Married to his secret crush

Han Jian Yu went silent at her words, ''It is not what you are thinking. I am not doing this because I think she won't be able to handle it. I only don't want her to know...'' He paused.

Mia's gaze flashed and she lowered her head, ''Drop these thoughts for now,'' She patted his shoulder before letting go of his hand.

And he immediately felt the emptiness. He glanced at his palm before looking at her face.

Her solemn expression had long disappeared and she was back to her happy and playful self.

''Since you chose truth back in the game, won't you tell me about your childhood?"

Han Jian Yu paused. A distant memory played in his mind.

...

''Stretch your hands out,'' A middle-aged man snarled as he looked at the boy in front of him.

The 9-year old Han Jian Yu tilted his head. He hesitated, ''Father, I...''

''Hands,'' The man sternly said, the scar beneath his right eye looked especially vicious in the glow of the fire crackling in the fireplace.

Han Jian Yu hesitated for a moment before he stretched both his hands.

'Pak'

'Pak'

'Pak'

The man took out the rod out from the fire. Its edge had turned red from the heat and he relentlessly slammed it on his palms.

''Ah... '' Tears rolled down the boy's eyes as his skin slashed, burning with every hit but the more he cried, the more the man kept beating him.

It started with the palm but soon, his rod started landing on his back.

'Bam'

Han Jian Yu fell on his knees, his body soaked in sweat while his wrist cracked, a chunk of flesh visible through it. But all the while, he did not beg for mercy as he knew that if he begged, then the whole night would pass just like that, with him being beaten that ruthlessly.

Only then did the man stopped.

''Who is she?"

Han Jian Yu did not say anything, his pale lips trembled.

''Who is she?" The man raised his rod again.

''Young Miss,'' An emotionless whisper left Han Jian Yu's mouth as the young boy tilted his head down.

''Good. Don't forget your limits and don't cross your boundaries again. Even if she willful, be sure to draw a line,'' The man coldly said as he threw the rod away and leaned closer to the boy before pinching his jaws and forcefully raising his head, ''We are servants. And you can not forget this like you did today. You won't buy her chocolates or toys, neither would you call her by her name. You are assigned to protect her, not to play with her. Han Jian Yu, don't cross the line or I won't go easy on you like today.''

Han Jian Yu felt like his chin was about to be crushed, ''I understand,'' He said expressionlessly.

The man stood up from the chair before letting go of his chin, ''Good,'' His lips curled in satisfaction, ''Keep that face when you interact with Young Miss,'' He coldly said before he turned around and left.

Han Jian Yu slumped on the floor for a few seconds, his breaths became labored. Holding the leg of the chair, he stood up but his wrist was numb from pain. He placed his elbows on the chair and pushed himself up with gritted teeth, ''Ugh...'' A painful groan escaped his mouth.

He sat on the chair and tried to remove his white shirt which was soaked in blood. ''Ahh...'' His dried lips parted as the shirt was stuck to the dried blood on his back.

''Bwother~" Brother.

Han Jian Yu's head snapped in the direction of the door, ''Princess?" He pushed himself to his feet, forgetting all his pain for the moment as he glanced at the toddler whose lips were trembling as she looked at him.

He ran towards the door and closed it, ''You should not be here,'' He coldly said.

''Bwother~ Bohooo~" The 3-year-old girl cried before running to his bed, her pigtails shook behind her head.

Han Jian Yu smiled helplessly, ''Little pig, you really should not be here,'' He walked towards her, trying to appear like his usual strong self but he was still limping.

And that gave him away in front of the little girl, ''I am sorry,'' She said in her childish voice as she walked towards the bedside table, ''I won't be strawbon again...'' She sobbed.

Han Jian Yu laughed but his cheeks hurt, ''You mean stubborn, little one?'' He asked as he raised his hand to wipe her tears only to retract it when he noticed the blood on it.

She nodded, wiping the tears from her chubby cheeks. Her starry eyes sparkled as she forcefully pulled the drawer of the bedside table and took out the first aid box in it before walking to the bed.

''Sit,'' She pointed her palm towards the bed domineeringly.

Han Jian Yu stifled his laughter. Her head reached just above his knees but look at that tone. It made her look adorable instead. But he sat on the bed obediently.

The girl sloppily took off his shirt, her fingers trembled at the sight of blood.

''Are you afraid of it..?" He asked.

She shook her head and climbed on the bed before placing the first-aid box aside as she removed his shirt.

Han Jian Yu gritted his teeth, making sure that not even a single voice escaped his throat.

When he did not sense any movements from her, he turned around only to notice that her large doe eyes were filled with tears again.

''Shh.. Don't cry,'' He whispered but did not raise his hand to stroke her little face for his hands were bloodied, ''They just look scary but they don't hurt at all...''

The girl sobbed, ''Bwother is a l-liar... A big fat liar,'' She sobbed harder and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

''Brother is not fat at all,'' Han Jian Yu sighed helplessly as he looked at the first aid box, ''Come, little Mei, didn't you want to treat brother's injuries?"

Little Mei nodded her head and sloppily did what she knew and what she had learned from the television and elders.

Han Jian Yu pursed his lips, trying to hold back his wince as she treated his wound with trembling finger as if she was joining a delicate vase.

*Flashback ends*