Thunder was heard from afar. Followed by the heavy pour of the rain. The dark clouds became darker, no stars could be seen, even the moon seemed to be hiding.

Below the heavy rain, a tragic scene occurred.

In the road, black cars were opened and abandoned. Dead bodies scattered around the cars.

In the middle of blood and guns, a beautiful lady sat on the road with a blooded man on her lap.

Her beautiful wedding dress stained with blood. Her shiny and long black hair that was freed from the bun flowed freely on her pale shoulders. Even the lady was covered with blood and rain, it cannot cover her stunning beauty.

On her usual cold and indifferent face there was a rarely seen emotions plastered on her while holding the man.

Fear, panicked, anxiety, confusion, exhaustion, and hopelessness were all could be seen.

Her tears flowed in rhythmic with the rain. She had never cried so much like this in her life. Not even in her parents funeral, nor in her grandfather's death. They are all indifferent to her.

But this man...this man who made her heart beat, who made her smile, laugh for the first time, made her feel wanted, precious and loved...

The man who brings 'life' in her empty, dead life.

This man who already hold her heart and life.

If he died she would not know how to live again. She cannot live without him.

"No...Linfeng...Linfeng...don't leave me...stay awake..." the lady hold the man tightly and gently.

The man tried to open his beautiful eyes. Even the man was covered in blood and his wet hair it did not hide the beautiful features of the man. His eyes that always sharp, cold, and full of vigor were now dimmed and in daze.

He tried to see the beautiful woman whom he swore his life to protect to, to care and to love.

He fought to open his eyes and be awake. But he cannot see her face clearly. He reached her face with his bloodied hand and feel her beautiful features. He began to reminisced the past.

" Zhi'er...do you remember when we first met? When I saw you...you already captured my heart...from that day...No matter what I did to stop my feelings from g-growing...I ...I cannot help to love you and be mine....this must be my retribution...for being selfish...I am incapable...and let your life be at stake...you should live in luxury, with a perfect life and I cannot give it to you...forgive me..." Linfeng said between heavy breaths.

"No...no... You've done everything you can to save me. I don't regret it to escape with you...I cannot live with that beast. The only thing I regret in this life is to hold back my feelings for you. We should have enjoy those times...The times were together...without care to the world...because I'm weak, I don't hold power enough to protect both of us...if I just become strong and powerful they can never separate us or bully us...it's my fault..because I'm so weak...." Xiong Zhi cried harder. She never told this to him before, nor told him what she truly feels and how she truly feels about him.

Linfeng tried to strengthen himself to wipe her tears.

"What are you saying...I should be the one who must protect you....because I'm born lower than you, I did not hold power to be with you...cough.." he cough more blood.

"In the next life time if we meet, I will surely fall in love with you again...cough cough..." he cough a couple of times.

" In the next lifetime, I will be strong and hold every moment of us. I will express to you all my love...never to regret again..." Xiong Zhi said with conviction. She had never been this determined before. But at last, it was too late. If she was given a second chance, she would do everything in her power to stopped this from happening. She would defy her faith.

She saw his eyes were dimming and his breathing become slower.

" Without you I cannot live...wait for me...we'll be together soon...." she whispered.

She watched as his eyes closed and stop breathing.

The heavy rain continued to flow endlessly. Xiong Zhi stared at lifeless Linfeng, her eyes were empty and her heart died at same time the man died.

She slowly looked up on the dark sky. She lay there and think about her tragic life.

She had wealth

She had brain

She had beauty

She had a handsome fiance.

Life seems to be perfect for her. That's what they said. That's what they know.

They did not know that..

She was an orphan. She never experienced being love by her parents even when they were alive.

She had an unloving grandfather who only used her as a pawn to expand his business. Arranged a marriage to her with a beast in prince's clothing.

She had a schemer and evil relatives who eye her like a wolf. Ready to pounce at her wealth.

So what of wealth? So what of her surname Xiong? They cannot be used. They were thorny decorations.

Her beauty? Her brains? It cannot be used...She was only a puppet and a model of her grandfather.

She had never become herself. That's why she grew to become cold, indifferent, and never opened to anybody.

Until he came...

Zhi looked at the man and caressed gently his cold face.

