Zhu Rui was preparing the dinner. Xiao Long was helping her as well when Zhao came there. Seeing him, the two stopped their work. Zhu Rui went to him and asked if how he was. "I need water," Zhao stated. Xiao Long quickly poured water in a glass from the jar and handed the glass to Zhao who drank it in a go.

"I was so thirsty. Shall I help you two?" Zhao asked, wearing a tiny smile on his lips.

​​

"We are almost done. You shall take rest," Zhu Rui suggested him.

"I have taken more than enough rest," Zhao answered and tilted his head to look what was on the stove. "You are making Hotpot?" Zhao asked her. Zhu Rui shook her head in agreement.

"Uncle, don't tire out yourself. Go to your room. When the dinner will be ready, I will call you," Zhao asserted. Xiao Long first hesitated but then Zhao did not listen to him and took him out with him. Zhu Rui smiled and went back to the counter.

She lowered the flame of the stove and started chopping the carrots that had to be put in the soup when Zhao came there and stood against the counter. Zhu Rui looked at him. "I am shocked to know that Xian is my cousin," Zhao pronounced. Zhu Rui saw the sadness in Zhao's eyes when her finger cut from the knife as her focus was on Zhao.

"Ahh," she passed a low scream. Zhao quickly came closer to her and then grabbed her finger. "You should be careful," Zhao said and sucked Zhu Rui's skin from which blood was oozing out. Zhu Rui was startled by this gesture of Zhao. He pulled away and pressed gently the cut with his thumb. "Where is the bandage?" he asked, looking at her.

"In the room- the first aid box," Zhu Rui answered. Zhao gave a nod and strode out of the kitchen. In a minute, he came back to the kitchen and applied the bandage on Zhu Rui's finger. "I will cook," Zhao said as he made Zhu Rui sat on the counter stool there.

Zhao went to the counter and started chopping the vegetables. "Whatever is going on in your mind, you can tell me," Zhu Rui told Zhao.

"Many things are going on and I do not know what are the answers for those questions!" Zhao asserted. "Destiny really played well with me," Zhao jokingly said. Zhu Rui stood up from the counter stool and back hugged Zhao.

Zhao stopped chopping as he was shocked by this act of Zhu Rui. "It is tough for you, right? But, you can lean your head on my shoulder and empty your head out. Don't let those things trouble you. Share them with me. I will solve them for you," Zhu Rui stated.

Mark put the knife down at the counter and grabbed Zhu Rui's both hands. He turned to her and spoke, "There are no answers of those questions. Don't worry, I will get rid of them soon." Zhao gave her a faint smile. He patted on Zhu Rui's cheek and turned back to the counter.

"I am putting the rice in rice cooker," Zhu Rui with a disappointment said which Zhao noticed. Zhu Rui was putting the rice into the rice cooker when she heard Zhao speak, "I have to fight from this myself. Sorry, if I am frustrating you but this is the way your husband has turned into!"

"Sharing lessens the problems," Zhu Rui proclaimed. Zhao smiled and hummed. Zhu Rui was turning on the switch of the rice cooker when Zhao asked, "How will my problems be lessened by sharing?"

"We can find out the solutions for that," Zhu Rui replied.

"Give me the solution then. Why my aunt never found me until today when she found that I am her sister's son? Why did she never try to find her sister? Why did my mother never talk about her with me? Why now she wants me to go to her house?" Zhao asked a few questions from Zhu Rui at once. Zhao checked the salt and spices in the soup.

"Aunt was saying that something happened years ago between them. Maybe that's why they did not talk with each for long. Your mother is worried about you so, she asked her sister to take care of you as well," Zhu Rui answered.

Zhao chuckled and increased the flame of stove. "No, that's not the case. My mother always thought that I need someome who could take care of me. She does not believe his son and asked others to help me. I know her," Zhao asserted with a slight hatred in his tone.

"Why do you not talk with her? Your f-father is going to be hanged tomorrow. Your mother might need you there and then you can talk with her. I mean you shall know the truth about everything instead of keeping yourself in darkness," stated Zhu Rui.

"She had refused to told me. Are you seeing my mother is still taking her husband side instead of telling the truth to her son. I know she never knew about this profession of her husband but why is she hiding it with me? Does she think I am incapable to do things?" Zhao blurted out his thoughts.

"She does not want to worry himself. There might be a chance that she is being threatened by your father. Just talk with her once," Zhu Rui suggested Zhao as she went near to him.

"I don't think I shall talk with her anymore! She should have trusted me and told me the day I was begging her not to lie in the station. I was crying and pleading my mom not to give false statements but she did the opposite. If for her, her son is not important then same goes for me," Zhao proclaimed with teary eyes and he lifted his head up not to let those tears flow down his eyes.

~~~~~~~

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