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!"
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
