Pirates began to dominate the Chinese entertainment industry.

The entire Tianya forum has only over 20 million registered users, with 50,000 to 100,000 people online at any given time, meaning that almost all online netizens read this post.

And in the blink of an eye, the number of comments increased by another thousand.

This is quite rare for a finance-related post, which is usually a niche topic.

However, the titles, such as "stock market guru" and "turning 10 million into 300 million," are quite novel and eye-catching for netizens with limited entertainment options.

Zhao Liying scrolled down.

The main post, exceeding ten thousand words, begins by recounting how a "mysterious young tycoon" opened a bank account in Shanghai, detailing how he went all-in on Freddie Mac put options a month prior, how he went against the market trend when everyone was pessimistic, and how he precisely profited after Freddie Mac's financial report bombed...

At the end of the post, the original poster wrote in bold:

According to sources within the bank, following this incident, the mysterious investor was directly awarded a lifetime platinum card membership at Shanghai Bank. What does that mean? This card is limited to 99 cards nationwide. The membership threshold: at least 500 million RMB in liquid assets, and requires a personal recommendation from a vice president or higher-level executive at the head office.

More importantly—this mysterious tycoon is 18 years old.

He's the only one in the history of any bank in China to receive a lifetime platinum card at the age of 18—not only at the tenth largest bank in Shanghai, but also in the entire history of all banks nationwide!

A profile photo taken at great risk by a bank employee in Shanghai:

[Image] [Image] [Image]

Zhao Liying stared at the bold, enlarged "18" on the screen, then at the familiar, tall profile in the photo, and felt a little dizzy. It really was him...

"Continue." Sister Yun was engrossed in reading when she noticed that Zhao Liying seemed distracted, stuck on the page and not turning the page, so she grabbed the mouse and read on herself.

Top 1 most popular comments:

"A 3380% return in a month? This isn't stock trading, it's bank robbery. No, even bank robbery isn't this fast. I suspect the children of the powerful have inside information, otherwise it couldn't be this accurate."

— Likes: 18203.

Top 2 most popular comments:

"I was watching the market the day Freddie Mac's earnings report went wrong. Everyone was buying the dip, but he was the only one shorting aggressively with his account. His courage to go against the entire market made me think he was crazy. Now it turns out he's a true stock market genius!"

— Likes: 13088.

Top 3 most popular comments:

"Doesn't anyone recognize that back view? Rumor has it: this little stock market genius isn't in finance at all, he's in entertainment. I heard he had a rumored affair with Liu Yifei and even had a verbal battle with John Woo. This crossover is making my head spin."

— Likes: 11286.

Zhao Liying's eyelid twitched.

However, the comments under the top 3 most popular posts were already in an uproar.

"Liu Yifei's rumored boyfriend? The handsome young man who got all the hate online?"

"Damn, I checked the photos and videos, it really is him. Wait, isn't he a director? Didn't he lose tens of millions and almost go bankrupt? How did he suddenly become a billionaire?"

"You're out of touch, upstairs. He's faking bankruptcy on purpose; that's called 'playing dumb to fool others.' You think he's really poor?"

"Someone who earns 300 million a month drives a beat-up BMW? I don't believe it."

"True big shots are low-key; they call it 'not forgetting their roots.'"

"Have you noticed? He was previously attacked online, publicly criticized by John Woo, and threatened with expulsion from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. And what happened? He quietly made a fortune, earning over 300 million yuan in a single month. Could Director Woo earn 300 million yuan in his entire career of making movies?"

"Hahaha, the comment upstairs is so mean, @吴语森."

"We used to call rich people 'godfathers,' so what should we call this 18-year-old?"

"Call me husband."

……

Zhao Liying looked at it again and again, and finally became convinced that this little stock market genius was her future boss, Ji Yun.

The feeling of this windfall made her feel incredibly happy.

Just then, she heard the sound of someone swallowing behind her.

"Is this the junior director you were talking about?" Sister Yun asked hesitantly.

Zhao Liying turned her head and noticed that Sister Yun's eyes were shining with an unusual light as she stared straight at her.

Zhao Liying paused for a second, then nodded. "The photo isn't great, but it really is him."

Sister Yun was stunned for a moment, then suddenly pulled her away, took out paper and pen from the drawer, and started writing.

"What's wrong, Sister Yun?" Zhao Liying asked blankly.

"Resign, and let's head south tonight! There's money, fewer people, and lots of opportunities over there! We have to be sincere!" Sister Yun exuded an indomitable spirit. As she wrote, she suddenly looked up at Zhao Liying, "Liying, this is a potential... a real gem, let's seize the opportunity!"

Zhao Liying blushed and waved her hands in fright: "No, no, no, I just want to be an actress. What's more important for a man than his career?"

"Without men, where would a woman's career come from?" Sister Yun said with a resentful look in her eyes.

Zhao Liying pouted, unconvinced, but didn't know how to refute it. Is this the wisdom of an older woman?

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something Ji Yun had promised her.

She grabbed her cotton-padded coat and hurried outside.

"Where are you going? Aren't you going to quit your job?" Sister Yun asked hurriedly.

Zhao Liying turned around, her expression resolute: "He promised me that if I could get Manager Li Xue involved, he'd give me another lead role! I'll give it a try!"

"???" Sister Yun clutched her heart, her heart pounding in fright. Li Ying's ambition was just too terrifying!

……

"I won't agree!"

Liu Yifei turned around angrily, looking out the car window.

A Toyota Alphard modified into a celebrity nanny van is speeding along the main road leading into Beijing from the Capital International Airport.

"You two are really not a good match."

Liu Xiaoli said earnestly.

Liu Yifei snorted, not turning her head, only revealing the round back of her head: "You said I could date after I turned twenty!"

"I did say that. But what's so great about him? He's just a student. Does he have a career? Is he famous? Does he have any representative works? Does he have any businesses? Not only does he not have any, he's also offended a lot of people in the Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment circle, and he's in debt. How can you two be a good match?"

Liu Xiaoli said with a frown.

She now deeply regrets not being more firm and direct in rejecting Ji Yun back then, which has led to such a disaster. Her precious daughter, whom she cherishes, is about to be lured away by a penniless young punk.

"Mommy, how can you be so materialistic? We're not short of money." Liu Yifei mustered her courage and turned around, looking straight at her.

Liu Xiaoli stared wide-eyed. She's vulgar? Back then, she was a high-quality young woman who was crazy about her dreams.

"He's causing trouble everywhere, and he's even being labeled your rumored boyfriend. Do you know how many people you've unknowingly offended? What will happen to your career if you can't go to Hong Kong Island?!"

Liu Xiaoli lowered her hands, which she had been holding, and said in a softer tone,

"Mommy isn't forbidding you from dating, I just hope you find a suitable partner."

"Didn't Jackie Chan's son approach you and strike up a conversation when you were filming?"

"What's so good about that? He's so carefree and irresponsible." Liu Yifei said with a look of disdain.

"Wang Leehom, who visited Jackie Chan on set, is also very good. He comes from a prestigious Taiwanese family, is talented, handsome, and a rising star in the Chinese music scene—"

"It smells like a white elite, I'm allergic to it!" Liu Yifei said, wrinkling her nose.