I have a persona specifically for acting.

Wei Zekai felt a bit uneasy as he was met with sympathetic looks.

After coming out of the holographic chamber, he was physiologically fatigued, and the staff wouldn’t engage with the actors unless necessary. They only reminded him, “There’s a small celebration dinner at six o’clock the day after tomorrow. The director has reserved a hot pot restaurant nearby, so if you’re free, come join us for a nice meal.”

Wei Zekai nodded, “I’ll see how it goes.”

He didn’t feel particularly tired; he was just a bit dazed, like after an intense gaming session where he couldn’t even remember which hero he had chosen, only vaguely aware that he had played some frustrating games.

After returning to his room, he still didn’t want to sleep, so he pulled out his phone to message Tong Zhao.

Upon opening his phone, he was shocked to see dozens of missed calls and over a hundred unread WeChat messages, with chaotic group chats all @-ing him, most likely related to the airing of “Sea King Killer.” It was overwhelming, and he didn’t want to sift through it all, so he just checked the pinned messages.

His pinned messages were simple.

Parents, family group, Zeshan Investment Company management group, and Tong Zhao.

Dad: “You look just like your mom.”

Wei Zekai was puzzled and wanted to reply, “Dad, are you okay?”

But thinking about how he needed funding during his startup period, he decided against saying anything offensive. Instead, he replied, “I inherited my mom’s beauty, but my IQ and business sense are all thanks to your good genes, Dad!”

It seemed he had a talent for flattery.

Wei Zekai felt he had sacrificed a lot for the company.

However, after seeing that reply, his father’s blood pressure skyrocketed—that was a story for another time.

Mom: “Xiao Kai, bring Tong Zhao over for dinner when you have time.”

It was a small matter.

Although Wei Zekai found it a bit strange that his mother suddenly mentioned Tong Zhao, he readily agreed.

Perhaps it was because his friend’s movie was a big hit, and Tong Zhao was now a rising star; maybe his mom was curious to see her in person so she could brag to her mahjong buddies. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that was the case. A slight smile appeared on his lips, filled with the joy of “My brother is popular, and I look good because of it.”

Just as Wei Zekai was feeling pleased, he opened the company group chat to check if his team had caused any trouble while he was busy filming a variety show.

He was somewhat worried before clicking in.

If there weren’t any major issues, would they really be @-ing him so vigorously?

But when he opened it, he saw:

Second Generation A: “@Wei Zekai Boss, you’re so unfortunate.”

Second Generation B: “@Wei Zekai Boss, you’re so unfortunate.”

Second Generation C: “@Wei Zekai Boss, you’re so unfortunate.”

…

They were lined up in formation. Wei Zekai snorted coldly; there were always troublemakers trying to get to him.

Wei Zekai: “I have billions to inherit, what about you?”

Unfortunate?

Impossible; “unfortunate” wasn’t in Wei Zekai’s dictionary.

Seeing Wei Zekai flaunt his wealth broke the defenses of the second-generation crowd—

Their families were wealthy too, but they had siblings to split the inheritance, and the degree of wealth could vary drastically among rich second-generation individuals. The Wei family’s wealth was something the other second-generation members looked up to. Wei Zekai could become their leader not only because of his arrogant personality but also largely due to having a good father.

Second Generation C: “You have billions, but you can’t get our Sister Zhao!”

Everyone chimed in with agreement.

Wei Zekai felt even more annoyed by this group of brats: “Why would I want Tong Zhao? She’s a person, not an object. Show some respect for your esteemed strategist!”

The title “esteemed strategist” was so cringeworthy that the entire management team burst into laughter, urging him to quickly watch the replay of “Sea King Kill.” Someone even suggested they all go watch together: “Why not just go to the Boss’s house? He has an IMAX and holographic setup.”

Wei Zekai thought about it; his mom had said she wanted to meet Tong Zhao.

After all, they were brothers. Meeting one was the same as meeting a bunch: “Sure, let’s go together.”

When Wei Zekai mentioned it to Tong Zhao, she agreed, so she packed her bags and hopped into his flashy sports car, heading straight for the Wei family home. Before they left, Wei Zekai had mentioned bringing a friend home. To him, it was a minor matter—there was plenty of food at home, and the chef could handle a gathering of ten or so people. If they needed more help, borrowing from a neighbor was also an option.

