This move by Brother Cao could make him a saint

Xu Qing was stunned.

Lingling was equally shocked.

Last year, this ad slot had only cost a little over 47 million, and this year it was expected to barely exceed 50 million. Yet Young Master Cao directly raised the bid to over 60 million?

Nearly 70 million!

This alone proved how deep Young Master Cao’s pockets were.

Let’s be honest.

Young Master Cao didn’t care about the money—what he wanted was prestige and buzz.

What’s the point of advertising?

It’s all about generating chatter.

And what could be catchier than the number “6666”?

Well, maybe “8888”…

But Young Master Cao wasn’t about to be a sucker.

When 60 million could easily secure the deal, why spend close to 90?

If it were “8888,” he might as well go all out and bid 100 million for even greater hype.

“Young Master, isn’t this… a bit too much?”

“Of course it is.”

Cao Cheng agreed. “But it’s worth it. The follow-up promotion will revolve around this buzz, turning ‘666’ into a household catchphrase.”

Xu Qing looked utterly confused.

What did that even mean?

What catchphrase?

In his dreams, “666” had appeared in a game, symbolizing admiration and praise for players.

And “666” also tied into the ancient tradition of the “Great Fortune Festival.”

So,

there was real potential here.

Even a decade later, young people would still be shouting “six!”

Total profit, no question.

Besides,

it was just six million per second, broadcast for half the nation—and even some overseas viewers—to witness.

What wasn’t worth that?

…

Young Master Cao didn’t explain much.

He simply said, “Just watch how I play this.”

With that,

he closed the bid documents, sealed them, and had his company submit them.

Soon,

all the interested companies had placed their bids.

Even some who hadn’t planned to bid joined in.

After all, it was a blind auction—why not take a shot? What if luck was on their side? What if they got lucky?

Admittedly, the odds were slim.

Otherwise, Midea wouldn’t have won it year after year.

There was definitely something shady going on behind the scenes.

But,

Young Master Cao believed that against overwhelming momentum, even backroom deals wouldn’t stand a chance.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t hesitate to flip the table right there at the broadcaster’s headquarters.

Damn it.

With his current untouchable status, who’d dare pull shady tricks on him?

He’d have the department head fired on the spot.

…

After a brief wait,

the final announcement came.

“The winning bidder for this year’s New Year countdown ad slot is…”

A pause.

The announcer’s gaze seemed to linger meaningfully on Young Master Cao.

Cao Cheng chuckled.

The announcer declared, “Miracle Group—Miracle Cosmetics!”

Gasps filled the room.

Even Midea Group was caught off guard, their executives turning to stare at Young Master Cao.

Midea’s winning streak had been broken.

The announcer revealed the bid: “Miracle Group’s offer: 66.66 million!”

Another wave of shock.

Everyone had expected a narrow margin—maybe a few hundred thousand, or even just tens of thousands.

But this…

Last year, Midea had paid 47.01 million. This year, the price skyrocketed to 66.66 million.

A difference of nearly 20 million.

Midea’s loss was justified.

With such a huge gap, no amount of underhanded tactics could’ve swung it—nor would anyone dare try.

If 60 million couldn’t secure it, everyone would know something fishy was going on.

Still,

wasn’t this basically price gouging?

If it’s 60 million this year, wouldn’t next year hit 70?

Either way, the broadcaster was the real winner.

And everyone got a firsthand look at Young Master Cao’s financial might.

Clap clap clap—

Soon,

applause broke out, led by Midea’s team, offering polite congratulations.

They were all businesspeople, after all. Even if they were seething inside, appearances had to be maintained in public.

Cao Cheng clasped his hands in a modest salute, exchanging pleasantries.

Part of him wanted to declare, “You’re all trash,” just to stir the pot.

But he held back.

No need.

No point slapping a smiling face.

…

With that, the bidding war came to an end.

Next came contract signings.

Young Master Cao also took the opportunity to discuss New Year’s gifts with the broadcaster—adding a “Miracle Cosmetics” gift set to the roster.

Each set, worth 3,800, would be given to every female audience member and staffer at the broadcaster.

A casual giveaway worth millions.

That’s just how he rolled.

…

Afterward,

Cao Cheng instructed, “Qing-jie, production and quality control must be flawless. This is our make-or-break moment.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ve been overseeing everything personally,” Xu Qing assured him.

This was her expertise.

Even though Ren’s Hall hadn’t succeeded before, her experience was solid.

The only thing missing had been the right product.

Creating a product was simple. First, define the goal: Is it a gift item, or something for repeat customers? That’s key.

Gift items focus on packaging—all effort goes into presentation and marketing.

Repeat customers demand top-tier product quality, with marketing as a secondary concern.

Besides,

Cao Cheng had grand plans for the cosmetics industry. This was just the opening move.

The real boom would take time.

…

Plain and simple.

Young Master Cao's personal fame now far surpasses that of "Miracle Cosmetics" by countless times.

