Being a parent who has abundant wealth should be fun. Especially when their names are already well known and listed in the ranks of twenty richest people in the world. Of course, those rich people already have future plan to choose their heirs and preparing them to be able to maintain and develop the family business.

Just pick the smartest child, give them high education, introduce them to the elites, teach them business principles, then they will be on their own. Sounds easy, right?

But that was only in the minds of Heinrich Clifford and Lilian Zhao.

They are a couple from different continents who met when they studied at University of Oxford. They built their own business empire both in Europe and Asia. After being married for fifteen years, they realized that preparing the heir is not as easy as turning the palm of a hand.

In 2011, their son, Rex Clifford, adamantly against them to become the heir and business successor. Secretly, he left England at a young age and lived with his grandfather in Japan.

"I already retired and I really enjoy this country. I'm happy to be with my grandson, away from the hustle and bustle of business. Enjoy your day, Lilian!" that was what Stephen Zhao said before he hung up the phone call from his daughter.

"Grandpa, the reason I refused to be their successor is because they are always busy and have no freedom," said Rex. He sighed and remembered how busy his parents were. They never have time to be with him and his sister, Rory.

"Do you think Rory feels disappointed as you are?" the old man smiled at him.

"I believe so. But, Rory is closer with her nanny. I just want to enjoy my freedom and become stronger," he muttered.

Stephen patted Rex's shoulder. He felt proud to hear the honesty of his grandson. In his eyes, Rex is just a lonely child and needs recognition.

"Don't let the expectations and opinions of other people affect your decisions. It's your life, not theirs. Do what makes you happy."

"Grandpa, aren't you angry with my decision? Father said I'm too young and reckless," Rex looked into his grandpa's eyes, as if he didn't want to see the lies in his smile.

"Ha ha! But I'm not your father. There is much more to life than following others' prescribed path. You need to decide who you are for yourself."

After he made that decision, Rex was enjoying his teenage years as a student in Japan and had many friends. To be precise, he won many friends.

For Rex, making friends just by talking was troublesome. As a foreign student, the male students at his school always underestimate him. While the female students always admiring him, following his activities, even sending love letters.

At first, he was disturbed by the attitude of the girls. But it turns out that even though he didn't respond them, the male students were jealous of him. Rex thought if he could date many girls, they would admire him and being friendly.

However, in reality they hated Rex even more so they often bullied him. Several times they tried to beat Rex, but always failed. He has spent his spare time to become a strong boy. After school, apart from playing games, he also practiced martial arts. His grandfather enrolled him in a Dojo for practicing karate and kendo.

He had heard of Rex's situation at school and was worried. But he realized that his grandson is a tough and persistent child. After all, he is determined to guide Rex to become a great man.

When he first drove Rex to the Dojo, Stephen cheered him on and watched his practice. He learned each technique quickly. He leveled up his belt from white to brown within a year. After two and half years of relentless training, he finally kneeled before his master sensei and earned the black belt as the youngest student.

His achievements was because of his persistence. Even when it was raining he continued to do that in his yard. He also practicing in Dojo five times a week. He became stronger and able to defend himself when his schoolmates bullied him.

His actions made more girls admiring him and male students respected him. Wherever he goes, there is always a girl who seduces him with various wits. And he began to enjoy his prestige as a cool boy and idol at school.

He dated different girls every week, selected as a student council member with ease, even the teachers praised him as a model student. But his glory in junior high school has ended. He had to start from scratch when he entered senior high school.

It was still easy for him to get a girlfriend, but there were more male students who hated him and bullied him in various ways. They didn't make it easy for Rex to survive at Seikai High School. A well known school for elites where many of its students are good at fighting. What's more, they have a term that small fishes will be eaten by the big fish.

Weak students must obey the student council orders. Whether they like it or not. They abuse their positions for their own gain. The term does not apply to Rex. Simply because he thought it's all bullshit.

He never challenged anyone to a fight. All his landslide victories were always in the form of self-defense. However, he always gives one condition before fighting, the loser becomes the winner's loyal follower.

