Han Guang snorted. "Uncle. It's just a minor bruise on her head. Not like she is on her death bed or something-"
"Aunt!" Zhiyuan angrily raised his voice that loudly echoed in the Han villa. His dark gaze threateningly penetrated hers. "Don't talk like that about Xinyi again. Just don't mention anything remotely closer to her…"
After experiencing the horror of almost losing Xinyi, he didn't wish to hear even the mention of her death anymore.
Before Han Huizhong could rebuke them, Zhiyuan already did it for him. He narrowed his eyes on him.
Han Guang was startled and equally shocked about this sudden change in him. Han Mingli said, "Zhiyuan, please. Don't forget that she is your Aunt and an elder. You are being disrespectful to her. She didn't mean any harm."
"Taunting about Xinyi's death is disrespectful to me," Zhiyuan glared at them, "and I won't take it lying down. So, I suggest Aunt to think before she speaks. Next time, I won't be this merciful."
Han Guang sobbed. "Are you happy now Xinyi? Isn't this what you wanted? Even though Zhiyuan is so harsh to me, you are not saying anything to him. You are enjoying my humiliation, aren't you?"
Xinyi shook her head. "Aunt I-"
Zhiyuan placed his hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't bother, Xinyi."
Han Guang gritted her teeth and her cheeks reddened in anger.
Damn you Xinyi! I will not forget this!
Han Huizhong said, "Do you think your defending Xinyi will save you from the blunder you did! What happened this time! Tell me the truth!"
Siying, who had buried his face in her neck, trembled upon hearing his roaring voice. Han Huizhong was furious at Zhiyuan, seeing Xinyi wounded. But he knew that Xinyi was hurt because of him. He, who had finally calmed down after Xinyi and Zhiyuan's reassurance, burst into tears again.
Han Huizhong looked at him in disdain. "Why is he crying now?"
"Grandpa...scold me…" he wailed and cried harder at the top of his voice. He tightly clutching her neck and gasped.
Xinyi quickly patted his back. "Siying. Don't cry. Grandpa will not scold you, dear. Calm down, okay?" She gently consoled him.
He vigorously bobbed his tiny head in denial.
Han Huizhong squinted his eyes. "Heh? How do you know, granddaughter-in-law? Whether I scold him or not depends on the magnitude of his mistake."
Xinyi protectively shielded her son and pursed her lips. "You will not say anything to him. It's already over now and I don't want anybody to drag this anymore and scold Siying."
Zhiyuan agreed. "Grandpa, let this rest for now. I will explain everything in detail. Xinyi is fine too. Please."
Suddenly, they heard another pair of footsteps coming in. Zizi stiffened on seeing everyone in the hall.
"Y-You are all here so early in the morning...oh Bro, you returned! How was the picnic?"
She was too afraid to meet Han Huizhong's gaze.
Then she widened her eyes, seeing Siying bawling his eyes out. "Wait, why is Siying crying? Shouldn't he be happy after the picnic?"
Zhiyuan sighed. "It's a long story, Zizi. But everything is fine now. By the way, where are you coming from so early in the morning?"
Zizi froze. "Umm, that…"
Han Huizhong smiled. "Where is Yunru, dear granddaughter? He must have come with you to drop you back home, right?"
She stiffened. "T-That…"
"After spending the night with him in his house."
Zhiyuan and Xinyi almost stumbled from their place as they looked at her, aghast. Han Guang and Han Mingli couldn't hold their shock either, especially Han Guang who had her mouth wide open.
"Huh!?" Everybody exclaimed in unison.
Xinyi asked in disbelief, "Sl-slept with Yunru? Y-you mean that…"
"No!" Zizi hastily said. Her heart almost jumped out of her chest. "Grandpa! What are you saying?"
Han Huizhong smirked. "What else should I say? Soo Enlai saw it with his eyes. He is not blind. You were together with Yunru on the same bed, sleeping so passionately wrapped in his arms and with him hugging you so tightly as if it was a really wild night. If that's not spending the night together, then what is? So! Did you use protection? Or should I expect my great-grandchild from you soon?"
Xinyi was dumbfounded. "Dad saw you two in that…" she coughed.
Intimate position…
Zizi was horrified. She stared at him, feeling so mortified!
"Grandpa!" She exclaimed loudly. Her cheeks furiously flushed in a deep shade of red.
What is wrong with these elders!? Uncle Soo was talking about our engagement and Grandpa is already expecting a c-child?