He become her light. She did not care about him at first. Not even give him a glance before. Thinking he was only another pawn his grandfather put to stay at her side. But he's different. He cares, even she did not look at him, he always gently give her reminders, advice, courage, and warnings that an aide should not cross.When the world scheme at her, he was the only one who patiently stay at her side. He gives her comfort, protection and love.

He let her feel loved.

He was the only one in her life that she never regretted to known.

Now her most precious one was gone.

He's gone.

Xiong Zhi closed her eyes and stayed at his side holding him endearingly.

She did not feel the cold nor the heavy drops of the rain that prickled on her skin.

For hours, she did not move. She did not even hear the sirens and shouts. While her breathing was becoming fainter she whispered.

"Never again to be weak...Never again wasted our precious time...I'll promise...In the next lifetime... I will protect you...and..love you..."

The police approached the lady who had man on her lap. He tried to talk to her and noticed something. He felt her pulse and said.

"What a tragic...everyone is dead here."

The dark sky witnessing the tragic scene thundered once again.

Thunder was heard from afar followed by the heavy rain. It's morning but the dark clouds covered the sun dimming the surroundings. Through the mansion of Xiong family, a girl woke up and sit up straight.

Her face was pale and full of sweats. Her heart was beating so fast. She look at her surroundings. She recognized her place. But she could not believe what she was seeing.

She was dazed for a while, realizing something, she stand up and run towards her dressing room. Facing the full length mirror. She touch her face.

'It cannot be....how come I become young?!

'Is it all a dream?...But it felt so real....'

Her face was full of disbelief.

She still has a pale translucent skin that seemed to never reach the sun. Her shiny black straight long hair reached to her waist. She still has a dark pair of cold and empty eyes protected by her long curly eyelashes, her thin brows, her straight nose that gathers envy from her cousins, her thin red lips that spoke only few words, her pointed chin, and her little heart shape face, were still the same except she look younger. Like a maiden who were still blooming. The maiden in the mirror had a perfect portion of a woman's body. Full b.r.e.a.s.t, small waist, and long legs. Even the girl looks a teenager it can still capture a full grown man eyes.

But that's not what the girl focused on.

She quickly went outside her room and grabbed a maid.

"What date today is?"

The maid was startled at her sudden action. Because the young miss in front of her never speak to them. Even asked a question. They know her only as the indifferent young miss. The girl that was alone in her world.

"What date today is?" She asked again with a slight desperation on her voice. Hope was displayed in her eyes.

The maid was shocked again. Never ever she saw the young miss showed any emotion. But infront of her the girl look so venerable with a desperation on her voice. The maid felt like she won a lotto.

'This was once in a lifetime experience! The young miss just talk to me and open up to me...'

(A/N : lol..she just ask you...)

The maid felt like crying. But when she felt that her arm was grabbed tighter she remembered to answer.

"Yo....young miss...today is june 4." The maid answered.

"No...I mean is....what year?"

"Eh...2011?" The maid said hesitantly.

Why the young miss asked this?

"2...2011?!" The girl was shocked.

"So I'm sixteen this year?!" With wide eyes she look at the maid.

The maid was equally startled.

The young miss is SHOCKED! Wide eyed!

The maid seemed to want to write in her diary right now and add this scene in the most unforgettable moment of her life. She had seen many face expression of the stone cold face of the young miss today. That even an earthquake or explosion could never affect her stoic face.

'I will brag it later to them hahaha'

"Linfeng? Where is he?" The maid was pull out from her thoughts by the girl antics.

"Who's Linfeng Young miss?"

The maid look at her strangely. There is no Linfeng in their household. The maid know the names of all the people from maids to bodyguards.

Hearing this the girl was confused and fear and panicked was seen in her face.

Another maid came up, bowed and said:

"Young miss...your bath is ready. The uniform is already on your bed."

"Uniform?" The girl asked.

"Yes...from TIHS.. "

The girl was shocked again. She run to her room and look at her uniform.

The two maids look at each other questionably. Both thinking their young miss was strange.

The girl in the room hold her uniform.

'It's the same....same school...it's not a dream...if it's not a dream...then what is it? Did it really happen? Or did I reincarnate? Or Time travel? It's crazy.....'

