《Urban: Being Able To Reshape Rubbish, I Took Over The World》 Chapter 1 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°It¡¯s so far¡­¡± Chen Ming hit the brakes perfectly. The seven-seater van let out a screeching sound that made one¡¯s teeth ache. He frowned slightly as he looked at the noisy crowd ahead. No matter how advanced the garbage processing plant was, it still emitted a rancid smell. Usually, no one would even pass by this place, so why were there so many people here today? Chen Ming took off his sunglasses and got out of the car. The door of the van, which was creaky and on the verge of breaking, slammed shut. Through the bustling crowd, Chen Ming caught sight of a familiar figure. It was Chen Zhao, Chen Ming¡¯s father, and also the owner of this garbage processing plant. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°It¡¯s so stinky! My business is not doing well!¡± ¡°You¡¯re polluting the surrounding environment! Are you trying to harm us?¡± ¡°Old Chen, hurry up and move it!¡± Within the crowd, Chen Zhao¡¯s face was red with anger as he pointed at the people around him with a trembling finger. So what if it was a garbage processing plant? Without the garbage processing plant, where would the waste in the city go? When the city had developed, he had opened the garbage processing plant here. Although it was a little dirty and smelly, it was a boon to the city and its expansion and development. Every single one of his neighbors had come here to work. How many people¡¯s livelihood problems had been solved then? However, with the emergence of the new energy source, his plant, which was still using old equipment and technology, instantly fell behind. Furthermore, he was now facing bogus accusations. ¡°You guys!¡± Chen Zhao roared, his eyes bloodshot from anger. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far!¡± A voice was heard from behind the crowd. Chen Ming threw two car keys to the ground and sneered, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, move out of this area yourself. If you¡¯re not, then just bear with it!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You want us to move out to make your living conditions better? Even the government has not asked us to move. Who do you think you are?¡± Even though they had been neighbors for many years, Chen Ming did not hold back at all. At the same time, a few neighbors glanced at each other and spoke. ¡°Is that the eldest son of the Chen family?¡± ¡°Hey, young man, you¡¯re too rude.¡± The garbage processing plant doesn¡¯t look good here, does it?¡± ¡°You have to think about it from our perspective¡­¡± Chen Ming¡¯s brows furrowed more and more at the group of people who were trying to guilt trip him. ¡°I have no morals. Don¡¯t bother spouting that nonsense to me.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the crying uncles and aunties around him instantly fell silent. They had met their match¡­ At this moment, a young man came forward and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. ¡°Mr. Chen, it¡¯s common sense that garbage processing plants pollute the environment.¡± ¡°And¡­¡± The young man looked at the old sign behind him and said, ¡°Your equipment can¡¯t keep up with the times. There¡¯s no need for your plant to exist.¡± Hearing this, Chen Zhao¡¯s face froze. His son had just graduated and was about to enter society. In the future, his son still had to buy a car, a house, get married, and have children. In the future, he still had to raise his grandchildren. How could he bear to replace the plant¡¯s equipment? The full set of equipment could easily cost hundreds of thousands or even millions. Where would they find the money to replace it? Chen Ming frowned slightly when he saw his father¡¯s ugly expression. At that moment, an unfamiliar voice rang out in Chen Ming¡¯s head. [Ding! Congratulations! You have activated the excellent garbage processing system. Binding¡­] Chen Ming was shocked and quickly looked around. Everyone was looking at him, but no one else seemed to have heard that voice. Before Chen Ming could react, the unfamiliar voice spoke again. [Congratulations! The system has successfully been bound to the host. One ton of garbage processing quota has been given to the host. Please use it in time.] Chen Ming was a university graduate, so he knew what a system was. However, why did he activate it? At that moment, a screen that only Chen Ming could see appeared before his eyes. [Chen Ming, 22 years old, male] [Garbage Processing System] [Daily usage limit: 1+1 (Unit: Tons)] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes widened when he saw the panel. [Host, the maximum amount of garbage processing the system provides daily is 2 tons. Please use it in time.] [The upper limit can be increased by upgrading or completing the system¡¯s missions. Please work hard.] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up as soon as he heard that. System! He really had a system! It was not an auditory hallucination! The crowd looked at the strange smile on Chen Ming¡¯s face and their hearts skipped a beat. Had this kid gone crazy? Chen Ming came back to his senses and sneered at the young man. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a closer look at how efficient our old machines are?¡± How could there be a well-dressed young man in this place? He was definitely sent by a competitor. Chen Ming stood in front of the garbage processing machine and turned it on. At the same time, Chen Ming opened the inlet that delivered the garbage into the machine. A whole truck full of fresh garbage was sucked into the machine, and it showed no signs of slowing down at all. [Detected that the host is in the process of garbage disposal. Garbage processing has been automatically activated. Please pay attention to the processing quota.] Before the sentence even finished, the speed at which the garbage processing machine took in garbage increased again. On the side, Chen Zhao¡¯s eyes widened. He knew his machine well. This machine had been used for many years and was on the verge of being scrapped! [Ding! The garbage disposal has been completed. 0.9 tons of garbage have been processed.] [Current yield: 134kg of processed plastic, 56kg of normal metal, 130kg of recycled fertilizer.] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard this. This system was godly! The young man¡¯s face changed. He lowered his head and quickly typed something on his phone. This garbage processing plant was not simple! Even their most advanced machines could not compare to this machine¡¯s efficiency. The uncles and aunties were stunned, but they immediately began a new round of persuasion and complaints. ¡°Kid, what future is there in garbage disposal?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a famous university student, so you have better options.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that we¡¯re being picky, but we¡¯re just thinking about what¡¯s best for you.¡± ¡°Your plant is really affecting our lives!¡± The young man in the suit raised his head again. ¡°Mr. Chen, that¡¯s not how you do business.¡± The young man¡¯s eyes flashed with disdain. ¡°It¡¯s immoral to harm others¡¯ interests to improve your own. Don¡¯t you think about your neighbors at all?¡± Upon hearing this, the uncles and aunties around him were incited even further. Chen Ming sneered. ¡°Our family¡¯s garbage processing plant has been in operation for 70 years. 70 years ago, this place was deserted.¡± ¡°They all moved in after us!¡± ¡°You all relied on our garbage processing plant to make a living, yet are now trying to damage our family¡¯s interests for your own benefit. Is this not considered repaying kindness with ingratitude?¡± At this point, Chen Ming looked straight at the man in front of him. ¡°Using improper means to cause trouble for your competitors¡­ Is this how you do business?¡± Chapter 2 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Without waiting for the father and son to say anything, the employees swarmed over. ¡°Brother Chen, if our plant is rich¡­¡± ¡°Do you think that our salary¡­¡± ¡°Brother Chen, don¡¯t insist on¡­¡± All sorts of voices entered Chen Ming¡¯s ears, causing him to frown. When these people were scolding them, the workers did not say a word. Some of the workers¡¯ parents were even participating in this debacle.. Now, they wanted their salaries raised¡­ The speed at which the machine processed the garbage had greatly increased, which also meant that they would need less manpower in the future. In such a situation, they still wanted a raise despite their reduced workload? At the side, Chen Zhao looked at his son¡¯s figure and sighed inwardly. Chen Ming¡¯s university education was not in vain! It was unbelievable that the old machine was rejuvenated in Chen Ming¡¯s hands. Chen Zhao did not say much to avoid causing trouble for Chen Ming. He simply sighed and patted his son¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve graduated, so it¡¯s time for you to take over. You¡¯ll be in charge from now on.¡± During this period of time, he had finally realized that his kind personality was not suitable for making hard decisions. Chen Ming nodded. ¡°The little plant manager is here!¡± ¡°The plant is finally going to improve.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been your dad¡¯s employees for many years!¡± ¡°Hey, Little Chen, you¡¯re still young, so if there¡¯s stuff you don¡¯t know, ask us.¡± ¡°Your father is too stubborn¡­¡± Looking at Chen Ming¡¯s young face, the employees inwardly looked down on him. From their perspective, it would be easy to deceive such a newbie. Chen Ming glanced at the crowd on his left and right, and his gaze turned cold. Urging their family members to cause trouble, and then showing their loyalty in order to get a raise? If the plan did not close down, they hoped they would receive a severance payout. On the other hand, if it did not, showing loyalty at that moment might get them a raise. They were all sly foxes! Chen Ming coughed lightly. There was no warmth in his eyes. ¡°Everyone, go back to your positions and do your work. No slacking off.¡± Chen Ming flipped through the work records for the past few days and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m in charge of the processing plant now. You don¡¯t have to fake your respect. If you don¡¯t want to work, leave!¡± All of the employees were shocked and looked at the young man, who was in his early twenties, in surprise. Chen Zhao¡¯s son was not simple! When this newcomer took office, he did not spare them any dignity. This meant that not only was their plan to raise their salary shattered, but they would also not be able to take leave, be late, or leave early in the future. At this time, the man standing behind the crowd blinked and looked at the phone screen in a daze. ¡°Take care of this garbage processing plant as soon as possible!¡± The man¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw the message from his boss. Although the name ¡°garbage processing plant¡± did not sound good, the subsidy policy around this industry had been excellent in recent years. The Chen family¡¯s plant¡¯s biggest problem was its old equipment, but this problem had been resolved by the Chen family¡¯s son. Then this subsidy¡­ The man made up his mind when he thought of the subsidy policy of the industry. As he watched Chen Zhao and Chen Ming leave, the man smiled and said in a self-deprecating manner, ¡°Sigh, it seems like I¡¯ve failed.¡± After attracting the attention of the plant¡¯s staff, the man continued to say regretfully, ¡°Our place has excellent conditions. It¡¯s a pity that we don¡¯t have such loyal employees.¡± The employees¡¯ eyes lit up, and they all gathered around. ¡­ ¡°Little Chen, wait!¡± The next morning, a loud voice was heard. A black car stopped beside Chen Ming. ¡°Your father said that you have the materials?¡± Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. It was only the first day and his father had already contacted a processing company? The man with the big belly laughed and got out of the car. ¡°I¡¯m taking your dad¡¯s reputation into account here. If the quality of your output is not good¡­¡± Chen Ming immediately understood what the man meant. Chen Ming led the man inside. ¡°Uncle, take a look at this first.¡± As he said that, Chen Ming brought the man to the place that he had tidied up yesterday. On the ground, several boxes were filled with the garbage that had been disposed of yesterday. The plastic and metal were neatly arranged in different categories. ¡°F*ck!¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened at the sight. The old machine could actually do something like this? Then, his eyes lit up. This kind of output would definitely allow him to earn a fortune. ¡°Attaboy!¡± The man laughed out loud and patted Chen Ming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll take them all! For the materials in the future, I¡­¡± Before the man could finish, a voice came from behind him. ¡°Boss Zhao!¡± Chen Ming turned around and his gaze darkened. The material supplier was Qin Lin. He was originally a customer of the company, but now that the company could deal with garbage, he had become a competitor! ¡°Boss Zhao, don¡¯t be fooled,¡± Qin Lin panted heavily as he said, ¡°You still have to process their things before selling them.¡± Boss Zhao rolled his eyes in his heart and said directly, ¡°I want everything. Name your price!¡± Hearing this, Qin Lin¡¯s expression changed. His eyes swept over the items in the corner, and his heart sank. This color, this purity¡­ Chen Ming and Boss Zhao had just signed the agreement when the situation outside became lively. The Chen family¡¯s garbage processing plant took up the headlines. Chen Ming¡¯s gaze turned cold as he read the news on his phone. After laying down the law yesterday, Chen Lin used up his two-ton quota and then went home to have a heart-to-heart talk with his father. Who would have expected to see such headlines early in the morning? ¡°Shock! A certain garbage processing plant has delayed its employees¡¯ salaries for several months!¡± ¡°The garbage processing plant¡¯s management is unreasonable. It refuses to approve leave, causing its employees to fall seriously ill!¡± ¡°Can the machines of the old era really adapt to the new era of garbage disposal and recycling?¡± Chen Ming almost laughed out of anger when he saw the news. He looked at the empty processing plant, and then turned around and walked toward the door. Boss Zhao did not want to get involved and drove away silently. At the entrance of the processing plant, several employees were holding banners, and several reporters were beside them. The seven-seater van stopped shakily in front of the door. The young man got out of the car elegantly, his gaze cold. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± ¡°Factory manager Chen, we really can¡¯t live like this anymore!¡± ¡°Have mercy!¡± The employees were all in tears, and the reporters were pointing their cameras at Chen Ming¡¯s face. Chen Ming sneered and took out a few pieces of paper from his pocket. ¡°The new subsidy policy was released last month, and my father was trying to keep the plant running. You took advantage of the situation and asked for a salary increase, and not a small one too. Two thousand! Does it look like we run a charity here?¡± ¡°But we really didn¡¯t approve your leave applications. After all, less than one-tenth of you checked into work on time last month. Furthermore, you all arrive late and leave early every day.¡± The originally excited employees instantly became dispirited. The reporters¡¯ eyes flickered. Looking at the employees¡¯ expressions, they knew that they had been fooled. Chen Ming continued, ¡°Don¡¯t even mention moving. The government has not even asked us to move. If you can¡¯t stand it, move yourself away!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll increase your salary. Even though you arrive late and leave early, I will still pay your salaries. However, I¡¯ll fire all of those who caused trouble today.¡± Before he could say anything more, a few figures appeared at the door. They were dressed in black uniforms with work passes hanging from their chests. Chen Ming¡¯s heart sank slightly when he saw them. The Supervision Bureau, the bank representatives, the staff who were causing trouble, and their competitors who were watching the debacle¡­ ¡®Very good. They¡¯re all here!¡¯ Chapter 3 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Under everyone¡¯s gazes, the newcomers spoke one after another. ¡°Mr. Chen, isn¡¯t it time for your plant to pay off its loan?¡± ¡°Mr. Chen, someone reported you for releasing pollutants illegally. We were asked to investigate.¡± ¡°It¡¯s closing down?¡± ¡°Loan? The factory is going out of business, right?¡± In the midst of all the chatter, the eyes of the reporters lit up, and they all gathered around. Chen Ming furrowed his brows imperceptibly as he swept his gaze across the crowd. He rolled up his sleeves and took out a crumpled document from his pocket. ¡°Sir.¡± Chen Ming had a gentle smile on his face, but his tone was extremely cold. ¡°As far as I know, the loan repayment date for our plant is at the end of the month. It¡¯s only the 15th today.¡± The bank representative froze, before saying, ¡°The situation is different now!¡± ¡°We were told that this processing plant was going to close down. We needed to make sure that we got our money back.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s expression did not change. ¡°The situation is different now? As the representative of the bank, you believed the rumors and demanded the payment days before the repayment date. Is this reasonable?¡± At this point, Chen Ming¡¯s lips curled up. His gaze was as sharp as an arrow as he looked at the bank representative. ¡°Or did you receive benefits from someone to come here to pressure me?¡± Hearing this, the bank representative¡¯s face changed. Chen Ming smiled and turned to look at the young man beside him. This person had come to interrogate them yesterday, and now he dared to come again? ¡°You¡­¡± Chen Ming paused for a moment. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, you¡¯re from the Linyuan garbage processing plant, right?¡± What are you doing at our place everyday?¡± The man¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Linyuan garbage processing plant? No, no, I just came over to take a look¡­¡± Chen Ming rolled his eyes. ¡°I grew up here, but I¡¯ve never seen your face before!¡± ¡°If you have so much time, go back and develop your own business. Don¡¯t keep an eye on my plant like a weasel.¡± The man was stunned. Just as he was about to deny it, he realized that Chen Ming had already turned around. It was obvious that Chen Ming had no intention of listening to him. What could he say? He could not call himself a random passerby, could he? Chen Ming nodded calmly and flipped open the document. ¡°As far as I know, you appeared at my neighbors¡¯ houses yesterday and persuaded them to come over to force us to move.¡± ¡°And last night, you had a meeting with our plant¡¯s employees and incited them to cause trouble and jump ship. Am I right?¡± The man laughed dryly. ¡°No¡­ I was just making connections¡­¡± Hearing this, Chen Ming smiled. ¡°Do you need to spread rumors to make connections?¡± ¡°As for the rumors you circulated about our plant¡¯s illegal emissions and delayed wages, I¡¯ve already called the police. They will be here soon.¡± As the man¡¯s expression turned uglier, Chen Ming looked at the troublemaking employees. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about running away.¡± At this moment, the person from the Supervision Bureau, who was standing silently at the side, frowned in confusion. ¡°Rumor?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say that it was an illegal discharge of pollutants?¡± If it was a rumor, that would mean that they had been played for fools. Hearing this, Chen Ming smiled. ¡°Please check to make sure that it¡¯s a rumor. Otherwise, if it happens again, you¡¯ll have to make another trip.¡± Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, Chen Ming opened the plant¡¯s main door and invited the Supervision Bureau officer in. Outside the door, the people sent by the other company and the troublemaking staff looked at each other. The police sirens were getting closer and closer, and their faces were getting uglier and uglier. The reporters looked at each other. Some of them went in to report, while the others stayed outside to wait for the police¡¯s investigation results. Chen Ming did not hide anything from the Supervision Bureau officer. He went through the processing line one by one for him to check. Although the machine was old, there was nothing wrong with it. ¡°Pretty good.¡± The Supervision Bureau officer smiled in satisfaction as he ticked each of the boxes on his checklist. ¡°It¡¯s indeed an old machine, but there are no problems with the emission!¡± The few of them chatted and laughed as they walked over to the door. They happened to see the troublemakers outside being taken into police custody for investigation when they got there. The young man from the rival company stood to the side and wasbeing repeatedly questioned by the police. Chen Ming snorted. He had called the police because of the rumors. This was something that had made the headlines early in the morning, and was not something that could be explained away by calling it a misunderstanding. Chen Ming smiled and said to the Supervision Bureau officer beside him, ¡°Since you¡¯ve already checked our plant, why not check the others?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not the only garbage processing plant in the city.¡± The Supervision Bureau officer looked pensive, and then nodded. Surprise inspections were something that he was familiar with. The young man¡¯s face turned pale. He was about to take out his phone to send a message when he was stopped by the police. The police seized the man¡¯s phone and laptop in an instant, using the excuse of evidence collection. Chen Ming smiled in satisfaction as he watched the cars drive away. ¡­ In the afternoon, Chen Ming had signed many orders. [Ding! Congratulations! You have completed the hidden mission, ¡°Order Surge¡±. You have been rewarded with 10 tons of garbage processing quota. Please keep up the good work!] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard the system¡¯s voice. He now had a quota of 12 tons! Before doing anything else, Chen Ming turned around and walked to a garbage processing machine and started to process the garbage non-stop. The inlet and outlet were constantly running, and countless materials were processed and sorted. Suddenly, the phone in Chen Ming¡¯s pocket vibrated. Chen Ming took out his phone and raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Boss Chen, I was wrong.¡± The message was from the owner of the Linyuan garbage processing plant! Chen Ming opened the news silently and his eyes lit up. ¡°Linyuan¡¯s garbage processing plant¡¯s emissions have exceeded the allowable standard. Their business has been temporarily suspended.¡± It was no wonder he had sent him a message to apologize. It turned out that he had been arrested for illegal emissions, and their main manager had been arrested for spreading rumors. Before Chen Ming could laugh, Chen Zhao walked over. ¡°Well done, son!¡± Chen Zhao had a happy smile on his face. His frustrations were now fully vented! Hearing this, Chen Ming smiled. ¡°Since Linyuan is no longer in business, perhaps it¡¯s time for them to change their name.¡± Chen Chao paused and suddenly smiled. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go talk to them about the acquisition now.¡± His son was really bold! Since his son wanted it, he would help him lower the price. Chen Zhao chuckled, turned around, and went straight to the other garbage processing plant. The two factories were not far from each other, so the acquisition was settled in less than half an hour. Since their plant¡¯s emissions were in violation of the regulations, not only would it require money, but also manpower, to rectify it. Moreover, with such a scandal, he would likely not be able to recover his capital in the future, so selling was the easier and wiser choice. [Ding! The garbage processing has been completed. 10 tons of garbage has been processed.] [Current yield: 511kg of metal, 400kg of usable plastics, 200kg of recycled fertilizer.] [Ding! Congratulations! The host has processed 10 tons of garbage. The system has been upgraded. New materials will be unlocked for the next round of processing.] [Ding! The energy polymer block has been unlocked. The next garbage processing will produce energy polymer blocks.] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up as he opened the detailed description page for the energy polymer block. [Energy polymer block: Produced from the processing of Level 2 garbage. It can replace power sources such as electricity and provide energy.] This was good stuff! What were the problems with garbage processing right now? Garbage was not properly sorted¡­ Too much waste could not be recycled¡­ The output was not high¡­ However, if the energy problems of society could be alleviated through garbage processing, it would be a step forward. Chen Ming¡¯s eyes glowed. He looked at the remaining amount he had and started to experiment. An hour later, a black solid object appeared from the outlet. Chapter 4 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation [Ding! Congratulations! The host has successfully processed an energy polymer block for the first time. You have been rewarded with a 100-ton quota for this. Please keep up the good work!] Chen Ming ignored the system¡¯s reward and quickly picked up the black object and began to study it. According to common sense, this thing should not have appeared from the processing equipment! [Don¡¯t worry! The system will automatically rationalize everything it produces. The public will be none the wiser.] Even though Chen Ming heard this, he was still a little worried. At this moment, Chen Zhao walked over. He had already finalized the terms of the acquisition. ¡°Is this the result of your new research?¡± Chen Zhao took the black object and walked off to the side. ¡°You mentioned that you were studying energy crystals or something like that. Is this it?¡± Then, Chen Zhao cut off a small piece of the black object and threw it into the testing machine. Moments later, the small piece started burning, and the number on the testing machine started jumping up. As Chen Zhao watched, shocked, the number finally settled on a terrifying figure. ¡°This is¡­¡± Chen Zhao pointed at the black object with a trembling finger. ¡°It was such a small piece, less than 500 grams, yet it managed to produce such a large amount of energy?!¡± The amount of energy generated from burning that small piece was equivalent to 10 kWH of electricity! Then, what about this bigger piece? Chen Ming was dumbfounded as he looked at his father¡¯s reaction. He recalled the system¡¯s words about rationalization.. This was really something else¡­ There was no need for him to explain anything at all¡­ However, this thing was really good! It had to be known that there was a serious shortage of energy in the city, and electricity rationing was a common practice here. Burning of this black object also produced a large amount of heat, which meant that it could also be used for heating and electricity. Unbelievably, such a thing was a product of garbage processing! Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Dad, quickly look for the testing department! We can monopolize the energy market!¡± They were the only ones with the technology and materials, so why should they not reap the profits? Chen Zhao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the plant¡¯s operations to you. I¡¯ll go now.¡± Without waiting for Chen Ming to reply, Chen Zhao left quickly. At that moment, a car slowly pulled up at the entrance of the plant. ¡°Oh my God!¡± Someone¡¯s complaining voice was heard. A woman walked in in her high heels. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you.¡± ¡°Qin Qing?¡± Chen Ming raised his head in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Qin Qing was his highschool classmate. She looked carefree, but was very meticulous. She had studied abroad for university, but they had never stopped contacting each other. They were very good friends! Upon hearing this, Qin Qing rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m definitely back. Back to help you!¡± ¡°However, can you charge my car first? I still have to go out to eat later.¡± Chen Ming looked left and right, and then asked in his mind, ¡°System, is there a machine that can directly convert the energy blocks to power?¡± He had the energy polymer block, but he could not convert them into power. The system was silent for a moment. Then¡­ [Oh, there is. This is the reward from earlier. I almost forgot to give it to you.] As it said that, a black box appeared under the table in front of Chen Ming. It was hidden in a blind spot so that no one could see it. Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up. He picked up the box and walked out. He placed an energy polymer block into the input slot, and then connected the machine to the car. ¡°This is good stuff!¡± Chen Ming turned on the machine as he spoke. A few seconds later, the engine started emitting black smoke. Qin Qing swallowed. ¡°This is good stuff?¡± ¡°Your good stuff just destroyed my new car!¡± Chen Ming smiled awkwardly and walked over to check on the car. After inspecting the car, the two of them sat on the steps and looked at each other. ¡°So, it¡­¡± ¡°It overloaded?¡± The two of them looked at each other and then looked at the machine in front of them. It could actually overload the car¡¯s batteries. How terrifying was this thing? Qin Qing then came back to her senses. She ignored her ruined car, and stood up and patted Chen Ming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This thing is pretty amazing!¡± It usually took a long time to charge her car, but now it had been overloaded within a few seconds. Both the machine and its power source were amazing. However¡­ How could they deal with its massive power output? [Host, you forgot to adjust the power output option on the machine¡­] The system reminded Chen Ming helplessly. He glanced at the dial that had been set to maximum and fell silent. His carelessness had ruined a car. Chen Ming looked at the ruined car briefly before inviting Qin Qing into his seven-seater van, before driving her back to his house. At home, Chen Zhao smiled as he prepared a meal, and the three of them chowed down. ¡­ The next morning, in the office. Chen Ming looked at the man in front of him, his face full of black lines. ¡°Boss Chen, I¡¯m doing this for your own good.¡± The man sat on the chair with a smile. ¡°You have the skills, and I have the supply. I¡¯ll take a cut if you process it. It¡¯s not a loss.¡± Hearing this, Chen Ming sneered. The man in front of him was also the owner of a garbage processing plant. When the news about the energy polymer block was released yesterday, it dominated the headlines. Today, this person had come calling in order to send over the garbage that his plant ¡®could not handle¡¯ to Chen Ming in order to take a commission. He obviously wanted to make use of Chen Ming¡¯s technology to earn easy money. That was wishful thinking. Chen Ming sneered, ¡°Boss Lin, I won¡¯t say anything else.¡± ¡°My family has the technology, and we also don¡¯t lack supply. There are only a few garbage processing plants in the city, and we¡¯ve already bought one.¡± ¡°With this technology in hand, there will be no shortage of customers in the future. What can I gain from working with you?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home, wash up, and take a nap? You seem to be daydreaming.¡± After saying this, Chen Ming looked at the plant¡¯s supervisor beside him. ¡°See our guest out.¡± The supervisor smiled and nodded politely, and then escorted the man out. At this moment, Qin Qing entered the door with a serious expression. She closed the office door and whispered, ¡°How many energy polymer blocks did you produce yesterday?¡± Looking at Qin Qing¡¯s expression, Chen Ming¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°About a hundred¡­¡± He had used up his quota yesterday, and he could only produce one per ton of garbage. Upon hearing this, Qin Qing¡¯s expression changed. ¡°We¡¯ll send five pieces for inspection. Let¡¯s experiment on one piece.¡± ¡°But I went to the warehouse just now. There¡¯s only 90 blocks left.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s expression changed when he heard that. The energy polymer blocks had been stolen! There was a mole in the plant! Chen Ming remained silent for a moment before he checked the surveillance footage on his computer. In the surveillance footage, a figure in a white coat quietly entered the warehouse and left with a suitcase. Looking at the figure, Chen Ming fell silent. He knew this person. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­¡± Qin Qing¡¯s face changed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this from yesterday¡­ She was familiar with the people in the plant, but this person¡­ Chapter 5 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming and Qin Qing pushed the door to the research room open and entered. Inside the room, a man in a white coat was engrossed in his research, completely ignoring the people who had just come in. On the table, a few energy polymer blocks were arranged neatly, and a lot of data had been recorded in a book at the side. ¡°Brother Lin, what are you doing?¡± Chen Ming was expressionless as he spoke coldly. Lin Lin was his university classmate. He had originally been working at the Linyuan garbage processing plant and had just been roped in yesterday. The man quivered and turned around in panic. ¡°Chen Ming, I¡­¡± Lin Lin looked a little guilty. ¡°I just¡­¡± Lin Lin was the one who had spread the news of the plant¡¯s employees being bribed the day before. In the end, his old company was bought over in just one afternoon. Lin Lin was suffering, and somehow thought that he would research these blocks and sell the information. Looking at Lin Lin¡¯s expression, Chen Ming said, ¡°Linyuan started the rumors and engaged in unfair competition. Even if I didn¡¯t have your information, I can still convict them, and I can still buy the plant.¡± ¡°However, what you¡¯re doing now is in violation of our confidentiality policy, and involves my business secrets. You¡¯re breaking the law.¡± Hearing this, Lin Lin¡¯s expression changed. Chen Ming took a deep breath. ¡°You can leave. I won¡¯t hold you responsible, but I don¡¯t want to see you here again.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s expression was ugly. Lin Lin was Chen Ming¡¯s University classmate and they had a close relationship. However, Lin Lin was too indecisive. He felt that his old boss was acting strangely, so he sent a message to Chen Ming. However, after that, Lin Lin felt like he had done something wrong, so he wanted to redeem himself by stealing Chen Ming¡¯s trade secrets. This kind of person¡­ Qin Qing went over to look at the records and was slightly relieved to see that nothing concrete had been determined from Lin Lin¡¯s research. Chen Ming nodded. Fortunately, this was the case. If not, Lin Lin could not be allowed to leave. ¡­ After dealing with this matter, Chen Ming and Qin Qing entered a busy period. Orders surged, and every day, they were either processing garbage or negotiating orders. The two of them were so busy that they had to rush every meal. ¡°Ding¡­¡± His phone beeped. Chen Ming was surprised to see the message on his phone. He raised his eyebrows. Qin Qing came over and took a look. ¡°You¡¯re not going? ¡± On the screen was an invitation to a business cooperation. The other party was the city¡¯s biggest real estate tycoon. Chen Ming frowned and thought for a while. ¡°I¡¯ll go over and check it out. Can you handle the orders here?¡± Qin Qing nodded with a smile. ¡­ Half an hour later, in a private room of a five-star hotel in the city. Chen Ming smiled and looked at the woman in front of him. ¡°Miss Wang, how do you propose we cooperate?¡± A girl with fair skin, slightly upturned eyes, and wavy hair was sitting opposite him. This was Wang Linlin, the little princess of a real estate tycoon. Wang Linlin laughed. ¡°My family has land and you have the technology. Why don¡¯t we both take what we need?¡± ¡°Your plant is developing, but lacks the space and the opportunity to expand.¡± The news about the garbage processing plant had been all over the news over the past few days, so it was hard for her not to notice it. After discussing it with her father, both of them felt that this was a good investment opportunity, which was why Wang Linlin had invited Chen Ming over for this discussion. Chen Ming opened the proposal and read it silently. His heart sank. Did they want to invest? However, the profit split was too disadvantageous to him! ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± As Wang Linlin looked on expectantly, Chen Ming smiled and declined. ¡°There¡¯s no need to cooperate at the moment.¡± After saying this, Chen Ming stood up and was about to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to consider it?¡± Wang Linlin was shocked. Chen Ming shook his head and left. Wang Linlin was stunned as she looked at the proposal in her hand. Why did this person refuse? Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man walked in. He was shocked to see that Wang Linlin was the only one left in the room. ¡°Where is he?¡± Wang Linlin pouted angrily. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Boss Wang was shocked. ¡°He left?¡± ¡°Why would he leave? Did you not show him the proposal I gave you?¡± Hearing this, Wang Linlin frowned. ¡°There was something wrong with your proposal!¡± ¡°We are giving them land and money, so why do we only get a small cut of the profit?¡± ¡°I changed it.¡± After hearing Wang Linlin¡¯s explanation, Boss Wang was so shocked that he almost vomited blood. This was a new source of energy they were talking about! If it was made public, there would be plenty of people lining up to get a piece of the pie. It would already be profitable if they managed to get a small cut of the profits! If they were not in the same city, the Wang family would not have been able to seize the initiative to propose a business cooperation before everyone else! They were about to strike it rich, but this prodigal girl had actually ruined the cooperation! Boss Wang suppressed the anger in his heart. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined it!¡± Wang Linlin looked at her father incredulously. ¡°No way! We¡¯re investing land and money, so what¡¯s wrong with taking a larger cut of the profits?¡± ¡°The other party is clearly being too greedy!¡± Boss Wang lowered his head and looked at the revised proposal, feeling regretful. He should not have allowed his daughter to handle this matter! She had been spoiled like a little princess since she was young and did not know how to value these things. ¡°Do you know what this technology represents?¡± Boss Wang suppressed his anger. ¡°With this technology in his hands, even the state will come knocking at his door!¡± ¡°We were already lucky that we managed to get a headstart, but you¡¯ve driven him away instead!