The birthday cake, made entirely of fresh flowers, was spread across the center of the hotel lobby. On top, in pink blossoms, were the words: "Happy Birthday, Mavi!"
Tourists coming in and out of the hotel were in awe, clicking their tongues in amazement. Many couldn't resist pulling out their cameras to capture this romantic scene.
"What do you think? Do you like it? A flower cake—this must be the first time you've received one, right?" Jennifer asked Mavi proudly. She had spent a long time planning this special gift.
At that moment, Mavi suddenly felt like he was the one being wooed. Usually, it was men who gave flowers and prepared birthday surprises for women. But today, the roles were reversed…
He was always the one showing off, but now his girlfriend had completely stolen the spotlight.
"Ahem! So, just like that, another one of my 'firsts' is gone?" Mavi mused. This was the first time in his life he had ever received flowers, let alone a cake made of them.
"So what if it's gone? You don't like it?" Jennifer turned to him, feigning offense.
Before Mavi could respond, Jennifer playfully grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the flower cake. She asked the hotel staff to take pictures of them together as a memento.
Faced with Jennifer's enthusiastic energy, Mavi found this birthday celebration to be particularly special—an experience unlike anything before. He cooperated for the photos, then followed her up to the hotel's rooftop restaurant for a romantic candlelit dinner.
Jennifer had reserved the entire rooftop seafood restaurant in advance. Since the whole hotel belonged to her father, there was no minimum spending requirement. Even if they didn't spend a dime, the staff wouldn't dare treat them poorly. On the contrary, they did their best to serve them, afraid of upsetting the heiress and her "golden husband."
As soon as Mavi and Jennifer took their seats by the restaurant's scenic window, he watched as she gracefully removed her pink wool coat, revealing a black dress and matching black stockings underneath.
The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected Jennifer's exquisite beauty, while behind them, Washington's dazzling night skyline provided a breathtaking backdrop.
Their dinner consisted of the finest seafood and gourmet dishes—lobster flown in from Australia, scallops from France, foie gras, caviar… Everything was luxurious and indulgent. Even the birthday cake had been meticulously crafted by a renowned pastry chef.
…
After their romantic candlelit dinner, Jennifer didn't rush to leave. Instead, she gazed out the window, as if waiting for something.
Mavi could tell that she had put a lot of effort into this "non-birthday" birthday celebration for him.
"What are you looking at? Don't tell me there are fireworks coming?" Mavi casually asked, taking a sip of his red wine.
However… his question had an unexpected effect.
Jennifer, who had been eagerly anticipating the moment, suddenly reacted like a startled kitten.
"How did you know?! Oh my God…" she exclaimed, staring at Mavi in shock, as if her big secret had just been exposed.
"I didn't know. I was just guessing. Fireworks for a birthday… sounds nice," Mavi said, realizing he had ruined the surprise. Sometimes, being too smart took the fun out of things.
Just as he finished speaking, a glowing red spark shot up into the sky outside the restaurant window. Then, with a soft boom, it exploded into a brilliant purple firework, illuminating the night sky and casting a glow over Mavi and Jennifer.
The fireworks were launched so close that it almost felt like they could reach out and touch them. The vibrant colors were breathtaking.
Even though Mavi had already guessed what was coming, witnessing the display up close still mesmerized him.
One by one, the fireworks bloomed in the sky—purple petals fading into the night, followed by pink heart-shaped bursts, then dazzling red and blue explosions. The sight was so stunning that Mavi couldn't even blink.
Down on the streets below the Marriott Hotel, passersby and tourists stopped in their tracks, pointing up at the sky and chattering in excitement.
"Wow! These fireworks are incredible! Who set them off? They must've cost a fortune!"
"These are premium fireworks, right? The kind that cost thousands of dollars per minute… Rich people, man!"
…
After about five minutes, the grand firework show began winding down. For the finale, dozens of red sparks soared into the air, exploding into a dazzling display that spelled out "Happy Birthday" in English.
Mavi burned the beautiful scene into his memory. Thinking back to his past life as an orphan, he realized he had never truly celebrated his birthday before. Every year, it had been just another day—sometimes he even forgot about it entirely.
As the glowing words in the sky slowly faded, Jennifer sighed wistfully and said, "It's over~ Fireworks disappear so quickly!"
Mavi didn't respond. He simply looked at Jennifer. Saying something like "thank you" felt too formal, yet he couldn't bring himself to say anything overly sentimental either. So he sat there in silence, replaying the magnificent fireworks in his mind.
"Why so quiet? Did the fireworks dazzle your eyes?" Jennifer tilted her head and waved a hand in front of his face.
"No," Mavi said, reaching out and gently grabbing her hand.
Before he could tighten his grip, Jennifer naturally stood up and smiled. "You're not drunk, are you? Come on, let's go to the room and rest for a while…"
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke. Back in the Maldives, she had been debating when the right time would be to take their relationship further. After much thought, she decided that the best gift she could give him on his birthday… was herself.
Hand in hand, they entered the presidential suite of the Marriott Hotel.
Jennifer slipped off her wool coat and pulled a black silk ribbon from the nightstand drawer.
"There's one last birthday gift for you," she said, stepping closer. "But first, let's blindfold you…"
She reached out and gently tied the silk ribbon over Mavi's eyes.
Throughout the process, he noticed that her hands were trembling ever so slightly—perhaps from nervousness.
(End of Chapter)