Chapter 2: He Has Changed
More than four years had passed since her parents died, and today was her birthday once again. The only exception from this birthday to the past was that it had people attending. Since her parent's death, there were no more people to celebrate her birthday.
Of course, she kind of expected for her twenty-first birthday to be more important than any others because it would be the legal age to drink in the U.S.
But despite that, she found it odd. Even if she was a famous fashion designer with a brand to her name, she was not friendly to those celebrities. In fact, she was really cold, knowing that the majority of the people from either the business or entertainment industries were fake.
It was not that they were fake in creating a hoax, but fake in that their personalities were not even real. She had no need for friends that would stab you in the back when you were at your highest points, nor did she need a friend that would put her down at her lowest moments.
Despite it being her birthday party, she was wearing the most casual pair of clothes that she had. A simple pair of black denim jeans and a black button-up blouse with her shoes being a pair of black flats.
This was her house, and it was her birthday so of course, she would wear something she liked and was comfortable in. However, it freaked her out that she had so many guests on her birthday. Aside from that, she was also confused as to how they knew her address.
Her address was private and even hackers could not find it. The only person who knew was her brother. But, they had made a promise when she turned eighteen that no one should ever know her whereabouts.
She did not want to believe that her brother would tell people her address, but she had to. Even though she was mad at him, somehow on the inside, she was willing to forgive him. Because for the first time, she did not have to prepare the cake.
She did not have to prepare the candles, nor did she have to put up the lightings. For the first time, somebody else was doing it for her, and she thought that it was her brother who prepared all of this.
Although she was not mad at her brother, she was still mad about one thing. How could he invite all these hypocrites?
How could he invite all these young ladies that looked like a white lily flower but is in truth a succubus?
Somehow, she kind of looked down on him. When young, he would always say that he would never have connections with two-faced people, but look at this, all of these people are.
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While sitting on the corner of the black leather couch, she finally saw her brother enter the door. He was in his usual all-black suit and his ashy blonde hair in the usual quiff parted to the side.
Seeing him, her eyes immediately lighted up in excitement though she was getting up from her seat calmly as though she was not waiting for him the entire time since the party started.
Just when she was near him, another girl walked up to Qiao Guangli. That girl was Chang Yuan, someone that she recognized. Chang Yuan has had a crush on her brother for years and has always stayed around him.
She did not usually care for her brother's relationship. As long as he found a good wife that could help the household without creating scenes she would be happy. However, Chang Yuan was not that girl.
Chang Yuan had a record for multiple outbreaks. She was the biggest bully, but will always behave nicely towards the people she had a use for or to her brother. To her, Chang Yuan was undeserving of being her brother's wife. Chang Yuan did not have the talent nor patience to be his wife.
To an outsider's point of view, she probably seemed discriminative or too judging, but she knew Chang Yuan's family well.
Chang Yuan was the typical rich socialite due to their parents. Without them, she would be dead on the streets. Chang Yuan's family itself was also horrible. They criticized the poor people and thought of them as dirt.
In her mind, she really wanted to yell at Chang Yuan's family, "At least it is dirt that keeps you here. If not, you would be dying from either drowning or being burned to death from lava."
In the end, she thankfully did not have much interaction with Chang Yuan's family. Although she knew that Chang Yuan was shameless, she actually did not expect Chang Yuan to be this barefaced.
Chang Yuan was just recently on the news for a scandal involving another man. It was not even a rich man, but someone who conned her into thinking he was rich. She did not know if Chang Yuan was stupid or dumb because you obviously should not believe anybody in clubs.
However, she hated Chang Yuan anyways, so she would not help the girl.
Staring at the Chang Yuan who was interacting with her brother, she hid in a hidden corner of the living room, listening to their conversation. It was not that she wanted to eavesdrop on her brother but that she was being careful because of Chang Yuan.
