This... is becoming more and more like the Child of Fortune

Standing his ground.

Cao Cheng didn’t yield an inch.

He could joke when it was time to joke, be diplomatic when necessary, but when it came to pushing back… he didn’t hold back either.

It wasn’t that he had anything against this formidable older woman.

But if he didn’t make his stance clear, people would assume he was easy to bully—ready to manipulate him or even force him and Tang Xin apart.

Cao Cheng had never brushed shoulders with the elite in either of his lifetimes, but that didn’t stop him from understanding them.

With a century’s worth of dreamlike memories to draw from, looking back, he could see through—and grow indifferent to—many things by observing "history."

For instance…

A hundred years ago from now, it was still the reign of Emperor Guangxu. Back then, who would dare openly speak ill of the emperor? Commoners would kneel and shout "Long live the Emperor!" at the sight of him.

Yet a hundred years later, the Qing Dynasty was gone.

Modern people have no fundamental respect for imperial systems or emperors. They can even dig into the private affairs of royal families through historical records.

……

So,

Cao Cheng’s attitude toward Tang’s Mother was the same.

Standing from the vantage point of a hundred years later, he saw today’s so-called elite and influential figures as nothing extraordinary—no reason to fear or grovel before them.

What’s the worst they could do? Kill him?

A century of ups and downs proves no family or power can stay at the top forever. There are always rises and falls—and the Tang family is no exception…

"Young man."

Tang’s Mother smiled, her expression laced with faint derision. "Compared to others your age, it’s true that very few can earn as much as you without relying on their families. I admit I’ve never seen it before."

"But…"

"You seem to overestimate the power of money."

"Sometimes, wealth can even be harmful."

"Money doesn’t represent everything. And it alone isn’t enough for our family to approve of your relationship with Tang Xin."

"It’s not sufficient!"

"Since you’ve called me 'Mom,' let me teach you one thing. If you really want to be with Tang Xin, having money alone isn’t enough. You need… money, influence, and status. At the very least, your words should make an entire industry tremble. Otherwise, the money in your hands will just be fleeting wealth—or worse, a fat piece of meat that invites disaster."

"……"

Tang’s Mother’s words… were actually well-intentioned.

They might sound harsh,

but they pointed Cao Cheng in a clear direction—building influence.

However,

Cao Cheng found it almost amusing. Damn.

He was starting to resemble a protagonist blessed by fate.

Mockery, pressure, disdain from his girlfriend’s family…

This plot felt all too familiar.

For a fleeting moment, Cao Cheng nearly let his future mother-in-law steer him toward striving to become a man of wealth and power.

But wouldn’t that be exhausting?

Still,

Tang’s Mother wasn’t wrong. The Tang family was likely at its peak now, or at least on the rise.

They could afford to look down on almost anyone.

And that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It just meant very few people could meet the Tang family’s standards.

If he wanted to be with their precious daughter, if he wanted their approval, he’d need some status and clout of his own.

Moreover, this formidable woman wasn’t wrong—without real power, no matter how much he earned, it would just be transient wealth.

He remembered…

What happened to Zhao Dongpeng.

The guy made a fortune in Bitcoin, skyrocketing to over 500 billion yuan in net worth almost overnight, even topping the list as the richest Chinese. So glamorous. And then?

It all turned to fleeting wealth.

Into a piece of fat meat.

Sometimes, the more money you have, the more danger you’re in.

……

Tang’s Mother spoke bluntly, then watched Cao Cheng’s reaction closely.

There was no imagined indignation, no sharp retorts, not even a hint of righteous defiance or unwillingness to back down.

After just a few seconds of contemplation, his emotions remained remarkably steady, a faint, ambiguous smile lingering at the corners of his lips.

This kid…

His mental fortitude isn’t bad.

And it seemed like he’d come to some sort of realization??

Tang's Mother spoke again, her tone amused as she probed, "Figured it out?"

"Yes."

Cao Cheng nodded with a smile. "I have. You’re right, Mom."

Tang's Mother raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod. "So, do you know what you need to do next?"

Cao Cheng shook his head. "What I do isn’t important. What matters is what you—or the Tang family—need to do."

"??" Tang's Mother was taken aback.

Cao Cheng grinned. "Just as you said, right now, all I have is money, but no real foundation. But… once I have wealth, influence, and status—and I rise on my own—then… why would I need any connection to the Tang family?"

"……" Tang's Mother narrowed her eyes.

[Ding~ Negative emotions…]

Beside them, Tang Xin sucked in a sharp breath.

Honey, don’t talk nonsense.

"Mom, since you’ve been frank with me, I won’t hold back either."

Cao Cheng chuckled. "What I’m saying is the truth. The Tang family can’t just demand things from me, right? If I really reach that point, my options will multiply. Why would I choose a family that once looked down on me?"

"So,"

"It’s not about what I need to do—it’s about what you need to do."

"Sure, in your eyes, in the Tang family’s eyes, I’m insignificant right now. That’s a gap money alone can’t bridge."

"But…"

"You can’t possibly overlook such a prime investment opportunity, can you?"

"Right now, I’m exactly at the stage where I need support. So the smartest move for the Tang family would be to back me unconditionally—offer resources, connections… Lifting me up is better than pushing me down, isn’t it?"

"……"

Tang's Mother laughed.

This kid’s way of thinking really is different.

Or maybe it’s just that he dares to say it.

And there’s a twisted logic to it.

Mother-in-law and son-in-law locked eyes.

Tang's Mother smirked. "Kid, don’t try to play games with me. This isn’t something I can decide alone. It’ll depend on Tang Xin’s father’s opinion."