The girl was none other than Xiong Zhi. The young miss from the eldest daughter of Xiong family.

A moment later her eyes suddenly lit up.

'Sixteen...June 4...first day of school...This is the day...the day Linfeng was introduced to me.'

With that thought she ran to her bathroom, not even glancing at the bathtub with warm water and roses, she opened her shower.

Closing her eyes her thoughts wondered at the time of her dream or she must say her past life. She was not sure. It felt so real.

This time her grandfather still alive. After her grandfather died, the impending doom on her started.

The scheming relative strike on her. Her fiance take off his mask. Her wealth, her inheritance and the company was stripped on her.

It's all started two years from now. If she really travelled from the future to this past she must prevent it to happen. Or she must prepare. This was her second chance. The heavens gave her a second chance. To made no regrets in her life. Everything she got she will use it.

Her wealth

Her brain

Her beauty

Her surname Xiong

This time she will make everything right.

"Never again to be weak...Never again wasted our precious time...I'll promise...In the next lifetime... I will protect you...and..love you..."

Her final words rang clearly and loudly in her ears. The water from the shower was like the heavy rain drops of that night.

The same sound of droplets and the coldness were all familiar to her.

Opening her eyes, the emptiness was gone replaced by sharpness and determination. The old Xiong Zhi was gone. A new reborn Xiong Zhi was standing now.

"Never again..."

Chapter 3 - We meet again

Xiong Zhi usually took a bath for an hour. But this time she only took ten minutes.

Without calling for maids, she wore her uniform, comb her own hair letting it flow freely in her back. Without putting any make up she hurried down stairs.

The maid that supposed to serve her were gossiping in the kitchen.

"Hey....have you seen Mr. Zhou today?" Maid 1 asked.

"Nope. Why? You know you should stop day dreaming about Mr. Zhou. Can't you see how he never see you? He probably doesn't know your name!" Maid 2 said.

Maid 1 scoffed.

"Stop it. You should know I won't listen to you. Who doesn't want to marry him? Even he has a son, he is still so handsome! And of course he's the richest among us who's working under Xiong!"

"Speaking of his son, I saw them today! His son is so gorgeous than his own father!" Maid 1 continued.

"Hey! Don't tell me you gonna seduce him? Your an old hag already! Leave it to us, the blooming maidens." Retort maid 2.

Hearing this, Xiong Zhi can't help but imagine a scene where Linfeng was surrounded by pretty maids showing his usual gentle smile to her to the maids.

She felt uncomfortable in her heart.

Thingking Linfeng had a girl by his side loving her and protecting her.

There was an indescribable feeling, making her heart heavy.

This feeling was like a thiny thorn scratching her heart making it a bit painful.

But she promised not to be weak anymore...

'In this lifetime, I will do everything to make Linfeng love me again...to be finally be with him.

'Even he has a girl. I will snatch him away from her.

'Linfeng...In the past you stayed and loved me secretly by my side...This time...I will boldy express my feelings to you.'

Having courage, she took another step and cough loudly. She look coldly at maid 2 and said:

" What are you gossiping about? If my grandfather heard you he will surely not let you take another step in Xiong mansion ever again nor to see whom you want to see."

She passed like she had not say anything. While the maids were left with open mouth.

"The....The young miss...spoke...She spoke!"

(A/N: of course she can speak she's not mute )

They did not seem to focused on the fact that the young miss warned them.

----------------------------------------------

In the dinning table Xiong Zhi sat to her usual chair. She was early than usual. The food was being served and the maids secretly peeked at her. Their young miss was early today. What scared them was their young miss sat there unmoving, unblinking, with her usual cold expressionless face. If not for the light raise and down of her chest she would be mistaken us a beautiful statue.

Xiong Zhi was waiting for her grandfather. Actually, Xiong Zhi was holding her excitement and anxiety meeting her grandfather again after five years, the last time she had seen him.

Even she did not had an attachment to the old man he was still her guardian. Even the old man saw her as his pawn he never scheme at her. The only mistake he has was choosing that beast to marry her to him.

She want to say many things to the old man, her hatred and her thanks.

But when she saw the old man walking towards her all her words was stuck at her throat.

