Because I Cannot Hurt You

After an hour or so, the siblings decided to leave. Lei Shu said, "We will leave now. Please take care, Zhu Xiaosi."

Xiaosi coughed and nodded. Chyou pouted. "Leaving so soon?" She tugged Lei Shing's pants as if she didn't want them to go.

Their hearts melted to see little Chyou staring at them with her watery eyes. 

She is really so cute!

He leaned and ruffled her head. "Yes. But we will visit you soon, we promise."

Lei Shu nodded. "I will doll you up into the most beautiful princess!"

Chyou sparkled and hopped up and down in excitement. "Okay!"

Caihong paused and said, "Wait for a moment here."

Since they bought gifts for them, Caihong felt that she should give something in return. She left for the kitchen.

Lei Shu couldn't help but say, "I really envy your family."

Xiaosi was surprised.

"You have such a beautiful wife and an adorable daughter. Your family lives in such harmony. I hope I meet a man like you in the future too…" she awkwardly smiled. "Until now, all the men I dated were only interested in me because of my family business. But when I look at you and Zhu Caihong, I feel warm in my heart."

She had heard that Caihong was from the rich An family, but Xiaosi was a nobody when they met. But even then, she was lucky to find a man like Xiaosi who didn't eye Caihong's family's wealth.

That's why Lei Shu also hoped to meet a man who would love her as much as Xiaosi loved Caihong without any greed for her family business.

Lei Shing coughed in embarrassment. It was the same for him. He had dated only one girl in the past, but after knowing her greedy nature, he broke up with her. Since then, he wasn't interested in a relationship.

Xiaosi narrowed his eyes. "Who were they? Tell me their names."

Lei Shu blinked her eyes. "What will you do?"

He smiled. "Expose them with a crisp face-slap. They dare act selfishly and break your heart. They used your feelings which is unforgivable. So, I will teach them a lesson," he coldly said, "It's hardly any task for me to get information on them. Such people must be dealt with, or they only keep on ruining lives."

Xiaosi knew he shouldn't meddle with their affairs, but when he heard how they suffered as a brother, he couldn't help but get furious at those exes.

Lei Shing and Lei Shu stared at him in a stupor. A warm feeling gushed in their hearts by his genuine concern. To see him so angry for their sake made them feel incredibly happy. They felt as if they got an older brother who was protective of their siblings.

Lei Shu didn't know why, but her eyes slightly teared up. She smiled. "Thank you so much. But it's alright. It's in the past now. But I really appreciate your concern."

Lei Shing sighed and nodded.

Xiaosi pursed his lips. "Alright- *cough cough*"

Suddenly, he began to furiously cough. His brows tightly furrowed.

"Mr. Zhu?" Lei Shing patted his back. He quickly said, "Here. Drink some water."

He did, but it didn't help much.

Chyou worriedly came over. "Dada…"

He weakly smiled. "I-I am fine *cough*"

Lei Shu urgently asked, "Where is the medicine box?"

Coughing, he pointed towards the cupboard. She quickly rushed towards it and opened it.

"Dr-drawer *cough cough*" his coughing was increasing.

Lei Shu rummaged in the drawer and found the medicine box. But as she lifted it, a picture slipped out. She instinctively threw a glance over it.

She rapidly blinked her eyes as she stared at the woman in the picture, holding a small boy's hand.

M-Mom…? Am I hallucinating? Why would there be her picture here? This boy...he looks like...

Xiaosi's coughing snapped her out of her shocked trance, and she quickly closed the drawer.

He quickly fed him the cough syrup. "You will feel better now."

When Caihong stepped in, bringing a small paper bag with her, she saw Xiaosi in a pale condition and froze. "What happened to him?"

She rushed and checked his condition.

Lei Shing anxiously said, "He was suddenly coughing a lot, so Shu fed him the syrup. I hope you don't mind Shu rummaged through your cupboard…"

She shook her head. "I am grateful to you. Thank you," she helped lean Xiaosi on the bed.

Caihong handed them the bag. "This is for you. Since you came here for the first time, I cannot let you go empty-handed too. These are some pastries I baked this morning. I hope you like them."

Lei Shing gratefully accepted it. "Thank you so much!"

He stared at his sister, who seemed to be in a daze. "Shu!" He whispered. "Say thank you."

She snapped out. "Y-Yes! Thank you so much," she bowed. "We will take our leave. Bye, Chyou."

"Bye-bye!" She chirped.

She grabbed her brother's hand and quickly dragged him away. 

---

Outside, Lei Shing complained. "Hey, hey! You will break my arm off! Why are we walking in such a rush?"

She stopped in her steps and turned. Lei Shing frowned, seeing her so serious. "Are you okay?"

"I am not. I am confused."

"Why? About what?"

"I saw Mom."

He widened his eyes. "Huh?" He hastily looked left and right. "She is here?"

She knocked on his forehead. "I mean in a picture!"

"What picture?"

"When I was fetching the medicine box, I saw a photo with Mom in it, holding a little boy's hand. She was definitely Mom. But I don't understand why Zhu Xiaosi would have her picture? And that boy. He...he looked like Zhu Xiaosi. When he was a little boy, maybe…"

Lei Shing was stunned. "What!? You are sure-"

"I am a hundred percent sure. She was Mom," her brows furrowed in doubt. "It seemed like a really old picture."

"Bro. Is this why Mom is always so edgy when she meets him? Do they somehow...share a past?"

There was a beat of silence.

Lei Shing narrowed his eyes. "Then we will need to investigate, Shu.. If Mom and Zhu Xiaosi have some connection that we don't know about, then we have to find out about it."