Because I Cannot Hurt You

What Zhiyuan feared had indeed turned into reality. As soon as Zhiyuan and Xiaosi left, the bandits who attacked Caihong barged into the village and held everybody hostage. 

"Shut up and nobody will move from their places!" One of them yelled.

The villagers huddled together at one place, afraid.

Caihong turned pale and so did Xinyi. Fear gripped them and they couldn't move an inch.

"T-they are the same bandits that attacked me yesterday…" Caihong stammered.

Xinyi stiffened. She tightly held her hand. "Zhiyuan and Xiaosi would soon return. We just have to hold on until then…"

"It would be too late until then," the leader sneered.

Xinyi froze.

He looked at Caihong and his chilling gaze made her shudder. "I knew you would be here. This pathetic village is the only place where you and thar bastard could have gotten any help!"

He harshly grabbed her hair, making her yelp. "Your bastard husband punched me a lot. Now you have to pay for all the damage."

"Caihong!" Xinyi was horrified. "L-leave her you hooligan!" She cried.

She tried to help her, but the other bandits caught her hand. "Shut up!"

Xinyi protested against his grasp. "Leave my hand!"

The villagers felt helpless. "Let them go! You can take all the money and crops we have. They are our guests. Don't do anything to them…" a woman sobbed.

"Of course we will take all the money and crops, you fools! As if you could stop us! But we will deal with these ladies here. And what good luck. Not only we have her, but we also got another beautiful lady here," they eyed Xinyi. Goosebumps crawled on her skin and she shuddered.

Caihong gritted her teeth. Tears trickled down her cheeks. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have stopped Xiaosi from killing you. Disgusting bastards like you only deserve the most painful death."

He laughed. "But where is he now? By the time he and his friend comes back, he will already find you two naked lying on the ground after we have thoroughly eaten you."

Xinyi and Caihong turned as white as a ghost.

"Say that again you bastard."

Zhiyuan's enraged voice came from behind him and before he could turn, Zhiyuan grabbed his neck and strangled him hard.

Xinyi looked at him, stunned. "Zhiyuan!"

The bandit's eyes widened to see them return so soon.

How did they come back already!?

Zhiyuan gritted his teeth. Anger was an understatement he felt right now. His gaze was so murderous that could kill them with his bare hands.

"You said something about my wife, don't you? I dare you to say that again." He jabbed a strong punch in his stomach. The leader vigorously coughed blood. His minions couldn't even move. They were scared shitless.

"You implied that you would rape my wife?" With an extremely cold gaze and fury burning inside him like hellfire, he mercilessly punched him on the same spot again and again that was beyond his capacity to bear it.

Suddenly, Xiaosi pushed Zhiyuan away from the leader. He glared at him. "Xiaosi! Don't you dare stop me!"

He dangerously smiled. "He is my target. Get the fuck out of this."

Xiaosi grabbed the leader's hair. "You just don't learn, do you? And now you had the audacity to clutch my wife's hair. Tell me. What should I do with you?"

---

Zizi sat stunned on the bed for a long time before she finally snapped out. The worst thing that could happen was someone catching them and to her horror, it was Soo Enlai of all people!

Uncle Soo is misunderstanding something here!

She glanced at Yunru and covered her face, flushed red in embarrassment. 

We just literally slept together, not t-that way! I have to clear the misunderstanding!

Zizi sprang on her feet and stumbled outside. She ran down the stairs and saw Soo Enlai grinning to himself. She cleared her throat. "U-Uncle…"

Soo Enlai turned his head and brightened. "Han Zizi!" Then he coughed and looked away, feeling awkward and guilty. "That dear I am really sorry. I shouldn't have barged in like that. I had no idea that you two were *cough*…"

Zizi was horrified. She felt utterly speechless.

"That idiot Yunru!" He fumed. "He should have told me earlier if he was bringing you here. I would have stayed in a hotel for the day."

"!!!"

"T-That Uncle i-it's a…" Zizi wanted to pull out her hair.