“Xiao Kai said he’s bringing Tong Zhao back to see his screen debut,”

After hanging up the phone, Wei’s mother frowned, saying, “They’re coming now? This is too sudden; I’m not prepared at all. Would it be too tacky to give a big red envelope? How thick does it need to be to seem sincere?”

The girl’s purse was small; a little makeup and her phone would fill it up, and a thick red envelope wouldn’t fit.

Wei’s grandmother suggested, “How about getting a gold bracelet from the safe?”

“Gold jewelry seems a bit old-fashioned these days.”

“Gold is great; I love gold,” Wei’s grandmother muttered.

“Who cares!” Wei’s father interjected, his teeth grinding: “Didn’t you hear what they said on the show? He plans to spend three million a month on his girlfriend. Instead of giving her a red envelope, he should just halve his allowance so he doesn’t get scammed by women.”

Wei’s mother smiled, “Well, didn’t Tong Zhao come to our house before? You weren’t here, so you didn’t see her in person. She’s a good kid. You can’t judge her based on variety shows; besides, if she’s after his money, that’s not a bad thing. If she’s after his money, it can last longer.”

Not to mention three million; even if it doubled, it’s just a number.

Moreover, she had seen Tong Zhao in “Countdown 72 Hours,” and thought the girl was quite independent and strong. It was just the script of “Sea King Kill” that made her seem like a gold digger—after all, it was clear from the beginning that the show was about outsmarting each other. Why did her little Kai forget his own responsibilities as soon as he fell in love and empty his already limited IQ?

Only those who remember their competition can be the winners who laugh last.

“You just have too many ridiculous theories.”

Wei’s father paused and turned around, “Are you after my money too?”

“Of course not; I’m after your good character and handsome looks.”

She said with a smile.

Satisfied with the answer, Wei’s father snorted and pretended to continue reading the newspaper.

Wei’s grandmother watched for a while and felt more and more that the men of the Wei family were doomed to be scammed by women.

In any case, the whole Wei family looked forward to Tong Zhao’s arrival.

……

Then, six spirited young men with wild personalities and one suspicious figure wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask showed up.

The suspicious figure, Tong Zhao, took off her entire disguise and stuffed it into her bag before greeting the elders politely.

Dressed in a black silk shirt and a cream-colored irregular skirt, her outfit was simple, elegant, and generous. The high heels accentuated her beautifully proportioned legs…

She was particularly polite to the elders, but when speaking to her peers, even with a smile, there was an aura that suggested she was not to be trifled with.

Seeing this, Wei’s father felt a pang of jealousy.

Vaguely recalling that the Tong family was also in business, how come their child is so poised?

Looking back at his own family, Wei’s father felt increasingly annoyed.

“It’s rare to have friends over, aren’t you going to introduce them?”

Wei’s mother smiled at the spirited young men.

The Wei residence was particularly large. They had originally planned to sneak in, but Tong Zhao insisted that it was rude not to announce their arrival, so they entered through the front door. Otherwise, there were plenty of ways to slip in quietly. Now, facing figures they had to treat with caution, even in front of their own parents, they felt a bit nervous.

Only Wei, the young master, was casually revealing his own background: “I’ve been starting a business recently. I used to think small, but now I’ve decided to make money together. They’re all shareholders in Zeshan Investment.” He patted Tong Zhao’s shoulder, “This is our strategist!”

“…”

Tong Zhao really didn’t want to be called a strategist in front of the elders.

The elders of the Wei family exchanged glances, their expressions subtly changing.

It was one thing to lose money themselves; now they were bringing someone else’s child along to lose money?

What a big ambition.

Wei’s father quietly observed their faces and found them all unfamiliar. He hoped they weren’t the children of old friends. It was normal for him not to recognize them; those willing to hang out with Wei Zekai, fully aware of his reputation as the “reverse alchemist,” “charitable gambling king of the investment world,” and “most ambitious spendthrift,” were likely from wealthy families themselves.

The ones he could introduce were all siblings of these spirited young men.

Wei’s mother was curious: “Strategist?”

“The investment ideas were hers; I just helped her out.” Wei Zekai never stole his friends’ thunder.

The Wei family elders breathed a sigh of relief—so it seemed they wouldn’t suffer major losses!