¡± ¡°How am I supposed to discuss the cooperation with him now?¡± Wang Linlin looked at Boss Wang¡¯s expression and finally came back to her senses. She sat down in a daze. It seemed like she had really done something wrong! Boss Wang was furious and said to his assistant, ¡°Quickly, go and get the previous proposal!¡± Then, Boss Wang looked at Wang Linlin and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go there and apologize!¡± Sensing his anger, Wang Linlin picked up her handbag and followed him. ¡­ The black luxury car followed the seven-seater van and stopped at the entrance of the plant. Before Boss Wang could get out of the car, Chen Ming had already entered the office. In the office, Qin Qing was leaning on her chair and checking the orders one by one. Seeing Chen Ming come in, Qin Qing raised her eyebrows. ¡°How did it go?¡± The other party was quite well-off, so cooperation with them would not be a bad thing. Chen Ming sighed. ¡°The conditions were too harsh. Let¡¯s wait a little longer!¡± With this technology in hand, there would be no lack of opportunities. They just had to bide their time. Then, Boss Wang knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a response. ¡°You are?¡± Chen Ming stood up and asked in surprise. Eh? Wang Linlin was following him? In that case, this person was¡­ Qin Qing¡¯s eyes swept over Wang Linlin and raised her eyebrows slightly. Boss Wang smiled. ¡°My daughter was insensible and offended Mr. Chen just now.¡± ¡°I honestly value this cooperation opportunity very much. This is the original proposal. Mr. Chen, please take a look first. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re not satisfied with, we can amend it immediately.¡± Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. He and Qin Qing looked at each other and read through the proposal. Compared to the previous proposal, the terms on this one were much more favorable. Chapter 6 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming and Qin Qing exchanged glances and excused themselves. Chen Ming then went to the corridor with Qin Qing to discuss whether they should accept the proposal. After discussing the proposal¡¯s benefits and other specific matters, they decided to officially sign a contract. After all, Boss Wang was really sincere, so they had no reason to refuse. When he returned to the office, Chen Ming noticed Boss Wang¡¯s serious expression in his peripheral vision. The latter was probably worried about whether he would choose to cooperate. ¡°Boss Wang.¡± As he walked over to Boss Wang, Chen Ming smiled and said, ¡°After our discussion¡­¡± As he paused, Boss Wang clenched his fists nervously. Naturally, that gesture did not escape Chen Ming¡¯s eyes. After he noticed this, the smile on his face became even wider. ¡°We agree to your proposal.¡± ¡°Agree? Ah, alright! That¡¯s great! We¡¯ll sign the contract now.¡± Boss Wang heaved a sigh of relief. The burden he was carrying was finally lifted. After confirming the cooperation, Boss Wang shot Wang Linlin a look, which obviously indicated that she had to apologize. Although Wang Linlin was unhappy, she had to suppress her unhappiness. She unwillingly walked over to Chen Ming. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, I¡¯m sorry. I changed the proposal and caused you to misunderstand.¡± Wang Linlin raised her eyes and changed the topic slightly. ¡°I hope you can prove to me with your ability that you are worthy of this cooperation.¡± She did not show it on her face, but she still did not trust Chen Ming. A genius who appeared out of nowhere? Wang Linlin felt that he was not really reliable. Hearing this, Chen Ming¡¯s expression did not change and he said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will prove it to you.¡± He had already noticed Wang Linlin¡¯s distrust. ¡°When the time comes, Miss Wang will be sincerely convinced of my abilities.¡± ¡­ The energy polymer blocks solved the city¡¯s energy problems, which garnered a lot of attention, not only from the various business organizations, but also the state. Not long after, Chen Ming received a commendation. In the restaurant for the celebration, Chen Ming¡¯s smile was bright and clear. Receiving a commendation from the state was an honor. When Chen Zhao first learned of the news, he pulled Chen Ming over to the memorial tablets of their ancestors to ¡®report¡¯ his success. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°Despite being so young, you received a commendation. It¡¯s a great honor.¡± As she spoke, she raised her glass. Chen Ming clinked his glass with hers. ¡°You contributed to this as well. It¡¯s an honor we share.¡± He did not take all the credit. Qin Qing smiled as she downed the wine in her glass. Chen Ming followed suit. The wine was mellow and fragrant, and one could tell that it was good wine. Qin Qing suddenly thought of something and said to Chen Ming seriously, ¡°Chen Ming, now that we have energy polymer blocks, shouldn¡¯t we expand our business? We won¡¯t be able to grow big if we only manage one or two garbage processing plants.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s suggestion made sense. After her reminder, Chen Ming realized that the next thing he had to do was to continue purchasing garbage processing plants, which in turn would provide him with an endless stream of garbage to upgrade the system. Chen Ming quickly started discussing with Qin Qing as to which garbage processing plant they would acquire. In the end, the celebration dinner turned into a meeting. At the end of the meeting, they decided to purchase two suitable garbage processing plants. Having finalized this, Chen Ming felt that the future was bright and full of opportunities. ¡­ The acquisition process went smoothly. As expected, the owners of the two garbage processing plants chose to cooperate with Chen Ming as he had offered an excellent price. Moreover, the reputation of Chen Ming¡¯s energy polymer blocks had already spread far and wide. More and more people were looking to build a good relationship with him. With the expansion of his business, Chen Ming¡¯s reputation rose to another level. Wang Linlin also found out about this. She was originally a little prideful, but after knowing that Chen Ming had succeeded in expanding the business, and had even received a commendation, she gradually changed her opinion of him. She even took the initiative to send a message to Chen Ming and discuss various matters with him. During this process, she also realized how capable he was. The cooperation was truly an excellent decision from their end. ¡­ In his personal office, after dealing with the work that had piled up, Chen Ming rubbed his head. The continuous work had really exhausted him. Chen Ming was almost done with his work, and was ready to rest. He turned on his computer and was browsing the news. A particular headline caught his eye. ¡°The energy polymer blocks. Is there a conspiracy behind this?¡± It was the third most searched topic that was rising in popularity. He clicked on it. Shady business? As expected, one would always be attacked after achieving popularity and success. Jealousy and envy were the one eternal truth in this world. However, Chen Ming did not panic. [No way, there are even suspicions about this? He was able to produce energy polymer blocks, and was even commended. How awesome was that? Despite that, you guys are accusing him of plagiarism?] [That¡¯s right. This genius has contributed to society and I admire him. I don¡¯t know what basis you guys are trying to discredit him on.] [Brothers, although I also think that energy polymer blocks are beneficial to society, but¡­ appearing out of nowhere? Do you really think that he is an expert among the common folk?] [+1! I think it¡¯s a publicity stunt. Am I the only one who thinks so? I¡¯m waiting for the results online.] [Everyone, where¡¯s the evidence? Words are not proof.] [¡­] There were all kinds of ongoing discussions. In the beginning, it was just some ordinary arguments. Chen Ming flipped through the pages slowly, trying to trace the scent of a conspiracy. His hard work paid off. As Chen Ming continued to scroll down, a comment with an outrageous number of likes successfully attracted his attention. [Everyone, please take a look. Here is the evidence ¡®video¡¯.] After clicking on the video, a vigorous old man appeared on screen. ¡°The energy polymer blocks were plagiarized!¡± ¡°He plagiarized my work. I¡¯m heartbroken!¡± ¡°I hope everyone can seek justice on my behalf!¡± ¡°Everyone, please help me! I¡¯m just an old man who doesn¡¯t know much about the world.¡± In the video, the old man was speaking righteously. Although his Chinese was a little awkward, one could sense his determination and perseverance to ¡°uphold justice.¡± When Chen Ming saw the video, he found it ridiculous. Justice? However, were it not for the fact that the energy polymer block had been created by the system, he would have been swayed by the old man¡¯s words. The comments below also gradually believed that Chen Ming had plagiarized the old man. A bunch of people clamored to seek justice for this poor foreign friend. ¡°Tsk, tsk, they¡¯re just hopping on the bandwagon.¡± That foreigner did not even have any evidence, yet they were trying to pile accusations on him? Chen Ming smiled. While he was reading the comments, there was a knock on the door, followed by an anxious voice. ¡°Chen Ming, this is bad. Did you see the comments on the internet? They¡¯re saying that your energy polymer blocks were plagiarized!¡± ¡°There are already quite a few netizens who believe it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s bad news. Due to the negative comments on the internet, the sales of the energy polymer blocks have been affected!¡± That fast? Chen Ming narrowed his eyes. It seemed that the other party had come prepared. Chapter 7 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°What should I do? I know you didn¡¯t plagiarize, but public opinion is leaning toward that foreigner. Will you be able to handle it?¡± Qin Qing asked worriedly. Chen Ming did not show any signs of worry. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He gave Qin Qing a comforting look. ¡°They¡¯re just clowns who are trying to slander me. They¡¯re not going to get the better of me.¡± As soon as Chen Ming finished his sentence, his phone on the table started vibrating. The caller ID showed that it was Boss Wang. ¡®Ah, so he could not remain calm either,¡± Chen Ming thought. Qin Qing wanted to respond, but she chose to remain silent and not disturb Chen Ming. Then, Chen Ming¡¯s fingers slid across the phone screen. He unlocked the screen and picked up the call. ¡°Hello, Chen Ming. It¡¯s Old Wang!¡± As soon as the call connected, the other party¡¯s anxious voice came through. ¡°The internet is saying that you plagiarized the technology. Have you seen the online discussion?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re telling the truth, but you have to tell them the truth as soon as possible. Otherwise, it¡¯ll probably affect our business.¡± Boss Wang did not interrogate him angrily. However, Chen Ming could clearly sense that the other party was extremely anxious to know the truth. Since there was no evidence, Chen Ming decided to let Boss Wang see it for himself. Before he had the chance to explain it to the public, Chen Ming only gave him a perfunctory reply, ¡°Boss Wang, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re business partners. I won¡¯t cheat you.¡± These words did not admit that he had plagiarized, nor did they deny the rumors on the internet. They were so vague that Boss Wang, who was on the other end of the phone, almost fainted. ¡°Ah? Don¡¯t tell me you already have a way to deal with it?¡± Boss Wang asked again. ¡°Take a guess.¡± These two simple words frustrated Boss Wang to no end. However, he did not want to stir the pot and could only grit his teeth and say, ¡°My guess is that you didn¡¯t plagiarize. I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡± Chen Ming still did not give him a confirmation. He only chuckled. ¡°Then, please guess whether or not you¡¯re right.¡± After saying this, Chen Ming hung up the phone without another word and allowed Boss Wang¡¯s imagination to run wild. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Chen Ming had noticed Qin Qing¡¯s worried expression while he was on the phone. As soon as he hung up, he immediately comforted her, ¡°I won¡¯t let the truth be buried!¡± ¡°Since that foreigner accused me of plagiarism, I will make him pay the price.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s confident expression made Qin Qing pause for a moment. After a while, she nodded mechanically. She would try to believe in Chen Ming. Thinking this, Qin Qing forced a smile. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll support you.¡± ¡­ Not long after Qin Qing left the office, Chen Ming received an invitation from an official show. ¡°Speak of the devil, and the devil will arrive.¡± Chen Ming sighed. The official show team had invited him on air to explain the matter regarding the energy polymer blocks, probably thinking to strike while the iron was hot, and earn a large number of views. However, regardless of what their intentions were, this was a timely blessing for Chen Ming. The most convenient way to resolve this matter and spread the truth was to do it on this show. So, he typed a reply to the show team. [I¡¯ll participate.] [It¡¯s starting at 3 pm tomorrow, right? I won¡¯t be late.] After he sent that simple response to the show team, the team immediately announced their invited guest. [This Friday¡¯s show will feature thepopular genius who has recently developed the energy polymer blocks! What kind of surprise will he bring us? Let¡¯s wait and see!] Seeing this, Chen Ming checked the comments again. Once the show team announced his participation, it would definitely cause a thousand ripples. Everyone would tune it to watch the show. Just as Chen Ming predicted, the comments section had blown up. [They invited a plagiarist? Are they stupid?] [Who said that he plagiarized? You¡¯d rather believe a foreigner with no evidence than our young genius?] [Hey, hey, hey, you¡¯re calling him a genius? Don¡¯t you know who Chen Ming plagiarized? That¡¯s a famous energy research expert from overseas!] [So what? Just because he¡¯s famous, you¡¯re so sure that our genius plagiarized?] [Hmph, what¡¯s the fuss about? We¡¯ll know how good this genius is once he¡¯s on the show.] [All lies will be revealed at that time. I hope that genius will fall.] [Hahaha, +1! Do you really think he studied energy? What does he know? He¡¯s just a plagiarist.] [I¡¯ve already said that we should wait and see. Don¡¯t get slapped in the face if you¡¯re proven wrong.] [¡­] There were many different opinions, though most leaned on the side of the foreigner. Few people could believe that Chen Ming could achieve so much at such a young age. Chen Ming sneered in front of his computer screen. ¡°Just wait and see!¡± ¡­ The show went on as promised. While he was getting his makeup and hair done backstage, Chen Ming could sense all kinds of gazes directed toward him. There were those who were doubtful, and those who were excited. Chen Ming ignored all of them and focused on preparing for the show. He had to make a good impression on the show. ¡°Next, let¡¯s welcome the young genius, Chen Ming!¡± The host¡¯s excited voice was heard. After adjusting his clothes and making sure that they were neat and tidy, Chen Ming slowly walked over to the recording studio. ¡°Everyone, please allow me to introduce this young genius.¡± ¡°Chen Ming, you¡¯re so young, yet you¡¯ve managed to develop the energy polymer block!¡± ¡°Our viewers might not have heard about the energy polymer blocks, so I¡¯ll give everyone a brief introduction.The energy blocks that Chen Ming developed can produce energy in the form of electricity and heat. They can be said to have a wide range of uses.¡± [B*llshit!] [This host is trash and spouting nonsense.] [Don¡¯t they know that Chen Ming is a plagiarist?] [¡­] While the host was excitedly introducing the energy polymer blocks, the real-time comments flashed by on the screen. Most of them were questioning Chen Ming. Seeing this, Chen Ming took the opportunity to say, ¡°Everyone, the energy polymer blocks are the result of my research. It¡¯s definitely not plagiarized. I hope that everyone will not be led astray.¡± A few simple words naturally would not be enough to convince the netizens, and Chen Ming was well aware of this. [Where¡¯s the evidence?] [Words are not proof!] [You¡¯re not a plagiarist? What a joke! This is the funniest joke I¡¯ve heard this year.] The Comments screen was still filled with doubts regarding Chen Ming. The host had never seen such a situation on the show. He hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to smooth things over. Just as the host was in a bind a phone call request arrived that shocked everyone. ¡°It¡¯s a call request from Mr. Anthony!¡± Someone in the audience suddenly shouted. Anthony was the foreigner who had been ¡°plagiarized¡±. In an instant, the venue and the internet were thrown into an uproar. Chapter 8 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Anthony¡¯s call request appeared on the big screen. At the same time, since Chen Ming did not accept the call immediately, the netizens seized the opportunity to condemn Chen Ming. [Since you said that you didn¡¯t plagiarize, why don¡¯t you take the call?] [He¡¯s probably feeling guilty and doesn¡¯t dare to.] [There¡¯s a price to pay for plagiarism. Just go to prison and study the law.] [Hahaha, the plagiarist has been exposed, right?] [I love this kind of plot. A genius has fallen. Hehehe, Mr. Anthony is indeed the best!] [¡­] The host looked at the call request on the screen and felt like he was caught in a dilemma. He did not know whether to accept it or not. He could not help but look at Chen Ming worriedly. Of course, the host was also a little curious. How would this genius react to resolve this situation? Chen Ming raised his eyebrows slightly, looking calm and relaxed. ¡°Accept Mr. Anthony¡¯s call.¡± As soon as he said that, the netizens who had been clamoring about Chen Ming went briefly silent. They had not expected Chen Ming to dare to accept the call request. Could it be¡­ That Chen Ming had not plagiarized? All kinds of doubts sprouted in their hearts, but the truth was about to be revealed, so they all tacitly shut up and waited for the truth. Everyone was glued to their screen as the host clicked the button to accept the call. A bearded foreigner appeared on the big screen. He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and it was obvious that he came prepared. Before the host could say anything, the foreign expert began to introduce himself in not-so-fluent Chinese. ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m an expert in energy research, Anthony.¡± The netizens were all waiting for the show to start. Chen Ming had made so much money using energy polymer blocks. Watching the downfall of a famous and successful person was always entertaining, so how could they miss this show? Chen Ming was not interested in making friends with this kind of person, so he did not bother to greet Anthony. The host noticed the awkward atmosphere and immediately raised his microphone. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by Anthony again. Anthony used his broken Chinese to criticize Chen Ming. ¡°People like you breach the ethics of scientific research. You blatantly stole my research results and used them to make money. You¡¯re despicable!¡± ¡°The energy polymer blocks that I¡¯m researching not only have high energy efficiency, but they¡¯re also cheap. I dare say that your pirated version is not even one-tenth as effective as mine!¡± ¡°This kind of person should be condemned. I¡¯m willing to sell my perfect energy polymer blocks cheaply for the benefit of everyone!¡± As soon as this was said, the netizens were incited to action. So what Chen Ming sold them was not only plagiarized, but also defective? [This¡­ I am disgusted.] [You¡¯re heartless! Copying and selling at a high price¡­ Are you dead inside?!] [See, Mr. Anthony is the kind one! Chen Ming? Ptui! Is this kind of person worthy of success?] [He¡¯s not worthy! Shout with me! Not worthy!] [Brothers, why do you trust Anthony so much?] [The truth hasn¡¯t been announced yet. Why are you guys jumping the gun?] [¡­] There were still mixed opinions on the internet. There were also those who insisted on believing in Chen Ming. However, these people were the minority. Most people jumped on the bandwagon and believed that Chen Ming had plagiarized. After a long while, Chen Ming sneered and asked, ¡°How much energy is released from your energy polymer block? What¡¯s the energy utilization rate and how much time does it take for it to release energy?¡± Anthony was stunned by the sudden question. How would he know? However, now that things had come to this, Anthony could only maintain his calm and put up a facade. ¡°Why are you asking this? Why should I tell you?¡± Anthony wanted to stall for time. Chen Ming would not give him the chance. ¡°Please answer.¡± Anthony had still been shouting just a moment ago, but now he was hesitating. Moments later, he was pressured into giving an answer. ¡°My energy polymer block is a perfect energy polymer block. A one-kilogram energy block can release about five kWH of electricity! The utilization rate is naturally close to full, and the time it takes to release energy is also extremely fast!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Chen Ming laughed out loud as soon as Anthony finished his sentence. ¡°You really dared to spout nonsense.¡± Anthony was so angered by Chen Ming¡¯s sudden words that his face turned red. However, Chen Ming did not give him the chance to speak again. He raised his microphone and responded to the audience easily. ¡°An energy polymer block can release 10 kWH of electricity per kilogram. Mr. Anthony is wrong about this. If you have any doubts, you can ask those who have bought the energy polymer blocks from me previously.¡± ¡°As for the energy release rate¡­ Heh, that can be adjusted accordingly! Mr. Anthony, did you not even know this? You clearly didn¡¯t do your homework.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s expression did not change as he exposed the inaccuracies of Anthony¡¯s answers. The difference was obvious. This time, Anthony was on the losing end. Due to the contrasting information, those who had firmly supported Anthony earlier were now suspicious. Was Anthony really the original creator? A creator who was not familiar with his own creation? That was unlikely. Just as the netizens began to question Anthony, he suddenly took a deep breath and smiled. ¡°Chen Ming, you only memorized the data of my energy polymer block. I have the patent certificate!¡± After saying that, Anthony displayed the patent certificate he had prepared in advance on the big screen. The big screen was very clear, so everyone could see it. ¡°This is irrefutable evidence,¡± Anthony said righteously. He did not notice that Chen Ming was still unfazed by this. [This time¡­ this is solid evidence, right?] [Hehe, there¡¯s no more doubt. Chen Ming, you¡¯re dead meat!] [I knew it! There¡¯s no way he could be a genius. He¡¯s a disgrace to society!] [Anthony is amazing! Exposing a plagiarist personally! I love it!] [¡­] The netizens who had initially believed in Chen Ming now turned the other way due to the evidence presented. There was no lack of Chinese experts who supported Chen Ming, but now they all looked disappointed. ¡°Chen Ming, Mr. Anthony has solid evidence. You shouldn¡¯t embarrass yourself here.¡± The one who spoke was a Chinese expert who had initially supported Chen Ming. The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. She wished she could just scold Chen Ming and leave the show. Chen Ming, who was in the center of public opinion, ridiculed and despised by tens of thousands of people, did not panic at all. He simply glanced at the registration date on Anthony¡¯s patent and sneered. It was too fake. Just as everyone was wondering what Chen Ming was thinking, he took out another patent in front of everyone. ¡°Mr. Anthony, what a coincidence. I have a patent here too.¡± Chen Ming pointed to the registration date on the patent. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ I registered my patent much earlier than you did.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s eyes were dark and gloomy, and his aura was overbearing. ¡°I think that this can be considered ironclad evidence.¡± Chapter 9 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The two patent certificates brought the atmosphere to its climax. It was the same patent, but the dates were clearly different. It was as if the word ¡°plagiarist¡± was carved on Anthony¡¯s face. The audience was dumbfounded, and even the comments screen paused for a moment. This face-slapping made the bystanders who were criticizing and insulting Chen Ming stop speaking. ¡°Mr. Anthony?¡± Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. He held the microphone in his hand, and his voice was unusually clear. The surroundings fell silent again. Even the host had never seen such a scene before. He was so shocked that he did not know how to bring the audience back to their senses. It took a long time before they did. ¡°Anthony is a plagiarizer!¡± A stone that caused a thousand ripples was thrown. Some of the audience members stood up and shouted. Following that, other members of the audience and the netizens also expressed their thoughts. [Disconnect the call! Even looking at Anthony is disgusting!] [Is this what an esteemed expert is supposed to be like? Where are his morals?] [Go back to whence you came. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself here!] [Haha, I¡¯ve never thought that an official show could be so dramatic!] [Put ¡®shameless Anthony¡¯ in the public chat!] [¡°We have to put ¡®Chen Ming is a genius¡¯ in the public chat too! We almost falsely accused a genius!] [¡­] The comments made Anthony feel embarrassed and ashamed. ¡°You¡­ You!¡± In this situation, Anthony was unable to defend himself. He was rendered helpless by Chen Ming¡¯s evidence. Seeing this, Chen Ming sneered. ¡°Mr. Anthony, don¡¯t be in such a hurry,¡± he continued to speak slowly, ¡°I still have a big gift for you.¡± With that, another big screen lit up. What was displayed there was a video of Lin Lin stealing energy polymer blocks! [This is surveillance footage of the energy polymer blocks being stolen?] [Yeah, but what does this guy have to do with Anthony?] [Eh? What is he mumbling about?] [Are you blind? He¡¯s sending a message to the mastermind!] [A message? This is a conspiracy!] [As expected, geniuses will be targeted. Human nature is so scary.] [I¡¯m so curious who the mastermind is. Stealing because of jealousy¡­ Is this a loss of humanity or a loss of morality?] [¡­] The surveillance video footage stopped at that moment. Under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, the picture of Lin Lin sending a message to the mastermind was magnified. Although it was blurry, the name ¡°Anthony¡± was very eye-catching. This time, Anthony was blindsided. While everyone was dumbfounded, Chen Ming smiled. He had long known that Lin Lin had ulterior motives. The reason why he allowed him to steal the energy polymer blocks was so that, today, he could reveal the mastermind¡¯s identity to the public. This time, Anthony was completely and thoroughly beaten. There was no escaping this. On the screen, Anthony¡¯s face was as dark as a thunderstorm. ¡°What a joke!¡± ¡°These are all fake!¡± He would definitely take revenge on Chen Ming! He dared to make a fool of him? There would be a price to pay for this! Anthony cursed and was about to cut off the call. He believed that as long as the connection was cut off now and the news was stifled, his position in the scientific world would still remain intact. However, before he could press the button to hang up, Chen Ming looked up and stared at him coldly. Anthony felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°Don¡¯t run off so fast,¡± Chen Ming said calmly, ¡°Mr. Anthony, may I ask if you considered the safety issues when you stole the energy polymer blocks?¡± Chen Ming¡¯s inexplicable words confused Anthony. Safety issues? How could there be any safety issues? Anthony came back to his senses and mistakenly thought that Chen Ming was trying to buy time. He did not answer and reached out to hang up. ¡°Boom!¡± Just as Anthony was about to hang up, a loud explosion was heard. On the big screen, the laboratory behind Anthony suddenly exploded. The experimental equipment inside was blown to pieces, and the whole place started emitting thick smoke. Anthony was not in the lab at the moment, so he was not injured when the explosion occurred. However, when he woke up from his daze and realized that there had been an explosion, he seemed to have heard the sound of his heart shattering. His laboratory! His valuable experimental equipment! Ruined! He was ruined now! ¡­ Of course, witnessing such a sudden event, it was not only Anthony¡­ The audience was also shocked. [It, it exploded?] [Although I was shocked by the explosion at first, forgive me for being blunt, it felt really good! Karma has struck!] [What is this called? It seems that the heavens were angered as well!] [I¡¯m sorry, but, hahaha! I¡¯ll laugh for now and repent later.] [Anthony must be confused. His eyes are blank, like those of a seriously ill patient in a mental hospital!] [Anthony¡¯s laboratory: I¡¯m going to die today.] [¡­] Everyone was now laughing at Anthony. By the time Anthony had recovered from his grief and read the comments, he was even more furious. He suddenly remembered that Chen Ming had reminded him to be careful. ¡°Chen Ming!¡± Anthony reproached loudly, ¡°Was it you? This was your scheme, wasn¡¯t it? How dare you blow up my laboratory!¡± ¡°Chen Ming, I will never let you go!¡± ¡°Spill it! What exactly did you do?¡± Anthony firmly believed that Chen Ming was one behind it. Chen Ming raised his eyebrows helplessly and spread his hands in the face of Anthony¡¯s fury. ¡°I¡¯m not a god who can predict the future. How could I have predicted that you would steal my energy polymer blocks?¡± Hearing this, Anthony¡¯s ears turned even redder. What he said just now was equivalent to admitting that he was the one who had stolen Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks! Before Anthony could even feel the pangs of regret, Chen Ming slowly revealed the truth. ¡°It was only something minor.¡± Anthony was confused by Chen Ming¡¯s sudden change in tone. What did he mean by that? Before he could ask, Chen Ming continued, ¡°I was the one who developed the energy polymer block. Naturally, because it¡¯s precious, I implanted a security measure into the energy blocks.¡± Chen Ming looked up and stared into Anthony¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Anthony, I¡¯m afraid you didn¡¯t steal my energy crystals just to slander me. Let me guess, you also wanted to disassemble the energy blocks and reverse engineer the technology, right?¡± ¡°W-what basis do you have to say that?¡± Anthony stammered, ¡°There¡¯s no proof. Chen Ming, don¡¯t change the subject!¡± Chen Ming¡¯s righteous words were in stark contrast to Anthony¡¯s panicked denials. Chen Ming sneered when he saw that Anthony was still being stubborn. ¡°On what basis?¡± ¡°Based on the security measures I set up, of course. As long as the energy blocks are dismantled, they will explode!¡± Chen Ming¡¯s tone became colder and colder. It was like the most bone-chilling wind in winter, brushing up against Anthony¡¯s spine and giving him goosebumps. ¡°Mr. Anthony, do you still want to deny it? Or should I say¡­¡± ¡°Can you still deny it?¡± Chapter 10 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Anthony could not explain himself. The evidence was irrefutable. Even if he had ten mouths, none of them would be able to prove his innocence to the audience. In the end, Anthony chose not to respond to Chen Ming. Buried under the criticism of viewers, he hung up. He was probably cleaning up the mess. Chen Ming thought, ¡®Losing his laboratory like that is probably going to cost him a pretty penny.¡¯ However, even though Anthony had left, the number of comments about him only increased. Anthony¡¯s accusations and slanderous statements about Chen Ming had been disproven, so the netizens were cursing him without any fear. As for those who had scolded Chen Ming because of Anthony, they apologized one after another. While the live broadcast was still going on, a trending topic was on the rise. [Energy research expert, Anthony, slanders Chen Ming. Suspected of theft.] As it was very popular, by the time the show ended and Chen Ming discovered it, it had already become the number one trending topic. As for the show, this was the first time they had pulled in so many viewers. It was unprecedented. Chen Ming¡¯s eyes spotted the big words ¡°explode¡± at the bottom of the page, and clicked on it. When he entered, and refreshed the page, new comments could be seen appearing constantly. [Die, Anthony, die! How dare you slander the geniuses of our country?] [Hurry up and get lost! Why didn¡¯t the energy block explode and send him flying?] [Only god knows how happy I was when Anthony¡¯s lab exploded.] [What? Energy blocks? An explosion? What is all of this?] The newcomers were confused. Still, it was amazing for the number one trending topic today to not be about entertainment industry gossip. [Sister, let me give you an explanation. To put it simply, energy polymer blocks can produce electricity. One kilogram can produce 10 kWH of electricity! Isn¡¯t it much more amazing and interesting than celebrity gossip?] [There¡¯s also another thing. Anthony, a supposedly expert energy researcher, slandered the creator of the energy polymer blocks, and also stole from him. However, in the end, due to the security measures implanted in the energy blocks, his lab blew up! I recommend that you watch the video.] [I¡¯m going to promote the energy polymer blocks to the whole world. My dad is an expert in this field. He wants me to buy them through various channels.] [Even the experts are vying for it? The energy blocks are really awesome. Don¡¯t stop me. I¡¯m going to buy it too!] [+1! I¡¯ll buy an energy block as a token of respect!] [¡­] The number of trending topics related to this matter continued to increase. Some were insulting Anthony, while others were discussing the energy polymer blocks. Some of the experts in the country were generous with their praises for the energy polymer blocks. Their words could not hide the praise and expectations they had for Chen Ming. Chen Ming understood that these trending topics would definitely drive up the sales of the energy polymer blocks, so he had to continue to expand the business. ¡­ As Chen Ming had expected, the orders for the energy polymer blocks kept coming in. His business was booming, and there was no time for him to take a break. The limited amount of energy polymer blocks he processed every day would be sold out in the early hours of the morning. Therefore, Chen Ming continued to purchase garbage processing plants to mass-produce energy polymer blocks. Seeing the endless orders come in, Chen Zhao once again felt like paying his respects to the ancestors¡¯ graves. Earlier, when Chen Zhao first found out that Chen Ming was involved in a storm of public opinion, he wanted to relieve his son¡¯s burden. Even if the garbage processing plant closed down, they could still take another path. Then, while Chen Zhao was mapping out the different options, the situation suddenly reversed, stunning him. Chen Zhao now felt that this was the peak of his life! However, Chen Ming did not tell him that this was just the beginning. In the future, he would become even more powerful and influential. No one could develop a garbage processing plant like he could! After all, he had the system! As Chen Ming was drowning in happiness on the sofa, the system¡¯s voice rang out. [Ding! Congratulations! You have completed the hidden mission, ¡°The Plagiarism Link.¡± You have been rewarded with a 300-ton garbage processing quota. Please keep up the good work!] [Processing skill obtained: Trash with less than 30% remaining usability/durability can be reconstructed. Can be upgraded in the future.] A new skill? Chen Ming¡¯s eyes lit up. If the energy polymer blocks had already caused such a huge commotion, would a new skill not result in another uproar? Chen Ming could not wait to try out his new skill. Just as he was looking for something to try it on, an opportunity quietly appeared beside him. Qin Qing, who had been sitting on the sofa and watching the live broadcast repeatedly, was now frowning and pressing the TV remote control buttons. ¡°Tsk, what kind of useless battery is this?¡± Qin Qing grumbled. She lifted the back of the TV remote control and took out the battery inside. Is it out of juice?¡± Qin Qing muttered gloomily. ¡°The quality of batteries these days is so bad,¡± Qin Qing sighed after confirming that the battery was dead. Battery? Chen Ming noticed the opportunity. Speak of the devil. This was wonderful! Just as Qin Qing was about to throw the battery into the trash can, Chen Ming quickly stopped her. ¡°Qin Qing, don¡¯t throw it away yet.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s hand subconsciously stopped. She looked at Chen Ming in confusion. ¡°Huh? Do you want this battery?¡± Why would Chen Ming need a battery? Qin Qing was dumbfounded. ¡°I want to try and see if I can fix it,¡± Chen Ming explained. ¡°This battery isn¡¯t that expensive. Just buy another one.¡± Qin Qing frowned. She could not understand Chen Ming¡¯s actions. ¡°Brother Chen, you¡¯re starting to be thrifty now?¡± The teasing tone in her voice was very obvious. However, even though she said that, Qin Qing still handed the battery over to Chen Ming. Chen Ming took the battery and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll see in a bit.¡± His mysterious words piqued Qin QIng¡¯s curiosity. ¡°What is there to see?¡± Qin Qing asked, ¡°Are you going to turn this battery into gold?¡± It was supposed to be a joke, but Chen Ming replied seriously, ¡°Yup,¡± Qin Qing almost thought that Chen Ming had gone mad. Could batteries be turned into gold? Just as Qin Qing was about to question him, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m not turning the battery into gold, but I can make it as valuable as gold!¡± Chen Ming was in high spirits, and he could not hide the excitement in his eyes. ¡°Then, can you demonstrate how you do that to me?¡± Qin Qing crossed her arms and asked. Chen Ming shook his head and held the battery in his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll try it first. It¡¯ll be a surprise.¡± After saying that, Chen Ming left the room and went elsewhere to try out his new skill. ¡­ When he reached a place where no one was around, Chen Ming took out the battery and activated the skill. The next moment, the system¡¯s voice rang out. [Optimized battery: Special structure, can store more power, and the substances within it are biodegradable, causing no harm to the environment!] Optimized battery! The system¡¯s description made Chen Ming¡¯s lips curl up. At present, ordinary batteries were harmful to the environment and even affected human health, which in itself was a big headache. This time, he had created an optimized battery, which was harmless to the environment and had a higher energy storage capacity. If the publicity was done well, it would definitely sell like hotcakes! This was going to be explosive! Chapter 11 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°An optimized battery?!