Rose Manor

The next afternoon, Chen Ze arrived at Tianmei Entertainment Company wearing a face mask and sunglasses. As he had agreed with Shangguan Mingyue, he would temporarily pretend to be her boyfriend today.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Chen Ze knocked on the president's office door.

"Come in!"

Shangguan Mingyue sat in her chair, typing away at her keyboard as though her work would never end.

Watching her work so busily, Chen Ze suddenly felt a wave of sympathy. What was the point of earning so much money? She was rushed off her feet every day, with no enjoyment in life at all!

Chen Ze sat down across from her without interrupting her work.

"You're here!" Shangguan Mingyue finally finished, picked up her coffee, and took a sip.

"Mm," Chen Ze said mildly.

"I didn't expect you to be so punctual," Shangguan Mingyue said.

"I can't help it. Life forced my hand," Chen Ze said.

Shangguan Mingyue snorted with laughter. "You, a little man, forced by life? In today's society, as long as you men are willing to nod your heads, there are plenty of women ready to support you. It's not like us women. Without money, we can't even find a male companion."

"If another woman said that, it might be believable, but coming from you, Madam President, it's a little affected. With your net worth, as long as you nodded, I'm sure the men pursuing you would line up from the eastern district to the western district."

Shangguan Mingyue suddenly leaned closer, stared into Chen Ze's eyes, and asked, "Would that include you too, Chen Ze?"

Chen Ze froze. What does she mean by that?

"You must be joking, Madam President. What are your plans for us next?" Chen Ze asked, changing the subject.

Shangguan Mingyue sat back as though nothing had happened. "I'll take you to get dressed up in a little while. Tonight, we'll go to Rose Manor," she said mildly.

Rose Manor was a private venue where the wealthy loved to hold banquets. Many wealthy people and celebrities had hosted banquets there. It was also a place where members of high society met and negotiated, and a place many people would rack their brains to get into.

"All right. What would you like me to do, Madam President?" Chen Ze asked.

"You just need to pretend to be my male companion and do your best to ruin this proposed marriage. But we'll have to act intimately when necessary. You don't have a problem with that, do you?" Shangguan Mingyue said.

"Act intimately? How intimate?" Chen Ze asked.

"Like holding hands or hugging, or even kissing." Shangguan Mingyue looked at Chen Ze with an inscrutable expression.

"Well... you didn't make that clear last time, Madam President. I think I'd better..." Shangguan Mingyue cut him off before he could finish.

"Another million!"

"Deal! But you have to pay me first!" Chen Ze stressed the importance of paying him first.

Hmph! You money-grubbing little man! Shangguan Mingyue thought.

"All right, I'll transfer it to you now." Shangguan Mingyue readily transferred the money to Chen Ze.

"Done! Just watch me tonight. I'll definitely help you ruin this proposed marriage!" Chen Ze said gleefully.

When you took someone's money, you took care of their troubles. Though it was a little immoral, for money's sake, what even was morality?

Chen Ze got into Shangguan Mingyue's luxury sedan. Unlike Zheng Yanxi's supercar, Shangguan Mingyue's ride was more understated and dignified!

Although Chen Ze didn't know what brand it was, one look at its top-of-the-line features and luxurious interior told him it definitely wasn't cheap.

"How much did this car cost?" Chen Ze asked curiously from the front passenger seat.

"Twenty million!" Holding the steering wheel with one hand, Shangguan Mingyue casually stated the figure, as though twenty million was hardly worth mentioning to her.

"Damn! I couldn't afford it even if I sold myself!" Chen Ze said in shock.

Hearing that, Shangguan Mingyue turned her head to look at Chen Ze. "Why don't you sell yourself to me? I'll give you twenty million."

"Hehe, I was joking," Chen Ze said with an awkward laugh.

The two arrived at an upscale clothing store. Shangguan Mingyue spoke to a man wearing meticulous makeup. "Give him a proper makeover. Use the best of everything!"

Holding his fingers in a delicate orchid gesture, the man giggled. "Don't worry, Miss Shangguan. I'll make him look absolutely beautiful!"

Chen Ze: "...!"

An hour later, Chen Ze looked at himself in the mirror. His lips were red and his teeth white, his brows like distant mountains and his eyes like deep pools. He wore a white garment made of some material he didn't recognize. It resembled ancient attire, yet wasn't quite, and he couldn't say what style it was. It hung all the way to his heels, covering the white pants underneath, and on his feet were tall boots embroidered with gold-striped patterns.

Chen Ze wore light makeup. The man had originally wanted to give him heavy makeup, but Chen Ze had refused, so they had finally compromised on a light application.

Chen Ze walked out and found that Shangguan Mingyue had already changed and was waiting for him.

Shangguan Mingyue wore a black bodycon dress with a little suit jacket over it. A pretty little bow sat at her exposed chest, making her towering curves look even sexier! The shimmering decorations on her dress sparkled in the light, and she wore black stockings and high heels.

They looked at each other, both stunned by the other's beauty.

This woman is really luscious! Chen Ze thought. Shangguan Mingyue had the same thought.

