Chapter 55: [Third Update]

The employee manual going viral pushed Aurora Entertainment's fame even higher.

Huajing Entertainment was left scrambling—no one saw it coming.

The message was loud: Aurora Entertainment doesn't need partners. It runs its own ecosystem.

Xi Xingfa kept getting grilled.

Because Boss Sang's Twin Towers sit in the same district as Huajing. So close, employees don't even need to move.

Doesn't that spell out Boss Sang's attitude?!

Originally, soften up with Boss Sang, find an opening, there's always a turnaround—not friends, but business partners, right?

But got blindsided. Zero face given. Huajing tossed aside like garbage.

Twin Towers, over twenty billion. Even battle-hardened Old Xi couldn't crack a smile.

Real estate's tanking. Twin Towers only sold at any price because Boss Sang was generous. Even Xi Xingfa can't help but regret.

All because Xi Xingfa lost his head over a woman back then.

So Xi Xingfa went crawling back to Chen Liqi.

They split, but Chen Liqi doesn't play the 'bitter love' or 'toxic romance' game. Still in contact though.

He drops by Chen Liqi's place to blow off steam. Uses every outlet.

Because Chen Liqi's blacklisted, can't lean on anyone else. So Xi Xingfa runs wild.

What else?

Can she even make a comeback?

Messing around caused problems.

Chen Liqi's no pushover.

She claws her way up, weighs every cost and gain, plays the long game. Ruthless.

When Xi Xingfa verbally assaulted her again and grabbed her throat, she fought back—recorded it.

Didn't call the cops.

Used it as leverage. Held Xi Xingfa's weakness hostage—he can't be outdone by his siblings.

That recording absolutely cannot land in Xi Xingfa's 'enemies'' hands.

Chen Liqi demanded Xi Xingfa send her abroad. Help her career develop.

Not greedy either. Movie cameos work. Keep the buzz, hold onto leftover fans.

Xi Xingfa walked into her trap again.

Xi Xingfa's birth mother couldn't watch anymore. Told him to cool off, let Xi Shulan temporarily run Huajing Entertainment.

Xi Xingfa's sister is called Xi Shulan. Married and divorced a male celebrity she was chasing. Marriage lasted two years.

Back then she defied her parents, rejected a suitable arranged match, insisted on eloping. The fallout was brutal.

The Xi family became everyone's punchline.

So this daughter never got warmth from Li Ruzhi.

But now? Having a daughter looks good. Unbreakable sibling bond. Always more convenient than outsiders.

Before, Xi Shulan was parked as Huajing Entertainment VP. Position only, no power.

This time she officially took over.

Xi Shulan's first move: dump all shares tied to Boss Sang's related industries at relatively low prices.

Sell to whom? Boss Sang, obviously.

To dodge the tax bureau's radar, the price wasn't dirt-cheap. Just relatively low.

You don't need numbers to know Huajing's waving the white flag.

Li Ruzhi opposed—

'We kept a layer of connection. If we pull back like this, what's left? No... doesn't know business.'

No, she's deliberately screwing her brother.

Li Ruzhi's unfinished sentence, Xi Shulan filled in.

—Ah.

You thought she'd bleed for her little brother?

Xi Shulan's playing dirty, but honestly? It's the smartest move right now.

'Mom, you think Boss Sang's the type a little money can leash?'

'He didn't act up before because he didn't care. If he actually wanted to settle scores, you've seen the fallout.'

Li Ruzhi: 'Business is business. How can you be so intolerant? Don't pull out, next year we still get dividends as usual.'

'Then after that?'

Aurora Entertainment's new projects—Huajing doesn't need to invest? Everyone knows how hot Aurora's prospects are.

Most important...

Xi Shulan looked up. 'Mom, at Boss Sang's level, he doesn't follow any unspoken rules. He only has the power to be willful.'

From Golden Legend provoking Domestic Entertainment—any consequences?

Not close to the three major TV networks, yet they all revolve around him.

Twenty billion Twin Towers. Bought just like that.

A pipeline Huajing spent years building. Got efficient and terrifying assembly over there.

'Mom, don't get it? Huajing's job now isn't coax or persuade Boss Sang. First, bow down.'

·

Sang Yu: 'Oh?'

Huajing Entertainment wants to transfer shares?

Transfer away.

This matters way less than the Golden Spoon Cup Professional Player Edition prelims kicking off.

The Folk Masters Edition is mid-stage. Hype's cooked, tricks played.

Heat's hitting a wall.

Perfect timing—Professional Player Edition's ready. Let it take over.

Earlier, Sang Yu dropped by DOH club on a whim to watch scrims.

Shao Fei spotted him, smiled like a Maitreya Buddha, all warm and fuzzy. Creeped Sang Yu out. Stayed a bit, then bounced.

But that scrim was solid. Especially one sub who could play.

Like pre-college entrance exam drills—DOH players split into two teams, acting it out. Every player has a script.

With Sang Yu there, would the script feel too obvious? Acting too thick? Audience catch on?

Shao Fei: 'Boss Sang, relax. Matches won't use one unified script. Training long lines so nobody freezes—!'

Everyone knows esports players are God's 'specialized talent' cases. Window opened, every other door shut.

Good at games, smooth talkers, can act, good-looking—all in one? Impossible.

Especially mid-game, full focus. Everyone calls positions, confirms tactics. Nothing else.

So getting players used to this whole-show rhythm takes practice.

Sang Yu got it.

Talk more, drill more, act more.

Memorize it, drill it voice version. More reps, more confidence, less freeze-up, smoother flow.

See? Even this genius's 'Golden Spoon Cup' has small flaws. Missed a layer.