¡± When Qin Qing was given the battery optimized by the system, she was shocked. ¡°Yes,¡± Chen Ming nodded. ¡°It has a higher capacity, and is eco-friendly. It doesn¡¯t pollute the environment.¡± Qin Qing swallowed her saliva upon hearing this. At that moment, she felt that Chen Ming was right. The battery was worth as much as gold! In some sense, it was even more precious than gold. While Qin Qing was still in shock, Chen Ming continued, ¡°We¡¯re going to recruit employees on a large scale to sort through the garbage we receive, and also encourage public awareness about sorting garbage.¡± ¡°In this way, we¡¯ll have a steady supply of batteries to process into optimized batteries.¡± After making arrangements for the garbage sorting and collection, he would be able to use the system¡¯s skill to process the dead batteries into optimized batteries. This was the plan that Chen Ming had just thought of. After Chen Ming said that, Qin Qing reacted quickly. She said seriously, ¡°¡±Alright, got it.¡± ¡°Remember to put out public advertisements to let the citizens learn about garbage sorting,¡± Chen Ming said. Qin Qing took Chen Ming¡¯s words to heart and started her preparations. At the same time, she inadvertently glanced at the optimized battery. She was really curious. What was Chen Ming¡¯s brain made of? This excellent invention would cause a huge sensation! ¡­ The news that Chen Ming wanted to put out advertisements spread quickly. Not long after, the well-informed Wang Linlin found out about this. She now admired Chen Ming. The moment she received the news, she picked up her bag and headed off to Chen Ming¡¯s office. At this time, Chen Ming and Qin Qing were discussing the follow-up promotions for the optimized batteries in the office. Ding Dong Ding Dong! While they were in the middle of a heated discussion, they heard the doorbell ring. Chen Ming did not even raise his head and said, ¡°Enter!¡± After Wang Linlin heard this, she pushed the door open and entered the office. The sound of her high heels hitting the floor tiles was particularly crisp, and it echoed clearly through the office. At this moment, Chen Ming pulled himself out of his work and looked up. When he saw that it was Wang Linlin, he felt confused. Did Wang Linlin not trust him? Why did she personally come to his office? Qin Qing and Chen Ming had the same thought. After all, previously, Wang Linlin had still been unwilling to cooperate. Before they could question her regarding the purpose of her visit, Wang Linlin took the initiative to explain. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m not here to pick a fight.¡± Wang Linlin then paused, smiled and said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here to talk about cooperating. You¡¯re going to put up an advertisement about garbage sorting, right?¡± After learning that Wang Linlin was here to talk about advertising, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Have you found a partner yet?¡± Wang Linlin asked. Chen Ming shook his head. ¡°Not yet. Is Miss Wang interested in working together?¡± As soon as Chen Ming finished speaking, Wang Linlin quickly followed up. ¡°As a real estate tycoon, the Wang family has the necessary connections and funds to do this. If Mr. Chen Ming doesn¡¯t mind, the Wang family can put up the advertisements for free.¡± Then, she added, ¡°We¡¯re business partners, after all. Mr. Chen Ming, what do you think?¡± Chen Ming paused for a moment when he noticed Wang Linlin¡¯s abrupt change in attitude. Then, he quickly reacted. Her intentions were written all over her face. However, Chen Ming thought, ¡®Having Wang Linlin¡¯s admiration and support is not bad. Working with her will make the advertising go more smoothly, so why not?¡¯ Seeing her waiting for his answer, he smiled and said, ¡°Sure! Since Miss Wang would like to assist us, we have no reason to disagree.¡± Chen Ming stood up and poured Wang Linlin a cup of tea, which filled the office with the fragrance of tea. ¡°Thank you, Miss Wang, for your generous offer¡­¡± As he spoke, Chen Ming pushed the teacup toward Wang Linlin. Seeing that Chen Ming had agreed, Wang Linlin was relieved. She took the cup of tea with a calm expression and smiled politely. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. It¡¯s an honor to be able to work with you.¡± Chen Ming and Wang Linlin looked at each other and smiled. However, Qin Qing noticed something abnormal about Wang Linlin¡¯s behavior. ¡®Has Wang Linlin suddenly changed her mind about Chen Ming?¡¯ Qin Qing thought. Her eyes were almost glued to Chen Ming. Was she really here to talk about cooperating? Qin Qing¡¯s suspicion continued until the next day. ¡­ The next day, inside the president¡¯s office, Wang Linlin was seated opposite Boss Wang, leisurely drinking tea. Although Wang Linlin was calm, Boss Wang was not. ¡°You took the initiative to work with Chen Ming?¡± Boss Wang exclaimed. ¡°Yes.¡± Wang Linlin nodded. ¡°I think that as a business partner, we should support Chen Ming.¡± Her words surprised Boss Wang. After all, not too long ago, she harbored distrust and anger toward Chen Ming. Otherwise, she would not have changed the proposal arbitrarily. However, Wang Linlin¡¯s attitude toward Chen Ming seemed to have taken a 180-degree turn. When had this happened? While Boss Wang¡¯s mind was filled with random questions, Wang Linlin spoke. ¡°Dad, let¡¯s get down to business. Chen Ming is about to launch the optimized battery. We¡¯ll be the first to put out the garbage sorting advertisements. This will also help him streamline the process of producing these optimized batteries.¡± ¡°You might not know, but Chen Ming¡¯s latest invention is a biodegradable battery.¡± When the word ¡°biodegradable¡± came out of Wang Linlin¡¯s mouth, Boss Wang almost jumped out of his chair. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Boss Wang asked in a hurry. Wang Linlin replied seriously, ¡°I¡¯m certain.¡± ¡°Therefore, helping Chen Ming with his publicity is a good opportunity for us.¡± After Wang Linlin finished explaining, Boss Wang was overjoyed. ¡°Good job!¡± Boss Wang gave Wang Linlin a thumbs up. ¡°If we can work together with Chen Ming, our business will definitely boom in the future.¡± Boss Wang seemed to envision a very happy and prosperous future. As for Wang Linlin, her mind was filled with thoughts about Chen Ming. She was looking forward to what other new inventions Chen Ming would come up with. Such an outstanding man was worthy of her! While Wang Linlin and Mr. Wang were laughing, Qin Qing, who was outside the door, frowned slightly. She was in charge of the advertising, and had come to the Wang Group¡¯s office todiscuss the specifics regarding this matter. When she arrived at the president¡¯s office, she accidentally overheard the conversation between Wang Linlin and Boss Wang. There was a small gap in the office door. Through the gap, Qin Qing could see Wang Linlin¡¯s bright smile when she mentioned Chen Ming. They were both women, so Qin Qing could roughly guess what Wang Linlin was thinking. Qin Qing felt that Wang Linlin most likely had taken a fancy Chen Ming. This was the first time she felt a sense of danger. Chapter 12 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The next day, an advertisement about garbage sorting triggered a heated discussion among netizens and quickly became a trending topic. [Garbage sorting, everyone is responsible.] The news that Boss Wang and Wang Linlin had sponsored the advertisement was naturally noticed by the netizens. The thread was filled with positive comments. [Garbage sorting is very important. Everyone, pay attention!] [I agree, but I¡¯ll be honest with you, I think that this move is crazy!] [+1! Me too! Also, did you guys notice? This is an advertisement that Chen Ming and the Wang Group jointly released!] [I¡¯ve heard of the Wang Group, as they are a real estate tycoon. However, who is this Chen Ming? How did he end up cooperating with the Wang Group? I don¡¯t understand.] [Brother, you¡¯re behind the times. Look up the energy polymer block¡¯s creator. You will thank me when you return and feel that the Wang Group is the one benefiting from the cooperation.] [Thank you. I just finished reading the introduction on the energy polymer blocks and was completely stunned. Thank you, Chen Ming! The Wang Group has struck gold here!] [¡­] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes narrowed as he browsed the comments on the thread. He had now reached the level of publicity he had been looking for. The next step was to produce optimized batteries and boost their popularity. While he was thinking about this, Boss Wang, who was sitting opposite him, started to laugh. ¡°Hahaha! Mr. Chen Ming, it¡¯s all thanks to you!¡± ¡°Because of the advertisement, the Wang Group is now popular with the public. Our public image has also greatly increased!¡± Boss Wang¡¯s face was wrinkly from all that smiling and laughing. Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. ¡°This is just the beginning,¡± he said with confidence, ¡°Next, I will use the optimized batteries to push the popularity of our company and the Wang Group to the peak.¡± Hearing this, even Boss Wang, who had been in business for a long time, was stunned. Boss Wang felt that cooperating with Chen Ming was one of the best decisions he had ever made. He was extremely satisfied with this partnership. ¡­ At 8pm that night, Chen Ming announced the start of sales for the optimized batteries on the website. Once it was released, it once again caused a heated discussion. [Optimized batteries? Awesome!] [Look at the details! Not only does it have a higher capacity, but it¡¯s also biodegradable!] [That¡¯s amazing!] [Is this an exaggeration, or is it true? If it¡¯s true, then I have no choice but to idolize this big boss!] [¡­] Just as Chen Ming had expected, the popularity of the company skyrocketed. Of course, there were also some people who did not believe the news. They felt that it was impossible for Chen Ming to have developed both the energy polymer blocks and the optimized batteries. No one could invent so many things within such a short span of time. These people¡¯s doubts were reasonable and well-founded, causing many netizens to gradually believe that the optimized batteries were just a hyped-up empty shell. Just as these comments were about to spread, Chen Ming received an official email. [Your optimized batteries have passed the safety inspection!] [As per the description given, they indeed have a higher capacity and are biodegradable. We will officially release the relevant information to the public to publicize the optimized batteries.] Seeing this, Chen Ming smiled. After he responded to the email, the official website released the relevant information and certification details. After the official announcement of the optimized batteries was published, the netizens instantly became active. The netizens, who initially thought that the optimized batteries were fake, were now shocked. What a joke! How could something certified by the official website be fake? In addition, Chen Ming forwarded this post, and news about the optimized batteries went viral! ¡­ [Wang Linlin: Chen Ming, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.] [Wang Linlin: Engles Hotel, Room 401. I¡¯ll pick you up in a bit. Come down at four o¡¯clock sharp.] While Chen Ming was working in his office, Wang Linlin sent him a few messages. At this time, Qin Qing was also present. When she passed by, she happened to see these messages. Qin Qing secretly clenched her fists, and an indescribable feeling filled her heart. ¡°Qin Qing?¡± Chen Ming called out to her. Hearing Chen Ming¡¯s voice, Qin Qing came back to her senses. ¡°Ah, do you plan to go?¡± she asked. She was obviously referring to Wang Linlin¡¯s invitation. Chen Ming took another look at the messages on his phone. He stopped what he was doing and said, Yeah. After all, the Wang Group advertised for us for free. The optimized batteries are now popular too. There¡¯s no reason to refuse.¡± As he spoke, Chen Ming unlocked his phone and responded to Wang Linlin¡¯s messages. Qin Qing¡¯s expression became even more unnatural after that. When Chen Ming realized this, he was about to ask Qin Qing whether she was feeling unwell when Qin Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± One sentence; straight to the point. Sensing her firm attitude, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. ¡°Sure!¡± However, ten minutes later, Chen Ming regretted his decision. In the car, the atmosphere was particularly awkward. ¡°Linlin, why did you treat Chen Ming to a meal alone? You didn¡¯t even invite me.¡± Qin Qing broke the silence and laughed awkwardly. The sudden words made Wang Linlin, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, frown. After a while, she replied, ¡°I¡¯m inviting Chen Ming in my personal capacity. If I was inviting him for company matters I¡¯d have definitely invited Sister Qin Qing.¡± When Chen Ming heard what they said, he felt that there was a hidden meaning behind their words. Why did it sound like they were on bad terms? On the way to dinner, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin kept up the conversation, and there were obviously hidden barbs in their words. After about ten minutes, the car finally stopped in the parking lot in front of the entrance of the Engles Hotel. Chen Ming took a deep breath and got out of the car, relieved. Then, they went to the room that had been arranged for the dinner. Chen Ming only noticed that Boss Wang was also in the hotel room when he entered. ¡°My dad heard that I wanted to invite you for dinner, so he came along to thank you,¡± Wang Linlin explained. After she finished speaking, Chen Ming nodded and gave her a perfunctory smile. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, you¡¯ve been a great help to us!¡± Boss Wang walked up to Chen Ming with a smile. When he noticed that Wang Linlin was staring at Chen Ming, the empathic connection between a father and his daughter was suddenly activated. Boss Wang suddenly felt that Wang Linlin was interested in Chen Ming. If he could match the two of them together¡­ Boss Wang¡¯s smile widened. Given Chen Ming¡¯s ability, he would definitely be of great help to the Wang Group¡¯s development in the future. Besides, if his daughter truly liked Chen Ming, this was a win-win situation. This idea took root in Boss Wang¡¯s heart. Just as Boss Wang was about to make his next move, he turned around and saw Qin Qing, who was standing behind Chen Ming. The way Qin Qing looked at Chen Ming was also different. Boss Wang¡¯s idea, which had just taken root, withered in an instant. Chen Ming and Qin Qing were childhood sweethearts. How could his daughter compete? Boss Wang sighed and gave up on trying to matchmake Chen Ming and Wang Linlin. He turned around and invited Chen Ming to his seat. He poured a glass of wine for Chen Ming. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, our company has received great publicity because of our collaboration with you, and our business has taken a step forward. Therefore, thanks is in order!¡± ¡°You¡¯re young and promising. I believe that, in the field of energy in the future, you will definitely make a name for yourself.¡± Boss Wang smiled brilliantly. He could not hide his admiration for Chen Ming. Chen Ming also smiled humbly. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Boss Wang.¡± At this moment, Boss Wang suddenly changed the topic. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I wanted to discuss with you.¡± Chapter 13 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As expected, Boss Wang had a favor to ask of him. ¡°Boss Wang, if you have something to say, just go ahead,¡± Chen Ming said without changing his expression. Boss Wang drank a glass of wine and smiled even wider. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be direct. I want the distribution rights to the optimized batteries.¡± Then, he continued, ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, we¡¯re business partners. You should know what the Wang Group is capable of. I think we can take on this responsibility and satisfy your requirements.¡± After saying all this, Boss Wang became so nervous that his breathing became heavier. He was afraid that Chen Ming would not agree. Now that the real estate market had become saturated, he wanted to jump out of his comfort zone and step into the new energy market. However, he had to admit that although he was famous in the real estate market, that did not carry over to the new energy market. However, if he could work with Chen Ming, armed with the optimized batteries, he would be able to carve out a place in the new energy market. After all, Chen Ming was very influential now because of the energy polymer blocks and the optimized batteries. As Boss Wang looked on expectantly, Chen Ming did not beat around the bush. He said directly, ¡°Boss Wang, do you want to delve into the new energy market?¡± Boss Wang was stunned. He had not expected Chen Ming to be able to guess his intentions. After a moment, he regained his senses and replied sincerely, ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, you¡¯ve hit the nail on the head. I indeed want to delve into the new energy market.¡± He sighed, before continuing, ¡°As you might be aware, the real estate market is saturated now, so I need to explore different areas. The new energy market is brand-new, and I have an excellent partner like you. Therefore, it¡¯s the best option available to the Wang Group right now.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, what do you think? Is this feasible?¡± From the beginning to the end, Boss Wang did not put on the airs of a senior, as he knew that in this field, Chen Ming was the expert. As for him, he was just a little shrimp eager to try his hand at this industry. It was not embarrassing to humbly ask for advice from an expert. Whether or not the Wang Group could develop in the field of new energy depended on whether Chen Ming would agree. ¡°Please give me time to consider this.¡± Chen Ming did not agree immediately. ¡°After all, you¡¯ve been in the real estate industry for most of your life. You won¡¯t be able to guarantee results if you suddenly plunge into a new field, right?¡± Boss Wang¡¯s smile almost froze. He thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said decisively, ¡°I can throw in benefits!¡± Chen Ming was interested. ¡°Oh? I¡¯d like to hear the details.¡± Seeing that Chen Ming was interested, Boss Wang heaved a sigh of relief. At the same time, he replied sincerely, ¡°I can provide you with land that you can use to expand the scale of your business. It¡¯s a win-win cooperation between us, so why not give it a go?¡± He was indeed a business veteran. Chen Ming was tempted by Boss Wang¡¯s offer. He did not lack in terms of new products. Not to mention, the market for optimized batteries was not big. Giving the distribution rights to Boss Wang was a favor that would not cost him too much, and he would even obtain land from this deal. It was a pretty profitable venture for him. Since it was a win-win solution, as Boss Wang said, why not give it a go? Hence, after some thought, Chen Ming raised his glass to Boss Wang. ¡°Boss Wang, your sincerity has moved me. I agree. We¡¯ve worked together more than once, so I believe that you¡¯ll definitely do a good job.¡± ¡°Boss Wang, we¡¯ll count on you to find a market for the optimized batteries..¡± When Chen Ming said this, the huge burden in Boss Wang¡¯s heart was finally lifted. This cooperation was considered done and dusted! ¡­ After a simple meal, Chen Ming and Qin Qing bade farewell to Boss Wang and Wang Linlin. At the same time, Chen Ming noticed that Qin Qing had not said a word from the time they walked out of the hotel to the time they got into the car. She was exceptionally quiet, as if she had changed into a different person. She seemed to be lost in her own world, unable to extricate herself. Chen Ming was confused, and had no idea what she was thinking. Qin Qing did not open her mouth until he started the car and started driving. However, she wanted to say something but stopped herself. ¡°Qin Qing, do you have something on your mind?¡± Chen Ming casually asked while he was reversing the car. Qin Qing was pulled back to reality by Chen Ming¡¯s voice. She raised her head abruptly. After a deep breath, she finally said, ¡°What is on my mind? I just felt that the hotel Wang Linlin chose was not bad. The price-value ratio was good, and the ambience was pretty nice. As expected of the Wang family¡¯s young lady, her taste is good.¡± ¡°Moreover, she not only has good taste when it comes to food and places¡­¡± After Qin Qing said this, Chen Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. He could tell that this was not what she had been thinking about. As expected, Qin Qing then asked tentatively, ¡°Wang Linlin is the only daughter of the Wang family. She comes from a good family and is pretty. Chen Ming, what do you think of her?¡± After gathering her courage to say this, Qin Qing tilted her head. She deliberately avoided looking at Chen Ming¡¯s expression. Instead, she looked nonchalantly at the night scenery that was flashing by outside the car window. However, Qin Qing¡¯s hands clenched unconsciously, and even her palms were sweating. This was how she acted when she was nervous. However, Chen Ming did not notice this. He was focused on driving and only responded to Qin Qing¡¯s question when the traffic lights turned red. ¡°You¡¯re talking about Wang Linlin?¡± Qin Qing was even more nervous, and added on, ¡°She¡¯s an outstanding person and a good business partner. She gave us a perfect result for the advertisements. I think we can develop the relationship into a long-term partnership, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chen Ming¡¯s response was simple and to the point, ¡°Wang Linlin is a good partner, but she¡¯s just a partner.¡± Qin Qing was smart and quick to react. After getting the answer, she heaved a sigh of relief. At the same time, she was secretly happy. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Qin Qing responded to Chen Ming with a smile. Wang Linlin might fancy Chen Ming, but the feeling was not mutual. At this time, the lights changed, and the car started moving again. Qin Qing now felt that the night scenery was much more beautiful than before. ¡­ Fifteen minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of the residential community. Chen Ming and Qin Qing got out of the car and walked in. Chen Ming was still living in a dilapidated neighborhood with no greenery or security. Even a few of the street lamps in the neighborhood were broken. After that, Chen Ming and Qin Qing went to Chen Ming¡¯s place. When he took off his shoes, Chen Ming raised his eyes inadvertently and glanced at the interior. Thanks to Qin Qing, the place had been tidied up. However, things were still piled up in the corners. Because the place was small, there was not much space to put things. While he was still in a daze, Qin Qing had already walked in, passing by the TV cabinet and the small table in the living room. At this moment, Chen Ming suddenly realized that he had been so focused on his work that he had not realized that he had been living with Qin Qing. Although the living environment was not bad, the place was really too small. After Qin Qing came to live with him, there were even more things. As such, he felt that it was time to buy a new house. Since the system earned him money, he could use it to improve his living conditions. Otherwise, all of his savings would simply rot unused. He immediately decided to change places. Chapter 14 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The matter of buying a house was indeed urgent. He and Qin Qing could not live in this small place forever. Thanks to his cooperation with Boss Wang, buying a house was now an easy task for Chen Ming. Chen Ming returned to his room, took off his coat, and typed out a message to Boss Wang. [Chen Ming: Boss Wang, I want to buy a house. Do you have any recommendations?] Within seconds, Boss Wang replied. [Boss Wang: If Mr. Chen Ming wants a house, we have plenty!] [Boss Wang: This is the information on a house. This house is located in a good neighborhood and has good Fengshui. It¡¯s also near the city center. It¡¯s the best choice. If Mr. Chen Ming needs it, I can sell it at cost price since we are business partners.] Chen Ming opened the document that Boss Wang had sent him. In the document, there was a detailed description of the pros and cons of the house and detailed information regarding its specifications. Chen Ming felt that this place was suitable given the environment and convenience. Boss Wang was truly sincere. Therefore, Chen Ming smiled and typed a reply. [Chen Ming: I like it.] [Chen Ming: I¡¯ll buy this house. Thank you for the friendship price, Boss Wang! You¡¯ve really helped me a lot here.] The other party¡¯s reply was still as timely as ever. [Boss Wang: There¡¯s no need for thanks. It¡¯s just a house. I should be the one thanking you. After all, Mr. Chen Ming gave me the distribution rights.] Boss Wang¡¯s excitement could be felt through the screen. ¡®Tsk, it seems that the distribution rights to the optimized batteries are very important to Boss Wang.¡¯ Chen Ming shook his head helplessly. Dong Dong Dong! At that moment, someone knocked on Chen Ming¡¯s door. ¡°Chen Ming, it¡¯s me.¡± Seeing that it was Qin Qing, Chen Ming did not hesitate. He got up and opened the door for her. The moment he opened the door and lifted his head, he felt his ears turn slightly red. Qin Qing¡¯s shoulders were exposed, and her fair skin was in plain sight. Her silk pajamas perfectly outlined the contours of her body. She was probably taking care of her skin because she was holding a skincare product in her hand. The flowery fragrance that lingered around her body also entered Chen Ming¡¯s nose. Qin Qing was like a blooming red rose, and extremely beautiful. While Chen Ming was still in a daze, Qin Qing pouted and said, ¡°Chen Ming, look at me. I¡¯ve been working hard for you everyday, and haven¡¯t had time to take care of my skin. Aren¡¯t you going to compensate me?¡± ¡°Look at my arms, they are two-toned on the back and front due to the tanning, and so are my thighs, they¡¯re so dark. The only thing that has survived is my face.¡± As she spoke, Qin Qing pointed to her arms and thighs, pouting. Qin Qing¡¯s words made Chen Ming frown. He carefully examined the places that Qin Qing had pointed to. Dark? It did not seem like it. He had been with Qin Qing every day, and could not tell the difference. On the contrary, he felt that Qin Qing was simply dazzling. Hence, Chen Ming shook his head and said honestly, ¡°It¡¯s not dark. You¡¯re so fair.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s sweet smile instantly froze when she heard the words of a very dense man. No way! Was he so unromantic? She had dressed up so perfectly to act coquettishly in front of Chen Ming, and all she got in response was, ¡°It¡¯s not dark¡±? Qin Qing¡¯s smile disappeared immediately. She pouted and threw the bottle of skincare product she was holding at Chen Ming with a huff. Chen Ming caught the bottle reflexively, barely keeping it from falling and breaking. After catching the bottle, Chen Ming heaved a sigh of relief and looked up again. By the time he was about to say something, Qin Qing had already turned and left. Looking at Qin Qing¡¯s retreating figure, Chen Ming scratched his head in confusion. Why was Qin Qing acting so strange today? Ever since she found out that Wang Linlin was treating him to a meal, she had been acting weird. He innocently looked at the bottle of skincare product in his hand. Its contents had almost been used up, and there was very little left. The bottle was quite light as well, confirming this. Qin Qing probably used this skincare product frequently. Chen Ming did not pay much attention to it. After closing the door, he put the skincare products on the computer table casually, ready to return them to Qin Qing when the opportunity presented itself. After doing that, Chen Ming focused his attention back on the information and details about the house. When buying a house, one had to completely understand its pros and cons and could not be careless. The sky was getting dark. The light from the computer was getting more and more obvious in the dark room. As he felt that the light was starting to become blinding, he stretched lazily and got up to turn on the lights. When he turned on the lights and turned around, he saw the bright red bottle of skincare products on the pure black computer table. Initially, Chen Ming did not have any other thoughts. However, the moment he turned around, he had an idea. He thought that since the system skill could process items that were nearly used up, these skincare products would also be a viable source material. What good things would he obtain by processing them? Chen Ming¡¯s intense curiosity involuntarily brought him over to the computer table. He picked up a bottle and examined it. He felt that it was feasible. He sat in front of the computer again, holding the bottle in his hand. ¡°System, I want to process this bottle of skincare product.¡± Not long after he finished speaking, the system¡¯s mechanical voice rang out. [Ding! Processing was successful. You have successfully processed an ordinary skincare product into a high-end whitening skincare product. Its effects are amazing.] The system¡¯s description was clear and concise. High-end whitening cream? Since the system said that its effects were amazing, it should be good stuff. Chen Ming curiously squeezed out some of the whitening cream into his hand, then rubbed it on the back of his other hand. The cold liquid stuck to the back of his hand. Chen Ming spread it evenly on the back of his hand and smelled the fragrance. The cream was immediately absorbed into the skin. After examining the back of his hand, Yuchi found that the skin in that region had become smoother and whiter. This effect¡­ Although Chen Ming did not know much about skincare products, he felt that anything produced by the system was a hot commodity. If this skincare product could be mass distributed, it would open up a completely different industry! It was still a bright road ahead. Although girls were picky when it came to skincare products and cosmetics, they were very straightforward when it came to paying for them. Moreover, the market for skincare products was large enough, unlike the markets for the energy polymer blocks and the optimized batteries, which was only targeted at a certain group of people and companies. Chen Ming felt that he had discovered a new path by accident. However, he was still a newbie when it came to this field. He did not know how effective this skincare product was, and whether it could take the market by storm. This gave Chen Ming a headache. At this moment, Chen Ming suddenly thought of the original owner of the skincare product in the bottle, Qin Qing. Did she not just come over to complain about her dark skin? This was perfect! If he let Qin Qing try the whitening cream out, the effect would be immediate and he would get a proper review of the product from Qin Qing. Then, he would be able to determine if this path was feasible. Chen Ming was a man of his word. He picked up the whitening cream and strode out of the room. He knocked on Qin Qing¡¯s door excitedly. ¡°Qin Qing, it¡¯s me, Chen Ming,¡± ¡°I prepared a surprise for you! Come and try it out.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s knocking startled Qin Qing. Chapter 15 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Qin Qing had been looking at the sky in melancholy. She did not even feel like moving. Did she make a mistake? Did Chen Ming bat for the other team? Just as she was sighing, a knock on the door pulled her back from her thoughts. After hearing that, she sorted out her emotions and opened the door for Chen Ming. As soon as she opened the door, Qin Qing noticed that Chen Ming was holding a red bottle without a logo in his hand. It seemed like¡­ Was that a skincare or cosmetic product? While she was feeling puzzled, Chen Ming passed the red bottle to her and explained, ¡°Qin Qing, this is a high-end whitening cream. It¡¯s very effective. Try it out.¡± High-end whitening cream? The words that came out of Chen Ming¡¯s mouth, coupled with the ordinary-looking red bottle, made Qin Qing feel that Chen Ming had been scammed. How was this considered a high-end product? Was the genius Chen Ming taken for a ride? She secretly decided that in order to prevent more people from being scammed, she would report whoever sold him this bottle to the authorities. However, when Qin Qing lowered her eyes to look at the red bottle, a warm current still flowed through her heart. Although the whitening cream itself was of questionable quality and origins, it still represented Chen Ming¡¯s kind intentions. It was a gift from him, so how could Qin Qing reject it? Finally, Qin Qing smiled and nodded. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll try it out now. If it works well, you have to prepare a few more bottles for me.¡± Seeing that Qin Qing had agreed to try it out, Chen Ming¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Sure thing!¡± It was time for a professional review! When Chen Ming left Qin Qing¡¯s room, Qin Qing toyed around with the bottle in her hand. For some reason, Qin Qing felt that it both looked and felt like the bottle she had just thrown at Chen Ming. However, she chalked it off to being a coincidence. Qin Qing walked over to the mirror unhurriedly and began to carefully examine the bottle. She opened the bottle, and an exquisite fragrance spread out. Qin Qing was a little surprised. Could the current knock-off skincare products produce such an exquisite fragrance? She dug out some of the whitening cream with her fingertips and stopped for a moment. Then, she made up her mind. Since Chen Ming was the one who had given it to her, even if it ruined her face, she had to try it. She then applied it on her face. However, when the cream was evenly applied on her face, the expected pain and itchiness did not emerge. Instead, the cold cream made Qin Qing feel comfortable. Qin Qing was shocked. She could not help but touch her face. The effect of this knock-off whitening cream was unexpected. As soon as she finished applying it, Qin Qing felt that her skin had become moist and smooth. The fragrance it exuded was also very pleasing. Qin Qing suddenly felt that this skincare product was pretty good. It seemed that Chen Ming had not been scammed after all, and whoever had sold this to him was legit. ¡­ The next morning, while Chen Ming was still sleeping, there was a knock on the door. If one listened carefully, one could sense the excitement from Qin Qing¡¯s slightly frantic knocking. However, Chen Ming was half-awake and he did not notice this. Chen Ming fixed his messy hair, and then forced his eyes open. After tidying his clothes, he got up and opened the door for Qin Qing. Qin Qing was in high spirits. As soon as Chen Ming opened the door, she smiled excitedly. ¡°Chen Ming, your whitening cream is amazing!¡± ¡°After I applied the cream, my skin became so smooth and moist. It¡¯s the most perfect whitening cream I¡¯ve ever used.¡± ¡°I love it! This whitening cream is divine! At first, I thought that this was a third-rate product! But I changed my mind after using it! My face is so white and tender now. It feels like I¡¯m eighteen again!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qin Qing was so excited that she kept talking about the effects of the whitening cream. Seeing that Qin Qing was here to show him the effects of the whitening cream, Chen Ming snapped to his senses and started to pay attention. He rubbed his eyes in a hurry, eager to know what the final outcome was. Was it truly worthy of causing a sensation in the market and opening up a new business path for him? When he began to examine Qin Qing¡¯s skin, he felt that Qin Qing¡¯s skin, which had supposedly changed a lot, was the same as yesterday from his perspective. He did not even notice that her skin had become whiter. He blinked and looked closely, but he really could not see the difference. Could it be that the effect of the system¡¯s new product was not that good? Chen Ming was confused. ¡°Chen Ming?¡± Qin Qing called his name. Chen Ming¡¯s eyes moved away from Qin Qing¡¯s face. He said what he was thinking awkwardly, ¡°About this¡­ Maybe I don¡¯t understand skincare, but¡­ is there a difference?¡± ¡°You think there¡¯s no difference?¡± Qin Qing responded and stepped forward with a smile. Before Chen Ming could react, Qin Qing had already moved closer to him. The distance between them was getting closer and closer. One meter, half a meter, a dozen centimeters. When they were that close, he could smell the fragrance of her rose perfume clearly. Chen Ming, who had not realized what Qin Qing was about to do, stood rooted to the ground. He was at a loss. Was she getting closer so that he could take a better look? However¡­ this was a little too close! Before Chen Ming realized what was going to happen next, Qin Qing¡¯s smooth and tender face gently made contact with the side of Chen Ming¡¯s face. A soft, supple feeling¡­ Chen Ming suddenly felt an electric shock run through his body, and a current ran down his spine. His ears quickly turned red, and his face also started changing color. Qin Qing¡¯s face only touched his face for a second or two, like a dragonfly touching the water. When she moved her face away, took half a step back, and looked up again, she felt a little shy. Qin Qing adjusted her mental state and said, ¡°The effect is not bad, right? it¡¯s just that you¡¯re a man and don¡¯t understand the magical effects of this whitening cream. Now that you¡¯ve experienced it for yourself, you should definitely be able to tell,¡± Qin Qing said with a smile. Chen Ming only recovered from his shock after a long while. Unconsciously, he touched the place where Qin Qing¡¯s cheek had touched his. As soon as he touched it, he retracted his hand as if he had been electrocuted. Realizing that Qin Qing was talking to him, Chen Ming finally came back to his senses. He nodded in shock. Chen Ming¡¯s reaction was within Qin Qing¡¯s expectations. She helplessly patted Chen Ming, who had been single since he was born, and said slowly, ¡°Where is this product from? I¡¯m buying it no matter how expensive it is! I¡¯ve been using makeup and skincare products for many years, but this is the first time I¡¯ve used such a good one.¡± ¡°Chen Ming, don¡¯t try to hide it. Tell me, which company did you buy it from?