【Ding~ Negative Emotions 200000*2】

Fans have a lot of emotional investment.

But celebrities? Even more.

Any man would envy and covet the people around Cao Cheng—green with jealousy, honestly.

Take Wang Haodong, for example.

Just the sight of Cao Cheng wrapping an arm around someone’s waist triggered thousands of emotional spikes.

That waist… was it just free for anyone to touch?

Wang Haodong hadn’t even grazed it with his fingernail, and here was Cao Cheng, casually holding it.

"I can’t go on like this."

Wang Haodong instantly lost his composure.

If not for the butler’s intervention, he would’ve jumped straight into his family’s swimming pool.

The butler was exhausted. "Young Master, it’s only a 1.2-meter-deep pool. What’s the point? You’d just have to change clothes afterward, and in the end, it’s me who has to deal with the mess."

Ring-ring—

Just then,

The phone on the nearby table buzzed.

Wang Haodong glanced at the caller ID and immediately fumed. "How dare he call me now? I’m going to tear him apart."

He answered.

Cao Cheng spoke first: "Ah-Wang, heard you’re pretty mad?"

"…"

Wang Haodong froze.

How did he know?

He shot a glare at the butler, then reconsidered.

He’d just lost his temper, and the butler had been by his side the whole time—no way anyone could’ve tipped Cao Cheng off.

"Are you spying on me?"

"Why would I need to? Anyway, cut the drama. Rein in your emotions. We’re launching our own girl group soon. The K-pop wave is rising, and we’re riding it…"

At the mention of this, Wang Haodong perked up.

Ever since following Cao Cheng’s lead, his life had been smooth sailing.

He’d even gained some respect at home.

No surprise—Cao Cheng was the richest man in the country, and Wang Haodong’s father was banking on his son’s "meritorious service" under Cao Cheng’s wing.

Plus,

Wang Haodong had cleaned up his act. No more reckless spending or wild partying.

Sure, he was still a bit of a loose cannon, but at least now he was manageable.

The call continued for a while.

Cao Cheng instructed Wang Haodong to start preparing stages, outfits, music, songs, choreography…

And to scout girls aged 13 to 17 for the group.

Despite Wang Haodong’s usual unreliability, under Cao Cheng’s blueprint, Balala Entertainment was running like a well-oiled machine—professional and efficient.

Cao Cheng also contributed some traditional Chinese-style tracks to establish the "Huayu" (Chinese entertainment) brand.

Traditional Chinese aesthetics!

But it wasn’t just about that. Cao Cheng was playing the long game, laying the groundwork for soft power.

Boy bands too.

He’d quietly invested in local idol agencies like Siba and Beijing Junfeng…

Anything even remotely tied to entertainment, Cao Cheng threw money at without hesitation.

In this industry, you really couldn’t lose—small investments, massive returns.

Even if a downturn hit in a few years, it wouldn’t last forever.

Compared to his other ventures, weathering that storm would be a breeze.

So,

Whenever anyone in the domestic entertainment scene sought funding and reached out to Miracle Media, Cao Cheng would chip in.

Even obscure films or unknown directors—he never turned them down.

Tens of thousands, sometimes millions.

Compared to tech investments? Pocket change.

This year, the plan was to debut a traditional Chinese-style girl group, followed by a K-pop-inspired girl group in the second half. Next year? The first major boy band would take the stage.

But this was just the beginning.

The real payoff came later.

Once this trend peaked, countless trainee companies would sprout up nationwide.

That’s when Cao Cheng would roll out a survival show, letting all these companies compete—another goldmine of profits and emotional engagement.

Beyond money and buzz, the show could be licensed overseas.

This was Phase Two.

Phase Three? After raking in fortunes, Cao Cheng would abruptly call for an end to all such idol survival shows, publicly condemning the "pretty boy" culture.

Pitting fanbases against each other.

Blacklisting certain stars.

That was the endgame.

In short: make bank, ride the wave, then—just as copycats flooded the market—flip the script, "reform," and position himself as the moral authority.

Demanding a ban on such programs.

Thrilling, really.

As for whether it was ethical…

Standing on the side of justice? That made him the good guy.

Let’s be real.

If Cao Cheng didn’t orchestrate this, someone else would.

Especially with the K-pop invasion.

Otherwise, they’d end up buying licenses from Korean companies, lining their pockets while leaving the domestic scene in shambles.

Better for Cao Cheng to strike first—control the narrative, profit, harvest emotions, and leave the Koreans holding the bag.

Win-win.

That’s the advantage of being ahead of the curve.

August.

Cao Cheng got summoned to Beijing.

Annoying.

Life in his eco-resort was paradise.

But when the father-in-law calls—

And personally, bypassing his wife—there’s no refusing.

Especially since…

The father-in-law was up for a promotion.

