Wow, who is this So chubby and cute.

You can really tell from the details.

At Little Jinmai's place, although her mother also lives there and usually takes care of her daily needs, whenever Little Jinmai has work, her agent takes her away, and Zhao's mother doesn’t follow.

She used to in the beginning, since the child was still young.

But as she grew older, Zhao's mother became more at ease.

Zhang's mother, on the other hand, is different. Even though Little Zifeng is already this grown-up and has starred in both films and TV dramas, her mother still follows her around whenever possible, afraid her child might suffer in some way.

This clearly shows the stark contrast in the two families' parenting styles.

...

Bringing Little Zifeng along was also a way to give Little Jinmai some company.

They also took the opportunity to visit the film studio, where plenty of crews were shooting. All they needed was to find a production they had invested in and slot her in.

Miracle Media might not have much else, but they certainly had clout.

Even for projects they hadn’t invested in, as long as The Fourth showed up and said the word, no matter who the director or investor was, they could easily insert someone into the cast.

People were practically begging to be associated with Miracle Media, even hoping the company would invest a little and take a share of the profits.

...

And so, the journey was filled with chatter.

Laughter and banter.

It was a lively and cheerful trip.

By afternoon, they arrived at the film studio—a distance of over 300 kilometers.

They happened to arrive just as a crew was filming.

The Fourth had already arranged for staff to wait there. Upon arrival, they rolled in a few coffee and beverage trucks for the cast and crew, heading straight onto the set.

The production manager and director even paused their work to come greet them.

After all, both top bosses had shown up.

The Fourth’s standing in the industry was such that a single word from her could determine many people’s livelihoods.

As for Cao Cheng, his status was even higher.

It was practically unheard of for Cao Cheng to visit any film set.

The director and production manager were both a little stunned.

This was an unannounced inspection.

They felt both excited and nervous.

Excited because Cao Cheng’s personal visit signaled his confidence in the project—a recognition of everyone’s hard work. This was the big boss, after all.

Nervous because they worried he might deliver harsh criticism, which could mean reshoots for many scenes.

They went through the motions—visiting the set, expressing gratitude, casually asking about everyone’s well-being.

Just playing the part of approachable leaders.

Finally, they chatted with the actors. Liu Tianxian, dressed in a white outfit, looked dashing and heroic.

But the weather was scorching, so they didn’t talk for long before dispersing. Cao Cheng urged everyone to rest quickly to avoid heatstroke.

While others were around, Liu Tianxian was polite, wearing an expression of respect.

But once they were alone—

She suddenly forgot her place.

"One way before signing the contract, another way after. I thought you’d forgotten about me."

Why did that sound so resentful?

I never even hit on you.

Cao Cheng shot her a glance. "Count yourself lucky. This is my first time ever visiting a set."

Most women would probably be moved by such words.

But Liu Tianxian was no ordinary woman. She chuckled softly. "First time visiting a set? Don’t make it sound like you came for me. You’re here for your little harem, aren’t you?!"

"..."

Cao Cheng was speechless. Why did everyone assume these Twelve Golden Flowers were his women?

If The Fourth said it, fine—Cao Cheng knew she was just teasing him.

But Liu Tianxian genuinely seemed to believe these girls were involved with him.

Well.

They were admittedly close. He’d raised them himself, handpicked each one.

Yet Cao Cheng hadn’t laid a hand on them.

Having lived two lifetimes and now possessing a system, with no worries about lifespan, his mindset had naturally undergone significant changes.

He wouldn’t hold back when it came to what he should pursue.

But he wasn’t a man driven by lust either.

It wasn’t like he’d pounce on someone just because they were beautiful today.

What’s the rush?

Cultivate them first, then savor the rewards—slow-cooked over a gentle flame, benefiting everyone.

Especially once they gained fame, their emotional value would increase, and Cao Cheng could reap even greater rewards from the first major emotional surge.

Among the Twelve Golden Beauties, only four had officially debuted.

The others were still being nurtured.

When the time came, they’d explode in popularity, even surpassing the fame of Lin Zhi and the other three. There was no need to hurry.

…

Damn it.

Liu Tianxian had gotten too familiar with him, daring to spout nonsense like that?

Would Cao Cheng indulge her?

Absolutely not.

With a scoff, Cao Cheng said, "Visiting the little harem was just a side trip. The main purpose was to see you, the queen of the harem. You’re their leader—teach them well in the future."

"!"

Liu Tianxian froze, then flushed with anger. "Don’t drag me into this. I have nothing to do with you."

"Sooner or later, you will."

"No, not sooner or later—never."

"Then how about at noon?"

"Is that what ‘sooner or later’ means to you?"

"Who knows? By the way, after filming wraps up, let’s have dinner tonight."

"Sorry, I’m exhausted. I need to rest." Her tone was so evasive it practically screamed, "Stay away!" If word got out, she’d have another scandal on her hands.

Though Cao Cheng was young, handsome, and worth billions, that very fact meant any rumors linking her to him would likely result in backlash—whether from fans, haters, or casual observers.

Such was the global double standard.

People held billionaires to shockingly low moral standards. Dating around was seen as perfectly normal—as long as the tycoon wasn’t forcing himself on anyone, no one batted an eye.

Celebrities, on the other hand, were expected to uphold saintly virtues. A single misstep could mean career ruin.

That was the difference.

