After much debate,
many people called the company to report the situation.
In the end, each company secured one or two trainees.
Next came the discussion about profit sharing.
Cao Cheng proposed two models: one was a buyout, where they would pay upfront to sign the trainees outright.
The other was a revenue-sharing model, where Miracle Media would take a smaller cut but over a longer period, claiming a share of the earnings for the next two years—arguably the trainees' prime years.
This model wasn’t uncommon in later years,
but for the domestic entertainment industry at the time, it was groundbreaking.
The negotiations went smoothly.
By dinner, glasses clinked in toasts, though Cao Cheng excused himself early.
As he left,
the deputy head of Tianyu Entertainment even invited him to visit their company.
See?
Just like that, the conflict was resolved.
...
Late September.
The grand finale of the competition shattered all expectations.
By the thirteenth episode, viewership had soared to 10.8%!
Everyone knew the finale would likely surpass 11% and set a new record.
But no one anticipated just how far it would go.
A staggering 48.78% increase—
viewership peaked at 16.07%!
It was absolute madness.
People suspected a statistical error.
A variety show with ratings like this wasn’t just unprecedented—it was nearly mythical.
Even Hunan TV was dumbfounded: "Did we offend the heavens to face such a rival?"
Cao Cheng himself marveled at the outcome.
Pulling this off three years ahead of schedule—who could’ve predicted such success?
Of course,
he couldn’t help but feel a little smug. His relentless promotion had played a huge role. Without it, the results might not have been so staggering.
Looking back, from the initial online hype to the climactic finale, Cao Cheng had stirred the pot nonstop.
In this era, such aggressive marketing was unheard of.
Even two decades later, this level of promotion would’ve yielded impressive numbers.
It felt like using a cannon to kill a mosquito—
but it was worth it.
The show wasn’t the only thing that blew up.
Miracle Media skyrocketed.
Cao Cheng became a household name.
The trainees gained fame overnight.
Even the mentors experienced a career revival.
The sponsors thrived, with sales exploding.
The ads during the show were just as hot.
Everyone involved came out a winner—
including the audience, who were treated to a feast for the eyes and ears.
The finale’s award ceremony was a spectacle, rivaling major red-carpet events.
Celebrities from across the industry—actors, musicians, heartthrobs—were invited to present trophies.
With mentors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and performances in Cantonese and English,
the guest list naturally included international music legends and film stars.
None of them left empty-handed either.
Actors promoted their upcoming films and dramas.
Musicians plugged their new albums.
With ratings this high, everyone fought tooth and nail to get in.
As The Voice wrapped up, the only losers were the mentors who’d turned it down and the local Tomato TV network.
Their regret was immeasurable—
for the umpteenth time.
...
With the show concluded,
Cao Cheng finally relaxed.
He handed full control of the company to The Fourth and Sister Ali.
His philosophy? "I’ve shown you the way—now make your own money."
"Did I hire all these people just to keep micromanaging?"
With a cup of tea and a cigarette,
life couldn’t be better.
That afternoon,
Cao Cheng took stock of his gains.
He hadn’t been idle, periodically opening gold and diamond treasure chests.
But the emotional energy points—
he couldn’t spend them fast enough.
In just two weeks, he’d saved up enough for ten divine-tier chests.
However,
with the show over, the daily influx of points was dwindling. It was time for a break—before stirring up more chaos.
First, the draws.
It’d been a while since his last divine-tier spree. This ten-pull might just—
Wait.
The house was empty.
The Fourth was swamped at work.
The Third was also tied up at the office.
Second Sister? No idea—she hadn’t been home in two days, probably wrapped up in some case.
Eldest Sister?
Last night, he’d tried tricking her into giving him a massage. She saw right through him, responding with a cold glare.
"Second Sister’s the better bet," he mused.
"She’s stern but soft-hearted—if she agrees to a massage, she actually follows through."
"Eldest Sister? Total wolf in sheep’s clothing. All sweet smiles, but zero action."
"Used to be able to bait her into bets. After losing twice, she wised up—now she bolts at the word ‘wager.’"
"Damn it."
"Being the Chosen One is harder than it looks."
"Why do other protagonists always find gullible fools to gamble with, while everyone around me is sharp as a tack?"
"Maybe this divine-tier draw will give me a ‘Dumbification Aura.’"
"With that, I’d be unstoppable."
"But,"
"Cao Cheng doesn’t back down from a challenge. This ten-pull is happening—with Eldest Sister’s help."
...
Evening arrived.
The Fourth came home, but no way was he letting her near the divine chests. Who knew what chaos she’d unleash?
The Third was still working late. He made a mental note to send her some longevity tea and soothing blends later—no point wrecking her health.
Second Sister remained MIA, likely holed up at the station over her case.
As for Eldest Sister?
She was in the bath.
Her nightly ritual: a long soak to unwind, followed by coffee-fueled overtime work until the wee hours.
This family was full of workaholics.
Seizing the moment, Cao Cheng sneaked into the kitchen to brew coffee.
Second Sister preferred alcohol; Eldest Sister lived on caffeine.
