Because I Cannot Hurt You

Chapter 511 Stepping backwards to the past

The air was dark and gloomy at the breakfast table the next day. Chyou bobbed her head once towards Xiaosi and then towards Caihong, scrunching her cute brows.

Neither Caihong was looking at Xiaosi, nor did he. The tension between them was visible.

"Mama Dada fighting?" She tilted her head.

Xiaosi quickly smiled and answered. "Of course not-"

"It couldn't be helped, dear. Your father isn't acting nice at all."

He widened his eyes. He whispered to Caihong. "C-Caihong, we don't need her to know."

"Why? Do you want to hide it from her?" She challenged him. "You don't care about your wife's feelings, so why do you care about your daughter's?"

"I do!"

"You don't behave like that, certainly not last night."

Xiaosi coughed and moved back. Even after Caihong's threat last night, Xiaosi refused to budge and ended up only sleeping beside each other. Ever since then, there was complete silence between them.

Chyou pursed her lips. "Fighting is bad. No fighting."

Caihong innocently replied. "It's Xiaosi who is hurting me, dear. I don't want to fight but…"

Chyou puffed her cheeks up and faced Xiaosi. "Dada, no hurting Mama!"

Xiaosi slightly stiffened. He tried to smile and patted her head. "Of course. I will never hurt Caihong."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Chyou nodded in satisfaction. The driver stepped in and fetched her to take her to school. Usually, Caihong or Xiaosi would accompany them, but this time Chyou denied.

She raised her palm. "I will go by myself! I am a big girl now."

She just wanted to give them time alone today so that they could talk and resolve their fight.

When they were left alone, Caihong got up from her chair and leaned over Xiaosi at his seat. He sat rooted like a block of ice.

She smiled. "You said to Chyou that you would never hurt me."

Xiaosi pursed his lips and stayed silent.

Caihong bent further and placed her lips near his ears. "So, will you do what you were supposed to do last night?"

The chopsticks fell from his hand, and he took a sharp breath. She turned his chair and placed her palms on either side of the chair. It was as if she was locking him in.

The maid who came to collect the dishes gasped and took a few steps back.

O-oh-oh my God! Ma-Madam Caihong is…chair-slamming Master Xiaosi?

Her face turned red.

Whatever it is, she is so cool! I need to tell this to the other maids! She squealed.

Xiaosi stared at her like a robot once again. He found himself at an angle yet again where his gaze fell on her chest.

He turned his head, but Caihong grabbed it and made him face her. "So, your answer?"

"T-t-th-that…"

Caihong chuckled and brushed the tip of her nose against his. "Don't forget you promised her. If you break your promise, then it would be a bad impression on our daughter."

"I-I-I have to g-go…"

"You can always go after…"

Xiaosi bit his lip and suddenly got up on his feet. Caihong almost stumbled, but he held her waist and swiftly pulled back once he balanced her.

"I really need to go."

His gaze was lowered with a solemn expression. Without glancing at her again, he grabbed his bag and left.

—

Around evening, Xiaosi lied tiredly on his office's couch. His hand was over his head, trying to get some sleep. But his wife's beautiful face hovered in his mind endlessly. Remembering her seduction of last night and then today, he scratched his throat uneasily. He wanted to go back home but didn't know how to face Caihong.

She would be the most upset now and unfortunately, he couldn't do anything to appease her.

The office door opened, and a certain someone came in. "Yo, Romeo."

His mouth twitched after hearing Jack Si's voice.

"What are you doing here?" He tiredly asked. "I am not in a mood to entertain you."

Jack Si opened a bag of chips and sat on a chair near his desk. Munching on the chips, he shrugged. "Well there's nothing surprising in that. You don't even wanna entertain your wife here. What is a best friend to you?"

His eyes shot wide open in shock, and he sprung up. "Huh? What about Caihong?"

"A little birdie told me that you and your wife are fighting. Seriously? Wasn't it supposed to be happily ever after after you woke up from the coma? Your beautiful wife and adorable daughter had been waiting for you. But what is this I get to know?"

"...She told you?"

"She told Shuang. Shuang told me. Caihong was quite bummed out. You cannot blame her for sharing her dissatisfaction about her husband," he smiled.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It's nothing like that."

"Then how is it? Why are you avoiding your family?"

"I am not-"

Jack Si narrowed his eyes. "You remember everything, right?"

Xiaosi froze.

"You lied that day when you woke up. I had my suspicions. Your reports were looking good. I had hoped you would remember everything. But you said otherwise. But now after hearing what Shuang had to say, it confirmed my doubts. You indeed remember everything. You are pretending you don't."

Xiaosi looked away, not knowing what to say.

Jack Si sighed and threw the packet of chips to his side. "Here. Have some chips and try to think."

He grimaced.

"You are an idiot, Xiaosi. After seven long years, you finally have your happiness waiting right in front of you. You just have to take a step forward and embrace it. Instead, you are taking several steps backwards to the past where it's not needed. You have your future right ahead, yet you are entangled in the past."

Xiaosi clenched his jaw and trembled. "You won't understand, Jack. Nobody would understand!" Tears threatened to spill out of his eyes.

Jack Si shook his head. "You dummy. Before doing what you are to distance yourself from her, did you ask her if she wants this?"