Tong Zhao knew these investments would inevitably succeed.

After leaving the cabin, she didn’t first check the flattering messages about herself; instead, she looked at the projects of Zeshan Investment to ensure everything was on track as she had envisioned. The points she had reminded them about had been well addressed, confirming that making money was only a matter of time.

Even if Wei Zekai didn’t take credit, she wanted to help him make a good impression in front of the elders: “Actually, Zekai has contributed a lot. I just suggested some directions; many of the remaining details were thought up and perfected by him.”

The Wei family elders had just relaxed when their tension returned.

After understanding their intentions, Wei’s mother suggested, “How about we prepare a hot pot? It’ll be fun to enjoy together, and we don’t mind joining in on the young people’s activities, right?”

The young second-generation members exchanged glances.

They were aware of the content of “Sea King Kill.”

It wasn’t appropriate to watch it in front of the elders!

Someone made faces at Wei Zekai, but he was completely oblivious to his friends’ concerns and continued to reassure them, “No problem. Don’t worry, my family is very open-minded. You can vent your thoughts freely; there’s no need to feel awkward! Let’s watch together—it’s a rare family activity!”

…

No, it’s not that everyone is afraid of feeling awkward themselves.

We’re worried about YOU feeling awkward!

And it’s already becoming awkward to have to loan you out!

Since Wei Zekai had said this, everyone felt they couldn’t object any longer.

“It’s quite long; will we be able to finish it?” asked one second-generation member.

“Well, we’ll be eating while watching, so we can just focus on the interactions between Tong Zhao and Boss,” a rather straightforward second-generation girl cheerfully said, only to receive a collective glare from the others.

Wei Zekai, however, thought this was a great idea, so it was settled.

Not long after the instructions were given, the servants and chef cleared a large area in the banquet hall and set up a long table for the hot pot. A massive projection screen descended, and when the main lights were turned off, four pots bubbled and boiled. There was a nourishing chicken soup pot for the elders, a spicy Chongqing hot pot favored by the younger crowd, and a trendy tomato pot. The congee-based hot pot in front of Wei’s father was particularly special, with a creamy white broth that came with a seafood gout package.

The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Wei Zekai wasn’t exaggerating; the atmosphere at his home was indeed great, with no chaotic internal conflicts.

When asked if he remembered what happened in the show, he scratched his head and said, “I can’t recall clearly; the memory is a bit buried. Tong Zhao, do you remember anything?”

“It’s only been a short time; I’ll probably remember everything when I wake up tomorrow.”

They had gone directly to Wei’s house after leaving the holographic pod.

“By the way, uncle and aunt,” one of the second-generation members asked, “did you watch the last episode live?”

Since they wanted to watch the final episode with the two main characters, they missed the live broadcast and only saw the second-to-last episode, where Wei Zekai was successfully deceived by a bad woman and made a declaration of three million in love offerings… Although they didn’t know how it ended, it was undoubtedly a disaster.

Wei’s mother shook her head, “I still prefer to wait for the edited version.”

At first, everyone felt embarrassed for Wei Zekai and fidgeted in their seats.

But as the pot began to boil, Wei Zekai started talking excitedly: “Do you know? The day after I went in, the director told me he could tell right away that I was a talent for reality shows; he praised me for being interesting—oh, not to mention, this director really has good judgment. I knew from the moment he invited Tong Zhao that he was sharp. Can you guess how he described me?”

Tong Zhao put some vegetables into the pot first: “Cute and brainless?”

Second-generation member C: “A gem among men, a cute dog among dogs?”

Second-generation member F: “That doesn’t even rhyme!”

…

“That’s all nonsense,”

Wei Zekai shot them a defiant look: “If it weren’t for me, Wei Zekai, reality shows would be as dark as eternal night!”

…

The group exchanged glances—regardless of the director’s skills, his talent for flattery was top-notch.

Wei Zekai looked so proud that it seemed his tail was about to fly up to the sky, making everyone feel a mix of irritation and amusement, shifting from “worrying about his embarrassment” to “let’s just start the broadcast and let him embarrass himself, please make it raw and unfiltered!”

Tong Zhao used the public chopsticks to pick beef from each pot, enjoying her meal.

She was quite indifferent.