The Third drank anything.
The Fourth? Nothing but tea—specifically, the tea she swindled from him.
Thirty minutes later,
Eldest Sister emerged, wrapped in a silk nightgown, her toned legs glistening.
"Ah—!"
She shrieked, nearly stumbling back.
Cao Cheng stood there, grinning like a fool, coffee in hand.
Straight out of a horror movie.
Eldest Sister’s composure shattered.
[Ding~ Negative Emotion +400×2]
Clearly, she’d been genuinely spooked. Normally, her outbursts capped at 200.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Her usual serene demeanor was gone, replaced by irritation.
Cao Cheng just kept grinning. "Eldest Sister, tea?"
"This is coffee."
"Right, coffee."
"..."
She rolled her eyes, snatching the cup. The scent of her fresh shower—floral and warm—drifted between them.
This wasn’t her most glamorous state.
Normally, her hair cascaded loosely, framing her face with effortless elegance.
Now? Wrapped in a towel, she looked like an Indian ascetic.
And yet,
even like this, she was stunning.
Especially those legs.
Honestly, she’d probably rock a bald head too.
Right?
"Flattery for no reason—out with it, what do you want now?"
"Want to... uh, how should I put it? I have a headache."
"Take some painkillers and you'll be fine. Goodnight!" Eldest Sister resembled an old hospital specialist, seeing right through Cao Cheng's act without needing much inquiry, prescribing the solution outright.
With that, she turned and headed back to her room, coffee in hand.
She had only stepped out to make coffee in the first place.
Now that she had it, it was time to return to work.
"Hey, hey, hey—Eldest Sister, don’t rush off!"
Cao Cheng quickly followed her inside.
This marked the first time Young Master Cao had seized an opportunity to enter Eldest Sister’s private quarters.
She glanced back at him sideways. "A lady’s room is off-limits to gentlemen!"
"Eldest Sister, you’re being too formal. But if you prefer, you can always think of me as Fifth Younger Sister." Cao Cheng flashed a coy smile.
"Pfft—have you no shame?" Eldest Sister couldn’t help laughing, scolding him half-heartedly. "You’re the richest man in the country—can’t you act a little more dignified?"
"I can be dignified outside, but at home, in front of my sisters, I’ll always just be the little brother." His expression was utterly sincere.
Eldest Sister snorted in amusement but stopped in her tracks, turning to block the doorway and prevent Cao Cheng from entering further.
Her tone was resigned. "Fine, what is it you really want?"
"I just missed Eldest Sister’s massages. Wondered if you could give me a head rub."
"..."
She sighed softly. "You’re impossible."
At the end of the day, all his sisters doted on him.
The family’s wealthy young master had brought Eldest Sister and Second Sister countless benefits.
Thanks to his guidance and support, the family business hadn’t just survived a crisis—it had turned a hefty profit.
They’d acquired several plots of land, among other things.
Collaborations and deals were too numerous to count.
Even Third Sister’s investments had contributed to the family enterprise.
He’d genuinely helped Eldest Sister a great deal.
Reciprocity was only natural.
Though Eldest Sister had a sharp tongue and a deceptive smile, she cared deeply for her family and their feelings.
After all this time together, Fifth Younger Sister had seamlessly woven herself into the fabric of their daily lives.
That said,
the bond between Eldest Sister and Cao Cheng wasn’t as close as his relationships with The Second, The Third, or The Fourth—but it wasn’t lacking, either.
"Let’s go. To your room," Eldest Sister said impatiently.
"No need for the trouble—we can do it here. Once you’re done, I’ll leave right away and won’t disturb your rest."
"Enough nonsense. Your room. Now." She glared.
"Fine, fine, my room it is."
Cao Cheng chuckled.
But inwardly, he was calculating.
He’d never been inside Eldest Sister’s room.
Privacy was strictly maintained in their household.
Each bedroom had its own passcode lock.
Unless a sister explicitly permitted it, even the cleaning staff couldn’t enter alone.
This suggested everyone had their own little secrets.
Sigh.
By comparison, Young Master Cao was the picture of openness and integrity in this family.
A true gentleman, unashamed and unburdened.
Such was the grace of the Wei-Jin era!
...
But come to think of it,
something felt off here.
Cao Cheng had been inside the rooms of The Second, The Third, and The Fourth.
While they hadn’t let him rummage freely—that would’ve been excessive—they hadn’t been this secretive either.
Yet with Eldest Sister, he’d barely set foot inside before she physically barred him at the door.
It ignited his curiosity and thirst for discovery.
He’d have to investigate later, discreetly.
Of course,
this wasn’t about snooping.
It was concern for her unresolved issues.
For all he knew, her room might hold clues to her emotional struggles.
Besides, Eldest Sister’s psychological defenses were formidable.
After all this time, she still hadn’t fully let her guard down.
Even The Second was nearly won over.
But Eldest Sister remained unmoved, an unbreakable fortress.
A fierce competitive drive surged in Young Master Cao’s heart!
He was determined to get to the bottom of this.
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
