Ten years later.
Inside the lunar cave codenamed H009, a group of young scientists was studying the latest data and verifying it with Blue Star.
There were already twelve such cave space stations like this one, located in different places.
They had their own self-contained ecosystem, and the temperature inside the caves was remarkably constant.
Building bases here saved a lot of trouble.
Meanwhile,
in a separate room,
Cao Delin was on a video call with Blue Star.
Cao Delin was the fifth daughter of Young Master Cao, and also the second daughter of Tang Xin...
She was currently here for development, having established a mining company.
She would call Tang Xin from time to time to report that she was safe.
Although,
Young Master Cao always said that with current technology, there was absolutely no danger, and not a single one of the many bases had ever had a problem.
But Tang Xin would always worry.
After all, Tang Xin had only three children in total.
The eldest and the youngest were sons.
She only had this one daughter, the second child, and treasured her dearly.
Furthermore,
Tang Xin had always kept this daughter by her side, teaching her about business from a young age. After graduation, she became an assistant in the company.
Now, she was managing things independently. Her capabilities weren't in question; it was just that Tang Xin couldn't stop worrying.
Young Master Cao found this somewhat helpless.
"Mom," Cao Delin spoke up.
Tang Xin looked at her daughter on the large screen and smiled slightly: "You've lost weight, my treasure. Are you tired?"
"Not tired. It's quite interesting here too. Besides, I'll be returning to Blue Star in just over half a month. When I get back, I want to eat your... actually, never mind, I want to eat Dad's cooking."
"Hey, you little..." Tang Xin sighed helplessly.
Tang Xin's cooking was passable; she had learned a lot from Young Master Cao.
But everyone in the family knew that Young Master Cao's cooking was top-tier.
Even though he always claimed he only knew a little.
Also,
very few people in the family ever got the chance to taste his culinary skills.
Tang Xin pretended to be angry: "So, Mom's cooking isn't good enough for you? No way. This time when you're back, I'm definitely going to cook something for you to try. I've improved recently. When I make it for you, you have to finish it all."
Cao Delin wailed dramatically: "Mom, I'm your own flesh and blood! As they say, not even a tiger eats its own cubs!"
"Hmph, the more you say that, the more determined I am to make you my signature dish."
"......"
The mother and daughter chatted for a while longer.
Cao Delin asked: "By the way, where's Dad? Didn't he stop traveling recently? After all, he's been everywhere worth seeing within the country, and he's always looked down on those tourist spots abroad, right?"
Cao Cheng's travel journey had come to an end.
It had just ended not long ago.
Counting the days, his sixtieth birthday was approaching.
Although with current technology and medicine, sixty could only be considered young middle age, tradition in the country held that reaching sixty was the so-called "sixtieth year" or "flower-aging year"!
It was customary to celebrate this birthday grandly.
And no one would say anything about it.
"Your dad..."
Tang Xin glanced around: "Huh? He was just here. I don't know which of your aunts he went to find now, hmph."
Cao Delin was speechless: "It's been so many years, and I've never seen you actually rein him in. If you ask me, men need to be managed. You're too lax, that's why Dad gets so cocky."
As a daughter, in matters like this, she naturally stood on Tang Xin's side.
Even in such a family, where she had understood certain unspoken rules from a young age.
For example, people with money, influence, or power often had some women hidden from public view in private.
Many people turned a blind eye to such things.
However,
as Tang Xin's own daughter, Cao Delin was definitely aligned with her.
Even though the other aunts in the family treated her well too.
Especially the four main aunts, whose status was not the least bit inferior, even comparable to Tang Xin's.
But when it came down to it, this whole situation was Young Master Cao's fault.
Therefore,
even as his own daughter, Cao Delin didn't have a good expression for Young Master Cao regarding this matter.
At least in Cao Delin's view, she would never allow any future husband of hers to have other women.
If that happened, divorce would be inevitable.
"Alright, alright, alright. Don't worry about the matters between me and your dad. We've gotten through so many years. Don't you understand your father by now? Although he may enjoy novelty a bit, he doesn't tire of the old. That's already very good." Tang Xin was still speaking up for Young Master Cao.
But Cao Delin snorted: "See? I told you it's because you spoil him."
"Spoil what?"
Right at that moment.
Young Master Cao's voice suddenly chimed in.
Cao Delin was startled.
Looking back at the large screen, Young Master Cao had appeared from who-knows-where, coming into view of the camera. He tilted his head: "Well, if it isn't Little Lin. Don't you know space call rates are expensive? Get to the point if you have something to say, otherwise hang up."
"......"
Cao Delin looked exasperated: "Dad, are you short of that money?"
Cao Cheng shook his head: "Not short, but we shouldn't waste it either. Go ask around, who in the whole world doesn't know your old man is a famous philanthropist, a true champion of the people, serving the nation and its citizens? We should save where we can. You think our chat is just spending a bit of money? You're wrong. This is the people's bandwidth."
"......"
Cao Delin was at a loss for words: "Fine, fine, hanging up, hanging up. I really can't stand your moralizing... Oh, I'll be home in a while, I want to eat your cooking."
"That depends on your performance. After all, I just heard someone gossiping about me behind my back. I'm not in a good mood."
Cao Delin knew her dad had sharp ears.
He was definitely looking for a chance to get back at her.
Cao Delin quickly apologized: "Oh, I was wrong, okay? I won't meddle in your and Mom's affairs anymore, alright?"
Tang Xin chimed in from the side: "You silly girl, changing your tune all the time. I don't know who you learned that from."
"From you guys," Cao Delin said. "Oh! Something just came up. I've got to go. We'll talk more when I'm home in a few days. Bye Mom and Dad, love you! Mwah!"
...
...
Young Master Cao's sixtieth birthday.
Young Master Cao did not hold a grand celebration.
He only had a closed-door birthday banquet at his own large estate.
Everyone invited was family; not a single outsider was present.
The older generation was all there.
The younger generation who could make it also came.
It seemed,
only at this moment did Cao Cheng realize how many people this family had grown to include.
Thinking back to the earlier Cao family, it was just him and Old Cao.
Back then, they were in the old cotton mill residential area in Jiangcheng, in a small, old house.
Then came a dream spanning a hundred years.
Everything became different.
Looking at the family now, not to mention the elders, just considering Tang Xin and the other ladies... there was an even number.
Even Little Hanyun was included.
Not to mention five or six of the "Twelve Golden Hairpins."
Not all of them were there.
Everyone had their own life; some people naturally didn't enjoy the life of a large clan.
And then the children.
Dozens of them.
As for the grandchildren generation, the "Hou" generation boys and girls, there were already four.
It was clearly a scene of four generations under one roof.
And...
Young Master Cao knew this was just the beginning. In a few years, there would be even more children, spreading the branches and leaves of the family tree.
This current large estate probably wouldn't even be able to accommodate so many people by then.
...
That night.
Cao Cheng, riding on the auspicious atmosphere of having the whole family, young and old, gathered together, used the emotional points he had saved up for a while on prize draws.
[Ding~]
[Congratulations to the host for witnessing a miracle. You have drawn a Divine Treasure Chest, obtaining Eternal Life...]
"Holy shit!"

ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!

agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)

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!

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."