As an actress, whether in traditional films or reality shows, one had to let go of shame and reserve. Reality shows didn’t pursue artistic value; as long as they entertained, that was a pass. Besides, she felt confident…

Especially as Concubine Chen, she felt invincible.

[Ha,] Concubine Chen thought: [With me around, how could I possibly embarrass myself? No way.]

Duan Ge laughed and poked fun: [Oh really? You nearly ended up in a relationship with Han Zhi once.]

Concubine Chen hissed.

They were the same person.

Despite their vastly different personalities, it felt like being six and twenty at the same time. If genuine sparks were to fly, it might be a bit cringeworthy. The concubine Chen waved her fan dismissively: [This is just for fun; no one would take it seriously. Besides, it’s perfectly normal for Han Zhi to have feelings for me.]

Han Zhi didn’t deny it.

Not because he truly loved Concubine Chen, but because it would be too hurtful to refute a woman’s words at that moment.

Enduring a little misunderstanding was nothing.

[No man can refuse me.]

Concubine Chen proudly set a bold statement.

The onlookers, eager for entertainment, suggested starting the broadcast with the memory-lost interaction cut from the third-to-last episode.

The dimly lit banquet hall turned dark as the huge projection screen displayed a shadowy corridor.

In the corridor, the sound of suppressed sobbing echoed softly.

“Is it haunted or something?”

Unaware of the seriousness of the situation, Wei Zekai continued to chatter, taking on the role of the main commentator.

The camera zoomed in on Zhong Muxi, who was emotionally collapsing.

The cut version of the reality show was well done, thanks to AI handling the heavy lifting, requiring only time for high-speed calculations, with all the algorithms already well-developed. Although it was a dual interaction cut of Tong Zhao and Wei Zekai, the backstory was explained in detail.

“Oh, so it’s her…”

Wei Zekai paused, seeing Han Zhi follow suit, feeling more at ease: “Mom, I’m telling you, my brother’s male subconscious is particularly reliable; if he were just a bit more focused, he’d be perfect,” he said, glancing at Tong Zhao with a hint of regret. “If only you were a guy!”

A partner sipping chicken soup almost choked at his shocking words.

“Go ahead and blame Tong Zhenming.”

Watching the reliable Tong Zhao wipe her mouth, she elegantly echoed his absurd logic: “It’s a chromosome issue; don’t blame me.”

“Fair point, so it’s all his fault.”

Wei Zekai knew all about the mess in his friend’s family; genuinely noting another black mark against Tong’s father was just a matter of time before it would be settled with interest! Just then, another door in the scene slowly creaked open, and the camera shifted down to give a close-up of the anxious little corgi.

“…”

Wei Zekai found it hard to accept seeing his dog’s face on the big screen.

Damn it, didn’t he resolve to stop becoming a dog?

Where are your principles in this reality show, Wei Zekai!?

He calmly tried to smooth things over: “Eh, it’s my fault for being too eager to help; I should have just let Han Zhi handle it.”

Just then, with the sound of another door opening, the camera shifted again.

Wei Zekai saw his good friend, Tong Zhao, holding a blanket.

No, please don’t let it be what he’s thinking! What’s going on here?!

Outside of the scene, Tong Zhao remained calm. After getting her uncle’s approval, she scooped a bowl of seafood porridge from his pot. While the people in reality were eating and drinking, her persona in her mind was thoroughly enjoying the moment. The concubine remembered that she had also raised some small pets in the palace before—though “raising” meant that the servants took care of everything; she was only responsible for happily petting the dogs and cats.

As the little dog in the scene was firmly caught in the blanket, Wei Zekai turned to Tong Zhao with a look of accusation: “How can you treat me like this!”

Tong Zhao replied, “I didn’t know it was you.”

“Oh, so if you knew it was me, you wouldn’t have caught me?”

Tong Zhao considered, “…I would probably be even more determined.”

“Our friendship dog is dead!”

“Not dead,” Tong Zhao said, placing a piece of tender bone in his bowl. “I caught it, didn’t I?”

Everyone thought about it and realized she had a point.

Wei Zekai was completely wrapped up in her logic. With a large piece of bone in his bowl, he angrily picked it up to chew. This scene, witnessed by his friends, along with the dog on the big screen…

Ah, of course.

