The Needed Courage

As expected… thought Wu SuYi to herself. It must have been her reaction that pulled a strong attraction for Han XiGuang. She closed her hands together. Being the straightforward person, herself, she looked at Han XiGuang's eyes and offered him a smile— the first smile that wasn't covered by fear.

Han XiGuang's eyes were stunned at her smile. His gaze couldn't leave the soft curves of her red lips and how it rises her cheeks and curved down her eyes.

"I am a little uncomfortable to speak about it. It is related to my family's trouble," Wu SuYi hoped she didn't offend Han XiGuang with her words as the man had never treated her wrongly. She saw how he appeared to be tense and his gaze burning, "Mr. Han?" She called.

Han XiGuang blinked her eyes twice and showed her a smile, "That's not a problem."

The waiter came not soon after, bringing in the food to the table before leaving some space for them again. Rui gladly ate his portion while Wu SuYi continued to study Han XiGuang.

"I thought," she started, gathering his attention toward her, "For someone as yours caliber, you would have known everything there is to know about me."

Han XiGuang tilted his face before getting her point, "That I could do a background check on you?"

Wu SuYi didn't mean to deliver her words the way it was. She had meant to kept the thoughts in her mind which slipped from her mouth.

"I could," Han XiGuang confirmed toward her. "But I didn't think it would be polite. Also, I only do a thorough background check when it comes to my client and the enemy they are dealing with. I don't see why I should do a check on you when we could be here, together."

Wu SuYi offered the man a smile. She felt embarrassed for thinking he would be such a small man but her ideas was not very far off. Han XiGuang agreed to her terms that people with as much power as him would have done a check on her.

Rui stared with his large eyes glued at both Han XiGuang and Wu SuYi. He understood most of what they had said but to him, it didn't feel like his father was making any progress.

"Aunty," whispered Rui, gaining Wu SuYi's attention to him, "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Wu SuYi's eyes widened at the boy's question and when she looked at Han XiGuang he shrugged his shoulders, "Children. They often follow whatever the electrical box have to say."

"Television you mean," Wu SuYi smiled as she looked at Rui. "No, I do not."

Rui giggled happily in response, "Then aunty, what do you think about staying at my home? I have a big fluffy bed and every night dad will make me a cup of hot chocolate before bed. Do you like chocolate?"

Wu SuYi stared at Rui speechless but it wasn't odd for a child, a boy of his age to ask for people to his house as a proof of trust. She smiled, "I love chocolate, but I am quite busy, so I cannot promise you that. If chances arises, I would come visit."

Rui's smiled brightly which appeared like an angel. Gaining the same features as Han XiGuang should make Rui intimidating but the boy had softer features and had always smiled so sweetly that could melt everyone's heart like an angel. Wu SuYi didn't miss his charm either.

When Rui was sad, the same affected to SuYi. But Rui instead of whining like the other children only showed a shortened smile, "Alright. But that's okay! We can meet again, right?"

The behavior of Rui was much more mature than the children of his age to Wu SuYi's surprise. She nodded and smiled and looked back at Han XiGuang who stared at Rui caringly.

They continued the celebration. Although Wu SuYi wasn't one who like to celebrate, she tried to create as festive party with Han XiGuang who assisted her well. After the cutting of the cake, Rui who felt too full to continue fell asleep on his father's arm.

Han XiGuang wiped the corner of Rui's mouth and patted his back gently while they stepped out of the restaurant. Wu SuYi continued to look at his tender behavior until their eyes met. Feeling awkward, she spoke up, "Rui is a very tender child and also mature."

"For his age, he is too mature," Han XiGuang replied. "Perhaps he knew that he is alone and he is afraid to be thrown away by the people around him that he thought he has to be at his best behavior. I have been on his shoes so I knew this better than anyone."

At his shoes?

"I tried to make sure he felt the most secure with me but I am incapable of doing it alone. After he became old enough to understand what it means to be home alone, Rui told me that I could focus on my work and he would be good child, that he would take care of the house, and put his best behavior. I cannot imagine such a small child say those words that even adult wouldn't say. He rarely cried, always put his needs the second, and never told me if he is feeling upset. The incident yesterday where you saved him, was the first time I have seen an outburst of anger from him."