Rex always remember the message from his master-sensei that the black belt is nothing but as a mark of the beginning. The thrill of overcoming challenges and to dethrone the arrogant foreman of Seikai excited Rex. Since then, his madness has grown wilder.

☆☆☆

Japan, 2014.

Two groups of male students from two different high schools facing each other on a field. They were about 20 feet away. There was quiet but tense atmosphere. The leader named Keichi Mori from Akiyama High School threw away his cigarette.

"I was waiting for Genji. But I heard, he has transferred school last week," Keichi looked at Rex from head to toe.

"That's right. And here I am, answering the challenge from Akiyama."

"Tsk. Yellow boy, do you have the guts to be their leader?" Keichi stepped forward and looked into the eyes of the other leader with European race.

"You know my name," he said. "Spell it corretly."

Keichi frowned then he laughed. "Of course! Rex Clifford. A foreign student who defeated my old enemy, Genji Miura. The strongest in Seikai."

The news about the frontman of Seikai High School being defeated by a foreign student had spread widely.  Genji Miura, the student council president who was the strongest in the battle among students, must resign from his position and his followers became under Rex's command. It was the stake when Rex challenged him.

"I defeated him in a fair fight. The strongest becomes the leader," he explained.

"Uh... that proves Seikai has weakened! Ha ha!"

"Why don't we just finish it quickly?" replied Rex.

Keichi poked his head to Seikai students behind Rex. "Ha ha! I was surprised by the students of Seikai High School. You all came here to support a foreigner as your leader?!" he sneered. Then he turned back to his friends who were laughing and booing Seikai students.

"You won't last long with that attitude," Rex looked at him scornfully. He took off his black coat and threw it on the ground, waving a hand at his followers as a command to move forward.

Keichi shouted, giving the signal for Akiyama students to attack. In an instant, the brawl broke out. Two groups of students beating each other with bare hands.

"Rex!!" Keichi shouted when he saw Rex beating up his friend fiercely. He ran with all his might and blocked him.

They threw fists at each other. Both of them showed off their martial arts skill. Keichi who mastered judo tried to hold Rex down, and Rex who mastered karate held him. He hit his  abdomen, made him growl and step back.

That made Keichi launched multiple attacks blindly and out of control. Rex keeps dodging until he saw an opportunity to hit his vital point. He gave Keichi few more hits and he fell on the ground.

"Bastard!" Keichi laughed as he tried to get up, but he fell again.

"Just accept your defeat," said Rex. Keichi's eyes slowly closed, he fainted.

A friend of Keichi immediately ran towards Rex and tried to stab him. Rex realized he was carrying a penknife and he immediately jumped backward. Within his range, Rex kicked his hand and the penknife fell.

"Loser!! Loser!! You're Cheating!! He wants to kill our leader!!"

Seikai students shouted angrily.

"Hoo! You drew your weapon? Then forget peace. You will lose your hand!" Rex stepped forward and beat the boy mercilessly. He stomped his right hand until the bones creaked.

"Arghhh...!!! Stop!! Please!! It hurts!!" he pleaded to Rex as he tried to get rid of his foot. Rex crouched down and grabbed his hair. His gaze was sharp and cold, then he picked up the penknife beside him.

"Do you know the rule that it is forbidden to use weapons?" he lifted the boy's head and put the tip of the penknife on his face. The boy could feel the coldness from metal surface on his cheeks.

He trembled as he pleaded again, "I am... sorry... Please, forgive me! Please!" He closed his eyes in fear seeing Rex's gaze like a wild beast.

"Let me leave a message so you can tell your friends to not bring weapons in the next fight," said Rex. Then he slashed his face into an R. The boy screamed in pain. Half of his face covered by blood.

"Please... forgive me..." he cried.

Rex grabbed his hair again, "Tell your friends who carved your face with your own weapon. Show them my initial."

Rex's friends who were overflowing with anger were even more eager to beat the rest of Akiyama students.

Seikai High School won a landslide victory. They walked home with dirty clothes and bruises on their bodies. But the pain didn't stop them from laughing happily and feeling proud.

