Qi Jingming, the head of the Qi family, was undoubtedly the biggest dark horse to emerge in City A in recent years. In just thirty years, the Qi family’s business developed at rocket speed, virtually spreading its ventures to every country on Earth. When it came to business, people like Qi Jingming, with such a low starting point and high achievements, were rare even looking back fifty years.

Qi Jingming often stood at the pinnacle of his fifty-story building, surveying all, his brow furrowed, pondering where else he could experience the thrill and impetus of expanding his territory.

Europe? Markets covered.

America? Markets covered.

Africa? Markets covered.

North Pole? …Oh, indeed, not yet. It’s too cold there; no market to be found at all.

“Beep-beep~”

Qi Jingming’s private phone vibrated. Old Boss Qi’s face instantly darkened. This vibration really made him think of one place he had never been able to conquer—his “obedient” son’s heart.

Qi Xiuyi, the only son left behind by his beloved late wife.

Thinking positively of Qi Xiuyi, he was the sole fruit of their ten-year love story.

Thinking objectively of Qi Xiuyi, this damn kid was clearly something God created to torment his old life, seeing his career was too smooth!

These successful big bosses, also long-term residents of the Imperial Capital, would often gather for tea. Each time they drank tea, they would discuss topics that were both exciting and annoying.

Exciting topics blossomed in various forms, such as whispers about what industries and policies were trending in a certain European country, or which boss in which industry in America had caused another scandal… Every tea gathering, the conversations were different.

But the annoying topic was always singularly dominant—Heirs. Heirs. They were talking about heirs again!

Talking was one thing.

But every time, they would pretend to be enthusiastic and lean over to ask him: “Jingming, how’s your Xiao Qi doing these days? Oh, my son just started a project, is your Xiao Qi interested in joining in?”

Qi Jingming thought to himself, even if I dared let him go, you probably wouldn’t dare take him in!

Putting aside everything else, just his son’s spending speed always made him suspect there was a black hole stuck to his son’s bank account, otherwise, how could whatever amount he transferred just disappear?

When Qi Xiuyi first started university, during his first month, Qi Jingming transferred three million yuan for living expenses, hoping Qi Xiuyi would build good relationships with his classmates. The result? Ha, the next day, the money was gone!

During Qi Xiuyi’s freshman summer vacation, he told Qi Xiuyi to find some projects to practice on and allocated twenty million yuan for practice funds. The result? Ha, the second week, the money was gone!

Such incidents were not just two; they were countless. If this money had been used for anything noteworthy, it would have been fine, but it wasn’t! Thinking about it, the fire in Qi Jingming’s heart could rival the sun.

Gossip in the circle always spread faster than a typhoon. He just missed one breath, and the matter had spread at the tea party, making him lose face completely!

Fortunately, those who could come to these tea parties and chat were at least very polite people. Someone advised him: “You should really manage this child’s affairs, at least not let him go too far, right? Why don’t you learn from Old You? See how successfully he managed his youngest son back then; you should go learn from him.”

He and the head of the You family had always had an ordinary relationship, which in their circle actually meant their relationship was terrible. But for this difficult matter, he swallowed his pride that day and went to ask. What did the You family head reply?

“What’s there to ask? Just manage him! Can’t manage his money? Freeze all his cards! Likes to socialize recklessly? Ground him at home and cut off his internet! Doesn’t respect your paternal authority? Then declare to the entire Imperial Capital that he’s expelled from the family, no food, no lodging, let him wander the streets for seven to half a month, and he’ll come back obediently once he knows the hardship and pain. What’s so difficult?”

Qi Jingming was greatly shocked, and after a long while, he finally choked out: “…Aren’t you afraid he’ll really get lost if he wanders off?”

The You family head laughed heartily: “Well, I’m not like you. My eldest and second sons are both excellent; do I lack one little brat?”

Qi Jingming: “…”

Qi Jingming: “Fine, you’re awesome.”

Then he slunk back.

The You family had three sons to pick from. His Qi family had only this one sole descendant, and his wife was gone; he didn’t want to remarry, nor could he have another child.

Qi Jingming: “…”

So annoying.

So, for the past two years, he searched for various internationally renowned education experts and psychologists, sparing no expense on “necessary spending.” The result? Ha, his son was the same as two years ago.

