Because I Cannot Hurt You

Xinyi thought for a while.

Indeed, it was troublesome to work with him. But she thought if she worked with him, she could get some clue if Xiaosi was planning harm for Zhiyuan or her family. Maybe she could even realize his true intentions and revenge.

It was better to work in his company rather than avoiding him.

Xinyi softly said, "It's alright Shuang. I understand that the last days were stressful. Your game was also almost hacked right?" She eyed Xiaosi as she said this.

Shuang gritted her teeth. "Yes!"

She dangerously glared at Xiaosi. "If I get even one evidence against that hacker, I will beat the shit out of him."

Xiaosi chuckled. "Good luck with that."

Xinyi said, "If security is your forte, then can you not expose the hacker?"

Xiaosi raised his brow. "I will take a hefty fee for that. Our friend here was hardly able to pocket out money for hiring me to protect her games. So, right now, the deal is only limited to game protection, not identity reveal."

"You call her your friend and then take money from her?"

"I am sure Zhiyuan also doesn't believe in mixing personal and professional stuff," he mockingly smiled.

Xinyi couldn't retort.

Shuang rolled her eyes. "Forget it. Let's get down to business."

The meeting went for almost two hours.

Xinyi nodded. "I understood. I will draft the initial character designs and show you. Let me know if you like them."

Shuang said, "Yup. Send over when you are done."

She narrowed her eyes at Xiaosi. "You understood your job? I am not gonna spell it again for you."

"Tsk. Tsk. The difference in treatment is so obvious," Xiaosi shrugged.

As his phone buzzed, he glanced over the message he received. A glint flashed past his eyes as he looked at Xinyi and his lips curved into a faint smile.

"I have an important call to make. You beauties continue."

"You will make me puke. Get lost."

As Xiaosi stepped out of her office, his expression turned cold. "What did you find?"

"Sir, I have found something about Mrs. Han that she might be hiding from her husband and her family."

As he heard Xinyi's secret, Xiaosi narrowed his eyes. He tilted his head in amusement. "I see. That is shocking considering…"

He hung up and twirled the phone in his hands playfully.

Now let's begin the true game.

---

Back in the office, Xinyi observed Shuang and frowned.

"Shuang. Are you alright? You seem down for some reason…"

Shuang paused and looked back at her.

Last night, Yunru hadn't returned from his walk. That meant he already left to stay at his own place where he lived with Soo Enlai. He hadn't responded to any of her messages either.

"Nothing...Just was up playing games all night."

Xinyi furrowed her brows.

It doesn't seem like that though. It feels like something is weighing on her mind.

Just then her phone rang. 

"Ah, Yunru!" Xinyi smiled.

Shuang stiffened.

"...En. Okay. I will talk to Zhiyuan about it."

It seemed he asked her something to which Xinyi replied, "Oh I am at Shuang's office! You remember Shuang right? Hehe, I will be working with her from now on."

Shuang didn't show any change in her expression. Since they hadn't told anyone of their relationship yet, it wasn't surprising that Xinyi would ask that.

"Do you want to talk to her? She is right in front of me."

Shuang froze and fiddled with her fingers.

Maybe this is a good chance…

Xinyi said, "Ah you are busy with a case right now…"

Shuang slightly trembled. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

"Okay then. But make sure to talk to her as soon as you get free. It's been a long time."

Xinyi hung up and said, "That was Yunru. You remember my brother, right? We used to meet up sometimes. Haha, he always liked to bother you a lot, isn't it? You always fought like cats and dogs."

She awkwardly smiled. "Of course. How can I forget him?"

"En. It was him. He wanted some help from Zhiyuan about one case but his phone was busy," she pouted, "I wish he could talk to you, but he said he was really busy with a case. Haha, it would have been a cute reunion."

Shuang silently clenched her fingers.

"No problem. Maybe some other time... hopefully…"

Damn it. I screwed up this time. I cannot just sit here and do nothing. I will have to talk to Yunru anyhow.

---

Back at Han villa in the evening, as Zhiyuan heard from Xinyi what happened today, he couldn't help but get anxious.

For a moment, they forgot the tension between them.

"Xiaosi will be working too?"

Xinyi sighed and nodded. Zhiyuan clenched his fist.

What is that man planning right now?

Xinyi glanced at him and pursed her lips. "I know you wouldn't want me to work with him. But I couldn't reject Shuang. She is already facing her own crisis because somebody hacked her game. And she is really in need of an artist. I couldn't walk away."

He shook his head. "I am not blaming you. It's just...I am sure he must be planning something. The hacking thing in itself is suspicious. I just don't want you to be in any danger."

"Don't worry about me. I will be fine."

"Does Grandpa know?"

"That…" she hesitated. "After all that happened, he wouldn't allow me to work with Shuang especially now that Xiaosi would be there too so…"

Zhiyuan smiled. "It's okay. We will think about that later. I just want to know if you like the work."

Her face brightened. "En! Shuang's place is really nice. All her employees are really kind too. It was interesting to know her ideas. She is really talented."

"Well, then that's all that matters. As long as you enjoy your work, you need not worry about anything else."

From outside the door, the little bun was peeking inside as he saw his Mama and Dada talking.

There were still six days to go for the picnic, but the kids didn't want to sit idle this time. So they thought of doing something to make Xinyi and Zhiyuan even closer before the picnic.

Of course, the source of all their plans was Leina. She had 'researched' a lot of some of the small tricks by her grandmother and various romantic and fluffy shows she watched with her.

One of which Siying was going to execute now.

"Mama! Dada!"

Siying trotted towards them and hugged their legs.

"Siying," Xinyi bent and smiled as she hugged him, "Are you done with your homework?"

He bobbed his head. His gaze sparkled as the brightest star in the sky. "En! I did it all by myself! And I did it all right!"

Zhiyuan ruffled his head. "That's my boy."

Siying pouted. "I just don't want your patting!"

"So what do you want?" He curiously asked, "Oh, you want a treat? Let me treat you to ice cream."

He vigorously shook his head. "No ice cream. I want Mama and Dada's kisses!"

Xinyi and Zhiyuan burst into a soft chuckle, seeing their son's cute antics.

"Alright!" Xinyi bent to kiss his cheek, but he stopped her. "No. Not like that! I want Mama and Dada to kiss me together!"

They blinked their eyes in confusion. "Together?"

"En! Mama will kiss my left cheek and Dada will kiss my right cheek together! That will be fun!"

Zhiyuan and Xinyi glanced at each other and chuckled. "Alright. If that is what you want."

They bent on Siying's either side and leaned their heads.

Siying said, "I will count to three! At three, you will kiss me!"

"Okay."

"One...two…" He peeked at them. 

Zhiyuan and Xinyi leaned closer and closer.

"Three!"

Just at that moment, he said three, Siying quickly took a step back and hopped away that stumbled them in surprise. His sudden movement knocked out their balance and before they knew it, Zhiyuan's lips softly pressed on hers by accident.

Siying giggled and laughed. "Haha! Mama and Dada fell for it! Mama and Dada fell for it!" He hopped up and down.

It was just a light brush of their lips against each other but it was enough for them to feel as if they got zapped by a thunderbolt. Their bodies completely froze on the spot. Their minds turned blank. Their lips trembled with the contact as they touched. 

W-what…

Their gazes were strangely fixed at one another. Even though they wanted to step away, the shock of the sudden incident left them unable to move.

As Zhiyuan felt her soft lips against his, he felt his every cell paralyze by that sensation. Her smell invaded his nostrils, making his chest slightly heave with a sense of restlessness. It fizzled out every thought in his mind and the only thing he could think of was how he wanted to feel that sensation over and over again...