Cao Gongzi: My Things Are Not for Sale, They're for You to Look At

In the end,

Lingling still boarded the plane.

This confession had no resolution, and most of the sorrow was dissolved by a few words from Cao Cheng.

But the scene was still somewhat heartbreaking.

So,

every time he recalled the incident, a trace of helplessness flickered in Cao Cheng’s eyes.

It was just the way things had to be.

After all, as a man of honor, he couldn’t possibly play games like two-timing.

Young Master Cao’s upbringing would never allow such behavior.

Just look at Old Cao—even though he had his wild days, he never once stepped onto two boats…

That’s what you call legacy.

Besides, joking around was one thing, but when it came to confessions and defining relationships, some things had to be laid bare.

Otherwise,

it would only hurt everyone involved.

……

Of course,

a failed confession didn’t mean they became enemies.

Lingling still texted and called, fully embracing the role of a younger sister.

She buried her feelings deep, throwing herself entirely into her career.

Her return this time even shocked her grandmother, who never expected Lingling to make such progress.

Lingling had promised Young Master Cao to keep the matter of the elixirs a secret.

So she didn’t tell her grandmother, only saying it was all thanks to her brother.

The old lady even personally called to express her gratitude.

……

After the New Year,

Cao Cheng spent some more time with Tang Xin.

The financial ventures also yielded impressive returns.

Due to the lingering ripple effects of the global crisis from the previous year, the European debt crisis had now erupted…

Short-selling.

Pure bliss~~~

But these operations no longer required Young Master Cao’s direct involvement. He had an entire team under him, including Tang Xin’s own army of professionals, all executing orders flawlessly.

Cao Cheng simply pointed them in a ‘hypothetical’ direction, and they charged ahead without question.

On top of that,

there was no shortage of value investments—buying up a slew of growth stocks to hold for the next fifteen years without lifting a finger.

The annual dividends and management fees alone amounted to astronomical figures.

……

Late February.

Lantern Festival!

Finally, Miracle Cosmetics made its move.

On major e-commerce platforms, only the Bronze-tier products were available for sale, priced at 380 yuan.

Sales were actually decent—over 10,000 sets sold in just half a month on Alibaba alone.

Revenue surpassed four million.

For a new product, even a new brand—especially a domestic one—this was a promising start, full of potential.

The reviews were mostly positive too.

Almost everyone who tried it gave glowing feedback.

Except for a few who shamelessly trashed the ‘cultivation-inspired’ cosmetics and competitors deliberately leaving bad reviews.

But…

This money was still light-years away from Cao Cheng’s ambitions.

Young Master Cao’s goals were grand.

From the outset, he was benchmarking against the world’s top beauty brand, which averaged 1.6 billion euros in monthly revenue.

Converted to yuan, that was 13.5 billion a month.

Globally.

In the domestic market alone, their monthly revenue exceeded 700 million.

So,

Miracle Cosmetics wasn’t even close to matching a fraction of that.

How could Young Master Cao be satisfied?

Even if annual sales could potentially break 100 million at this rate, it was still far too little.

Thus,

by late February, Miracle Cosmetics launched a major campaign.

They invited powerful women from all walks of life—entrepreneurs, journalists, celebrities—to attend the Miracle Cosmetics · Spring Product Launch on March 6th!

Cao Cheng essentially transformed a futuristic tech-style product launch into a cosmetics showcase.

A first for the domestic industry.

……

Invitations were also extended to major competitors.

At the L'Oréal China headquarters in Zhonghai,

the president’s office received the event invitation.

President Paul absentmindedly stroked his smooth, balding head…

“Miracle Cosmetics?”

He spoke in Chinese.

Though his accent was thick, his fluency was impressive.

Paul glanced at his assistant for confirmation. “Spring… product launch? Inviting me and my wife??”

“Yes, sir. Though the company is newly established under the rebranded century-old enterprise Friendship, the owner is Cao Cheng—a 25-year-old billionaire, likely this year’s definitive richest man in China. So… I couldn’t disregard this invitation.” The secretary nodded.

Paul agreed. “Indeed, he’s a remarkable young man. At twenty-five, I was still like you.”

“……” The secretary’s face twitched. I’m freaking thirty and still stuck in this dead-end job?

Way to compliment someone, baldy!

“March 6th?”

Unaware of his secretary’s internal rant, Paul checked the date. “Does this day hold any special significance?”

Having spent years in China, he knew many locals favored auspicious dates.

The secretary explained, “March 6th is Jingzhe—the ‘Awakening of Insects.’”

“Ah, Jingzhe! A solar term, right? I’ve heard of it but don’t know much. Could you elaborate?” Paul brightened.

“Jingzhe signifies the return of warm weather,” the secretary said. “The first spring thunder rumbles, and all things begin to grow. It symbolizes nature’s reawakening and renewal.”

“Ahhh~ Fascinating. I like this holiday.”

The secretary added, “It’s also a Saturday—a weekend.”

Paul raised an eyebrow. “A good date.”

“March 7th is Sunday, Girls’ Day. Right after the launch, sales might spike as women shop for the occasion.”

