Because I Cannot Hurt You

Zhiyuan's eyelids fluttered open and immediately he was graced with a splitting headache. He pressed his brows and rubbed the space in between them.

He looked around and felt the place was familiar. "Where am I?"

"Now you forgot your best friend's house huh?" Liang entered as he narrowed his eyes.

"Liang," he was taken aback. Then Zhiyuan remembered that he was at a bar last night and had gotten heavily drunk. Liang was there at his side and he was babbling stuff to him.

He froze.

"What happened last night?"

"Well I just saved you from a hooker's target," he smiled.

"Huh?" He was bewildered.

He snorted. "What else should I say? Did you see yourself last night? You were a total mess! You didn't want to go back home, so I brought you at my place."

Zhiyuan kept quiet.

Suddenly, a small head popped in and Leina brightly smiled at him. "Uncle Zhiyuan!" Her big, watery eyes were gleaming in happiness to see her favorite uncle in her house. She hopped to his side and threw herself in his lap.

Zhiyuan smiled. "Hey pumpkin," he tapped on her nose.

Liang's face darkened and he flared. "Are you calling my daughter fat!?"

His mouth twitched. "Liang, you are impossible."

Ah Cy stepped in too and smiled. "Well, the father with a huge daughter complex is just like that. Impossible."

Liang grumbled. "What do you mean? I just love my angel a lot."

Leina asked, "Uncle, you came alone? Siying not come with you?" She pouted. "I want to play with Siying!"

Liang cleared his throat. "The doors of the Xu family are not open for him either!"

Ah Cy rolled her eyes.

Zhiyuan chuckled. "Sorry, dear. It was just me last night."

"But Uncle not play with me!" Her small, round face puffed up in disappointment.

Zhiyuan awkwardly smiled. "Ah…I was a little tired. But I promise I will play with you a lot today."

Her gaze sparkled, and her sour mood turned instantly delightful. "Then I forgib you!"

He burst into laughter. Ah Cy smiled and said, "Leina. Have you had your breakfast?"

She shook her head.

"En. So quickly head down. The maid has already served it. We will join you in a few minutes."

"Okay!"

Leina hopped off the bed. "Uncle, don't forget your pwomise!"

"I won't," he smiled.

As she went away, the atmosphere turned silent and even a little gloomy. Ah Cy handed him the glass of lemon juice she bought for him. "Drink this first. Your head will feel better."

Zhiyuan slowly gulped the juice and kept the glass back on the table. Ah Cy folded her arms and sat down beside him. "Zhiyuan. Liang told me what happened."

He said nothing. She narrowed her eyes and smacked him hard. 

"Hey!" Zhiyuan rubbed his forehead. Ah Cy's punches and smacks were not a joke. If she hit, it hit damn hard.

"What hey! I should beat you to a pulp! Why are you crying and moping around like that? So what if Xinyi rejected you? Are you going to give up just like that?" She glared at him. "You have fallen for her. Don't just stop here."

"Ah Cy you-"

"Shut up! This is not high school or college where if you get rejected, you can move on and maybe find someone else. You are married. You have a kid. For his sake, you cannot stop putting effort."

His eyelids slightly shook.

Liang nodded. "You have to make this work. Don't you want to give Siying a happy family?"

Her gaze softened and she gently held his hand. Her voice toned down. "Zhiyuan. I understand that it's difficult. It is hurtful. You are in pain and I know that. But trust me, it will be fine. I don't think that Xinyi might not feel anything for you."

Zhiyuan lifted his gaze and stared at her. "You didn't see it, Ah Cy," his voice trembled. "It's not just about rejecting me. You didn't see her state. She was crying and hugging herself. She looked so frightened. I...I don't know why."

Ah Cy and Liang exchanged confused glances. "Frightened?" 

He nodded. "I wanted to ask her but...she didn't want me to come near her…"

Ah Cy asked, "What happened just before this?"

He slightly coughed. "We were kissing…"

"And she didn't stop you?" Liang furrowed his brows.

"No. It was after that when I was going to confess."

Ah Cy said, "But she wouldn't have let you kiss her if she wanted to reject you."

Zhiyuan bit down on his lower lip. That thought did cross his mind, but he left it at that because he didn't want to be hopeful. "I know. I found it odd too but…"

"Zhiyuan. You have to think about this rationally. You are letting your emotions overwhelm you. Your thoughts are getting all muddled up. Rejection is indeed painful, but the sudden change in Xinyi's behavior doesn't make any sense either."

He quickly said, "Trust me, Ah Cy. I want to talk to her myself. I want to know what went wrong and why she suddenly stepped back like that. But everything is now awkward between us. We couldn't even face each other last night."

"Then find a good time to talk," her eyes shone with an idea. "How about the reunion party?"

Zhiyuan blinked his eyes. "Reunion?"

Liang got excited. "Yes! What an awesome idea, wifey! It's the perfect occasion. It will be all party mood. The atmosphere will be relaxed and so will she too. You can talk to her at that time."

Ah Cy nodded. "It's an important conversation. I don't think you need to have that in a sad and gloomy place and time when your situation is already awkward."

Zhiyuan thought about it.

"The reunion is tomorrow right?"

"Yup. We got an invitation last night. That will be a perfect time."

Zhiyuan slowly nodded. "You are right. I will talk to Xinyi tomorrow." His gaze dimmed. "I want to know what made her so afraid and sad. I want answers."