¡± Qin Qing smiled and looked at Chen Ming with interest. At this moment, she could not wait to know the answer. After that, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. So Qin Qing thought that this was a product he bought¡­ If she knew that this whitening cream had actually been developed by him, how would she react? Chapter 16 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Actually, this is a new product that I developed recently,¡± Chen Ming said. Qin Qing had originally been waiting for Chen Ming¡¯s answer excitedly. When she heard him say that this product was developed by him, her eyes widened in shock. ¡°R-really?¡± She swallowed her saliva and asked tentatively, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not joking with me?¡± If one listened carefully, her voice was trembling. Qin Qing already could tell. She knew that Chen Ming would not lie to her, but she had to hear it from his mouth. These new products had emerged one after another, and they were all breakthroughs in their respective fields, which really dazzled her. After a moment, Chen Ming nodded his head in admission. He had never hidden such things from Qin Qing, and there was no need to start hiding things now. Qin Qing was stunned for a moment before she broke free from her surprise. When she gathered her thoughts, she was overcome with joy. ¡°Chen Ming, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Qin Qing held the seemingly ordinary red bottle like she was holding a treasure. ¡°The effects of this whitening cream are so good. Once it¡¯s released into the market, it will definitely make a name for itself in the skincare industry!¡± Qin Qing was so excited that she paced back and forth in front of Chen Ming, and she couldn¡¯t stop muttering, ¡°The skincare and beauty industry is different from the new energy market, and has a wider reach. If we make a name for ourselves there¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make a lot of money!¡± Qin Qing rubbed her hands in anticipation. After she said that, she patted Chen Ming¡¯s shoulder with a determined look in her eyes. ¡°Keep up the good work and try to develop more products. I¡¯ll support you!¡± Without waiting for Chen Ming¡¯s reply, Qin Qing left to study about how to make this whitening cream famous among the many skincare products on the market. Chen Ming shrugged helplessly. Things were progressing unexpectedly fast. ¡­ [Boss Wang: Mr. Chen Ming, you can come over and have a look at the house now.] [Boss Wang: I¡¯m sorry, as I am unable to personally show you around, but I¡¯ve asked my best agent to wait for you at the entrance of the neighborhood. He will give you a more detailed introduction to the house.] The next morning, when Chen Ming checked his messages, he smiled brilliantly. Boss Want was indeed a famous real estate tycoon. He had asked for a house recommendation yesterday, and it was already ready for viewing today. He was a professional through and through. Chen Ming then replied. [Chen Ming: Okay, I¡¯ll head there now.] After sending off the message, Chen Ming tried to recall the address in his mind¡­ Dongyang district, No. 108. The house was a small detached villa, located within a cluster of villas. The environment around the neighborhood was beautiful, and the surrounding greenery was one of the best within the city. Moreover, even though this villa was situated in the city center, it was not noisy. What attracted Chen Ming the most was that the villas were not too close to each other. Furthermore, the security arrangements were also top-notch. It was both safe and private, which suited him. This villa could almost satisfy all of Chen Ming¡¯s requirements for a place to stay. After getting dressed, Chen Ming noticed that Qin Qing was still busy with her planning, so he did disturb her and left on his own to the Dongyang district. Twenty minutes later, Chen Ming¡¯s car came to a halt at the main entrance to the neighborhood. He took off his sunglasses and looked around. Just as Boss Wang had described, the Fengshui was good, and the mountains and rivers were beautiful. Satisfied, he got out of the car and saw an agent in a suit waiting for him at the side door of the entrance. ¡°Hello, are you Mr. Chen?¡± The agent gave Chen Ming a practiced smile and greeted him warmly. He had received a message to take good care of Chen Ming. This had been an order from the Wang Group¡¯s headquarters, and Boss Wang had personally requested a warm reception. Therefore, the agent did not dare to be careless in his interactions with Chen Ming. He had thought that Chen Ming would be a difficult customer. However, he was surprised to see Chen Ming return the smile and greet him warmly. This made the agent heave a sigh of relief. The agent then personally led Chen Ming to the best villa in the neighborhood. ¡­ After walking for less than three minutes, Chen Ming and the agent arrived in front of the villa. Even though Chen Ming had read through the information regarding the villa, he was still pleasantly surprised when he saw it in person. In the small yard in front of the villa, vines covered the antique red walls. The yard was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and had a retro style to it. When they entered the villa, Chen Ming was even more satisfied with the overall layout, which was in line with his aesthetics, even though the interior had not been fully renovated or furnished. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, are you satisfied?¡± The agent, who was introducing the various aspects of the villa, wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked nervously. Chen Ming did not make things difficult for him and simply said, ¡°I¡¯m satisfied.¡± With that, the agent continued to show him the villa as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders. When they took the elevator to the second floor, and the elevator door opened, Chen Ming noticed the waste construction materials in the villa. His eyes lit up. These were materials that could be processed by the system. He was quite lucky, it seemed. Although there was not a lot of it, it was still free stuff. While Chen Ming was feeling happy, the agent noticed his gaze focused on the waste construction materials and mistakenly thought that Chen Ming was dissatisfied. He said in a trembling voice, ¡°Mr. Chen, I¡¯ll get someone to take the waste construction materials away later. It won¡¯t hinder your renovation plans.¡± However, Chen Ming waved his hand and said, ¡°¡±There¡¯s no need to remove it.¡± ¡°Eh, alright. Ah?¡± The agent had not expected that Chen Ming would refuse his help. He was confused. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it myself. I¡¯m very satisfied with this villa,¡± Chen Ming said simply. ¡°Please go ahead and sort out the contract. I want to tour the place by myself.¡± He could only activate the system when there was no one around him. Since Chen Ming had said so, the agent naturally did not stick around any longer. However, he was curious. He was aware of Chen Ming¡¯s profession as someone who ran a garbage processing plant. If he had not allowed the agent to deal with the waste construction materials, did it mean that he was going to handle it personally? Was this due to an occupation habit or tic? The agent shook his head and left the villa in confusion. After he left, Chen Ming looked at the waste construction materials with a smile. This stuff was trash to others, but treasure to him. Chen Ming summoned the system. ¡°System, process these waste construction materials.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the system naturally got down to work. [Ding! Processing was successful. Congratulations! The host has obtained yellow rosewood furniture. No assembly is required, and it was carved from a single piece of wood, which increases its value.] Rosewood furniture! Chen Ming could no longer hide the smile on his face. However, before he could do anything else, the system¡¯s voice rang out again. [Ding! The system¡¯s experience points have reached the threshold. The system has been automatically upgraded.] [Upgrade reward: Garbage processing quota/garbage processing skill level +1, Constitution-enhancing potion, etc.] [Skill reward: Replacement. The skill can be used on the processing machine once, increasing the efficiency of its usage quota.] Chen Ming¡¯s eyes widened as he heard the system¡¯s continuous notifications. Another system upgrade? Chapter 17 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming was shocked by the system¡¯s sudden upgrade and the awesomeness of the rewards. Other things aside, just the constitution-enhancing potion alone was stuff you could only find in fantasy TV series or novels. He had never expected to be able to come across one himself, much less use one. ¡°System, I want to use the constitution-enhancing potion.¡± Chen Ming said impatiently. He was looking forward to the effects of the potion. In less than half a minute, the system¡¯s voice rang out. [Constitution-enhancing potion has been used. Congratulations! Your strength, speed, muscles, vision, and memory have been enhanced.] As soon as the system finished speaking, Chen Ming felt his body burning up as if he had a fever. This condition lasted for about three to four minutes before the symptoms disappeared. When he opened his eyes again, Chen Ming felt much more comfortable, as if he had been purified. This was too magical! He could not suppress the smile or his excitement. After calming down, Chen Ming took a few simple glances around the small villa. He was prepared to go home after signing the contract. Just as Chen Ming was about to leave the villa in satisfaction, he noticed something shiny in his peripheral vision. Under the sunlight, these golden objects shone brilliantly. This piqued Chen Ming¡¯s interest. He walked to the corner of the room quickly. When he got closer, he realized that the glittering items were the remaining gold foil used during the construction. Chen Ming could not help but let his imagination run wild. If the waste construction materials could be processed into high-quality rosewood furniture, could the gold foil be processed into gold? At the thought of this, Chen Ming quickly and carefully picked up the gold foils. Although the gold foils had a packaging on the outside, Chen Ming still wrapped it up carefully. There were enough surprises for today. Therefore, Chen Ming was prepared to wait until tomorrow to process these gold foils. With the gold foils in hand, he left the villa with a happy face and looked for the agent to sign the contract. When he sent Chen Ming off, the agent was even more confused. How satisfied was Chen Ming with their villa to have kept smiling the entire time? The agent decided to report this to the higher-ups so that he could receive praise or a bonus for his professional ability. However, Chen Ming had no idea what the agent was thinking about. He drove home and found that Chen Zhao was also home. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Chen Zhao was watching the news on the sofa. He did not even look up when he asked that question. Hearing this, Chen Ming cleared his throat and said, ¡°I bought a small villa.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Chen Zhao nodded nonchalantly and continued to watch the news. However, in less than half a minute, Chen Ming heard the sound of the remote control falling to the floor. Chen Zhao, who had just come back to his senses, turned his head in shock and said with a trembling voice, ¡°You bought a new house?¡± To the previous Chen family members, buying a house was an extremely important matter. It took the whole family several months of research before they finally pulled the trigger on a house. Hearing this unexpected news, Chen Zhao could barely suppress his excitement. However, thinking about it again, now that Chen Ming was successful and all over the news, buying a house was not really a big deal, right? After silently digesting this information, Chen Zhao asked again, ¡°How many square meters? Where is the house located? I¡¯ve been working hard my whole life, but have been surpassed by my son. When you move to a new house, I¡¯ll definitely take a picture and send it to my friends.¡± ¡°Not counting the yard, it¡¯s about 500 square meters. It¡¯s a small detached villa,¡± Chen Ming said indifferently before Chen Zhao could finish his sentence. Small¡­ small villa? Chen Zhao, who had never thought of living in a villa in his life, was completely dumbfounded. ¡°Uncle, with Chen Ming¡¯s current abilities, he¡¯s already keeping a low profile by not living in a big villa.¡± While Chen Zhao was still in a daze, Qin Qing handed him a peeled Apple and joked. She knew how much revenue the energy polymer blocks and the optimized batteries brought in, so she knew that Chen Ming could afford to buy a villa easily. Thus,she was not surprised at all. Chen Zhao took the apple in a daze and took an instinctive bite. It was sweet. After a long while, he laughed ,¡±Hahaha! You¡¯re my eldest soon after all!¡± The corners of Chen Ming¡¯s mouth twitched at his father¡¯s reaction. It took him long enough. ¡­ In the dead of the night, the noisy city also quieted down. Chen Ming knocked on Qin Qing¡¯s door before he went to bed. ¡°Qin Qing, are you asleep?¡± he asked. Qin Qing was using the small red bottle whitening cream that Chen Ming had given her in the bedroom. When she heard him knock, she quickly put down her stuff and went to open the door for Chen Ming. ¡°I¡¯m doing my skincare routine. I¡¯ll be sleeping after that.¡± Qin Qing crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. ¡°Do you have something important to discuss? ¡± At this moment, Qin Qing looked very charming, so Chen Ming¡¯s brain froze for a moment. After a long period of silence, he finally found his voice again. ¡°Qin Qing, thank you for your help,¡± he said sincerely, ¡°Without you, my business wouldn¡¯t have been so successful.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s sudden seriousness made Qin Qing¡¯s smile fade. Seeing that Chen Ming was here to thank her, Qin Qing¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. ¡°Brother Chen Ming, you¡¯re being too polite.¡± I¡¯m still living in your house and troubling you. Isn¡¯t it natural for me to do something like this if it¡¯s within my ability?¡± ¡°If you thank me again, I¡¯m not going to talk to you anymore,¡± Qin Qing pouted and joked. Chen Ming, who was a dense man, mistook Qin Qing for being serious. He quickly waved his hand and was about to speak when Qin Qing stopped him. Qin Qing naturally knew Chen Ming very well. As soon as he raised his hand, she knew that Chen Ming had misunderstood. After a while, Qin Qing covered Chen Ming¡¯s mouth with her hand and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t take it seriously. I was just teasing you.¡± After saying that, she went back into the room and closed the door. However, her ears were already burning red. When the door was closed, Qin Qing¡¯s faint floral scent lingered on Chen Ming¡¯s face. ¡®This is playing dirty!¡¯ Chen Ming thought. ¡°Pfft, hahaha!¡± While he was in a daze, a familiar laugh pulled Chen Ming back from his thoughts. He turned around and saw that it was Zhen Chao. Just as Chen Ming was about to open his mouth, Chen Zhao stopped smiling and said seriously, ¡°I think that this young lady is not bad!¡± ¡°Son, what¡¯s your relationship with her now? When are you going to marry her? If she¡¯s my daughter-in-law, you have my full support!¡± It was said that the more a father looked at his daughter-in-law, the more pleasing she was to the eye. Chen Zhao was no exception to this. He could clearly see how serious and responsible Qin Qing was in her work, as well as how well she treated Chen Ming. It could be said that Qin Qing played a part in Chen Ming¡¯s business¡¯ rapid development. She was also a key pillar of support. Chen Chao felt that Qin Qing and Chen Ming were a good match! Chen Ming did not know whether to laugh or cry when he saw Chen Zhao trying to matchmake Qin Qing with him. His father was really¡­ If he were to be a matchmaker, he would definitely be outstanding! In the end, Chen Ming changed the topic with a smile, hiding his inner feelings. Chapter 18 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early in the morning, Chen Ming washed up and dressed up before heading to the garbage processing plant alone. He had important things to do today! After reaching the plant and seeing that there was no one around, Chen Ming walked over to a processing machine. He put his hand on the machine and finally made up his mind after thinking for a moment. ¡°Use skill: Replacement,¡± he said seriously. [Ding! Using skill: Replacement.] [Congratulations, user! Replacement was successful! The machine can now automatically process the daily garbage quota with higher efficiency!] After the system¡¯s notification ended, the machine started to transform. The dust-covered machine became shiny and majestic, to the point that people would believe Chen Ming if he told them that the machine was bought for millions. Chen Ming nodded in satisfaction. When the process was over, Chen Ming started to operate the machine. He used the freshly-minted advanced processing machine to produce energy polymer blocks. The machine was not overly loud when it ran. While Chen Ming was waiting for the processing to be completed, fully focused, two familiar voices came from behind him. ¡°Old factory manager, your son is really young and promising. At such a young age, he has led our processing plant to success and to new heights. I admire you for being able to nurture such an outstanding child!¡± The first voice belonged to Manager Zhang from the processing plant. Then, he heard Chen Zhao¡¯s hearty laughter. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s right. My son has followed in my footsteps! He¡¯s good in every way. Now, I can safely hand over the garbage processing plant to him and retire!¡± As soon as Chen Zhao finished speaking, Manager Zhang sighed. ¡°Ah, I really envy you. It would be great if my child could do something like this too!¡± ¡°The future is long, and greatness takes time to mature,¡± Chen Zhao waved his hand and said politely. While they were chatting happily, Manager Zhang raised his head and spotted Chen Ming working in front of the garbage processing machine. However ¡­ Why was this machine so new? He had never seen this model before. This seed of doubt appeared in Manager Zhang¡¯s mind, but before he could figure it out, Chen Zhao spoke up. ¡°Son, is this the latest machine you¡¯ve imported? It looks pretty good!¡± Chen Zhao waved at Chen Ming from a distance. Thanks to Chen Ming¡¯s enhanced hearing, he could hear his father¡¯s words clearly even if he was near a slightly noisy machine. ¡°Yup,¡± he said, raising his eyebrows. However, the volume of his reply was similar to Chen Zhao¡¯s own words earlier, which meant that although Chen Ming could hear it, Chen Zhao could only vaguely make out what Chen Ming was saying through the shape of his mouth. Moments later, Chen Zhao shook his head. ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m old. My ears aren¡¯t as good as those of a young man.¡± Hearing Chen Zhao¡¯s words, Manager Zhang muttered inwardly. He had thought that he was the only one who could not hear Chen Ming¡¯s reply, but it turned out that Chen Zhao was the same. In that case, Chen Ming¡¯s hearing was not bad. Before they could dwell on this matter, the machine behind Chen Ming had finished processing. Seeing this, Chen Chao waved his hand and stopped hesitating. He went straight to the ¡°new machine¡± and looked at it with a smile. ¡°I can tell that this machine will work fine just by looking at it. Eh, is this a newly-produced energy polymer block? Why does it feel that the processing speed is faster than the old machine?¡± Chen Zhao muttered quietly. At the same time, Manager Zhang also came over. Seeing the new machine, he was shocked. After coming back to his senses, he compared it with the old machine and asked in confusion, ¡°This machine can produce energy polymer blocks automatically? The old machines required manual operation and manpower. I thought that this problem would be difficult to resolve for a long time, but who knew that the little factory manager would be able to deal with it so easily?¡± Manager Zhang gave Chen Ming the thumbs up, and was not stingy with his praise. Hearing Manager Zhang¡¯s words, Chen Zhao immediately realized the advantages of this processing machine. Manager Zhang and Chen Zhao looked at each other and smiled. After that, Chen Zhao patted Chen Ming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°My son. Where did you get this machine from? We should bring in a few more to increase the efficiency of our processing plant.¡± Manager Zhang agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right, little factory manager, even if this machine is expensive, we still have to buy more! It¡¯s really efficient!¡± They chimed in one after another. However, this made Chen Ming frown slightly. The system had only given him a one-time use skill to replace this machine. He had no way of making another, at least not for the time being. However, when he was faced with Chen Zhao and Manager Zhang¡¯s sincere gazes, Chen Ming did not dash their hopes. Instead, he smiled and said, ¡°This machine takes a long time to produce, and it was purchased through special channels. I can¡¯t get a second one so soon.¡± ¡°However, I think this machine is enough for now. Dad, Manager Zhang, let me teach you how to use it.¡± With just a few words, Chen Ming changed the topic and redirected their attention. In any case, what Chen Ming made sense, and was not technically a lie. Moreover, the two of them were curious about the operation method of the machine in front of them. ¡°Alright,¡± Chen Zhao and Manager Zhang said in unison. After fumbling around, Chen Ming located the button on the side of the new machine and showed it to them. ¡°Dad, Manager Zhang, if you want this machine to automatically process garbage, press this button and it will run automatically. However, there¡¯s a limit to the amount of garbage it can process daily. When it stops running, it means that the maximum limit has been reached for the day,¡± Chen Ming said unhurriedly, and clarified how to use it to them. ¡°It¡¯s that simple?¡± Chen Zhao was in disbelief. He did not expect the machine to be so simple to use. Then, he and Manager Zhang ignored Chen Ming and started to study the machine in detail. Taking advantage of this time, Chen Ming left quietly. He had other things to do, so he would leave them to study the machine. ¡­ Chen Ming felt refreshed. Just as he was about to leave the garbage processing plant, the phone in his pocket suddenly started vibrating. When he took out his phone, he saw that the caller was Wang Linlin. Did she have something urgent to tell him? He answered the call. ¡°Hello, Chen Ming. I¡¯m calling you because I have something important to tell you!¡± As soon as the call was connected, Wang Linlin¡¯s anxious and excited voice could be heard. Hearing this, Chen Ming¡¯s eyes flickered with confusion. He asked, ¡°Are there problems with the optimized batteries?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that!¡± Wang Linlin immediately denied it. Without waiting for Chen Ming to follow up, she announced, ¡°I¡¯m inviting you and Sister Qin Qing to my birthday party!¡± ¡°Last time, Sister Qin Qing said in the car that I didn¡¯t invite her when I treated you to that meal. This time, I¡¯m inviting her.¡± Wang Linlin then paused for a moment. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s up to her whether she wants to come or not.¡± After some consideration, Chen Ming expressed that he could go. After exchanging a few more words, Wang Linlin hung up. Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Chen Ming rubbed his eyebrows helplessly. A birthday, huh. What present should he give? Chapter 19 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Wang Linlin hung up the call, Boss Wang was standing at the door of her office. He originally wanted to ask Wang Linlin if she wanted to eat at the restaurant. Who knew that when he arrived, he would see Wang Linlin on the phone with Chen Ming, inviting him to her birthday party. This made Boss Wang a little suspicious. Could it be that his daughter really had feelings for Chen Ming? However, Chen Ming and Qin Qing¡¯s relationship was¡­ Anyone with eyes could tell that their relationship went beyond the boundaries of friendship. Based on Boss Wang¡¯s understanding of Wang Linlin, he knew that she was 100% able to see that there was something between them. Filled with doubt, Boss Wang knocked on the half-opened door. Wang Linlin, who was busy dealing with documents, looked up when she heard that. When she saw that it was her father, she casually said, ¡°Dad, please come in.¡± Boss Wang went straight to the leather sofa and sat down, brewing a pot of tea silently. At the same time, he was trying to figure out how to broach the topic. The fragrance of the tea filled the air, easing the awkward atmosphere. His silence caught Wang Linlin¡¯s attention. ¡°Dad, I know something¡¯s up.¡± She paused and continued, ¡°You don¡¯t visit without a reason, and you¡¯ve been sitting there staring at the tea since you entered the room.¡± Hearing this, Boss Wang paused for a moment. However, he quickly regained his composure before Wang Linlin noticed that something was amiss. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m not here for anything really.¡± Boss Wang did not stop making the tea. ¡°I just feel that Chen Ming has a bright future ahead of him. I wanted to ask you¡­¡± He deliberately slowed down before he said the next words. ¡°Linlin, what do you think of him?¡± Hearing this sudden question, Wang Linlin, who was filling in a form, stopped what she was doing. She leaned against her office chair and thought for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s pretty good. He¡¯s outstanding in every aspect.¡± As soon as Wang Linlin finished speaking, Boss Wang immediately followed up, ¡°Do you have the urge to spend more time with him?¡± These words stunned her. She also noticed that her father seemed to have caught on to something, which was why he was asking these questions. Moments later, Wang Linlin took a deep breath and slowly said, ¡°No, I¡¯m just curious. I¡¯m curious as to why Chen Ming is so capable. Moreover, I¡¯m aware that Chen Ming has a special relationship with Qin Qing. Furthermore, they work together well and can almost understand each other telepathically.¡± These were her heartfelt feelings. Chen Ming and Qin Qing complemented each other very well. After Wang Linlin finished speaking, Boss Wang heaved a sigh of relief. As long as Wang Linlin was aware of this, it was fine. ¡­ Elsewhere, in the long corridor, the rhythmic sound of high heels hitting the ground could be heard. At this moment, Qin Qing was walking toward Chen Ming¡¯s office with the necklace she had bought for Wang Linlin as a birthday gift. She did not come to Chen Ming¡¯s office just for work. She also wanted to see what gift Chen Ming had bought for Wang Linlin. After all, Wang Linlin¡¯s feelings for Chen Ming were written all over her face. She had to be careful. When she got to the office, she found Chen Ming staring at the computer screen. The sunlight from the window was just right, reflecting his exquisite face, making Chen Ming seem particularly charming. Qin Qing¡¯s face was slightly red. She briefly calmed herself down, She calmed down for a moment outside before she entered the office. ¡°Have you chosen a birthday present?¡± Qin Qing asked in a seemingly casual manner. She was unconsciously clenching her fists. ¡°Not yet,¡± Chen Ming did not notice her unusual behavior. ¡°I¡¯m still thinking about it. I don¡¯t know what kind of gift to give her.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s words made Qin Qing pause for a moment. Still thinking about it? Could it be that Chen Ming was worried about the gift? Did he already have feelings for Wang Linlin? Was that why he was hesitating on the choice of gift? Did he want to show his feelings for her through his gift? Qin Qing¡¯s imagination was running wild. The scene of Chen Ming and Wang Linlin being in love with each other was playing out in her mind. She clenched her gift box tightly, almost squashing it. All sorts of scenes flashed through Qin Qing¡¯s mind as she mentally perused the past interactions between Chen Ming and Wang Linlin to search for signs of affection. However, it was all in vain. It was not until Chen Ming raised his eyes to look at Qin Qing that she pulled herself back from her thoughts. ¡°Chen Ming, why are you hesitating about what kind of gift for her?¡± Qin Qing finally asked after a while. Her heart started to beat faster. In the quiet office, she could even hear the sound of her heartbeat. However, even though her heart was in turmoil, Qin Qing still maintained a calm image in front of Chen Ming. She suppressed her nervousness as she waited for Chen Ming¡¯s answer. Chen Ming simply told her the truth. ¡°Finding the right gift for the opposite sex is really difficult. I don¡¯t know what to give either.¡± ¡°Also, she¡¯s the daughter of our business partner. Picking the right gift is important.¡± Clothes and jewelry were not suitable. He had gone back and forth several times, but he still could not find a suitable gift. Chen Ming felt that choosing a gift was more difficult than creating energy polymer blocks and optimized batteries. Chen Ming¡¯s two sentences had an almost immediate effect on Qin Qing. Her nervousness and uneasiness disappeared. ¡®So it was like this.¡¯ Qin Qing heaved a sigh of relief. She released her death grip on the gift box, and her expression returned to normal. Chen Ming had obviously noticed her unusual behavior. He furrowed his brow and said, ¡°Qin Qing, are you not feeling well?¡± Qin Qing¡¯s nervousness just now had made Chen Ming mistakenly think that she was not feeling well. As expected, he was a dense fool when it came to things like this. Qin Qing waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I feel fine now.¡± She was telling the truth. Fortunately, there was nothing between Chen Ming and Wang Linlin. Chen Ming was relieved to hear that Qin Qing was fine. He continued to browse the online catalog, hoping that it would give him some inspiration as to what to buy. However, he did not seem to be satisfied with any of the items, and his hands moved even faster. Qin Qing smiled when she saw Chen Ming browsing through the catalog. In less than three minutes, Chen Ming had finished going through the whole catalog. Qin Qing could tell from his expression that Chen Ming had not found a suitable gift. She could not help but tease him, ¡°Why are you so hesitant about a simple gift? Chen Ming, if you¡¯re this indecisive, you won¡¯t be able to find a girlfriend in the future.¡± Although she was joking, Qin Qing could feel her ears heating up after she said this. Seeing that Qin Qing was teasing him, Chen Ming, who was still drawing blanks, simply laughed. ¡°Haha, the main thing is that it¡¯s really hard.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate to give just any random thing.¡± After he finished speaking, Chen Ming slumped into the chair. His back was supported by the soft material, which was particularly comfortable. He simply rubbed his swollen temples and decided to think about it again. Unexpectedly, while he was resting, he caught a glimpse of certain golden objects. It seemed that he had found a way to get her a birthday present! Chapter 20 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming¡¯s gaze was focused on the spot where he had placed the golden foils. He had gained sudden inspiration. If he used the system to process the golden foils, the end-product might be able to be used as Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday gift. After Chen Ming returned to his room, he took out the gold foils. ¡°System, process these golden foils.¡± After saying that, Chen Ming waited curiously. He also wanted to know what the gold foils would become. [Ding! Processing was successful! The golden foils have been processed into a golden phoenix coronet, which is extremely luxurious.] The speed at which the system processed these materials was as fast as ever. The golden foils had been transformed into a golden phoenix coronet. It was perfectly designed and had exquisite workmanship. Every detail was handled appropriately, and every pattern was so beautiful. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this golden phoenix coronet had been crafted by a famous designer. Even though the base gold foil materials were not particularly expensive, the golden phoenix coronet did not seem that way at all. Chen Ming could tell that this phoenix coronet would be very popular with the ladies. Thinking of his partnership with Boss Wang and Wang Linlin, Chen Ming made a firm decision to give Wang Linlin the phoenix coronet as her birthday gift. It was a gift that he was satisfied with. Since the matter of the birthday present was finally resolved, now he only needed to wait for the party to start. ¡­ The next day, Chen Ming and Qin Qing went to the shopping mall together after breakfast, trying to pick out some clothes for the birthday party. This was because Chen Ming had been fully focused on developing the business and the processing plant, and had not bothered updating his wardrobe. He did not even have a single decent outfit for such social events. It just so happened that he could use this opportunity to purchase some. This shopping mall was located in the city center, and almost all of its patrons were from wealthy and upper-class backgrounds. The clothes and jewelry in every store were almost all expensive items. After strolling about, Chen Ming and Qin Qing bought a new set of clothes. However, they did not change into them, and simply had them packed up to be brought back. After all, these clothes were only for important occasions. When they were almost done, Qin Qing thought for a bit and suddenly said, ¡°Chen Ming, you¡¯re still lacking something.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Chen Ming was confused. He had bought everything he should. What was he missing? Before he could give voice to his doubts, Qin Qing continued by saying, ¡°It¡¯s cufflinks.¡± ¡°Cufflinks are also a must. Choosing the right cufflinks will highlight your outfit.¡± After that, Qin Qing looked around the shops in the mall. Finally, her gaze paused over a luxury store. This luxury store was beautifully decorated and stood out among the other shops. ¡°Let¡¯s go to this one!¡± After confirming her target, Qin Qing pulled Chen Ming into the luxury store. When the staff at the entrance saw that someone had come, the smile on her face was originally bright. However, she then discovered that the pair who had just entered were dressed in ordinary attire. Her expression instantly changed from warm to cold. ¡®Why would these people come to a luxury store to buy things? How could such people afford the things they sold?¡¯ the shop assistant thought silently. However, she did not flare up on the spot. She simply waited for these two ¡°poor customers¡± to leave the shop once they figured out that it was beyond their price range. Qin Qing was so focused on picking out cufflinks for Chen Ming that she did not notice the disdain that flashed across the shop assistant¡¯s face. However, Chen Ming noticed it. This look of disdain made him frown slightly, but because Qin Qing was focused on choosing cufflinks for him, he did not interrupt her. After Qin Qing enthusiastically looked through the cufflink selection, she picked out a set of golden cufflinks. It was low-key, but luxurious, which suited Chen Ming perfectly. After confirming, Qin Qing was ready to pick up the cufflinks and get Chen Ming to try them on. Unexpectedly, just as her hand was about to touch the cufflinks, a sharp voice was heard. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡± Qin Qing was shocked by the voice and retracted her hand. She looked at the source of the voice in confusion. It was the shop assistant that had welcomed them when they first entered the shop. At the same time, her sharp voice attracted the attention of many onlookers, who all gathered in front of the luxury store, wanting to watch the show. As everyone watched, the shop assistant raised her head and strode over to Qin Qing and Chen Ming. She first wiped the cufflinks in disgust, even though Qin Qing had not touched them. After that, she glared at Qin Qing fiercely. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it. You won¡¯t be able to afford it if you damage them.¡± This sentence caused a huge uproar. ¡°Whoa, they actually came to a luxury store dressed like that? Can she even afford it? It¡¯s no wonder the shop assistant didn¡¯t let her touch it. She¡¯s so poor that she wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford paying for the repairs if the cufflinks were damaged.¡± ¡°I agree. People shouldn¡¯t even think about things that are beyond their capability of owning. Only we are allowed such luxury goods. Those at the bottom rungs of society are not worthy of wearing these things.¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­ You¡¯re really high and mighty.¡± ¡°Am I the only one who thinks that it¡¯s the shop assistant¡¯s fault? Why is she looking down on people?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that? She¡¯s simply afraid that the items will be damaged, so it¡¯s normal for her to take precautions. Besides, those two country bumpkins are from some poor and remote place. They should not be touching things willy-nilly!¡± ¡°No way, that¡¯s your argument? Is something wrong with your head? Doesn¡¯t everyone have the freedom to shop?¡± ¡°¡­¡± There were different opinions among the crowd, though the ears of the arrogant and domineering shop assistant seemed to be able to filter out all of the criticism. She crossed her arms in front of her chest proudly, and no longer hid the disdain in her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re right,¡± the shop assistant said coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about touching something that doesn¡¯t belong to you.¡± It appeared that this shop assistant, in her time working at this luxury store, had gotten used to interacting with wealthy and upper-class folk, and had begun to look down upon ordinary people. Her job allowed her to satisfy her vanity and fantasies about being wealthy. It was simply the best. Hearing this, the anger in Qin Qing¡¯s heart gradually boiled over. She did not show any weakness and said, ¡°What do you mean by not touching something that doesn¡¯t belong to us? Do you own this shop? Do you think you own the items on sale here?¡± As she spoke, Qin Qing rapped on the glass table with her fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll buy these cufflinks.¡± Her one sentence, powerful and resonating. She thought that the shop assistant would lower her head and pack up the cufflinks for her, but unexpectedly, the shop assistant stood there motionless, with a face full of doubt. It was as if she was implying, ¡°Can you afford it?¡± Even when Qin Qing reiterated that she wanted to purchase the cufflinks, the shop assistant ignored her. This made Qin Qing completely furious. ¡°You, don¡¯t you have ears?