When Ru didn't hear anything for a long while, she peeked inside and saw Ji Syaoran staring at his mother with a complex look. The rims of his eyes had turned red. He sat down on the floor and held his mother's hands as he asked, "Mum, you recognize me?"

Xiao Zhi'er frowned at him strangely and stroked the side of his face saying, "My little wolf[1], how can I not recognize you? Do you think your mom is that forgetful?"

Ji Syaoran's tear finally fell down as he smiled bitterly while thinking, 'How should I tell you? In the past 14 years, this is the fourth time you actually called me by my name.' Even though his heart was feeling heavy, he couldn't stop smiling. He kissed his mother's hands and said, "Mum, your little wolf is really lonely without you."

Xiao Zhi'er touched his head and said, "But mom is right here with you. How can my little wolf be alone? Isn't my Renren with you?"

Ji Syaoran's face stiffened at her words as he laughed sadly and asked, "What if I say bro is not with me?"

Xiao Zhi'er had an unpleasant look on her as she replied, "Aye, that's not possible. My Renren promised to protect his brother for life. How can he not be with you?"

Ji Syaoran placed his head in her lap and said, "Mum still remembers what bro said years ago. Why does mum always forget me then?"

Ru could hear his resentment and helpless in his choked up voice. She had already gathered that Ji Syaoran was the only person besides the elders of the Ji Family who knew everything. And he was living with the burden of all those truths as well.

Not being recognized by his own mother... Even the idea was really sad.

Xiao Zhi'er kept running her hand through his hair as she said, "My little wolf has grown so tall and you're still jealous of your elder brother?"

Ji Syaoran lifted his head and looked at her face as he spoke, "Shouldn't I be? It's been 14 years since bro left and it's been the same amount of years that I've lost my own mother. Isn't it weird that even though he is never around, you only know him? And even when I am here, you don't even spare me a glance."

Xiao Zhi'er had a childlike innocence and clueless look on her face as she asked, "What are talking about Syaoran?"

Ji Syaoran stared at his mother's face for a long time and shook his head saying, "Nothing. Your Syaoran has become a lost cause."

"Wasn't he born a lost cause?" Xiao Zhi'er teased him.

Ji Syaoran scowled at her and whined like a kid, "Mum... How can you say this to your own son?"

She pinched his nose and said, "You started it yourself."

Ji Syaoran couldn't refute at all. So, he held her hand and placed it back on his head saying, "You keep this right here. I need you to touch my head to make me believe that it isn't one of my dreams again."

His last words strangely touched Ru way too deeply. She could feel how hurt he was inside. Just what did he have to go through because of his family drama? She had seen him always trying to seek Xiao Zhiren's attention. But it never crossed her mind that he wasn't an attention seeker, he was really lacking attention in his life.

Even if the whole world showered him with love, what did it amount to? In the end, his own mother couldn't recognize him most of the time and as for his brother, he didn't recognize him either. Since for Xiao Zhiren, Ji Syaoran was still a half-brother. How unfair it was to him!

Ru was just pondering over some thoughts when she heard the door opening and turned to see who entered. It was her first time seeing Ji Caihong since the time she got on the cruise ship. Actually, she hadn't seen this girl for a very long time. And if Ru's memory wasn't good, she'd have really forgotten Ji Caihong's existence.

Both Ji Syaoran and Xiao Zhi'er looked in her direction. Ji Caihong was a bit stunned to see Xiao Zhi'er but soon a smile bloomed on her face as she called out, "Mom!"

Ru's attention, however, had shifted to Xiao Zhi'er. The woman's face had gone pale. She immediately stood up and pulled Ji Syaoran behind her. She appeared vigilant as she glared at Ji Caihong and raised her hand to stop her from taking another step.

"Don't you dare come near my son!"

Ru's curiosity took another turn when she heard Xiao Zhi'er's words.

"Mom, it's me. Xiao Hong. Your daughter." Ji Caihong tried to speak but Xiao Zhi'er didn't give her a chance at all.

"I don't have a daughter. You're lying. You're that evil witch that ruined my family. I won't let you take my Syaoran. No, I won't." Xiao Zhi'er's eyes seemed dazed as if she had gone back in time.

Ji Syaoran pressed her hand and said in a soothing voice, "Mum, calm down. It's alright." He turned to look at Ji Caihong and said, "Why are you here?"

Tears were trickling down Ji Caihong's face as she looked at Xiao Zhi'er's protective stance for Ji Syaoran and shouted, "Why can't I be here? Isn't she my mother as well? Why does she always do this to me only?"

Hearing the sharp tone of Ji Caihong as if Xiao Zhi'er was triggered. Her whole body shook violently as she picked up a glass vase and threw it on the floor before throwing everything on the floor from the table.

"Get out! Leave my family alone! Isn't it enough that you killed my Renren?" As she spoke, she suddenly fell on the floor as if realizing something, she mumbled, "Right. You murdered my son. You took him from me."

"Mum!" Ji Syaoran kneeled down beside and held her body in his arms as he glared at Ji Caihong. "Are you happy now? Leave already."

Ji Caihong looked reluctant and anxious as she looked at the lifeless state of Xiao Zhi'er but she still turned around and left the room with tears in her eyes. Ji Syaoran kept shaking his mother but she didn't react at all as if she had gone into a state of shock. Ji Syaoran was scared out of his wits.

Ru who had been observing until now chose this moment to slid open the door and walked inside. Ji Syaoran was stunned to see her there but before he could ask, Ru said, "I can either answer your question or save your mother. Hope you know your priorities."

Ji Syaoran didn't even have to think as he said, "Please, help my mother if you can."

[1] Syaoran literally means 'little wolf'