Because I Cannot Hurt You

The next evening at sharp seven PM, the huge and luxurious party hall that shone upon its grandeur and elegance brightly lit in welcome of the 2014 graduating batch of Zhiyuan, Xiaosi, Caihong, Ah Cy and Liang. Usually, the reunion party consisted of the same class, but because Xinyi, Zizi and Shuang were so closely related to them and they were a group even in college, it was natural that their class was invited to this gathering too.

The group of young girls and boys that lived their carefree ways in college were now adults settled in their job and married life. Well, some were still bachelors who already became the target of singlehood teasing as soon as they stepped in.

"Hey there is our cute single man, Lai Gen!" Yan Jian from Zhiyuan's batch laughed.

Lai Gen's face turned ugly. "Shut it, Yan Jian! Don't be so cocky."

Zeng Ru chuckled. "Oh come on, Lai Gen. Don't be so offended. It's Yan Jian's right to get cocky. After all, his wife gave birth to a super adorable daughter a month back. He was bragging the whole month."

Yan Jian felt proud.

Zhou Gang, another of Zhiyuan's classmates, shook his head. "And here you are still single."

"I am single by choice!" He said indignantly.

They all cracked into laughter. "Sure. That's what every man says when he doesn't get a girlfriend."

Ding Cuifen rolled her eyes. "You guys are still the same."

Qi Xia chuckled. "No kidding."

"Hey, is that a ring I see?" Her eyes sparkled as she saw a glimmering ring on her finger.

Qi Xia blushed. "Haha. My boyfriend proposed to me just last week."

Xiaong Meilin from Xinyi's class said, "Wow! That's such a beautiful and *ahem* expensive ring! You caught one big fish huh~"

"Oh shut up," she waved her hand.

The door opened and Qin Fuhua and his fiance, Huang Rong stepped in. Everybody whistled at their entrance. "There comes another couple."

Qin Fuhua grinned. "Hey, single losers."

Lai Gen's face turned red. "You are really looking for a beating! Don't forget that I am your senior!"

"Yet I am getting married first," he smirked.

"Hahaha!" Everybody laughed hard.

Huang Rong nudged his shoulder and glared at him. "Stop it Fuhua."

"Ahh, the bride is getting embarrassed~"

"Gahh you people are as noisy as ever!"

Everybody jolted in shock hearing a creepy voice coming from a corner. They saw a woman's slender figure lying lazily on a couch.

"An Shuang! Damn it! You are still so creepy! When did you even come here?"

Shuang raised her arm from over her eyes and yawned. "Way before you all to claim my couch. You people are just blind."

Zeng Ru was speechless. "We are not blind. You are a ghost!"

Shoa Meihui from the same class as hers rolled her eyes. "I thought that Shuang might have changed her ghostly nature in these years. But apparently not."

Hou Nuying shook her head in dismissal. "Shuang, if you behave so creepy like this, no man is ever going to fall for you."

Shuang stiffened.

When Liang and Ah Cy came in, the atmosphere cheered up even more.

"Ah Liang, Zhiyuan's all-time rival is here!"

Liang's expression turned ugly. "FYI. I am Zhiyuan's bestie!"

Ah Cy had trouble holding her laughter.

Qi Xia smiled and murmured. "A best friend who had cheated on that basketball match that day."

"..."

"Qi Xia! I just stepped in and you want to pick up a fight with me!"

Hou Nuying hugged Ah Cy. "Ah Cy!!! I am so glad to see you! Wow, you…" her mouth twitched. "Are those muscles I see?"

Ah Cy proudly grinned. "Yup! Aren't they just amazing!"

Liang eagerly said, "Who wants to see my dear angel's picture!"

"Noooooooo!!" Everybody vehemently opposed this idea.

Zeng Ru snorted. "Dude, you spam our WeChat group with nothing but Leina's pictures. Please at least spare us today."

Zhou Gang laughed. "Leina is adorable for sure. Aren't you afraid we might want her for our sons here?"

Liang's face turned as black as a pot. "How dare you eye my dear angel! My Leina won't marry anybody!"

Ah Cy sighed.

Here we go…

"Hmph! No man would ever be enough to match my lovely daughter. Don't even think about any ideas!" He glared at them.

"So you don't want her to marry at all?"

"No!"

"..."

Yan Jian nodded. "I agree with Liang. I would never allow my daughter to have a boyfriend too!"

