Because I Cannot Hurt You

"How did they break up?" Shuang asked.

Mr. Guo looked at Shuang, who was patiently waiting for him to speak. Jack Si, on her side, had kept a silent stance too.

He said, "Guoting and Han Zongying started dating in college. Their relationship progressed quite quickly. Han Zongying was the prettiest woman in our college. Plus, being Han Huizhong's daughter, she didn't lack money.. In short, she was the campus belle of our college."

Like Caihong and Zizi were in my time, Shuang thought.

"Guoting, on the other hand, didn't come from a rich family. He had gotten a scholarship through the previous high school he was in. He was average, money-wise, but he was smart. It didn't take long for them to begin dating. The news already went like wildfire, and they became the most popular couple in the college. They had their own ups and downs before they started their relationship, but things progressed smoothly later on."

Shuang tilted her head. "So everything was going well between them?"

"Yeah. They loved each other a lot. Some of the jealous peeps began spreading rumors like Guoting was only after her money. But they ignored it. Some of them couldn't see Zongying getting such a good boyfriend on top of being rich and beautiful while others envied Guoting as if he had scored a lottery by winning her," he sighed, "truly deranged mindset."

"But Guoting quickly proved everybody wrong. While in college itself, he was beginning to build his own company. He was a young entrepreneur who had started his business, and with his capabilities and skills, it flourished too. At first, people thought he would definitely suck Zongying dry of her money by sweet-talking her into investing in his business. But that never happened. Guoting had his own savings, and Zongying clarified it too. She or the Han Corps didn't give him even a cent of money even though she had insisted on helping him many times. But he always rejected it."

Shuang smiled.

"Guoting got a good momentum with his business, and it was growing at a faster pace with profits. His relationship with Zongying was also going well. Things were doing good for the couple until one day…"

"What happened?"

"Guoting had won the most potential entrepreneur of the year award. It was a big achievement for him being recognized in the industry. He was the happiest that day…"

His gaze seemed a little melancholic, staring into the distance. "I still remember how he was jumping up and down as if he had conquered the whole world. He told me how proud he felt to stand as an equal to Zongying. He had worked hard so that he could give a good life to Zongying in the future. After all, she had led a very comfortable life in the Han family. He didn't want her to suffer or compromise by choosing him. Naturally, Zongying was also thrilled, and Guoting threw a huge party for celebration that night."

Shuang had a feeling something had happened. "Your tone...It doesn't feel like the party went smoothly."

"It didn't. Everything was so cheerful, but in an instant, everything had turned still when Zongying... found Guoting sleeping with another woman."

Shuang widened her eyes. "What!?"

Mr. Guo hesitated. "It was one of their classmates, Hu Lijuan. We found them sleeping on the bed...naked."

Shuang froze.

"Naturally, Zongying was crushed. It caused a lot of commotion. Everybody was aghast. Nobody could believe that Guoting cheated on Zongying. It was a mess. Amidst that, Hu Lijuan woke up and was shocked to see everybody. Zongying completely broke down. When I asked how everything happened, Hu Lijuan said that it was an accident."

Shuang narrowed her eyes, and so did Jack Si.

"She said that Guoting was heavily drunk and then he...In his drunken state, he said to her that he was tired of being with Zongying. She was demanding and arrogant, and he felt suffocated to stay with her. He was going to break up with her anyway. Zongying couldn't bear the betrayal, and she ran away, crying hard."

Shuang clenched her fists. "I don't know how it happened, but...but I know Dad. He would never think of cheating on her! That Hu Lijuan... I can tell you that she is a white lotus! That bitch slept with Dad on purpose!"

Angry veins popped on her forehead, and she had an urge to punch someone hard. 

She felt a big hand squeezing hers. Jack Si slightly shook his head. Shuang calmed down a bit after that.

"What did Dad say?" She quietly asked.

"When Guoting came to know about this, he was utterly horrified. He only had one thing to say that he didn't sleep with Hu Lijuan."

Shuang blinked her eyes. "Really?"

"Yes. He said that he didn't drink any alcohol at the party. Only juice and refreshments because he wanted to drive Zongying back to her home on his bike. There was no way he would drink and drive. He was waiting for Zongying in the room because she sent him a message. But Zongying didn't arrive. And then he started to feel heavy in his head. He saw Hu Lijuan coming into the room, and she offered to help him, but Guoting ignored her. Then he felt something was wrong with the way she was insisting on helping him."

Shuang gritted her teeth.

"Guoting said that he was quickly losing strength because of his dizziness, so he rushed into the bathroom and locked himself up. He was afraid of any mishap. That's why he was so adamant about denying the accusations. He didn't sleep with her at all because he was in the bathroom and then passed out. But he didn't understand how he got out and then landed on the bed with her."

"Han Zongying…"

Mr. Guo sighed. "It was a mess. No matter how much Guoting tried to explain, she didn't listen to him. She didn't believe him. He begged her like crazy, even in college in front of everyone. But Zongying broke up with him. Everybody was watching. It was the most painful separation to see."