*Flashback Continued*

Ru had always been the kind of person who would never change her opinions based on what others say. In fact, it was right to say that she didn't believe in the crowd's opinion. According to her, she had her own brain to make a judgment, why should she listen to others when she still had the ability to think for herself?

That was the reason why she was so straightforward with Xiao Zhi'er. She knew that her words might get her in trouble with her father since Xiao Zhi'er was just like a sister to him but even with this knowledge, she couldn't help but say what she thought to be right.

With a knife in her hand, she was sharpening a wooden stick while she sat on a tree's branch. She had been sitting here to avoid seeing Abbott Wang Xiuying. She knew that old man would nag again. So, it was better to avoid him for a while.

She had specifically chosen this spot behind the mountain where the waterfall was. The sound of the waterfall was really relaxing.

While she was enjoying herself in the silence, she heard some noises and looked down. The scene before her made her frown in disdain again.

Why?

Because not far from her, some local boys were teasing Xiao Zhiren. Seeing how he was again being bullied, she was really disappointed.

"I heard this city boy is very rich," one of the little hooligans said.

"Look at his soft skin. Isn't it softer than a girl?" The group of six boys guffawed at this remark.

"Let me go. My security team will not go easy on you all." Xiao Zhiren tried to scare them and it made them laugh even more. But they weren't alone. Even Ru had laughed at his words. If this was his way of threatening, Ru really didn't know what to say.

However, she didn't make any attempt to help him. She was silently getting amused to see that race of cat and mouse between them. Six of those hooligans couldn't even catch a little boy. Ay, it was such a shame! But she had to agree that even though Xiao Zhiren had no knowledge of martial arts, his body was really agile.

He was easily escaping from them but he seemed lost. He had been running in circles which showed that he didn't know the way back.

Finally, when he was caught and one of those boys was going to hit him, that's when Ru moved. She held the hand of that boy stopping his attack and said, "I hate noisy people." With that, she squeezed the hand and the boy cried out in pain as a bone-crushing sound could be heard.

Xiao Zhiren was surprised to see her there and he didn't even dare to squeak out. And what followed was a stunning show of one-sided beating. The sound of bones breaking could be heard clearly which could make one shudder. Xiao Zhiren was stunned to his place even when those boys ran away to save themselves. Well most of them limped their way back.

"Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" Ru questioned looking at the stunned Xiao Zhiren. "You're not a kid. How can you still let people bully you?"

"Didn't you bully me as well?" Xiao Zhiren asked pointing at her accusingly.

"Ehem!" Ru cleared her throat and said, "That's different. I had a genuine reason for doing that. As for those boys, they wanted satisfaction out of your fear."

Saying that she started trecking her way back up the mountain while Xiao Zhiren followed closely behind. "Why did you help me?"

"Who said I helped you?" Ru retorted back. "Their loud voices got on my nerve," was her excuse as she added, "Why are you following me?"

"Because I don't know the way back," he answered honestly.

"Little weakling," Ru muttered with a shake of her head.

Xiao Zhiren wanted to say something but his words turned into a scream as his foot slipped and his body lost momentum. By the time Ru looked back at him, his body was already falling down. Ru sighed out before jumping right after him.

Down the small cliff was the waterfall which was Ru's favorite spot in Jingshen. Who knew she would have to jump in the water again to save that little weakling again. She could have let go but knowing how he was the son of Xiao Zhi'er, she had to sort her priorities all over again.

Xiao Zhiren was moving his arms and legs frantically in the water even when Ru held his waist, he didn't stop moving. She slapped his face to wake him up and said, "Stop exaggerating. You're not dying! The water is not even deep enough."

Xiao Zhiren looked at her with resentment but stayed quiet. She helped him out of the water and felt like an idiot for helping him again. He was the trouble magnet for sure!

"How can you really not know how to swim? Is it that tough?" She snapped him while she pulled the long hairpin out of her hair. Her shoulder-length hair fell down.

Xiao Zhiren was shivering as he replied through chattering teeth, "It's not like I didn't try to learn how to swim. I'm just scared of water."

Ru looked at him weirdly and scowled, "What's there to be scared about?" She felt a sting in her eyes and felt like rubbing it. With the help of her pinky fingers, she took her lenses off and splashed some water in her eyes.

Xiao Zhiren looked at her green eyes and was left mesmerized. In a daze, he replied, "There is nothing to be scared of except for the fact that whenever I'm in deep water, my heart starts hurting. It aches like it's breaking into pieces."

Ru frowned at his reply and said, "That doesn't make sense. Do you have a trauma or something?"

She took off her outer robe to squeeze the water out when she heard his reply, "Not sure about the trauma. The only thing I can remember is my nightmare where I always end up seeing someone drown in water."

"That's just a dream. Why are you taking it so seriously?" Ru questioned indifferently. "If every dream turned into a reality, I'd be a fairy with wings by now."

"Are you sure, it's not devil with wings?" He questioned as he turned to look at her and was left dumbstruck. Her back was facing him while she tried to dry her robes. What left him dumbstruck was the white bandage around her chest. He immediately turned around and shouted, "Hey, how can you just take off your clothes?"

He was in shock to know that she was a girl. A GIRL! He felt like hitting himself. How can he be bullied by a girl? But when he thought about it, he realized she wasn't a normal girl. So, he shouldn't be this embarrassed.

Ru looked at him and her brows snapped together again, "What's gotten into you?"

"Put your clothes back on," he screamed.

"Don't yell at me! I'll really drown you in the water for real this time!" Ru's voice had a sharp edge while she wore her long robes back on and tied the belt. Thinking of something, she went close to him and poked his head saying, "Are you shy?"

Xiao Zhiren stepped back and said, "You! Why are you so careless and carefree? Don't go around taking your clothes off anywhere."

"Little weakling, why are talking like my father?" Ru had a thoughtful look on her face. The same words she had heard so many times from her father were said by him now. But she was never given a reason why. "I just wanted to dry my clothes, it's nothing to get so worked up about."

Xiao Zhiren looked at her face closely and couldn't stop himself from staring. He could see she was younger than him but he couldn't find that childlike impression on her face. The expression of her face was serious that didn't suit her age at all. But her eyes made everything seem just right. They were so profound that he felt himself losing in that pair.

On instinct, he lifted his hand and touched her head and asked, "Do you know how to smile?"

Ru swatted his hand away saying, "That has nothing to do with you."

"I just think you'll look beautiful with a smile on your face," he replied with a small smile.

Ru shrugged her shoulders saying, "Aiyo, this Young Master is born handsome. A smile is not needed."

Xiao Zhiren pursed his lips as he thought about her words, 'Young Master? I really don't think so! But handsome? I can agree with that part.'