C18 Today Is Your Home Ground

After Zhong Ting finished speaking, Chen Mengyao was left speechless, frozen in shock. She had never encountered anything like this before.

She listened as Zhong Ting went on.

"However, I've heard that today is both yours and your sister's birthday. I'll make an exception and give you the day off to think things over. By this time tomorrow, I expect a prompt answer from you!" With that, Zhong Ting gave Chen Mengyao's shoulder a reassuring pat and walked out of the office, leaving her alone, lost in thought.

She had indeed let her guard down, never anticipating that Zhong Ting would pull such a move, or perhaps she had never considered the need to be wary of those around her. Yet, the potential profits from this collaboration were so immense, they could tempt anyone to compromise their morals.

Overwhelmed with helplessness and fear, she was at a loss for what to do, her complexion turning ashen. Thankfully, at that moment, a call from Chu Fann came through, snapping Chen Mengyao back to reality and easing her expression somewhat.

She answered her phone to Chu Fann's voice, "Mengyao, what's keeping you? Have you forgotten your own birthday? Hurry over to the Cloud Top Golden Palace. I've prepared a surprise for you."

"Cloud Top Golden Palace?" She pondered, just as Chu Fann abruptly ended the call. No sooner had the line gone dead than her sister's call came through.

"Chen Mengyao, I'm giving you a chance here. Get over to the Cloud Top Golden Palace fast. I'm taking you to see the high life today. Miss this chance, and you'll regret it for a lifetime!" Chen Mengyu's voice was a mix of excitement, arrogance, and anticipation.

After hanging up, Chen Mengyao was utterly bewildered. What was going on? Both Mr. Chu Fann and her sister had summoned her to the Cloud Top Golden Palace. Had they planned this together? Impossible. They were like oil and water, ready to clash at the slightest provocation.

Unable to make sense of it all, Mengyao shook her head, quickly gathered her things, and headed out to catch a taxi to the Cloud Top Golden Palace.

The Cloud Top Golden Palace was the epitome of opulence that day, with a banner unfurled from the top of the star-gazing tower proclaiming, "Miss. Chen's Birthday Celebration, Joy Shared by Heaven and Earth."

Atop the observatory, several hot air balloons floated, their surfaces dotted with cherry blossoms that fell like a delicate rain. Such a lavish spectacle was unmatched throughout Yunhai City—only the Cloud Top Golden Palace could boast such grandeur.

Chu Fann had made his way to the Cloud Top Golden Palace early, the anticipation building after his meticulous preparations. Yet, in an unexpected twist, it was Chen Mengyu who arrived before Mengyao could.

Today, Chen Mengyu was the epitome of allure, clad in a plunging mermaid dress with heels that sparkled with diamonds, and toting a luxurious Chanel bag. Flanking her were her roommates, Liu Mei and Wu Jing.

While Chen Mengyu was the day's star, Liu Mei and Wu Jing also made a stunning entrance. They glided into the grand hall of the Cloud Top Golden Palace, radiant and regal, basking in the worshipful gazes and envy of all present—a moment that fed their vanity to its fullest.

Amidst the opulence, Liu Mei couldn't contain her envy. "Mengyu, Guo Chao really spoils you. He's reserved the entire Cloud Top Golden Palace just for you. If I had a boyfriend like Guo Chao, I'd wake up smiling from my dreams."

Chen Mengyu's lips curved into a contented smile, her heart swelling with joy. Letting go of Chu Fann and choosing to be with Guo Chao was the best decision she had ever made.

"Why hasn't Mr. Guo called you yet? He's so composed," Wu Jing remarked, impressed by Guo Chao's ability to keep his cool. He had orchestrated such an elaborate surprise for his girlfriend without giving away the slightest hint.

"Why would he need to call?" Chen Mengyu replied with a playful roll of her eyes. "For a surprise this grand, he'd want to tell me face-to-face."