Old Boss Qi was endlessly melancholy about this, unlocking his phone with a cold face, wanting to see what Qi Xiuyi had done this time—his private phone number had almost become his son’s exclusive number for begging money when he was broke.

However, upon unlocking.

Hm?

A strange text message?

He glanced.

Hm???

Strange contact: [Still vexed by your only son’s passive laziness and lack of ambition, bleak future, and readiness to squander the family fortune? “Professional Real Young Master Substitute” Studio has specialized in helping young masters turn over a new leaf for thirty-six years. We welcome every client with a sufficient budget ^ ^ Fair price, honest business, quickly dial XXXXXX to contact us!]

Qi Jingming casually scanned it: Oh.

What is this?

Scam texts even dared to be sent to his private phone number now?

Qi Jingming sneered, his finger skillfully blocking the number. For once, he felt a rare moment of relief because it wasn’t a money-begging text from his son.

---

He didn’t have many meetings to attend that day, so he had the evening free. He returned home, just about to contact a coal mine boss who had recently returned from abroad for a gathering at his home.

The butler suddenly approached him.

Butler: “Mr. Qi, the young master borrowed 800,000 yuan from Young Master Yu last week and hasn’t returned it. Today, Young Master Yu came to visit.”

Clack! Qi Jingming crushed his phone case.

He asked expressionlessly: “All his bank cards are frozen. How did he borrow money? Did Young Yu lend him his card?”

Butler awkwardly: “The young master spent five thousand yuan to buy a card from someone on the street.”

Qi Jingming laughed in anger: “He’s switched to fraud and money laundering?”

Butler hesitated: “Mr. Qi, you see, constantly paying off the young master’s debts isn’t a solution, shouldn’t we…”

Qi Jingming said: “You’re right. From tonight on, if he dares to borrow money from anyone once, he’ll be grounded without internet for a week. Borrow once, grounded once. I want to see if he has the patience to stay at home!”

The butler said mournfully: “Mr. Qi, the young master’s exam week starts the day after tomorrow. Did you forget, the young master failed too many subjects in his freshman and sophomore years, if he fails again this year, graduating on time might become a problem!”

Qi Jingming: “…”

Qi Jingming pressed the table, holding his forehead: “Go invite a group of monks to chant a calming mantra for me.”

Butler: “Yes, Mr. Qi, I’ll just…”

Qi Jingming roared: “You’re actually going? Are you stupid? Come back! Can your brain be as sharp as your grandfather’s?!”

The newly appointed young butler scratched his head sheepishly.

Qi Jingming: “But you’re right. The newly appointed principal of B University isn’t easy to talk to…” Qi Jingming fell into thought.

The butler thought, he never said that, he didn’t even know B University changed principals.

Qi Jingming thought of a solution: “How about donating another building?”

Butler: “.”

Suddenly, Qi Jingming slapped the table, as if remembering something important, and quickly pulled out his phone from his pocket. He remembered that scam text message from earlier today. He hadn’t paid attention to it then, but this wave of annoyance and anger made the inconspicuous phrase “helping young masters turn over a new leaf” suddenly jump into his mind.

He immediately found the number in his blacklist, copied it, and sent it to a subordinate.

With the caption: “Three hours. I want all their information.”

---

They say when the host thinks, the system screams. Lin Chen’s mind didn’t stop for a day, and the voice of system AC9999 didn’t stop either.

System: “Host! You can’t touch this money, it’s your living expenses for next month!!”

System: “Host! You really can’t write this resignation letter, if you lose your job, the mission will fail and you’ll be directly erased!!”

System: “Oh my goodness, Host! That cheap straw mat can’t be used, this thousand-yuan outfit can’t be bought, this five-hundred-a-night hotel can’t be booked… oh, that two-dollar-fifty instant noodle can be bought!”

Lin Chen: “.”

Lin Chen asked doubtfully: “Exactly, are you the host or am I the host?”

System stood at attention: “You are the host!”

Lin Chen instantly became cold: “Then shut up, otherwise, tomorrow you can take my place scrubbing dishes at the Himalaya Hotel.”

System felt wronged: “…Wuwuwuwu.”

System explained softly: “But… you might not even be able to get an appointment with Qi Jingming. What if your plan fails, then all this money…”

Just then.

Phone: Ding-dong~!