The one who loves bones is a dog.

The meat attached to the bone is the best part, so delicious that Wei Zekai’s mood stabilized a bit. He then heard his mother chuckling, commenting, “Xiao Kai is still as ticklish as he was when he was a child; how cute.”

He looked up to see himself being searched by Tong Zhao, making soft, playful dog sounds.

Wei Zekai couldn’t believe he had this side to him.

Even if he had become a dog, he should be cool and handsome!

…

Deep breath, deep breath.

That’s a dog, that’s a dog, not him.

Next, the scene depicted Tong Zhao using her words to uncover the truth about Wei Zekai, the dog.

Second Generation A: “Hahaha, look at Boss’s expression when the insider disrupts the deal—it’s so vivid!”

Every time Wei’s father saw this scene, he felt uncomfortable.

He quietly complained to his wife, “I told you to only have one child. Look at others with siblings competing against each other; which one didn’t grow up to be clever? But our son, just a few words, and he shows his true colors—he’s really a sweet potato!”

“Have a couple more. Three brothers can take turns starting businesses; you won’t be able to retire even at eighty.”

“…”

Wei’s father was startled by the idea of not being able to retire at eighty and obediently fell silent for a while.

The big screen continued to show the epic battle between man and dog.

When Wei Zekai saw Tong Zhao pulling him over while he quickly tried to retreat, he exclaimed with the same surprise as the character in the scene: “This reaction speed of mine is wasted if I don’t go pro; it’s amazing.”

…

Then he heard himself imagining Tong Zhao’s lips were soft.

Wei Zekai: “Tong Zhao, let me explain.”

The second generations chimed in: “We want to hear too.”

Wei Zekai felt guilty; he was actually thinking about his brother!

However, before he could explain, he heard the Tong Zhao from the variety show teasing him, both confessing and seducing. This development was shocking—the two people on screen were ones he knew very well, yet they were playing out a fantastical scenario he had never even dreamed of. Fortunately, from the audience’s perspective, he could hear Tong Zhao’s inner thoughts, knowing that it was all an act.

He teasingly whispered to her, “I consider you a brother, and you want to get with me?”

This time, it was Tong Zhao who lost her composure.

Concubine Chen: “What did he say?”

Concubine Chen: “I’m going to morally kidnap a man???”

Concubine Chen: “He thinks I’m pretty good? Is he giving me a ‘nice guy’ card???”

Lu Xianzhang chuckled lightly: “This kid isn’t bad.”

Tong Zhao subtly pressed her temple: “Okay, enough. My thought process isn’t the same as regular people; you all know that.”

Concubine Chen was both shy and angry, huffing as she turned to leave.

However, the next heartfelt confession from Wei Zekai in the variety show instantly elevated the atmosphere of the gathering.

With the elders and friends as witnesses, Wei Zekai watched himself kiss her. This was followed by a long, passionate dog food kiss.

The expression on Wei Zekai’s face was blank, and his mind was blank too.

Is this content playable? He had never expected this kind of plot!He saw Tong Zhao holding his chin with one hand, teasing him with a smile: “Elementary school student.”

…

Wei Zekai: “How about we just watch a family-friendly movie instead?”

Second Generation A: “Very open-minded.”

Second Generation B: “Feel free to roast.”

Second Generation C: “No need to be embarrassed.”

All echoes of Wei’s earlier arrogant remarks from half an hour ago.

Tong Zhao timely added, “A rare family activity.”

With his own words thrown back at him, Wei Zekai could only sit there uncomfortably until the end.

He finally understood why the staff looked at him with sympathy when he woke up from the holographic chamber.

They had laughed enough, and everyone enjoyed the hot pot together.

But the young master was left completely shattered in his views.

Such variety shows were common; compared to more traditional parents, everyone didn’t really think the two were in a relationship. After dinner, the elders said they wouldn’t disturb the kids, telling them to treat the place like home and have fun. Once the parents left, they unleashed their teasing towards the Boss like wild horses.

Wei Zekai, annoyed by the comments, said, “Looking at that scene felt like watching a stranger who looks exactly like me. No feeling, no sense of connection!”

He truly believed this from the bottom of his heart.

And because he spoke so confidently, his friends understood and believed him too.

…

That night, he gradually began to recall the details from that time.