Chapter 65 I Heard Today's Your Birthday
"Timeless Love" was already adapted from a popular web novel, and with excellent production values and a cast of gorgeous actors, it received rave reviews after going online.
Although James only played the third male lead with limited screen time, his exceptional looks and decent acting skills won over many fans.
Every episode's comment section was flooded with people asking for his name and social media accounts.
Typically, the second male lead would be the villain, but James's temperament wasn't suited for antagonist roles. So, riding on the success of "Timeless Love," Stellar Cinematics was planning to cast James as the male lead in their next web series.
Besides the web series development, Emily and Sophia's birthdays were also approaching.
"Today is my coming-of-age party. My dad booked the largest ballroom at the Celestial Peak Hotel. Would everyone like to come to my birthday celebration tonight?"
Emily stood at the podium with a sweet smile, completely different from her previous bratty image. She had transformed into someone graceful and refined, politely inviting her classmates to attend her coming-of-age party.
"Celestial Peak Hotel? Isn't that a five-star hotel? Booking their largest ballroom for a birthday party would cost at least a million dollars. Looks like the Smith family does spoil Emily after all."
"When Sophia was with the Smith family, she only booked a small private dining room for us on her birthdays. She never went this extravagant."
"Well, it is a coming-of-age party—a once-in-a-lifetime event. Emily was just welcomed back into the Smith family recently, and she is their biological daughter. The Smith family wouldn't skimp on throwing her a coming-of-age celebration."
Hearing the whispered discussions, Emily's eyes flashed with satisfaction as she glanced smugly at Sophia.
"Sophia, you should come too. Since we share the same birthday, consider it a joint celebration."
Sophia, who had been working on her assignments, put down her pen and looked up with a gentle smile. "Thank you for the kind offer. Let your classmates celebrate with you. I'll celebrate at home with my family."
Emily walked down from the podium and approached Sophia's desk, earnestly persuading her, "Sophia, your parents can't afford to throw you a grand birthday party given their financial situation. Your eighteenth birthday is such an important milestone—you should celebrate with us. Your adoptive parents won't blame you for it. The classmates would definitely be happier if you came."
"No need. Evelyn especially came back yesterday, saying she wanted to make me a cake personally, and Mom and Dad said they're preparing a feast to celebrate with me tonight." Sophia smiled serenely, standing up and patting Emily's shoulder. "No banquet, however luxurious, can compare to being surrounded by family. Don't you think?"
Emily's mouth twitched, her expression stiffening slightly.
Last night, she had asked her parents if they could attend her birthday party to show their support.
George had only arranged for someone to book the Celestial Peak Hotel ballroom and cover all the party expenses. Jane had instructed the servants to make a large cake using imported fruits for her celebration.
Both used being busy with work as an excuse to decline her invitation.
Most hurtfully, Andrew and John had casually sent gifts through their assistants the night before, without even a birthday greeting, completely unwilling to see her.
It didn't matter. She could host her coming-of-age party at the Celestial Peak Hotel and invite all her classmates to celebrate with her.
That was a five-star hotel where they'd feast on gourmet delicacies and drink premium champagne and wine. Even the cake was specially made with imported fruits flown in from abroad.
Sophia could only celebrate at home with a bunch of poor people—what was there to brag about?
After this birthday party, her classmates would soon see clearly who was truly worth sucking up to.
No matter how capable Sophia was, she was now a thing of the past. Without the Smith family, she was just a poor girl!
With this thought, Emily felt much better and continued with a bright smile, "That's such a pity. I was hoping to celebrate together with you. Otherwise, you might not get another chance to dine at the Celestial Peak Hotel."
Sophia wasn't angry or jealous, but wanted to laugh, "You're so thoughtful, always considering my situation. But you're right—an eighteenth birthday comes only once in a lifetime and should be celebrated properly. So, I'm hosting a dinner at the Celestial Peak Hotel this weekend and inviting all our classmates."
"What?" Emily stared at Sophia with wide eyes, hardly believing what she'd heard.
There were fifty people in their class! Just the meal alone would cost a fortune, and with drinks included, even booking the smallest private room would cost nearly a hundred thousand dollars.
Surely she knew how expensive the Celestial Peak Hotel was? How could she so boldly invite the entire class to dinner?
"Sophia, are you serious?" one of the male students asked uncertainly.
They never excluded Sophia because of her bankruptcy, but they understood that her financial situation couldn't possibly be as good as before after leaving the Smith family.
If she really hosted a dinner at the Celestial Peak Hotel, it would cost her a lot of money!
"Of course. I've treated everyone to birthday dinners every year. How could I not invite you all to celebrate my coming-of-age?" Sophia smiled easily, speaking casually before joking, "No need to bring gifts, but everyone has to come, or I'll start thinking you're looking down on me."
"If Sophia's inviting us, we'll definitely be there!"
"We have to show up, and we have to bring gifts too! It's Sophia's eighteenth birthday—we've got to show our appreciation!"
"Thanks to you, the pen factory project turned profitable again. We made some money, so how could we skimp on your coming-of-age gift?"
"Hey, what we give doesn't matter much, but what will Michael give Sophia? Could it be... himself?"
Sophia looked at them with amusement—this group was as shameless as ever, always teasing her about Michael.
She turned back to Emily with interest. "Since Ms. Smith is hosting tonight, everyone should have a great time. Don't hold back on her account."
Emily gritted her back teeth while forcing a smile. "Absolutely. Everyone should eat and drink well tonight—all expenses on me."
"Then I won't hold back with Ms. Smith!" Amelia said with a grin, secretly giving Sophia a thumbs up.
She absolutely had to attend tonight's coming-of-age party and make Emily spend a lot of money!
When school ended, Sophia packed her bag, ready to leave.
"Sophia, your arch-nemesis is here looking for you!"
Hearing "arch-nemesis," Sophia's first thought was Andrew and John. She turned toward the classroom entrance, only to discover it was Joshua.
'What does Joshua want with me?'
Sophia walked out with her bag, curious.
Joshua held a gift box in his hands, his face wearing a gentle smile that made passing female students glance at him repeatedly, wondering why the guy from Class 3 had come to Class 1.
Seeing Sophia emerge, Joshua extended the gift box. "Sophia, I heard today's your birthday. This is a gift I picked out for you. Happy birthday."