"It must have been tough for him," Wu SuYi whispered. The elevator passed by a lot of floors, but it wasn't interrupted by any other guests, letting them to have the free space for themselves.

"I hoped he wouldn't bottle up emotions in him but he never wants to spill what is bothering him," Han XiGuang looked at Wu SuYi who had been hearing his words closely. "If you don't mind, will you be able to help me?"

"What kind of help?" Wu SuYi had left her first goal to escape from Han XiGuang when he was harmless to her.

"It doesn't have to be often, can you come at times to talk with Rui? I feel he can share more of his own feelings to you than me," Han XiGuang responded. "You can refuse my offer of course, I am in your debt not otherwise, after all."

Wu SuYi lifted his chin. Although his words gave her a space to choose, his eyes burned with so much fire that pulled her in.

"Why me? We have just known each other, you don't know me close enough to give me your trust," Wu SuYi asked straightforwardly.

"If there is one thing I know for you, is that you will never hurt Rui. I can only trust my son to someone like you. Also, my parents have been nagging of how Rui needs a woman figure in his life. I thought it was the chance," Han XiGuang subtly underlaid his meaning, thinking Wu SuYi would understand his intention but she smiled, missing his point slightly.

She looked down at Rui again. Although she could refuse the offer as they are still but a stranger, Wu SuYi could tell deep down, Rui was a lonely boy. It wasn't her matter nor her business, but she couldn't turn a blind eye knowing that Rui was attached to her.

"I may not be too active for most of the time, but if it is to help him, I would be glad to do so," Wu SuYi responded.

Han XiGuang's lips curled. As the door opened, she took the first step outside, missing the way Han XiGuang's smile curled devilishly.

As they arrived on the lobby, Han XiGuang offered, "I can take you to your house. You drank, and I don't want you to be in danger."

Wu SuYi only realized now while Han XiGuang offered her for a drink, he didn't took a sip of the wine and he even paid her bill even when she had said he didn't have to.

A chuckle passed from her lips that gained his attention.

"What's wrong?"

"No," Wu SuYi smiled again, "I just thought you must be used to getting a date."

A grin appeared on Han XiGuang's lips in response, "Do you mean I have treated you so well that you want this to be a date?"

Wu SuYi coughed and looked away to hide her cheeks that had turned red. She was thankful she wasn't drinking or she would be chocking at this time.

"I.. I have one last question," Wu SuYi veered the conversation with all her might, "Have you told Rui that you wasn't his father?" When Han XiGuang nodded, she looked at him curiously, "Why? I'm sorry, I just heard that most people would keep the secret until their child had grown older."

Han XiGuang understood Wu SuYi's question and her curiosity rooted from her will to get to know Rui better.

"It's the truth. Sooner or later, Rui will know the truth where I am his uncle. I would like it better that he knows this from the beginning so he wouldn't feel betrayed by me. I also want him to know that even if we are not father and son, I love him as much as if I were to have a son."

The vallet appeared with Han XiGuang's white sport car not long after. Wu SuYi didn't marvel at his expensive car but rather kept her focus on his words.

"It must have taken so much courage."

Han XiGuang's lips parted at her words. It rushed back to his memory the time where he first hugged the crying Rui on his arms.

"It did," he looked back to her black eyes, "But nothing would have started without a courage would it? I want to live in a world I have no regret in my future. Come in."

Wu SuYi stared at him speechless. His words resounded to her heart as she recalled how there was still unfinished business left in her family.

Once she arrived back at her house, Wu SuYi saw her phone rang again. Taking it, she looked to the caller before placing it to her ears.

"Young lady—" Wu SuYi could hear the tired voice of the other person at the end of her call. She didn't have to hear the rest to know that he was tired of dealing with her but he wasn't alone in that. Wu SuYi was even more tired to even hear his breaths.

"Where?" Wu SuYi questioned, startling the other person who went silent. "Where is it? I will meet him but remind him that this would be the last time I would ever meet him."

Han XiGuang was correct. Without courage, they would begin nothing. Also without courage, she wouldn't be able to end anything.

"So where is it?" Wu SuYi demanded.

"…the main house, young lady."

"This Thursday. I will be there."