Triggering Public Opinion, Is Young Master Cao Facing Collective Backlash

Cao Cheng smiled faintly, "Paul, it's morning on your side and afternoon here. I should be saying goodnight instead."

"Oh right, damn my terrible memory."

Paul laughed heartily.

Without further small talk, he began his report.

Beside them, Xu Qing's mouth gradually fell open.

She felt like she was hearing some earth-shattering secret.

Paul was actually Cao Cheng's man?

Holy shit…

Xu Qing had always prided herself as a strong, composed woman.

What hadn’t she seen before?

But this revelation completely short-circuited her brain.

Paul had once been the president of L'Oréal’s East Asia division for many years.

Later, for unknown reasons, he stepped down and was replaced by Vincent.

After that, Paul vanished from the industry. Some said he fell seriously ill, others claimed he retired to travel the world.

Rumors were rampant.

In any case, he disappeared for over a year.

But regardless of the past, Paul had recently made a stunning comeback as L'Oréal’s new helmsman.

Not only that, he seemed to have secured the backing of most of L'Oréal’s major shareholders.

And yet…

You’re telling me Paul is actually Cao Cheng’s subordinate?

Even calling him "Master"?

Even if it were just a playful nickname between friends, this was beyond comprehension.

……

The real shocker, however, was the classified intel Xu Qing overheard.

For instance, Paul was actively working to purge certain individuals from Barnacle Capital and some stubborn old shareholders.

He had also recently submitted a proposal to high-level officials in France, seeking approval to introduce foreign investment into L'Oréal.

That foreign investor? Miracle Cosmetics.

According to Paul’s plan, over half of L'Oréal’s assets would be packaged and sold to Miracle Cosmetics—practically a steal.

The only condition was that Miracle Cosmetics contribute its proprietary X-Serum as a technological investment.

This was the official line in the proposal, meant for the authorities’ eyes.

Meanwhile, Paul, Fran, and other shareholders were lobbying legislators to push the motion forward.

Once the government greenlit foreign investment, Miracle Cosmetics’ takeover of L'Oréal would face no further obstacles.

But that wasn’t even the most terrifying part.

What truly sent chills down Xu Qing’s spine was Paul’s deliberate stock manipulation—driving L'Oréal’s share price into the ground.

The more the stock plummeted, the more retail investors bled, while Paul and Cao Cheng quietly accumulated shares at rock-bottom prices.

Once foreign capital entered and restructuring began, the stock would skyrocket, leaving them swimming in profits.

Xu Qing couldn’t help but entertain her own schemes.

For a moment, she even considered selling her apartment to quietly scoop up L'Oréal shares.

A single play like this could secure her financial freedom.

Sure, she already had dividends from Miracle Cosmetics and wasn’t hurting for money—but who would say no to more?

If she let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip, Xu Qing knew she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

……

After nearly ten minutes, Paul finally ended the call.

Xu Qing hurriedly poured tea, her demeanor fawning.

Cao Cheng chuckled. "Qing-jie, just say what’s on your mind."

Xu Qing feigned humility. "Times are tough. I’m thinking of dabbling in stocks for a shot at financial freedom. Just wondering if L'Oréal’s a good bet—hoping Young Master could offer some guidance."

"Go ahead," Cao Cheng said without hesitation.

She was one of his own, after all.

He’d always been generous to his inner circle.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Cao Cheng added, "But don’t go overboard. Watch out for regulators. Also, if you’ve got spare cash, throw a few grand into crypto."

"Crypto?" Xu Qing blinked.

Cao Cheng’s past interviews had touched on cryptocurrency, so she was aware of it—just never paid much attention.

But now that he’d mentioned it, she couldn’t ignore it.

"Young Master, you think it’ll be valuable someday?"

"Odds are, yes. But don’t get greedy. Besides, even if you lose a couple thousand, it’s no big deal, right?"

"Right." Xu Qing nodded. "I’ll look into it."

"Your call. From here on, you handle things. If anyone gives you attitude, tell them to fuck off."

"Understood."

With that, Cao Cheng left the eco-park.

The specifics of the collaboration didn’t need reiterating—he’d already briefed Xu Qing thoroughly.

The priority was strict control over raw materials and the X-Serum. Other partnerships would follow a profit-sharing model:

Miracle Cosmetics took 90%.

That might sound excessive, but given the astronomical margins, even after Cao Cheng’s cut, brands could still turn a profit.

Just a smaller one.

And even if they lost money, so what?

Most cosmetics brands were tied to entertainment and luxury industries. A single brand encompassed far more than just makeup.

With strong brand recognition, selling face masks alone could make you rich.

Not to mention handbags, apparel, watches, jewelry—the list went on.

So,

brands thrived on holistic reputation, not penny-pinching over individual products.

And that was just the domestic market. For international brands, Cao Cheng had one strategy: stall.

Wait until they cracked.

Then sweep in through L'Oréal’s channels.

He’d never considered playing nice with global competitors.

Not out of malice—simply because these giants were ripe targets, their arrogance begging to be humbled.

That was all.

……

News of the global cosmetics titans gathering at Miracle Eco-Park couldn’t be contained.

