Shopping is like a treasure for humans, especially for women. The two former best friends, who had become estranged, quickly rekindled their bond through this treasure. Nicole was simple-minded, unlike Song Qing, who was determined to uncover secrets about the two through any clue she could find. After some superficial interactions, Song Qing was almost certain that everything was being orchestrated by the mysterious Ethan Shaw. Her former best friend, Nicole, was just a carefree woman, going with the flow. Nicole even hinted, without much hope, that her relationship with Ethan Shaw, who was essentially her financial backer, was just a transaction. She warned Song Qing not to expect to learn more about the deeper truth through her, as it wouldn’t end well for anyone. Nicole knew Ethan was a mystery, but she didn’t dare to dig deeper. After all, they were only together for a year. Why learn too much?

Ethan Shaw wasn’t the type to cater to a girlfriend’s whims. If she wanted to buy clothes, she could shop while he wandered off elsewhere. As a result, the three of them gradually drifted apart, agreeing only on a time to meet for dinner. When it came to dinner, Song Qing earnestly suggested in their group chat: "Anywhere is fine, as long as there’s no queue."

Ethan Shaw would love to spend extravagantly, showering his woman with luxury goods. Unfortunately, while he earned a monthly salary of $100,000, he was still far from financial freedom. For instance, buying an apartment in Wucheng would cost at least $3,000,000. He would have to save diligently for three to five years—too far away. In the precarious era of the Dark Forest, who knew if he’d even survive three years?

His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed someone sitting alone in a teahouse on the first floor of the mall. After three minutes of contemplation, that person was still sitting there, looking lonely. Ethan didn’t hesitate any longer. He walked into the teahouse and sat down in front of the man.

The man was tall and thin. Though handsome, he had an unhealthy pallor, not unlike Ethan’s current appearance. Ever since Ethan had consumed the red mushroom, he hadn’t looked well either, and his body ached now and then. Algernon had told him it was a normal reaction and that he shouldn’t worry. His body would eventually adapt to the chip inside him. The chip in Ethan’s central nervous system was gradually integrating, enhancing his physique. Without it, he wouldn’t possess the strength of a bodybuilder, capable of effortlessly defeating a jiu-jitsu expert like Song Qing.

"Zhou Shirong!" Ethan called out, addressing the man by name, with no trace of politeness.

The disheveled man looked up, confused. “Who are you?”

Ethan smiled. “I’m your friendly big brother. I know why you’re unhappy, and I have a solution for you. That’s right, you’ve met your savior.”

Zhou Shirong gave a bitter smile. “Let’s hear it, then.”

Ethan replied, “Your father is dying, and his estate will be divided among your three brothers and two sisters. You’ll get almost nothing. Your mother tried to stir up trouble but was beaten and thrown out. You hate them and wish they were all dead. Even your $100,000 monthly allowance from the Zhou family has been cut off, forcing you to sell your Ferrari and lose face in front of your friends.”

Zhou Shirong was stunned. “You got everything right! Who the hell are you? And what kind of solution do you have?”

Ethan grinned. “That’s right. My solution will make sure your father’s offspring, all except you, are wiped out, leaving only you to thrive. It’ll be an epic story of a bastard's rise to power. The question is: are you willing to make a deal with me?”

Zhou Shirong was dumbfounded by this “friendly big brother” who seemed serious. He lowered his voice. “Can that... really be done?”

Ethan responded, “Since the Yu Long Station disaster, the world has changed. All the police are busy dealing with that mess, and crime rates have soared. Nothing is impossible. Here’s my number. Once I’ve dealt with your problem, we’ll be in touch. Right now, no matter what I say, you won’t believe me, right?”

As soon as Ethan finished speaking, Zhou Shirong’s phone rang. He glanced at the unknown caller with a sense of inexplicable dread, not knowing how Ethan had made the call. Ethan’s hands were resting calmly on the table, not doing anything.

“What kind of... magic is this?” Zhou Shirong shook his head, confirming he was indeed in a teahouse, not a bar.

Ethan smiled and said, “If anything strange happens in the days to come, just think of it as magic. See you later, future boss of Crescent Wellness.”

Crescent Wellness was a beverage company with a valuation of $30 billion, the most valuable asset of the Zhou family. Zhou Shirong’s siblings were mainly getting shares of Crescent Wellness.

The founder of Crescent Wellness, Old Master Zhou Xueyan, wasn’t that old, only 69. But his health had never been great. At 66, in pursuit of a healthier body, he had opted for Rhaenyra Corp’s “Spring Breeze” service. This magical health service was rumored to make people younger, but it came with a certain risk of cancer. Choosing to become 10 years younger came with a 10% chance of cancer, 20 years younger meant a 20% chance, and 30 years younger had a 30% chance. Beyond that, there were no further options.

