Because I Cannot Hurt You

"Elder Han. Can you hear what they are saying?" Soo Enlai tried his best to listen in on their conversation, but he failed. 

Han Huizhong sighed. "I cannot. If we go any closer, your sharp son might catch a whiff of us."

Soo Enlai grumbled. Sometimes he wished for his son to not be so sharp. They eventually went back to gauging their body language and expressions. 

Back at the terrace, Zizi smiled with a heavy heart. "Oh! I see! You are right," she snorted. "It's such a pain to see you act so foolish. Glad you understand now. Don't be so pathetic."

She secretly dug her nails in her palm.

Yunru chuckled. "Thanks, Princess. It's because of you and... someone else that I am able to take this step." He raised his hand and ruffled her head, making her stiffen.

His long fingers and wide palm made her feel warm and emotional. Yunru tilted his head and asked, "Are you alright? You seem a little different."

"No-nothing...I just had a bad dream," she lifted her head and gazed at him with a pang of sadness enveloping her chest. "In it, I saw that...one very important person was leaving my side. Forever. He was drifting away from me and I could do nothing to stop him." She trembled.

Her gaze dimmed. Suddenly, she was pulled into a hug. Yunru wrapped one arm around her shoulder and patted her head. He chuckled. "Come on. You are a spoiled princess, aren't you? How could you let him leave you?"

At first, Zizi was stunned and her eyes widened. Her cheek rested on his chest and she felt the warmth seeping her skin. Her eyes stung in tears. She wished to always remain in his embrace like this.

"You should say, 'Hah! I am a princess. Serve me! You cannot leave my side and that is a princess's order!'" he laughed and that sweet melody echoed in her ears. 

Zizi burst into a chuckle and a tear slid down, but she quickly wiped it. 

Will that be okay if I...say that to you, Yunru?

Yunru smiled and lowered his gaze at her. She seemed awfully vulnerable today for some reason, and he couldn't leave her like that. Zizi sniffled and withdrew. But her chain got entangled in his button and she got stuck.

Ah damn!

She tried to untangle it. Yunru said, "Wait. Let me do it. You will break your chain like that."

He leaned his head lower and fiddled with the chain. But that closeness was too much for her heart to take. Her heart thumped and she stared at his handsome features in a stupor. Her gaze fell on his lips, and she recalled that moment she kissed him. Her cheeks turned even redder.

The two elders who were peeking at them had completely misunderstood the situation. Yunru's head had partially covered Zizi's face and at that angle, they thought that they were kissing each other.

Soo Enlai brightened. "Elder Han! Looks like the misunderstanding is resolved! Not only he hugged her, but now *ahem* This is a private moment. We shouldn't intrude anymore."

Han Huizhong had also observed everything and he felt that they were right about their feelings. Now they were even kissing. What more proof did they need?

"Enlai my boy. Looks like it's time."

Soo Enlai nodded hard. "We should immediately arrange for the announcement!"

The elders left after seeing what they wanted to see.

After untangling the chain, Yunru said, "Done," he asked, "You forgave me, right?" He coughed.

Zizi acted arrogant as if it didn't break her heart. "This is the last time! Don't dare talk so rudely to me next time!" She looked away haughtily. "Don't forget you are a lowly man!"

Yunru chuckled. "Yeah yeah. How can I forget that?"

*Present*

Xinyi and Zhiyuan were visibly stunned. At that time, they didn't think that Yunru could be lying about his girlfriend. But he kissed Zizi so…

Han Huizhong smirked. "What are you standing for, granddaughter-in-law? Distribute some sweets! Hoho!"

Soo Enlai grinned too.

"Ah yes…"

She quickly went away. Just as she was gone, Zizi entered the same time in the villa. She was surprised to see Soo Enlai. "Uncle?"

Soo Enlai happily hopped to her side and pulled her into a hug. "Zizi! So glad to see you. You came at the right time!"

Zizi looked at him in confusion, and she glanced at Zhiyuan. He simply smiled at her.

Han Huizhong said, "Well, well we have the star of the day here!"

Zizi asked, "Huh? What star? I don't understand what is going on."

Soo Enlai laughed. "You will soon understand when you will get the good news! There is a surprise for you!"

