“Xiaoxiao! Xiaoxiao Lin! Wake up otherwise you’ll be late for your first day!” My mother yells pushing me off the bed.

“Ah,” I fall off the bed hitting my bottom on the ground “mom did you have to push me off the bed!you could’ve just lightly tapped my head.”

“Oops, my bad. Now that your awake get ready for school before your late.” My mom says walking out the room.

I grab my phone off the bedside cabinet and check the time, 6:45am, may 13, 2001.

“I only have fifteen minutes to get ready! Really mom!”

I rush to the bedroom to brush my teeth and my long, black hair. After putting my hair up i run back, I quickly put on my school uniform, grab my phone and bag and zoom down stairs.

“Bye mom!”

I wave goodbye to her as I grab a toast and walk out the door to the car.

“Miss Lin.” The butler greets me and opens the door.

“Mister zao please hurry, I’m close to being late for school.”

He nods and closes the door. While driving to school, i see students from my school walking on the side of the street with their friends.

“Mister zao, i hope i make new friend at school.” I softly utter.

He sighs, “miss Lin, you are such a beauty and also kind hearted. Who wouldn’t want to be your friend. Forget about last year’s incident and start a brand new.”

I sit back and exhale, “yeah, you’re right.”

Later on, mister zao drops me off at the front of the entrance.

“Have a good day miss Lin, if anything call me or your parents.”

I nod and wave as he drove away. My smile fades away as turn and look at the tall building, Ni Lan High School, an ordinary school unlike my old school.

“Excuse me!”

A turn around and there was a girl carrying two big boxes. Her legs were close to falling.

“Let me help you.” I say.

She peeks her head and stutters, “t..thank you! I’m Li Xia.”

I grab one of the boxes, “I’m Xiaoxiao.”

Her eyes and smile gets bigger, “you’re the new student! Wow! You’re more beautiful in person!”

I chuckle, “thank you, um where do we bring these boxes?”

She jumps, “oh! That’s right! Follow me please.”

We walk into the school and I followed her up the stairs to classroom 307. We put the boxes on top of one of the desk and leave the classroom. She shows me around the school and tells me about the school clubs then the bell rings.

“Li Xia, do you know where this homeroom is?” I ask showing her my schedule.

“Oh” she twinkles, “you’re in the same homeroom as me, follow me!”

As we enter the classroom, I could feel that all their eyes were on me. I begin to blush and become shy. The homeroom teacher notices me and introduced me.

“Everyone, this is our new transferred student, she transferred from Momo MIn High Academy. Can you introduce yourself, miss Lin?”

“Mm, good morning everyone. My name is xiaoxiao Lin and i hope we can all get along.”

The teacher turns and begins to write on the board, “miss Lin please sit next to Zi Xin, Zi Xin raise your hand so Xiaoxiao knows where you are.”

I look around the classroom and see a boy slowly raising his hand. When I saw him, I walked to the desk next to him and sat down. I lean on my hand and stare at him, he had dark green eyes and straight black hair to a medium length. He would just stare out the window or read books, I’ve never seen him interact with anyone. Zi xin wang…

“Xiaoxiao, i promise when you turn twenty-seven, i will make you my forever.”

“Zi xin wang!”

I open my eyes and get up. I was sweating and breathing heavily. I checked my phone, 9:45 am, April 8th, 2013.

“My birthday,” I put my head on my knees and cry “my 27th birthday, and he still gone.”

*knock knock*

My dad peeps his head and comes in with roses and a tiara. He sat on the side of my bed and place the gifts near my foot.

“Princess, why are you crying on your birthday?”

I don't say anything and continue to hug my knees.

“Princess, is this about zi xin? I told you to let him go. You need to move on. You can't bring someone back from their peace.”

I raise my head, “from peace? Dad, how do we even know he’s dead? What if he still out there? He promised me..”

He hugs me and pats my head, “princess it’s been eleven year since Zi Xin Wang disappeared. There was no news of his return. It doesn't have to be said.”