Old Master Zhou, a lifelong gambler, took the riskiest bet, opting to become 30 years younger with a 30% chance of cancer. Unfortunately, he lost. By 69, the cancer had spread throughout his body. This time, he lost.

In the global healthcare industry, two dominant players exist: Rhaenyra Corp and Allison Hospital. Allison could cure any cancer, but they refused to treat patients who had undergone Rhaenyra’s youth services. During diagnosis, they could detect if you had used the Spring Breeze service. There were two theories in the industry: one was that Rhaenyra’s technology caused the cancer to spread too fast for treatment, and the other was that the owners of the two companies had an irreconcilable blood feud. Either way, both sides despised each other and refused to treat each other’s patients.

With no other options, Old Master Zhou could only wait for death in the hospital. A gambler at heart, he bore no grudge. In fact, he was even grateful to Rhaenyra for giving him the joy of youth again. He truly looked like he was in his forties now. It was just a shame—if only he had won the bet.

After taking painkillers, Zhou Xueyan found himself drifting between wakefulness and sleep, recalling his younger days when there was real, passionate, and pure love. How beautiful it had been...

His reverie was abruptly interrupted by his attending physician, Dr. Chen Yiqiang.

Zhou Xueyan was annoyed. “Dr. Chen, don’t disturb me...” He waved his hand dismissively, indicating he no longer cared about anything. His voice was weak and intermittent—an unmistakable sign of impending death.

Dr. Chen apologized, “I’m sorry, Mr. Zhou, but there’s something you must know.”

Reluctantly, Zhou Xueyan opened his eyes. “What is it?”

Dr. Chen replied, “Your children... something has happened to them.”

Zhou Xueyan frowned. “What could possibly happen to them?”

Dr. Chen explained, “Yesterday, they held a meeting together, and afterward, they all felt unwell. They’re now hospitalized, including your wife and all five children. Based on what I’ve gathered, it appears to be radiation poisoning—very severe. It’s likely... they’ll die before you do.” Even as a renowned doctor, Dr. Chen found it difficult to say those words. He couldn’t help but feel how cruel fate was, delivering such tragic news to a dying old man.

The previously indifferent old man’s eyes suddenly widened in shock, as if he were trying to determine if he was still dreaming.

This large-scale radiation incident finally caught the attention of the police. After Dr. Chen finished his report, Zhou Xueyan called in Detective Mao, whom he knew well, and eagerly listened to the progress of the investigation. With Zhou Xueyan’s influence in Wucheng, Detective Mao revealed almost everything.

It turned out that the radiation victims had all been on the 11th floor of the Venture Building that day, with nearly half the people exposed. A total of 218 individuals were affected, and the entire building was now sealed off for investigation.

Three days later, Zhou Xueyan’s wife, three sons, and two daughters all died almost simultaneously. As the sole remaining offspring, Zhou Shirong was summoned to Zhou Xueyan’s bedside.

Once all others had left the room, Zhou Xueyan, his eyes now sharp and clear, stared at Zhou Shirong—the son he had resolved to abandon just three days earlier. Now, he was his only option.

Zhou Shirong, having already spoken with Detective Mao, had a general understanding of the situation. Inside, he was shaken to the core. Every word that stranger in the teahouse had spoken was turning out to be true. This was the moment of witnessing a miracle.

Zhou Xueyan seemed to have taken some medication, as he looked more spirited and spoke more fluently. "Was it you?" he asked.

Zhou Shirong replied, "I… I don’t have that kind of ability. You know what I’m capable of." After all, he was nothing but a spoiled rich kid, indulging in vices and without any right to inheritance. He lived entirely off his father's handouts.

"Really?" Zhou Xueyan asked again.

Zhou Shirong could only shake his head.

Zhou Xueyan let out a cold chuckle. "I almost wish it were you. If it were, I’d willingly hand the inheritance over to you. But I know you don't have the skill for that. Even if I left you the fortune, you wouldn't be able to keep it. Mediocrity is mediocrity. I’m not giving you the company—only enough to ensure that you and your mother will never want for anything. The rest goes to the family trust. Crescent Wellness will be handled by an old friend of mine, a partner of thirty years. You know nothing."

Zhou Shirong hadn't expected his father's mockery to sting so deeply. Furious, he blurted out, "It wasn’t me, but I know who did it. I can keep it safe! You know the details of the case. No one can escape a magic attack like that. Your old partners—whether it’s Uncle Wang or Uncle Liu—will die. They might even die before you do. You should really think this over. Even if I don’t want Crescent Wellness, the person behind me will. Do you understand? Resistance is pointless. Whether I want the company or not is irrelevant, but I must take it!"