To Hurt You

After a warm and hearty breakfast, the Lu siblings were quite content, their tummy as well as their hearts both were full.

Initially, the brother-sister duo played their favorite video games for two hours straight, reliving their childhood memories, then Sera started winning more rounds than Lu Jinan. Therefore, the pair decided to call it quits, of course on his insistence.

Exhausted after playing and bantering to their heart's content, Sera and Lu Jinan leaned on the colorful rattan chairs in the garden, against the magical man-made lake's backdrop. They had big smiles on their faces full with satisfaction. There were two glasses of juice on the round table before them, and a plate of freshly cut fruits.

"Ah! Brother~ The air feels so fresh!"

Popping a piece of juicy red strawberry in her mouth, Sera vocalized.

With his gaze fixed on the serene lake, Lu Jinan's thin lips curved faintly at Sera's words.

"It's been so long since we spent time like this together.. I'm so happy!"

Unbothered by Lu Jinan's silence as he cast a look at her glowing face, Sera turned to gaze at him with a big smile. Her black orbs turned to small crescents as she said in her mellifluous voice.

"All this sweet talk, isn't it just to appease me?"

Extending his hand to tousle Sera's dark hair affectionately, Lu Jinan teased her as he asked.

"Uh? No.. I'm really sorry for hurting you, bro.."

Blinking her eyes innocently at Lu Jinan's question, Sera mumbled with a small pout and cute pleading eyes that resembled that of a puppy's.

"Enough, stop with those puppy eyes!"

Suddenly moving his large hand that was ruffling Sera's hair to cover her large doe eyes, Lu Jinan exclaimed in a troubled manner.

"Haha.."

Owing to Lu Jinan's remarks, Sera erupted in a peal of laughter before comfortably leaning against his broad chest. Her eyes fluttered closes as she peacefully savored the moment.

"Brother, do you remember how we used to conduct a painting competitions back in the day, hmm.. I must be 10? No, 12! I don't remember clearly.."

Jumping on her seat, Sera abruptly turned to Lu Jinan who was startled by her rapid movements. The hazy, distant look in her sister's black pupils as she tried to recall perturbed Lu Jinan, and his gaze darkened.

"..If you don't remember, then why are you putting unnecessary strain on your pea-sized brain?!"

With a dark frown coloring his features, Lu Jinan hurriedly interjected. Impatience and irritation clear in his tone.

"Heh! Should we call Yinyin and see if she's free? We can have fun together.."

Chuckling lightly, Sera easily changed the topic after seeing a vexed Lu Jinan with annoyance all over his face.

"Hmm.. But I can't join you guys. I have an important dinner to attend"

Humming a tune, Lu Jinan interrupted with a mildly stern expression. His tone had a slight change too.

"Oh!"

Unable to detect the barely noticeable changes in Lu Jinan, Sera exclaimed in a low voice.

"Brother.. I have a question to ask!"

As the pair of siblings made their way to the mansion, Sera tentatively paused in her steps and turned to Lu Jinan.

"What happened?"

Curious, Lu Jinan stopped as he gazed down at Sera's obvious hesitation as he quizzed. The man's instincts telling him that something is wrong!

"Nothing.. It's just.. Have we ever been to a hotel that had caught fire.."

Fiddling with her fingers, Sera lowered her head as she contemplated before saying in a soft voice.

"..What are you saying! Why, why are you asking such things all of a sudden?"

Before Sera could complete her sentence, the ashen expression on Lu Jinan was prominent as he intercepted with a grave voice, that gradually toned down.

He was afraid of scaring his baby sister with his fierceness.

"Brother, I don't mean to worry you.. I had a really, really weird dream.."

Reading the unusual aura emanating from Lu Jinan as he almost screamed at her in anguish, Sera felt bad. She held his hand to comfort him as she softly added.

Easing his tense expression for Sera's sake, Lu Jinan patiently listened to her words. He could feel the curiosity inside eating him.

"I saw fire everywhere.. Then, suddenly.."

Beads of cold sweat gathered on Sera's small forehead as she started to recall the odd events in her dream.

"Suddenly what Sera?!"

Agitated by her words, Lu Jinan urgently grabbed Sera's shoulders as he shook her while asking anxiously. His tone slightly higher than usual.

Faced with Lu Jinan's mildly aggressive behavior towards her, Sera was at a loss, and her eyes widened visibly with shock.

"Suddenly.. I.. I don't remember, I don't remember anything else!"

Although, Sera was bamboozled by Lu Jinan's unfamiliar actions, she was much more confused by the abrupt and sharp pain in her head, ceasing her recollection. She held her head with her palms, shaking vehemently as she cried in agony.

Stupefied, Lu Jinan hurriedly schooled his expression as well as his tone so as to not scare Sera. He didn't mean to loose control in front of his sister, yet..

"Sera! Sera, relax! Relax.. It's okay, it's okay.."

Holding Sera closer, Lu Jinan inspected her pale and sweating face and gently wiped the dampness. His tone low and soothing, nothing like the grating shouts from earlier.

Like a piece of lifeless cloth, Sera fell into Lu Jinan's sturdy arms, her eyes fluttered close and she lay motionless. Her pale lips dry and trembling.

The moistness on Sera's face almost soaked Lu Jinan's shirt.

Carrying the unconscious Sera in his arms, Lu Jinan dashed inside the mansion like a madman. Taking big strides he hastened towards her bedroom.

"Sera.. Sera.. Thank God you don't remember anything!.."

Tucking Sera carefully in her bed, Lu Jinan perched beside her on the edge of the bed as he rubbed his face tiredly. His slender fingers raked through his short black hair, messily.

"I love you Sera, brother loves you the most in this world and I can't bear to hurt you.."

"..But if you want to be happy, if you want to cherish your friendship with Ethan Lee, then you have to forget everything.."

With bloodshot eyes, Lu Jinan glared at the harmless figure sleeping on the bed with the face of an angel. The man's tone rigid, as though he was holding back himself, a great deal.

"And brother wants you to be happy!"

Gently stroking Sera's plump cheeks with his calloused thumb, Lu Jinan whispered. His gaze softened, a tender light in his dark gaze.