But no worries.

DOH overcame it, see~

Sang Yu's mood was great.

Didn't notice a small player in the corner watching with that worshipping, indescribable trembling gaze.

Peng Lejia, first time seeing Boss Sang.

Since the coach went and talked, Boss Sang noticed, gave him a shot, Peng Lejia kept it locked in his heart.

After finishing college entrance exams, joined DOH training. Not only searched online, also asked around about Boss Sang.

Recently, Boss Sang's employee manual leaked out, made Peng Lejia admire him even more.

Haven't entered the workforce, but knows earning money's hard, taking leave's hard.

—Dad always used 'work's busy' to skip parent meetings.

Stepmom won't open them either. Every time Peng Lejia looked at the empty seat, even outside holidays.

So that leave policy hit home. Totally agreed with the online takes. Boss Sang's a conscientious entrepreneur.

Peng Lejia doesn't know if this counts as stanning, but more drive to meet Boss Sang, thank him.

Peng Lejia trained hard lately. Not long in, still a sub, but whenever he plays, results pop.

Also cracked the main roster. Time to put up numbers and give back to Boss Sang.

Otherwise the guilt would eat him alive, make him wired.

Yeah, wired.

Once Peng Lejia locks in, he's amped. Can't sleep at night, brain running sims nonstop.

God knows how scary it was for Shao Fei. Spotting a figure in the training room that morning?!

Straight-up ghost sighting!

Asked around, found out the kid was in too deep.

Young or not, can't grind like that. Wrists? Tendinitis?

Peng Lejia's mindset, he knows, but gotta protect the asset first, right?

Conservatively, Peng Lejia can play five years. Don't burn him out.

Otherwise, counterproductive?

Peng Lejia took the advice.

But when he heard Boss Sang was coming news, his 'old habit' kicked in. Super hyped.

Because this pre-exam sim is DOH-internal, so this solid sub often cosplays teammates.

Peng Lejia heard Boss Sang was coming. Same vibe as parents showing up to parent night. Hope for high marks.

As imagined, Boss Sang... gentle, handsome, presence!

Then Peng Lejia played like he'd stacked buffs. Aggressive, stellar.

In his peripheral, saw Boss Sang standing behind, lingering. Like a teacher watching from the back. Chest puffed out.

Next Golden Spoon, he'll grind harder.

Only unfortunately... didn't make the main roster. First time the main squad does a collective whole-show. Can't join in.

But won't quit. Will prep that version, find a moment to drop it.

·

Sang Yu doesn't know DOH's planned whole-show.

DOH wants to surprise Boss Sang.

Knowing ahead ruins it.

Golden Spoon's already whole-showing. Shao Fei and the players together—can they level up the whole-show?

Mainly promo for Boss Sang's new drama, but gotta balance the whole-show. Can't be boring. Must have viral potential!

A small, tiny payback.

—Because Boss Sang's deeper in entertainment, spent big. Better results, higher returns.

Boss Sang will definitely be happier.

'Sacrifice' a little, what's the harm?!

So with that mindset, DOH hashed it out. Landed on the most eye-catching, most direct whole-show.

Facts proved: it worked.

·

The First Golden Spoon Esports Whole-Show Competition—Professional Player Edition, begins.

Opening ceremony locked for Saturday 8 PM. Multi-platform simultaneous live stream.

Many people real-time monitoring live data.

Online viewers cracked a million. Solid opening. Folk Masters' traffic-driving paid off.

Plus the pros' built-in fanbase. Refreshing.

Sang Yu went big—full opening ceremony. Looks so formal. A whole-show competition with this production?

Don't understand but feels impressive...

After the trailer played, two hosts walked out. First, a deep male voice, kicked off the opening flow.

'This competition is sponsored by xx, xxx, xxxx... Golden Spoon Cup, officially opens—!'

Sang Yu sat in the VIP seat facing the big screen. Satisfied. This angle's perfect.

Before, going to old singers' concerts or matches, always scrambling for tickets sitting.

This is comfy.

No neck craning. No binoculars needed.

This opening ceremony, yeah, spent money, but can't escape the procedural bits.

Sang Yu's patience is thin now. Pulled out his phone to play.

Until he heard 'players from each club entering,' looked up.

Screen cut to panorama.

First came FOR players. Simple black tees + pants. Awkwardly waving to the crowd below.

Then DANI, CUT...

Sang Yu was obviously more excited for DOH. After all, his first pick.

One minute later, Sang Yu hit intense emotional turbulence.

Toes kicked into action. Building a villa...

DOH's whole squad in palace robes.

Even the coach.

Captain Shao Fei led the pack. Bright yellow dragon robe. Beaded crown on his head. Beads swaying.

Behind him, two 'eunuchs.'

Hunched backs. Blue eunuch uniforms. Ceremonial whisk in hand. One left, one right. Step for step.

Then 'guards.'

Bringing up the rear, 'concubines'—pink, light green, pale yellow palace costumes. Pearl-and-jade headpieces. Full styling.

Not that wig-and-go cosplay. Real, proper styling.

Beards glued on. Brows trimmed. Foundation applied, perfectly blended.

Sang Yu was stunned: '...'

Jaw nearly hit the floor.

What's happening?!

Shao Fei opened his mouth. Then Sang Yu got it.

DOH, to match the coser theme, cosplayed characters. From Aurora Entertainment's palace drama Kunning Palace.

So the players, vaguely with anticipation on their faces, looked at Sang Yu.

Hoping for praise.

Sang Yu: '...'

Haha.

...Wait, Sang Yu knows. It's over after this, right?

Right?

Won't carry into the next match.

Right?