Do you want to buy out my entire life

During the meal, the air was filled with the presence of beautiful women.

What did it feel like?

Well, you couldn’t even smell the aroma of the dishes—only the scents emanating from them.

Each of them wore a "Fragrance-Locking Pearl."

This item was exclusively found in the most luxurious gift sets.

Before the system was upgraded, the two main materials for crafting Fragrance-Locking Pearls were "ambergris" and "fruitwood," with the latter being particularly rare to obtain, making the pearls themselves scarce.

However, after the system upgrade, selective unlocking became possible, and the pearls were no longer as hard to come by.

But,

Cao Cheng still adhered to the principle of "rarity equals value," deliberately hoarding a portion of them.

The nature of the Fragrance-Locking Pearl made it extraordinary.

Its scent wasn’t fixed—it changed with the seasons, emitting unique and pleasant aromas.

With prolonged wear, it could purify one’s natural body odor, leaving behind a subtle, natural fragrance.

No two pearls produced the exact same scent.

Thus,

Those who wore Fragrance-Locking Pearls long-term each developed their own distinct aroma.

Additionally, if one wanted to enhance their personal scent, making it sweeter or fresher, they could eat lighter foods, consume more fruits, maintain good hygiene, and so on—all of which could subtly alter their natural fragrance.

Sometimes, the wearer themselves would become intoxicated, even addicted, to their own scent.

Such mystical properties made it a treasure beyond the reach of ordinary people, far surpassing any ordinary perfume.

...

However,

There were too many women around.

The overwhelming fragrance left Cao Cheng feeling dizzy.

Inside the opulent private dining room, Cao Cheng sat at the head of the table.

Naturally, a group photo was taken.

What a gathering of beauties!

Unsurprisingly,

When the photo was posted online with the caption: "Treating Sister Lin Zhi to a feast. Dear admirers, take a look—no need to tag me anymore,"

The post seemed to bait his fans, particularly the female admirers.

But in reality, Cao Cheng’s millions of followers included devoted "wife fans" who grew jealous, while male followers—mostly haters—could only seethe with envy at his lifestyle.

The internet was flooded with all kinds of comments.

Cao Cheng couldn’t be bothered to read them. Eating was more important.

Between bites, he also discussed future plans.

Honestly,

Keeping these women around as dancers wasn’t a bad idea.

But,

Real people weren’t NPCs—each had their own thoughts and ambitions.

Anyone even remotely connected to the entertainment industry had some level of ambition.

Even Lin Zhi, though more composed and patient than most, harbored her own dreams and aspirations. She could endure solitude, which meant she could also handle success.

Besides,

Cao Cheng wanted them all to gain fame.

This would benefit him as well.

The greater their fame, the more emotional feedback he’d receive.

The difference between an unknown backup dancer and a top-tier celebrity was like night and day.

So,

Training them and then utilizing them as dancers would only bring him advantages.

...

Between mouthfuls, Cao Cheng spoke up: "Starting tomorrow, you’ll have three days to think carefully. Write down your strengths—no need to mention dancing, since that’s your core skill. Focus on other talents, like acting, singing, or a sense of humor."

"After all this time, you should’ve learned enough to at least perform on stage."

"Also, write down your ambitions and visions for the future."

"You can choose to become singers."

"Or actors."

"Or debut through variety shows."

"But let me make one thing clear: Lin Zhi’s debut via a variety show was just my initial experiment. For the rest of you, the path won’t be as smooth, nor will you find such a perfectly tailored opportunity."

"In other words, if a good show comes along, consider yourselves lucky—I’ll arrange it for you."

"But if nothing suitable appears, you’ll have to climb step by step. Don’t expect instant success."

"Understood?"

Cao Cheng glanced around the room.

As he spoke, the dozen or so women had already set down their chopsticks, listening attentively with obedient expressions.

When he finished,

They all nodded in agreement.

But inwardly, they couldn’t help but envy Lin Zhi.

The first to take a risk always reaped the greatest rewards...

The rest wouldn’t be as fortunate.

"Of course,"

Cao Cheng’s tone shifted: "You have Miracle Media behind you—and me. With my support, resources won’t be an issue. At the very least, it’s better than struggling on your own or signing with some mediocre company."

"After all, you’re my people. I’ll prioritize you."

"Thank you, Young Master."

One clever girl spoke up first.

Soon, a chorus of gratitude followed.

Only when Cao Cheng raised a hand to quiet them did he continue: "So, these next three days are crucial. Think carefully—don’t make impulsive decisions."

"Each path has its own challenges. Variety shows might seem the easiest, but they’re also the most unpredictable."

