Because I Cannot Hurt You

Han Tian's gaze dimmed. "Dad. I know that we have made mistakes. We have hurt Zhiyuan and Zizi and we are guilty about...not being good parents to them. They are grown-ups now. Zhiyuan has his own family and Zizi will soon have one too."

Zizi was quietly standing near a pillar, listening to his words.

He sadly smiled. "Maybe it's too late to fix things between us. But I genuinely want to apologize and make it up to them. I always wanted to for all these years, but you never allowed me to step into the villa. I couldn't gather my courage to give them a call after how I disappointed them. But...but I-"

"But you what Tian!?" Han Huizhong roared.

Xia Liqin came forward and said this time. "I want to be with my children. Tian and I have fought a lot, but...I agree with him on this. I have been a terrible mother. We were too lost in our egos to pull the other down which made everybody suffer," her gaze was filled with guilt and tears, "Dad. I... really want to be with my family. I know you will think of me as a shameless woman. I am…"

She lowered her head and self-deprecatingly laughed as she clasped her hands together. "I am not even a Han anymore since we have divorced. I don't have the right to live here anymore, isn't it? But...but if possible I want to meet my family sometimes. There is Zhiyuan, Zizi, my daughter-in-law and my grandson. I...I couldn't see my children grow up because of my foolishness, but I don't want to lose Siying's childhood too. So, please Dad...give us one chance."

Han Huizhong snorted. "Wow, what emotional speeches. You two should get a prize. What is lost is lost. It won't come back even if you kowtow and bang your heads on the ground."

Soo Enlai smiled. "You are right, Elder Han. The lost time doesn't come back. But we can still make our present and future better. It's never too late to apologize and fix things."

"Tch. Your whole family is too kind-hearted, Enlai."

Xinyi smiled. "I was always happy to see Mom and Dad back. Siying enjoys being with you too."

She slowly peeked at Zhiyuan and pursed her lips. "What do you think?"

Zhiyuan was silent for a while. "I agree with Xinyi and Dad."

Everybody was surprised, especially Zizi. 

Zhiyuan sadly smiled. "I... have made a lot of mistakes too in my life."

Xinyi slightly widened her eyes. She knew what he was talking about and so did Han Huizhong.

"At one point, I felt the same as Mom and Dad. That my mistakes are irredeemable. It would be useless to rectify anything with what I have done. There would be no other way but to step back and pay for my sins by suffering in silence."

Xinyi slightly trembled.

He lowered his head and softly smiled as he looked at Xinyi. "But I realized that I was wrong. It was selfish of me to think that. If I step back, it would just hurt even more, especially for that person who has suffered because of me. And then I decided that I have to let the past remain in the past and move forward. Make up for my mistakes and resolve the mess I created. Getting stuck in the past just adds to our misery, nothing else."

Xinyi stared at him.

His words shook Zizi and she bit her lip.

Yunru's words slipped in her mind.

'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.'

'Talk to them and try to give them a chance.'

Han Tian and Xia Liqin were taken aback by his words too. They had already steeled themselves that Zhiyuan and Zizi won't easily accept this. They were ready for their rejection.

Zhiyuan glanced at Zizi. "What do you have to say?"

"...I will only give them a chance because Yunru talked me into it. Hmph. Otherwise, I wouldn't have. They can live here if they want."

The elders beamed. They gratefully looked at them, feeling emotional.

"Thank you…"

Han Huizhong sneered. "Useless all of you! Well, do whatever you want. After all, now that I am so guilty in all of your eyes, why would you listen to me anyway?"

Xinyi quickly said, "Grandpa, we are not thinking like that."

"Not you but Zhiyuan and Zizi for sure. They are acting so benevolent to irk me because they clearly know that I have already kicked them out. But they are doing this to go against me. Hah! As if Han Huizhong will fall for your cheap tricks."

Zhiyuan said, "That is your misconception and even you know that, Grandpa."

He snorted and stormed off in a huff. Xinyi wanted to follow him but Zhiyuan pulled her back. "Don't go to him now. He will only spit fire. He will be alright once he calms down."

She lowered her head.

Soo Enlai smiled. "Han Tian. Xia Liqin. I am glad that you confronted your mistakes like this today. I am sure it will take you a step closer to your children."

Han Tian said, "You are really kind, Soo Enlai."

"Of course! We are all family haha! And now we will be a double family with Zizi and Yunru's engagement, hoho!"

Zizi couldn't help but secretly grin.

Xia Liqin said, "Indeed! I am happy for them. I saw Yunru and Zizi together two nights back coming to Han villa from somewhere."

"Oh? A date!" Soo Enlai sobbed. "Yunru is finally taking his head out of his work. He is finally acting like a human, not a robot!" He dramatically wiped his eyes.

They burst into a chuckle.

Zhiyuan smiled, seeing the harmonious atmosphere. He glanced at Xinyi and raised his brow. "Xinyi. Now it's our turn to have a lovely date."

Xinyi choked. "I-I already told you that it will be a family trip!"

"Sure as you say~" He chuckled.