The Cage Of The Past

He is looking at her in concerned eyes, she whispered her lips and reluctantly chose not to answer his question, nor did she want others to walk into her own heart.

His eyes were tight, he blinked a little and he shut silent. He seemed to understand something. "I thought you were strong!"

She didn't understand what he meant by his words, she quickly wiped away the tears and keep silent.

How can she be strong when she lost the most important person in her life? Her fragility is so real, so powerless, and she can't talk to anyone!

"You better leave! I can do this alone!" she said.

"I will help you!" He insisted.

"No need!"

"Okay I will not help you now, you are crying even more!" Rouzhen deliberately said but he knows the reason why she's suddenly upset. He feels that her sudden sadness was the fact about their son. He quickly picked the vegetables and put them on the faucet to clean.

Xiaoxi stunned, did not expect he help her, and to think that he is the high-rank GU Corp CEO. He looks so prominent and his tall figure occupied the small kitchen and suddenly it becomes crowded for the two of them.

"Are you okay now?" He's washing the dishes in the sink and arrange it back to its original storage. She didn't say anything and continued what she's doing but Rouzhen felt she's bit moved by his little action.

The doorbell suddenly rang when they started to have dinner. Xiaoxi quickly stood up to open the door. She never expects other visitors so she's wondering who would that be?

The door opened and a bunch of flowers came into view and then a handsome face poked behind the flowers. "Xiaoxi, accept these flowers!"

Under the low voice, Xiaoxi stunned and saw the man behind it was none other than Zion. "Bother Zion, how come it is you?"

He handed the bunch of roses to her and lazily said: "I visit your home to spend dinner with you! Why not welcome me with a smile? Recently I was so exhausted with so many tasks at work. Oh, Rou Rou, I don't know what you're here too. How long you've been here with your son?" Zion asked when he saw Rouzhen and Han inside Xiaoxi's house.

He quickly squeezed in and Xiaoxi felt awkward.

They are about to start for dinner and two children look towards Zion direction.

"We went out this afternoon and spent time with our children," Rouzhen answered while looking at him in a sharp eye.

Rouzhen glanced at Xiaoxi who is now holding the flowers, he felt silently mad at her. He is so angry that she seems so happy accepting flowers from Zion. Rouzhen's wanted to smash the flowers by a large stone and his hidden raging anger make him felt aggrieved. "Why you came here? Did you do all the tasks I've ȧssigned earlier?"

Zion heard Rouzhen's bleak and light questioning but he hints a fit of jealousy from him. He couldn't help but think of a tragic scenario after this unwanted encounter at Xiaoxi's house. He heard a sudden annoyance at Rouzhen's voice and he looked at him trying to pacify his anger, "CEO, you don't ask for overtime work. Will, I get off work now. I came here to visit them and I feel like it's quite good to eat Xiaoxi's cook food rather than in a restaurant. If I came at the wrong timing, well, I may better leave!"

The atmosphere becomes suffocating and Xiaoxi couldn't react because Rouzhen and Zion seem to have a sudden unsettled talk.

"Uncle Zion, sit down! Sit here!" Chao patted the space near him and run over to Zion after he pulls the dining chair.

In Rouzhen's sight, Chao's invitation becomes annoying because his mood was being disturbed with Zion's presence. He wanted to send out Zion but the little devil willingly invited welcome him.

"Han is also here! Is this like a family dinner?" Zion said after he sat down.

"Uncle Zion, Daddy and I went out today with Auntie and brother Chao," Little Han happily answered to Zion.

Rouzhen's sight fell inadvertently towards Zion. He was so jealous deep inside after seeing the flowers he gave to Xiaoxi.

"Brother Zion, I am going to get you a pair of dishes!" Xiaoxi put the flowers on the side of the cupboard and immediately pick dishes and handed it to Zion.

Chao smiled at Zion and his small eyes bent into a bright moon and said: "Uncle, this is the first time my Mommy received a flower from a man!"

"Chao! Focus on your food!" Xiaoxi stops her little boy. She felt the awkward situation they have currently.

Rouzhen looked at Zion's eyes and his cold expression seems to remind Zion that he came at the wrong timing.

Zion ignored Rouzhen's expression because he knew he is jealous. Deep inside, Zion doesn't have any feelings for Xiaoxi but he only likes him as a sister. However their current scene he suddenly thought that he had destroyed Rouzhen's moment with Xiaoxi.

"Sister, thank for inviting me to dinner. I will need to wash my hand first!" He quickly stood up and went to the kitchen sink to breathe air as he saw Rouzhen's sharp glances.

