The entire journey was filled with negative emotions.
Driving with the windows down!
At every traffic light, glances to the left and right revealed nothing but envy and resentment.
Zhonghai had way too many traffic lights, didn’t it?
So annoying.
People kept staring at him and Lingling beside him.
What, never seen a handsome guy and a beauty before?
Tch—
The attention followed them all the way to the hotel, where it continued unabated.
With Lingling standing there, her long legs were fair, fairer, and fairest…
And then there was her aura.
A piano prodigy, she exuded an innate elegance that had been ingrained in her since childhood.
When playing the piano, her posture was poised, her fingers nimble—exceptionally nimble.
Over time, this grace seeped into every gesture, every movement of her daily life.
In every smile, every step, every seated moment, elegance overflowed.
And there was also her intellect.
But the most striking thing was…
Amidst this elegance and intellect, there was also a youthful playfulness and charm.
She could be regal or sweet—utterly unstoppable!
Even Cao Cheng, this "old soul," felt a stirring in his heart.
The hotel was top-tier.
A presidential suite, complete with a piano inside.
What seemed like a casually chosen hotel and room had actually been meticulously researched and booked by Cao Cheng in advance.
Now that was what you called thoughtful.
Lingling wasn’t naive either; she could tell that Cheng-ge had arranged everything for her, and it made her heart swell with happiness.
Cao Cheng, being an "old soul," had a natural instinct for taking care of others—he paid attention to every little detail.
Later, he had Lingling call her grandmother to reassure her.
Cao Cheng even chatted with the old lady for a bit, telling her not to worry while she was in Sanjiang.
He also called Lao Si.
"Yue Ge-jie, I’ve arrived in Zhonghai… Yeah, staying at a hotel for now. No, it’s fine—you’re not home anyway, and I’d feel uneasy alone. Let’s wait till you’re back," Lingling replied softly.
The two sisters chatted for a while.
Then Lingling handed her bedazzled phone to Cao Cheng: "Ge, Yue Ge-jie wants to talk to you."
Phones back then were flashy.
A flip phone for women, covered in sparkly decorations.
Cao Cheng took the phone.
"Hey, Fourth Sis!"
"Call me ‘jiejie,’ you brat."
"Sweet little sis, hurry up and say what you need to say. I’m taking Lingling out to have fun soon."
The resentment on the other end was palpable.
Lao Si gritted her teeth: "Behave yourself, or don’t say I didn’t warn you."
"Behave how?" Cao Cheng feigned innocence, acting completely clueless.
"Don’t play dumb with me. Lingling’s naive and inexperienced—don’t you dare pull anything."
"What are you even talking about?" Cao Cheng pretended to be baffled.
"Do I really have to spell it out?"
Cao Cheng suddenly "realized": "Ohhh, you mean that? Come on, she’s like a little sister to me. Don’t be ridiculous, alright? I’ve never even thought about it. Lingling, come here!"
Lingling, standing nearby, blushed and responded.
Though she didn’t fully grasp their conversation, she could guess the gist from Cao Cheng’s tone.
"Lingling, from now on, don’t talk to your Yue Ge-jie. Her mind’s in the gutter—she’ll corrupt you. Got it?"
Lingling nodded repeatedly. "Got it."
"Delete her number after this call."
"Okay." Lingling giggled.
So obedient!
"You’re turning this around on me?" Lao Si was livid. If not for the distance, she’d have kicked him right then and there.
She was genuinely furious.
This was supposed to be a private conversation, but this jerk of a little brother had gone and told Lingling directly?
Wasn’t this just sowing discord?
"Just wait till I get back. You’re dead." Lao Si hung up in a huff.
As if she could actually do anything to Cao Cheng when she returned.
With her petite frame, she was no match for him.
What followed was just the usual sibling dynamic.
Mostly fun and games.
And, of course, collecting emotional energy along the way.
Here, we must mention Cao Cheng’s fashion sense—it was at least fifty years ahead of its time.
