Because I Cannot Hurt You

After a delicious dinner cooked by Caihong, Jack Si had no strength to even move an inch. "That was one awesome feast, sister-in-law."

He patted his tummy, which was extremely full and satisfied by the meal. 

Caihong smiled. "I am glad you liked it."

"I loved it! Damn, I missed the authentic Chinese food so much. I couldn't help but overeat. Curse you, Xiaosi. You get to eat such delicious meals every day," he glared at him.

Xiaosi felt a sense of pride hearing that. He seemed as if he was in a trance.

Caihong slowly asked, "What's wrong? Did you not like it?"

Xiaosi widened his eyes. "Of course, I did! It's just...I didn't know why, but I felt nostalgic for some reason."

Jack Si smiled. "Well, your mind has forgotten the memories, but your body hasn't. You have eaten her food before. Your tongue remembers the taste."

"Ah…"

Caihong said, "You used to jump on the lunches I brought back in college. You never left anything for anyone in our gang, and so you used to fight with them a lot," she chuckled.

Xiaosi coughed in embarrassment. "If the food is made by you, then I wouldn't want anybody to eat it other than me."

Caihong choked. "*Cough, cough*"

Xiaosi quickly brought a glass of water. "Are you okay?" He anxiously asked.

"I am fine…" she took a small sip.

It was so smooth that it took her aback. Xiaosi before his memory loss wouldn't have ever admitted this.

Jack Si whined. "Hey, what do you mean by not letting others have her food? Not even your best buddy here?"

Xiaosi raised his brow. "You are our guest tonight, so it cannot be helped. I don't want to be rude."

"..."

This is still damn rude!

"How mean! Don't hog everything for yourself!"

"Why not? Caihong is my wife, so I have the right. You can find one for yourself and eat your wife's cooked meals," He arrogantly said.

Caihong coughed again as she blushed.

From practically having no conversation between them to him acting so closer and possessive was a huge leap for her.

Really Xiaosi wouldn't have said these things before…

Somehow, she felt glad about this memory loss. At least, she was finally getting to know his true feelings.

Jack Si gritted his teeth. "Damn you! Where is the precious friendship we share?"

Chyou held his hand and pulled him. "Let's play!"

"Ah? But I cannot moveeeee…."

She harrumphed. "That's why you have to! I want to play with you, Uncle. Come, come!"

She dragged him with her small, chubby hands pulling his coat with all her might.

Jack Si sobbed. "Only Chyou cares for me. Thank God she is like my sister-in-law, not a certain, rude friend of mine."

Xiaosi's brow twitched.

Caihong smiled. "Let's go back. You need rest."

"En. But wait. But you have to move your stuff back, right? I will help you."

---

Caihong hung her dresses in the cupboard beside Xiaosi's clothes that were on the right side. Seeing their clothes together side by side like that erupted a strange feeling within her.

Why am I feeling so different? It's just the same room…

She touched her cheeks that felt slightly warm for some reason.

Xiaosi was helping in sorting out her stuff while she was busy arranging the cupboard. Suddenly, Xiaosi's sight fell on her lingerie that was placed in a corner of her bag. There was a pair of braciers.

He immediately looked away, his face turning beet red. He coughed and his fingers nervously fiddled against each other.

Th-this this...there is nothing to get so fidgety, right?

"Pass me the other clothes too," Caihong said.

His mouth twitched. There were no clothes left in her bag apart from her *ahem* personal things.

"T-that…"

"Hm? Pass it."

His face flushed hard as he picked her bras. Caihong stretched her arm backward to pick the dress, but then she felt something different. She turned and stiffened upon seeing her bra.

There was a moment of awkward silence. 

Xiaosi cleared his throat and tried to smile. Caihong gritted her teeth and felt mad at herself.

Idiot! What am I doing?

She quickly grabbed it and stuffed it in the cupboard. She felt so embarrassed that she couldn't face him.

Xiaosi got the cue and he immediately got up. "I-I will head for a bath."

"E-En…" she hastily nodded.

A few minutes later, Xiaosi knocked on the bathroom's room. "Caihong…"

"Yes?"

"Can you pass me my towel? I forgot to take it with me…"

She picked out his towel from the cupboard and knocked. "Here. I brought it."

"Ah, thanks."

He opened the door with a narrow gap and stretched out his hand, waving it in the air. "Where is it?"

"Here…" she placed the towel in his hand. Xiaosi pulled it harder, making Caihong stumble. The door was pushed open by her fall and she landed straight into his arms.

Her face bumped into his chest while Xiaosi quickly held her waist to prevent her falling. Her shut eyes slowly opened and she froze to see his naked chest in her view.

They stood rooted in that position like two wooden logs unable to move. His chest was still slightly damp through which she felt the wetness on her cheek. 

She rapidly blinked her eyes and slowly realized the position they were in. Xiaosi lowered his head and took a look at her face that had turned rosy. With that blush on her cheeks, she looked beautiful and enticing. A gulp passed down his throat, feeling her soft hands on his skin.

Caihong slowly raised her head and met his gaze that was staring at her with focus. Time seemed to stop and they felt their breaths stuck. 

She felt the distance between them bridging little by little as Xiaosi leaned closer to her. Her heart skipped several beats.

Xiaosi bent to touch her until his forehead rested on hers. Her eyelids softly fluttered as she heard the even sound of his warm breath.

"Caihong…"