*shback*


    When Ling Qiaolian called Xiao Zhiren as her most perfect creation, she wasn’t boasting. She was telling the truth. When she first entered the Ji Family as a pitiful widower with her pitiful daughter, her target wasn’t Xiao Zhiren. However, when she came across Xiao Zhiren, she couldn’t help making him her pawn.


    As Ru had always said, Xiao Zhiren’s biggest problem was his kindness. He was too good and that actually made him a very gullible person. It wasn’t really difficult for Ling Qiaolian to earn his trust back then considering how little he was at that time. He was a bright kid with a kind heart and it allowed her to wrap him around her fingers and mold him the way she wanted.


    He could be known as her first experiment body. And it was fascinating how it worked so well. Because day by day, Xiao Zhiren’s dependence on her increased. He would do anything for her even if she asked to kill someone, he won’t hesitate.


    The real truth about Xiao Zhiren and Xiao Zhi’er that even Ji Syaoran was oblivious to were that under Ling Qiaolian’s control, Xiao Zhiren indeed tried to kill his mother, Xiao Zhi’er because his young brain waspletely ruled by the lies that Ling Qiaolian chose to imnt in his brain. ording to her, if she used Xiao Zhiren to kill Xiao Zhi’er, it would clear her path. She’d eventually seed in marrying Ji Yifeng and bing the young mistress of the Ji Family which would give her ess to the money and power of Ji Family that she needed toplete her experiments.


    She, however, underestimated the strength of Xiao Zhi’er who managed to survive her own son’s attack but it left a huge impact on her brain making her incapable to stay sane. But this one incident was enough to rm the Ji Family and that’s when she chose to flee. She could run away alone but leaving her perfect creation behind wasn’t something she was willing to do. She had put her years into making Xiao Zhiren her biggest weapon, how could she give up on him.


    Even under her control, Xiao Zhiren’s attachment to his youngest brother, Xiao Zhiyuan didn’t lessen. So, she took Xiao Zhiyaun with herself as well. Kind of like an insurance policy that could be used anywhere anytime to lure Xiao Zhiren back to her cage if he ever dared to rebel against her.


    Her n was perfect. It was really perfect since she brought both of the sons far away from their family and chose to feed them lies to make the hate grow inside them like weeds that one could pull out but it would still leave it’s roots somewhere within.


    She was the one who sent Xiao Zhiren to train under the skilled masters. She wanted him to have the skills that she needed not just the obedience that she needed.


    Everything was going great until a certain someone chose to walk in Xiao Zhiren’s life unannounced and made his brain to think differently. That, someone, was none other than Ru.


    *Ten Years Ago*


    Ru had run away from home in the darkness of the night. She wasn’t really worried that anyone would follow her. Even if anyone did, she didn’t have to worry since she could hide very well with her impable skills. She was wandering around the Capital for the very first time in her life. She found a ce to eat and started her food tour for which she actually ran from the home.


    While she was passing by a dim-sum ce, she watched ady sitting with tarot cards and a huge crowd around her. With her curious nature, she also joined the crowd and sat down before thedy saying, "Can you really tell my future?"


    Thedy’s gentle eyes stared at Ru’s eyes for a moment longer before she said, "Youngdy, you’ve beautiful eyes." Ru eyes widened slightly. How could she tell that she was a girl? She was clearly in her male attire even now. She had bought female clothing as her best disguise but she had yet to find a ce to change. Well, the truth was that she got distracted by the food on her way.


    Thedy chuckled softly at Ru’s reaction and shook her head. She ced cards before Ru and said, "Why don’t you pick your own future?"


    Ru was surprised to hear those words. She found thedy even more peculiar than before. She didn’t hesitate and picked up a card. She showed it to thedy since she couldn’t understand it herself. Thedy took the card and stared at it for a moment longer than she did for others. Ru frowned in her impatience, "What is it? Just say it." ’Not like I’m gonna believe you anyway.’ she added in her own mind but chose not to say it out loud. This was just a new experience for her. Something she didn’t find in Shadowwick state.


    "Red thread of destiny..." thedy whispered making Ru’s frown to get deeper.


    "What? What are you talking about?" asked Ru.


    Thedy looked at Ru, this time with aplicated gaze as she said, "Little girl, the strength of red thread is strong. It’s gonna tug at your heart." Ru was scowling now, she felt like thedy was talking in riddles because she really couldn’t understand her. "I don’t know what to say. You can’t avoid this fate but..." all of a sudden, she held Ru’s hand and whispered, "Choose your path wisely. Everyone we meet on the same road is not meant for the same destinations. The bond that this thread had built can burn you."


    Ru pulled her hand away from her hold and rolled her eyes saying, "Listen, olddy, this young master only knows one thing life, you either do it or don’t do it. There is no way around it. If I want to choose my road to doom, I’ll still dly walk on that road because I chose it myself!"


    She abruptly got up and turned around to leave but right at this moment, she bumped into someone’s chest. As she looked up, her green eyes were staring into ck orbs that looked dazed and nk.


    The olddy shook her head as she whispered, "Sigh! Little girl, it seems like your destiny is not willing to let you choose your path. I hope even if burns you, you’re strong enough to rise from the ashes like the phoenix you’re born as."


    *shback to be continued*