So if any rumors spread, she’d be crucified in the court of public opinion, while Cao Cheng would be envied by all.

Cao Cheng smirked. "Rest? Don’t make me laugh. The boss is here, and you’re resting? Sounds like you don’t want this job anymore."

"Besides, you think it’s just the two of us? Dream on."

"Third Sister and The Fourth are coming, along with Little Jinmai and Little Zifeng. You really think I’d ditch them to hang out with you alone? Don’t flatter yourself."

Without waiting for her reaction, he turned to leave, tossing over his shoulder, "It’s settled. I’ll have your agent send you the private room details later."

Liu Tianxian was left utterly mortified.

She’d instinctively assumed it was a one-on-one dinner and had panicked.

Now it seemed she’d overthought things.

Still… this guy had no tact whatsoever.

"Don’t want this job anymore"? "Dream on"? "Don’t flatter yourself"?

Was that really necessary?

Hey.

I’m a superstar, you know. The Fairy Sister, the Celestial Beauty. So what if you’re the boss?

…

Later,

Cao Cheng sought out Lin Zhi.

The four of them didn’t have many scenes—only Lin Zhi, as the military strategist by the Prince of Yu’s side and a princess of the Hua tribe, had a slightly larger role.

But none of them had left yet.

Learning in your own production crew, with the company footing the bill—what’s not to love?

If there are other schedules to attend to, you’re free to leave whenever.

Occasionally, you can even drop by a neighboring set for a guest appearance.

Many of these projects are either invested in by Miracle Media or have some connection to it.

"Greetings, Young Master."

Upon meeting, the four girls performed a slight curtsy in courtly fashion.

Cao Cheng chuckled. "Good, good. I quite like this style. When we return to the eco-park, you’ll wear these traditional outfits—they’ll look perfect for dancing."

Lin Zhi teased lightly, "If the Young Master likes it, we can consider this our team uniform."

"No need for a team uniform. Let’s keep it fun. Prepare a variety of outfits and experiment with different styles—even anime-inspired ones. Do you all watch anime?"

"Wang Yue does," Lin Zhi replied.

Cao Cheng glanced at Wang Yue and instinctively raised his hand.

Wang Yue instinctively flinched back.

Cao Cheng feigned sternness. "Come here."

Pouting, Wang Yue reluctantly stepped forward.

Cao Cheng pinched her cheek without mercy.

Wang Yue yelped, "Oww—!"

The other girls burst into laughter.

Everyone knew Cao Cheng loved pinching Wang Yue’s cheeks, calling them "baby fat," though he never missed a chance to tease her about being chubby, much to her dismay.

Truth be told,

there were quite a few girls around him.

But Cao Cheng had a lot on his mind and was deliberate in his choices.

He wasn’t the type to chase after every fleeting attraction.

Aside from the mixed-race connections, which served as a bridge of sorts, the others were women he saw as long-term companions—part of the "wealth, law, partner, and land" philosophy he lived by.

Even in the pursuit of longevity, they’d remain by his side.

So,

with so many considerations, he wouldn’t recklessly pursue just anyone.

At the very least, he’d assess their character and test compatibility.

Otherwise, his household would descend into chaos.

Take these four, for example.

Lin Zhi was gentle, considerate, and perceptive. Despite her rising fame over the years, she never let it get to her head—proof of her steady temperament and sharp mind.

She could lead the "Twelve Golden Hairpins" as their figurehead,

overseeing her own domain.

Wang Yue was lively and adorable.

An Ya had a touch of domineeringness, though it was kept in check. Her transition from playing the campus belle to a strong-willed businesswoman in Charlotte showcased her versatility.

As for Jiang Mengqi, she was the quietest of the four—reserved, low-key, and more inclined to smile than speak. Her nature was introverted and subtle.

But when it came to dance,

she was utterly unrestrained.

Of course, these were just Cao Cheng’s perceptions of them. In private, they were more dynamic—Jiang Mengqi could be playful and chatty with her sisters too.

After all, no one could be defined by a single label.

As for betrayal?

Out of the question.

At least for now.

A quick check with the "Mother-Child Lock" revealed their affection levels were all above 80.

An 80 or higher basically meant "unwavering loyalty," regardless of gender.

It’s like having two subordinates at work—if their goodwill toward you is over 80, you can rest assured that if you quit to start your own company from scratch, they’d follow without hesitation.

Unless, of course, you did something to deeply disappoint or hurt them, causing that affection to plummet.

That said,

hearts are hidden behind ribs. Even without any major fallout, neglect over time could erode those bonds.

So, maintaining them was essential.

"After we wrap up, let's grab a meal together. Remember, keep an eye on Liu Tianxian for me. If she tries to slip away, notify her agent right away and have them drag her back."

"Huh? Oh, sure, Young Master." Lin Zhi was puzzled but agreed.

After exchanging a few more words of encouragement, Cao Cheng left, but not before pinching Wang Yue's cheek again and muttering, "Eat less!"

Only after Cao Cheng was out of earshot did Wang Yue grumble indignantly, "I'm not fat at all."

Lin Zhi chuckled and ruffled her hair soothingly.

An Ya and Jiang Mengqi giggled, mimicking Cao Cheng as they pinched her cheeks. "Wow, who's this? So chubby and adorable!"

"Ahhh—!" Wang Yue flailed playfully, chasing the two girls around the set.

Their laughter rang out like a string of silver bells.