The two children starting to dig in when Rouzhen suddenly excused himself. He gets the cigarette from his pocket and ignited the smoke inside the dining room.

"Hey, are you going to eat?" Xiaoxi asks him when he saw Rouzhen stood up.

"I lost my appetite!" He said and turned to leave but Chao speaks.

"Uncle Rouzhen, don't smoke when your stomach is empty!" He heard Chao's great concern. "It's not good for your health and it will ruin your appetite!"

He then looked at Xiaoxi who is silently sitting and never said any words. He wanted to drag her away from the dining room and bring her outside to confront why it seems she looks so pleased with Zion's gesture. He realized he can't throw a bad reaction in front of their children since they are just visiting Xiaoxi's house.

"Hey two uncle, you guys are both good and I think having dinner together in a silent way makes us all enjoy these foods in front of us!" Chao blurted out.

Two men both look at Chao's direction and they understand that the little boy had his good suggestion. Xiaoxi couldn't believe that her little boy understands what was going on between the two men.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry everyone is waiting!" Rouzhen smile and returns to his chair. He secretly holds Xiaoxi's hand and smiled at her.

Xiaoxi felt sudden nervous as she knows Rouzhen reminded her that he is not happy with the sudden presence of Zion.

Xiaoxi took a bowl of soup and handed it over to Rouzhen. "Have some soup!"

"Thank you, HONEY!" Rouzhen said in a clear voice that makes Zion look at him. Xiaoxi didn't react to it because she knows Rouzhen tried to pissed her off.

Zion said nothing but he know Rouzhen did it on purpose. He just ignored him and focus on the food on his plate. He picked up the bowl of soup and smelled it then instantly taste it, he was surprised that the simple ribs soup bring good taste into his taste buds. He admired how Xiaoxi made it: "Sister Xiaoxi, this one tastes good! You cook well than a chef!"

Hearing his words, Xiaoxi couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Big brother, you flattered me!"

"Yeah, that's the reason why my son wanted to come here. He likes most of Xiaoxi cooked food. It feels good to have a dinner like this with a loving wife, isn't it?" Rouzhen's cold eyes looked at him.

Xiaoxi swallowed her saliva and subconsciously looked at Rouzhen.

"Uncle Zion the dishes cooked by Auntie are delicious and there's a tender taste of a home cook food from a Mommy," Han's words also followed.

Rouzhen licked his lips and said nothing while enjoying his food.

"Mommy's taste? I heard if for the first time! Thank you, Han!" Xiaoxi smiled at Han.

"I think Han likes your food a lot!" Zion said.

"Uncle, didn't you like Aunties cooked food? It tastes good!"

"Han, stop talking now and continue to eat!" At this time Rouzhen who had been silent for a moment suddenly spoke and looked at his young boy. His voice is too light but it still makes Han feel that it is a warning to stop and his gloomy face scare his son.

"Brother you eat now! Uncle Rouzhen seems felt bad!" Chao said.

Xiaoxi felt a little annoyed with Rouzhen's behavior for treating his son in front of them. "He is a child, you should be gentle!"

When he heard Xiaoxi spoke he suddenly felt a little embarrassed and said: "We are in front of the dining table, it's improper to talk a lot!"

Chao looked at Rouzhen and blinked his eyes and immediately said: "Someone gets jealous! Mommy in the future our family can be lively with Uncle Rouzhen and Uncle Zion together to spend another dinner with us! You two can come again and let each of your impress my Mommy by bringing a gift like flowers or maybe chocolate!"

He wants to see which of the two uncles is good and who is more gentle and the best one to be his father!

"Oh, is that so? Sounds interesting, isn't it Rou Rou?" Zion looked at Rouzhen with a devilish smile on his handsome face.

Rouzhen desperately looked at him and it seems he wanted to kill him the way he throws his look.

"Yeah, it sounds interesting, fair deal! It's like an adventure that we both know who will win at the end!" Rouzhen answered him seriously while putting down his chopsticks.

"I think we need to stop talking in front of food!" Xiaoxi tried to cut the unpleasant situation.

"Honey, we are just having a nice conversation! Isn't it good to hear that someone would love to challenge me!" Rouzhen's said.

"It is good to hear that both of you wanted to come to our house. Han, you should come often and bring Uncle Rouzhen!" Chao cheered in a happy tone.

"Okay!" Han did not know the current situation and innocently said again: "Uncle Zion, I will call you next time when Daddy and I visit Auntie's house!"

Zion laughed from what he heard and glanced at Rouzhen then shrugged. "Okay, no problem! Let your Dad remind me next time!"

Rouzhen took a sip of soup and his low- lying eyes covered the hidden emotions. "You have to much control! I doubt how long you could stand on me!"