But this time, calling Young Master Cao over clearly wasn’t about a promotion—it was about a paper previously published by Second Sister’s company, Miracle BioPharmaceutical.

They had discovered a new type of "bacteria."

A pharmaceutical element, of sorts.

In theory, this substance could extend lifespan, treat certain diseases, and even… theoretically allow humanity to bid farewell to cancer.

All in theory.

Papers like these were just for show—foreign medical forums hadn’t paid much attention to it either.

How many papers claiming to cure cancer or grant immortality came out every year?

Especially since Miracle BioPharmaceutical had published it in a low-ranking journal.

Something akin to a tabloid or minor media outlet.

Some believers existed.

But not many.

However…

Subsequent patent applications caught the attention of certain interested parties.

Like many of Miracle Group’s patents, confidential details were glossed over.

Anything that couldn’t be reverse-engineered or copied wasn’t even patented.

Take "X Primordial Solution," for example.

A highly secretive formula—no patent needed to make people willingly fork over the cash.

This time, the slight attention came because the new material had undergone testing and demonstrated clinical research value.

Once the patent was secured, post-research, it could go straight to market.

...

"Good tea."

After arriving, Cao Cheng greeted them, sat down, and took a sip.

Old Tai Shan was used to this brat gulping down his finest brews like a cow chewing peonies, so he casually poured him another cup.

Old Tai Shan personally serving tea?

This treatment… was suspicious.

In the past, at most, the eldest sister would fuss over Young Master Cao, pre-boiling water and brewing tea for him.

Old Tai Shan had always been the type to have clothes handed to him and meals served without lifting a finger.

Cao Cheng’s brows furrowed. "You pouring tea yourself? This cup must be hard to swallow today."

Old Tai Shan smirked. "Whether it’s easy or not, you’ll know after drinking. It’s not poisoned."

Cao Cheng chuckled.

Message received.

Today was probably good news, not bad.

Come to think of it, that made sense.

On the way over, Cao Cheng had already figured it out—Old Tai Shan’s urgent summons was most likely about the pharmaceutical issue.

After taking another half-sip, he set the cup down. "The tea’s decent. Go ahead, what do you need me to do?"

Old Tai Shan didn’t bother with bureaucratic airs.

Mainly because it wouldn’t work on this shameless brat.

Might as well cut to the chase.

After all, by year’s end, they’d be family.

...

Old Tai Shan then brought up the pharmaceutical topic.

Since ancient times, the smartest profited from information asymmetry.

So,

even though the paper and patent applications hadn’t made headlines,

they’d reached Old Tai Shan’s ears.

He got straight to the point.

Was it truly beneficial to human health?

Could it genuinely extend lifespan?

That was Old Tai Shan’s goal tonight. His question was grave, his gaze piercing as he stared at Cao Cheng.

His eyes burned with anticipation.

Unusually intense.

The rare pressure even made Young Master Cao slightly uncomfortable.

So urgent?

Cao Cheng smirked. "Old Tai Shan, I have to criticize you here. This mindset is unacceptable. How can you regress like this?"

"Emperor Qin Shi Huang died from elixirs."

"Since the dawn of time, look at all those emperors who grew senile in their later years—most of it was due to their pursuit of immortality."

"And you… how old are you?"

"How are you already obsessing over something as illusory as eternal life?"

"Who can live forever?"

"I have to advise you—the thought is nice, the dream is supportable, but we must respect science."

"I’ve only just made some progress in research, and you’re already chasing immortality? That’s not how it works."

"..." Old Tai Shan’s face darkened.

This little bastard, always accusing him of regressing.

Only this brat dared say such things.

If they were in public, Old Tai Shan would’ve planted a size-42 shoe on his face.

The eldest sister shook her head with a soft laugh. These two…

Old Tai Shan gritted his teeth. "Did I say it was for me? I’m talking about those anonymous scientists! If your research really can extend life, do you know what that would mean?"

Hearing this,

Cao Cheng’s expression shifted instantly. The earlier playfulness vanished as he straightened up. "No problem. My research is nearly complete. Immortality’s a stretch, but lifespan extension? Easy. I’ll ensure the pillars of the older generation enjoy their golden years in peace."

"..."

Old Tai Shan didn’t look pleased. If anything, his face darkened further.

What the hell?

When I mentioned lifespan extension, you went on about regression, science, and ‘just making progress’?

But the second you hear it’s not for me, suddenly the research is ‘nearly complete’? That’s one hell of a research speed.

Targeting me, huh?

[Ding~ Negative Emotion +200,0002]

An instant explosion.

Proof of his status.

Cao Cheng pretended to suddenly remember something and quickly stood up: "Oh! I just remembered—I left some clothes hanging out in Zhonghai. I’ve got to go back and take them in. I’m heading out now."

"Get back here."

"Right away!"