Rex looked at their faces and he smiled. He has scored many victories with his friends in inter-school brawls. He watched the sunset as he walked home. He realized that all of this would be over soon.

"Hey, Rex! You're really great! You were almost stabbed but your kick was so fast!" said Daikichi while patting Rex on the shoulder. This bald boy was previously a loyal follower of Genji Miura. But after Rex defeated Genji, he became his right hand.

Rex smirked. "If I wasn't a student, I would have used that penknife to gouge out his eye."

"Ha ha! Let's do that next time!" Daikichi threw his fists in the air. Every fight he had with Rex to defend the good name of their school, made him even more excited.

Those boys forgot that they won't be student forever. But not with Rex. He realized after graduation, he had to make a new decision. His parents contacted Rex more frequently and asked him to return to London.

Even though he didn't miss his parents, Rory's words always ring in his mind. The last time they spoke on the phone, he said, "Mom and dad are rarely with me. And it's even sadder that my brother doesn't want to be with me either. I mean nothing to all of you."

He felt guilty because of his selfishness blaming their parents for not paying enough attention to them, but Rex still have his grandfather. Meanwhile, Rory only being accompanied by servants and a nanny. After all, none of the family members being around to watch her grow.

After he arrived at home, his grandfather immediately guessed that Rex was getting into another fight. He helped Rex to treat his bruises.

"Who did you beat this time?" he asked.

"The students of Akiyama. They are lame." Rex sighed. Due to his experience, he is getting faster finishing each fight.

"Ha ha! You are my grandson! Of course you won!" Grandpa patted Rex on the back proudly.

"Rory... are you proud of her as well?" Rex looked down.

His grandson's question confused Stephen. Although he has two grandchildren, he is closer to Rex than Rory.

"Of course I'm proud of my grandchildren. But you and Rory are different." He sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "She's a girl, and I couldn't possibly raise her like you."

Rex clenched his fists. "So what? Do you realize that we have neglected her? Mom, Dad, myself, and you... We are all the same. Right? In the end... we are all the same," he stood up and rushed into his room, leaving his grandfather behind.

Stephen froze. Indeed, they all had neglected Rory. He just realized that and his heart ached. Saving one child and abandoning another is really unfair. Regret invaded his mind, and his sense of pride as a grandfather raising his grandson alone was shaken. Tears rolled down his cheeks.

☆☆☆

Shanghai, 2021.

The students rushed out after the school bell rang which signaled the class has ended. On the roof top of school building, a girl fell after being bullied by her friends. Her hair was messy and her books were scattered, some have been torn. She clenched her fists and her body trembled.

A girl with short hair crouched in front of her. She and her friends laughed seeing Lexi Myles almost crying.

"You're such an idiot! Didn't I tell you yesterday to do my homework?!" she stepped forward and lifted Lexi's chin with his index finger.

"I didn't have time. You knew mom told me to clean the warehouse alone!"

"Do you want to receive another punishment? I will tell mom that you got me scolded by the teacher," said Janice Wu. She is the adoptive sister of Lexi Myles who has the same age as her.

Lexi was adopted by the Wu family when she was ten years old. Her parents were British couple and died in a car accident. At that time, they lived in Shanghai and her father worked as a lecturer. Her parents got eloped and migrated because their family disagree with their relationship. After the accident, his father's best friend, Yichen Wu, brought her to his home.

Since then her life has changed. Yichen Wu's wife hated her because they already have children, but Yichen always spoiled her. The girl who bullied her is their daughter and she envy her father's affection for Lexi.

"I apologize. Please don't tell mom," Lexi begged.

Janice grinned, a bad idea popping into her mind. "Next week is the graduation exam. You have to help me get good grades!"

"Okay, I'll teach you."

"You really are stupid! I mean, you have to write my name on the answer sheet and make sure I get good grades!" she shouted as she stepped on Lexi's bag.

Swap answer sheets? That's a dangerous cheat! Lexi tried to think hard. She could imagine her mother's punishments if Janice complained. If she just doesn't get foods, she can still bear with it. However, if she lock her up in the warehouse and beat her, no one would come to help. Especially after her mother told her to install a silencer on the warehouse wall yesterday. Yichen always came home late at night these days. No more hope.