Zizi raised her brow and curiously alternated her gaze between the elders. "What surprise?" She was a little eager because she always liked surprises.

"Hoho! We have decided on the date of your and Yunru's engagement ceremony!"

Ziz froze. It felt as if her blood ran cold. Her eyes widened in utter shock as she blankly stared at them. "What?"

"Yes! Ah there is Xinyi. Come, come quick!"

He took the sweet from Xinyi's hand and fed it to her. "Hoho! Congratulations, future daughter-in-law!"

She gaped at him. Zizi could hardly gulp the sweet as she was still recovering from the shock.

Daughter-in-law? Engagement?

Han Huizhong chuckled. "Just look at how shocked she is. You didn't expect this at all, didn't you?"

Words refused to come out of her lips. She didn't even know where to begin. How? When? Why?

How did this engagement suddenly come into the picture? She thought that they already forgot about that night Soo Enlai saw her and Yunru together.

"U-Uncle...this is not true right…" she stammered as she spoke, and her heart loudly pounded in her chest.

Soo Enlai chuckled. "Elder Han. She cannot even speak properly. We succeeded in our surprise mission! Aiya. She thinks we are lying."

He patted her head. "Why will we lie dear? Of course it is the truth! Hmph. That idiot son of mine and you tried hard to hide it from us, but we got to know it anyway."

She froze.

It finally registered in her brain that they weren't joking at all. They were really serious about this. Zizi had no clue what to think about this.

Yunru already had a girlfriend. He was even going to confess to her. Or maybe he already did. Then how can this engagement…

"Grandpa...there is a…m-mis…' she suddenly felt breathless in her chest. Sweat formed on her forehead. She wanted to clarify this hell of a misunderstanding. But the words refused to slip out.

She didn't know what was stopping her. She opened and closed her mouth multiple times in an attempt to stop them from celebrating.

"Hehe. Don't be shy. We know how much you two love each other. Isn't it?"

She froze.

Love…?

Before she could say anything, the elders already got busy again. She tremblingly took a step forward. But Xinyi approached her and smiled. She hugged her. "Congratulations. I didn't know you and Yunru were together. I am really happy for you two."

Zhiyuan pinched her cheek. "Indeed. Yunru will keep you so happy. I am glad that you got together even though your beginning was a little crackling," he chuckled.

"I…" Zizi clutched her dress. Everybody was celebrating. Everybody was congratulating her. Her mind was a complete mess. "I am going back to my room."

She hid her face and hurried away upstairs. Han Huizhong raised his brow. "Ah I never imagined the day would come when I see Zizi running into her room all shy like that."

Soo Enlai laughed. "Love changes everyone, Elder Han."

"Indeed."

As the two elders excitedly talked about the engagement, Xinyi and Zhiyuan were left alone. The atmosphere turned strange, and they couldn't meet each other's gaze. Now that Xinyi had regained her wits, she realized the way she reacted had terribly hurt Zhiyuan.

Zhiyuan saw the hesitation and discomfort in her expression. He felt his heart break at that sight.

"Oh yes. I remember...I have to kind of go back to the office. I have to work on a proposal and I completely forgot about it…" he awkwardly smiled.

Xinyi stared at him. 

"Siying wanted to hear a story from me today, didn't he? Please say sorry on my behalf," the pain of heartbreak was excruciating.

Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. "O-Oh…"

"Yeah so...I will be back by tomorrow morning."

Before it became impossible for him to hold back the tears, he quickly turned around and left.

Soo Enlai asked, "Where did he go again?"

Han Huizhong snorted in disdain. "Let him be. Don't bother."

---

*Ring*

Liang was deep asleep in his happy dream of playing with his angel daughter when his phone ring broke that beautiful dream. He yawned. "Damn...who is it at that this hour?"

He quickly picked it up before Leina or Ah Cy woke up.

Zhiyuan? 

He stepped out of the room. "Yo, buddy. You broke my sweet dream. How should I make you compensate?"

Silence.

"Zhiyuan? Zhiyuan? It's you, right?"

"She doesn't...she pushed me away, Liang…" a slurry voice came from the other end along with the soft muffling of his sobbing.

Liang widened his eyes. "Zhiyuan. Are you drunk?"