After leaving the café, Xiaoyun spent the afternoon at the spa, indulging in treatments that further enhanced her already flawless appearance. The masseuse, a woman in her mid-thirties, commented on how Xiaoyun's skin seemed impossibly smooth. Xiaoyun had merely smiled, filing it away as yet another confirmation of her superiority.
By the time she returned home, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of gold and lavender. She stood on the balcony of her room, gazing out at the sprawling garden below, a serene expression on her face.
She turned her attention to the outfit she would wear to dinner. The Fai family was hosting a small gathering, nothing particularly special, but Xiaoyun knew she had to look her best. People would expect it of her, and she never disappointed.
A few minutes later, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Mei, Ming, and Li.
Xiaoyun: I'll be at the party tonight. You guys coming too?
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed with their replies.
Mei: I have other plans, actually. Sorry.
Ming: Yeah, same here.
Li: Busy tonight.
Xiaoyun frowned at the response, a hint of annoyance creeping in. This had been happening quite often. She felt irked as she threw her phone aside. She'd be fine on her own. It was just a dinner with a few people anyway.
An hour later, dressed in a stunning white gown that perfectly complemented her dark hair and glowing complexion, Xiaoyun descended the staircase. The subtle click of her heels against the marble floor was enough to make the household staff pause and glance in admiration.
"Miss Xiaoyun," the butler said with a small bow. "Your car is ready."
"Thank you," she said, her tone polite but distant.
The dinner was being held at a high-end restaurant across the city. Xiaoyun wasn't particularly excited, but she knew how to play her part. Her family's social standing demanded it.
The restaurant was a masterpiece of luxury, its towering chandeliers casting a warm, golden glow over the elegantly dressed crowd. Xiaoyun arrived fashionably late, as always, stepping out of her sleek black car with the grace of someone who knew every eye would turn to her. The rain had started as a gentle drizzle, soft enough to only enhance the evening's charm.
The maître d' greeted her with the usual deference, escorting her to the grand hall where the dinner was in full swing. Heads turned as she entered, her white silk gown flowing like liquid light. Xiaoyun relished the moment, her lips curving into a practiced smile as whispers of admiration followed her.
Almost immediately, people flocked to her. Socialites, family friends, and men of power—all eager to bask in her presence. She exchanged polite greetings, each word laced with just enough warmth to make them feel special, but not so much as to imply intimacy.
"Miss Xiaoyun, as radiant as ever," a middle-aged businessman said, bowing slightly.
"Thank you," Xiaoyun replied, her voice smooth as silk. "I trust your ventures are thriving?"
"Thriving indeed, though not as much as your beauty," he quipped, eliciting polite laughter.
Across the room, she noticed a familiar face: Wei Jun, an old acquaintance from university. His sharp suit and confident stance suggested he had done well for himself, but Xiaoyun remembered him as someone with an irritating tendency to challenge her.
Wei Jun approached with a smirk, a glass of wine in hand. "Xiaoyun," he said smoothly, "still the center of attention, I see."
"As it should be," Xiaoyun replied lightly, tilting her head.
He chuckled, but there was a bite to his tone as he said, "You haven't changed a bit. Still convinced the world revolves around you."
She raised an elegant brow. "It's not conviction if it's true."
Wei Jun's smile turned sharp. "And what would you be without that pretty face and your family's money? You think everyone adores you, but they don't. They tolerate you."
Xiaoyun's eyes narrowed. "That's not true. I have friends—real friends."
Wei Jun gestured casually toward the far corner of the room. "Do you? Because your 'friends' Mei, Ming, and Li seem to be having a great time without you."
Xiaoyun turned sharply, her gaze following his gesture. There they were, laughing and mingling with a group of strangers. They had all told her they were too busy to go anywhere tonight. The sting of betrayal was immediate.
Excusing herself abruptly, Xiaoyun strode across the room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The three turned as she approached, their laughter faltering.
"You're all here," Xiaoyun said, her voice low but simmering with anger. "You told me you couldn't make it. Too busy, wasn't it?"
The guilt on their faces was unmistakable, but it was Ming who tried to speak first. "Xiaoyun, we—"
"Don't," Xiaoyun cut her off, her voice becoming sharp with anger. "You didn't expect me to show up, did you? Thought you could go to your little side event without me tagging along. Tell me, how many of these people would even know your name I didn't hang out with you pathetic losers?"
Mei's lips pressed into a tight line, Li glared at her and Ming stared at the floor but neither of them answered.
Xiaoyun stood there, looking down at them with an air of superiority. "You must be so grateful to be in my presence, because let's face it—without me, none of you would even be invited to this party."
Mei's eyes flashed with anger, and before Xiaoyun could react, she spoke, her voice cutting through the tension. "Xiaoyun, you think being rich and beautiful makes you better than everyone else, but you're self-absorbed, and honestly, no one actually likes you!"
The words hit like a slap. The room seemed to go silent as Xiaoyun's breath caught. For a moment, she was frozen, staring at Mei in disbelief.
"Excuse me?" Xiaoyun said finally, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and humiliation.
But before Mei could respond, Xiaoyun turned sharply, brushing past a waiter carrying a tray of red wine. The tray tipped, and the wine splashed across her pristine white gown, staining it a deep crimson.
A collective gasp swept through the hall. Xiaoyun stood motionless, the reality of her humiliation sinking in as every eye in the room fixed on her.
With trembling hands, she tried to wipe the stain, but it was useless. Her heart pounded as tears pricked her eyes. Without another word, she turned and fled, her heels echoing against the marble as she ran out into the pouring rain.
The rain was cold and unrelenting, drenching Xiaoyun's dress as she stumbled through the darkened streets. Her tears mixed with the rain, blurring her vision. She had left her chauffeur, the car, everything behind. All she wanted was to escape, to disappear.
Her thoughts were a whirlwind of anger and pain. How could they? How dare they?
The blinding headlights of an oncoming car jolted her back to reality, but it was too late.
The screech of brakes. The sickening thud.
Xiaoyun's body crumpled to the ground as the rain continued to pour, washing away the blood that began to pool around her.