Because I Cannot Hurt You

Yunru's hands trembled as he read the file. His eyes were glued to the report, and the more he read it, the more he felt his breath unable to escape his chest.

It wasn't explicitly mentioned; nevertheless, he figured it out. He put two and two together and could faintly see the completed picture. It was still blurred, and he felt that he was still missing something. For two whole minutes, he imagined the entire situation and pieced the sequence of events together. He thought that he had figured out most of it.

But if what he thought was true, then it meant that the reality was far ugly than anyone could have imagined. His gaze got misty, and he shut his eyes in despair.

"Yunru?" He heard Zizi's worried voice calling him, and he snapped out of his daze. He put the file back in its place and stepped out.

Zizi eyed him as if asking if he found the original report to which Yunru couldn't give a straight answer.

He looked at the bellboy and smiled. "Thank you for all the help. I guess we don't need to investigate any further."

The bellboy sadly nodded. "I am sorry for your loss."

They went out, and as they walked along the corridor, Zizi asked again, "What happened? Did you find the file? Is there any suicide report?"

"...Yeah. I found it."

"So what's written in there? Is there something that we don't know? Or what Grandpa is hiding?"

He stopped. He stared at Zizi and then slowly raised his hand towards her. He held her cheek, and she blinked her eyes in surprise.

"Princess."

"Yeah? Why are you looking so serious?"

His lips parted and shut many times, but he couldn't say anything in the end.

"I didn't find any clue in her report. It was just normal - her cause of death mentioned. Nothing else."

"Oh…" her shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Then our last way is also blocked now. I don't know how we can learn the truth now without Grandpa telling us."

He faintly smiled but said nothing. 

"You must be tired. How about we have some ice cream?"

Zizi was in a low mood, but she cheered up soon enough thinking about the ice-cream date with Yunru.

"Yes!"

---

Lei Shu and Lei Shing were seated in a room in a restaurant they had booked for an important meeting today.

Lei Shu was so nervous that she could hardly stay put in her place. Her brother, Lei Shing, sighed and held her hand. "Shu. Stop worrying."

"I cannot sit still. Since the day I saw that picture, I have been unable to rest at all. It feels like we have been kept in the dark about a super serious issue. You remember how Mom kicked up a fuss when she came to know that we went to visit Zhu Xiaosi's house that day?"

Lei Shing sighed.

How could he forget? Lei Biya was so mad at them as if they had committed a sin. She refused to eat anything until they assured her that they wouldn't ever meet him again apart from business purposes.

Even though they said he was sick, and they visited out of courtesy, she was still dissatisfied. But because Xiaosi's support was so crucial to Lei Exports, she didn't confront him and risk breaking the deal.

Seeing her riled up like that, there was no way they could ask about the picture she clicked with Xiaosi years ago. That would have just agitated her further.

"She always gets so fidgety when it comes to Zhu Xiaosi. Today, we will finally know why."

The door opened, and a man in his mid-fifties stepped in. He wore a business suit and had neatly combed hair. His expression exuded professionalism and sincerity.

Mr. Fang took his seat opposite them, carrying a file in his hands.

Lei Shu and Lei Shing sat upright, a little nervous.

Lei Shu asked, "Mr. Fang. Did you find anything?"

Mr. Fang was a private investigator the siblings had hired to dig out the relationship between Lei Biya and Xiaosi. Since they had no hope of Lei Biya confessing anything and Xiaosi had lost his memories, they could turn to a private investigator

They had thought of asking Caihong as she was his wife, and Xiaosi might have told her something before his accident. But they couldn't.

They always felt Caihong keeping a distance from them. She was polite and amiable, but that's as far as things went, especially after the Summit where Lei Biya insulted Xiaosi.

Mr. Fang stared at them. "I did. I found the truth. It took a lot of digging around. It seems like Zhu Xiaosi was pulling strings too to hide this. It is serious. Are you sure you want to know the truth? Sometimes it's better to remain ignorant."

They took a sharp breath. They shared a glance and then nodded as they looked back at him.

Mr. Fang slid the file towards them. Lei Shu picked it and slowly opened it.

"Lei Biya...is Zhu Xiaosi's biological mother."

They froze. They blankly looked at him.

Mr. Fang explained in detail about the past that Lei Biya hid from her family. They heard everything in silence.

He pursed his lips. "I am sorry. I know it must be difficult."

Lei Shu thanked him, and without saying much, he handed him his payment cheque. Mr. Fang left, feeling sympathetic for the siblings.

They were at a loss. Xiaosi turned out to be their half-brother. It was huge. They felt their minds go blank.

Amidst the silence, their phones rang at once. They jolted.

Lei Shu picked her call. "Shu!"

It was one of her friends. 

"Shu! Shu! Did you see the news?"

Lei Shu quietly said, "Qingling, I am not in the mood right now…"

"Oof, you will get into the mood for sure after you hear what I have to say! You remember Yongrui and Shihong?"

She grimaced.

How could she forget them? They were her ex-boyfriends who used her for her family's money.

"It's in the news all over! Somebody secretly leaked their illegal gambling and drugs business, and the cops have arrested them!"