She had to listen to what Chang Yuan said because that girl was not the nicest person ever. She did not know if that girl would talk trash about her despite knowing that it was her birthday. Chang Yuan was definitely one of those girls that were uncaring of the consequences thinking that her parents would be there forever to protect her.
To her, she stared down on those people, no matter gender or sex.
"Li-Gege, I didn't know that you would come. You said that you might not make it to the party because of a meeting," Chang Yuan said coquettishly.
"The meeting ended early and this is my sister's birthday party. I should be here," Qiao Guangli said with a soft voice to Chang Yuan.
With a face of fake surprise, Chang Yuan said, "I didn't know that Qiao Jinghua was your sister?"
"We're not biological siblings. That's probably why nobody knows," Qiao Guangli told her.
This time, Chang Yuan made a true face of surprise, saying, "You guys are not biological siblings? That explains why you look nothing alike. But, you guys must have a close relationship still, right?"
"I'm not sure. It is up to her. After all, you are a girl. You know how they behave," Qiao Guangli said with a wry smile.
In her mind, she thought, "Ge, did you never think we were close at all? Those years of me trusting you and putting my beliefs in you… You never believed it at all?"
As for Chang Yuan, she said, "Yes, yes. Girls are really crazy."
Not wanting to hear any more of this conversation despite having heard only one small bad remark from her brother, she went up to greet him.
"Ge, thanks for this party," she said with a slight smile, her usual smile.
With a dark glint in his eye, Qiao Guangli chuckled to her, "What do you mean? I didn't plan this party?"
"Huh? Ge, if not you who planned it, then who? Only you know my address," she said with a surprised face.
Aside from surprise, she was also receiving a shock. The only person to know her address was her brother, which meant that he leaked her personal address. In her mind, she was asking, "Ge, why would you break our promise? For who are you doing this for?"
Hearing her question, Qiao Guangli answered, "Xiao Hua, sorry. It accidentally slipped out of my mouth when I was drunk with Cao Yang. You know that he likes you…"
"Ge, just because he likes me doesn't mean I have to like him too," she said angrily, and while having dark eyes, she followed after with, "Also, Ge, Cao Yang is not a trusty person to be with. Especially him, why did you have to give my address to him?"
Although showing a happy face, Qiao Guangli heavily said, "Xiao Hua, not everyone is untrustworthy. You need to open up more."
"Ge! What do you mean by trustworthy? If I was in a poor family maybe I would trust people more but, I'm not," she exclaimed, "Also, the things I've gone through, you should know! Why would you do something like this? Ge, do you even know what Cao Yang does behind the scenes!"
Giving a sigh, Qiao Guangli said, "If I did not know what he does, why would I be his friend? Xiao Hua, he's already paid for everything. Just enjoy the party. Didn't you say that you wanted me to attend your birthday party? Look I'm here now. Just be happy."
"Ge, when I said that, I meant only us two. Just like when mom and dad was here. It was only the family. No one else. But look at this. If it's not a girl who sold her body to get famous, it's a dude who got a sugar mom. Ge, do you really think I want these people attending my birthday," she angrily spits out.
Not done speaking yet, she continues, "Ge, I just want a family day. Is that so hard?"
Hearing her question, Qiao Guangli stayed silent for a moment. He was about to do the same as always, speak nicely to her with his calm voice, but he thought, "The plan is going to be initiated tonight anyways. With her yelling at me right now, I should be sterner."
"It is," Qiao Guangli harshly said to her, destroying her hopes.
Since their parent's death, she had noticed that he has changed. Before then, he may have been cold, but he was still nice to her and spoiling her. But now, he was a changed man.
It was not her who changed but him. She still remembered her parents saying, "A crisis is an opportunity riding the dangerous wind."
Was this a crisis, or was this fate destroying their sibling relationship?
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Green_Jade
Green_Jade I'm sorry for the delay in the chapters! I've been busy doing homework for school. *Cries* Anyways, I will try to post 2 chapters a day, but I think for now I will only be able to do one chapter a day. Sorry!
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