These days...
It's still three years before the first short video platform "Miaopai" emerges.
And a whole six years before "DouDou" (TikTok) comes along.
So,
Netizens haven't yet been bombarded with beauty filters, leg-lengthening effects, or skin-smoothing edits.
Pretty or plain—often, it's obvious at a glance.
People still believe only professionally retouched photos can make someone look stunning.
But Ren Yuege's photo? It’s like the brightest star in a dim night sky—unmatched in its brilliance.
And the kicker?
It’s her ID photo.
A corporate badge photo for company records.
So breathtaking it leaves people speechless.
Ren Yuege instantly becomes the most beautiful woman in many people’s eyes.
Those A-list actresses? They pale in comparison.
A woman this gorgeous, yet instead of making her a star, she’s kept as a company executive?
Isn’t this just "hiding a treasure in a golden house"?
Cao Cheng sure knows how to play the game.
It’s like having a secretary—business by day, pleasure by...
Envy and outrage spiral.
The backlash against Cao Cheng grows louder.
The official Weibo accounts of Miracle Media are flooded with angry comments from both sides.
Even Cao Cheng’s personal Weibo gets swarmed.
And it’s only getting worse.
More dirt gets dug up: rumors swirl that Ren Yuege arrives at work in luxury cars—a different one every day.
Today a BMW, tomorrow a Benz, the next an Audi.
Even pricier rides like Maseratis, Rolls-Royces, and Bentley’s "Flying B" make appearances.
All top-tier.
Then there’s her salary—sky-high, plus special executive bonuses and profit shares.
In short:
Light workload, fat paycheck!
The revelations keep coming—mostly true, with a few wild fabrications mixed in.
But the made-up stuff? Absurdly over-the-top.
Cao Cheng is exasperated.
"Have you people never seen a woman before?
Pathetic!
Just wait a few years—once I invest in short videos, the entire platform will be flooded with beauties.
Forget filters; at least it’ll be eye candy, right?
Free dance videos—what more do you want?"
Cao Cheng ignores the online storm.
Let the bullets... fly a while longer.
See what fish rise to the bait.
But while the emperor stays calm, the eunuch panics. The Fourth cracks first.
Initially, she’s overwhelmed by the sudden fame, a mix of shyness and stage fright.
Many feel this way facing the spotlight for the first time.
The viral explosion leaves her flustered.
So she returns from work to consult Cao Cheng—why hasn’t he responded? Why the silence?
Not only does he refuse to address it, he even calls Sister Ali, telling her to stay quiet too.
Once home, a few playful smacks from Cao Cheng settle her down.
Soon, she adjusts.
She knows she’s beautiful.
After the initial shock, she basks in the praise, smugly agreeing with the public’s "excellent taste."
She even gloats to Cao Cheng:
"Look at this! They’re so poetic—
‘Her jade-like bones outshine frost and snow; her spirit, clear as autumn waters, her form, carved from jade.’
‘A single glance from her is like spring breeze brushing your face, filling the room with radiant light.’
‘No painter could capture her grace, no poet do justice to her essence!’
And this gem: ‘My clumsy words fail to describe even a fraction of her charm. I long to be a petal, lingering by her hair for eternity!’"
The Fourth was overjoyed.
Holding the laptop, he nudged Young Master Cao with his elbow. "Look, look! What do you think of this guy's writing?"
Cao Cheng replied irritably, "What rubbish! It doesn't make any sense. I bet he copied it from somewhere. It's neither in classical Chinese nor in modern vernacular, just full of flattery."
"Hahaha."
The Fourth collapsed on the sofa, hugging the laptop and laughing for a long time.
Then he sat up straight, with a half - smile. "Are you jealous?"
"Sorry, dude. I'm really busy right now. No time for jealousy," Cao Cheng snorted.
Young Master Cao was indeed busy.
He was also holding a laptop, looking at something.
It was quite something.
Not only did The Fourth rush back from the company in a hurry, but there were also some trends on the Internet.
The trends weren't very strong, but they were there.
As the second season of The Voice approached, it was a formidable obstacle that everyone was keeping an eye on, a real big boss.
It was currently the most - watched variety show, so popular that it made its competitors despair.
Moreover, it wasn't an old - fashioned variety show; it was brand new, with people's expectations sky - high.
The sense of freshness hadn't worn off yet.
Since the end of the first season, topics like when the second season would air and who the new mentors would be had always been hot.
To put it simply,
it was blocking a lot of people's paths.
From spring to autumn this year, those variety shows that were about to be aired were very low - key even in the project - approval stage. No one dared to brag.
The airing times hadn't been set either. Everyone was waiting for The Voice.
They wanted to avoid it.
If they aired their shows together, although the competition would be fierce, there was still a glimmer of hope for victory.
But,
who would dare to claim victory when up against The Voice?
So,
now it seemed that Miracle Media was in trouble, facing a public - relations crisis that might trigger social issues like hatred of the rich and accusations of sugar - daddy relationships.
Naturally, some people couldn't sit still.
Many people didn't dare to be the first to take on Miracle Media.
But if Miracle Media got into trouble on its own, they wouldn't mind kicking it when it was down.
The first one to step forward was actually the deputy general manager of Toilet TV.
This deputy general manager had a grudge against Miracle Media before.
