C17 The Profits Were as Terrifying as the People

"Happy?"

"Cut it out, Yunxi. I've got someone I like. She's really good to me, and I plan to confess to her on her birthday in three days," Chu Fann said, his cheeks flushing.

"Second Young Master, sometimes I wonder if you're even a man... How can you turn down a beautiful woman's invitation? With your status, having a few women on the side is hardly out of the ordinary," Ming Xi teased, batting her large, enchanting eyes as if trying to draw Chu Fann into their depths.

Chu Fann cleared his throat and hastily exited the car, clutching the villa's deed and contract. "The Cloud Top Golden Palace event is in your hands now! Please take care of it!"

And with that, Chu Fann vanished from sight.

"This Second Young Master is quite the character. It's been ages since I've encountered such an innocent young man," Ming Xi mused to herself, watching Chu Fann's retreat with a giggle, her hand playfully covering her mouth.

Ming Xi was fully committed to fulfilling Chu Fann's request, going above and beyond in her promotional efforts.

"April 24th, 2014, marks the Cloud Top Golden Palace's Century Carnival, featuring the most extravagant birthday celebration. A mysterious tycoon has reserved the top-floor observatory for a star-gazing gala, sparing no expense for a beauty's smile!"

"Who will be the lucky recipient of such extraordinary pampering? And with Huaxia's renowned singer Zhou Xinglun performing live, the anticipation is palpable."

The two slogans set Jing'an District abuzz with excitement.

Within half an hour, the surrounding high-rise hotels were fully booked. Everyone in China seemed eager to secure the best vantage point to witness the Century Carnival's opulence. How spectacular could this birthday bash be?

After all, tickets to Zhou Xinglun's concerts were selling for over two thousand each and were still in high demand. Securing a hotel room with a balcony was a steal in comparison, offering a free live concert experience. It was an offer too good to pass up.

The news had the entire city center abuzz, with every household discussing the upcoming event.

Meanwhile, at the Chen residence, Chen Mengyu sat with her parents, her face aglow with excitement.

"Ah, I can hardly wait for my birthday to come early! I never imagined Guo Chao would prepare such an amazing surprise for me. I'm totally unprepared for this!"

"Cloud Top Golden Palace! The most exclusive observatory on the top floor! And Zhou Xinglun, the superstar—my goodness, how much money must Guo Chao be shelling out? Did the Guo family strike it rich with a deal from Mingzhu Group?" Chen Mengyu was practically buzzing with energy, alternating between sitting and standing. She was tempted to call Guo Chao several times to confirm, but each time, she held back.

She realized that Guo Chao had planned this with the best of intentions. He wanted to give her a surprise, and she didn't want to ruin it.

"I've always said Chao is dependable. Now do you see? How many in Jing'an District could pull off something like this?" Bai Yulan said with a smug look on her face.

In three days, she'd join the festivities too. After all, her daughter was the star of the show. As her mother, she'd bask in the reflected glory, wouldn't she?

"Wait a minute... are you sure you're not mistaken? I've heard that money alone can't book the Cloud Top Golden Palace's observatory. And the Guo family—they just run a small business, don't they?" Chen Shouguo asked, unable to contain his skepticism.

"Dad, what are you talking about? How could I be mistaken? Guo Chao already told me he's organizing my birthday party at Cloud Top Golden Palace, promising a grand, mysterious surprise. Besides, my birthday is on April 24th. Is there any other girl of note in Jing'an District who shares that date?"

"If there were, we would've heard about it years ago, wouldn't I know?" Chen Mengyu pouted, clearly annoyed by her father's doubt. It felt like he was dousing her excitement with cold water.

Why question it? Guo Chao had gone to great lengths to prepare this surprise for her. There are hardly any coincidences like this. Cloud Top Golden Palace, April 24th—who else could be the protagonist if not Chen Mengyu?

"Okay, let's set that aside for now. The 24th is also Yao's birthday. She's just turned eighteen, and it wouldn't be right to overlook her. How about we arrange a separate birthday dinner for Yao?" Chen Shouguo suggested, seeking the opinion of mother and daughter.

"What did you say? Just invite her to join us at the Cloud Top Golden Palace that day for a meal. Otherwise, she'll never get to experience such a lavish event in her lifetime." Chen Mengyu lifted her chin defiantly, her arms crossed over her chest.

Since the incident with Chu Fann, her patience with Chen Mengyao had worn thin. She was even starting to resent her. Allowing her to partake in the joy of her birthday celebration at the Cloud Top Golden Palace was a huge favor. And she still wanted to have her own separate birthday celebration? Not a chance.

"Alright, fine. I'll talk to her when she gets back," Chen Shouguo relented.

But he had to admit, it made sense. The Cloud Top Golden Palace had reserved the entire top-floor Star Observation Platform for such an extravagant event, and it was hard to believe that the Guo family could pull off such a feat.

For Chen Mengyao, being overshadowed by Chen Mengyu's limelight meant she was always the sidekick, but it wasn't too bad. It beat a mundane dinner at some ordinary restaurant.

In the past two days, aside from her time at school, Chen Mengyao had been busy discussing offline pharmaceutical sales channels with Mingzhu Group. As the sole representative of the Chen family in this collaboration, she was diligent and committed to learning the ropes of the business world.

She had, of course, heard the buzz about the Cloud Top Golden Palace being booked by some enigmatic tycoon for a birthday bash.

It was hard not to feel a twinge of envy. April 24th was her birthday too. Her greatest wish since childhood was to be surrounded by friends and family on her special day—a wish that had never come to fruition.

In the Chen family, Chen Mengyu was always the star. On their shared birthdays, all eyes were on Mengyu, leaving Mengyao unnoticed.

Unless something unexpected happened, it looked like she'd be spending yet another birthday alone. Chen Mengyao couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought.

The three days flew by, and they had been particularly exhausting for Chen Mengyao. She'd even forgotten her own birthday was today until she groggily woke up in her office. At that moment, Zhong Ting walked in, carrying a stack of documents and wearing a gentle smile.

"Chen Mengyao, you've got quite the cunning mind, don't you? All this money, you've embezzled it, right? Look at these figures—there's a whopping half a million missing! Just wait until I expose you to Grandma!" Zhong Ting slammed the paperwork and financial statements down in front of her.

"Me? That's impossible. You were the one who checked all the bills. They never even passed through my hands!" Chen Mengyao's face turned ashen.

"Oh, really? I did all the work? They never went through your hands? Come on, I'm just an assistant. How could I possibly have that much power? Who's going to believe your story?"

"Chen Mengyao, everyone says you're a fool, and it turns out you're beyond help."

Zhong Ting's face was a picture of glee. How could someone as foolish as Mengyao be in charge of a project? But this suited her just fine—it was always easier to manipulate someone like her.

"Now, there's only one path for you. From now on, you'll follow my lead on all project negotiations and offline sales strategies. If not, I'll not only ruin your reputation, but I can also have you thrown in jail anytime I want, where you'll be thoroughly disgraced. You'll learn the hard way that crossing me is a one-way ticket to disaster!"