Yang Laoliu had an uncontrollable urge to stir up some trouble.
Watching the group of girls, she resisted the impulse to pull out her phone.
But before she could do anything, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cao Cheng already taking out his phone—snapping pictures.
He was filming the procession of waitresses carrying dishes into the room.
And also capturing the nine of them.
How could Yang Laoliu hold back now? If the boss was taking photos, and she didn’t, wouldn’t that be disrespectful?
Right?
So, stealthily, she fished out her phone and started snapping away too.
Besides, it was just a few photos—she wasn’t planning to actually post them for fans to see. No need for that.
She’d keep them for herself, maybe show them off to her family later.
Yang Laoliu had another thought.
Who knew? These waitresses might just end up debuting someday because of their looks.
You never could tell with these things.
If one of them actually made it big,
she, as a senior in the company, would have some leverage—something to brag about. Maybe even gain a little follower.
How nice would that be?
...
Amid the bustle of dishes being served,
the table was soon covered in culinary masterpieces—works of art, really. The kind with artistic value so high it could reach three or four stories.
The girls were practically drooling.
Especially since, with just a glance, each could spot a favorite hometown dish.
With a casual wave, Cao Cheng gave the signal: Dig in!
As he took his seat at the head of the table, the nine girls settled in around him.
Following the usual pecking order, to his left was the leader, Ye Lan, to his right was the second eldest, Shen Yi, then third sister Xia Zhi, and so on...
Once everyone was seated,
Cao Cheng reached out toward Yang Laoliu. "Let me see the photos you took."
Yang Laoliu’s expression froze for a second before she forced a smile, handing over her phone.
"Password?"
"980731."
Ding—
Unlocked.
Cao Cheng scrolled through the photos and videos.
Honestly, her photography skills were mediocre—nowhere near his level.
He shook his head. "Not great. The angles are off. Add me later—I’ll send you my videos. You can post them online if you want."
"Really? I can post them?" Yang Laoliu blinked.
"Why not?" Cao Cheng chuckled. "Our company’s pretty relaxed. It’s just dinner—I’m posting mine too."
"Alright, sit down. Pour yourself a drink—or juice if you can’t handle alcohol."
"Let’s eat!"
At his words, the girls raised their chopsticks.
But their movements were slow, deliberate—no one took the first bite.
They were waiting for Cao Cheng.
He knew it, so he casually picked up a piece of food—
And with that, the meal officially began.
Glasses clinked. Most of the girls had poured themselves red wine, though a few opted for something stronger.
Between bites and sips, the atmosphere loosened, conversations flowing more freely.
Cao Cheng steered the talk, asking about their year—any hardships or funny moments. That opened the floodgates.
Plenty of amusing stories.
And a few frustrations too.
Like dealing with antis.
Not everyone liked them, after all. While the hate wasn’t overwhelming and their public image was decent, some of the vitriol online was genuinely infuriating.
Luckily, with so many sisters around, they could console each other—or even log into burner accounts to clap back.
But with solo activities coming up, they’d have to face things alone.
...
Several rounds in,
the chatter was lively.
Beside him, Ye Lan, who’d had quite a bit to drink, suddenly spoke up. "Young Master."
"Hm?" Cao Cheng glanced at her.
Her cheeks were flushed, adding a tipsy charm to her beauty. "Young Master, after we all go our separate ways… who do you think will have the biggest fanbase? Who’ll do the best?"
The question hung in the air.
Chopsticks paused. Voices stilled. All eyes turned to Cao Cheng.
He smirked, scanning the table. "Want to know?"
Nine eager nods.
Some out of curiosity.
Others—not so much.
There were plenty of sharp minds here.
Especially Ye Lan.
Asking this under the influence? A little calculated.
That was her brilliance.
Seemingly casual,
but once Cao Cheng named someone, it would carry weight.
If the boss said you’d do well, even if you didn’t, he’d probably throw more resources your way just to save face.
Take Lin Zhi, for example.
The first one he’d ever promoted—the golden girl among the Twelve Golden Flowers. The ultimate big sister.
Even as just a variety star, she had endorsements and opportunities pouring in.
Ye Lan knew she couldn’t match Lin Zhi’s standing in Cao Cheng’s heart, but… maybe she could be second best.
A little extra favor would do.
In short—
She was vying for favor.
...
Cao Cheng gave her a sidelong look.
Ye Lan’s face was rosy, her eyes bright with tipsy anticipation.
Under the weight of their collective gaze, he took a moment before answering. "I think… Yang Laoliu won’t do too badly."
"Me?!" Yang Laoliu pointed at herself, stunned.
She’d considered every possibility—except this one.
She knew her limits. Couldn’t sing, danced like a stiff board, and acting? Forget it. Fans often joked that her only asset was her face.
And sure, it was a nice face—pleasant to look at.
But also thick-skinned.
Her biggest claim to fame was sheer luck, earning her the nickname "Lucky Fish." People literally prayed to her.
Like during this year’s college entrance exams.
They’d been on tour, but right before the tests, a trend exploded online. Middle schoolers, high schoolers—even regular exam-takers—flooded group chats with memes of Yang Laoliu, hands clasped, bathed in holy light.
She’d become a meme.
Or a few months back.
When Hello Mr. Billionaire hit theaters, raking in three billion at the box office,
the nine of them had cameoed and even sang an insert song—Burn My Calories.
No one remembered the lyrics except Yang Laoliu’s iconic line: Burn my calories!
Some things just defied logic.
Eight of them had trained for years—two and a half, to be exact—only for Yang Laoliu’s awkward dancing to steal the spotlight.
...
Cao Cheng’s words hung in the air.
All eyes shifted to Yang Laoliu.
Some envious.
Some resentful.
Others resigned.
Bitter smiles all around.
Eight different reactions, but deep down, the sentiment was the same: Why her? What’s she got that we don’t?
They knew Yang Laoliu was lucky.
But knowing didn’t make it easier to swallow.
That kind of resentment didn’t just fade 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!
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.
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."
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