Well,
to be precise, he had a beef with Young Master Cao.
During a peace - negotiation back then, it was this deputy general manager who represented Toilet TV, and he got scolded by Cao Cheng.
Cao Cheng had said, "What kind of low - life thinks they're worthy to have a meal with me?"
Immediately, he had given the deputy general manager a piece of his mind.
This time,
he probably came into the fray out of personal vendetta and posted a picture.
It was his top - pinned Weibo post.
@Wang Chengye, Deputy General Manager of Toilet TV - V:
"Some up - and - coming entrepreneurs always like to boast about their youth and success. Little do they know that business ethics is human ethics, and the quality of products reflects the character of the people behind them."
"I heard today that a certain celebrity has been exposed for some office scandals. I believe it. After all, being young and impulsive, it's normal to have some self - control issues."
"However..."
"I can understand, but I can't accept it."
"I can't help but ask... three questions:"
"First: Some media companies have only been established for two years. Everyone knows very well about the treatment of the company's senior executives. Is the entertainment industry really that profitable? In just two years, a girl in her twenties owns a multi - million - dollar mansion and a luxury car worth millions. Is she really that capable, or is it just a case of trading her youth for wealth?"
"Second: In your company's financial statements, what exactly are those special allowances for senior executives? Are they for business innovation or for keeping a mistress?"
"I've heard that your company offers very generous contracts to its employees, acting as if it has plenty of money. Is it really flush with cash, or does it have other motives?"
"Here, I'd like to give a piece of advice. All artists who want to join certain media companies should keep their eyes peeled and not be deceived. Especially female artists, be careful, extremely careful."
"Thirdly, when a so - called 'young and promising' wealthy man preaches the 'wolf culture' at a corporate management meeting, has he ever thought about treating the office like a harem with his 'jackal - like management'?"
"Finally, I'd like to give some advice to someone."
"It's a good thing for young people to be energetic and to make money. However, don't let the immediate success go to your young head and do some disgraceful things that harm others and yourself."
"Remember, a suit and tie can't cover up the decline of moral bottom - line, and luxury cars and gold watches can't disguise the nature of sex - related transactions."
"Improve your character; that's the right path!"
#Those unworthy of their status will surely face disasters# #Business ethics is human ethics#
[Pictures: A nine - grid of blurred luxury cars entering and exiting the company's basement parking lot; A partial enlarged view of the financial report]
Once this post was pinned.
Journalists flocked to the scene.
It seemed that there was really something going on. After all, it was initially posted by a small - account, and the authenticity of the source was uncertain.
But now it was a real - name post.
Moreover, it was a vice - president of some standing who had stepped in personally.
This seemed like a certain signal that excited many people.
Including fans.
"General Manager Wang makes so much sense."
"General Manager Wang is right. His writing is excellent, especially the use of the 'jackal - wolf culture' and management. I'm really impressed."
"Does 'someone' refer to Cao?"
"The use of the two - character 'Cao' is quite thought - provoking."
"Cao doesn't even dare to respond. It seems there really is a problem."
"Alas, what a pity..."
"Cao, the hatred of stealing my wife is irreconcilable! (Angry) (Angry) (Angry)!"
...
As an experienced person, Young Master Cao had to admit that the vice - president at this entertainment company really had something.
He was good at leading the public opinion.
Nowhere in the whole post was the name mentioned, but everyone knew exactly who he was talking about.
Moreover, the three soul - stirring questions were well - put.
Even Young Master Cao couldn't help but applaud him.
He developed an admiration for talent.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to recruit this person to his own company and make him the head of the public relations department. At least, he knew how to use veiled sarcasm and could anger people.
Angering people could generate emotional value.
Cao Cheng was a bit angry.
He picked up the phone and called Lao Mo.
"A Wang, I'm craving fish."
"Huh? Craving donkey? Where the hell am I going to get a donkey for you?" Wang Haodong was stunned.
"Are your ears stuffed with donkey hair? What I mean is that you can start shining. Remember what I told you before?"
"Damn it, buddy, I've been waiting for this for so long. Tell me, how should I shine?" Wang Haodong was excited.
You could even hear his eagerness and excitement through the phone.
"Go online and check out the latest headlines about me. Remember, just observe and don't say a word. Wait for my order. Don't easily express your opinions. This time, you'll be the vanguard. Later, bite him hard... and take his life."
"Okay, I'll go and observe first."
The call ended soon.
The Fourth smiled faintly and said, "What do you want Wang Haodong to do? He's just a hothead."
"Like wolves and jackals working together. This Wang Chengye..."
The Fourth corrected him, "His name is Wang Chengye."
"..."
Cao Cheng said speechlessly, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, this guy named Wang said I'm practicing 'wolf culture' and 'jackal management'. Well, I'll show him what it means to 'act in collusion like wolves and jackals'. I'll come up with the ideas, and Wang Haodong will charge to the front. It's perfect."
The Fourth also got interested.
She was naturally scheming.
How could she miss out on something fun?
"Hehe..."
"What are you giggling about? Hurry up and tell me the details."
"To be continued."
"..."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
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)
world slacker. But a genius female disciple just had to get clingy, insisting that he take her as a disciple. Not only that, she was always making advances on him, thoroughly disrupting his peaceful slacker life...
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.