¡± She frowned in displeasure. Just as the shop assistant was about to retort, a familiar figure appeared. The shop assistant had no choice but to restrain herself and keep quiet. Seeing this Qin Qing could not help but wonder¡­ Why had this shop assistant¡¯s attitude undergone a 180-degree shift? Had she not been aggressive this whole time? Why had she suddenly become docile? The contrast was too strong, and a sense of uneasiness rippled in Qin Qing¡¯s heart. While she was feeling puzzled, a slightly chubby hand was slowly placed on her shoulder. Chapter 21 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming had sharp eyes and quick hands, so when he noticed this lecherous hand, he pulled Qin Qing over to the side. Only then did Qin Qing notice the expressionless man behind her. The man had a greasy head and big ears. He squinted his eyes and looked particularly wretched. Qin Qing felt nauseated. When the man saw Qin Qing being pulled away, displeasure flashed across his face, but he quickly put on a lecherous smile and said leeringly, ¡°Little beauty, you can¡¯t afford these cufflinks? Just say the word and I¡¯ll buy them for you.¡± ¡°As long as you play with me, I can give you as many cufflinks as you want.¡± After saying that, the man rubbed his hands excitedly. His appearance was simply nauseating. Qin Qing¡¯s anger had reached its peak. She clenched her fists and could not hide her anger. Seeing Qin Qing¡¯s reaction, Chen Ming took a step forward and stood in front of her. ¡°A perverted man with a greasy head and big ears, as well as a condescending shop assistant. Indeed, there are weirdos everywhere, but there seems to be a higher concentration of them here.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s nonchalant words made the man and the shop assistant infuriated. ¡°You!¡± The shop assistant was the first to speak. She pointed at Chen Ming and scolded him, ¡°You useless bum. Do you know who he is? He is the only child of the Shen family, Shen Muyang! You¡¯re scolding Young Master Shen as well as me. Do you want to die?¡± The shop assistant¡¯s words were filled with anger, but there was also a hint of flattery in them. ¡®To be able to make such a proud and arrogant shop assistant bow down to him, this Shen Muyang person was not simple,¡¯ Chen Ming thought. However, no matter how extraordinary he was, he was just a second-generation rich kid who was just living off his parents¡¯ money. After the shop assistant finished speaking, Shen Muyang, who had a gloomy expression on his face, said coldly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing good to be gained from angering me.¡± His eyes fell on Qin Qing. ¡°Little beauty, I¡¯ll give you a chance to choose. As long as you stay with me for a night, I won¡¯t pursue this matter. However, if you don¡¯t cooperate¡­¡± Shen Muyang deliberately paused, and his smile turned creepy. ¡°You¡¯ll have to bear the consequences.¡± ¡°¡­¡± When Chen Ming heard this, he felt that this person was not only perverted, but there was also something wrong with his brain. Just as he was about to teach Shen Muyang a lesson, a familiar female voice rang out. ¡°Young Master Shen, long time no see. You¡¯re still as annoying as ever.¡± It was Wang Linlin. She had appeared behind them with a fake smile on her face. Seeing that Wang Linlin had arrived, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. He was more than happy to yield the stage to her. The arrogant shop assistant was shocked when she saw Wang Linlin. There was no one who did not know Wang Linlin, the only daughter of the Wang Group¡¯s chairman? Moreover, Wang Linlin was also a regular customer here, and was very generous with her tips. Every time they served Wang Linlin, they would obtain a lot of money. The shop assistant put on a flattering smile. She ignored Shen Muyang and immediately went to Wang Linlin¡¯s side like a lackey. ¡°Miss Wang, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were coming? I could have sent a car to pick you up.¡± Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. Qin Qing also rolled her eyes, thinking, ¡°This shop assistant is really good at bootlicking.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say such things. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t shop here any more.¡± Wang Linlin lightly glanced at the shop assistant, which made her legs go weak. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary person, and not someone from the upper class who is one level higher than everyone else.¡± ¡°About this¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­ That¡¯s not what I meant. Miss Wang, how can you compare yourself to these people?¡± The shop assistant suppressed her fear and replied. Chen Ming was watching the show from the side. ¡°You snobbish thing,¡± Wang Linlin scolded coldly and shifted her gaze to Shen Muyang. Shen Muyang was stunned by this. Wang Linlin¡¯s words had made him angry, but he was helpless. No matter how powerful his family was, they could not be compared to the Wang family. The Wang Group was a real estate tycoon, and his family could not compete with them even if they worked their butts off for several lifetimes. Moreover, he had spent a lot of effort to join Wang Linlin¡¯s social circle in order to get the chance to attend Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party, so he naturally did not dare to retort. Hence, Shen Muyang could only say awkwardly, ¡°Miss Wang, long time no see. I was just joking with this lady. Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Joking?¡± Wang Linlin squinted her eyes dangerously, ¡°The Shen Corporation has been quite peaceful for a long time. Do you need the Wang family to stir up some trouble there?¡± Her words made Shen Muyang¡¯s face turn pale. ¡°Miss Wang, please calm down! This is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.¡± Shen Muyang frantically begged for mercy. His earlier arrogance had completely disappeared. After Shen Muyang begged for mercy, Wang Linlin chuckled and said, ¡°¡±It¡¯s just a joke.¡± This time, Shen Muyang did not dare to say anything. ¡­ Then, Wang Linlin took out her phone and called the manager. The content of the call was very simple. It was to complain about the shop assistant. She reckoned that after her complaint, not only this store, but all the other luxury stores would not dare to hire her. Of course, the shop assistant knew the consequences of Wang Linlin¡¯s complaint, but no matter how she begged, Wang Linlin remained unmoved. Soon, the shop assistant received the news that she was fired. She did not dare to make a scene in front of Wang Linlin and could only leave in despair. The situation was now relatively quiet. Wang Linlin walked over to Chen Ming and Qin Qing, who had been watching the show. ¡°Calm down, there¡¯s no need to get angry over this kind of person,¡± Wang Linlin said to Chen Ming. Hearing this, Chen Ming nodded his head without saying anything. Of course, he knew that it was unnecessary. Seeing that Chen Ming had not taken the matter to heart, Wang Linlin smiled. ¡°It¡¯s great that you aren¡¯t bothered by this. Then, see you tonight.¡± Wang Linlin revealed a sweet smile. Without waiting for Chen Ming¡¯s reply, she turned around and left. Chen Ming shook his head helplessly. After that, he decided to buy cufflinks in another store with Qin Qing. However, after they left, Shen Muyang, who was not far away, revealed a sinister smile. ¡®See you tonight?¡¯ ¡®Wang Linlin also invited these two country bumpkins to her birthday party?¡¯ Shen Muyang decided that he would get back at these two during the party! Did they think that he only managed to get to his position by sucking up to Wang Linlin? He wanted to see what these two people were capable of! Shen Muyang could already envision the scene where he would regain his dignity during Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party. Moments later, Shen Muyang turned on his phone and sent a bunch of messages into a group chat named ¡®Brothers Group¡¯. After he sent the message, his smile became even wider. How dare they provoke him? They had to pay the price for their insolence! ¡­ At night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Chen Ming and Qin Qing changed into the clothes they bought and appeared at Boss Wang¡¯s house. Chen Ming had thought that Boss Wang, as a real estate tycoon, would live in a luxurious place. However, Boss Wang¡¯s house was warm and cozy. The villa was not very big, but the interior decor was very warm and homely. This made Chen Ming emotional. No matter how big a house was, it had to feel like home. After a while, when Chen Ming and Qin Qing appeared in front of the businesspeople present, all eyes were on them. After all, they were new to the industry. As the rising stars, the first thing they had to do was to obtain the recognition of these seniors. Chen Ming and Qin Qing did not display any fear despite the scrutiny. This made some of the big bosses in the business world feel some admiration for them. Chapter 22 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Oh, look who it is! Hey, isn¡¯t this the prince of garbage?¡± The originally calm atmosphere was shattered by these sarcastic words. Among those present, Chen Ming was the only one in the business of processing garbage. Naturally, it was obvious to everyone that this person was talking about him. He looked up unhurriedly and found that the one who had mocked him was a yellow-haired young man. The teenager was covered in tattoos, with ear and tongue studs. His yellow hair was particularly eye-catching among the attendees. He was obviously a delinquent. Chen Ming acted as if he did not hear him. He showed no signs of anger. In this kind of situation, it was rather degrading to display anger due to the taunts of this kind of trashy delinquent. Seeing Chen Ming remain indifferent, Blondie was infuriated. The people around him also started to slander Chen Ming. ¡°Since when could a garbage collector attend Miss Wang¡¯s birthday party?¡± ¡°He just got invited because she pitied him.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, miss Wang is so kind. However, this Chen Ming is so lowly. Even when I¡¯m far away from him, I can smell the stench of garbage.¡± ¡°What a disgusting piece of trash.¡± ¡°¡­¡± They chimed in one after another, their words getting more and more outrageous. The rich and powerful would never pay attention to the news. Of course, they would not know about the commendation that Chen Ming had received. They only knew that Chen Ming was a garbage collector and processor. However, these spoiled kids did not notice that the faces of their elders had turned completely dark and gloomy. Thanks to their mockery, the atmosphere of the birthday party had become particularly strange. Chen Ming raised his eyes and his gaze fell on the group of spoiled rich kids. He spotted Shen Muyang standing proudly in the middle of the group. Shen Muyang noticed Chen Ming¡¯s gaze and smiled. ¡°Chen Ming, right? My brothers are right. A prince of trash doesn¡¯t deserve to be at Miss Wang¡¯s party. You should leave as soon as possible. It¡¯s better than having us throw you out,¡± Shen Muyang said proudly. He felt great. The humiliation he suffered in the luxury store during the day was now being repaid. However, he did not sense any fear on Chen Ming¡¯s face. Chen Ming put down the wine glass in his hand and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Using your family background to insult the so-called lower class. Don¡¯t you know that everyone is equal. You are really uncultured and ignorant. In my opinion, you don¡¯t deserve to be here.¡± Chen Ming¡¯s calm reply hit the nail on the head, exposing the condescending nature of these rich second-generation brats. This made Shen Muyang and the others speechless. They looked at each other, but before the group of spoiled kids could say anything, the elders began to praise Chen Ming. ¡°Not bad! Pointing out the darkness of society at such a young age.¡± ¡°This kid is so calm. I can tell that his potential is limitless.¡± ¡°He¡¯s straightforward and isn¡¯t afraid of conflict. This young man has a bright future.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Many of the business leaders were full of praise for Chen Ming. When they saw this, the group of spoiled kids led by Shen Muyang did not dare to continue speaking. They all lowered their heads like quails, afraid that these business big shots would notice them again. While Shen Muyang was on tenterhooks, there was a commotion behind him. Hearing this, everyone turned around in unison. Wang Linlin was wearing a haute couture dress. Her makeup was exquisite, and her temperament was outstanding. In an instant, she became the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Chen Ming¡­,¡± Wang Linlin had just arrived at the birthday party. As everyone watched, she held onto Boss Wang¡¯s arm and walked over to Chen Ming. ¡°I¡¯m very happy that you managed to make it to my birthday party.¡± Hearing that, Chen Ming smiled politely. ¡°Chen Ming, you¡¯re so young and yet you¡¯ve already achieved so much. Your future is limitless.¡± Boss Wang also opened his mouth at this moment. ¡°However, in the business world, you still need to be recognized by the top people in the business world to go far.¡± Boss Wang was right. The business world was interconnected. Chen Ming nodded in agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll introduce you to some of the most capable and influential people in the business world!¡± Then, Boss Wang led Chen Ming over to a group of people. ¡°Everyone, this is Chen Ming.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a rising star in the business world thanks to his ability to produce energy polymer blocks and optimized batteries.¡± Boss Wang introduced Chen Ming to a group of business bigwigs with an extraordinary bearing. On the other hand, this group of business bigshots already knew about Chen Ming. As such, when they saw that Chen Ming was introduced by Boss Wang, they also extended an olive branch to him to express their approval. After chatting for a while, the big shots¡¯ admiration for Chen Ming grew. Chen Ming was also very grateful to Boss Wang. Were it not for Boss Wang, he really would not have been able to get to know these business bigshots so easily in such a short time. ¡­ Shen Muyang¡¯s face was still gloomy by the time the party was halfway through. His group of spoiled kids no longer dared to provoke Chen Ming after the big boss¡¯ praise for him. Shen Muyang felt that they were cowards. Did they not just praise Chen Ming a little? It was just done out of courtesy! Hence, Shen Muyang narrowed his eyes and prepared to continue his mischief. He slowly walked in front of Wang Linlin and said with a flattering smile, ¡°¡±Miss Wang, why don¡¯t you open your presents during the birthday party? It¡¯ll be good for us to see what everyone brought, right?¡± Wang Linlin frowned. What was Shen Muyang up to now? However, the moment Shen Muyang finished speaking, the group of spoiled kids who had provoked Chen Ming earlier chimed in to express their agreement If a bunch of people asked Wang Linlin to open her gift, but she refused, it would make her seem petty. Wang Linlin had no choice but to agree. However, she did not notice the slyness in Shen Muyang¡¯s eyes. Of course, Shen Muyang did not notice that Chen Ming had noticed his intentions. Chen Ming naturally knew that Shen Muyang would not dare to embarrass Wang Linlin. After all, as long as Wang Linlin felt like it, the Wang family would have a hundred ways to deal with the Shen family. Shen Muyang¡¯s target was, of course, him, who looked like easy pickings. Chen Ming felt that the latter¡¯s thoughts were written all over his face.Shen Muyang obviously just wanted to see what gift he gave Wang Linlin. If the gift was cheap, then he would be the joke of this party. Unfortunately, Shen Muyang¡¯s wishful thinking was destined for failure. Chen Ming smiled as he watched Wang Linlin open the gift. When Wang Linlin unwrapped the previous gifts, every one of them received praise. Then, when she unwrapped an ordinary-looking gift, Shen Muyang finally found his target. ¡°What¡¯s this? Who brought this piece of trash here?¡± Shen Muyang took the lead to mock the gift. Immediately, his followers all responded to him and mocked the gift alongside him. This made Wang Linlin pause, and her gaze turned dark. Who knew that the next moment, Chen Ming would slowly walk over to Wang Linlin. ¡°This is my gift to you. Happy birthday. I hope that it will be a blessing to you.¡± Then, Chen Ming completely opened Wang Linlin¡¯s half-opened box and took out the phoenix coronet. The phoenix coronet was even more dazzling under the light. At that moment, Wang Linlin could not even look away. When she took the phoenix coronet from Chen Ming¡¯s hands, she could not hide the surprise in her eyes. She looked at it carefully. Beautiful! It was simply too beautiful! As expected, the phoenix coronet received a lot of praise. After all, it was exquisite, and pretty much perfect! Chapter 23 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Naturally, no one knew that the phoenix coronet had been processed and created by Chen Ming using the system. They believed that Chen Ming had specially ordered the phoenix coronet, which showed his care. Similarly, Boss Wang was also very shocked. Other people¡¯s gifts were all luxury goods that could be bought with money. Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday gifts were almost the same every year. There was nothing new about it, and no one seemed to put in any effort. However, Chen Ming had specially ordered this gift, and as expected, it became the most eye-catching one. ¡°Chen Ming, thank you! You¡¯re such a good person. If only you were my brother,¡± Wang Linlin said happily. However, Wang Linlin¡¯s casual words caught Boss Wang¡¯s attention. Brother? If Chen Ming could be Wang Linlin¡¯s godbrother, then Wang Linlin¡¯s future would be even brighter, right? Whether it was from a personal point of view or a business point of view, having Wang Linlin acknowledge Chen Ming as her brother was a good thing. Would it not be great if they supported each other? After this flash of inspiration, Boss Wang said happily, ¡°If both of you agree, why don¡¯t we have Linlin acknowledge Chen Ming as her godbrother? This way, your relationship can be further improved.¡± Wang Linlin was stunned for a moment by Boss Wang¡¯s suggestion. Then, she immediately expressed that she was very happy to do so, but would still abide by Chen Ming¡¯s decision. Chen Ming hesitated for a moment. Being able to become Wang Linlin¡¯s brother would be very helpful to his future development. This meant that he would be able to receive more help from the Wang family in his future business ventures, which would make his path smoother. It could be said that there were only benefits and no disadvantages. After some hesitation, Chen Ming smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to acknowledge Linlin as my godsister.¡± Seeing that Chen Ming agreed, Wang Linlin¡¯s smile widened. Had it not been inappropriate for the occasion, she would have jumped up in excitement. ¡°Big brother!¡± Wang Linlin exclaimed happily. Then, she remembered that Qin Qing was standing beside Chen Ming. After some thought, she said, ¡°Hello, sister-in-law.¡± Chen Ming was a little shocked when he heard Wang Linlin called Qin Qing ¡°sister-in-law¡±. Qin Qing, on the other hand, felt somewhat shy when she heard this. Her cheeks blushed, and she smiled shyly. Thanks to Wang Linlin and Chen Ming recognizing each other as brother and sister, the atmosphere of the birthday party reached its climax. Of course, the business bigshots also noticed this scene. They had sharp eyes and could guess what was going through the minds of others. They had naturally noticed Chen Ming¡¯s hesitation. The bigshots looked at each other and smiled. Under normal circumstances, Chen Ming becoming Wang Linlin¡¯s godbrother was a good thing. Any normal person would immediately agree. However, Chen Ming had hesitated. How could one hesitate when such a good deal came knocking? Others would immediately agree, afraid that Boss Wang would take back his words. However, Chen Ming was not an ordinary person. He first silently analyzed the pros and cons. This kind of attentiveness and calmness was not something that ordinary people were capable of, and it was this that earned Chen Ming more admiration from the bigshots. If he were to be further refined, Chen Ming would definitely become a rising star in the business world and shock everyone! A portion of them realized this and looked worried. This particular group of people were the elders of the spoiled kids from just now. They also realized that it was inappropriate for these spoiled children to slander Chen Ming and be so rude to him. Helplessly, the trouble caused by their own juniors also involved their honor and dignity. As such, they could only squeeze out a smile and clean up the mess for their juniors. ¡­ ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, how are you? I¡¯m the chairman of the Chen group. This is my business card. I hope you can accept it.¡± Old Chen was the first to speak. He had white hair and was probably the head of the family. When Chen Ming saw this, he did not show any signs of contempt and respectfully took the business card. ¡°Elder Chen, I¡¯ve long heard of your great name,¡± Chen Ming replied politely. Chen Ming¡¯s politeness was in stark contrast to the words of the group of spoiled children just now. Thinking of that good-for-nothing yellow-haired grandson of his, Elder Chen felt a little ashamed. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, the one who slandered you earlier is my good-for-nothing grandson. He¡¯s full of nonsense, so I hope you don¡¯t take it to heart. When we get back, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson,¡± Elder Chen said in a serious tone. He had lived an upright life, and this grandson of his was the only one in the family who could and would cause the most trouble. It really gave him a big headache. Chen Ming understood that Elder Chen was trying to smooth things over by saying this. However, he did not take this opportunity to retort. Instead, he played along. ¡°Elder Chen must be joking. Why would I care about such things?¡± His words gave Elder Chen a way out. Hearing this, Elder Chen was even more pleased. Nowadays, there were not many famous young people who could still keep their cool like Chen Ming. After Elder Chen finished speaking, the other elders also spoke up. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, I¡¯m the head of the Bai family. I apologize on behalf of my insensible son.¡± ¡°This is my name card. I¡¯m the second master of the Liu family. I¡¯ll definitely teach that brat a good lesson when I get back so that he won¡¯t dare to spout nonsense again.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, you¡¯re so broad-minded. The younger generation of my family should learn from you.¡± ¡°Chen Ming, you are young and promising. I can see a bright future ahead of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± These elders were full of praise for Chen Ming. After a brief exchange, Chen Ming allowed them to smooth things over. This gave him a good impression. After apologizing to Chen Ming, the next thing to do was to teach their juniors a lesson. Chen Ming watched with interest. The arrogant kids lowered their heads in front of their elders, not daring to look at their faces. This was especially so for the main mastermind, Shen Muyang. The chubby Shen Muyang was trembling slightly as he tried to suppress his fear. ¡°Shen Muyang, have you forgotten what your last name is? Your family taught you to be humble and polite, but you¡¯re just acting one way in front of others and another way behind their backs? I had no idea that you were so arrogant and despotic!¡± Elder Shen knocked the ground with his walking stick. This made Shen Muyang¡¯s legs go soft. ¡°Father, don¡¯t¡­¡± It was obvious that Shen Muyang did not want Master Shen to teach him a lesson in public. He tried to stop Master Shen¡¯s actions in vain. Little did he know that this triggered the anger of the Chen family head. Shortly after, the Shen family head hit Shen Muyang¡¯s calf with his walking stick. Although it was not a particular heavy hit, it was still very embarrassing in front of everyone. Shen Muyang¡¯s face instantly turned red. ¡°You dare to bully others. Is this how I taught you? Did the Shen family teach you this? Shen Muyang, you¡¯ve really disappointed me. You¡¯re grounded when we go back. Reflect on your actions!¡± ¡°Sigh, you should thank Mr. Chen Ming for his magnanimity. He actually isn¡¯t pursuing this matter. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have let you off! Shen Muyang¡¯s dignity was completely gone after Master Shen finished speaking. The other spoiled kids were in a similar situation. Seeing this, Chen Ming smiled. They had brought this upon themselves. This was their retribution! Chapter 24 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After this storm, the spoiled children were all put in their places. Chen Ming suddenly felt that the atmosphere had become more peaceful. Then, Boss Wang slowly walked over to Chen Ming. ¡°Chen Ming, I haven¡¯t asked you if you have any new products. I¡¯ve been looking forward to your new products.¡± Boss Wang¡¯s words attracted a lot of attention. Everyone in the business world knew that Chen Ming would cause a storm whenever he developed a new product. If they could get the news of Chen Ming¡¯s new product in advance, they might be able to make their move earlier. It would be a waste not to obtain this news first-hand. Chen Ming pondered for a moment before he replied, ¡°Boss Wang, I haven¡¯t come up with anything that can make money. It¡¯s just that I recently developed a skincare product for Qin Qing.¡± At the birthday party, he could even promote the skincare product created by the system. It was killing two birds with one stone. Qin Qing understood what Chen Ming meant as soon as he finished speaking. Fortunately, she had been busy working on the skincare product recently, so she would naturally carry some with her. Qin Qing took one out from her bag. From the perspective of others, it wasjust an ordinary red bottle and a little plain. However, when Boss Wang saw this, he felt that whatever that bottle contained was definitely extraordinary. After all, each and every one of Chen Ming¡¯s products had caused a sensation. This made Boss Wang subconsciously believe that Chen Ming could do no wrong. As everyone watched, Qin Qing smiled and slowly walked over to Madam Wang and Wang Linlin. Madam Wang, Linlin, this is the whitening cream developed by Chen Ming. It¡¯s quite effective. I¡¯ve been using it for a while, and my skin¡¯s condition has improved significantly.¡± Qin Qing told the truth. Wang Linlin¡¯s eyes lit up after hearing what Qin Qing said. She had an excellent memory, and could recall that the last time she had seen Qin Qing, her skin was in good condition, but now it was in much better condition than before. Madam Wang was also a little excited. She could see how soft and smooth Qin Qing¡¯s skin was. Their expressions could not escape Qin Qing¡¯s eyes, and she quickly handed the bottle to Madam Wang. ¡°Mrs. Wang, this bottle of whitening cream for you.¡± After receiving the bottle from Qin Qing, Mrs. Wang suppressed her excitement and smiled gently. ¡°Thank you, Miss Qin Qing.¡± Madam Wang was indeed the daughter of a wealthy family. Her every move revealed her noble status. Qin Qing, who was opposite her, was equally as elegant. After giving the whitening cream to Madam Wang, Qin Qing did not ignore Wang Linlin¡¯s expectant eyes. She took out another bottle and smiled lovingly. ¡°Here, this is yours.¡± Qin Qing handed the bottle to Wang Linlin. ¡°Thank you, sister-in-law!¡± Wang Linlin excitedly accepted the red bottle. She kept calling Qin Qing sister-in-law as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Chen Ming, who was standing at the side, shook his head in resignation. After seeing Madam Wang and Wang Linlin¡¯s reaction, the business bigshots present were still skeptical about the effects of the whitening cream. Most of them were men and did not understand these things. They did not even notice how good Qin Qing¡¯s skin condition was. ¡°The reactions of Madam Wang and Miss Wang were quite exaggerated. Could the whitening cream really be that effective?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of the saying ¡®business partners flattering each other¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for sure. Have you guys forgotten about the energy polymer blocks and optimized batteries that Chen Ming developed? I think that this whitening cream will be no different.¡± ¡°Tsk, but this whitening cream is from the beauty and skincare industry this time. It¡¯s not in the same field as the products he developed before. He¡¯s jumping into another field too quickly. Failure is inevitable.¡± ¡°I believe in Chen Ming. From my observation, he wouldn¡¯t announce a new product publicly like this unless he was 100% confident. We should give this rising star the benefit of the doubt.¡± ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re right! I¡¯m on Chen Ming¡¯s side with this product. Since you don¡¯t believe in it, don¡¯t fight me for his new product.¡± ¡°¡­¡± There were all sorts of comments, and almost everyone had a different opinion. However, Chen Ming knew that as long as they used this whitening cream, they would give it a good review. After all, it was a product of the system. Chen Ming¡¯s sudden announcement of his new product caused quite a stir. The birthday party was about to end, but there were still many business bigshots discussing whether the whitening cream was good or not. This was the effect that Chen Ming wanted to achieve. Once the news started circulating, the rest would be left to the effects of the whitening cream itself. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, the wonderful birthday party ended. Everyone left one after another. The villa that had been noisy earlier was now much quieter. The servants of the Wang family were all busy cleaning up the mess. Madam Wang gave them instructions in an orderly manner, and everything was in order. At this moment, Wang Linlin was opening her gifts. The different gifts dazzled her eyes and made her overjoyed. Although the luxury goods were almost the same every year, who could refuse shiny things? It was a case of the more the better. After a while, Boss Wang also finished seeing the guests off and walked into the banquet hall. Without saying a word, he pulled Madam Wang over to the sofa and sat down. Boss Wang massaged Madam Wang¡¯s shoulders. Madam Wang had been so busy preparing for Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party that her shoulders were sore. After Boss Wang¡¯s massage, she felt much better. After Mr. Wang was done with his massage, Madam Wang leaned into his arms. ¡°Old Wang, I actually have something to ask you,¡± Madam Wang suddenly said. ¡°Eh? What¡¯s the matter?¡± Boss Wang raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why did you suddenly get Chen Ming and Wang Linlin to become brother and sister? Why didn¡¯t you discuss this with me first? It¡¯s no small matter, after all.¡± ¡°Moreover, even if Chen Ming has the ability to develop many products, he¡¯s still lacking compared to our Wang family, which has a deep foundation.¡± Madam Wang voiced out the doubts in her heart. Boss Wang had already expected her to ask these questions. He did not respond to Madam Wang directly. Instead, he nudged his head in Wang Linlin¡¯s direction, who was opening the gifts, and asked, ¡°Dear, do you think Linlin can protect the Wang family¡¯s assets?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Looking in the direction Boss Wang was pointing at, Madam Wang saw Wang Linlin excitedly opening the gifts. She could have asked the servants to open it for her, but she insisted on doing it herself, saying that she enjoyed the process. Moreover, she was about to be buried in a pile of gifts. ¡°Alright, although I don¡¯t want to admit it, it seems like Wang Linlin really won¡¯t be able to protect the Wang family¡¯s assets alone.¡± Madam Wang immediately understood Boss Wang¡¯s good intentions. In contrast to Wang Linlin, Chen Ming was calm and kept a low profile. Wang Linlin liked him, so it was a good choice for Wang Linlin to acknowledge Chen Ming as her godbrother. They would work together to protect the Wang family¡¯s assets in the future. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done the right thing,¡± After Madam Wang thought about it, she silently gave Boss Wang the thumbs up. In order to prevent Wang Linlin from being cheated or squandering the Wang family¡¯s assets, the best choice was to let Wang Linlin and Chen Ming become brother and sister. Chapter 25 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party, Chen Ming and Qin Qing went home together. In the car, Qin Qing seemed to have something to say. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up her courage and pretended to be relaxed. ¡°Chen Ming, the phoenix Coronet you gave Linlin is so beautiful.¡± She deliberately paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Did you order it? I also want a piece of jewelry.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Qing secretly clenched her hands. There were not many cars on the road in the middle of the night, so all either of them could hear was the rumbling sound of the engine of Chen Ming¡¯s seven-seater van. It was also because of this that the sound of her thumping heartbeat was hidden. She was looking forward to Chen Ming¡¯s answer. Chen Ming laughed when he heard her request for jewelry, which confused her. ¡°Chen Ming? What are you laughing at?¡± Qin Qing asked in confusion. Chen Ming stopped smiling and said, ¡°Do you really not know? This kind of jewelry is used in marriages, and is usually prepared by the bride¡¯s side.¡± Qin Qing finally understood why Chen Ming was laughing. ¡°I gave her the phoenix coronet because I thought about this. I mean, technically, I¡¯m the bride in this equation.¡± ¡®So that was how it was!¡¯ Qin Qing suddenly came to a realization. At the same time, by interpreting Chen Ming¡¯s words, Qin Qing also understood that Chen Ming was not willing to marry for the sake of business interests. If he wanted to, he could go after Wang Linlin. With the support of the Wang family, Chen Ming¡¯s future path would be much smoother and easier. However, Chen Ming only chose to give her the phoenix coronet out of respect for Wang Linlin, the Wang family, and himself. ¡°I see.¡± Qin Qing chuckled and said nothing else. When Chen Ming looked at her again, he realized that Qin Qing had already fallen asleep. He guessed that Qin Qing had to be exhausted. Today, she had to accompany him to buy things, attend Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party, and deal with the business bigshots, all of whom were sly old foxes. It truly was a taxing day for her. Hence, Chen Ming turned off the radio in the van in an attempt to reduce the noise. He also realized that he should replace this old van when he had the time. Otherwise, it would fall apart sooner or later. ¡­ While Chen Ming and Qin Qing were on the way home, Chen Zhao was reading the newspaper on the sofa with great interest. At this moment, Chen Zhao¡¯s phone on the table suddenly rang. The vibration quickly attracted his attention, and the called ID showed that it was Boss Wang who was calling. Since Chen Ming and Boss Wang were business partners, Chen Zhao also saved Boss Wang¡¯s phone number. However, Chen Zhao was a little surprised. Why did Boss Wang suddenly call him at night? Even if it was about work, he should have called him during the day, right? Could it be that something urgent had happened at the processing plant? Thinking of this, Chen Chao quickly put down the newspaper and picked up the call. ¡°Hello, Brother Chen Zhao, it¡¯s Old Wang!¡± Boss Wang¡¯s voice was filled with joy. Chen Zhao heaved a sigh of relief. It was good that there were no problems at the plant. After calming down, Chen Zhao replied, ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s Boss Wang. Since you¡¯re calling me in the middle of the night, is there something urgent to discuss?¡± The other party replied very quickly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing urgent. I just wanted to tell brother Chen Zhao something.¡± ¡°Today was my daughter Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party. At the party, I was the middleman between Chen Ming and Wang Linlin.¡± When he heard that Boss Wang was trying to build a bridge between Chen Ming and Wang Linlin, Chen Zhao¡¯s face was filled with question marks. However, before he could question him further, he heard Boss Wang take a deep breath and continue. ¡°They became brother and sister! It¡¯s great that both our families support each other, hahaha!¡± Boss Wang smiled brightly. Chen Zhao heaved a sigh of relief. Thankfully, no one had broken up his son and future daughter-in-law. ¡°Wow!¡± Chen Zhao replied happily , ¡°It¡¯s great that they became brother and sister.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Boss Wang agreed with Chen Zhao. ¡°Also, my daughter is very smart. She called Chen Ming brother and Qin Qing sister-in-law on the spot. Hahaha!¡± When Chen Zhao heard this, he subconsciously ignored the first half of the sentence and focused on the second half of the sentence. This strengthened Chen Zhao¡¯s rapport with him instantly. He and Boss Wang talked non-stop, as if they had been old friends for ages. Boss Wang also felt that he had met Chen Zhao too late. The two of them became good friends after a single phone call. After the phone call ended, Chen Ming and Qin Qing coincidentally also arrived home. Chen Ming had just opened the door with his key when he saw his father looking at them with a smile. The newspaper was still on the table. Why was his father smiling at him instead of reading the newspaper? The corners of Chen Ming¡¯s mouth twitched in confusion. Chen Ming and Qin Qing looked at each other and entered the house. They took off their shoes and jackets, and then heard Chen Zhao sigh. ¡°I heard about what happened at the party. I¡¯m getting old now, but somehow managed to gain a daughter. Not bad!¡± Chen Ming smiled when he found out that Chen Zhao already knew about this matter. ¡°Dad, I was going to tell you later. It seems that Boss Wang beat me to it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to have a new daughter, but I still have some regrets in life.¡± Chen Zhao pretended to be mysterious. ¡°Uncle, what regrets do you have?¡± Qin Qing was the one who spoke. ¡°Just tell us. Chen Ming and I will definitely do our best to help you fulfill your wishes.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Chen Zhao instantly straightened his back. Chen Ming squinted his eyes in suspicion. He knew his father too well. There was a trap being laid somewhere here¡­ Sure enough, the next thing Chen Zhao said was, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m lacking grandchildren. Please help me fulfill this wish!