Xiaoxi bowed her head and she blushed while hearing two men conversation.

It was a bit stiff to smile and then Zion answered lazily, "I think it is good to have a challenge. Chasing a woman without another rival wouldn't be exciting! I care about you as my friend but let's see how you are going to deal with something when it comes to love!"

Rouzhen raised his gaze and stared at Zion, and his skeptical eyes looked at him sharply. Is he going to chase Xiaoxi?

"Rou Rou why you look at me seriously? Do you fall in love with me?" He wanted to piss him off and Zion's devilish smile make Rouzhen feel annoyed. He even caught him shrugging his shoulders.

"Boring!" With a low voice, Rouzhen attacked his legs under the table. His childish action makes Zion laughed silently and he quickly withdraw back to escape his another attack. Rouzhen still pretends to be innocent and continue his food.

"I often see my boss buried in the company for the whole day and his skills are still good but suddenly I was amazed knowing he tried to chase someone after he kicked her out!" He grinned at him. "Rou Rou, when are you going back to work? I am exhausted and worn out with the tasks you've given to me?"

Rouzhen's sharp eyes looked at him with very ill-conceived anger and his glance even become fierce this time. " Please, don't talk about business when we eat. There's an exact place to discuss it!"

"Uncle got sick and he spent the night with us because Mommy took care of him!" Chao answered immediately.

"Ah! He got sick!" Zion raised his eyebrows. "What kind of disease?"

"Catch a cold and Mommy extend her help to Uncle!" Chao again. "Uncle you can also come to our house if you get sick, my Mom will take care of you!"

"Good boy, you look forward that Uncle will seek help to your Mom when getting sick! Your idea is great, I must let your Mommy took care of me next time!" Zion said while looking at Rouzhen.

Xiaoxi hurriedly looked up and she saw a gloomy face of Rouzhen. "Bother Zion, the CEO has a fever so I have to take care of him!"

Her words were unintentional but Rouzhen heard it as if he had been explaining to Zion. He looked at Xiaoxi's thoughts on Zion's smile and he felt sullen when he confirmed that this naive woman seems so gentle with Zion.

He once looked at Rouzhen's expressionless face and laughed loudly. "If you catch a cold without going to work, then I hope that the cold will befall to me soon!"

Rouzhen raised his eyebrows and sharply blinked his eyes. Said profoundly, "Well, then, You can choose to lie in bed for three months! I will surely allow you to have that long break from work!"

He deliberately stopped talking when heard Rouzhen's answer and replied: "I don't have to get out of bed from three months?" He was a little scared by his sudden indifference. He retracted his smile and looked at Rouzhen who is now seriously staring at him.

"You didn't get it wrong! I will allow you to take a long vacation if in case you get sick!" Rouzhen once again uttered his answer.

"My boss so considerate with his subordinates. I look forward to taking a long vacation once a certain illness befalls me!" He smiled at Rouzhen and his handsome face with a pair of sly peach eyes and pretty delicate skin annoyed Rouzhen.

Xiaoxi doesn't know what the two men are saying, how can she stop them from annoying each other.

"Too boring, continue to work overtime tomorrow!" Rouzhen's tone os stiff mouth seems to have something suppressed in his heart.

"You are taking this personally!" He muttered and no matter what mood of Rouzhen was, he wanted to play his emotions because he thinks his best friend is seriously chasing Xiaoxi. He can't imagine that the cold man would probably change and will chase a woman which would not be accepted by his father.

"Uncle tries this one it's very delicious!" Han is anxious to recommend the food.

"Thank Han, you're so sweet!"

Rouzhen raging emotions deep inside become more intent mostly when he glances at Xiaoxi who is now smiling at Zion when Han attempted to offer the food.

"Bother Zion have another bowl of soup. Here!" Xiaoxi gives Zion another bowl of soup.

Rouzhen smirked at her and suddenly felt mad. He dipped his eyes and his eyes narrowed to Zion.

"Honey, you seem so sweet today and you offered more to Zion. You forget that I seated at your side. Care to offer me another soup too?" Rouzhen looked at her and showed his most attractive smile.

"Oh, I… Sorry, I thought you're done, eating! Here! Have another bowl of soup!" she blushed while looking at Rouzhen.

"Thank you! Honey!" Rouzhen smiled back at her and suddenly touch her face.

Xiaoxi felt awkward by his immediate action but she chose to ignore him.

"Someone flirted my Mommy even in front of others!" Chao shook his head while looking at Rouzhen.

"Uncle, this is delicious, sly and try it. The food tastes good, right?" Han who is not aware of what's going on offered another dish to Zion.