“An excellent timeline.” Paul mused. “Perhaps we should plan our own product launch next year.”

The secretary nodded. “As you wish. So, will you attend Miracle Cosmetics’ event?”

“Of course. I’ll inform my wife—she’ll be delighted. Remind me when the day comes.”

“Understood.”

……

Other companies, at the very least, sent vice presidents.

A gesture of respect for the richest man’s clout.

Surface-level courtesy was maintained, though their private disdain remained their own.

Young Master Cao couldn’t care less.

He coordinated with Tencent, streaming platforms, and TV networks

to broadcast the launch live.

Thus,

rehearsals were essential.

General Manager Xu Qing was nervous.

She was handling most of the logistics, including product presentations.

After decades as a cosmetics executive, she never imagined she’d be hosting a launch event.

Her confidence wavered.

If she messed up, it’d all be over.

The stress left her sleepless—memorizing scripts, rehearsing, practicing stage movements…

……

Finally, March 6th arrived.

The venue was the Bund Hotel, owned by the Ren Group.

Their flagship property.

The banquet hall had been renovated into a stage, spanning over 1,000 square meters with a seven-meter ceiling.

Enough to seat hundreds.

A mid-sized event, after all.

The highlight was the floor-to-ceiling glass walls framing the river and the Pearl Tower.

Once the Miracle Industrial Park was completed, that would be the venue for grand launches—a stage of their own.

……

At 8 PM.

The live broadcast on online platforms began.

Major platforms started promoting it, instantly drawing in a large audience.

"Welcome to the Miracle Group’s Spring Cosmetics New Product Launch. I’m Xu Qing…"

Cao Cheng didn’t take the stage.

Instead, he sat—

Paul smiled. "You’re truly a genius. Today’s product launch will undoubtedly set a new standard for future events. I plan to host one myself next year, and I hope you’ll honor us with your presence, Mr. Cao."

Cao Cheng nodded. "Reciprocity—you know what that means, right?"

"Of course. I give a gift, you return the favor, correct?"

Cao Cheng chuckled. "It’s not just about gifts. Think of it as warfare—you fire one shot, I fire a cannon. You fire a cannon, I unleash ten. Reciprocity!"

"…"

Paul froze for a moment, then laughed. "Well, luckily, we have no conflicts—at least not for now."

Paul had always been fond of Chinese culture.

His wife was even of Chinese descent.

He had lived in Zhonghai for ten years.

Cao Cheng said, "When your wife leaves later, I’ll give her a limited-edition gift—our Miracle Beauty Diamond Set. As an expert in this industry, you’ll recognize quality when you see it."

Paul thanked him. "That’s incredibly generous. I’ll make sure she puts it to good use."

"No."

Cao Cheng waved his hand. "What I mean is, after your wife tries it, I want you to personally experience the product’s effects. Then, you can decide your future. Miracle Beauty is looking for a European Regional President."

"!!!"

Paul was stunned.

What did that mean?

Poaching him?

Paul didn’t know how to respond.

This was completely unexpected.

It was like a newly opened diner trying to recruit the head chef of an eight-star hotel.

It sounded absurd.

If Cao Cheng weren’t the youngest billionaire in the country, Paul might have taken it as an insult and walked out on the spot.

Noticing Paul’s shock, Cao Cheng smiled. "No rush. Let’s watch the launch first. We’ll talk about the product afterward."

"Alright." Paul nodded, deciding not to press further.

……

Truthfully,

cosmetics launches weren’t much different from smartphone or laptop launches.

It was all about hype!

For example, boasting about new innovations, cutting-edge tech, or battery life improvements.

In cosmetics, it was about how many shades lighter your skin could get.

There were lab reports.

Before-and-after photos.

The difference was obvious at a glance.

Then came the endless presentations, followed by tiered versions—Basic, PS, Pro, and finally Pro+ or Pro Max!

For Miracle Beauty, it was Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond!

The packaging varied by tier, distinguished by color.

Then the prices were revealed.

And the crowd erupted.

Thirty-eight thousand for the top tier?!

Was that a typo?

The audience had seen the presentation, and admittedly, some of the tech was unheard of in the industry.

Ingredients like 'glabridin,' 'nicotinamide mononucleotide,' and 'phenylethyl resorcinol'—

these were being used in cosmetics for the first time.

Then there was the ultra-fine pearl powder technology.

In short…

everything seemed groundbreaking.

It felt more like a science seminar, leaving competitors wide-eyed. Who knew you could do this?

Some were still researching these concepts, yet Miracle Beauty had already incorporated them into products.

It was a wake-up call for many.

But…

weren’t the prices outrageous?

The lowest tier started at 380.

Silver was 3,800.

Gold was 38,000.

And Diamond—38,000!!!!

Who could afford that?

Cosmetics might claim to fight aging and tighten skin, but they weren’t miracle pills.

What justified the price?

Especially for a brand-new label…

Watching the crowd’s reactions, Cao Cheng smirked.

Did they really think this launch was about selling products?

Think again.

Some things aren’t for sale—they’re for show.