Betrayal

Ling Xunyi was the type of girl whom everyone loved, beautiful, young, and carefree. She loved talking to animals like birds, squirrels, dogs, and cats. Everyone calls her, "Happy Virus." Her smile attracted people whether they were young or old. But it was her nature that caused her downfall.

Xunyi was in her last year of high school and with all of the culminating exams hitting her left and right, she kept a positive attitude despite being sleep-deprived. She sighed as she packed up her textbooks and study materials, "They say, diamonds are made under pressure." Then, a text came through from her best friend, Bolin.

"Xunyi, happy 18th birthday! I love you! Can't wait to see you tonight!" Xunyi smiled as she quickly replied, "Did you get my favorite Tiramisu cake?" There was a dead silence for nearly ten minutes. After class, she went to her favorite bookstore to buy a cookbook since Bolin mentioned that he loved her cooking even though he only said it once.

"I hope Bolin will like this. Oh yeah, what should I wear tonight?" She thought about it and quickly went to the cashier to get the book paid up. Suddenly, she bumped into someone then, out of habit, she apologized.

"Miss, your ID dropped." The man spoke to her then she quickly turned around and thanked him.

"Thank you so much!" Xunyi made an eye-contact with a handsome man. She froze up for a few seconds then shook her head, "What am I thinking?" The handsome man smiled at her as he said, "Happy birthday," before he left. Xunyi thanked him again. As she finished paying for the book, she immediately went home since the sun was setting quickly.

She took a hot shower for fifteen minutes then changed into her favorite flowery summer dress. After several minutes, there was a knock on the door. She walked up and immediately opened the door.

"Bolin! Is that you? Did you get the cake?"

She saw Bolin with a group of guys and asked, "Bolin, are they your friends? Or will they be joining us?"

Bolin snickered then replied, "What cake? Oh, right... today is your birthday, right? Sorry, I have a bad memory. But, since it's your birthday today, shall we spice it up a bit? Boys, you know what to do. I still want her alive."

One of the guys looked like he's done some serious workout, his bicep muscles were defined since he was wearing a tank top with black sweatpants. He was at least 170 cm with short black hair. Xunyi gulped as she took a step back each time they got closer to her. She begged Bolin to stop them but he ignored her as he took a cigarette and a lighter out.

The man who got close to her started to grab her pale-white slender arm. She tried to grab his hand to let it go but it ended with a failure. She began to panic as another guy tried to tear up her dress. No matter what she did, it was a failure.

Bolin went up to them and stopped them. He looked at Xunyi and carefully caressed her delicate cheeks, her expression was mixed with fear and a look of betrayal.

"Xunyi, you know why I am here today?"

Xunyi stuttered, "W-Why?"

"Just because... there are many guys chasing after you. Sometimes, I wonder why are you loved by so many people?" He replied as he started playing with her light-brown smooth hair. Xunyi replied, "If you hated me, why didn't you break up with me?"

"Break up with you? That's not my style. I want to play with you. Don't tell me you fell in love with me. I only want to play and keep you beside me. Ha... this cookbook... you thought you could make me happy with your food?" Bolin snickered then touched her shoulder.

"S-Stop!" Xunyi begged him once again but to no avail. She turned away when Bolin wanted to kiss her

"If you keep doing this, I have no choice but to shove these pills into your mouth." Bolin struggled to keep Xunyi's mouth open and he eventually failed to shove the aphrodisiac pill into her mouth. Xunyi didn't even remember how long she stood there, she dropped to the floor and her whole body trembled after several officers came and checked on them.

There was a familiar person who was walking towards her but she was too tired to think. Xunyi's eyes slowly closed as she fainted on him. The man carefully covered her with his jacket and brought her out into his car as the police started to arrest the guys and investigate the house and its vicinity. This man was not to be messed with, he is a high-profile lawyer who defends the innocent. His name was Jiang Deming. His mysterious nature was often misunderstood because he doesn't talk too much outside of work unless he was in court or working with clients.

Before he called the officer, he was working nearby when he heard screaming and crying from one of the houses. That was when he discovered the front door was open. His quick analysis saved Xunyi because he wasn't the type of guy to act without thinking first. Deming went outside to talk with the officers. Since Xunyi was alone without any guardians, Deming was willing to act as her guardian. He thought to himself, "Whatever she had gone through, I will do whatever I can to keep her safe from those people." The officers made some notes so they can contact him whenever they got more information.

Deming asked the officers to check if Xunyi have any personal belongings so he can bring them with him. One of the female officers came out and gave Xunyi's cell phone, backpack, and a picture frame of her deceased parents.

"These are all, she also has clothes but it will take a while to pack it all up." She said as she gave the items to Deming.

"Pack whatever you can. I'll ask my friend to buy more clothes for her tomorrow." He replied as he started to dial his friend's number.