Because I Cannot Hurt You

"What?"

An Guoting couldn't believe his ears. Zhiyuan's accident shocked him but was in more disbelief to learn Siying's testimony.

"He saw An Yueqin?"

Caihong reached An residence to talk about this to him. "Yes. Dad, why didn't you tell me that you saw Mom a few days back?"

He pursed his lips. "I wasn't sure, Caihong. It happened too suddenly. It was over before I could even make any sense of it. Plus, I had already asked my assistant to investigate, but he came out with nothing either."

Shuang pinched his cheek. "You hid it from me too! How dare you! You felt bothered all this time, and you didn't care to share this with your daughters!"

An Guoting looked guilty. "I am sorry, Shuang."

"Hmph!"

Caihong sighed. "We will thoroughly punish Dad later."

An Guoting gulped.

"First, it is important to know about Mom. Dad, You were there when her funeral happened. So, how is it possible that Mom…"

He pressed his brows. "This is what I don't understand either. Yueqin...she passed away in an accident," the memories stabbed his heart, "I still recall when the doctor had declared her d-death…"

The corner of his eyes brimmed with tears. "That...was the worst day of my life. I saw Yueqin lying lifeless in the ward. She wasn't breathing. This was shortly after your birth, Caihong."

He took a few breaths to calm down his racing heart. That was the ugliest feeling he had ever felt. Even forcibly having to sleep with Han Zongying couldn't compare to what he went through when he heard news of An Yueqin passing away.

"I arranged the funeral and saw her body getting buried with my own eyes. H-How can it be now that I and Siying saw her?"

Caihong hugged him from his right side, and Shuang from his left. They remained silent like that for a few moments.

Shuang patted his back. "Don't worry, Dad. We will get the bottom of this."

Then an idea struck her.

"How about I ask Jack to check her medical files? And her death report? If something is fishy about it, he will recognize it instantly."

Caihong and An Guoting stared at her with raised brows.

"W-what? Why are you two looking at me like that?"

Caihong curiously smiled. "Say, Shuang. Aren't you depending on Jack Si quite a lot these days? You were also together when you met that woman to force a confession out of her for trapping Dad? And now this…"

Shuang's mouth twitched. "There is nothing wrong with it. Isn't he our friend?"

"I feel that he is your friend more than anyone else's~"

An Guoting nodded. "When will you introduce him as your boyfriend?"

She choked. "Dad! We are having a serious conversation here."

"A conversation about your relationship is just as serious."

She puffed up her cheeks. "We are not in any relationship."

"Then when will you be in one?"

"..."

An Guoting probed. "Isn't it time for you to settle down now? Caihong is married, and Zizi will also soon get engaged to Yunru. You are the only one in the gang who is single."

Caihong nodded.

His eyes shone with excitement. "Jack Si is a good man. Well educated, has a stable career and lets not start with his looks. You two will really have beautiful children. I am especially eager to see a baby with his bluish-grey eyes."

"You and your obsession with his eyes!" Shuang was speechless.

"Well, they are beautiful," he shrugged. "Can you deny that? Plus, he is Xiaosi's friend, so he isn't a stranger to us. If everything is so good about him, why aren't you dating him yet?"

"Dad, it takes two to tango."

An Guoting waved his hand. "As if he isn't interested in you. Don't give lame excuses, Shuang. Where will you find such a nice man?"

Shuang now regretted bringing Jack Si into the conversation. 

"I am seriously telling you to consider him seriously. You might enjoy your single life now, but one day, you will wish to have a better half too. Jack Si is also single. I am telling you not to lose the golden chicken before it's too late. With his looks and background, it's a walk in the park for him to get a girlfriend. If he did get one, what would you do? I am stressing on this because it's hard to find such a good-natured boy these days."

"You…"

Shuang pressed her forehead.

Caihong chuckled. "It's okay. Let's not tease her anymore, Dad."

An Guoting mumbled. "I am serious though…"

Shuang coughed. "Anyway! Just hand me her medical files so that I can send them to Jack! Hmph!"

She scurried away to her bedroom.

Caihong beamed. "She is definitely embarrassed."

An Guoting smiled. "I guess it might be soon when we hear the news of them dating."

She held his hand and pressed it. "Don't worry about Mom, okay? We will find out whatever the truth is."

He nodded.

---

City X Hospital.

Xinyi sat beside Zhiyuan, cutting an apple for him. He saw her in a dampened mood and sighed.

He took the plate away from her hand.

"What are you doing?" She slightly widened her eyes.

"Sleep beside me," Zhiyuan patted the side of the bed, away from the tubes and the machines.

When she didn't move, Zhiyuan pulled her hand to his side. Xinyi laid beside him.

"Even though I am fine, you are still so worried."

"...This is the second time now," her voice choked.

"Even if it is the hundredth time, I will still be alright because I have promised never to leave your side."

Xinyi angrily smacked him. "What hundredth time? Don't say such inauspicious things!"

He pinched her nose. "Don't cry. Now that you are hugging me like this, I already feel so energetic. Do you want to try it? We can have one round here-ow, ow!"

Xinyi pinched his waist. "Shameless!"

He kissed her forehead and lips. "This is better.. I don't like seeing my wife sad and depressed."