"How did the party already start without us?" As the door opened, Xiaosi stepped in carrying a sly smile on his lips. Beside him, walked Caihong who still seemed to be a bit disturbed after her call with An Guoting last night.

Shuang froze upon hearing his voice. Their last conversation that ended on a sour note glaringly flashed in front of her eyes.

'If it's not Caihong, it cannot be anybody else!'

'Hate me all you want but cut out your feelings for me once and for all.'

Her gaze slightly dimmed and she looked away.

Caihong faintly smiled at everyone.

"Hey, it's Caihong and Xiaosi! Wohoo!"

Yan Jian said, "Dude you just shone right through us with your S3 Company huh~"

Zhou Gang chuckled. "Who would have thought that you will become a CEO one day? Damn you took us by shock."

Xiaosi raised his brow. "You peeps are just jealous of me."

Ding Cuifen said, "Caihong, why do I feel that you are growing younger instead of aging?"

Qi Xia bowed. "On Goddess Caihong, please give us your secret too!"

Caihong's mouth twitched. "You all...are just as dramatic as ever…" she softly laughed.

Her glance fell upon Shuang who seemed to be sleeping on the couch.

She sighed.

Sleeping even in the gathering...

Xiaong Meilin sheepishly grinned. "Mr. Zhu Xiaosi, will you allow me to hug your rich thigh? Your money will make my life set."

Suddenly, Caihong's ears perked up at her words and she glanced at Xiong Meilin. Her eyes slightly glinted in displeasure, but she didn't know why.

"Hey now be careful. You wouldn't want to offend my wife, right?" Xiaosi tilted his head.

Everybody was dumbfounded.

Wife?

"Where is your wife? Who is she? I don't see her here."

Qin Fuhua mumbled to himself, "Get ready for the shock…"

Xiaosi held Caihong's hand and pulled her towards him. "Who else other than my lovely Caihong?"

Silence.

Then everybody loudly screamed together. "WHAT!!!"

They looked at him in utter shock. "Y-y-you and Caihong?"

Qin Fuhua cleared his throat. "Told ya."

"When did this happen?"

"Xiaosi and Caihong? How is it possible?"

Ding Cuifen said, "Wait, Caihong. Weren't you dating Zhiyuan?"

Caihong stiffened.

Since the group had lost touch with most of the classmates, they weren't aware of this truth. Ah Cy and Liang shared helpless glances. They knew this would happen once it came out.

It was just at that time when Zhiyuan, Xinyi, and Zizi had stepped in. They froze. Everybody's attention went upon them and they were speechless.

Of course, they heard what they talked about.

"Hey Zhiyuan…" they awkwardly smiled. The ex-boyfriend was here so they really didn't know how this would turn out...

He slowly smiled and nodded at them. "Hey."

They coughed and quickly let the matter slide. Though they were hell curious to know as to what happened. Zhiyuan and Caihong were such a loving couple and instead, she married Xiaosi? How did this happen?

Xiaosi smiled. "Well they WERE dating but who can anybody say about life? Everything changes in just one moment, right Mr. and Mrs. Han?"

They were dumbfounded again.

"Mrs. Han...who?"

Zhiyuan smiled. "Xinyi. She is my wife, Mrs. Han Xinyi."

Xinyi was feeling a little nervous about meeting everyone after so long. Plus, they were casting their obvious shocked gazes at her that made her even more fidgety.

Zhiyuan held her hand and just blinked his eyes at her once, reassuring her. She softly nodded. Though they had hardly spoken since yesterday, they didn't let it show on the outside.

The rest of the group got another shock.

Xinyi? She is Zhiyuan's wife? When did this happen between them!? Gosh, everything has totally changed!

They carefully observed them and were surprised to see that nobody seemed to be awkward around each other, especially Zhiyuan and Caihong.

Qi Xia coughed and to ease the tense atmosphere, she quickly said, "Zizi! So nice to see you again!" She expertly diverted the topic.

Zizi faintly smiled at her. "Same here."

Usually, she would have been excited about this reunion gathering, but ever since last night after Yunru's rejection, she couldn't bring herself to smile at all. She was in no mood for this party, but she was also tired of constantly thinking about his rejection and shedding tears. So she hoped to forget about it tonight even for a little while.

Yan Jian said, "Well, well, what are we waiting for? Now that we all are here, let's get the party started!"

****

Join my discord for sneakpeeks and fun! https://discord.gg/CbhNys444r

Follow me on Insta - enthu_reader7