The thought is Yunru's child startled her.
N-Nonsense! As if I will ever carry his child! She nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
Xinyi coughed hard.
Grandpa is really...
Zhiyuan cleared his throat. "Zizi this…I thought you didn't like Yunru. You were always so against him. Things seem to have changed now I see…"
Zizi wanted to bang her head on a wall. "Bro it's not like that! Really! We-we didn't have…" she lowered her head as her cheeks heated up.
Han Huizhong sneered. "What? Trying to deny it now? Your blushing face doesn't match your words dear."
Zizi gritted her teeth. "That's not it! No-nothing happened between us. Grandpa! Aren't you taking this too calmly?"
Somehow she imagined that he would yell at her in fury and outrage.
"Calmly?" He rubbed his chin. "What do you expect me to do? Scold you for having pre-marital sex?"
"!!!"
Her eyes popped out of her sockets. Zhiyuan and Xinyi could only cough. "Grandpa. Siying is here. He is too small to…"
He simply shrugged, making their brows twitch.
He looked at Zizi. "I am not old-fashioned. Why should I scold you? I get a grandchild, right? Who doesn't want grandchildren at my age? It's my win," he rolled his eyes.
Zizi's mouth twitched.
These elders are hopeless!
"And why are you panicking so much now? The deed is done. If you were so afraid of somebody catching you two in the act, you should have locked the damn door."
"Like I said nothing happened between us!" Her chest heaved up and down in breathlessness. Neither Soo Enlai wanted to believe them nor Han Huizhong.
"So then why were you on the same bed with him on a cold, stormy and romantic night? Playing Ludo?" He grimaced.
"..."
"Swear on me and say that you are telling the truth. Nothing happened at all? Absolutely nothing?" He raised his brow.
Their kiss suddenly flashed past her mind and she froze. The way Yunru had tightly clutched her head and kissed her back so hard and fiercely was still fresh in her mind. Her lips still remembered the sensation of him ravaging her lips. That sweet memory choked up her throat.
"Aha! Caught you," he snickered. "You cannot fool me. I am old but I am still sharp."
Zizi bit her tongue, feeling remorseful. The one moment of hesitation had an opposite effect and now Han Huizhong was even more sure that they did have sex.
"No Grandpa…I swear nothing happened!"
"Then pray tell me just how did you end up in his bed last night?"
She stiffened and hesitated. She didn't want to let them know about Yunru's state last night. She also found it unable to explain under what circumstances and feelings did she initiate the kiss. It was unclear and foggy to herself. How was she supposed to justify it to others?
"No…that…"
He raised his palm. "You don't need to say anything else. From here on, the elders will handle everything."
Handle what? There is nothing to handle!
She pitifully looked at Zhiyuan for help. He sighed. Even he couldn't completely believe Zizi as he noticed, too, how she blushed and seemed nervous. He signaled a nod and reassured her.
Zizi felt a little better. She cleared her throat. "I-I am tired."
"Of course you would be," Han Huizhong slid a comment and meaningfully looked at her.
She glared at him. "I am going to rest!" She stormed off hastily before Han Huizhong embarrassed her any further.
Xinyi was still in a daze. "Yunru and Zizi...I still cannot believe it. They always fought like cats and dogs."
Han Huizhong sneered. "Didn't you hear one saying? Those who bicker a lot actually fall in love the most. Your Grandma and I used to argue a lot too. But then I just used to shut her up with a kiss so our fights usually never lasted longer," he shrugged.
"..."
Zhiyuan shook his head.
Xinyi said, "Anyway. I will take Siying in the room. He has stopped crying, but he is still uneasy," she anxiously patted his head.
Zhiyuan smiled and nodded. "En. I think he will be fine after a good sleep. I will come with you too."
They left and so did Han Huizhong, but not before throwing a menacing glare towards Han Guang and Han Mingli.
Han Guang stomped her foot. "What the hell!? Zizi and that Soo Yunru!? When did this happen?"
Han Mingli narrowed his eyes. "Indeed it is shocking."
"We have to do something! I would go crazy if Zizi married into the Soo family! That would just make the Soo's hold over the Han family even stronger! Xinyi is already here and now Zizi would be the Soo family's daughter-in-law? Preposterous! I will never let that happen!"
She clenched her fist.
"And that Xinyi! She dared to stay silent and enjoy my humiliation! I will not forgive her for this!"