¡± Chen Ming and Qin Qing did not know how to react to this. When she came back to her senses, her face instantly turned red. As for Chen Ming, he felt embarrassed. In the past, he had never thought of developing a relationship with Qin Qing. However, after spending time with her recently, Chen Ming had gradually noticed her feelings through various details. He had also gradually become clear about his own feelings. Qin Qing had been supporting him throughout this whole venture, and had done her best all along the way. Their relationship was also deep enough. This had slowly moved Chen Ming¡¯s heart in the direction of affection. However, his father¡¯s sudden words still left him momentarily speechless. He frowned slightly and his gaze turned toward the room. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t joke around. It¡¯s getting late. You should rest early. I¡¯ll go back to my room first.¡± Without waiting for Chen Zhao¡¯s reply, Chen Ming returned to his room to rest as if he was escaping from a calamity. A relationship problem was not a small matter. He also needed enough time to think things through. Seeing Chen Ming¡¯s slightly hurried escape, Qin Qing¡¯s hands stopped. Her heart was filled with many thoughts. What were Chen Ming¡¯s feelings for her? Were they just friends or¡­ Did he really like her? Chapter 26 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming woke up early the next day. When the sky had just turned slightly bright, he was dressed neatly and ready to go to the processing plant to work. This was noticed by Qin Qing, who always got up early. Normally, no matter how hardworking Chen Ming was, he would not be able to wake up so early. Chen Ming¡¯s reaction the day before had filled her with suspicion, so she could not help but pay attention to Chen Ming¡¯s every move, hoping to detect something unusual from his actions. He suddenly woke up early today. Could it be that¡­ he was avoiding her? Qin Qing¡¯s thoughts were flying everywhere. However, she soon came back to her senses, shook her head, stopped thinking about it, and headed off to wash up. As for Chen Ming, he was blissfully unaware of the drama playing out in Qin Qing¡¯s head. He was currently wrestling with the seven-seater van. He had wanted to start work earlier, but the van was not cooperating at all. It turned off as soon as it started. When it did start, it would only putter forward for a few meters before the engine died again. Looking at the full fuel meter, Chen Ming knew that the van was done for. The seven-seater van had already been on the verge of falling apart, so Chen Ming was not too surprised to see it break down like this. Then, just as he was about to get it towed and repaired, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration. What if this van was processed by the system? Perhaps he would get a new car. Chen Ming immediately took out his phone and dialed a number. The moment the other party picked up the call, Chen Ming went straight to the point. ¡°Come to my house and move my van to No.108, Dongyang district. I¡¯ll transfer the payment to you later.¡± ¡°Just leave the van in the yard, thank you.¡± Chen Ming was satisfied after he hung up the phone. There were many people in the old neighborhood, so it was not suitable to use the processing skill here. Fortunately, the small villa he had bought was quiet and private. It was perfect. ¡­ By the time the movers had transported the van to the designated location, Chen Ming had just taken a taxi to the Dongyang district. Fortunately, it was quiet here. Chen Ming hummed a little tune as he walked into the yard. The old and shabby van was parked in the yard, and looked quite out of place there. It was as if a skinny husky had suddenly appeared in a perfect fairy tale world. Chen Ming shook his head helplessly. Fortunately, after the system was done processing it, the van would change significantly. Excited, Chen Ming whispered, ¡°System, process this van.¡± [Ding! Congratulations! The processing was successful!] This time, the system did not give him a specific introduction to the outcome. Chen Ming did not mind this, and simply examined the brand new vehicle in the yard carefully. All traces of the old van had disappeared, and the new vehicle was pure black, with smooth lines and a pleasant appearance. There was also the license plate number prepared by the system. Chen Ming did not even need to ask to know that the license plate number was in line with the regulations. This vehicle was a mid-range unit. It had good performance in all aspects, and was cheap despite its good quality. It was very suitable for someone like him who had just started his business. When Chen Ming opened the car door to get a feel of the interior, he noticed a bunch of documents on the passenger seat. He took the documents and found that they were all related to the car. All the documents were complete and in accordance with the regulations. The system was truly comprehensive. Not only did it prepare the license plate number, but even the legal documents related to ownership, insurance and the like. Satisfied, Chen Ming put the documents into the car¡¯s glove compartment. He started the car again and prepared to take it for a test drive. On the wide road, Chen Ming listened to the surround sound music in his car as he drove. After a quick test drive, Chen Ming felt that this car indeed lived up to its reputation. The feel of the car did not disappoint him, and its performance far exceeded other cars of the same price. Sigh, the system really knew what he liked and wanted! ¡­ While Chen Ming was trying out his new car, Qin Qing was in a daze in the office. The events of yesterday and this morning had more or less affected her. Then, the phone in her pocket suddenly vibrated. A crisp ringtone played, and Qin Qing quickly took out her phone. The Caller ID showed that it was ¡°Mommy¡±. Surprised, Qin Qing quickly adjusted her state of mind and pressed the answer button. ¡°Qing Qing, how have you been?¡± The one who spoke up first was Qin Qing¡¯s father, Qin Shaotao.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m fine. Why did you and mom suddenly call me?¡± Qin Qing smiled as she replied. ¡°Qing Qing, guess what we found out?¡± On the other end of the phone, Bai Rong pushed Qin Shaotao aside and said gently. Bai Rong was a lady from a wealthy family. She was raised by a prestigious family. She was an outstanding daughter-in-law and wife who always maintained her sense of elegance. However, Qin Qing could now hear some excitement in her mother¡¯s voice. This was something that did not usually happen. What did they find out? Countless possibilities flashed through her mind and, gradually, one answer became clear, which was the events that had taken place at Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party! Qin Qing¡¯s heart was alarmed. Sure enough, seeing that Qin Qing had not responded for some time, Qin Shaotao piped up, ¡°Qing Qing, you attended the birthday party of that young lady from the Wang family, right? Who did you attend it with?¡± Qin Shaotao asked rather excitedly. ¡°Sigh, your dad only knows how to keep people in suspense.¡± Although Bai Rong¡¯s tone was much calmer, it was still different from usual. ¡°We both know that at Wang Linlin¡¯s birthday party, you were very close to Chen Ming.¡± ¡°Qing Qing, look at you. You didn¡¯t even tell us about this. If it wasn¡¯t for mom¡¯s old friend who happened to be attending the birthday party and noticed you, we wouldn¡¯t even know about you and Chen Ming.¡± After Bai Rong said that, Qin Qing rubbed her eyebrows helplessly. It seemed that her parents had misunderstood. ¡°No, mom.¡± However, before Qin Qing could finish her sentence, Qin Shaotao interrupted her. ¡°Daughter, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯re not stubborn. Although Chen Ming¡¯s company has just started and the scale has not reached that of the Wang family¡¯s, your mother and I understand his capability. We agree with your choice!¡± ¡°Given time, Chen Ming will definitely become more and more successful! I¡¯m optimistic about his future, and yours.¡± As soon as Qin Shaotao finished speaking, Bai Rong continued, ¡°Your father is right, but let¡¯s put that aside for now.¡± ¡°We called you to ask when you can bring him home. Don¡¯t delay this kind of thing. There aren¡¯t many capable young men like him.¡± Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong jabbered on and on, and what they said was not wrong. However¡­ Qin Qing was a little embarrassed, but she could not explain her relationship with Chen Ming to them. After all, even she did not really know Chen Ming¡¯s current feelings for her. She did not know how to broach this topic or whether they could proceed to the next stage. Qin Qing was also afraid. She was afraid that they could not even be friends after she told him her feelings. However, if she did not say it, she would regret it. In the end, she could only offer a few perfunctory sentences before ending the call with the excuse of wanting to sleep a little more. After hanging up, Qin Qing felt as if her parents¡¯ urgings were still ringingin her ears. She reckoned that she had to talk to Chen Ming about this. Chapter 27 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Due to her parents¡¯ urging, Qin Qing finally invited Chen Ming to the coffee shop near the office The coffee shop did not have a private room, but each table had a screen. In addition to the quiet atmosphere, everyone was busy, so Qin Qing thought that this was a suitable place to talk. She had made an appointment with Chen Ming at two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, but arrived at the cafe half an hour early. However, Chen Ming did not make her wait too long. In less than ten minutes, he also arrived at the cafe. Chen Ming, who thought that he had arrived early, was surprised to see Qin Qing waiting for him in the cafe. ¡°Why are you here so early? Didn¡¯t you say to meet at two o¡¯clock?¡± Chen Ming took a seat opposite Qin Qing. ¡°I just finished work and came here early to take a break.¡± Qin Qing casually brushed it off and pushed a warm cup of coffee toward Chen Ming. Chen Ming did not refuse. He took the cup and took a sip. ¡®Hopefully he doesn¡¯t reject me when I ask him later,¡¯ Qin Qing thought to herself when she saw him accept the cup of coffee she had pushed over. Thinking about it, Qin Qing suddenly felt that she did not know how to broach this matter. After all, it was quite ridiculous. She could not possibly say that her parents thought that they were dating and asked Chen Ming to follow her home to meet her parents. Qin Qing felt that it was too abrupt. She did not know how Chen Ming would react to that. By the time Qin Qing was done hesitating, Chen Ming had finished his coffee. He looked up and asked when he saw that Qin Qing had not spoken for a long time. ¡°Qin Qing, what¡¯s the matter?¡± This simple question pulled Qin Qing back to reality. On the surface, she maintained a calm appearance, but in fact, her hand holding the coffee was trembling slightly. She tried her best to steady herself so that the coffee would not spill. Seeing Chen Ming¡¯s eager gaze, Qin Qing made up her mind. ¡°Chen Ming, my parents want to meet you,¡± she said slowly. Before Chen Ming could reply, Qin Qing, afraid that he would misunderstand, added, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. They seem to have misunderstood our relationship.¡± However, after she said this, Qin Qing felt as if she was trying to hide her feelings, so she simply stopped talking and waited for Chen Ming¡¯s answer. While waiting for the answer, she was so nervous that she could not stop drinking coffee. Countless small movements evidently displayed Qin Qing¡¯s nervousness. Chen Ming noticed all of these. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d love to.¡± Chen Ming smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to. Ah?¡± Qin Qing had not expected Chen Ming to agree to meet her parents. Confused, she briefly believed that she had misheard him. Seeing Qin Qing in that state, Chen Ming helplessly added, ¡°Qin Qing, I¡¯m willing to meet your parents. I¡¯m more than happy to do so.¡± This unexpected answer confused Qin Qing, and she was so surprised that she did not know what to say. Chen Ming did not know what Qin Qing was thinking, so he did not ask. He simply added sugar cubes to Qin Qing¡¯s coffee silently. ¡°You didn¡¯t add any sugar to your coffee just now. Isn¡¯t it bitter?¡± Thanks to Chen Ming¡¯s reminder, Qin Qing finally noticed that her coffee was bitter. Alright, she was really too tense. Qin Qing took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She pretended to be calm and had a simple conversation with Chen Ming before they both went back to work. After all, she had a lot of work to do in the afternoon because of the whitening cream. ¡­ After agreeing to meet Qin Qing¡¯s parents, Chen Ming felt a little nervous. After hesitating for a while, he called Chen Zhao. ¡°Dad, do you have some time now?¡± The other party¡¯s environment was quite noisy, and a voice from the other side could be heard from time to time. From this, Chen Ming could tell that his father was playing chess. ¡°I don¡¯t have time now, son. We can talk later.¡± Chen Zhao was about to hang up. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll ask someone else what to do when they meet a girl¡¯s parents,¡± Chen Ming said, pretending to be regretful. ¡°What? Wait a minute, wait a minute.¡± Chen Zhao had been about to hang up, but quickly moved away from the noisy environment and found a relatively quiet place. He put the phone close to his ear again. ¡°Son, you are going to meet Qin Qing¡¯s parents?¡± Chen Zhao¡¯s actions were as he expected. Chen Ming responded, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Chen Zhao slapped his thigh in excitement. ¡°Have you prepared any gifts?¡± Gifts? Chen Ming had never thought of this. Noticing Chen Ming¡¯s silence, Chen Zhao knew that his son was unaware that he had to bring a gift when he met up with a girl¡¯s parents. ¡°Oh, you. Qin Qing is such a good girl, so you have to treasure her. You have to bring gifts when you meet her parents, and you have to be polite,¡± Chen Zhao said. Chen Zhao jabbered on about the things Chen Ming had to pay attention to when meeting the other party¡¯s parents. Chen Ming listened carefully and memorized the important things. Fortunately, the system had enhanced his memory, so he could remember almost everything Chen Zhao said with relative ease. ¡°Do you remember everything?¡± After Chen Zhao finished speaking, he took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve memorized everything you said.¡± Chen Ming said honestly. ¡°That¡¯s good. Remember to leave a good impression on the bride¡¯s parents on your first visit. Good luck, son!¡± After Chen Zhao encouraged Chen Ming, he hung up and went off to play chess happily. After hanging up, Chen Ming recalled the things he had to pay attention to and realized that everything else was easy. The only thing he had to settle was the matter of the gift. He had no experience in giving gifts to elders. After some thought, Chen Ming gave Boss Wang a call. He thought that since Boss Wang also had a daughter, and was about the same age as Qin Qing¡¯s father, he would know what sort of gift was appropriate. As soon as the call went through, Chen Ming got straight to the point, ¡°Hello, Boss Wang, sorry to bother you, but I have something to ask you.¡± The other party¡¯s response was also very fast. ¡°What is it? Tell me, are you having difficulties at work? As long as I am capable of doing so, I will do my best to help you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult matter, and it¡¯s not work-related either. It¡¯s a personal matter. Do you know what kind of gift is suitable to give to the bride¡¯s family?¡± Chen Ming asked. Hearing this, the other party paused for a moment, then laughed and teased him. ¡°Hahaha, Chen Ming, you¡¯re untouchablein the business world. Yet who would¡¯ve thought that you¡¯d be stumped by the matter of choosing a gift for Qin Qing¡¯s parents?¡± Hearing Boss Wang¡¯s teasing words, Chen Ming felt a little shy. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore. Let¡¯s get down to business.¡± Boss Wang then became serious. ¡°I think tea or wine are good and suitable choices. If you carefully choose the right wine or tea, the other party will definitely be satisfied¡­¡± So it was like this. Chen Ming kept Boss Wang¡¯s words in mind. After Boss Wang finished giving his recommendations, Chen Ming was almost done thinking things through. This eased some of his nervousness. Everything was ready. Next, it was time to officially choose the gift! Chapter 28 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Although Boss Wang had given Chen Ming pointers, when Chen Ming went to the shopping mall and saw all kinds of tea and wine, he was dazzled and stunned. Since he wanted to meet Qin Qing¡¯s parents, he naturally had to choose the gift carefully. However, he had never researched or studied the brands of the types of tea and wine in the past, so he did not know which ones were good, let alone which ones were suitable to give to Qin Qing¡¯s parents. As for the items that the shop assistants were promoting to him, none of them satisfied Chen Ming. Later on, he tried browning through the options himself, but in the end, he did not find a suitable one. Chen Ming frowned. He had not found what he wanted even after an hour of shopping. At this moment, Chen Zhao called Chen Ming and asked him to come home for dinner and to tell him about Qin Qing. Chen Ming¡¯s eyes flickered. If he asked his dad for more information, he might get some new inspiration. Chen Ming could not wait to drive home when he thought of this. As soon as he got home, Chen Zhao told Chen Ming that his mother was going to have dinner with her friends, so only the two of them would be having dinner. ¡­ ¡°Dad, drink less and eat more.¡± When they were eating, the bottle of white wine that Chen Zhao bought was about to run out. His face was also red, so Chen Ming could not help but remind him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy today!¡± Chen Chao had too much to drink and was clearly drunk. ¡°My son is awesome. He even captured the heart of that little girl, Qin Qing.¡± Chen Zhao had one characteristic when he was drunk, which was that he talked a lot. Chen Ming felt helpless when he saw his father mumbling about this and that. He rubbed the space between his eyebrows with a worried expression. He had thought that Chen Zhao would be able to give him some ideas over dinner. However, based on the current situation, even if Chen Zhao offered him some advice, Chen Ming would not dare to follow it. Then, while he was at a loss and was about to go to the mall to try his luck at finding the right tea or wine, Chen Ming noticed the empty wine bottle that Chen Zhao had been drinking from. The wine bottle was almost empty. If he used the system to process the empty bottle, he might be able to get the gift he needed! At the thought of this, Chen Ming became unusually excited. This was what it meant to find something without much effort. He hurriedly took the empty bottle from Chen Zhao¡¯s hand. Chen Zhao was already drunk and was not bothered by Chen Ming¡¯s actions. He was still talking and mumbling to himself. Chen Ming went straight back to his room and placed the empty bottle on the table. ¡°I hope this works,¡± After silently praying, Chen Ming continued, ¡°System, process this empty bottle.¡± [Ding! Congratulations! The processing was successful! You have received a top-grade limited-edition Maotai!] (T/L: Maotai is a style of baijiu, a distilled Chinese liquor (spirit), made in the town of Maotai in China¡¯s Guizhou province.) Chen Ming¡¯s eyes widened. It was a top-grade limited edition Maotai! If it was just a simple Maotai, Chen Ming would not have been so surprised. After all, he could buy that in the mall. However, with the addition of the adjectives ¡°top-grade¡± and ¡°limited edition,¡± the value of this Maotai would double. Chen Ming carefully examined the extraordinary Maotai and realized that the bottle looked exquisite. Even the design was perfect. Furthermore, it was faintly emitting the fragrance of wine; not pungent and just right. Wonderful! He was sure that Qin Qing¡¯s father would like it. Chen Ming decided to give this limited edition Maotai as a gift. After this pleasant surprise, Chen Ming felt that he was still lacking something. He had already decided to give her the whitening cream and other high-end skincare and health products. However,a bottle of wine was too little. After some thought, Chen Ming remembered a tea set that Chen Zhao used to drink tea with. The tea set was originally a complete set, but he had broken the teapot. Now, the tea set was gathering dust in the storage room. Chen Ming had an idea. He wanted to make this tea set whole again! Chen Ming went into the storage room and rummaged through it. Finally, he found the tea set in the corner. ¡°Cough, cough. It¡¯s too dirty!¡± When Chen Ming took it out, the dust on the tea set had him hacking and coughing. The tea set was quite damaged thanks to wear and tear. ¡®System, quickly process this tea set. I can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± Chen Ming said impatiently. [Ding! Congratulations! The processing was successful! You have received a high-grade tea set!] The dust in the air instantly disappeared as soon as the system finished speaking. The worn out tea set was now brand new, and its quality and workmanship could be seen with the naked eye. Chen Ming was satisfied after he examined the set carefully and confirmed that there were no flaws. The matter of the gifts is finally resolved. Chen Ming wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡­ In the blink of an eye, it was time to meet Qin Qing¡¯s parents. Chen Ming had already placed the gifts neatly and carefully in the back seat of the car. After he and Qin Qing finished packing, they went downstairs. As soon as she arrived downstairs, Qin Qing subconsciously looked around for Chen Ming¡¯s van, but failed to find it. ¡°Where¡¯s the van?¡± Qin Qing could not help but ask. Chen Ming raised his hand and pressed the button on the key fob. The lights of a black car that was close to them flashed twice. ¡°There it is.¡± This one? Chen Ming got a new car? Looking at the unfamiliar car, Qin Qing quickly realized this. However, before she could ask about the matter, Chen Ming had already considerately opened the door to the front passenger seat for her and had gestured for her to get in. Chen Ming opened the car door for her? Qin Qing swallowed her saliva and thought, ¡®This feeling is amazing.¡¯ Chen Ming was a dense man when it came to such things. She understood this the best. Now, his behavior was like a gentleman. Had this happened before this, she would have thought that Chen Ming was possessed. Shocked by his behavior, Qin Qing got into the car in a daze. When she got in the car, she became even more confused. After that, Qin Qing sat in the front passenger seat. Seeing that Chen Ming was about to start the car, she reached down to put on her seat belt. Just as she was about to put on her seatbelt, she turned her head and saw the gifts in the back seat. Her pupils dilated again. Although Qin Qing did not know what these gifts were, she could tell from the exquisite packaging that they were definitely extraordinary. There were still so many of them, which displayed Chen Ming¡¯s intention. Qin Qing was momentarily stunned. She retracted her gaze and fastened her seat belt. The car started up, and while Chen Ming was driving, she started to think. Chen Ming had bought a new car and a lot of gifts. Could it be? Was it because he was meeting her parents? Had he prepared this in order to leave a good impression on them? A warm current flowed through her heart, and she suddenly felt happy. However, moments later, Qin Qing remembered that in the coffee shop, she had said that it was all a misunderstanding and had asked Chen Ming not to take it seriously. She had only asked him for help. If that was the case, could everything that Chen Ming had done be fake? Was he just playing along with her and putting on an act for her parents? Qin Qing¡¯s thoughts were getting more and more chaotic. It was a mixture of joy and sorrow, and her smile was a little forced. Qin Qing could not figure out Chen Ming¡¯s true thoughts on the matter even after thinking about it throughout the entire journey there. Chapter 29 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Chen Ming¡¯s car arrived at Qin Qing¡¯s house, Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong were already secretly observing them from the room. They stood in front of the one-way glass and carefully observed Chen Ming¡¯s attitude toward Qin Qing. Even though they did not have any requirements for Chen Ming¡¯s family background and had learned about Chen Ming through some research and were satisfied with him, they still had to observe him personally in order to reach the proper conclusion. When they arrived, Chen Ming got out of the car first. After he got out of the car, he did not wait for Qin Qing. Instead, he walked around the front of the car and went straight to the front passenger seat, opening the door for Qin Qing. Qin Qing had just unbuckled her seat belt at this moment. Seeing his actions, she felt even more warm in her heart. At this moment, Chen Ming even reached out his hand to help Qin Qing out. After Qin Qing got out of the car, Chen Ming went to get the gifts alone. Chen Ming was holding the four gifts in his hands. Qin Qing wanted to help him but was rejected. His every move exuded a gentlemanly air. This made Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong, who were secretly observing, nod their heads in satisfaction. People had to take note of these details. Chen Ming was so attentive and nice to Qin Qing in a place where they could not see him. They felt that this young man was worthy of becoming a family member. Moreover, with Chen Ming¡¯s current achievements, it was already a good thing that he was not swaggering around or showing off in public. Qin Qing¡¯s parents concluded that he was not flamboyant and was also careful. They looked at each other and smiled. Chen Ming, who had been inadvertently acknowledged, had no idea about this. ¡­ After Chen Ming and Qin Qing arrived at the entrance, Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong stood in front of the door with a smile. Qin Qing took a deep breath and slowly said the words she had planned in advance, ¡°Dad, mom, this is Chen Ming, whom I¡¯ve been telling you about.¡± Then, Qin Qing turned to Chen Ming and said, ¡°Chen Ming, these are my parents.¡± By the time she finished speaking, Qin Qing¡¯s ears were already a faint red color. She had to admit that she was still a little shy. ¡°Chen Ming, I¡¯ve heard of you,¡± Qin Shaotao smiled. ¡°You¡¯re that young and promising genius who developed the energy polymer blocks and the optimized batteries. Your future has endless possibilities.¡± Qin Shaotao had never been stingy with his praises for talented people, and he was more than satisfied with Chen Ming. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Bai Rong also gently echoed her husband¡¯s sentiments. ¡°Chen Ming, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± ¡°You both are too kind,¡± Chen Ming replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s just some minor achievements. Besides, it¡¯s the result of Qin Qing and I working together.¡± His humility and etiquette made the satisfaction in Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong¡¯s eyes shine even brighter. When the greetings were over, Bai Rong said, ¡°We were just talking. Come in and have a seat.¡± They welcomed Chen Ming into the living room. Qin Qing followed him helplessly. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. These are my gifts to both of you. I hope you like them.¡± When they arrived at the main hall, Chen Ming put the gifts on the table as he spoke. ¡°Look at you. You¡¯re here as an invited guest, but you even brought gifts. It seems like you¡¯ve spent a lot.¡± Bai Rong maintained her gentle smile. However, when she and Qin Shaotao saw the exquisitely-wrapped gifts, they instantly felt that Chen Ming was a generous person. They did not lack gifts. However, from Chen Ming¡¯s generosity, they could see that he valued Qin Qing. This made them quite satisfied. From the moment Chen Ming entered the house, every move he made satisfied them. They had to admit that they liked this son-in-law! ¡­ As Chen Ming took out the gifts one by one, Bai Rong and Qin Shaotao both felt that Chen Ming had good taste. The gifts he chose were all in line with what they expected. From this, they could sense his intentions. When Chen Ming took out the limited-edition Maotai, Qin Shaotao¡¯s eyes flashed with shock. He knew about the limited edition Maotai. It was extremely difficult to buy it on the market. Then, before Qin Shaotao could recover from his shock, Chen Ming took out a tea set. ¡°This tea set¡­¡± Qin Shaotao could not help but ask. He did not expect Chen Ming to give him a tea set. Qin Shaotao loved the art of tea and was especially familiar with tea sets. He then realized that the tea set that Chen Ming had given him was of the highest quality, be it in terms of aesthetics or workmanship! Seeing this, Qin Shaotao hurriedly took a teacup and examined it carefully, touching it admiringly. At this moment, Qin Qing leaned over and whispered to Chen Ming, ¡°My dad is very keen on studying the art of tea and loves collecting tea sets.¡± Chen Ming nodded. So that was the case. At the same time, he also felt the warm air that Qin Qing had breathed out when she spoke, which warmed his ears. This small gesture made Chen Ming unconsciously tighten his fingers. He looked calm and composed on the surface, but the rhythm of his heartbeat had long been accelerated unconsciously. When Chen Ming came back to his senses, Qin Shaotao was still mumbling, ¡°Great. It¡¯s a rare and excellent set. Hahaha, I like it, I like it!¡± Qin Shaotao¡¯s love for tea sets was evident in his words. Chen Ming heaved a sigh of relief. It was good that Qin Qing¡¯s parents liked his gift. He had not wasted his efforts. When Qin Shaotao finally put down the tea set unwillingly, he started to chat with Chen Ming. Qin Shaotao was very knowledgeable and had been in the business world for a long time. When he chatted with Chen Ming, they would veer the discussion toward business matters. Every time they did, Qin Shaotao thought that Chen Ming would not be able to answer certain questions. Unexpectedly, not only was Chen Ming not stumped, but he was also able to articulate himself well. His views on each question were unique and clear. ¡°You¡¯re indeed the best of the new generation.¡± Qin Shaotao sighed. ¡°Chen Ming, Uncle feels that with time, you¡¯ll definitely be able to build your own business empire.¡± Not only Chen Ming, but even Qin Qing was surprised by such a high evaluation. Qin Shaotao had always been serious and was exceptionally strict with his juniors. After so many years, this was the first time Qin Qing had seen her father give such a high level of praise to a junior. However, on second thought, Qin Qing felt that Chen Ming deserved it. While they were chatting enthusiastically, Bai Rong came over and motioned for them to come over for the meal. It was only then that they stopped chatting and went over to the dining table to eat. Bai Rong had prepared a table full of dishes, which were especially sumptuous and fragrant. Chen Ming wanted to give her a five-star rating for her cooking. During the meal, Bai Rong kept putting food into Chen Ming¡¯s bowl, afraid that he would not be full. When there was not much left, the amount of food in Chen Ming¡¯s bowl would pile up into a small mountain shortly after. Chen Ming had no choice but to eat as much as he could. After all, he did not want to waste any food. While he was eating, Bai Rong thought for a moment and asked with a smile. ¡°Chen Ming, when do you plan to marry our Qing Qing?¡± Qin Qing was completely stunned by Bai Rong¡¯s words. Her mother was actually asking about marriage? This was too awkward! At the same time, the dining table became much quieter because of Bai Rong¡¯s question. Even the sound of the chopsticks clattering against the bowls had completely disappeared. Bai Rong and Qin Shaotao were motionless, waiting for Chen Ming¡¯s answer. Chapter 30 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Even Chen Ming, who had always been calm and collected, was shocked by Bai Rong¡¯s sudden question. He slowly put down his chopsticks and pondered for a moment as Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong gazed at him expectantly. He felt that it was too early to talk about marriage now. He and Qin Qing had not even been in a relationship, and he was not officially dating Qin Qing. If he skipped this process and went straight into marriage, it would be unfair to Qin Qing. Naturally, Chen Ming would not do that. He wanted to complete this process before talking about marriage. Hence, after thinking of an answer, Chen Ming said seriously, ¡°Uncle, Aunty, Qing Qing and I are not ready to get married yet.¡± After Chen Ming said this, Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong were both confused. They wanted to ask Chen Ming about his answer, but Chen Ming beat them to the punch. ¡°Uncle, Aunty, I want to start dating Qing Qing first to develop our relationship. When our relationship is strong enough, we will consider marriage.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s parents were moved by Chen Ming¡¯s serious attitude. If someone else had said this, they might not have believed it and would have taken this as a rejection. However, Chen Ming¡¯s determined expression convinced them that he was serious about this matter, so they chose to believe him. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s a good idea.¡± Bai Rong¡¯s smile was bright. ¡°You young people can handle your own matters. Sigh, this is so sweet. I¡¯m so envious.¡± Her eyes were full of goodwill. ¡°I agree as well,¡± Qin Shaotao chimed in, ¡°We should let the children decide on their own matters!¡± Seeing that they were agreeable to this, Chen Ming heaved a sigh of relief. Little did he know that while Chen Ming was talking to Qin Qing¡¯s parents, Qin Qing¡¯s eyes were filled with disappointment. Qin Qing mistakenly thought that Chen Ming¡¯s words just now were to stall for time to decline. She felt that only Chen Ming¡¯s ¡°unwilling to get married¡± part was true. As for the rest, he was just putting on an act because he did not want to reject her on the spot. Her parents did not know the truth, so they chose to believe it. However, she felt she knew the truth very clearly. Even though she already knew that Chen Ming had come to see her parents because of a misunderstanding, she still felt uncomfortable when she heard that Chen Ming was unwilling to marry her. Qin Qing recalled every little thing that had happened between her and Chen Ming. She did not know why her sweet daily life felt bitter when she thought about it. She smiled bitterly, raised her glass, and drank the red wine in one gulp. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± Qin Qing could not help but cough because she drank too fast. Upon seeing this, Chen Ming and the others finally realized that something was wrong with Qin Qing. Chen Ming quickly passed the delicate handkerchief to Qin Qing and patted her back considerately. After a while, Qin Qing returned to normal. She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. However, at this moment, Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong¡¯s eyes were filled with emotions. They had accurately captured the dejection and helplessness in Qin Qing¡¯s eyes. And it was this little bit of depression that made Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong sense that something was wrong. They could not help but start to suspect that something was amiss. Why did Qin Qing feel so down when Chen Ming mentioned marriage? Qin Qing¡¯s abnormal behavior made them suspect that the relationship between Chen Ming and Qin Qing was not what they thought it was. ¡°Qing Qing, what¡¯s wrong with you? When we were chatting just now, you were already acting strangely,¡± Bai Rong asked with concern. Qin Shaotao chimed in, ¡°I think Chen Ming¡¯s right. You should nurture your feelings first. Based on my understanding of you, you wouldn¡¯t be depressed over this. Could it be that your relationship isn¡¯t what it seems?¡± As it was only a suspicion, Qin Shaotao purposely left the rest of his sentence hanging. He wanted to wait for Chen Ming and Qin Qing to explain the situation. Just as Qin Qing¡¯s parents were about to start suspecting Chen Ming¡¯s relationship with Qin Qing, Chen Ming quickly explained. ¡°Uncle, Aunty, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Chen Ming still answered in an orderly manner, ¡°Qing Qing and I just started our business together. I was so busy with work that I didn¡¯t pay attention to our relationship.¡± ¡°Later on, because of my personality, I didn¡¯t understand Qing Qing¡¯s intentions. Now that I¡¯ve thought about it, I feel that I owe her a lot. Maybe Qing Qing hasn¡¯t gotten used to it yet, which is why she¡¯s lost in thought.¡± After saying that, Chen Ming held Qin Qing¡¯s hand. Sensing the touch on her hand, Qin Qing was stunned at first. Then, she suddenly felt her body stiffen. She was at a loss for what to do after realizing that this was her first intimate contact with Chen Ming. After digesting Chen Ming¡¯s words, Qin Qing was shocked and surprised. She slowly calmed down and got used to being held. On the other hand, Qin Shaotao and Bai Rong felt that Chen Ming¡¯s explanation was reasonable and well-founded. They also believed that he was honest and was not trying to obscure anything. They were completely relieved and had a particularly pleasant meal. Before they left, they even asked Qin Qing to bring Chen Ming home more often. This time, Chen Ming had completely won over Qin Qing¡¯s parents ¡®hearts. ¡­ Chen Ming was still in charge of driving on the way home. Qin Qing, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, felt uneasy. She felt that everything that had happened just now was a little unreal, especially when Chen Ming took the initiative to hold her hand. Qin Qing could not help but wonder if Chen Ming¡¯s actions were an act in front of her parents or¡­ Something he felt from the bottom of his heart? After that, Qin Qing felt that her thoughts were really chaotic. She took a deep breath and asked quietly, ¡°Chen Ming, what you just said and did, does it mean what I think it does?¡± As soon as Qin Qing finished speaking, she lowered her head unconsciously. She somehow felt scared now. This was the first time that she had expressed her feelings. Success or failure depended on this move. Because she was afraid of the uncertain answer, Qin Qing¡¯s eyes were filled with tears of excitement and fear. She wanted to force herself to hold back her tears, but for some reason, it was as if her tear glands had suddenly developed sentience, and she could not hold back her tears. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Chen Ming wanted to answer Qin Qing immediately, but when he saw her tears, he quickly parked the car by the roadside, took out a tissue, and carefully wiped her tears. However, Qin Qing¡¯s tears continued to flow, as if they could not be stopped. Seeing this, Chen Ming knew that if he did not give Qin Qing a definite answer, she would not be able to stop crying. Therefore, Chen Ming unbuckled his seat belt and looked at Qin Qing with a serious expression. ¡°Can you guess what it means?¡± Chen Ming deliberately laughed to liven up the atmosphere. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s because I want to pursue you properly. I¡¯ve made you feel so insecure. It seems that I have to work harder and try not to let you overthink things next time.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qin Qing even forgot to cry. After a long silence, Qin Qing¡¯s tears turned into laughter. She hugged Chen Ming in excitement. She had won the bet. She and Chen Ming were now a couple. However, Qin Qing did not know that as long as she had decided to bet in the first place, Chen Ming would not let her lose. The lights were on, and the neon lights on the street were flashing with various colors. The road was filled with traffic and pedestrians were also hurrying home. Not far away, there were the sounds of small stall owners hawking their wares. In this noisy environment, there was a pair of lovebirds. Chapter 31 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At home, Chen Zhao was pacing back and forth. His face was full of worry for one moment, and then his brows were relaxed the next. His mind was in a mess. Chen Ming, that kid, did not even send him a message to report. How did he perform? Chen Zhao said to himself, ¡°I hope nothing went wrong. Success or failure depends on this.¡± He then put his hands together and prayed, ¡°It must go well! I¡¯m still waiting to carry my grandchildren.¡± While Chen Zhao was praying, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard. Chen Zhao immediately perked up his ears to listen. When the footsteps were about to reach his door, he was sure that Chen Ming and Qin Qing had returned. Chen Zhao opened the door before they could knock. There were indeed two figures standing outside. Because it was dark and the voice-controlled lights in the corridor were broken, Chen Zhao did not see Chen Ming holding Qin Qing¡¯s hand. He only heard Qin Qing sniffling from time to time. Did she catch a cold? Or was she crying? Chen Zhao did not think too much about it, and Chen Ming and Qin Qing took off their shoes and entered the house. The lights in the room were bright, and Chen Chao immediately noticed Qin Qing¡¯s red eyes. Coupled with her obviously heavy nasal voice, he was almost certain that Qin Qing had cried. Why was she crying? All kinds of questions appeared in Chen Zhao¡¯s mind, and his imagination ran wild. Still, he had no answer to those questions. While he was thinking about this, Chen Ming had already taken off Qin Qing¡¯s coat for her. ¡°Go back to your room and have a good rest. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow,¡± Chen Ming said gently. Hearing this, Qin Qing smiled shyly and quietly greeted Chen Zhao. She then followed Chen Ming¡¯s instructions and went back to her room to rest. She had to admit that she was indeed exhausted. When Qin Qing returned to her room, only the father and son were left in the living room. Chen Zhao then hurriedly hustled Chen Ming over to the sofa. Chen Zhao stood in front of the sofa with his hands on his hips and asked, ¡°Chen Ming, what happened to Qin Qing? If I¡¯m not mistaken, she should have been crying, right? Did you make her cry? You had better tell me the truth!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to change the subject, and you¡¯re not allowed to speak vague words to fool me. ¡± Chen Ming almost laughed out loud when he saw Chen Zhao¡¯s anxious expression. Chen Zhao noticed that he was holding back his laughter. He narrowed his eyes dangerously and urged Chen Ming, ¡°Hurry up and tell me. Don¡¯t waste time here.¡± Since Chen Zhao was in such a hurry, Chen Ming did not continue to keep him guessing. He said slowly, ¡°I went to Qin Qing¡¯s house. Qin Qing¡¯s parents were quite satisfied with me. When I came back, I officially confirmed my relationship with Qin Qing. Maybe she was moved to tears.¡± ¡°Dad, how can you have such a rich imagination? When I came back, I was still holding hands with Qin Qing. How could I have made Qin Qing angry and made her cry?¡± Chen Ming smiled helplessly and added. From Chen Ming¡¯s explanation, Chen Zhao quickly captured some key words. The words ¡°Qin Qing¡¯s parents were satisfied¡±, ¡°officially confirmed relationship¡±, and ¡°holding hands¡± were instantly etched into Chen Zhao¡¯s mind. This also caused his expression to change from serious to excited in an instant. ¡°Then when are you guys getting married?¡± Chen Zhao blurted out a question. ¡°Since you¡¯re already together, some things have to be prepared for in advance. I have to compile and take stock of all my assets so that you can hold a grand wedding!¡± This¡­ Was this not a little too early? Chen Ming shook his head helplessly. ¡°Dad, we¡¯re planning to date for a while before we talk about marriage. Isn¡¯t it a little too early for you to be dealing with such things now?¡± Chen Ming said what he was thinking. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. Everything has to be prepared in advance!¡± ¡°Now that both of your careers and the business are doing well, it¡¯s best to handle it now. I¡¯ll be more at ease that way.¡± With that, Chen Zhao ignored Chen Ming¡¯s attempts to stop him and carefully started counting his family¡¯s assets. From time to time, he would also muse about the wedding details. Chen Ming did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could not stop him. After thinking for a moment, Chen Ming decided to let Chen Zhao do as he wished and went back to his room to rest. ¡­ After he returned to his room, Chen Ming took off his jacket and hung it on the clothes rack. Then, he stretched lazily. He was very tired after a busy day, and he could barely keep his eyes open. Chen Ming dragged his exhausted body to the bathroom to wash up. After washing up, he was going to merge with his soft bed. However, just as he was about to fall onto the bed, a strange-looking object on the bedside table attracted Chen Ming¡¯s attention. The slightly pink thing stood out, and seemed very out of place on the bedside table. He raised his eyebrows and slowly walked over to the bedside table, picking it up. After he took it out and put it together casually, he discovered that it was a hair accessory that Qin Qing had left there casually. Moreover, this hair accessory was broken. Qin Qing had probably put it here because she had not had time to throw it away, or had simply forgotten about it. Chen Ming looked down at the item in his hand and his mind went back to a few days ago. His memory had been enhanced by the system. He still remembered that he gave Wang Linlin the phoenix coronet on her birthday. After the birthday party, Qin Qing told him that she also wanted a piece of jewelry. In that case, he would be able to process one for her today. Fate was a strange thing. Chen Ming smiled and laughed as he placed the accessory on the table. After arranging the broken parts neatly, Chen Ming cleared his throat and whispered, ¡°System, process this broken accessory.¡± [Ding! Congratulations! The processing was successful! You have received an exquisite brooch.] After the system finished speaking, the damaged hair accessory transformed into a completely new item. What greeted Chen Ming¡¯s eyes in its place was an exquisite brooch. The workmanship was top-notch and there were no flaws. The most dazzling part of the brooch was the large diamond at its center, which was enough to prove just how expensive this brooch was. The diamond glittered under the light, and its beauty made Chen Ming unable to tear his eyes away. The most special thing about this brooch was that it exuded a faint fragrance. It was special and not particularly strong. Just the right amount.¡± Just as he finished admiring the brooch, the system spoke up again. [Ding! Congratulations! The system has been upgraded.] [Congratulations! You have obtained the garbage processing skill, Upgrade: Quota increased, efficiency increased.] Chen Ming was overjoyed to hear this. Another upgrade! Unknowingly, the system¡¯s functions and level were getting higher and better. Chen Ming looked at the brooch in his hand and then at the system that had just been upgraded. He felt that today was a good day! At the same time, he decided to go to the processing plant the next day to test out the skill. After he had made up his mind, Chen Ming wrapped the brooch, and then laid on his soft bed, allowing it to bring him into the land of dreams. That night, he slept especially soundly. Chapter 32 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The next morning, Chen Ming chose to wake up early. As the morning sun rose, he washed up. After last night¡¯s rest, he had already recovered his energy. Perhaps it was because he was in high spirits thanks to those happy events yesterday, his current state was a hundred times more energetic than usual. He did not want to disturb Qin Qing though. He planned to go to the garbage processing plant alone to try out the system skill that had just been upgraded yesterday. After getting dressed, Chen Ming drove to the processing plant. There were not many vehicles on the road, so it took him far less time to reach the processing plant. It was still early, and only the security guards at the entrance were at work. ¡°Little factory manager, you¡¯re here so early.¡± This particular security guard was a young man. He was tall, broad, and energetic at work. He could be considered the face of the treatment plant. When he saw that Chen Ming had arrived early at the treatment plant, he greeted him honestly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m gonna try out the equipment,¡± Chen Ming explained simply. ¡°I see.¡± As the security guard spoke, he raised the boom gate. ¡°Little factory manager, please enter. However, even if you have a tight schedule, you must remember to get enough rest.¡± The security guard gave him a few more pieces of advice. Chen Ming smiled and nodded. After accepting the guard¡¯s kindness, he drove into the garbage processing plant. Chen Ming felt relieved as soon as he arrived at the processing plant. Some time ago, the Wang Group had been given the distribution rights to the optimized batteries. In return, Boss Wang had promised him land for his expansion. This matter had been completed. This caused the size and scale of the processing plant to become even larger. Everywhere he looked was part of his processing plant. Compared to the small garbage processing plant he had at the beginning, it was truly a world of difference. Moreover, all kinds of equipment had been upgraded by the system, which made the garbage processing much faster and more efficient. In order to liven up the environment, Chen Ming had planted trees in the outer regions of the processing plant. The greenery was pleasing to the eye, and even made the air fresher. He drove the car slowly closer to the processing plant and parked in his designated parking space. Then, he got out of the car and went straight to the advanced equipment room. The machines in the advanced equipment room were the efficient ones. Chen Ming could not help but think that if he applied the system¡¯s skills to all of the machines here in the future, would the processing speed not be ridiculously fast? Chen Ming swiped his card to enter the advanced equipment room while he was thinking this. Because it was still early, there were no workers working here. All of the equipment was in a state of rest. Chen Ming looked around and finally chose the machine that he had used the replacement skill on before. This machine was the fastest processing machine in the plant. Moreover, it looked complicated and advanced, and the technology that powered it was different, which meant that without the proper guidance and information, even if experts wanted to study it, they would not be able to find anything useful. If he upgraded this machine, the effect would be even better. Therefore, Chen Ming decided to test out this machine after the system was upgraded again. Chen Ming first looked around briefly.The surroundings were exceptionally quiet. There were no sounds of talking or footsteps. After making sure that no one would come to the equipment room, he let his guard down. ¡°System, use the skill on this machine.¡± The next moment, the system¡¯s mechanical voice rang out. [Ding! Congratulations! You have successfully used the skill, Upgrade!] Then, the machine started to undergo changes. However, the degree of change this time was obviously not as great as the last time. Still, Chen Ming was confident that anything created by the system would perform well. He then activated the machine¡¯s mechanism and let it run. Sure enough, he found that the machine operated faster and could even process the optimized batteries. It could be said to be the best among these machines. Chen Ming nodded in satisfaction after a simple test run of the machine¡¯s capabilities. Just as he was about to stop the machine, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated. Someone was calling him. Chen Ming quickly took out his phone when he realized this. Chen Ming hesitated for a moment when he saw that the caller was an unknown number. After a moment of hesitation, he answered the call and put the phone to his ear. ¡°Hello, this is Chen Ming. May I know who you are?¡± After Chen Ming introduced himself, the other party paused for a moment before responding immediately. ¡°Hahaha, Mr. Chen Ming, I¡¯ve heard so much about you. I¡¯ve seen you on the news many times!¡± The other party first complimented him in a familiar manner. Based on this person¡¯s tone of voice, Chen Ming felt that this person was very likely always this enthusiastic. ¡°Oh my, I was so excited to talk to Mr. Chen Ming on the phone that I forgot about the important business. Mr. Chen Ming, let me introduce myself. I¡¯m here to talk about cooperation on behalf of a heat supply plant.¡± A heat supply plant? Chen Ming¡¯s interest was piqued when he heard those three words. It had to be known that a heat supply plant required a lot of energy to provide heat to the citizens. This meant that this was a big order. A smile appeared on Chen Ming¡¯s face. He slowly replied, ¡°¡±Cooperation?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The other party¡¯s reply was also very direct. ¡°Our heating supply factory would like to buy Mr. Chen Ming¡¯s energy polymer blocks. May I enquire what price Mr. Chen Ming sells the energy polymer blocks for?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Let me make this clear first. We don¡¯t need just one or two energy polymer blocks, but a large sum. In light of this, I hope that Chen Ming can give us a good price.¡± It had to be said that the other party knew how to do business. Before discussing the price, he even used some words to make Chen Ming subconsciously lower the price. When Chen Ming realized this, the smile on his face did not fade. He was not affected by these words. After some consideration, Chen Ming gave the person a reasonable price. ¡°How about this? Since the heat supply plant needs a lot of energy polymer blocks, if we work together, I can give you a 30% discount on the market price.¡± 30% off! This was an unprecedented discount for the energy polymer blocks. Of course, the number of energy polymer blocks required by a heating plant was also very high. Otherwise, Chen Ming would not have given such a good discount. With a 30% discount, the price Chen Ming offered was completely reasonable. It was enough to make this cooperation a good deal for the heat supply plant. However, the heat supply plant representative who called Chen Ming went silent for a moment. He seemed to be considering whether the price was feasible. After about two to three minutes of silence, the other party spoke up. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming¡¯s price is indeed very reasonable. However, we¡¯ve just discussed and decided to compare your goods with three suppliers. Once that is done, we¡¯ll compare the prices and then decide which store to place the order from.¡± ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, if there¡¯s a need for a follow-up discussion, I¡¯ll call you up again.¡± The other party¡¯s words were polite, but it was hard to tell if he wanted to go through with the order. However, Chen Ming was not in a hurry. He responded politely and waited for the other party to hang up. As always, his expression throughout this entire exchange was one of calm and ease. Chapter 33 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Chen Ming felt that the price he had offered was reasonable and acceptable. The other party also knew that. In any case, he was the investor of the energy polymer blocks. Even if the heat supply plant discussed whether the price was suitable or not, and compared it with other companies, they would still choose his energy polymer blocks. This was the confidence that the system had given him. However, who knew that Chen Ming would not receive any further calls from the heat supply plant? There was not even any news. Chen Ming had expected that there would be no news for a day or two. However, he had not expected that there would be no news for such a long time. Something was not right. Was there a problem? Chen Ming was confused. Even though he was not the only choice for the heat supply plant, his garbage processing plant was the only one that had cheap, affordable, and high-quality energy polymer blocks. Then, while he was pondering this matter¡­ Dong Dong Dong! Someone knocked on the door. ¡°Chen Ming, it¡¯s me.¡± The door of his office was left ajar. Chen Ming looked up and could see that the person at the door was Qin Qing. Hence, Chen Ming smiled and quickly said, ¡°Come on in!¡± Qin Qing nodded. After entering the office, he realized that her expression was not relaxed. From her expression, Chen Ming knew that something was up. ¡°Why did you suddenly come looking for me? What happened?¡± Chen Ming asked. ¡°It¡¯s about the heat supply plant. Do you know why the heat supply plant didn¡¯t call us back even after saying that they wanted to cooperate?¡± Qin Qing asked in return. Seeing that it was about the heat supply plant, Chen Ming straightened his back silently and looked serious. ¡°About this¡­ I¡¯m also puzzled, but I don¡¯t have any clues regarding this matter yet,¡± Chen Ming said honestly without hiding anything. ¡°It¡¯s because someone has already developed low-quality energy blocks,¡± Qin Qing sighed and explained. Low-quality energy blocks? Chen Ming did not believe that someone had managed to research and invent energy polymer blocks. However, if the word ¡°low-quality¡± was added to it, it was indeed possible. That being said, could the safety and quality of these low-quality energy blocks be guaranteed? Without waiting for Chen Ming to ask about it, Qin Qing continued, ¡°These low-quality energy blocks are not as good as our energy blocks in any way at all. Furthermore,these low-quality energy blocks are not safe, and using them for energy involves safety hazards, and not just one or two.¡± Chen Ming realized the seriousness of the matter after Qin Qing finished speaking. If such low-quality energy blocks were to become popular on the market, the consequences would be unimaginable. Safety should be the top priority. The person who invented these low-quality energy blocksl was not a good person. ¡°So, the heat supply plant didn¡¯t choose us because the price of low-quality energy blocks is much lower, right?¡± Chen Ming asked after some thought. Qin Qing nodded. ¡°They wanted to choose the cheaper one. Although the low-quality energy block has safety risks, the heating plant doesn¡¯t care about such things. All they care about is price.¡± ¡°Tsk, because of the price, they chose the low-quality version. They are really not taking responsibility for the safety of the user.¡± Chen Ming let out a soft sigh, and a cold look flashed across his eyes. Seeing this, Qin Qing shook her head helplessly and took out an energy block. ¡°This is the low-quality energy block I bought. Chen Ming, take a look at it.¡± Seeing that Qin Qing had bought one, Chen Ming no longer dwelled on the matter. He lowered his gaze and began to study the low-quality energy block. The energy block looked realistic, but that was where the similarities ended. Chen Ming did not spend much time on its appearance. After a simple inspection, he disassembled the energy block. He carefully examined the internal structure of the low-quality version. He would not have known if he had not checked, but once he did, he was flabbergasted. The creator of this low-quality energy block had probably not considered the safety aspects at all. Due to the lack of the technology, this low-quality version had safety risks everywhere, and was rather volatile. Chen Ming was sure that if the heat supply factory used these energy blocks, fires would start all over the city one after another in a short time. At that time, the citizens who did not know the truth would be in danger. Even if they were lucky enough to escape, their properties and assets would be damaged. If such a thing were to happen, the consequences would be unimaginable. While Chen Ming was thinking about it, Qin Qing could not stop herself from asking, ¡°Chen Ming? How is the energy block?¡± Qin Qing¡¯s voice brought Chen Ming back to his senses. He then explained in a serious tone, ¡°This energy block has a lot of safety risks because of its barebones technology and incorrect production methods. If it is used by the heat supply plant, the consequences will be serious.¡± He was not exaggerating at all. Hearing this, Qin Qing, of course, believed Chen Ming¡¯s words. This caused her expression to turn serious. ¡°This person who made these energy blocks is so heartless,¡± Qin Qing cursed fiercely. ¡°Are we going to get involved in this matter?¡± she asked. ¡°Do we need to tell the heating plant and the citizens who are buying these low-quality energy blocks?¡± After hearing what Qin Qing said, Chen Ming started to think. Logically speaking, the heating plant had chosen the low-quality energy blocks instead of his own, so he could opt to not interfere and ignore the losses that the heating plant and the citizens were about to suffer. However¡­ It would have been fine if he had been ignorant about the drawbacks of the low-quality energy blocks. Now that he knew, he would not be able to live with his conscience if he ignored this matter. The main thing was that the citizens should not have to suffer such an undeserved disaster. They were innocent. They just wanted heating during the cold winter. Given the safety risks of these energy blocks, something was bound to go wrong. It was only a matter of time. In the end, Chen Ming decided to help them. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of this,¡± Chen Ming said firmly. ¡°If we don¡¯t do anything, the citizens will be in danger. Since we have the ability, we have to do something about it.¡± After Chen Ming said that, Qin Qing revealed a look of admiration. She knew that Chen Ming would not choose to ignore this matter. ¡°What about the heating plant and the public?¡± Qin Qing asked again. ¡°Are we going to publicize the safety risks of these low-quality energy blocks?¡± Chen Ming shook his head and rejected Qin Qing¡¯s idea. ¡°We can¡¯t do that. The inventor and the buyers will probably bite back at us and accuse us of making things up in order to defame a competitor. The public may be led astray because of this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. You¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t think it through.¡± Qin Qing nodded in agreement, but her eyes flashed with worry. ¡°Then what can we do to make the heat supply plant and the citizens give up on these cheap energy blocks?¡± After Qin Qing said that, Chen Ming began to ponder the matter again. All sorts of ideas flashed across Chen Ming¡¯s mind. He tried his best to think of the best solution. Finally, after about five minutes, Chen Ming came up with a perfect plan. He looked up in surprise and almost scared Qin Qing. ¡°Qin Qing, I have an idea!¡± Chapter 34 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Not long after, Chen Ming gave Wang Linlin a call. Wang Linlin was shopping with her friends, but when she saw Chen Ming¡¯s call come in, she made up a random excuse and went over to a quiet corner and picked up the call. ¡°Hello, brother, can I help you with something?¡± Wang Linlin¡¯s cheerful voice could be heard from the other side. ¡°I do have something to trouble you with,¡± Chen Ming said with a smile. Hearing that Chen Ming really had something to discuss with her, Wang Linlin immediately became serious and focused as she waited for Chen Ming to continue. ¡°I heard that your father has recently acquired a few uninhabited houses that are waiting to be demolished. I need to use those houses,¡± Chen Ming said concisely without beating around the bush. Hearing this, Wang Linlin was confused. ¡°Ah? Brother Chen mMng, what are you going to do with those houses?¡± Wang Linlin asked sincerely, and Chen Ming did not try to hide anything from her. After he explained the cause of this incident to Wang Linlin, he also briefly explained his plan. Wang Linlin immediately decided to help. Now that he was sure that the plan could be carried out perfectly, Chen Ming smiled and hung up. Everything was in place, the only thing missing was the fish who would take the bait. ¡­ The next day, fires broke out in many residential houses that were waiting to be demolished. Although no one was injured, the sudden fire still led to many discussions. [Are you sure that the fire wasn¡¯t caused by the age of the residential building?] [That¡¯s impossible. My friend used to live in this residential building. He said that although no one lived in it, all of the electricity and heating facilities were intact, so it is impossible for the fire to have been caused by those factors!] [This fire happened so suddenly, didn¡¯t it? Could it be arson?] [No way! If you were an arsonist, would you pick a deserted, soon-to-be-demolished building as a target?] [Everyone, stop making wild guesses. I¡¯ve got inside information. I heard that there was a problem with the heating system. Apparently the heating supplyplant was greedy for cheap prices and the energy blocks they purchased were dangerous. That¡¯s why the fire started.] [What? If that¡¯s true, it¡¯s terrifying to think about. Could there be a risk of that happening to our homes as well?] [This is so scary. Hurry up and check. Don¡¯t believe whatever the heat supply plant says.] [¡­] Soon, the topic of ¡°Are the raw materials used by the heat supply plant dangerous?¡± quickly went viral and rushed to the top of the trending topics list. As it endangered the actual safety of the general public, and involved fire and explosions, many people believed that this was due to a problem with the raw materials used by the heat supply plant. Of course, there were also people who remained in a state of disbelief and were waiting for concrete information before making their decision and comment. Chen Ming rubbed his temples after reading the comments. ¡°It has indeed caused a disturbance. It¡¯s gone viral now, so it¡¯ll definitely attract the attention of the heat supply plant and the citizens,¡± he said with satisfaction. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to show them the quality of those energy blocks.¡± After Chen Ming said that, a video by a famous anti-fraud blogger quickly appeared in the trending topic list. After noticing the video, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows and clicked on the video link. In the video, the anti-fraud blogger was still wearing a mask as usual. Amidst the black background, he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Recently, the continuous fire incidents have caused a lot of discussion. Today, I¡¯m going to try out the energy blocks used by the heat supply plant and compare them with the energy blocks I bought from a garbage processing plant to see if they pose safety risks.¡± After the blogger finished speaking, he began to use professional methods to test the energy block¡¯s quality. The video was more than ten minutes long. After the test, only half of the video had passed. Ding! Ding! Warning! Ding! Ding! Warning! ¡­ ¡°This low-quality energy block is really trashy,¡± the blogger complained. The disdain in his eyes could not be hidden. At the same time, because the energy block on the left was in the testing apparatus, the warning lights and alarms kept ringing. Even without clarification from the blogger, the comments screen was full of passionate people. [No way! They bought such low-quality things? This heat supply plant is too cheap!] [It¡¯s no wonder these blocks started fires. They bought energy blocks that are unsafe!] [Isn¡¯t this too scary? As long as the heat supply plant doesn¡¯t change its raw materials, I¡¯ll keep reporting those greedy b*stards! Our safety should be their top priority!] [There are good energy blocks out there, yet they decided to skimp on such an important material. The other energy block in the video is pretty good, and performs much better. Comparing them feels like night and day!] [Boycott those unsafe energy blocks! I¡¯ll start! I¡¯ll return these dangerous goods now. If I don¡¯t, I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll suddenly catch fire!] [Me too! Return it, return it! Are you all gonna wait for it to explode? Don¡¯t keep it around!] [¡­] In an instant, the entire internet was consciously boycotting the low-quality energy blocks. This achieved the effect that Chen Ming wanted. He also predicted that the heat supply plant would call him soon. ¡­ It was just as Chen Ming had expected. While he was dealing with things in his office, the representative from the heat supply plant called. For some reason, Chen Ming felt that he could sense the other party¡¯s anxiety through the ringtone. In the end, Chen Ming did not make things difficult for them. He picked up the phone. After picking up the phone, the other party¡¯s voice sounded particularly anxious. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, our heat supply plant would like to cooperate with you! Your energy polymer blocks are still on sale at the price you offered us, right?¡± ¡°In any case, even if it¡¯s changed, we still want to cooperate! Mr. Chen Ming, please agree.¡± It was obvious that the other party wanted his energy polymer blocks. Chen Ming¡¯s lips curled up. The blogger had compared his energy polymer block to the low-quality energy block. Now that the reputation of the heat supply plant had taken a hit, they naturally want to use his energy polymer blocks to restore their reputation. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming? What do you think?¡± While Chen Ming was thinking, the other party was extremely anxious. Chen Ming did not beat around the bush and said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll finalize it at the price we agreed on before!¡± After Chen Ming said that, the stone that was weighing on the other party¡¯s shoulders was lifted. ¡°Okay, okay, okay. We¡¯ll send the details of the deal to Mr. Chen Ming. I hope that we will have a long partnership.¡± The other party chuckled and hung up after explaining the details. After that, the heat supply plant released a notice that they had terminated the contract with the supplier of the low-quality energy blocks. They also announced that they were working with Chen Ming. They wanted the public to know that they were using the highest quality energy polymer blocks. As Chen Ming¡¯s energy polymer blocks had been compared by that famous blogger earlier, the citizens did not doubt the quality of these energy polymer blocks. This time, not only did Chen Ming eliminate the safety risks, but he also further spread word about the energy polymer blocks. It was considered a form of publicity in disguise. It was really killing two birds with one stone! Chapter 35 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Boss Wang found out about Wang Linlin and Chen Ming¡¯s plan, he was surprised. The plan was simply perfect. ¡°Well done, daughter!¡± Boss Wang gave Wang Linlin a big thumbs up and felt even more fortunate that he had let Wang Linlin and Chen Ming become brother and sister. ¡°I was just following Brother Chen Ming¡¯s instructions.¡± Wang Linlin smiled shyly. She did not expect things to develop so quickly, nor for their plan to be carried out so smoothly. Boss Wang rubbed his hands with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s good. We can also take this opportunity to promote our own company. We can kill three birds with one stone!¡± After that, Boss Wang began to contact the members of the operations department. Once he got busy, things started popping off on the internet. [Am I the only one who¡¯s a fan of the Wang Group? Did you guys notice that there¡¯s something about the relocation of the building in this matter?] [I noticed it too! Moreover, I know that in the process of acquiring the land, the Wang Group will satisfy the needs of the existing residents before moving. It¡¯s much better than those real estate companies that force the existing residents to leave.] [I¡¯m going to become a fan, okay?] [The Wang Group has done a beautiful job! Besides, the houses built by the Wang Group are relatively safe. I think everyone is aware of this.] [I love it. I¡¯ll buy a house from the Wang Group in the future.] [I¡¯m now paying extra attention to safety details. However, it seems that it is not necessary for Wang Group products. Their houses will always be safe and secure!] [¡­] Thanks to Boss Wang¡¯s efforts, positive news items about the Wang Group gradually appeared among the internet¡¯s trending topics. Most of them were praising the Wang Group¡¯s attitude toward the relocated households. Of course, there were also some who had bought the Wang Group¡¯s houses before. They were not stingy with their praises. Thanks to this, the Wang Group received good publicity, and their stock price began to rise. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Boss Wang also asked the operations department to release an announcement. [Wang Group: Thank you for your kind support. The Wang Group will do even better in the future. At the same time, we will focus on building quality houses. I hope that everyone will choose our products!] It was a simple announcement, but the number of likes and comments below it was surprisingly high. This would never have happened in the past. Boss Wang was extremely satisfied, and his smile stretched to the corners of his face. Of course, Chen Ming had also noticed what was going on, and felt that it was a good thing that his business partner had taken the opportunity to gain good publicity. Just as Chen Ming thought that the matter was about to come to an end, a bunch of people tagged him. Chen Ming frowned. Could it be that something had happened again? Chen Ming was confused as he browsed through the messages that tagged him. [#chenming#garbageprocessingplant It¡¯s famous now! Even the officials have noticed it.] [The officials are personally promoting the hidden dangers of heating in the winter. Keep up with the current trending news.] [Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks have been named by the officials.] [This should be an official promotion in disguise. The quality of a product that can be promoted by the officials is guaranteed!] I¡¯ll make sure that Chen Ming¡¯s garbage processing plant is the only source of my energy blocks in the future.] [Me too. I might doubt others, but how could I doubt the words of the officials?] [Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks are so awesome, so the optimized batteries he developed must be great too. I¡¯ll look out for them when I buy batteries in the future.] [Count me in! ] I want to buy them too!] [¡­] Following these comments, Chen Ming soon found an official article about ¡°the hidden dangers of heating in the winter.¡± The article briefly described the incident. Not only did it point out the dangers of low-quality energy blocks, but it also pointed out that Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks were safer. This was also the reason why more people were convinced that Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks were the real deal. This gave Chen Ming¡¯s energy blocks an indirect boost and a lot of publicity. It was an unexpected windfall! ¡­ In the chairman¡¯s office of the Wang Group, Chen Ming and Boss Wang were seated opposite each other. Wang Linlin was sitting next to Chen Ming. ¡°I heard that this matter was all planned by Mr. Chen Ming,¡± Boss Wang said slowly as he made tea. In an instant, the fragrance of the tea filled the air. After he was done, he pushed the teacup over to Chen Ming. ¡°I came up with the idea, but I still needed Linlin¡¯s help to execute it. Otherwise, I would have no way of procuring empty buildings that were about to be demolished,¡± Chen Ming took the teacup and said nonchalantly. He did not arrogantly take full credit for this matter. After saying that, he took a small sip of tea. The tea¡¯s fragrance felt rich in his mouth, and its aftertaste was sweet. Hearing this, Boss Wang became even more satisfied. ¡®As expected of Mr. Chen Ming. He¡¯s smart and calm. Not only does he ensure the safety of the citizens, but he also gives his family members opportunities!¡¯ Boss Wang was not stingy with his praise for Chen Ming. ¡°Linlin should learn from you in this regard!¡± Wang Linlin suddenly raised her head when her name was called by Boss Wang. ¡°I¡¯m learning from Brother Chen Ming. I did help this time and I even completed my task perfectly,¡± Wang Linlin pouted. Boss Wang heard this and said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant. If you think too highly of your contribution, you might suffer even more when you mess up in the future.¡± Wang Linlin stuck out her tongue. At that moment, Chen Ming said, ¡°This time, Linlin did a good job. Hers was the most crucial part of the plan. From her efforts, I can see good progress.¡± Chen Ming still remembered that when he first met Wang Linlin, she had casually changed the proposal, which had almost caused the cooperation to fall through. Now, Wang Linlin had been able to complete the task he gave her on her own, and she had done so excellently. She had indeed improved by leaps and bounds. After hearing Chen Ming¡¯s encouraging words, Wang Linlin raised her head in satisfaction. Boss Wang smiled helplessly and continued, ¡°However, Linlin still has to learn from Chen Ming. You don¡¯t know how many bosses want me to introduce Chen Ming to them for collaborations.¡± Boss Wang told the truth. After hearing Boss Wang¡¯s words, Wang Linlin asked curiously, ¡°Dad, since so many people want to work with Brother Chen Ming, why don¡¯t you introduce them to Brother Chen Ming? Isn¡¯t making more connections a good thing?¡± After Wang Linlin raised her question, Chen Ming raised his eyebrows and listened carefully to Boss Wang¡¯s answer. After all, Boss Wang was more experienced than Chen Ming when it came to business. Hence, Chen Ming had many things to learn from him. ¡°How could you say that? You still have a lot to learn.