Ru's real identity might be a secret to many but Zhu Jie wasn't one of those people. He was the first person who called her a friend. He was also the only one who never addressed her as Young Master Ru. For him, she was just Ru'er. His best friend and a brother. Yes! A brother because even though he knew she was a girl, he couldn't see her as one.

It wasn't his fault. She never acted like a girl, he never treated her like one. But between them, there had never been a thing called secret. He was the one who could yell at her without any fear. Because he might be the only person from Ru's generation, who never got intimidated by her. He called her formidable but he was so sure of her love and care for him that he couldn't possibly imagine her hurting him.

Just like any other time, she had related the entire encounter with Xiao Zhi Ren from beginning till tonight. And the only reply she got in return was, "Hmmm... Interesting."

"Aren't you shocked? Surprised? Stunned? Anything?" Ru questioned incredulously.

"I'm not." He answered plainly.

"I just told you that indirectly, he just confessed his love. Isn't that shocking?" She asked again.

"Not at all." Ru was to ask why when he answered her unasked question himself, "Just because you believe that people can't love you doesn't mean I have to share your dumb views as well."

"Do you know why I called?" She asked changing the topic. She was tired of hearing the same thing over and over again from him. He always said if he can love her as a person, anyone can love her as a woman. And she can't stop people from doing so. What Rubbish!

"I know. You're trying to come up with ways to run away from him. And that's why you are calling me. You want me to tell you that you are right. But..." He took a deep breath and went on, "I won't say it. For me, your decision is wrong and it'll stay wrong."

Ru rubbed her forehead and asked, "Why? Isn't it good? He'll give up easily. He doesn't even know what he is getting himself into."

"Let me ask you a simple question... How far are you gonna run? I know you are tired. For God's sake, stop it already. On your eighteenth birthday, you're meant to become the Head of your clan but you chose to run away. Even though you were prepared for that one step all your life, you chose to run. Then the person who saved your life, he cared about you and you knew that yet you ran from the hospital again in the name of looking for revenge. And today, you are trying to run all over again."

His words brought so much guilt back to her that she felt like bursting up in exasperation. She knew each of his words were right.

Zhu Jie's voice suddenly turned softer as he continued, "Ru'er, are you afraid of falling?"

"I've already fallen to my grave once. How can I be scared of falling?" She answered ironically.

"Then are you afraid of the dark?"

"How can that be? I've become one with the dark long time ago."

"Are you scared of love?" He didn't give her a chance to answer this time, as he added, "I guess I have the answer to this question, you are rather scared of being loved instead of love itself."

Ru didn't say a word to deny it. She couldn't possibly do so.

"Instead of using your bloody smart mind on finding ways to run, face his love. Even if you can't reciprocate his feelings, don't leave him hanging like this. That'd be an insult to his feelings and you were raised better than that!"

"Love is suffering in itself..." she remarked rather defenselessly.

"We all are defenseless against suffering. And there isn't any love in this world that doesn't go through suffering. You have to stick around him to know whether he's worth that suffering or not. Loveless life is also suffering then why not take a risk and live a life filled with love brewed in suffering."

Ru gave a strange smile as his words registered in her mind. "I thought I was the genius between the two of us."

Zhu Jie chuckled and replied, "My genius narcissistic friend, search through your memory. These are indeed your own words. It's just that you have the best advice for the world but when it comes to yourself, you choose the worst options. That's why I'm in your life to knock some sense into your mind."

She couldn't deny his words again.