Because I Cannot Hurt You

As the hot pot got served, Zizi gulped a bit seeing the slight oil on the surface. The red curry was softly bubbling and boiling, leaving traces of oil at the side.

"This will make me so fat…" she whined.

Yunru rolled his eyes. "Just try it."

He picked a piece of meat from the hotpot and placed it on her plate. "Eat."

Zizi hesitatingly took a bite and her eyes widened to feel the melt in her mouth like butter. But more than that, the curry's taste took her by surprise.

He chuckled. "Delicious, isn't it?"

Zizi couldn't help but grab another piece of meat and pop it in her mouth. This time, she spooned more curry. "Emmm...yummy! How is it so flavorful?"

Yunru proudly smiled. "Because the owner here isn't stingy in putting spices and herbs. Most of the chefs in those elegant five-star hotels refrain from putting too many spices because the rich socialites are often too 'delicate' to handle it. That's why it's almost bland."

Zizi coughed.

"There is no enjoyment in eating a bland hot pot," he snorted. "You rich heiress's stomachs are way too fragile."

She glared at him but couldn't retort. Instead, she began filling her bowl with hot pot meat and veggies and gulping down one after the other.

Damn it, this taste is addictive! 

The curry and the spices sizzled in her mouth, craving her tongue wanting for more.

"Hey, don't hog everything for yourselves!" He complained. "Leave some for me."

Zizi raised her brow. "Didn't you bring me here to lift my mood?"

His mouth twitched. "Yes but not at the cost of my hunger. I never thought that Princess is a pig."

"What did you call me!?" Her gaze darkened.

"A pig. Look at you grabbing everything for yourself…" 

She banged her fist on the table. "That's it! I hereby declare that this whole hot pot is mine!"

"What kind of a conclusion is that?" He dryly asked. "What will I eat then?"

"Order your own hot pot," she arrogantly flipped her hair back.

"Hah! I understand now. Your real intention was not to share anything with me."

Zizi averted her gaze. Yunru stared at her and helplessly chuckled. He craned his neck.

"Gramps! Bring another one. This pig of a woman stole everything from me."

Zizi shot a deadly glare at him. His gaze brightened. "Hey, I got an awesome thought! How about I change your nickname? PP which stands for Princess Pig."

"..."

Her lips curved into a dangerous smile as she clenched the chopsticks in her hand. "Dare to change it, Yunru, and I will poke your eyes out with my chopsticks! I didn't have dinner and that's why I am more hungry. I am not a pig," she harrumphed.

He frowned. "Didn't have dinner?" He leaned and flicked on her forehead. "Is it because of Uncle and Aunt?"

She grumbled that he took it as a yes.

Yunru sternly said, "Princess, don't skip your meals or you will get sick. If I hadn't brought you here, would you have planned to sleep without eating anything?"

Her guilty expression showed everything. He sighed. "Princess, the matter with Uncle and Aunt is different and your meals are a different issue. Don't mix them up. Everybody will get worried about you."

"Then who asked them to come back!" She sadly exclaimed. Her eyes teared up.

Yunru put his chopsticks down and said, "Princess, I know that you are hurt. But...they are still your parents. Even if they fought among themselves, they still loved you and brother-in-law."

"If they had loved us, they wouldn't have separated."

He faintly smiled. "I know that it's important for a child to have a complete family. But there is no point in living together for the sake of children. It just makes matters worse and trust me, I have seen that in my career. Some couples force themselves to stay under one roof for their children, but in the end, they just bring more hostility to the family. They start cheating, having affairs outside, fight even more and some have even plotted to kill their spouse in extreme cases. Do you think any child will remain happy in these circumstances?"

Zizi widened her eyes.

"Yes, Princess. It's not that simple to think about children and bottle up your insecurities to give them a happy family. Maybe Uncle and Aunt could have handled it more maturely. That could have hurt you less than it did, but everybody makes mistakes. If they came back to make things right, then don't be so hasty in shutting them out."

Zizi went silent.

Yunru smiled. "Besides, I don't think that even my brother-in-law hates them. He is disappointed, for sure, but I guess somewhere in his heart, he might want them back too. Think about it and if possible, talk to your parents. I am sure that they want to talk to you too, but they cannot gather the courage to do it after how they hurt you. Even if they are separated, they are still your mother and father. Nothing would change that."

Zizi lowered her head, fiddling with her chopsticks. "...I will think about it."

"That is more than enough."

The owner arrived, bringing another serving of hot pot. "Here, Yunru!"

"Thanks, Gramps," he grinned.

He waved his hand. "You youngsters should eat a lot. Don't shy away."

Zizi finished her hot pot and eyed Yunru's serving. He narrowed his eyes. "Don't even look at mine. You aren't full even after eating a whole serving? You really are a pig."

"Shut up!"

Yunru shook his head. "Forget it. I will share it with you since I am so magnanimous."

"..."

Zizi's sight fell on the corner of his mouth where she saw a trace of curry on his lips. She coughed. "That…" she pointed her finger.

"Hm? What? Is there something on my face?" He patted his cheek and wiped at the other side.

"No, no. Over there…"

Yunru frowned and wiped at the wrong side again. 

"Oof! Let me do it!" Zizi bounced on her feet, leaned towards him and wiped the curry stain with her thumb that brushed on his lower lip, making him freeze.