Tears begin to fall again, “maybe you’re right. But I will not give up dad. Until i have official answers.”

My father breathes out and kissed my forehead, “come down stairs when you’re ready.”

He walks out and closes my door.

“At peace?” I climb out of bed and walk to the bay window, “i know he still out there.”

I walk to my closet and put on a white dress with pink lace, I look at the tiara on my bed and the other tiara’s my father gave me on each birthday then the one tiara that was different from the others, not because of looks but person who gave it to me. I grab the small tiara and place it on my head and leave the bedroom. I walk down the stairs to the dining room. Where mother and father were waiting along with my other family members.

“Happy birthday Xiaoxiao Lin!” Everyone shouted. That morning we celebrated my birthday and everyone left except my grandparents. We sat in the living room together.

“Xiaoxiao, you’re still such a kind beauty.” My grandma says hugging me.

“Of course. She can't be a baby forever but Xiaoxiao how come you aren’t wearing the tiara grandma got you?” My grandpa asks.

I take off the tiara on my head and hold it with both my hands. My eyes start to water and my voice breaks, “someone I loved very much gave it to me eleven years ago.”

“Eleven years ago? Sweetheart, you’re talking about Zi Xin? The third son of the Wang family also the one who is dead?” My grandpa questions.

My grandma hits his leg and hugs me once more, “ignore your silly grandpa but you two seriously loved each other, didn't you?”

I nod wiping my eyes. I hold my grandma's hands and smile. “I think it was more than love grandma.”

“Mother, father.” My mother walks in, “we’d like to have an important talk with you guys in the study.”

“Go on. I need to leave anyways. Bye grandma and grandpa.” I wave goodbye as I headed to the door.

My grandma stands, ‘where are you going?”

“The the lake! See you at dinner!”

My mother sighs, “that girl.”

The lake, it was near my house also where i and zi xin would always go and meet on the bridge then we would go to the playground to play on the swing as we talk about silly things.

As I walked there, the wind hit my face and the birds would sing. When I arrived I stopped on top of the bridge and look at the fishes swimming around.

“If only you were here with me.”

I wanted to feel more of the fresh air and climbed on the edge of the bridge. I closed my eyes while the wind blew my hair. But while standing on the edge, my foot slipped and i fell into the water. At least I thought I did, but a man grab onto my arm and pulled me up.

“Master!” Another man yells, “are you alright?”

I open my eyes and the mans face was near mine. Our lips were...touching!!

I push him and fall to the floor.

“Y..you kissed me!”

“No,” he says with a cold voice “you kissed ME.” He says brushing his clothes. When I saw his face, he had the same facial features and voice as..

“Zi Xin?” I muttered.

“Lady, I’m Zhi Xiang Lee.” He says getting down on one knee holding his hand out.

I put my hand in his and stand.

“Thank you mister Lee.” I kindly say.

The man was tall, though he had the same facial features and voice, his hair color was different along with the style and length.

“Lady, you should be more careful next time. Don't be so clumsy standing on the edge of the bridge.” He says walking away.

“Lady? Hey! I have a name too!” I shout at him.

He stops and turns his head.

“Do you?” He grins

“Humph, yes i do! My name is Xiaoxiao Lin!” I shout again.

He doesn't say anything and continues to just walk away.

“Dare to ignore me?” I muttered.

I stomp to him and stand in front of him, stopping him from walking away. He looks down at me and walks the other direction. Once again, i stop him.

“Lady. What do you want from me?”

I cross my arms, “an apology.”

He smirks and pull me from the waist. I try to push him back but can't.

“L..let go of me! Pervert!” I commanded, pulling away from him.

“You wanted an apology right? Let me give you one.”

He grabs my hips and pull my lips to his, i was triggered and bit his lips.

He pushes me away and touches his lips.

“Sir! Are you alright?”

“Huh? Oh, you’re still standing there.”

“Master. The meeting?”