"Alright. I will do," Lexi replied.

"Good! I will write your name on my answer sheet and I'll just do what I can." said Janis as she turned around and walked away with her friends.

Lexi walked home in the rain after spending time in the school library. She always like the rain, because that's the moment when she doesn't feel lonely hearing the raindrops hitting the ground. Nature comforts her when the sky shatters and the water drops as if they were armies wiping out drought to quench the thirst of the earth.

After she arrived at home, Janice and her mother, Cecilia Wu, had welcomed her with chores. Cecilia scolded her for coming home late, but immediately threw dirty clothes to her face.

Not only them who treat her like Cinderella, even her adopted brother, Chris Wu, who has grown up and study in college is also cruel to her. Ever since Lexi became teenager, he had repeatedly tried to molest her. Luckily, with her mother who always fussy and often calls her, she always able to escape.

Lexi obeyed all of her mother's orders. Even though she feels extremely exhausted, she is always grateful that she can still live and go to school. That night, as usual Lexi waited for her adoptive father to come home when the others were asleep

When Yichen came home, he saw Lexi sleeping on the sofa with a history book in her hands. He could see her face was tired and he covered Lexi with a blanket as he took the book and closed it.

Lexi felt the touch of the warm blanket then she woke up. She saw her father sat beside her.

"Sorry, I woke you up." Yichen stroked Lexi's head.

"No, Dad. I'm sorry for falling asleep. Would you like some tea?" Lexi has always treated her father well. Even though she is only his adopted daughter, Yichen loves her like a biological daughter.

"Don't bother. You fell asleep while studying. Go to your room and rest," he smiled and stood up. Lexi noded and walked to her room.

In her room, Lexi threw herself on the bed. She still annoyed that she had to study hard just to make Janice pass the exam with good grades. However, after all she did not dare to refuse her step sister.

She still annoyed that she had to study hard just to make Janice pass the exam with good grades. She was daydreaming and imagined the bright smile on her father's face as she shows off her outstanding test scores. But then, she imagined Janice sitting across her father and doing that.

Her thoughts were shattered when she heard her bedroom door creaked, revealing a familiar figure. Chris staggered and stepped inside, dropping his half-drenched jacket. He walked over to Lexi's bed. Then he dropped his body on top of Lexi's body. The strong smell of alcohol wafted from his face.

Lexi pushed Chris away. "Let go of me! You're drunk!" but his body was too heavy and he hugged Lexi forcefully.

"Little bitch, you have grown up. I love your scent. Ha ha ha!" Chris caressed Lexi's face and neck. His hands tugged at Lexi's collar, revealing the smooth skin of her shoulders.

"Let go of me or I'll scream!" Her attempts to push Chris were futile and made him even more greedily bite her shoulder until it turned red. Lexi's hand tried to reach for an object on the bedside table. She grabbed a nightlight and pulled it then she hit Chris on the head.

Chris didn't move, his head slumped against Lexi's chest. She pushed Chris away and got out of bed. She walked out of her room and rushed into the kitchen, took a glass of water and drank it in a hurry. Her heart was beating fast. It could have gotten worse if she couldn't get away.

"You're still awake?" Yichen suddenly stood at the end of the kitchen. He approached Lexi and stroked her head.

Reflexively, Lexi hugged her father. Her body was still shaking and her tongue was numb. She didn't dare to say what Chris had done to her.

"I... I had a nightmare."

"Alright. Go back to your room, it's already late. Tomorrow you have to go to school," said her father with a gently smile.

"I... can I sleep in dad's study room? I want to read a book first." with her pleading look, that made Yichen agreed to her request.

Yichen returned to his bedroom after Lexi went to his study room. She turned on the lamp and covered herself with a blanket. She rubbed her hands on her shoulders and neck, felt disgusted remembering what Chris had done.

She burst in tears and wondered in her heart, why her adoptive family so immoral and cruel? What sin has she done? After crying for a long time, she could no longer hold back and fell asleep on her father's desk.

☆☆☆