"They’re simple because, unlike acting, they don’t require deep professional skills."

"But they’re complicated because they’re reality-based. You might fake it for a while, but not forever. The show will magnify your strengths and flaws, laying them bare for the audience."

"So,"

"The result? If your personality genuinely charms people, you’ll gain fans effortlessly."

"But if it doesn’t, you’ll be torn apart online—hounded until you can’t bear to log in, maybe even forced to quit."

"..."

Cao Cheng elaborated at length.

Though he’d never worked in the entertainment industry in this life or his past one, he’d seen enough.

A century of experience had taught him to recognize patterns.

Too many had risen to fame through variety shows—or been destroyed by them.

Take the "Kitchen God" from The Longing Kitchen.

A veteran actor.

He’d been a child star, appearing on TV as early as the 1970s when he was just six.

By twenty, he was starring in films, even earning a Palme d’Or nomination.

He earned his master’s degree shortly after and became a professor.

His career never slowed.

His connections and network were formidable.

Yet,

A single variety show nearly ruined him, tarnishing his legacy.

Even his daughter later faced backlash from reality TV, branded as "illiterate."

And this wasn’t an isolated case—it happened all the time.

Variety shows were double-edged swords.

Success meant smooth sailing.

Failure meant career suicide.

...

Next,

Cao Cheng outlined the pros and cons of the music and film industries.

The choice was theirs.

That’s why he gave them three days—to reflect calmly and choose their paths wisely.

No rash decisions.

No impulsive leaps.

Otherwise, they’d waste resources and lose his favor.

Honestly,

The women present were all top-tier, handpicked from hundreds or even thousands of candidates.

It was a rare opportunity, and the selection process was rigorous.

First and foremost, they had to be without boyfriends.

If they lacked vitality, there’d be no point.

That criterion alone eliminated countless candidates.

Of course,

this was never stated outright—no one would openly admit they only wanted virgins.

Only Cao Cheng himself knew the truth.

During the selection process, he used traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis.

Officially, it was to detect "latent diseases"—ailments yet to manifest—but in reality, it was to gauge their vitality.

Not that he had any ulterior motives.

After all, a true gentleman acts with honor.

It was mostly to avoid complications.

Once fame came knocking, countless eyes would scrutinize them, and some might even dig into their pasts.

What if the media uncovered that these girls had previous cohabitation histories or other unsavory details? That would be troublesome.

So, he simply insisted on "pure" candidates.

This was for their own good, too.

Really.

Truly for their sake.

Since they were chosen from thousands, even tens of thousands, they’d naturally be nurtured with care—not just treated as a dance troupe, performing casually before being handed off to someone else for profit.

There was no need for that.

At Cao Cheng’s current status, others were the ones offering him gifts.

...

During the meal,

the girls grew increasingly excited.

They seemed to already fantasize about the fame awaiting them.

With Lin Zhi as their role model, their envy was palpable.

Finally, it was their turn.

They became exceptionally attentive, raising toast after toast.

Only when their cheeks flushed from the alcohol did Cao Cheng wave his hand. "Alright, that’s enough for today. Ladies shouldn’t drink just anything when they’re out."

His words earned him even more admiration.

Over the past six months, Cao Cheng had treated them impeccably.

Almost too well.

So well it felt unreal.

Some even began to wonder—was there something wrong with Cao Cheng?

How else could he resist their charms?

Every girl present was acutely aware of her own beauty and allure. Any ordinary wealthy man would’ve pounced like a starving wolf.

But not Cao Cheng.

Respect.

At the very least, they could feel that respect.

...

On the way back,

they rode in separate cars.

Cao Cheng, Lin Zhi, and Wang Yue shared one.

Their vehicle led the convoy toward the eco-park.

"What’s on your mind?" Cao Cheng pinched Wang Yue’s round cheek playfully.

Wang Yue puffed out her cheeks, bouncing his hand away with a springy resistance. "I can’t imagine what I’d do besides dancing."

Cao Cheng chuckled. "If you can’t think of anything, then just be a dancer. Dance for me your whole life."

"..."

Wang Yue pouted. "For dancers, our prime ends by thirty. Even with the best care, we can’t keep it up much past that. A whole lifetime? Impossible."

"Then dance while you can. When you can’t, be my maid—serve me tea and water. I’m still young; you’ve got at least eighty years of tea-pouring ahead."

"..." Wang Yue blinked in surprise. "You’re planning to monopolize my entire life?"

"Depends. On whether you behave."

"Hmph." She puffed her cheeks again.

As if she cared.

Hmph!

But despite her words, Wang Yue felt a quiet reassurance settle in her heart.