"Miss Shangguan, what do you think?" the man asked proudly, looking at Shangguan Mingyue's dumbstruck expression.

"Mm! Not bad!" Shangguan Mingyue came to her senses and spoke mildly.

"Let's go!" Shangguan Mingyue said to Chen Ze.

On the way, Shangguan Mingyue turned her head to look Chen Ze over from time to time.

Her scrutiny made Chen Ze a little embarrassed. His face reddened slightly as he said, "Why do you keep looking at me, Madam President?"

Shangguan Mingyue's gaze suddenly turned heated. "How about you become my partner from now on?"

Chen Ze's face turned even redder. "Please don't joke, Madam President. We should think about how we're going to coordinate in a little while!"

Shangguan Mingyue seemed to realize that, on impulse, she had just spoken her thoughts aloud. A blush spread across her face too, but she feigned composure and said, "Once we go in, I'll introduce you to the others. Just act as though we're very close and greet them normally!"

After a moment's thought, she added, "We should change how we address each other too. I'll call you Little Ze. As for me, you can call me darling or wife and master!" Shangguan Mingyue's face grew redder still.

"Huh? Wouldn't that seem a little too intimate? No, no, I'd better call you Sister Shangguan or Sister Mingyue!" Chen Ze shook his head and refused. If he called her wife and master outright, it would make him seem cheap. He would never agree to that.

"Suit yourself," Shangguan Mingyue said mildly, though her tone was clearly a little disappointed.

Before long, the two finally arrived at Rose Manor.

Stepping into the manor was like entering a portrait of European medieval aristocracy, its luxury and elegance washing over them.

The manor's gates were cast from heavy bronze, their surfaces carved with intricate, exquisite patterns. Mythical deities and animated beasts looked lifelike, gleaming coldly and nobly in the light. Beyond the gates, a broad gravel road wound ahead, flanked by neatly trimmed hedges like green fortress walls. At intervals among the hedges stood statues of white marble, some of graceful male and female immortals, others of fearless knights. Against the lush greenery, they looked even more sacred and solemn.

Following the gravel road, they came upon a breathtaking fountain. At its center stood a three-tiered structure of carved marble, topped by a statue of a female angel with wings spread as if ready to take flight. Her eyes were lowered, her expression full of compassion, and in her hands she held a jeweled vase. Clear water poured endlessly from it, forming sparkling curtains that fell into the pool below and sent up sprays of white. Colorful goldfish swam freely in the pool. Sunlight fell upon them, their scales flashing with tiny glints that played against the fountain's spray, creating a dreamlike scene.

Behind the fountain stood the manor's main building. It was a typical Baroque villa, with tall columns supporting a broad portico. Exquisite scrollwork and spiral patterns were carved into the columns, whose capitals were adorned with ornate volutes. The villa's exterior walls were built of cream-colored marble, which glowed softly in the sunlight. The windows were tall and wide, their dark walnut frames forming a striking contrast with the cream-colored walls and lending them an air of stately elegance. Each window was fitted with a huge pane of stained glass depicting biblical stories and scenes of aristocratic life. When sunlight streamed through the glass, patches of color intertwined across the floor in a dreamlike play of light and shadow.

Inside the villa, the spacious hall had an exceptionally high ceiling, from which hung a massive crystal chandelier. Thousands of crystal pendants sparkled like stars, lighting the entire hall as brightly as day. The floor was paved with white marble, every slab polished smooth as a mirror, reflecting the chandelier overhead and the exquisite murals all around. The murals depicted the myths and figures of this world, but Chen Ze knew little about the subject and didn't know exactly what stories they were meant to tell.

On one side of the hall was a lavishly decorated banquet room. Long dining tables were covered with snow-white tablecloths and set with exquisite silver cutlery and sparkling crystal wineglasses. Great silver candelabras on the tables were filled with white candles, their flickering flames lending the entire room a romantic, welcoming atmosphere. Valuable oil paintings hung on the walls, their solid-gold frames inlaid with dazzling gemstones that complemented the room's luxurious decor.

Leaving the banquet room and passing through a long corridor hung with family portraits, they came to the manor's garden. It covered a vast area and was laid out with exquisite care, like a natural palace of art. Rare flowers from around the world grew there: roses, tulips, lilies, peonies... everything one could wish for. Red as fire, pink as rosy clouds, and white as snow, they competed in splendor, filling the air with fragrance. Pebble paths wound among the flowers, with distinctively shaped wrought-iron benches along their sides where people could rest and enjoy the view. At the center of the garden was an enormous circular flower bed, its flowers arranged in an exquisite pattern like a magnificent floral carpet.

At the far end of the garden stood a small greenhouse. Built of transparent glass, it housed all kinds of tropical plants and rare orchids. Stepping inside was like entering a mysterious tropical rainforest. Towering palms, winding vines, and gorgeous orchids gave the eye more than it could take in. An automatically adjusting shade system and irrigation system were installed at the top of the greenhouse, ensuring that the plants grew in the most suitable conditions.

Every detail of the manor displayed unparalleled splendor and nobility, drawing people into its enchantment and leaving them to marvel at humanity's ultimate pursuit of beauty and boundless creativity.