The old man still had his domineering aura that seemed that there was a written title in his forehead : 'I am a King. Bow on me you commoner. '

Swallowing hard, she stands up and bowed respectfully to her grandfather.

"Good morning grandfather, have you had a good night rest?"

She still remember her usual greeting every morning.

Her grandfather looked at her and passed her while saying :

"You will meet Zhou Min's son today. Your aide. " grandfather said expressionless.

Followed by him was Zhou Min, Linfeng's father.

Xiong Zhi looked behind his back. Wanting to see Linfeng. Not seeing him, she become anxious.

'Where is Linfeng ? Is he still the same Linfeng? Did he also travelled here ?'

"Zhou Min, invite your son to come eat with us. " her grandfather said pulling her attentions to him.

" Yes, Sir. Linfeng come out introduce yourself to Young miss Zhi." Zhou Min said to nowhere.

A tall shadow landed, stand up and bowed ninety degrees.

" Zhou Linfeng, pledge my loyalty to the Xiong family. Serving as a reliable aide to the Young Miss Xiong Zhi. " Linfeng said not raising his head.

Black hair that was slightly curly at the end was covering his face.

Xiong Zhi felt the time was frozen. She stopped breathing, she stopped thinking, she stared at him unmoving.

His figure, his tall stature, all of it. She wanted to engrave it in her mind. She wanted to see his face, caressed it while proclaiming her love that she had never given a chance to say to him in that life.

She missed him....so badly that her heart stopped beating.

Noticing no one answering, Linfeng take a short peek behind his hair. He did not dare to raise his head.

But what he saw startled him.

He knew the rumors about the young miss. Since he was her aide he was told and trained since young to serve this young miss.

He investigate everything about her. Although he had not seen her, he heard about her stunning beauty.

He heard about her cold, indifferent and meek behaviour. She spoke only few words treating it as gold. She had never show any emotions or reactions to anything. Like a lifeless doll.

Unlike any rich young miss who were socializing on the top of the food chain, this girl was alone in her world. No friends, unapproachable.

But the rumors about her not give her a slightly justice.

Her beauty is not just stunning. He had seen countless of beauties while following his father in ballrooms and parties.

But this girl who was younger a year than him had an otherworldly beauty.

Her skin translucent like jade, her jet black hair so straight and look so soft to touch reached at her waist. Without any make up, he can see clearly her bare beautiful face. Her straight nose, her thin kissable lips, her jaw that was carved at perfect shape. And the most that was stunned him was her phoenix eyes surrounded by long eyelashes.

From that beautiful eyes, thousands words seems to speak to him. Many emotions flashed by.

When she closed her eyes, his heart skip a beat. Then it thump so fast. He even hear it loudly in his ears.

'Wha....what's this? Am I sick?'

Linfeng was confused. He cannot describe what he was feeling. He even forgot that he raised his head and stare dumbly at the young miss.

Noticing this, his father rebuke him.

"Outrageous! Who told you to raise your head?!"

"Ahh.....my apologies to Mr. Xiong and to the young miss." Linfeng hurriedly apologize. He felt foolish. How he stare boldy at the young miss!

"It's alright. No offense taken." Xiong Zhi tried to gentle her voice to Linfeng but since it was her first time it appeared cold and expressionless.

When he slightly raised his head she clearly saw the face of the man that she missed and love dearly.

His thick brows, his sharp and dark beautiful eyes covered by thick lashes, his tall straight nose, his full red lips, his sharp jaw, every detail in his face was exceptional like a beautiful sculpture carved perfectly. He looked dashing and gorgeous. The familiar face that was only younger.

How could not she notice him, a beautiful awesome man in the beggining? She really lived an empty life. Not knowing what beautiful is.

Closing her eyes, engraving every detail of his perfect face in her heart.

She want to run into him and tightly hug him and say those words that she wanted to say.

But it's not the time. She had to be patient. There still a matter at hand. Until then, she would not hold back her feelings for him.

Opening her eyes, the sharp, cold and penetrating gaze appeared.

She still stare at the man who was now bowing his head.

'Linfeng...seems I only reincarnated this time...but even you don't remember those times, I will make it more precious and unforgettable...

'Linfeng.....atlast.....we meet again....

'This time I will fulfill my promise....I hope you also fulfill yours....'