Because I Cannot Hurt You

"What!?" Lei Shu and Lei Shing exclaimed together.

It was similar news on his end. His ex-girlfriend had been caught in a scandal with a CEO of an entertainment company who was twice her age. Her face was all over Weibo and social media. His assistant informed him that somebody had leaked some photos and videos with her and the CEO in compromising positions. There was also a recording where it was clear that the CEO was pulling strings for her to get roles in movies.

They hung up and quickly opened Weibo. It was on fire with back-to-back releases of such sensational information.

Lei Shu saw a video where at two separate locations, Shihong and Yongrui were getting arrested by the police. Yongrui was caught for doing illegal gambling and extortion, while Shihong was arrested for smuggling drugs. In greed and for earning quick cash, they had taken extreme steps and became criminals.

Lei Shu couldn't believe that the guys she dated would go to such lengths to get rich. 

Lei Shing stared at the video clippings where he saw his ex cry in front of the media, who frantically denied all the allegations. But it was useless. Her agency threw her away, and she would have to compensate with a lot of money according to her contract for damaging the company's reputation. She was replaced in all the movies where she was currently acting. The netizens were thrashing her like crazy. Her career was over.

"Bro, look at this…"

"Shu, look at this…"

They paused. Then they read the other news, and they widened their eyes. "Isn't she your ex?"

"Aren't those two guys too?"

They blinked at each other. Lei Shing said, "Somebody leaked her videos."

"Same here."

"It's strange. Both of our exes got busted at the same time."

Lei Shing looked at the video again. "I don't know how this happened, but I feel damned good about this."

Lei Shu had similar feelings. Now that she saw her ex-boyfriends in such a pathetic state, she realized how satisfying it felt. They had betrayed her, and they got what they deserved now.

"Bro."

"Shu."

They said unanimously again.

"Do you think it's a coincidence?"

Lei Shing wondered the same. "I mean, there are a lot of other actresses who are definitely involved in scandals, but how come only she was particularly exposed?"

"It's not like Shihong and Yongrui are the last guys on the planet who are involved in gambling and drugs either."

"It's said that the source who leaked the information hasn't been found yet."

"Somebody secretly posted all the evidence."

"How likely is it that our exes who betrayed us would fall to their doom at the same time?"

Lei Shu trembled. "Is it Zhu Xiaosi? I mean…"

Suddenly, she didn't know how to address him. 

"He is S3's CEO. The best security and tech firm. It's a piece of cake for him to dig this information."

"Did he do it to avenge us?" 

Lei Shu felt her eyes tear up. She recalled that day abroad where he had offered her a muffler because she felt cold.

Then he agreed to sign the deal with Lei Exports to help them.

And now he avenged them just because they mentioned their exes in passing.

"He is truly our big brother, isn't he?" She burst into muffled sobs and cried for a long time. 

---

"ACCIDENT!?" Shuang roared. "Do you think it was a fucking accident!?"

Jack Si quickly came to her side. "Calm down, Shuang."

"Then tell this bitch to stop spewing nonsense!"

He Lijuan didn't understand why Shuang suddenly flared up so much.

Shuang exclaimed. "It wasn't an accident, you pathetic loser! She committed suicide!"

She froze, and her jaw dropped wide. "Han Zongying?"

"Yes! She jumped from her house's balcony and gave up her life! Do you know why? Because you confessed everything! She suddenly realized how wrong she was in blaming Dad and breaking up with him. Maybe she couldn't bear the burden and guilt for not trusting him. Maybe she thought that killing herself was her only redemption! You incited her to jump off, you bitch!"

"H-How is it my fault! How would I know that she would commit suicide? This is preposterous!"

"Because you saw that she was already depressed about something, right? You came to know that she never got married. That's why you poured salt on her wound by admitting the truth! You wanted to see her broken, and you did just that! You knew she would feel horrible after learning that she fell into your schemes and wasted all those years not trusting him. You forced her to jump from the balcony. Do you think it got over after college? The wound that you gave them ruined their lives forever! You forgot about it, but Dad didn't, and neither did Aunt Zongying!"

He Lijuan swallowed hard.

"You already broke them apart years ago, but you still targeted her years later too! How much more of a bitch can you become!? You should be fed to the dogs! But they will even spit at you!"

She slapped her again and again, venting out her frustration. He Lijuan's cheeks were turning glaring red. She was begging her to stop, but Shung showed no mercy.

Her eyes were blurry and wet. Her hands were stinging due to the harsh slaps, but she didn't stop.

She was disappointed at Han Zongying for not trusting Dad. But she didn't want her to know the truth in the worst possible way. She didn't want her to end her life feeling guilty. Maybe they could have still sorted things out. Maybe there could have been hope for An Guoting and Han Zongying to come together.

Dad would have been so happy...

Tears plopped from her eyes, but then she felt pulled into a warm embrace. 

"Sshh."

Jack Si's soothing voice buzzed in her ears, and she slightly stiffened. He gently held her hand and looked at the redness of her palm.

"Stop it.. She is not worth it to hurt yourself like this."