Even though Miracle Cosmetics secured the midnight New Year's Eve countdown slot and became known nationwide,

in certain circles, it still can't compare to Young Master Cao's renown.

So,

for now, Miracle Cosmetics is just a small fry. Once it gains real prominence, it’ll likely face suppression and exclusion from both domestic and international competitors.

The market is only so big.

If Miracle takes a bigger slice, others will inevitably go hungry.

In business competition, it’s always a cutthroat battle.

Thus,

before Miracle rises to fame, Young Master Cao must make preparations—setting up a grand scheme to drag all competitors into the fray.

First, for the market.

Second… and more crucially, for emotional capital.

Right now, no one knows what Cao Cheng is plotting. Some don’t even realize he’s plotting at all.

But when the dust settles in the future, Young Master Cao’s moves will be legendary.

...

That same night.

Within industrial circles, Miracle Group and Miracle Cosmetics were already making waves.

Spending a staggering 66.66 million to secure the midnight countdown slot, breaking Amei Group’s winning streak?

Unbelievable!

Some praised the move, while others scoffed.

They dismissed Young Master Cao as nothing more than a nouveau riche tycoon, throwing money around to disrupt market norms.

Why spend 60 million when 50 million could’ve done the job?

What kind of fool does that?

Honestly,

many entrepreneurs shared this sentiment.

Only a handful of sharp minds sensed something deeper at play.

Was Young Master Cao a fool?

Obviously not.

Calling him a nouveau riche? Fair enough—he’d only made his fortune in recent years.

But calling him stupid? The truly shrewd didn’t buy it.

Still,

what was Young Master Cao’s game? Just to secure the countdown slot with absolute certainty? That didn’t seem worth it.

Unfathomable.

Baffling.

All they could do was keep a close watch and see what Young Master Cao did next.

...

Meanwhile, Young Master Cao himself

dropped Lingling off at school before driving to his father-in-law’s home.

A heavily guarded quadrangle courtyard.

Tang’s Mother, the elegant matriarch, was delighted by Young Master Cao’s visit.

A mother-in-law’s fondness for her son-in-law only grows with time.

But Tang’s Father? Same stern face as ever.

His first words: "Heard you made a spectacle of yourself today? Playing the big spender?"

Young Master Cao didn’t stand on ceremony. He poured himself some tea, chuckled, and deflected: "Weren’t you swamped with work before the New Year? Surprised you have time to lounge around with tea."

Tang’s Father glared. "Busy doesn’t mean I can’t take a day off. Today’s my break."

Young Master Cao nodded. "Good to hear. How about a drink tonight, just us men?"

"Hah—"

Tang’s Father didn’t know whether to laugh or fume. He snorted and pointed at Cao Cheng. "You’ve got no shame. Other kids your age wouldn’t dare sit so casually in front of me."

Young Master Cao shrugged. "Of course not. You think just anyone can compare to me? They’re nobodies."

"..."

Then he added, "If not for Young Master Cao, the capital would’ve languished in eternal darkness!"

"..."

Tang’s Father laughed in exasperation. "Fine, fine. Well said."

Boasts aside,

tea finished,

it was time for serious talk—

Mostly drinking.

Father-in-law, son-in-law, and the elegant matriarch clinked glasses.

With liquor loosening tongues, the conversation turned grand.

They touched on the three-step strategy laid out by elder statesmen,

from the era of reform to WTO accession, and even future tech—AI, finance, and more...

Young Master Cao’s takes on the future were razor-sharp.

At times, a single remark left Tang’s Father stunned.

Some visions were things he’d barely dared imagine, yet were striving toward.

In short,

a few drinks in, Cao Cheng revealed thoughts he usually kept hidden.

Luckily, he wasn’t drunk—just pleasantly buzzed.

So he kept control, careful not to spill everything.

Even his own father couldn’t be fully trusted, let alone a father-in-law—only half a dad.

Tang’s Mother, though? No need for caution.

Young Master Cao said, "Mom, once the first batch of premium skincare sets drops, I’ll send you a diamond-tier luxury edition."

Before the matriarch could reply,

Tang’s Father cut in: "Is the product even safe? Don’t risk it—might ruin your skin."

Young Master Cao realized:

These dads and half-dads were all cast as villains, huh?

Equipped with sarcasm skills?

Tang’s Mother, ever gracious, smiled. "I’d love to try it. With all the money you’ve poured into marketing, the product can’t be bad."

"See?"

Young Master Cao turned and pointed at his father-in-law. "Mom gets it. You? Let’s stick to drinking."

"..."

Tang’s Father noted how this kid grew bolder by the day.

Too familiar now, was he?

A glare.

When Tang’s Father glared, most would shrink in fear.

But Young Master Cao acted oblivious, pouring him another drink. "Your eyes must be dry. Have some liquor—it’ll hydrate you."

"..."

I glare, and you ask if my eyes are dry?!

The elegant matriarch burst out laughing.