The system, constantly connected to phone messages, suddenly became excited: “Host, Qi Jingming actually agreed to meet you! Oh my god, he was actually moved by your text message, Host, you’re really amazing!!”

Lin Chen squeezed his five fingers: “Shut up. Be quiet, don’t flatter.”

System: “…OxO!”

The system very cooperatively and vividly popped up an emoticon in his mind.

---

Lin Chen carefully disguised himself, meticulously styled his hair, and painstakingly changed into a new outfit. His image instantly transformed from a gloomy, slaving laborer to a cold, elite young master who seemed to have just returned from studying abroad.

Lin Chen said: “When I first graduated in my previous life, I worked in sales for a few years.”

System looked puzzled: “Eh?”

Lin Chen: “Do you know the first principle I understood back then?”

System: “Wh-what principle?”

Lin Chen: “Clothes make the man, a saddle makes the horse. To become a young master, our first step is to dress like a young master.”

The system analyzed Lin Chen’s answer and happily realized that the host was responding to its previous screams.

Oh! The host really listened to its words!

Oh! The host even seriously answered its words!

Oh! The host had it in his heart—

Before the fireworks could even bloom, the host sat down opposite Qi Jingming. AC9999 system immediately put away its fireworks, vowing to be a good, obedient system that wouldn’t disturb its host.

It heard the host and Qi Jingming sit opposite each other, smiling, getting straight to the point, so fast it was as if they were both rushing to a meeting.

The host said: “I understand your predicament. Regarding this, I have a good idea.”

Qi Jingming: “Please speak.”

The host said: “Your son is a very well-rounded young master of a wealthy family.”

Qi Jingming: “Oh?”

The host said: “He’s cunning and lazy, doesn’t like studying, loves to compare, and is utterly unthrifty. He has almost all the problems that young masters tend to acquire.”

Qi Jingming: “Heh heh.”

The host said: “These problems stem from his status as a young master, so the best way to solve them is to make him stop being a young master.”

Qi Jingming: “Say something useful.”

The host said: “The second best method is to not let him be an ‘only young master.’ A sense of crisis and competition are always the best tools to push people forward.”

Qi Jingming: “Are you going to resurrect my deceased wife for me?”

The host said: “I can do many things, but unfortunately, the cycle of reincarnation is not among them, I’m truly sorry.”

Qi Jingming: “Get to the point.”

The host said: “Combining the two best methods, I suggest you can hire me to be your son.”

Qi Jingming: “Pfft.”

Qi Jingming: “Excuse me, what did you say?”

The host said: “Thirty million a year, discounted price, fair to all, 24*365 hours online without rest.”

Qi Jingming: “I think you want to be my father.”

The host said: “Excuse me, our ages don’t match.”

The host said: “After you hire me, tell your son that he was actually the fake young master you swapped back then.”

Qi Jingming: “…Hmm?”

The host said: “Do you see that Young Master He from the He family who was just expelled from his home next door? Your son will become the second ‘Young Master He’.”

Qi Jingming: “…”

The host said: “Just one year, and I guarantee he’ll know what it means that if he doesn’t strive and doesn’t work hard, not a single penny of the family fortune will be his!”

Qi Jingming: “…”

Qi Jingming: “Is it you, not your colleagues, who will be my son?”

The host smiled, spread his arms, smug and dignified, nodding slightly: “Of course it’s me.”

Qi Jingming: “Good son. 10% deposit. If I’m satisfied in six months, I’ll give another 40%. The remaining 50% will be paid when the contract is settled in one year. Did you bring the contract?”

“Father, please see.”

Qi Jingming: “At home, please call me ‘Dad’.”

 “Alright, Dad.”

---

The system, in a daze, seemed to hear the second topic the host had discussed with it on the way here. His host had asked it then: “Do you know the three levels of sales?”

It had humbly sought the answer: “Please tell me, Host.”

“The lowest level of sales sells products.”

“Next, the second level of sales sells concepts.”

“And the highest level of sales, they don’t sell products or concepts. They sell—”

“People.”

His host rarely smiled at it then, tapping his chest with his fingertip, his smile filled with confident pride.

“The product they promote is ‘themselves.’ For this level of sales, whatever concept they hold, the client will follow. Whatever product they peddle, the client will need that product.”

“And I, happen to be skilled in this.”