83 1.3.5: Birthday Celebration I

Today was finally the day of the celebration.

As it was a private event and hosted by the influential Zhou family, many tried to get an invitation.

There were rumors that the elusive heir of the Zhou fortune, Zhou Ming, was going to appear, but none had the ability to confirm. After all, the eldest young master was known to always be away from home, raking profit and expanding the Zhou name in foreign countries.

Only the most influential families, as well as a few veteran celebrities and military members, were invited. Qiang Yue had been invited due to his family's connection to the Zhou family. As well as Zhou Elder had invited him personally since the old man wanted to expose the woman that would be his date.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yunhua was getting ready at the moment. She knew Qiang Yue was going to pick her up in a few hours, hence why she wasn't that much in a hurry.

Her long, dark hair was curled loosely, and her makeup was light yet bold. She didn't like wearing eyeliner, yet by Ni Ming's insistence, she ended up using it. Her lips were scarlet red, also the color of her strapless dress that had a slit on one of its sides. Her dress was so perfectly accented, especially on the waist, that she looked like a seductress that escaped from the depths of hell.

Ni Ming even took her a brush and jaggedly used it on her loose curls, giving her hair a frenzied look. Ni Ming had even styled her hair in the front, giving her side bangs on her face. With a pair of crystal clear heels, her look was complete. When Xiao Yunhua looked in the mirror, she was astonished.

In front of her was a reflection of a living and breathing goddess, albeit a wicked one. Xiao Yunhua didn't like looking evil yet enchanting, yet Ni Ming assured her that she had never looked so beautiful before. In fact, Ni Ming has teasingly used the term 'Aphrodite', which made Xiao Yunhua blush profusely.

While they waited for Qiang Yue to pick her up, Xiao Yunhua decided to start a casual conversation with Ni Ming. "Have you told Wang Yaowan about that surprise that you mentioned earlier?"

"No," Ni Ming sighed and shook her head. "I haven't had the chance to bring it up. Recently, he's been so busy with Riverside. In fact, I wasn't supposed to expose this yet—since it's only an idea and it hasn't been confirmed yet—but he's thinking of opening another nightclub."

Xiao Yunhua gasped. "Congratulations!" She tried to hug Ni Ming, but the woman made sure to protect her stomach by placing her hands on her stomach while getting hugged. Xiao Yunhua didn't understand her actions, but nonetheless, remained quiet and didn't question it too much.

"Thank you... I will try to bring it up later today. I hope you have fun at the birthday celebration with Qiang Yue."

Xiao Yunhua nodded, suddenly quiet. "Ni Ming, he's a pure man... but I don't want to hurt him."

"You don't like him!?" All the signs pointed that Xiao Yunhua liked Qiang  Yue, yet the girl was confessing that she wanted to reject his slow advances.

Xiao Yunhua shook her head. "Only as a friend. I mistook a few emotions as 'like', but honestly, I just don't want to be in another relationship where I don't feel anything other than friendship towards the other party. But right now, he's going through tough times and I don't want to hurt him..."

Besides, whatever emotion she felt was merely the manipulation of the system, this a fact that she was beginning to pick up as she gained more targets.

Ni Ming tsked, "You've gotten yourself in a pretty bad situation. Honestly, I can't answer you right now. Why don't you go with the flow?"

Go with the flow? Xiao Yunhua chuckled bitterly. Ironically, that's exactly what she's been doing. Anything that she had planned hadn't gone the way that she wanted at all.

Ni Ming noticed the dark look in Xiao Yunhua's eyes and quickly changed the subject, "What are the odds that Qiang Yue's friend is having a birthday celebration on the same day as the elusive, eldest Zhou young master?"

"Who?"

"Zhou Ming, the heir to it all." Ni Ming fanned herself dramatically, "Rumors are that he's tall, dark, and handsome! But he doesn't like paparazzi taking pictures and deeply values privacy. He's always away from home, though most speculate that it's because he's taking care of their international business. Personally, I think there's a deeper story."

"Just talking about the Zhou family makes me sick." Xiao Yunhua muttered quietly, though it didn't escape from Ni Ming's ears. She remembered Xiao Yunhua telling both she and Wang Yaowan about her tragic past... she truly felt sympathy for the young woman.

"Alright, alright, whatever. Don't be such a gloomy cloud." Ni Ming playfully smiled and suddenly, Qiang Yue texted her that he was outside.

Xiao Yunhua shot Ni Ming a apologetic smile and texted Qiang Yue that she was coming out. Even though she was afraid that he would find out her connection to the Zhou family, she finally revealed her address, Wang Yaowan's mansion, since the doctor had met both of her benefactors already. So whether or not she hid it, it wouldn't matter.

When she walked outside, she saw his car waiting patiently. With a deep breath, she walked in its direction.