It was 2007, the peak of the "non-mainstream" trend. The internet was flooded with "Martian" text, and fashion was all about eccentricity—fishnet stockings, backless tops, denim, but… all of it tacky.
It wasn’t until three years later, around 2010, that the non-mainstream wave died out.
Girls began adopting more refined styles.
Color-blocking, vintage aesthetics, especially elegant dresses and little frocks—back then, that was considered "classy."
In Zhonghai dialect, they’d say: "Your outfit is so yangqi!"
Then came the era of stockings dominating fashion, until five years later, when New Victorian, minimalist, all-black, and lace styles took over.
Every five years marked a new trend—girls became increasingly skilled at expressing themselves.
Later on, it was white ankle socks, yoga pants, jeggings, skinny jeans, sporty figure-hugging athletic pants, and even stockings with comment-style prints...
Of course,
it all depended on age and body type.
With Lingling’s natural grace and figure, plus her youth, she didn’t need much embellishment. Cao Cheng simply dressed her in youthful, invincible white sneakers.
Still,
Cao Cheng, being an old soul at heart, was quite conservative—many areas were left covered. Lingling’s face alone could outshine any trendy outfit.
Collecting emotional energy was just a side benefit.
At this point, Cao Cheng no longer needed such methods to farm emotions.
They spent about two weeks enjoying themselves.
Piano practice wasn’t neglected either—Cao Cheng was meticulous in teaching Lingling everything he knew, and she absorbed it all quickly.
The 20th.
The male singing competition’s grand finale—the final two competing for the championship.
Tonight, the winner would be crowned.
Advertising revenue was confidential, but Lao Si estimated it at around thirty million.
Ever since Cao Cheng expressed interest in producing shows, Lao Si had started paying attention to things she’d previously ignored.
The company was officially registered, and Lao Si was using connections and capital to poach talent.
"Ge!"
Watching the livestream,
Lingling sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaning against Cao Cheng. Over these weeks, the two had grown even closer.
"Ge, who do you think will win tonight?"
"Xiao Chen, obviously," Cao Cheng said.
Lingling clapped, beaming. "That’s what I think too!"
Cao Cheng side-eyed her. "Why so happy? You like Xiao Chen? Are you a fan?"
"Not at all! I just think he’s better than the others," Lingling explained, a little flustered, as if afraid Cheng-ge might misunderstand.
Then, softly, she added, "I’m happy because… you and I think alike."
"..."
Cao Cheng chuckled and ruffled her hair.
He didn’t press further, turning his attention back to the show…
Chen Chusheng’s dominance in this competition was undeniable. Anyone could see he was half a step away from the title.
But…
From what he remembered, this guy’s career was doomed to turbulence.
As Xiangdong TV Station’s "golden boy," he’d be blacklisted within a year of debut.
And partly because of this, Zhang Jie, the "golden son-in-law," would end up with a flood of resources.
Still, he was worth supporting.
With his looks and aura, if not for those future scandals, he’d have easily become a top idol.
As for his character… or what was to come, well, wasn’t the future always changeable?
On one hand, there was money to be made.
On the other, emotional energy to harvest.
Once he blew up…
The company feeds off him, drinks him dry, leeches onto him, schedules him to the brim, and occasionally spreads news about him falling ill, collapsing from exhaustion, coughing up blood, losing drastic weight, or even needing emergency care for a cut finger.
Cao Cheng wouldn’t go that far, but the rumors could certainly be spun that way.
Wouldn’t the fans be furious?
As long as they don’t hit him…
Cao Cheng’s smile gradually took on a more capitalist edge.
Lingling lifted her chin. "Brother, what are you thinking about?"
"Tell me," Cao Cheng didn’t hide it, grinning. "What if I sign Chen Chusheng later?"
"That’s tough," Lingling shook her head. "Right now, every company has their eyes on him."
True.
He’s blazing hot right now.
But later… he’ll hit rock bottom!
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."
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!
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
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.