He looks at me and scoffs, “tsk, maybe we’ll meet again little kitten.” I was still in the process of thinking about what just happened and when i look up, they were gone already.

“Hmph. Pervert.”

I walk away from the bridge and go to the park. I slowly swing back and forth on the swing while i think of that man..though just the thought of him boiled my blood. I stand and curl my fist.

“Zhi Xiang Lee! Curse you!” I shout, “you’ll regret doing what you did to me! You big pervert!”

As i stomp back to the house I pick up a couple flowers to give to my mother. It’s childish, but my mother adores flowers. My father even bought her a whole garden of her favorite flowers. When I arrived at the door,I noticed that there was another car.

“Maybe it’s one of dad’s important clients,” when I walk inside the house and i see a familiar face, sitting in my living room “it..its you! Zhi Xiang Lee what are you doing here!”

My grandpa walks in and sits across from him.

“He’s the CEO of Lee company, also a new shareholder of the Lin Crown company.”

“CEO..as in the CEO of the biggest company? As in the youngest ceo?”

“Yes and it seems you two are familiar with each other.”

“Yes.”

“No!” I shout.

We both make eye contact and look away. My grandpa is shocked and just laughs.

“Oh, princess it seems you’re back from your walk?”

I turn and see my father coming down the stairs.

I nod and smile, “of course. I can't stay out too long, otherwise I’ll end up catching a cold.”

He sits next to my grandpa and place a folder on the table.

“Good girl. Now please sit next to mister Lee.”

Ugh! I have to sit next to this pervert!? What an unlucky day!

“Yes father.” I sit next to Zhi Xiang. I look at him and see him smirking at me, which made me look away quickly! Very unlucky.

I look at my father and see that he is focused on the folder, before I said something. My father stops me, “princess, today you’ve finally turned twenty seven and your mom and I agreed ..to arrange you a marriage with mister Lee.”

When my father finished his words. I could feel that time stopped, my face was numb, that i was..speechless. I crumbled my fist and throw the flowers at the table.

“No! I don't agree! I..I don't want to marry him! You and mom know I would never! Why..just..why!”

“Princess you’ve come of age, and is also about to become the next CEO of our family’s company. You have to.”

“No...no i won't!”

I ran up stairs to my bedroom, locking the bedroom door. I lay my back against the door and slide down. I think i should leave for a bit. I rip my dress off and change into ordinary shorts, a cropped shirt. And some sneakers. I put my phone in my purse and tie up my bed sheets and blankets. I look out the window to make sure no one is around and open it, letting out the tied up sheets. I climb down the sheets carefully and run out the back gate. Before taking off, I look back at my house and run.

After two hours of walking in the city streets, I stop by a bar and order a couple drinks.

“Marriage? They must be crazy!”

I took a couple more shots and suddenly felt dizzy.

“Ma’am. I think you’ve had enough.” The bartender says, handing me a glass of water.

“Water? Sir, i asked for more shots. Either get me that or I’ll call your boss!”

The bartender sighs and turn around to prepare more drinks.

“You sure are a drinker, aren’t you miss?”

“Huh?” I turn around and see a man with a drink in his hands, “Who are you?”

He smirks and put his arm around me, “never mind about me, how bout tell me your name beautiful miss?”

I take another sip out my drink and set it away.

“My name is..”

“My wife.”

We both turn around and another man is standing there.

“Zi Xiang?” I jump into his arms, “what are you doing here you pervert?”

The other man rolled his eyes and walk away.

“Hey, you scared the guy off! With that cold mean tone of yours!”

“Xiaoxiao, are you aware that you are alone, drunk at a bar?” He says pushing my face down.

“Huh?” I grab his hand off my face and gently kiss it “i got you!”

Zi Xiang blushes and carries me, “I’m taking you back home.”

I wrap my arms around him and stuff my face into his chest. “No! I don't want to! Take me to your house instead!”

He pauses and looks at me, “do you know what you’re saying little kitten?”

I hit his chest and pout, “yes i do! Now take me to your home!”