Because I Cannot Hurt You

Han Tian smiled. "But no. If I was busy with my 'painting stuff', then you also didn't bother to care because you were too busy creating a name for yourself. So don't act like you care about Dad a lot."

Xia Liqin glared at him.

Zhiyuan pressed the space between his brows as a sense of discomfort and anger surged within him. Xinyi got anxious as well to see them already argue.

She wanted to intervene and quickly said, "Mom-"

Siying, who was confused by the sudden change in the atmosphere asked, "Grandma Grandpa fighting?"

Han Tian and Xia Liqin froze. 

Xinyi's smile faltered. "No, no Siying. They are not fighting."

Siying pouted.

Zhiyuan walked towards them and expressionlessly stared at them. Xinyi quickly pulled his hand and whispered, "Zhiyuan let it be. Don't fight here…"

He sensed the urgency and distress in her voice and smiled. "Don't worry, Xinyi. I won't be fighting with them."

He looked at them. "As expected, you didn't even bother to greet your son and daughter-in-law who you met after so many years. Glad to see that things haven't changed."

They stiffened. Xia Liqin and Han Tian uncomfortably shifted in their seats. The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.

"But I warn you that if you want to behave like this, then please leave. Mom, Dad. This house had enough of your arguments already, and now Siying is here. Don't ruin the atmosphere for my son like you did for Zizi and me years back," he narrowed his eyes.

They went silent at that.

Xia Liqin pursed her lips. She fidgeted with her fingers for a while and then she glanced at Siying. "Siying...d-do you want to see the gifts I bought for you?"

Siying's eyes sparkled and he trotted over to her side. "There are more gifts for me?" 

Her gaze softened, seeing her cute grandson's chubby face lit with the most adorable smile ever.

"En."

"Show, show! Grandma, Grandpa bwing gifts even not my birthday?"

She burst into a soft chuckle. "I can bring you gifts anytime. We don't need to wait for your birthday."

"Yay!"

Then she was about to talk to Xinyi when Han Tian slowly got up and walked towards her. Xia Liqin's expression turned sour and she quickly retreated. He hesitated for a few moments.

"Dad," Xinyi softly smiled. "How are you? I hope you are taking care of your health."

"Yes, yes. I am. It feels good to meet you again."

The last time they met was when Zhiyuan and Xinyi had gotten married. But at that time, both Xia Liqin and Han Tian didn't stay for long and immediately left after the marriage registration was over.

Han Tian quickly stepped back and bought a box in front of her. It was neatly wrapped in gift paper. "This...is for you."

Xinyi was surprised. "For me?"

"En. I heard that...um…" he cleared his throat, "You like to draw. So I brought some special tools for you. I have got good connections in the art industry. It was easy to get them. I hope you like it."

Zhiyuan raised his brow and peeked as Xinyi unwrapped the gift. It contained all sorts of useful drawing tools like pens, pencils, color palettes, inks and some special quality paper.

Xinyi beamed. "It's so beautiful. Oh and this pencil! I had seen it on one website before. But it was already sold."

Han Tian was relieved. "You like it?"

"En!"

His lips curved into a soft smile. Xia Liqin somehow felt that she lost her chance and could only look away with a displeased face.

"I am back!!"

Zizi whistled and merrily entered the house when she froze in her steps, seeing her parents. Her eyes widened and her lips parted in shock. "Y-you…"

She looked at Zhiyuan who simply shook his head, signaling that he didn't know anything about this shocking visit either.

Han Tian and Xia Liqin straightened up upon seeing her. "Zizi…"

Zizi bit her lip and gritted her teeth. "What are you two doing here all of a sudden?"

"We just…" Han Tian quickly picked another gift box and walked up to her. "Zizi...you have grown so much haha. You look so beautiful. This…" he felt nervous, "This is for you."

Zizi angrily laughed. "For me? Now you know how to act like a mother and father? When was this love when bro and I needed it years ago?"

They froze.

"Oh, I am so sorry! How would you have given any love to your kids? After all, you two were too busy pulling each other down all the time," tears threatened to fall as she said this. "You didn't have time then, so no need to bother with these formalities."

Formality…

Han Tian and Xia Liqin lowered their gazes.

Xinyi quickly said, "Zizi, let it be."

"Why should I let it be?" She laughed, "What do they want to achieve by coming back now? Do they want to disrupt the peace once again by their fighting and arguments? So Mom, Dad. Who won in the end?"

Xia Liqin anxiously said, "Zizi. It's just-"

"It's just what? After fighting so much, there must be a winner between you two, right?" She sneered. "Who won in the end? Let me congratulate him or her."

Silence.

"Nobody won? Even after all these years?" She questioned. "Then what was the point in all those fights and ruining your children's childhood!"

Zhiyuan held her shoulders and pulled her back. "Zizi, forget it."

"No, bro! Why should I!?" She burst into tears, "After destroying everything for us, why are they back to show their faces! What is the need? We don't need them anymore. They are free to live their lives as they want, away from their family! Now acting as parents and bringing gifts for everyone...what do they want to prove?"

Han Tian clenched his fingers into a fist. "You are right...We have only disappointed you two."

"You have done more than just disappoint us!" She glared at them. "You two really have thick skin huh? Even after everything that happened, you could come back and still show your face! But we don't want you anymore, 'Mom and Dad.' So, please leave from here!"