How should I explain myself!? He saw us sleeping on the same bed! What should I say?

Zizi broke into ca old sweat. She nervously said, "Uncle. It's not like what you are thinking…Nothing happened between," she gulped, "u-us…That was just…"

Soo Enlai blinked his eyes and quickly understood her predicament. "Oh, dear. You don't have to feel embarrassed at all. Uncle doesn't mind. I am not old-fashioned about these things. You two are mature and independent and can make your own choices. I am not against *cough* sex before marriage."

"..."

Zizi wiped her forehead as the situation was worsening instead of getting better. She lacked tears to shed.

"No Uncle...Like I said, nothing happened. We just…just…" slept together?

Damn that sounds even more wrong!

Soo Enlai warmly held her hands and pulled her to sit on the couch. He was apologetic. "I am really sorry dear. As I expected, my sudden presence has scared you."

It was inevitable to panic if an elder caught their children in such an intimate act, so he understood why Zizi could be denying the truth especially when they weren't married.

"Let me bring you some water. You look so pale."

Yes please! I really need some water.

Zizi gulped down the glass of water in one breath. Soo Enlai anxiously said, "Slow down, dear. There is no hurry."

She took a few deep breaths. Her mind was all jumbled up and she couldn't think anything clearly.

Soo Enlai smiled and patted her head. He asked, "Honestly, it took me aback to see you two together because Yunru had said that you two are not dating."

She froze.

"It was when he returned after your first date. I asked him why, but he just said that you two are not suited to be together."

Her gaze dimmed in sadness.

"But that stupid Yunru! Why did he have to lie that you two aren't dating? Is he playing games with his father now?" He pursed his lips.

Zizi widened her eyes.

"No...no we are not…"

Come on say it! Say that you are not dating him. Say that last night nothing happened between us. Say that you are not his girlfriend.

"I-I am not his g-girl-"

But she couldn't muster the courage to say it. She felt that if she denied it right now, the last thread that was loosely tying them together would break apart. That left a bitter feeling in her heart.

"What is going on?" Yunru yawned as he stepped down. He was pressing his forehead as it terribly hurt him. He felt his head splitting apart.

"Soo Yunru!" Soo Enlai faced him with a serious expression laced on his face. "How dare you lie to me?"

"Huh? What are you talking about, Dad? Anyway, can you please make a glass of lemon water? It feels like a truck ran over my head."

As he rubbed his brows, his gaze fell upon Zizi and he rapidly blinked his eyes. "Princess? What are you doing here?"

Zizi froze.

Soo Enlai was enraged. He smacked him on the head. 

"Ow! Dad! It's already hurting bad enough!"

"Shut up. How could you ask such a rude question to her after sleeping with her last night?"

Yunru paused his movements and looked at him, dumbfounded. "What?"

"And now you are feigning ignorance? How dare you!"

Yunru was hell confused. "What the hell is going on here? Who slept with who?"

Zizi had turned pale when she saw Yunru because she was scared to know if he remembered that she kissed him last night. She had no idea how to answer him if he questioned her about it. She was unsure of her feelings herself. How was she supposed to explain to him?

But now it seemed that he forgot what happened last night. Zizi quickly clutched his arm. "Uncle, we need to talk a bit." Without saying anything further, she pulled him away.

"Slap him hard if he acts mean!" Soo Enlai said.

"..."

"Hey! Where are you taking me?"

At a corner, Zizi quickly pulled him aside and said, "Okay. There is a big problem here."

Yunru said, "What? And what are you doing at my home?"

Zizi cautiously asked, "You don't remember?"

"No. Actually, I usually do remember stuff the next morning. But maybe I drank too much last night…Anyway, what is the problem?"

Relief washed over her. But at the same time, she felt a little disappointed.

Zizi hesitated. She had no choice but to say the truth. Soo Enlai clearly didn't seem as if he would hide it.

So she concisely explained what happened but omitted the part about the kiss. Yunru's eyes slowly widened in shock. "What!?"