The development of the Twelve Golden Hairpins over the years has been a steady climb, step by step.
Truth be told, they’ve just been lacking in luck.
Young Master Cao has gradually come to realize his own shortcomings.
In the past, he always claimed to be the "Chosen One," blessed by fortune.
But,
he couldn’t shake the feeling that this title was undeserved—after all, he didn’t have the "mockery aura" typical of protagonists, where they’re ridiculed wherever they go.
That just didn’t align with the logic of a true "Chosen One."
Now, however, it’s clear that luck is absolutely crucial.
He must indeed be the Chosen One.
Otherwise, how could everything he touches turn to gold? That’s the difference.
The same goes for the girls of the Twelve Golden Hairpins.
They’ve worked incredibly hard.
Whether it’s practicing dance, singing, acting, or refining their stage presence—they’ve put in extraordinary effort.
They trained in dance from childhood and pursued further studies after graduation.
A few years ago, their eldest sister, Lin Zhi, broke through by debuting in a variety show, marking the beginning of the Twelve Golden Hairpins’ rise.
Several of the actresses also made their mark individually.
Later, the remaining eight, led by Ye Lan, debuted through a talent competition, bringing the full group into the public eye.
They even achieved the remarkable feat of a full Asia-Pacific tour.
For a time, their fame was unmatched, their influence unparalleled.
They brought Chinese culture—whether through stunning stage performances or the traditional Hanfu costumes—to audiences worldwide.
Absolutely breathtaking.
With such a start,
their debut was already exceptionally high-profile.
Add to that Young Master Cao’s relentless promotion and strategic maneuvering, and with a bit more luck, they should’ve skyrocketed instantly.
Unfortunately,
they do have luck—just not enough.
It’s middling at best.
With enough backing, they can achieve fame.
They can dominate the scene, even blaze across Asia.
But once the resources dry up, their popularity inevitably wanes.
These past few years have seen their fame decline, stabilizing at a certain level—one they struggle to surpass through their own efforts alone.
Only Lin Zhi and Ye Lan fare slightly better,
blessed with a bit more luck than the others.
...
Of course,
in Young Master Cao’s eyes, the Twelve Golden Hairpins are merely "average."
But to their peers, they’re in a league of their own—A-list stars who draw screams from fans wherever they go.
Cao Cheng’s frustration lies in the fact that despite pouring immense resources and effort into promoting them, they still need constant pushing.
That’s the telltale sign of insufficient luck.
Just look at the Western Region Duo for comparison.
Since being discovered by Young Master Cao, they’ve been given minimal training before being left to their own devices.
Sure,
some resources were invested, but compared to what the Twelve Golden Hairpins received, it’s a drop in the bucket.
Yet, with just one TV drama and one movie, they’ve firmly established themselves in the industry.
Their fanbase keeps growing,
especially Re Ba.
She’s like destiny’s darling.
Back when short-video platforms were just emerging, Re Ba had only one or two acting credits to her name. Her public persona? A foodie with no particular talents—just sheer beauty.
She played this up, engaging in a delightful tug-of-war with her fans.
And yet…
Every casual selfie video she posted would rack up millions of likes and hundreds of millions of views.
No corporate push behind it—just her own charm. Well, not even charm, really—just her jaw-droppingly gorgeous face.
And her luck.
Everything she touches turns to gold.
...
So,
to this day,
the resources Cao Cheng has allocated to these two pale in comparison not just to the Twelve Golden Hairpins, but even to Little Jinmai and Little Zifeng.
And yet, they’re thriving.
Stunningly so.
Their looks alone are a goldmine.
Especially with the personas Cao Cheng crafted for them—any hint of talent, whether in languages, dance, singing, or even slight improvements in acting…
Fans immediately beg them to stop. "Just sit there and be breathtakingly beautiful. No skills required."
This persona? Unshakable.
"Remember, you’re Miracle Media’s only two talentless faces. I forbid you to develop skills."
"Noted."
"Same."
"Agreed."
"LMAO…"
"Clean up after yourself—no littering here."
"..."
...
Fans still remember the post Young Master Cao made when they first rose to fame.
Yep.
It’s still findable today.
The original text: "HAHAHA I finally have artists who can coast on their looks… PURE JOY~~~ (instantly morphs into Shen Teng)"
This one post has been screenshot to death.
Now, anytime these two show even a hint of performing a talent online, fans flood the comments with this image.
They solemnly remind the girls: "This is your boss’s vision for you. Don’t disappoint him."
It started as a meme.
But as it spread, it became a cultural phenomenon, only amplifying their fame.
...
...
That’s what great luck looks like.
As if heaven itself is lending a hand.
A tiny nudge is all it takes—then momentum builds like a snowball, growing bigger and faster.
The challenge isn’t how to keep pushing them, but how to maintain their personas and manage their popularity.
Sometimes, you even have to slow them down so they don’t get carried away.
Of course,
they weren’t the only ones joining Miracle Media around that time. There was also the "Fairy Sister."
No need to dwell on her—her luck might not be the greatest in quantity, but it’s certainly the purest.
A girl like her might struggle in films, prone to box-office flops.
But in TV dramas? She’s unstoppable.
Plus,
Cao Cheng has cast her in a few movies—always as supporting roles, like the stunning but minimally demanding "Ah Xiang" in Detective Chinatown. A little acting goes a long way.
So,
she spends most of her time in TV dramas, dabbling in films occasionally.
And yet, in just a few short years, her popularity and reputation have peaked.
Even the TV fans she once lost have come flocking back.
...
Then there’s Little Jinmai and Little Zifeng.
All grown up now.
These two are also brimming with luck.
Especially Little Zifeng. As a child, one crying scene—in the earthquake film by Little Steel Cannon—and one smiling scene—in Detective Chinatown—sealed her fate.
That one cry, that one laugh, wrapped her in an aura of fortune.
For any other actress, this would be unthinkable.
But for her? Effortless.
Those two scenes alone convinced fans, casual viewers, and even haters that while she might not be the most striking beauty, her acting chops are undeniable.
In reality, though, her skills are just above average.
Give her a mismatched role, and she’d flounder.
She’s still young, after all.
But her university training in acting has sharpened her abilities significantly.
Little Jinmai’s journey has been similar…
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