Reporters had swarmed the perimeter.

So when the delegate from France’s Lancôme emerged looking like he’d just attended his mother’s funeral, the press knew they’d struck gold.

They pounced instantly.

Soon, rumors flooded the internet:

"Lancôme’s China rep Smith claims Miracle Cosmetics’ Cao Cheng is a racist who discriminates against all foreign executives—a man devoid of culture and refinement…"

"Japan’s SK-II reps likewise declared future collaboration with Miracle Cosmetics ‘unthinkable.’"

"South Korea’s delegates went further, accusing all Chinese of rudeness…"

"L'Oréal representatives absent from cosmetics negotiations!"

"……"

The story drew attention from both domestic and international media.

Online sentiment split into extremes.

One camp staunchly backed Cao Cheng. The tables had turned—now they were the ones begging him. So what if he acted high-handed?

Oh, so it’s fine when you schemed first? Blocked Miracle’s distribution, choked their supply chain, forced production cuts, and gutted their market share?

Sure, Cao Cheng had planned for this.

But let’s be real—if you hadn’t struck first, would you have walked into his trap?

You dug your own grave.

Now that Miracle’s on top, you expect them to grovel? Beg for your cooperation?

Dream on.

……

The other side argued that since he’d already won, he should show the magnanimity of a great nation instead of crushing his foes.

These armchair critics had no skin in the game.

Business was war.

Bloodless,

but just as lethal. And they wanted sportsmanship?

This perspective gained traction, with one so-called expert, Da Shi, weighing in:

"Our millennia-old culture teaches us: ‘The noble man loves wealth, but acquires it rightly.’ This is ancient wisdom."

"Throughout history, those who grew wealthy through dubious means are countless. Such people often amass great fortune and wield immense power, but their endings are rarely favorable."

"Why is that?"

"Isn’t it because their wealth was ill-gotten?"

"Money, only when earned through proper means and hard work, can be enjoyed with peace of mind."

"If acquired through schemes and deceit, it’s like a tree without roots or water without a source."

"Especially those who become arrogant and domineering after making money—they risk not only losing their wealth but also the respect and goodwill of others."

"No matter how rich a person is, without virtue, integrity, vision, or character, they won’t go far."

"..."

"Da Shi is right."

"Agreed."

"Some people act like nouveau riche the moment they make money—utterly despicable."

This expert had some reputation in the industry, having written many blogs and gathered a loyal following.

Later, with the rise of microblogging platforms, his avenues for expression expanded, and his fanbase skyrocketed.

Occasionally commenting on politics or hot topics, he often gained widespread approval.

His remarks garnered considerable support.

Some were deliberate instigators, while others were simply thoughtless.

Or perhaps: kindness!

Some people were genuinely kind—naively, foolishly kind—stuck in rigid mindsets where they believed total annihilation was pure evil.

Later, such people were dubbed "virtue-signaling hypocrites."

Those who preach forgiveness fall into this category.

...

The expert’s words received support, but it wasn’t widespread.

However, as time passed, more details from the closed-door meeting were exposed—like how Cao Cheng rudely ignored the South Korean representative’s handshake.

Utterly lacking in courtesy.

This further fueled the controversy.

What started as a minor issue quickly escalated, with media outlets jumping on the bandwagon.

Clearly, there was a push behind the scenes.

Otherwise, the spread wouldn’t have been so rapid.

During this time, Cao Cheng remained silent, as if waiting for something.

As his supporters dwindled—since the man himself hadn’t responded—their initial fervor and enthusiasm faded.

The tide gradually turned against him.

Those who disliked Cao Cheng, those envious of his wealth, those resentful of his looks, and even those who idolized his elder and fourth sisters joined the ranks of his detractors.

For a time,

it seemed like Cao Cheng had become public enemy number one.

...

And Cao Cheng?

Unfazed.

Every day, he amused himself with Little Sister—this little "gas tank" was adorable.

Maybe it was familial bias, but Cao Cheng found every little thing about her endearing.

She couldn’t even fart on her own yet.

Whenever she tried, her face would turn red with effort—utterly adorable.

It even made Cao Cheng consider having a child of his own.

"You still have time for this...?"

"Shhh—"

Cao Cheng rocked the baby carriage, raising a finger to silence The Fourth, who had rushed over.

The Fourth sighed, glancing at Little Sister, now lulled to sleep by Cao Cheng, and whispered, "You really have the leisure to babysit right now? Do you not know what’s happening online? Aren’t you going to say something? This isn’t like you."

"Say what?" Cao Cheng smiled faintly. "What am I like, exactly?"

A "century’s worth of experience" was Cao Cheng’s foundation. If he rushed into everything, wouldn’t those hundred years have been wasted?

Besides,

what did online gossip even amount to?

It wasn’t half as intense as his feud with that hotheaded critic back in the day.

Right now, the situation seemed one-sided, like a storm brewing with Cao Cheng as the target of public scorn.

In reality,

it was nothing.

Not only was it harmless, but it also helped lure out a few small fish.

The emotional backlash was plentiful too.

He’d wait a couple more days—see if any other small fish took the bait.

Then, he’d reel them all in at once.