Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

How old people could believe so much in religion so blindly, Luo Lixi got to experience all that after she came back from the temple. Her father told the family members the thing the priest told about her but concealed about Luo Lixiang's part. 

She didn't have any problem with any of it, until…

"Father, I don't want to study!" Luo Lixi cried out. As it turned out, her grandfather had already hired a teacher for her to learn the characters and nobody could object. 

"Just pretend to learn. No one is forcing you." Luo Baiyun replied while he was checking some files on his desk. 

Luo Lixi frowned as she climbed up his body and then directly sat on the desk, right in front of him. The man had to stop and break his concentration, "What?" 

"It's so tiring to pretend. Please! Help me! I am only two years old! Not time for learning yet!..." Luo Lixi whined nonstop. 

When she was alone, she could've read whatever she wanted but after the new teacher came today, she could no longer pretend to read. "It is too devastating when I have to learn 1 2 3 and pretend to learn!"

"Bear with it. If I go against my father and dismiss the teacher, a storm will come..." The man muttered as he again looked at the files. 

Luo Lixi sighed as she shook her head. 

Knock~ Knock~

"Enter." Luo Baiyun said as he glanced at the door. 

"Young master, little miss's teacher has come." The maid replied. 

Luo Baiyun turned to her and smirked, "Did you listen? Your teacher has come. Be a good girl and learn whatever you want."

"..." She noticed the gloating look on Luo Baiyun's face and she stopped showing her helplessness. Luo Lixi went down and ran to the gate. Then, the maid took her and went away. 

…

For 13 years, Luo Lixi had to act to be a normal kid. In school, even if she gave some wrong answers to questions, for some reason, she would become the highest scorer. 

But she couldn't score less as it would cause her mother to hire more teachers. 

"Ah, I am turning crazy! Someone help!"

In the depth of the night, she would cry out in her bed and wake up, only to see that she was currently on another timeline. 

Luo Lixi tried her best not to interfere in her brother's life as well as trying to avoid him as much as she could. But the thing she would do every year is to go to Ming city and give Sheng Ruming roses. 

"You should always remember me."

"You can only like me."...

Luo Lixi would tell these to Sheng Ruming and the latter would nod every single time like a good kid he was. Even when Sheng Ruming was hugged by her, he didn't flinch like before. To Luo Lixi, it was the greatest relief she could get. 

…

A random day in Luo Mansion. 

Luo Lixi's family had started to live in the main mansion years ago after her grandfather added Sun Xumei to the family tree. 

With a backpack, Luo Lixi went down the stairs while she was in her school uniform. After she went down, she walked straight to check the newspaper. 

"Good morning, grandfather!" Luo Lixi stopped checking the paper and greeted the old man. 

"Morning." Luo Qintian nodded as he walked towards her and then sat down on the sofa. A servant came to serve him green tea. 

Luo Lixi turned her concentration to the newspaper. The moment she unfolded and saw the headline, her eyes froze. 

"Renowned researcher Li Jibian has been arrested for creating drugs without the government's permission? His wife has been taken under custody for using unauthorized chemicals… Ah?!" Luo Lixi's eyes widened. She stopped reading and then turned to her father in surprise. 

The latter didn't show any huge reaction as he sipped the tea. Rather Luo Qintian's mood fell as he shook his head in disapproval, "This girl has tarnished the reputation of the Wang family. I wonder how old Wang is…"

"You can go to meet him, grandfather. It's not like someone is stopping you." Luo Lixi said. 

"Later." With a deadpan expression, Luo Qintian stood up and left the mansion. His mood was heavy and worry for his friend was clearly visible in his expression. 

Before Luo Lixi could leave as well, Luo Baiyun called out, "Xixi, I have something to tell you."

"Go ahead." Luo Lixi replied with a smile. 

"You have successfully got admitted into the best art school in the capital… Here is the acceptance letter!" Luo Baiyun smiled as he took out an envelope and handed it to her. 

"Really?!" Luo Lixi asked excitedly. Then she took out the letter and began to read it carefully. She wiped the tears which were threatening to fall and then turned to Luo Baiyun. 

"But father, will grandpa agree?" Luo Lixi asked in doubt. When she brought up this matter, Luo Qintian and Sun Xumei heavily objected. They didn't want her to become invested in art when in their eyes, she was a genius and had a bright future. 

"You'll aim for a double major. Also, after you're done with your studies, you'll go abroad for higher education." Luo Baiyun said seriously as he stared at her. 

"You have planned so far?" Luo Lixi's lips twisted. 

"Hmm. It's for your own good. Also when you are in the capital city, you aren't allowed to go … to Ming city. It's for your own good." Luo Baiyun's face turned bitter when he remembered that he had to drive to Ming city. 

Once, he had refused to bring her there yet she went on a hunger strike and didn't eat for three days straight. He had to give in first and only then did she eat. From then on, he became the chauffeur for his daughter while she would go out to see her 'sweetheart'!

"If it goes like this… until I'm 26, I can't come back here, right?" Luo Lixi asked. The man nodded. 

"You should better focus on studies and your career first. Also, the school is a strict one and doesn't have holidays. So, yeah." He replied. 

"... Then, father, bring me to the Ming city before I leave." Luo Lixi's mood became complicated. She understood that finally, the time had come to become serious about her life goal.

"Again? Didn't I bring you there one month ago?" Luo Baiyun was reluctant to go there. 

"It's… to say goodbye. A farewell before I leave..." 

...