Chapter 166: An Old Acquaintance, Li Yingshan

To fret over choosing a gift and rack one's brain—that is true affection.

That was how Cheng Yao felt, or at least that was how he treated Lu Mengyao and the others, whom he merely dealt with perfunctorily, only revealing an earnest side between the sheets.

When buying gifts for Lu Mengyao and Lin Ketong, Cheng Yao had picked them out as casually as selecting cabbages, grabbing whatever looked decent.

Toward Zhang Ya, however, Cheng Yao unusually exerted real thought, carefully selecting and filtering to find the absolute most suitable one.

After paying and holding the exquisitely packaged gift box, Cheng Yao left Louis Vuitton and headed straight for the jewelry store...

By the time he emerged from the jewelry store, it was already lunchtime.

He casually dismissed his hunger with some KFC, grabbing a beef wrap and some french fries to call lunch done.

In the afternoon, he spent an hour picking out a wristwatch.

Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin all offered women's watches, but after looking back and forth, Cheng Yao felt that Van Cleef & Arpels and Breguet were the most fitting for women, whereas Vacheron Constantin leaned a bit too much toward a business style.

It was rather like a young man buying a Toyota Alphard.

Ultimately, with the help of the boutique sales associate, Cheng Yao chose a Breguet fine jewelry wristwatch priced at over three million, bringing the total to three point five million.

In truth, bestowing such a wristwatch was already so extravagant that it outshone a marriage proposal; 18k white gold set with diamonds, its exterior sparkling like a princess.

Cheng Yao was quite satisfied with this timepiece.

Money ought to be spent where it mattered most. When buying things for Lu Mengyao and the others ordinarily, Cheng Yao felt nothing inside, yet in purchasing a watch worth over three million, he actually found himself eagerly anticipating Zhang Ya's reaction.

Perhaps this simply made him a glutton for punishment.

With everything that needed buying purchased and everything that needed doing done, Cheng Yao took a car back to the Peninsula Hotel.

Around three o'clock in the afternoon, a Black Swan Rolls-Royce delivered the cake to the hotel—something that failed to draw any stares, as the hotel possessed its own exclusive fleet of Rolls-Royces.

Shortly after, hotel staff arranged to have the cake transported up to the presidential suite.

The cake was placed upon the coffee table, adorned with fresh flowers and balloons.

It embodied romance, luxury, and art all at once; tens of thousands of fresh blossoms, even the washbasins filled entirely with flower petals, interspersed with crushed ice...

Cheng Yao stood nearby watching. Black Swan had included quite a few complementary giveaways, such as macarons. He mused to himself that a cake worth two million surely wasn't meant to be eaten, was it?

It was certainly edible, of course, given that Black Swan employed unique preservation technology.

Yet no matter how advanced the preservation techniques were, it was still a cake crafted through fifteen days of meticulous carving, and honestly, who in their right mind ate cake as a meal?

This cake was a work of art, meant for decoration and to lend a sense of ritual. Leaving it uneaten was the best choice.

Black Swan had also included some premium mini cakes, which were quite pricey.

"Mr. Cheng, I am the manager of the Black Swan Shanghai flagship store. This is the certificate of authenticity for our Black Swan cake, along with the specification and material proof for Black Swan's 'World's Adoration' edition."

Cheng Yao accepted the certificate and glanced at it. The weight of the silver tray was meticulously documented down to the last detail. A cake worth two million was indeed different; at this rate, it practically lacked only an identity card.

The store manager retrieved a card and handed it to Mr. Cheng:

"Mr. Cheng, as a super VIP of our store, this is a VIP card we have prepared for you. Holding this card entitles you to a twenty percent discount at any Black Swan cake shop across the country..."

"You've put thought into this."

"Your liking it is the greatest praise we could receive."

After flattering him a few more times and properly arranging the cake, the presidential suite's personal butler took charge of seeing the store manager out.

For a man, spring and the season of renewal could arrive at any moment.

With the hotel preparations complete, a banner wishing Miss Zhang a happy birthday was strung up beside the small banquet hall.

Cheng Yao dialed Zhang Ya's number and sent her his location.

...

...

After heading back in the afternoon, Zhang Ya skipped her classes.

She cooked a simple meal for herself in the dorm. Rong Xuelin and Cheng Linlin had also just woken up, while Li颖珊 (Li Yingshan) spent most of her time living outside these days, rumored to be cohabiting with her partner.

Regarding this, Zhang Ya and the others had tried to dissuade her.

Cohabiting with someone right after starting their freshman year was far too irresponsible toward their future. If they broke up, wouldn't it be terribly unfair to the man she might look for later on?

All this present madness, just to have some future man foot the bill?

An honest man...

Sigh...

In the end, their persuasion fell on deaf ears, and after being lectured in return, Zhang Ya and the companions simply washed their hands of the matter.

"Is Li Yingshan going to your birthday?"

"Yes, she said she went out to buy me a gift," Zhang Ya said, reapplying her lipstick. "Cheng Yao sent me a message telling us to come get some food. Let's go."

Leaving the dormitory, Rong Xuelin asked, "That LaFerrari from last time—was that Cheng Yao's?"

"Mhm, he bought it. Word is it's second-hand."

"Let me tell you, that car costs tens of millions. Even second-hand, it's a fortune. Isn't your boyfriend keeping something from you?"

Zhang Ya shook her head. "If he doesn't mention it, I couldn't be bothered to ask. It's not like he's going to harm me anyway. He's running a few companies now, and he even appeared on a local TV program. They say he's locally backed."

"Well then, your boyfriend is incredible. Local backing means he's about to strike it rich."

"He's already struck it rich; he's driving a LaFerrari now. But then again, if I were that awesome, I'd buy a LaFerrari to drive too."

