TRWSB – Chapter 97 The Cosmetic Store’s Big Movements

Yi Family Residence

Yang Man gazed at Yi Chuxue, who seemed lost and dazed, with an inescapable weariness in her heart.

“Yi Bing, you’re here?”

“Mother, how is my third sister?” Yi Bing asked.

Yang Man sighed and said, “I have no idea what that Yi Fan boy did to your sister to frighten her into this state.”

Yi Chuxue sat in a corner hugging her knees, mumbling to herself, looking like she’d been scared out of her wits.

Yi Bing looked at Yang Man and asked, “Mother, is Chuxue really Father’s daughter?”

Yang Man spun around abruptly, staring at Yi Bing. “Yi Bing, what are you talking about? Of course, Chuxue is your father’s daughter!”

Yi Bing nodded and said, “Yi Fan claimed that Chuxue was the result of your affair with another man. He even said that Li Anya died because she caught you in the act.”

“That Yi Fan… How dare he! No wonder—no wonder your father has been looking at me that way.” Yang Man’s expression turned flustered.

Clenching her fists, Yang Man thought to herself: Earlier, she’d asked Yi Xun to bring someone to check on Chuxue. Yi Xun had brushed it off, saying Chuxue’s condition was the same as Yi Huo’s and Yi Bing’s—beyond saving—and hadn’t invited a single physician. She had found that strange before, but now it all made sense. Even if Yi Xun hadn’t fully believed Yi Fan’s words, he must have started to suspect.

Yi Bing looked at Yang Man. “Mother, could it be true?”

“Of course not! Yi Fan is clearly holding a grudge because I mistreated him, so he’s making baseless accusations. It’s infuriating that your father… he treats me like some kind of person!” Yang Man responded emphatically.

Yi Bing sighed. “Judging by Father’s attitude, I think he believes it.”

Yang Man closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She thought bitterly: “You reap what you sow.” If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have spared Yi Fan back then. Now that he had grown into a force to be reckoned with, she found herself powerless to act.

Saint Emperor Academy

Zhuang Qian hurriedly caught up to Zhuang Hao. “Big brother, how are things going between you and Qi Shaorong recently?”

Zhuang Hao took a deep breath and said, “Neither good nor bad.”

“Big brother, don’t give up! If you persist with the spirit of being shamelessly clingy and deal with anyone harboring improper thoughts about Qi Shao, I’m sure you two will eventually end up together,” Zhuang Qian encouraged.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

“Zhuang Hao, long time no see. It’s been a while since you attended class,” Tang Tianying greeted.

Zhuang Hao nodded slightly at Tang Tianying. “Long time no see.”

Zhuang Qian shrank back nervously. Tang Tianying also seemed to have some improper thoughts about Qi Shaorong.

Tang Tianying looked at Zhuang Hao and asked, “Zhuang Hao, how’s your relationship with Qi Shaorong recently?”

Zhuang Qian joked half-seriously, “Fourth Prince, you’re not here to scout out the competition, are you?”

Tang Tianying: “…”

“Ah Qian, the Fourth Prince is just kidding. Fourth Prince, you said before that liking Qi Shaorong was a joke, right?” Zhuang Hao stared at Tang Tianying.

Zhuang Qian: “…” Was his big brother already implementing his advice to eliminate competitors?

Tang Tianying awkwardly nodded and forced a smile. “Yes, of course, just a joke.”

Lowering his head, Tang Tianying thought to himself: He had always believed Zhuang Hao to be cold and indifferent, aloof from worldly matters. Who knew that he could be so possessive? Truly, appearances can be deceiving.

Tang Tianying changed the topic. “Zhuang Hao, I heard you’ve had a falling out with Shen Yuan recently. You’ve been friends for years—what’s so difficult to resolve between you two?”

Zhuang Hao took a deep breath and said, “He… Forget it, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Tang Tianying: “…”

“By the way, Zhuang Hao, did you know about Glorious Cosmetics’ latest announcement?” Tang Tianying asked, shifting the conversation.

Zhuang Qian was surprised. “Fourth Prince, you care about things like that? Isn’t cosmetics stuff only rich girls with nothing better to spend on care about?”

Tang Tianying shrugged. “Not really my thing, but some of my father’s concubines won’t stop talking about it, so I couldn’t help but hear about it.”

Zhuang Qian asked, “What’s new with Glorious Cosmetics?”

“Take a look. This is a flyer they recently put out.”

The flyer read:
To thank our valued customers for their support, Glorious Cosmetics is proud to launch a revolutionary product, the ‘Tears of a Goddess.’

This elixir is the result of over sixty years of research into 3,500 different spiritual flowers, involving thousands of trials and painstaking efforts. The outcome is a miraculous serum.

This product delays aging, restores youth, diminishes scars, and enhances beauty. Its efficacy is said to be ten times that of Snow Lotus Essence.

