Because I Cannot Hurt You

Soo Enlai watched the two of them very carefully.

Hint number 1 - They stood in a very odd and awkward position. 

Hint number 2 - Zizi's cheeks were red.

Hint number 3 - Yunru had a guilty expression.

He put three and three together and brightened. He was shining so brightly that Yunru had to cover his eyes with the glare.

"Oh! I am such a fool! Please continue, you two. However, I will still advise that doing it in the kitchen will be hard for Zizi."

"..."

"..."

"Dad! You have lost it!"

"Shut up! Don't try to hide it! You two were definitely up to no good. Not that I mind. I am just telling you to be careful. Is dropping flour on the floor a sort of ritual for you to get things going?"

Zizi blushed hard.

Yunru wanted to break all of his relations with his father right now. "Dad, please leave. Dinner is not done yet," he pressed his brows.

"It's alright. Some things are more important than food. You shouldn't compromise on romance."

His brow twitched. Zizi blushed even more.

Soo Enlai saw her condition and immediately glared at him. "What is this? Why is she all dabbed in flour?"

Yunru coughed. "It was an accident."

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't think so. Don't bully my daughter-in-law, okay? Or I will kick you out of his house!"

He rolled his eyes.

They settled on the dining table, but before beginning to eat, Soo Enlai said, "Wait! Let's celebrate first. This is Zizi's first day in our house. I have brought some cake."

Zizi gleamed. "Cake!"

"Yes," Soo Enlai pursed his lips. "I am sorry. I really wanted to cook dinner for you and give you a grand welcome feast. But I am hopeless. At least, I could bring some cake."

Her eyes watered. "Thank you, Dad. You are really the best," she sniffled.

"Haha. Anything for you, dear. Just don't say in front of Han Tian. I don't want him to get jealous and compete with me," he harrumphed.

Zizi chuckled.

They cut the cake first, and Zizi offered the first bite to Soo Enlai.

"Haha, eat it with Yunru first."

Zizi frowned. "No! Yunru comes second. First will be Dad!"

Soo Enlai felt proud and really joyous. 

"Yunru, don't be jealous, okay?" He had a silly smile on his face. "Daughters always choose their fathers first."

Yunru smiled. "I will try hard not to."

The dinner then continued, and throughout the entire time, Zizi only sang Yunru's praises of how an awesome cook he was.

"You are a super cop and a super chef too!"

Soo Enlai grumbled with the lack of her attention. "It's alright, I guess."

"Have a big heart, Dad."

"You!" 

Yunru shook his head and ruffled Zizi's head. "Thanks. It's all because of sis actually. She taught me most of the things. Anyway, I will put the plates back."

"I will help you. You already did all the cooking," she coughed.

"No. Just relax with Dad here and watch some TV if you want. I will do it."

"Yes, yes," Soo Enlai nodded. "Let him do it."

When Yunru was out of sight, Soo Enlai eagerly grabbed Zizi's hand and took her to sit on the couch. "So, so! What's the plan?"

Zizi blinked her eyes. "Plan for what?"

"Yunru's birthday, of course! And of course, that will be Xinyi's birthday too."

Zizi widened her eyes.

"I-It's their birthday?"

Until last year, she hadn't met Yunru and she never really celebrated Xinyi's birthday with her because of their sour relationship. So their birthdays weren't something she took an effort to remember.

"Yes! It's in a week," Soo Enlai was all excited. "Haha, even if they are grown up, I still get hyper like a child. Since you are here too now, we can have a super celebration."

Zizi was stunned but then felt extremely guilty. She claimed that she loved Yunru so much, yet she didn't even know about such an important date.

"I am sorry Dad…" she had an urge to cry, "I didn't know about their birthday. I know it's strange but-"

Soo Enlai shook his head. "You don't have to apologize, dear. I know how things were until last year. But this year, it's different. So, I thought you might want to do something for him."

"Of course, I do!" Then she quickly lowered her voice. "I want to plan a grand surprise for Yunru! How can I miss such an important event?" Her eyes sparkled.

Soo Enlai was also infected by her enthusiasm. "Yes! It's a great chance for you two to grow closer. Do you have anything in mind?"

Zizi gave it a thought, and her shoulders slumped. "I cannot really think of anything... Since this will be his first birthday with me, I want to make it extra special. But I don't want to just end it with a gift."

"Don't worry. Let's figure something out together."

So they racked their brains together, but nobody got a great flash of inspiration.

Zizi's mood just got worse.

If it was a grand surprise, then she would need some time to make the preparations, and only seven days were left. If she didn't think about anything soon, then she would just waste the days.

Soo Enlai smiled. "We still have time. And I know Yunru. He will be happy and pleased with what you will do for him."

"I know. But I don't want to do just anything. I really want to make it memorable for him. But what would be perfect for him…?"

By then, Yunru was already finished. When he came back to the living room, he saw his fiance and father in a depressed mood.

"Has somebody died?" Yunru's mouth twitched. "Why such long faces?"

They stiffened. 

"Nothing!" Zizi said, "I was feeling bad for causing trouble on my first day."

Soo Enlai hastily nodded. 

"Ah," Yunru chuckled. "Forget about it already. I appreciate your sentiments. Feelings are more important."

"En."

"Anyway. You must be tired by now. Why don't you head for an early sleep?"

She blushed. "Can we share a-"

"No."

"..."

"Meanie! You didn't even let me complete it!"

"I don't need you to. If we will be together, you will just be busy staring at me, and I want you to rest."

"Hmph! I am not tired!"

"I don't think your body would agree to that. So no complaints. Anyway, I have some work to do related to a case."

"Oh."

But then it suddenly struck her!

Ah, ah ah! I got it! I know what to do for his birthday now!