Decided, Before I Leave, I'll Piss You Off First

[Ding~]

[Ten diamond chest draws completed. System upgrading…]

[Please wait!]

[Countdown: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 51 seconds]

"Finally!!"

Over the past few months, the emotional value earnings hadn’t been much.

It was also due to the limited coverage area.

Though he had offended plenty of people on forums, many weren’t from his province.

But even so, the collection speed had multiplied with compounding bonuses, far faster than before.

And it was clear that each upgrade had different requirements.

Previously, it seemed like drawing a hundred times was enough—just one diamond chest.

Now, it took ten.

Next upgrade… might require a hundred diamond draws, or perhaps a divine-tier one.

Who knew?

For now, it wasn’t the time to dwell on that. First, he’d see what changes this upgrade brought.

……

While waiting for the upgrade day, Cao Cheng kept stirring the pot.

Now, he had 3,000 points.

Some wailed in despair.

Others reveled in triumph.

Such was life.

Ao Tian posted:

Title: "Next Month, We’re Dropping to 2,600. Even Jesus Can’t Stop the Losses—I Said It!"

The content was a screenshot of Cao Cheng’s funds: 70 million!

Accompanying text: "Hah!"

Just one word.

It left people fuming.

Dammit.

Wasn’t this supposed to be a bull market?

Why’s it falling again?

Last month at 2,600, this month at 3,000, next month back to 2,600???

So the gains were just for show?

"Should I trust him or not?"

That was the question echoing in many minds.

Most people now, including his haters, acknowledged this bastard’s skill. Many had tried digging up info on him, but not a single trace had leaked.

The guy was a mystery.

And it seemed like he was planning to stay out of the market for a while?

So frustrating!

Plenty were torn—even some experts found themselves swayed.

They were bullish, yet here he was, going against the tide again?

What a lunatic!

……

After posting, Cao Cheng said nothing more.

As for taking a break from trading?

No way.

Even in a falling market, there were still surging speculative stocks.

Cao Cheng started dipping in bit by bit, diversifying into various high-risk plays.

By the time the new year arrived, his funds would skyrocket past 100 million—maybe even several hundred million.

Then, he’d establish a gaming company and make a name for himself in the business world.

The stock market? Fun to dabble in, but no need to linger forever.

Same as the lottery.

Different scales, different games.

When you’re broke, playing the lottery for a quick windfall makes sense.

But once you’re rich, relying on it to hit billions? Not realistic.

Stocks are the same.

A few million, even tens of millions? Fine.

But past 100 million, or a billion? The game changes.

The more capital you have, the harder it is to earn big.

Later, Cao Cheng planned to park a few million—maybe 10—into top performers like Maotai and future blue chips.

In a decade, that alone could make him a tycoon, a true stock god.

Like that Buffett guy.

Just outlive the market.

……

[Upgrade complete!]

After a day of waiting, Cao Cheng eagerly checked the new features.

This upgrade wasn’t as packed as the last.

Only two changes:

First, expanded chest contents.

The loot pool grew richer, inching closer to even cultivation manuals.

Second, the coverage didn’t go nationwide.

Last time, it expanded from one city to a province.

Now, it jumped from a province to an entire region.

In an instant,

Cao Cheng’s consciousness seemed to break free from his body, soaring to a cosmic vantage point.

From above, he could see all of China—and the entire Asia-Pacific.

The system had divided the land into distinct regions.

With just a thought, he could mark any as his emotional harvesting ground.

Seven major domestic regions.

After three seconds of hesitation, Cao Cheng picked East China.

No deep reason—just the highest population and top-tier economy.

Right now, he needed numbers. The bigger the crowd, the more emotions to farm.

Plus, this included Zhonghai.

His "sisters" wouldn’t escape now.

Time to test it.

Cao Cheng casually drafted a text:

"Not coming to Zhonghai for New Year’s."

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds…

[Ding~ Negative emotion +30]

An invisible thread of resentment drifted from far, far away.

They’d agreed: February, New Year’s, first family meetup in Zhonghai.

That was the promise Ren Yuege had spent months grinding out of him.

And now?

One text, and he bails?

You little brat, trying to kill me with rage?

"I’ve been begging Buddha in prayer—"

The phone rang.

Ren Yuege was nothing if not proactive.

Cao Cheng chuckled and answered.

Immediately, her roar blasted through:

"You lying little jerk! You think I won’t smack you? Huh? We had a deal—New Year’s together! Now you just cancel? What’s wrong with you?!"

Nuclear meltdown.

Cao Cheng laughed. "Just kidding."

"…"

Two seconds of silence.

Click.

She hung up.

Tch. This girl’s temper was something else.

Ding~

Another text from Ren Yuege: "Come or don’t. Whatever."

Oh-ho.

Now she was really mad.

Seriously, can’t take a joke?

(ˉ▽￣～) Whatever~~!

Another small wave of negative emotions rolled in.

30 wasn’t a crit—for Ren Yuege, stacked buffs usually pushed it past 100.

But it proved the system’s long-range harvesting worked.

Nearly 1,000 kilometers apart, yet the emotions flowed in just fine.

This system might not talk, but damn, it delivered.

Later, he’d troll some keyboard warriors from Taiwan—East China covered them too.

Though he wondered—would their women even generate decent emotion values?

They always sounded the same when mad…

Cao Cheng had doubts. Would Taiwanese rage even crit?

Had to test it someday.

……

"Aunt Wang."

"What?"

Oho.

That tone reeked of audacity.

They’d made peace, but bickering still flared when Little Zhou wasn’t home.

Little Zhou was in high school, repeating a year.

Lately, these aunties had been emotional gold mines.

Thanks to the bull market.

Back then, Cao Cheng had "kindly" warned them.

Whether they ignored it or their husbands did, they’d missed the peak and lost plenty chasing highs and panicking at lows.

Aunt Wang, though? Surprisingly lucky. She’d actually made a killing.

Money emboldens the poor.

Now flush with cash, she’d gotten bold.

What, did she think she was the Gambit now?

Cao Cheng just smirked, grabbing some sunflower seeds to crack. "Aunt Wang, I’m leaving in a few days."

"Really? For good? Never coming back?" Her face lit up.

(￢_￢) "…"

Decision made. Before leaving, he’d piss her off to death.