Cao Cheng shook his head with a laugh. "Mom, you’re being too modest. Tang Xin told me in private that you’re the one who runs the household. If you say ‘east,’ my esteemed father-in-law wouldn’t dare say ‘west.’ If you say ‘catch the dog,’ he wouldn’t dare chase the chicken… You’re the boss at home."

"Heh heh heh…" Tang's Mother chuckled, her shoulders shaking slightly.

She was once again witnessing this kid’s shamelessness firsthand.

Esteemed father-in-law?

If you actually dared to call him that, Tang Xin’s dad would lose it.

"Alright, you’re a slippery one. I’m getting old—can’t keep up with your way of thinking."

"Take your time to consider it, Mom. I’m in no hurry. I’m young—I can wait!"

[Ding~ Negative emotions~~~~]

A dangerous glint flashed in Tang's Mother’s eyes.

This little brat…

He doesn’t know when to be an angel and when to be a devil.

When he wants to sweet-talk, he’s smooth as honey.

But when he wants to provoke, he’s infuriating.

A woman can mention her own age, but others can’t.

Yet this kid not only brought it up—he even drew a comparison.

Oh, so you’re young and proud of it, huh?

Tang's Mother shot Tang Xin a stern look, as if asking, What kind of creature did you bring home?

Tang Xin forced a dry laugh and awkwardly changed the subject. "Mom, why don’t you stay for lunch? Cao Cheng is an amazing cook."

Tang's Mother glanced at Cao Cheng. "Didn't expect you to know how to cook?"

"Just a little," Cao Cheng replied earnestly.

Tang's Mother gave a light snort. "Then you’re in for a tough time. My daughter here doesn’t know a thing."

Without giving him a chance to respond, she continued, "I’ll taste your cooking at noon—just keep it light."

"Sure thing, Mom!" Cao Cheng sweetened his tone, not bothering to correct himself.

There was no need to, anyway.

He had no intention of giving up on Tang Xin, his sweet little domineering beauty, so her mother was naturally his mother too.

Calling her that wasn’t a loss.

...

A moment later.

Tang's Mother said to Cao Cheng, "Go buy some groceries, then."

Then she turned to Tang Xin. "Tang Xin, come with me inside."

Mother and daughter headed into the room, clearly needing some private conversation—away from Cao Cheng.

But grocery shopping? Not happening.

Back home, even his own mother never made Young Master Cao run errands like this. Why should he do it for his future mother-in-law?

No favoritism here.

Besides,

grocery shopping was exhausting.

If he had a girl tagging along, maybe. But going alone? Absolutely not!

He opened the door.

Outside stood a female assistant and a few bodyguards, standing like sentinels on either side.

At the sight of the door opening, they instinctively straightened up.

Cao Cheng nodded approvingly. "Good, very good. Full of energy."

"You there," he pointed at the female assistant—recognizable by her glasses and fitted blazer—"What’s your name?"

The assistant knew who Cao Cheng was. She wasn’t sure how things were going inside, but it seemed promising.

He’d probably be the young master of the house soon.

Assistant Yan replied politely, "My surname is Yan. You can call me Assistant Yan."

"Assistant Yan, Mom’s staying for lunch. She mentioned she prefers something light. You know her tastes, right? Take a couple of people and buy some groceries—make sure they’re fresh," Cao Cheng instructed.

Assistant Yan paused for a second before nodding quickly. "Of course."

"Go on, the sooner the better."

Cao Cheng casually shut the door again.

Done!

...

Inside the room.

Tang's Mother remained seated in the same posture—legs crossed, elegant and composed, but her gaze was razor-sharp.

"Start talking. Or do I have to drag it out of you?" Her voice carried undeniable pressure.

Tang Xin lowered her voice. "What’s there to say? I really like him, and... he treats me well."

Tang's Mother cut in, "You know that’s not what I want to hear. Do you think I don’t know you? If you were just picking anyone, you’d have done it long ago. But... I’m curious why it’s this guy."

Tang Xin shrugged. "We just clicked. I think he’s... special."

"Special?" Tang's Mother scoffed. "Specially annoying?"

"That’s part of it. But he’s also handsome, and his figure’s great." Between mother and daughter, there was no need to hold back.

Tang's Mother pointed at her. "Listen to yourself! Are you only concerned with looks?"

Tang Xin quickly shook her head. "Of course not. It’s just one aspect. What I mean is, I like everything about him."

Tang's Mother huffed. "How old are you, still throwing around words like 'like' so casually? Aren’t you embarrassed? Do I have to spell out what I’m asking?"

Tang Xin knew exactly what her mother wanted.

All the details of their relationship—things no investigation could uncover, only firsthand accounts.

With a resigned sigh, Tang Xin began recounting the timeline and how they’d met, though she wisely left out the part about ogling his physique at first sight.

She would never admit to judging solely by appearances.

In her view, looks were merely a stepping stone—what lay beyond the door was the true key to affection.

As Tang Xin spoke, Tang's Mother gradually learned more.

Including some of Cao Cheng's "talents."

He was practically a jack-of-all-trades.

Even the smallest things he casually revealed were far from ordinary.

Especially in the secondary market, his foresight was remarkable, and his ability to analyze data bordered on genius-level.

He could sift through vast amounts of information, pinpointing the critical, interconnected details to arrive at the answers he sought.

While memory certainly played a role, it was also the result of Cao Cheng's relentless self-study behind the scenes.

Those "just a little" skills of his weren’t just for show.

"So you're saying…"

"You never provided insider information or engaged in insider trading?"