Because I Cannot Hurt You

Caihong stiffened. She wanted to shake off his hand and she easily could have but despite her resistance, his weak and pale expression pricked her chest.

After ruining my life, why should I feel bad for you!? Why should I feel guilty for being cruel? Her eyes stung in tears.

She slowly kneeled on the floor on his side.

I will leave when he falls asleep. Only until then!

As she waited for her chance, she quietly stared at him. His breathing was stable now. He wasn't mumbling anymore. Her gaze fell on his fingers that were holding on to her hand.

'I really hurt you a lot.'

'I am a horrible man.'

'I ruined your life.'

Her lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. "I cannot understand you, Xiaosi. What is the point of saying all these things now? Why are you suddenly mentioning this as if...as if you are really apologetic?"

She blankly stared at his sleeping face. A tear trickled down her cheek as her lips trembled. "Whatever you feel, whatever you say… it's already too late. I cannot forgive you. I will…never forgive you. Nothing can change that."

After a while, Caihong didn't realize when she felt drowsy and fell asleep. Her head dozed off on the bed.

When it was all silent, Chyou finally opened her eyes and peeked from her duvet. She was awake for a while, hearing Caihong's movements as she brought Xiaosi to the bed.

Her small face beamed to see Caihong and Xiaosi holding hands together. Though she felt bad for her for sleeping in that uncomfortable kneeling position, Chyou didn't want to wake her up.

Mama and Dada are together! God heard my prayers! Mama and Dada are holding hands!

She got so eager and excited that she had an urge to quickly tell this to Leina and Siying. 

I will have to wait till tomorrow…she pouted.

Her heart was filled with joy and bliss. This was the first time that she saw such a different scene in her family. Otherwise, there were only fights and arguments between them. The atmosphere was always so dark and gloomy that it was too suffocating.

She faintly recalled Caihong's words. 

"Nothing can change that."

Chyou proudly smiled. Although she didn't understand the context of her words, she realized one thing.

Mama says that nothing will change, but she still took care of Dada today. She did not do that before! So that means something changed, right!

Her black orbs shone more than before. Hope lit her heart that that day wouldn't be far when her family would also be like everyone else's.

In her excitement, she didn't want to wake them up, so Chyou quietly slept back and shut her eyes with a bright smile on her lips.

---

At the bar.

"Now die."

The huge thug threatened Zizi as he harshly held her arm. Zizi turned as white as a ghost. 

"I already said I don't know anything! Do you even know who I am!"

The thug chuckled. "Heh. Now you want to lie. You will pretend as if you are some big shot to escape us."

"I am! I am Han Zizi! Han Zhiyuan's sister! If you do anything to me, my brother won't let you go unharmed! He will make your life miserable!"

They widened their eyes. Of course, who hadn't heard of Han Zhiyuan, the CEO of Han Corps? He held great influence and power in Beijing.

But they laughed at her mockingly. "Nice try. Oh, we got so scared. Look, we are pissing our pants! Hahaha! You think we will get scared of your lousy threat?"

The thug pointed the gun's muzzle tip on her temple and pressed his thumb on the trigger. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she burst into tears. "You will pay for this!"

I am going to die...I am really going to die...Damn it! I should have really stayed away from this mess! I am such a fool!

She gnashed her teeth hard, feeling bitter and infuriated. "Soo Yunru! I swear my ghost will haunt you after my death! It's all your fault! I won't let you live peacefully!"

"Ugh... don't do that oh Princess Han Zizi. Now that is a real threat to me."

A familiar voice came from the other end as the next room's door opened. Yunru stepped out, his arm stretched out as he aimed his gun at the goons. Zizi froze at the sight.

Yu-Yunru…A-and from the next room!?

She was utterly shocked. Yunru was already in the bar. These goons were planning to kill him at the entrance.

Before that thug could snap out of his shock, Yunru took advantage and shot a bullet at his wrist, knocking off his gun on the floor that he pointed at Zizi.

"Ugh!"

The other man couldn't keep up with the rapid development, but he didn't hesitate to run away as fast as he could. Yunru yawned and aimed a bullet at his leg.

"Ah!" He stumbled and fell.

"You know, bullets are faster, idiots."

The thug yelped in pain as he held his bloody wrist. "Soo Yunru! How can you be here!"

He sneered. "Because I am smarter than you. You planned to ambush me at the entrance, so I already got in the bar before your man came here. I have been here for four hours now. Oh and your man outside is already arrested," he chuckled, "Such amateur planning against this great Soo Yunru."

His team quickly arrived at the scene and arrested the two thugs. They glanced at Zizi, but Yunru shook his head and signaled them to leave.

Zizi was completely stunned and at a loss of words the whole time. Yunru was already inside the bar this whole time and she thought he would really die…

Her knees finally gave away and she collapsed. Everything settled down so fast that was still in disbelief. She touched her chest and felt her heart loudly pounding.

Yunru noticed her thin body trembling and shaking as tears plopped out of her eyes. The fear was still clear in her misty eyes. He held her shoulders and gently made her stand on her feet to which she didn't resist.

"A princess doesn't kneel on the floor," he smiled.

Zizi fumed at him. "So you were here this whole time! And like a fool I was worried for you!

Yunru raised his brow curiously. "You were worried for me?"

Zizi gritted her teeth and stepped back, but tripped with her knees still weak. She gasped and shut her eyes for the impact. Yunru swiftly caught her waist and pulled her towards him. 

Her eyelids fluttered and she slowly opened them. Her heart skipped her beat to find herself secured in his embrace. His arm had firmly held onto her waist. Her cheeks flushed, feeling his broad and toned chest and muscles. She didn't understand why but being hugged like that sent her mind into a frenzy.

In the mall, too, he looked so tall…

She thought back to the time when she hid behind his back. At that time as well, she felt a sense of security. Now too, the warmth and closeness of his embrace made her heart jump.

What am I thinking? As if I would be ever affected by this stupid man!

Zizi stammered as she averted her eyes from his chiseled body. Yunru quietly observed her in contemplation. To her surprise, she felt his hand gently patting her head. Startled, she met his gaze that didn't have his usual sarcasm in it. He was seriously watching her in attention.

"It was scary, right?"

She tensed up. Now that her mind became clearer and the adrenaline pumping in her system calmed down, she realized the incredible situation she got into tonight.

When she recalled how tightly that goon had held her and was about to kill her, tears plopped out of her eyes once again. Such a close call with death left her paralyzed in fear.

"I-It was scary as hell. That thug was huge and dangerous! I-I tell you, if I had died young at just twenty-seven, my ghost would have haunted you for the rest of your life."

Yunru couldn't help but burst into a soft chuckle. That moment made Zizi mesmerize as she watched him laugh.

"You-you don't look that bad when you laugh…"

Yunru's eyes widened in surprise. "Is Princess Han Zizi complimenting me?"

Zizi realized that she spoke aloud and she blushed furiously. "Shut up! Be grateful that I complimented a poor and lowly man like you. J-Just one time though!"

Yunru chuckled. "Alright. I will always remember this day."

"Hmph. I was saying that the thug suddenly mentioned your name while he was talking on the phone," she grimaced. "But now I regret thinking of helping you! I should have just ignored the whole mess and gotten out of this place! And what the hell were you doing with your phone! Chatting with your girlfriend!?"

Both stiffened on his girlfriend's mention.