologize for questioning your credibility. But trust me. I am fine."

Elder Sun stared at him in deep thought. He glanced at Caihong and then slowly nodded. "It's okay, son. I must be wrong. After all, I am getting old now. I must have made a mistake," he sighed.

Caihong studied Xiaosi's expression and didn't feel right.

It's just like what happened this morning. Why does he become so agitated whenever it's about his health?

---

In the other hut, Xinyi slowly woke up as her eyelids fluttered in consciousness. Through her blurry gaze, she saw a small roof and a dim light shining in the place.

"Uh…"

Zhiyuan, who was keeping a strict eye on her straightened up. "Xinyi…" He softly patted her cheek and leaned tower her. His other hand was tightly intertwined against her palm. He anxiously checked on her and waited for her to fully wake up.

Xinyi felt a warm and reassuring grasp and taking that strength, she fought her dizziness. Zhiyuan's image got clearer and she blinked her eyes. "Zhiyuan…"

She tried to get up and sit, but he held her shoulders. "What are you doing? You need rest. Just lay like that."

"Let me call Elder Sun," he quickly said, "Don't move."

There was a slight drizzle outside. The heavy rain had calmed down for now. He didn't care if he got wet. He saw a small crowd in front of one hut at a distance. They had covered their heads with a small roof.

He rushed up to them and asked one villager, "Excuse me? Elder Sun. Where is he? My wife...she woke up. Can you please quickly call him?"

The villager brightened. "Oh, that's great! Elder Sun is inside. Actually, there came another couple who was lost just like you. The wife is hurt so Elder is treating her. But he is done now. Wait, I will call him."

"Yes, please. Thank you."

As he waited outside, Zhiyuan craned his neck and tried to look at the couple, but with the few villagers standing in his way, he couldn't. Elder Sun stepped out and nodded at him. "Let's go, son. I will check your wife."

Elder Sun warmly smiled at Xinyi as he walked in. "How are you feeling, dear?"

Xinyi smiled back. "I am better. You…" he glanced at Zhiyuan with questions evident in her gaze.

Zhiyuan said, "He is an elder of this village and also the doctor, Elder Sun. The kind villagers helped us when we were stuck at the waterfall. He gave you first-aid too. If not for him, I…" he balled his fist in fear.

"Oh!" she quickly said, "thank you, Elder Sun. I am really for all your help.

He nodded. He checked her vitals and said, "You are much better now. I have prepared one medicine for you. Drink it and by tomorrow you will be all fine. It will help you in gaining your energy back too."

She nodded.

He gave some more instructions and then he left. The villagers quickly brought some dinner for them and left them alone. As they finished it, Zhiyuan said, "Wait a minute. I will be back."