"If I were Mr. Guo, I wouldn't just call my girlfriend. I'd reveal the surprise in her presence and then propose," she mused, lost in a daydream of romance.

"Mengyu, what if Guo Chao actually proposes today? Are you really planning to marry him?" Wu Jing asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

"Absolutely! If I'm not marrying him, who else would I marry? That deadbeat Chu Fann?!" Chen Mengyu didn't even have to think before the words flew out of her mouth.

No sooner had she mentioned Chu Fann than she spotted him right there in her line of sight.

"Chu Fann?!"

"Unbelievable, how do you pop up everywhere? Have you no shame? My boyfriend has reserved the Cloud Top Golden Palace for today. I'm going to need you to leave, now. Don't spoil my day, got it?"

Chen Mengyu was seething with anger. Spotting Chu Fann at this event was like finding a fly in her soup—utterly revolting.

"What, what? Your boyfriend booked it?" Chu Fann's eyelids twitched, and he scratched his head in confusion. Wasn't it Ming Xi who was supposed to make the reservation? How did it end up being Guo Chao?

"Exactly! Mr. Guo has booked the entire Cloud Top Golden Palace for my birthday celebration at the top observatory. He's spared no expense. Are you green with envy, loser? Too bad, you'll never be on my level! You'll spend your whole life looking up to me!"

"Oh, and by the way, I did a little math. If you keep delivering takeout for two hundred years, you might just scrape together enough to afford it. Though, who knows if you'll even live that long!"

The crowd around Chen Mengyu burst into laughter at her cruel jibe.

"Mengyu, you're giving him too much credit. Even if this loser managed to live two hundred years and save enough to book the Cloud Top Golden Palace, the owner would never rent it out to him," Wu Jing chimed in with a smirk.

"Why not?" Liu Mei played along, feigning ignorance.

"Because he's just a lowly delivery guy, that's why! Hahaha," Wu Jing cackled.

"Exactly, as if the owner of the Cloud Top Golden Palace would ever cater to a delivery guy," someone else added.

The onlookers joined in the mockery, filling the air with their mirth.

They wondered what a delivery guy was even doing here.

At such a grand event, with celebrities like Zhou Xinglun inside and tight security, ordinary folks wouldn't stand a chance of getting upstairs later. It was pointless to even try. The smart ones had already booked rooms with a balcony view at a nearby hotel, ensuring they wouldn't miss out on the spectacle at the top of the Cloud Top Golden Palace.

"Mengyu, quick, look! Guo Chao's here, and he's looking sharp!" Wu Jing excitedly tapped Chen Mengyu, gesturing toward the entrance. There, outside the Cloud Top Golden Palace, Guo Chao approached, impeccably dressed in a suit, cradling a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"Mr. Guo! I love you!"

Without a second thought, Chen Mengyu launched herself into his embrace. "Mr. Guo, I'm overwhelmed! The surprise you've prepared is just perfect. I couldn't be happier. You treat me so well!"

"Hahaha, Mengyu, how did you get so clever? I haven't even revealed the surprise, and you've already figured it out?" Guo Chao chuckled heartily, producing a box as if by magic and gently opening it to reveal a blinding sparkle. Inside was an enormous diamond ring, likely around three carats.

"I shelled out a whole sixty thousand yuan for this ring! To think you'd guess the surprise. Are you moved?" Guo Chao's smile was brimming with confidence.

"Surprise? Diamond ring?"

Chen Mengyu paused for a moment, but her smile swiftly returned. "Mr. Guo, you're quite the joker. What's a diamond ring next to booking the entire Cloud Top Golden Palace? So you planned a double surprise for me? You've really outdone yourself. Thank you, I love you."

The entire Cloud Top Golden Palace?

A double surprise?

Guo Chao's expression flickered with confusion. What was Chen Mengyu talking about? He had only prepared one surprise, the six-carat diamond ring before them. He hadn't made any reservations at the Cloud Top Golden Palace at all.