Because I Cannot Hurt You

By the end of the time the guards were done, Han Guang and Han Mingli were hardly any recognizable. Their bodies were crippled and searing in pain so badly that they couldn't even lift one finger. Their faces were covered in bruises, tears and snot.

"S-stop already…" Han Mingli tiredly begged.

Zhiyuan's countenance was dark as a deadly storm was looming over them. "Stop? This is nothing compared to what Siying has gone through. Your torture to pay for your sins has just started."

They paled upon hearing his cruel voice. 

After beating us so much, what else is left?

"My son was hungry and crying all day. Apart from your broken bones, you should also understand how it feels to live without food and water. Didn't I say? You will suffer what my son suffered a hundred fold!"

Yunru chimed in. "Brother-in-law. Don't be too harsh. It would be a problem for me to answer the authorities if they see them in such a state."

Han Huizhong waved his hand in the air dismissively. "Pah! Why worry when Han Huizhong is backing you up?"

"I am an honest officer, Grandpa." Yunru chuckled sarcastically.

Zizi's mouth twitched by their apparently serious conversation. 

Han Huizhong said, "Well my dear nephew and niece-in-law. You two have to bear a lot of pain before you start bearing the pain of living in a jail."

They shook hard.

Zhiyuan coldly said, Take them away and see to it that they don't cause a fuss. If they do, make their life even more hellish. I want to see them begging for food."

The guards nodded and dragged them away.

"Please forgive us! Xinyi…you have to forgive me...I have realized my mistake now…" Until the end, Han Guang and Han Mingli kept begging, but it all went to deaf ears. 

Peace reigned back in the Han villa again. Zhiyuan smiled at Xinyi. "You must be tired. Let's go to rest now. I will handle Uncle and Aunt."

She gently nodded.

Han Huizhong was tired too. Today was a long day. He patted on Yunru's shoulders. "Since you and Enlai are already here, stay here for the night. Today was tiring for everyone."

Zizi stiffened.

Yunru touched his chin. "Ah that-"

Before that Han Huizhong glanced at Zizi. "What are you just standing there for? Go, escort him to the room."

"..."

The previous argument flashed in her mind and she grimaced. "He lived one night before too. So he already knows the way. I am not his GIRLFRIEND to take care of him!"

The word girlfriend was more enunciated and particularly focused upon that Yunru clearly felt.

Han Huizhong raised his brow.

A fight?

Well, if it's Zizi, it's not any news.

Yunru awkwardly smiled. "It's okay. Princess doesn't have to take the trouble. She is right. I know the way."

Hooo...this time, Yunru is not giving his usual jabs to her either. Has love tamed him to spoil her?

Han Huizhong was amused. Usually, Yunru would have retorted by now. But he didn't. So he thought that things were definitely serious between them. He was beginning to believe that maybe Soo Enlai might be right about them. 

He shrugged. "Whatever."

Zizi fumed and left before Yunru could stop her. He combed his fingers through his hair, letting out a sigh. "I need to apologize to her…" he mumbled to himself.

---

Things settled down pretty peacefully in the next few days and everything went back to normal. Siying had also fully recovered from his trauma and was already hopping around the Han villa with his cheery self once again.

After this frightening incident finally became a part of the past, Zhiyuan felt that it was now time to focus on his present with Xinyi. He could finally take her on a date which he wished to do since the picnic got over.

He saw Xinyi doing her usual work for Shuang's game project. At that serious and sincere sight of her, he couldn't help but feel mesmerized as he gazed at her. His sight then settled on her lips and he gulped unconsciously.

The passionate kiss he shared with her in that small hut came raging in his mind. He went into a trance, remembering her lip's soft sensation.

"...Yuan?"

"Zhiyuan?"

He suddenly snapped out as Xinyi called out a little louder. He looked left and right and realized that he was at Han villa.

Damn, for a moment I really felt that we were back at that hut…

Xinyi asked, feeling concerned. "Are you okay? You seemed to be in a daze."

He cleared his throat and sheepishly nodded. "Yes."

He glanced at her drawing tools and remarked, "Quite busy today?"

"Oh no. I am almost done," she softly smiled.

"Nice, Nice!"