Both Rong Xuelin and Cheng Linlin found it a bit incredible, and they had to admit that Zhang Ya had an unerring eye for people.

When the taxi arrived at the hotel, the moment Zhang Ya stepped out, an exclusive butler dressed in a suit walked up with absolute precision and asked warmly, "Hello, are you Miss Zhang?"

"Hello," Zhang Ya replied, her face full of suspicion.

"Hello, Miss Zhang, and happy birthday. I am Mr. Cheng's personal butler, Mia. Please, right this way."

Zhang Ya glanced at Mia, growing even more puzzled.

Since when did Cheng Yao have a personal butler, and why did he hire a woman with such a stunning figure?

Upon going upstairs, Cheng Yao offered a laughing explanation.

Realizing she had been overly sensitive, Zhang Ya blushed deeply and shot him a playful, reproachful glare.

"What, did you think Cheng Yao hired her himself?" Cheng Linlin teased.

Rong Xuelin pinched her chin. "Well, her figure is indeed a bit fuller than yours."

"I'll strangle you two. You guys knew all along, didn't you?"

"A presidential suite in a five-star hotel with its own personal butler... I can't afford to stay in one and have never lived in one, but I've heard of them."

As Cheng Linlin looked out at the sea of flowers, the intense envy in her eyes was practically overflowing.

Rong Xuelin was no different.

Zhang Ya was utterly captivated by the sea of flowers, standing there in a daze. Her heart was bursting with sweetness, though she still maintained a calm exterior on the surface.

Rong Xuelin gasped in surprise, "Roses, tulips, blue enchantresses—did you hire a hotel designer for this?"

The corner of Cheng Yao's twitched; he thoroughly disliked this kind of direct spoiler.

Cheng Linlin had already pulled out her phone to take photos and record videos.

After taking a full circle, Zhang Ya smiled and said, "He definitely hired a designer. You couldn't design a vibe like this on your own."

"I'm done for, you totally ruined the whole atmosphere."

Cheng Yao glared at Rong Xuelin.

Rong Xuelin stuck out her tongue, and Zhang Ya gave him a light smack.

Helplessly, Cheng Yao said, "I prepared it with all my heart anyway. If you don't like it, I'll have it all cleared away."

"At least let me take a picture first!" Zhang Ya protested reluctantly.

In truth, the girls had already been drawn in by the cake on the table, and Rong Xuelin asked earnestly, "Is this real?"

"Real."

Cheng Yao crossed his arms and nodded gently.

Unable to believe her eyes, Cheng Linlin gave a thumbs-up. "Pulling out all the stops like this—is all this fuss necessary for a birthday? We were originally planning to celebrate at Haidilao, where they even give you longevity noodles and sing a birthday song."

"You can still go now, if you hurry."

"No way!" Cheng Linlin retorted, unwilling.

By now, they truly believed that Cheng Yao had struck it rich, or perhaps he had been wealthy all along?

Anyone capable of dropping two million on a cake for a birthday had to be sitting on at least several hundred million, otherwise it made no sense at all.

Looking at the cake, Zhang Ya was deeply moved. As for being moved to tears, she wasn't that kind of girl, but the surprise was genuine.

She had never imagined that Cheng Yao would give her such a strong sense of ritual.

Not knowing where to begin, she decided to change the subject.

"We should have invited Little Dot and her friends over to liven things up. Just the few of us is such a waste. Li Yingshan and the others will be here later, plus a few of my classmates."

"Don't bother letting them come, they aren't worth it," Rong Xuelin remarked.

Right after saying that, she felt immensely pleased with herself. She had only gifted a lipstick worth over four hundred, but a single bite of this cake would surely make back her investment.

She had never managed to eat her money's worth at a buffet, but who would have thought she'd eat her fill at Zhang Ya's birthday.

Girls were emotional creatures after all, and no girl disliked romance. Though Cheng Linlin and Rong Xuelin didn't say it out loud, they inwardly harbored a deep envy for Zhang Ya.

Having arrived at a presidential suite for the first time, Zhang Ya led the other two around to take photos.

Lowering her voice, Cheng Linlin whispered, "There's so much space here. Listen to me: tonight, hide in the bathroom and lock the door from the inside. Leave Cheng Yao with an unforgettable night so he learns how ruthless society can be."

"Are you a devil? If you ask me, just tell him you're on your period and see what expression he makes. It's bound to be hilarious, hahaha..."

The two of them schemed off to the side, leaving Zhang Ya to marvel at their cunning.

Actually... it sounded rather fun.

A moment later, Mia walked in. "Mr. Cheng, dinner is ready."

"Alright."

Glancing at the sky outside, dusk was settling in.

Checking the time and seeing it was just about right, Cheng Yao asked Zhang Ya, "When are your roommates and classmates arriving?"

"They'll be here soon. They said they were buying me a gift, let me urge them along."

Cheng Yao headed to the banquet hall first. The banquet hall was purposely arranged on a very high floor, featuring exquisite, grand floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the river scenery outside, allowing them to dine while taking in Shanghai's most magnificent night view.

The ingredients were largely prepared, and Cheng Yao contacted a drone rental company; the weather was just right, and they could stand by for orders.

Ten minutes later, Li Yingshan, Zhang Ya's other two classmates, and Li Yingshan's boyfriend arrived.

"Cheng Yao, long time no see," Li Yingshan greeted with a smile.

Cheng Yao was somewhat surprised. This once sharp-tongued girl had undergone a earth-shattering transformation; her hair was now styled in loose waves, she wore a chic bag and sexy attire, and she had ear piercings.

It seemed as though she had aged several years overnight.

"Hello."

Cheng Yao remembered that he had once reported her, landing her a night in a detention center.

...

...

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