The product will be available in the capital in one month, limited to 100 bottles, each priced at 200,000 gold coins.

…

“Two hundred thousand gold coins per bottle? Glorious Cosmetics has shifted from subtle money-making to outright robbery. I bet not a single bottle will sell,” Zhuang Qian commented.

Tang Tianying shook his head. “Not selling any is unlikely. Some shops have introduced trial packs, and the results are reportedly phenomenal. Several of my father’s concubines have already expressed they must buy one, fearing they won’t be able to get their hands on it.”

Zhuang Qian muttered, “Your concubines must be out of their minds!”

Tang Tianying added, “It’s not just my concubines. Many instructors at Saint Emperor Academy are also interested.”

“Two hundred thousand gold coins isn’t small, but for the wealthy in the capital, it’s not an insurmountable expense,” Zhuang Hao remarked.

“Big brother, you’re rich! Why don’t you buy one for Qi Shaorong?” Zhuang Qian suggested.

Zhuang Hao looked at Zhuang Qian. “We’ll see about that.” After all, Qi Shaorong didn’t need him to give such a gift.

Zhuang Qian: “…”

Qi Shaorong’s Laboratory

Qi Heng looked at the flyer in his hand and commented, “Young Master, isn’t this promotional slogan a bit exaggerated?”

Qi Shaorong shook his head dismissively, “Not at all! Ah Heng, let me tell you, if you want to make big money, you need to master the art of embellishment. If you don’t play up the effects, how will you sell anything? Besides, our products are genuinely good. A little exaggeration doesn’t hurt.”

“These days, who doesn’t exaggerate? Even a tiny noodle shop in the corner of the capital dares to claim they make the ‘Best Noodles in the World.’ Compared to them, we’re being modest.”

“But, Young Master,” Qi Heng hesitated, “the flyer claims that ‘Tears of the Goddess’ was developed over sixty years of research on over 3,500 rare flowers through thousands of experiments. Yet in reality, you developed it in just five days, working with barely a hundred flowers.”

Qi Shaorong replied with confidence, “As the saying goes, ‘a minute on stage takes ten years of practice.’ While I only spent five days developing ‘Tears of the Goddess,’ it was built on the foundation of decades of relentless effort.”

Qi Heng raised a skeptical eyebrow, “But, Young Master, you’re only sixteen years old. Decades of effort seems a bit of a stretch.”

“I’ll be seventeen soon,” Qi Shaorong corrected.

“Seventeen? Still younger than me!” Zhuang Hao commented as he entered.

Qi Shaorong turned to him with a frown. “Zhuang Hao, how did you get in here?”

“Avoided all your traps,” Zhuang Hao replied smugly.

Qi Shaorong glared. “Zhuang Hao, breaking into someone else’s space is rather inappropriate, don’t you think?”

Zhuang Hao gave him a calm look. “We know each other so well. I’m just here for a look.”

“How well could we possibly know each other?” Qi Shaorong retorted, annoyed.

“You tried to pull my pants off in the secret realm. Isn’t that close enough?” Zhuang Hao shot back.

Qi Shaorong: “… Zhuang Hao, are you out of your mind?”

“You’re the crazy one. I’m older than you, yet you keep calling me young,” Zhuang Hao grumbled.

Qi Shaorong sighed deeply. “I’m not like you.”

“In what way?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Closing his eyes, Qi Shaorong took a deep breath, his mind racing: I’m a reincarnated soul! How could this brat even compare?

“Zhuang Hao, life’s length depends on age, but its breadth depends on what you do within it. While you’re sleeping in, I’m studying. Though I’m just sixteen, I’ve achieved the wisdom of a seventy-year-old. Got it?”

Qi Heng leaned closer and whispered, “Young Master, you haven’t exactly skipped many naps.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” Ah, it’s not the sharp opponents you fear, but the dumb teammates.

“Ah Heng, are you working for this guy? Have you forgotten who pays your allowance?” Qi Shaorong said with irritation.

Qi Heng: “…”

“Qi Shaorong,” Zhuang Hao cut in seriously, “do you realize how many people are eyeing Charming Beauty Cosmetics right now? The only reason no one has made a move yet is because they’re still gauging its strength. Once someone strikes, you’ll be in serious danger.”

Qi Shaorong closed his eyes and replied, “Someone’s already made a move.”

Zhuang Hao frowned. “So why are you stepping into the spotlight in such a situation?”

“Because they want to know, so I’ll let them know,” Qi Shaorong said firmly.

Zhuang Hao stared at him. “You’re walking on the edge of a cliff, do you realize that?”

Qi Shaorong turned to him, his expression calm but resolute. “I know. But what choice do I have? I want to make big money. I refuse to live a mediocre life or be looked down upon. If I don’t take risks, how will I succeed? How will I rise above others?”