¡± Boss Wang laughed. ¡°Most of these people do not have sincere motives, and are only looking to ride on Chen Ming¡¯s coattails. Chen Ming¡¯s business is currently developing rapidly. He needs stable partners more than parasites like them.¡± ¡°We should ignore all of the people who are trying to curry favor with the powerful,¡± Boss Wang said straightforwardly. Chapter 36 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After hearing Boss Wang¡¯s thoughts, Chen Ming nodded in agreement. ¡°Boss Wang is right. I have to thank you for helping me filter out all of these parasites. I wouldn¡¯t be able to figure out their true colors myself.¡± Chen Ming smiled. ¡°I¡¯m really grateful, Boss Wang.¡± He said what he was thinking. Right now, Chen Ming¡¯s judgment was not as sharp as Boss Wang¡¯s, who had been successful in the business world for far longer. Had it not been for Boss Wang, he might have been taken for a ride or strung along by an unscrupulous business partner. After he finished speaking, Wang Linlin also understood her father¡¯s concerns. At this time, Boss Wang said kindly, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s no trouble at all. We¡¯re business partners, and you¡¯re Linlin¡¯s godbrother. It¡¯s only right that I do this.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. Just send me some of the tea leaves you gave me last time.¡± Boss Wang was smiling widely. Chen Ming shook his head and laughed when he heard what Boss Wang said. The atmosphere in the office was exceptionally good. ¡­ Back at the garbage processing plant, Chen Ming went straight to Qin Qing¡¯s office after he was done with the follow-up work regarding the low-quality energy blocks. Through the gap of the door, he could tell that Qin Qing was still finishing up, which did not take her long to complete. After Qin Qing was done with her work, Chen Ming knocked on the door and walked into her office. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Qin Qing was slightly shocked. She could tell that Chen Ming had been waiting outside the door for a long time. She smiled helplessly and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting cold waiting out there in the corridor?¡± Chen Ming did not reply immediately. He hugged Qin Qing from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. He said lazily, ¡°I was just afraid of disturbing your work.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a new restaurant near the processing plant that¡¯s pretty good. Clean up, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± Even after they had confirmed their relationship, Chen Ming and Qin Qing had not had a formal date yet because they were busy with work. Therefore, Chen Ming took this opportunity to bring Qin Qing there to relax and strengthen their relationship. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ve also heard of this restaurant and that the food there is good. Let me pack up and then we¡¯ll leave.¡± Qin Qing naturally would not reject Chen Ming¡¯s invitation. Just like that, after Qin Qing was dressed, they went to the restaurant that Chen Ming had mentioned for dinner. This was a couple¡¯s restaurant. The interior was exquisitely decorated, and the atmosphere and mood were suitable for a date. Chen Ming and Qin Qing had chosen seats by the window, where they could see the scenery outside. They enjoyed the scenery while eating and chatting in the restaurant. Both the meal and the atmosphere were comfortable. After the meal, Chen Ming and Qin Qing decided to go shopping again since they had no other work to do. On the road, under the illumination of the street lights, Chen Ming held Qin Qing¡¯s hand and walked leisurely down the street. Their pace was neither fast nor slow, and they were simply enjoying their time together. After they had walked for a while, Chen Ming said, ¡°I heard that there¡¯s an antique street nearby. Since it¡¯s still early, let¡¯s go there and take a look¡±. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ve always wanted to go there.¡± Qin Qing had long heard of this antique street and had always wanted to see it. However, because of her busy work schedule, she never had the chance or time to make it happen. She did not expect Chen Ming to be interested in this place as well. The two of them hit it off and decided to walk to the antique street. ¡­ The antique street was not far from where they were, and it took them less than ten minutes to reach their destination. As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a crowd of people. Even though the sky was getting dark, the number of customers in the antique street was still increasing, which was a clear indication of how popular it was. Seeing this, Chen Ming and Qin Qing looked at each other and smiled. They walked into the antique street together. In the antique street, there were all kinds of small merchants and hawkers, selling real or fake items. Once the goods were sold, they could not be returned or exchanged. This was also the rule of the antique street. ¡°Wow, there are so many things here. The items on sale are really something else!¡± This was Qin Qing¡¯s first time coming to such a place. Her eyes were full of curiosity. Almost every time she passed by a small stall, she had to stop to look at the wares that were being sold there. Chen Ming also patiently followed behind her. He did not rush her. However, when he heard her words, he patiently said, ¡°They only look real and exquisite on the surface.¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Qing raised her eyebrows. She reacted quickly. ¡°Could it be that most of the things in here are not genuine?¡± Chen Ming nodded in agreement and continued, ¡°Most of these items are knock-offs. They¡¯re not valuable. People like us who don¡¯t know much about the antique world rarely find anything truly valuable here.¡± Qin Qing nodded in understanding. She shifted her gaze away from the numerous antiques on display, and was about to continue walking when she noticed a jade bangle on sale at the stall next door. The crystal clear jade bangle instantly attracted Qin Qing¡¯s attention. Following Qin Qing¡¯s gaze, Chen Ming also noticed the jade bangle. ¡°If you like it, let¡¯s go take a look,¡± Chen Ming said with a smile. Qin Qing did not refuse. They took a few steps forward and went over to the stall. Qin Qing¡¯s eyes were fixed on the jade bangle. Seeing this, the stall owner quickly picked up the jade bangle and showed it off to Chen Ming and Qin Qing. ¡°You two have good eyes! Look at this jade bangle. It¡¯s crystal clear. Let me tell you a secret. The raw material used to make this jade bangle is jade from an ancient mine!¡± ¡°If this lady likes it, I¡¯ll give you a friendly price. Five hundred thousand. How about it?¡± The peddler kept talking. He made the jade bangle sound like a heavenly treasure, but Chen Ming, who had extraordinary vision, noticed something fishy. He had some understanding of jades and jadeite, and immediately realized that the jade bangle was definitely fake. Hence, just as Qin Qing was about to buy it, Chen Ming asked, ¡°Boss, are you sure that this jade bangle is real?¡± As soon as he said that, the peddler¡¯s expression darkened. Just as the peddler was about to start cursing, Chen Ming continued, ¡°Boss, although we¡¯re not experts, don¡¯t try to fool us. The green color of this jade bangle is uneven, and you can even see the bubbles. Are you certain that this wasn¡¯t forged?¡± Chen Ming hit the nail on the head with every piece of information he uttered, which left the peddler speechless. He was shocked that this person could tell that it was fake even though he had yet to examine the bangle closely. He even cited and pointed out evidence! This put him in a daze. Chen Ming took the opportunity to start talking about the price. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ll buy this jade bangle for fifty.¡± The peddler swallowed his saliva when he heard the price. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Eh, fine, fine. You¡¯re really something else. Take the bangle and leave!¡± In the end, he was afraid that this incident would attract people¡¯s attention, so he was forced to give in, allowing Chen Ming to successfully get the fake jade bangle at a low price! Chapter 37 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation When Qin Qing held the fake jade bangle in her hand. It was as if she had found a treasure. Even though she knew that the jade bangle was fake, Qin Qing still liked it. After all, this was a gift from Chen Ming. Then, she silently gave Chen Ming the thumbs up. ¡°Chen Ming, it¡¯s all thanks to you. You have such good eyes.¡± Qin Qing sighed emotionally. As she had not had the chance to examine the bangle up close, she had not noticed that it was fake. Who would have thought that Chen Ming could easily determine the authenticity of the jade bangle without even looking at it carefully? This made her admire him even more. Chen Ming shook his head helplessly after hearing what Qin Qing said. He looked at her happy face and said, ¡°As long as you like it,. Qin Qing, on the other hand, laughed. Her eyes never left the fake jade bangle. ¡­ After they bought the jade bangle, they continued to walk deeper into the antique street. Along the way, Qin Qing played around with the jade bangle. Chen Ming raised his eyebrows. He could see how much she liked it. Coincidentally, just as Qin Qing was about to head to another stall, Chen Ming took the opportunity to take the jade bangle. After taking the jade bangle, he weighed it in his hands. It was light, which made it obvious that it was fake. Therefore, Chen Ming wanted to take this opportunity to try and process the bangle. Perhaps he might be able to turn fake into real. He observed the crowd. After making sure that no one would notice him in a quiet corner, Chen Ming turned his back to the crowd and whispered, ¡°System, process this jade bangle.¡± However, the system did not reply even after some time. In the past, the system would always notify him that the processing was successful after Chen Ming finished speaking. However, no matter how long he waited, the system notification he was looking for did not appear. Chen Ming now knew that the jade bangle could not be processed. ¡°System, can¡¯t you process the jade bangle?¡± Chen Ming whispered the question. [Host, the system can only process damaged or depleted items. This jade bangle is not damaged, so the system is unable to process it.] The system replied very quickly this time. It turned out that he could only process damaged items. Chen Ming nodded his head in surprise. As the realization struck him, he smelled a familiar fragrance that pulled him back to reality. He looked up, and as he had expected, the person was Qin Qing. She had just finished looking at the items in the stall and was skipping toward Chen Ming. ¡°There was nothing worth seeing in that stall. Let¡¯s continue to shop. Maybe we can find something good elsewhere. As Qin Qing spoke, she took the jade bangle back and played with it in her hand.¡± As the jade bangle was fake, it was best not to wear it on her wrist, so she simply twirled it around her fingers repeatedly. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. After that, they walked deeper into the antique street. The deeper they went, the more people there were, and the messier it became. It was getting so crowded that Chen Ming and Qin Qing were almost separated. Qin Qing had to hold Chen Ming in one hand and the jade bangle in the other to prevent herself from being lost in the crowd. At this time, Qin Qing was holding onto the jade bangle with two fingers. She opened one eye and closed the other to closely examine the patterns inside the fake jade. ¡°Although this jade bangle is fake, the patterns inside are quite nice. I like¡­ Ah!¡± However, before she could finish her words, she was interrupted. There was a commotion in the crowd behind Chen Ming and Qin Qing for some reason. The chaos caused the people behind them to speed up, and Qin Qing was knocked down by someone who came out of nowhere. When Qin Qing came back to her senses, her hand was empty. The jade bangle was gone. She felt her heart sink. She had heard a clear sound of something glass-like breaking when she fell. Qin Qing looked down again and saw a broken piece of the jade bangle lying quietly on the ground. The bangle had been broken into multiple pieces. ¡°My jade bangle!¡± Qin Qing covered her mouth with one hand and looked at the broken jade bangle in disbelief. Her eyes were full of regret. As soon as Chen Ming held Qin Qing in his arms, he noticed that she was in a bad mood. When he followed her line of sight and looked down, he also noticed the broken pieces of the jade bangle. However, Chen Ming did not feel as regretful as Qin Qing. Instead, he felt a little happy. Was this not just perfect? Chen Ming could not help but smile. The fake jade bangle had been destroyed, and he could take this opportunity to use the processing skill to recreate it anew. However, when he saw Qin Qing¡¯s regretful look, Chen Ming quickly comforted her, ¡°Qing Qing, I promise you that I will pick out a better jade bangle for you soon.¡± Qin Qing¡¯s bad mood was somewhat alleviated by his words. Qin Qing stared into Chen Ming¡¯s eyes and quietly said, ¡°Alright!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Ming weaved through the crowd and carefully picked up the eight pieces of the broken bangle. He wrapped them up and put them away carefully. The jade bangle was not worth a single cent now, but that would change after it was processed. As for Qin Qing, she was confused by Chen Ming¡¯s behavior, but chalked it up to him trying to be environmentally and civically conscious by picking up the trash. Just like that, Chen Ming and Qin Qing continued to walk around for a while longer. Then, because the sky was getting dark, they chose to go home. ¡­ When they reached home, Chen Ming¡¯s parents were resting, but had left the lights on in the living room. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. You should rest early.¡± Chen Ming helped Qin Qing take off her coat and hung it on the hanger as he said this casually. ¡°Yeah, you too.¡± Qin Qing had already forgotten the unhappiness of having her jade bangle destroyed. She gave Chen Ming a sweet smile, then went off to wash up and get ready to rest. Chen Ming took the opportunity to return to his room. He took out the bag that contained the fragments of the fake jade bangle from his pocket. Fortunately, there had been no further commotion or ruckus, so the fragments had remained relatively intact. Chen Ming pieced the fragments together and realized that they still formed a whole. After making sure that the door was locked, Chen Ming said eagerly, ¡°System, please process this jade bangle.¡± [Ding! Congratulations! The processing was successful. You have received a top-grade jade bangle!] This time, the jade bangle was successfully processed! Chen Ming¡¯s lips curled up as he examined the new jade bangle. With one look, he was completely enraptured. It had only taken him moments to realize that the previous jade bangle was fake due to its rough patterns, which was further confirmed by its extremely light weight. However, this new jade bangle was completely different! It was a pure, natural green color, and its slight transparent nature was very eye-catching. It was very hard to tear his eyes away from its beauty. There were no flaws inside the jade bangle. It was a work of natural art! It was also significantly heavier. This jade bangle was fit for royalty! Chen Ming was certain that Qin Qing would love this brand new jade bangle. Chapter 38 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The next morning, Chen Ming appeared in the living room with the top-grade jade bangle that the system had processed. Qin Qing had just woken up. Her eyes were barely open. When she saw Chen Ming, she greeted him with a muffled, ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Good morning, Qing Qing,¡± Chen Ming said mysteriously, ¡°Come and take a look. I¡¯ve prepared a surprise for you.¡± After he finished speaking, he deliberately raised the exquisite little box in his hand. Upon hearing this, Qin Qing, who was originally drowsy, immediately became alert. She rubbed her eyes and strode over to Chen Ming¡¯s side. Her big eyes flashed as she said, ¡°Surprise? What¡¯s the surprise?¡± Hearing Qin Qing¡¯s sincere question, Chen Ming did not keep her in suspense. He placed the small gift box in Qin Qing¡¯s hands. Qin Qing accepted the mysterious gift and could not help but say, ¡°You even wrapped it in a gift box? Did you buy it yesterday? Why are you being so mysterious?¡± As she spoke, she impatiently opened the gift box. After a while, Qin Qing completely opened the wrapping and cloth that covered the gift. When she saw what was inside, she rubbed her eyes in disbelief. ¡°This¡­ Could it be¡­¡± Qin Qing stammered. Excited, she stopped speaking and focused on taking the gift out of the box. Then, she saw the new jade bangle in all of its glory. It was a royal green jade bangle. Qin Qing could not take her eyes off the deep and beautiful green jade patterns. Even though she was not an expert on jade, she could tell that the jade bangle that Chen Ming gave her today was many times better than the fake jade bangle they had bought yesterday. At the same time, Qin Qing was also surprised by how efficient Chen Ming was. Chen Ming had said that he would give her another one soon because the fake jade bangle had been broken yesterday. She had not expected it to be this soon. It appeared that her definition of soon and his definition of soon differed greatly. Thinking this, Qin Qing felt touched by Chen Ming¡¯s efforts. She continued to examine the top-grade jade bangle. Every time she took a closer look, she could not but marvel. This jade bangle was ridiculously beautiful. In the end, Qin Qing came to a conclusion. ¡°Chen Ming, this jade bangle you gave me is even more exquisite than the emerald jade bangle my mother always wears! Hmmm¡­ although I¡¯m no expert, I really do think it looks better than hers.¡± This was her heartfelt opinion. After that, Qin Qing did not wait for Chen Ming to respond and quickly put it on. The jade bangle was a perfect match for Qin Qing. After putting it on, Qin Qing allowed the light to fall on the jade bangle as she took yet another look at it. After thoroughly examining it, Qin Qing said with satisfaction, ¡°Chen Ming, thank you for the gift. I really, really love it.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m going to wear this jade bangle and go shopping with Linlin!¡± Because of the change in Chen Ming and Wang Linlin¡¯s relationship, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin¡¯s relationship had also become closer. This surprised Chen Ming. The two had fought like cats before this, but now they seemed to be best buddies. Hence, Chen Ming teased her, ¡°You guys didn¡¯t get along when you met before, yet now you¡¯re shopping buddies. Relationships sure change fast, don¡¯t they?¡± Qin Qing blushed when she heard this. She said shyly, ¡°Tsk, aren¡¯t you just stating the obvious? You already know why we didn¡¯t get along in the first place.¡± Qin Qing felt embarrassed recalling the fact that she had misunderstood the relationship between Chen Ming and Wang Linlin. After hearing Qin Qing¡¯s words, Chen Ming smiled and did not harp on the matter. Some things were best left unsaid to spare her the embarrassment. ¡­ After that, since Chen Ming had plenty of time, and Qin Qing and Wang Linlin wanted to go shopping together, he volunteered to be their driver. Chen Ming started the car and was ready to pick up Wang Linlin with Qin Qing. Qin Qing, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, kept playing with the jade bangle and did not hide her love for it. Soon, Chen Ming arrived and parked his car in front of Wang Linlin¡¯s house. ¡°We arrived so quickly.¡± When Chen Ming stopped the car, Qin Qing finally noticed that they had arrived at their destination. Chen Ming smiled helplessly. Just as he was about to respond, he spotted Wang Linlin coming over to the car. Her expression was radiant, and she seemed to be extremely happy. Had something good happened? Chen Ming and Qin Qing looked at each other questioningly. Before they could think too much about it, Wang Linlin had already opened the car door and climbed into the back seat. ¡°Brother, sister-in-law, let¡¯s go,¡± she said happily as soon as she got into the car. Hearing this, Chen Ming could not restrain his curiosity and asked, ¡°What happened to make you so happy today?¡± Wang Linlin did not try to hide it and said, ¡°Brother Chen Ming, I¡¯m in a good mood because my skin¡¯s condition is getting better!¡± The little girl¡¯s happiness came from her skin¡¯s condition getting better and better. Qin Qing understood Wang Linlin very well. She looked back and saw that Wang Linlin¡¯s skin condition was indeed different from before. Qin Qing quickly guessed that it was because of the whitening cream. Sure enough, the next moment¡­ ¡°I have to thank sister-in-law for the whitening cream. My mother and I use it everyday, and our skin condition is constantly improving.¡± ¡°Also, because of this, more and more people are asking us what skincare products we use, and want to buy the cream from me. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have any extra.¡± Wang Linlin kept talking. Her love for the whitening cream was obvious. Chen Ming and Qin Qing were surprised to hear her words. It seemed that they had made the right decision to give Madam Wang and Wang Linlin the whitening cream at the birthday party. Currently, these two were the walking billboards for the whitening cream within the circle of the wealthy ladies. With this, the whitening cream could be considered to have made a splash in the upper-class women¡¯s circle! After Qin Qing thought about it, she took out two red bottles from her pocket and handed them to Wang Linlin. ¡°If you like it, just ask me for more. I¡¯ll give you these two bottles for now,¡± she said with a smile. As soon as Qin Qing finished speaking, Wang Linlin almost jumped up in excitement. She took the bottles excitedly, and the joy in her words could not be concealed. ¡°Thank you, sister-in-law! You¡¯re too kind!¡± ¡°Now, they¡¯ll be so envious of my skin that they¡¯ll have to ask me what skincare products I use¡­¡± Wang Linlin¡¯s words caught Chen Ming¡¯s attention. His lips curled up slightly. It seemed that the popularity of his skincare products would continue to grow thanks to Wang Linlin! Once they became well-known, the sales volume would likely skyrocket as well. Chapter 39 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation After confirming that the skincare products had become famous among the circle of rich ladies, Qin Qing immediately sought out a researcher. Using samples, the researcher would study the formula and effects of the skincare products so that they could be put into production. Qin Qing¡¯s actions would lend credibility to the brand. Chen Ming then found a time when no one was around and went to the equipment room alone. He used the replacement skill to allow the equipment to produce skincare products. With that, everything was ready. They were only lacking a catalyst to spark the wildfire. Not long after, the skincare product was officially released. In order to better promote their skincare products, Chen Ming and Qin Qing chose a famous internet celebrity called Jiu. Jiu¡¯s review focused on skincare products, beauty products, and so on. Her ratings on the internet were almost all positive, and her reviews were also very realistic, so not many people dared to ask her for a review. However, as long as a product was reviewed well by Jiu, it would definitely become popular and sell well. This was also the reason why Chen Ming and Qin Qing had chosen Jiu. The quality of anything produced by the system was unquestionable, so they were not afraid of bad reviews. Rather than fake good reviews, they needed real ones to convince the public. Therefore, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin cooperated. After discussing it, they reached out to Jiu for a review. ¡­ ¡°Skincare product?¡± Jiu took the red bottle of whitening cream. The suspicion in her eyes could not be concealed, and her words were full of distrust. ¡°This skincare product doesn¡¯t even have a brand, yet you dare to come to me for a review? Is this a knock-off product?¡± Upon hearing this, Qin Qing pushed a pile of documents in front of Jiu. ¡°This is the product license.¡± Jiu took the documents doubtfully. After briefly flipping through it, she nodded. ¡°The documentation is in order, but¡­¡± Jiu deliberately paused. After a moment of hesitation, she said straightforwardly, ¡°As you probably already know, my reviews are realistic and truthful. I¡¯ll say whatever I want to say. Some products have received negative feedback when they came to me for a review. Are you certain that you want me to review your product?¡± Jiu kindly reminded them. She believed that this skincare product was probably from a new brand. If it received a bad review, this brand would probably not be able to survive in the skincare and beauty industry in the future. She thought that Qin Qing and Wang Linlin would back down after hearing this. However, their reactions were completely different from what Jiu expected. ¡°Alright then! We just want a truthful review,¡± Wang Linlin laughed, ¡°Our product will definitely pass with flying colors.¡± Qin Qing also nodded with a smile. ¡°Linlin is right. We came looking for you specifically because of the truthful nature of your reviews.¡± Seeing that the other party had decided to go ahead with the review regardless of her reminder, Jiu finally agreed to do it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try out this skincare product then!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already forewarned you. If the product doesn¡¯t do well, don¡¯t blame me for the review.¡± After Jiu finished speaking, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin looked at each other and smiled. They were extremely confident. ¡­ Jiu¡¯s new video was posted on the internet three days later. Before she posted the video, Jiu also sent them a message asking if there were any more of the skincare products in stock. She wanted to order ten boxes. Chen Ming had expected to receive this message. He had plenty of confidence in this skincare product! He leaned back in his seat and clicked on Jiu¡¯s video. ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Jiu!¡± It was a familiar opening. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to review a skincare product.¡± ¡°This skincare product isn¡¯t from a famous brand. It¡¯s called ¡®Clear Sky Ming¡¯, which is the one I¡¯m holding right here.¡± In the video, Jiu held the red bottle in her hand and showed it to the audience. On the comments screen, the netizens instantly expressed their own opinions. [Clear Sky Ming? What kind of skincare product is this? I¡¯ve never heard of it.] [Are you serious? Jiu dares to review just any kind of skincare product now?] [It¡¯s probably a small brand that is just starting out. They are probably trying to use Jiu to gain popularity. Ridiculous. We won¡¯t buy it if the review results are bad!] [Hahaha, sisters, you probably don¡¯t know this, but this skincare product is actually manufactured and distributed by Chen Ming! About this¡­ He¡¯s in the garbage processing business, but it seems that he¡¯s branching out to the skincare industry. Ah¡­] [No way. Is Chen Ming trying to make a scene? I know that his energy blocks and optimized batteries are good, but skincare? The leap of faith is just too big. I¡¯m awaiting the results¡­] [¡­] The netizens were very quick with their research, and soon found out that the skincare product was developed by Chen Ming. Chen Ming was not bothered by this, and casually continued watching Jiu¡¯s video. In the video, Jiu was all smiles as she continued her introduction. ¡°I¡¯ve been using this skincare product for a while, so I can tell everyone that the effects of this skincare product are really good!¡± ¡°After using it, the condition of my skin has visibly improved. It¡¯s not inferior to big brand skincare products! Now, I¡¯ll show everyone the before and after effects.¡± In the video, Jiu¡¯s satisfaction with the skincare product was obvious. She kept detailing the advantages of the skincare product and complimented it endlessly, which made the netizens pause. After a long while, the comments started rolling in again. [Was Jiu bribed for this review? Or threatened? If you¡¯re being threatened, Jiu, just blink.] [It can¡¯t be! If Chen Ming can develop such an excellent skincare product, I¡¯ll kneel and kowtow to him! That would be too godly!] [Jiu must have received some benefits, right? Fine then, I¡¯ll buy it. I¡¯ll see for myself if this skincare product is that magical.] [I¡¯ll buy it too, not because I think it¡¯s good, but because I want to check if it¡¯s counterfeited.] [Jiu¡¯s not the same anymore. Hai, who can we trust for reviews now?] [¡­] The video came to an abrupt end amidst the netizens¡¯ doubts. Chen Ming was not in a hurry even though the internet was filled with doubts about his skincare product. He knew that the doubt would only be temporary. When the netizens tried it, the results would speak for themselves! ¡­ Indeed, things were as Chen Ming had expected. After the skincare products arrived, the netizens who had doubted the product at first started to give positive comments after using them. Their comments were particularly positive. Almost all of them said that this skincare product was effective, cheap, affordable, and easy to use. Of course, there were also some rich ladies who had already become Clear Sky Ming¡¯s loyal fans. In the circle of rich ladies, the product had received a lot of praise. For a time, the Clear Sky Ming brand was full of positive comments. At the same time, the netizens were impressed by Chen Ming. It was no small feat to have achieved such results after crossing over to another industry. The orders did not stop, and Chen Ming was ridiculously busy. He was unaware that when Clear Sky Ming reached a certain level of popularity, it would be targeted. One day, ¡°Clear Sky Ming skincare products, rotten face¡± suddenly became the top trending topic, and the popularity of this post was rising! Chen Ming was having tea in his office when he noticed the topic. When he saw this, he frowned and clicked on the post. Those who used to praise Clear Sky Ming were now all insulting him and his skincare product. Moreover, there were also pictures and videos of a bunch of ugly faces that were spreading wildly throughout this post. The ¡°Clear Sky Ming skincare product user¡± in the video was criticizing the products for breaching health protocols. They were convincing and their words were sharp. ¡®Hmmm¡­ It seems like an organized scheme!¡¯ Chapter 40 Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation [Clear Sky Ming is a terrible skincare product!] [The creator of this kind of product deserves to go bankrupt! Chen Ming should have stayed in the energy industry and should not have tried to meddle in the beauty industry. Just look at what happened! His product is problematic!] [Boycott low-quality cosmetics. I¡¯ll start with me!] [Thank god my skincare product hasn¡¯t arrived yet. If the delivery had not been delayed, my skin would have suffered!] [Everyone, you have to kick Chen Ming out of the beauty and skincare industry. We can¡¯t let a person like him thrive! Protect our consumer rights!] [¡­] The popularity that the product had accumulated in the past had now all backfired. Chen Ming narrowed his eyes dangerously when he saw the comments online. Who was the one who deliberately plotted to harm him? He had to have stolen a piece of someone¡¯s pie in the skincare and beauty industry. As Chen Ming was pondering this matter, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin also noticed what was going on. They quickly went to Chen Ming¡¯s office to discuss countermeasures. ¡°Someone is messing with us,¡± Qin Qing said bluntly, ¡°They¡¯re jealous of our success despite being a newcomer in the industry, which is why they framed us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Whoever uses this skincare product will know how effective it is. I¡¯ve been using it for so long, yet my face and skin is perfectly fine,¡± Wang Linlin also chimed in. Their faces were filled with anger and they were extremely dissatisfied with the person who was causing trouble behind their backs. In comparison, Chen Ming was much calmer. After they were done venting their anger, Chen Ming curled his lips and said, ¡°I¡¯ll join the show again and prove my innocence.¡± After saying that, he deliberately paused before continuing, ¡°Do you still have the records of your daily use of the skincare product? This is crucial evidence.¡± As he spoke, Chen Ming¡¯s expression was calm and determined. Seeing this, Qin Qing and Wang Linlin looked at each other. They had a sneaking suspicion that Chen Ming had a trump card and could resolve this problem. In that case¡­ Whoever had spread those rumors would be in trouble! ¡­ After contacting the live broadcast program he was on last time, the other party agreed to have him on the show. After all, which show did not want to gain popularity? Chen Ming¡¯s incident was a hot topic now, and netizens were all eager and anxious to know the truth. Naturally, this would cause the show¡¯s ratings to skyrocket! With this thought in mind, the show¡¯s team quickly announced the list of guests after confirming their collaboration with Chen Ming. Among them, Chen Ming was their big ticket guest. This naturally led to a discussion. [Chen Ming? Are they inviting him to show off his skincare product?] [Chen Ming still hasn¡¯t given the public an answer, yet he¡¯s trying to gain popularity on the show? Ridiculous.] [Is there a possibility that Chen Ming is trying to resolve this problem on the show?] [I agree. Brothers, you don¡¯t have to be so malicious. Chen Ming might have been slandered. You¡¯re so sure that Chen Ming¡¯s skincare products are bad. Are you part of the troll army?] [Impossible! Don¡¯t call me that. In my opinion, you¡¯re the ones who have been bought over by Chen Ming. Why are you speaking up for Chen Ming now?] [F*ck, can¡¯t we speak up for Chen Ming? After all, everyone has different opinions. I will support him! I don¡¯t think his skincare product has problems!] [¡­] Online, the netizens had mixed opinions. Some of the smart netizens noticed that something was amiss. When they saw that the other party was deliberately smearing Chen Ming¡¯s name, they immediately spoke up. However, they would always be pushed back by sheer numbers. In the end, they could only wait for the show to start to witness how Chen Ming would prove his innocence. The live broadcast was scheduled to start at 8pm. Chen Ming was still taking it easy while he was tidying up his hair and attire backstage. A staff member who was surfing the internet was dumbfounded. Chen Ming did not look like he was someone who was facing a storm. Who would have thought that he would be so calm and collected, even a little leisurely. Hence, while the confused backstage staff looked on, Chen Ming calmly completed his preparations and went on stage. This was Chen Ming¡¯s second time on the show, so he was able to adapt to the audience and the host¡¯s energy much better than the last time. As the host introduced him, he greeted the audience. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Chen Ming.¡± He gave a simple self-introduction, yet it was met with heckling and insults. Chen Ming could even clearly hear the words ¡°get out¡±, ¡°leave the show¡± and ¡°get out of the beauty industry¡± from the stage. However, he did not mind. ¡°Mr. Chen Ming, do you have anything to say about this rotten face incident?¡± As expected, as soon as the show started, they got right down to the main topic at hand in order to boost the show¡¯s popularity. This was within Chen Ming¡¯s expectations. ¡°Of course I have something to say about it,¡± Chen Ming looked up and said with a smile, ¡°This time, I have specially invited the official testing agency to test my skincare products in front of the public!¡± He hit the nail on the head. As soon as these words were spoken, the originally noisy atmosphere welcomed a brief period of silence. Despite the pin-drop silence, Chen Ming did not panic or become flustered. He simply followed the plan and invited the staff from the official testing agency to come on stage. The staff from the official testing agency first presented their work certifications to the audience. Then, they started to test the composition of the skincare product in front of everyone. ¡°Really? An on-site test?¡± ¡°Chen Ming is fighting back!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Shh, the results are out!¡± ¡°This¡­ How is this possible? The ingredients in the product are flawless¡­ So those negative effects were false??¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Were the staff from the official testing agency bribed?¡± ¡°I told you to do your research, but you just didn¡¯t listen! The staff from this testing agency are impartial. Just like Jiu¡¯s reviews, they won¡¯t fake anything.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t believe it! Chen Ming¡¯s skincare product is trash¡­¡± Chen Ming took out all the certification documents related to the skincare product, and then displayed the official seals stamped on them to the public. This action caused an uproar. After Qin Qing and Wang Linlin looked at each other, they also appeared on-stage. ¡°Everyone, this is a video recording of us using our own skincare product.¡± Qin Qing took the lead in introducing the next section. ¡°It¡¯s all real. After you all see it, you will probably change your opinion on our skincare product,¡± Wang Linlin followed up. After they finished speaking, the big screen began to show their daily recordings while using the skincare product. There were timestamps on the footage, so even if the onlookers wanted to nitpick, it was impossible. They were forced to remain silent. Now, the answer to whether Chen Ming¡¯s skincare product had negative effects on one¡¯s face was truly revealed to the public. Public opinion changed. Then, while the netizens were digesting the news, Chen Ming, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised his microphone. He slowly walked over to the center of the stage. In an instant, all of the lights and cameras were focused on Chen Ming. He became the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Everyone, I believe everyone has come to their own conclusion,¡± Chen Ming said slowly, ¡°The results of the testing of my skincare product are clear. However, I still have one more thing to announce¡­¡± Chen Ming deliberately paused and looked at the audience around him. His tone of voice was cold, as he carefully enunciated his next words slowly. ¡°There is a conspiracy behind this incident. As such, in order to protect my personal interests, I¡¯ve decided¡­¡± ¡°To publicly sue the person or organization who started the rumors!¡± That one sentence was powerful and resonating.