14 He is going to make me regret for the rest of my life

And exactly two months later, her birthday party arrived.

It was the worst birthday of her life as far as she recalled. Because from that day onward, she was going to be someone else and lose her freedom once and for all. All the past two months, she had been contemplating the true intentions of that man.

But she had failed to know his true reasons.

Other than that he wanted to make her regret, she couldn't think anything else.

She was sitting on the stairs, away from all the guests and the tumult of the party. That was very unlike her. Because she used to be a very charismatic and social person. Always crashing in other people's parties, even uninvited.

But now she was not even present at her own party?

Perhaps, this was what he wanted. And he was getting to his aim without even starting yet. Because her current situation wasn't less than torture.

"What a clever manipulator." Xu Xinya's lips curled up slightly.

Xiao Yi walked to the stairs searching for her. Once seeing her sitting on the stairs with a cold smile, Xiao Yi sighed and sat alongside her.

"Xu Xinya you shouldn't drink that much." Xiao Yi's tone was light.

Xu Xinya maintained her smile. As she took another big gulp from the bottle.

"Can't a girl even live out the last night of her life?" She slurred. She grinned and rested her head over Xiao Yi's shoulder. "Yi'er, you have been such a nice friend. I wonder what good karma I had earned in my last life to get a friend like you."

Xu Xinya would only say something so sentimental when she was not normal.

"What do you mean by that? I will always be your friend. Who do you say it like this suddenly?" Xiao Yi felt a rush of anger at her stupid friend.

"Who knows when I get to see you again?" Xu Xinya rolled her eyes.

"Why are you talking like this. He had asked you to be his mistress. He is not going to imprison you. I can always visit you. In fact, I will come to visit you every weekend. I see who is he to stop me." Xiao Yi's lips pressed into a think line after seeing the half-empty bottle in Xu Xinya's hands. "You know bad things happen when you drink."

"Bad things?" Xu Xinya wanted to laugh. She was already drunk to the limit and her emotions were starting to pour out. "What can be worse than my current situation?"

Xiao Yi glanced at her. She didn't even know what to say to her to comfort her. If there was anyone else other than Xu Xinya who was aware of the whole situation, it was Xiao Yi. And even she couldn't understand as to why Lu Mingyu wanted her to be his mistress.

"You know that man-Lu Mingyu..." Xiao Yi tried to think of something to ease Xu Xinya. "He is not that bad. About the rumors, they are not always true. You know that?"

Xu Xinya smiled to herself.

"This is the moment you are going to regret for the rest of your life." She raised the bottle and said aloud with a smile.

"What?"

Xu Xinya looked at Xiao Yi in her eyes. There was a smile on her cherry lips. But in her eyes, there was only sadness.

"These were the words he said to me the moment after I slapped him."

Xiao Yi was stunned. "Did he really say that? Xu Xinya, maybe you are mixing things?" Xiao Yi deeply cared for her friend, Xu Xinya. And Xu Xinya was more than a family member to her. She was terrified for her sake.

"I wish I were." Xu Xinya laughed.

"Ya'er..." Xiao Yi whispered.

Xu Xinya could see those emotions in Xiao Yi's eyes; that pity, sorrow, and regret.

Ever since Xiao Yi had been made known of the name of that fearsome man Xu Xinya had dared to slap that day, she had blamed herself. Xiao Yi had blamed herself for leaving Xu Xinya for a moment in her drunk state. She had blamed it all on herself for the misfortune of Xu Xinya.

But Xu Xinya was tired of seeing those emotions in the eyes of her family already.

Self-blame, pity, and regret.

"Isn't it funny?" Xu Xinya suddenly said. "I wonder what is he going to do to make me regret for the rest of my life" Just after that, she chuckled to herself and brought her bottle to her lips to take another big gulp.

Bur Xiao Yi didn't let her.

"Come here" She whispered, her voice full of pain as she pulled Xu Xinya into a hug.

"I'm always here for you alright. I won't let him do anything to you. I will do all in the power of the Xiao family to keep you safe. You know that my family holds some connections?" Xiao Yi immediately said anything she could to calm Xu Xinya.

Being in the warmth of her friend's hug, Xu Xinya felt a stinging sensation in her eyes; her eyes watered. She let the tears fall down her eyes. But she smiled anyway.

Xiao Yi didn't know that Xu Xinya had already accepted her fate.

"This was all brought upon me for my own stupidity" She wiped off her tears and laughed lightly. "So I have to deal with it. You don't need to take any pressure on you."

"But Ya'er..." Xiao Yi took a deep breath and said what she had come here for. "Please stay in your best behavior in front of him. You are aware of his power. If you somehow pissed him, he might end up doing something very bad to you." After a silence, she said. "Or your family."

Xiao Yi had to say these words to Xu Xinya. Because no matter how powerful her Xiao family was, in front of Lu Mingyu, it was still an unimpressive name.

"Don't worry, I won't be bringing any more harm to my family"

Xu Xinya knew what was Xiao Yi concerned about. Because Lu Mingyu had the ability to get anyone killed who offended him without fearing suffering the consequences. Xu Xinya might not have cared about her life. For her, her pride was the most valued thing. But her family was something she dearly loved. Something for which she would even put aside her pride.

And if her family was in danger, she was willing to give up her everything and play by his rules.