Zhiyuan exclaimed so eagerly that it took her by surprise. "So… it means that you are free tonight, right?"

Xinyi blinked her eyes. "Yes."

He beamed in joy and internally gave himself a thumbs up. 

Awesome! Now, I just have to ask her about the date!

A sense of nervousness overwhelmed him and he turned a little fidgety. He looked left and right a lot of times, apparently trying to process his thoughts. "Xinyi I…"

"Hm?"

"I was wondering if we could…" he paused and took a deep breath, "Will you go on a-"

*Ring Ring*

Xinyi's phone suddenly rang, making Zhiyuan freeze and then raining a string of curses on their interruption.

Who the hell is it now!?

"Oh I am sorry!" Xinyi quickly saw the incoming number and so did Zhiyuan. His mouth twitched violently and his gaze darkened in pure malice and rage.

Qin Fuhua! Damn you!

Xinyi apologized to him and picked his call when Qin Fuhua's whining and indignant voice shot through the other end in their ears. "Xinyi!!! You have to help meeeee!! You know that only you can help me, right? I need you."

With such ambiguous words that fell on Zhiyuan's ears, a vein popped on his forehead as he angrily laughed. Before Xinyi could respond to him, Zhiyuan suddenly snatched her phone and snapped at him. Xinyi watched him, dumbfounded.

Ah?

Zhiyuan was already frustrated because Qin Fuhua had foiled his plans in the past. Now he came again just when he was about to ask her on a date.

This man is a curse!

He spoke through gritted teeth as he tightly clenched his jaw. "Yes, Mr. Qin. I am Han Zhiyuan. Of course, you haven't forgotten me, right? Xinyi's HUSBAND."

Silence.

Xinyi's eyes widened and she stared at him, stunned.

Why is Zhiyuan talking so differently today? Why does he sound so irritated…? She wondered.

Qin Fuhua regained his wits. "Han Zhiyuan. Of course I haven't forgotten you. Now, will you hand the phone to Xinyi? Why did you even pick her phone in the first place!? I am in a crisis here!"

His brow twitched.

"Whatever the crisis is, Xinyi is not free today! Don't bother her anymore!"

Xinyi was speechless.

"What do you mean by not free? She has to be free for me! She cannot leave me all alone like this. She promised me that she will never leave my side until I need her!"

Another vein popped on his forehead as he blatantly claimed as if he and Xinyi were too close.

He took a sharp breath, trying to reign his anger and control himself from not killing him. Xinyi sighed and said, "Let it be Zhiyuan. He really needs help."

"..."

Qin Fuhua heard her voice and chimed. "I do! Xinyi. Take your phone away from your tyrant husband and talk to me. I need to meet you right now! I promise it won't take much time!"

"Then do it yourself!" Zhiyuan spat icily.

"If I could, why would I need Xinyi's help? Only she can help me relieve my stress!"

Relieve s.t.r.e.s.s? H.o.w?

Somehow, Zhiyuan's brain automatically assumed it to have some sinful, ambiguous meaning that made a volcano erupt within him. "You…."

The nerves on the back of his hand became visible as anger surged inside him and he wished to punch his face.

Xinyi sighed in exasperation and said, "Agree to it, Zhiyuan. He would not stop calling me anyway."

Zhiyuan seriously asked, "Should I send some guards to deal with him?"

"What the hell!" Qin Fuhua felt indignant. "I am not a criminal! Anyway. Xinyi, you have to come, alright? I am sending you the address. Be there in fifteen minutes or I will die!"

He hung up and Zhiyuan almost had an urge to smash the phone. But he remembered in time that it was Xinyi's. She apologized. "Sorry. Is it okay if I go? He said it's not for much time."

"I will come too!" He declared.

"Ah? You want to come too?"

"Yes!" His nostrils flared.

I want to see just what that curse of a human makes my Xinyi do exactly?

---

The car stopped and Zhiyuan's regal figure stepped out in a dignified princely manner. But inwardly, he wasn't acting all dignified and raining curses on Qin Fuhua.

His mouth twitched as he recognized the store and his temper flared even further. Keeping his smile painstakingly intact, he asked Xinyi, "Why are we here?"