Chapter Eight: Setting the Trap

“Midah, you go out first. I’ll handle this myself,” Ma Wu said, pushing the petrified Li Midah out the door.

Once the door was closed, Ma Wu immediately took out his phone, opened the system store, and located a product called Tendon Mending and Bone Setting Elixir.

Tendon Mending and Bone Setting Elixir — Price: 150 Success Points.

Purchase? Yes.

Purchase successful.

Extract item? Yes.

Retrieving the object, Ma Wu quickly picked up the severed hand from the floor and headed toward the other man in the suit.

“Why did you cut off my hand? What did I ever do to you? Do you have a grudge against me?” The man in the suit sat on the ground, his face contorted in rage.

“Bear with it,” Ma Wu said, ignoring the man’s protests as he placed the severed hand back against the wounded wrist.

He then poured the Tendon Mending and Bone Setting Elixir onto the cut.

The suited man, who had been screaming a moment before, gradually realized the pain had faded and feeling was returning to his hand. He stopped screaming.

“This… this…” he stammered, staring at Ma Wu in utter confusion.

“I’ve just bought this modeling agency,” Ma Wu said expressionlessly. “Earlier, Yang Junling made an indecent request of my girlfriend. I wanted to teach him a lesson, so I cut off your hand. But I’ve reattached it, so you don’t need to worry. Additionally, I’ll compensate you with one million yuan.”

The mention of a million in compensation erased the resentment from the man’s face. Yet more than anything, he was stunned by Ma Wu’s methods—a single bottle of liquid had reattached his hand seamlessly, without even a stitch. It was miraculous.

“I was scared out of my wits just now,” the man admitted, getting to his feet in disbelief.

True to his word, Ma Wu took his account details and transferred him a million yuan.

“Thank you, boss,” the man said, bowing deeply, overflowing with gratitude.

“To make up for the harm I caused you, I’ve decided to appoint you as deputy general manager of this modeling agency. Do your job well in the future. If I ever find out you’re taking advantage of female models or doing anything shameful, I won’t just cut off your hand—I’ll chop off your legs as well,” Ma Wu said sternly, though inside he was immensely pleased. He found that acting so dignified was a wonderful feeling.

“Thank you, boss!” The man bowed again, his face alight with joy. After years as a driver, to suddenly become the deputy general manager of a modeling agency—what incredible luck!

Ma Wu then went to check on Li Midah, who was still dazed, and transferred her the remaining nine hundred thousand.

“I’ve settled everything. Don’t worry. I gave him a million in compensation. The remaining nine hundred thousand is already in your account. Go buy your car tomorrow.”

Li Midah leaned into Ma Wu’s embrace, her eyes betraying a hint of delight, though her expression remained frosty.

The two walked home together.

Halfway there, the system broadcast sounded.

Ding! Master, your spending this time was ingenious. You are rewarded with double Rich Points.

Name: Ma Wu

Occupation: Student

Hobbies: Self-indulgence, daydreaming about Lin Erke

Spending Value: 11,000

Pretentious Value: 500

Rich Points: 2,500

Face-slapping Value: 200

Success Points: 300-150+50 (for cutting someone)

Ding! Congratulations, Master! Your Rich Points have reached the required amount. The next task has been triggered.

Ding! Congratulations, Master! Your account has gained an additional spending limit of one hundred million. Note: This credit cannot be withdrawn, only spent.

Ding! Next task: Acquire Goldfish TV for fifty million.

What? Acquire Goldfish TV for fifty million? You must be joking. Goldfish TV may be a new streaming platform, but with so many famous streamers joining, its market value is almost two hundred million. How could fifty million be enough?

A hundred million spending value could be exchanged for fifty million yuan.

“If I fail this task, I won’t have to do something humiliating on live stream again, will I?” Ma Wu asked.

Ding! If you fail the task, your life will end here.

Damn!

As the system’s message rang out, cold sweat broke out on Ma Wu’s forehead. What kind of situation was this?

“Is there a time limit for this task?” Ma Wu asked cautiously, his eyes darting.

Ding! The time limit is one month.

The system’s reply made Ma Wu breathe a little easier. At least it wasn’t immediate—he had some time to maneuver.

There was almost no way to acquire Goldfish TV through normal means. Something would have to happen to make their market value plummet.

Aside from money, Ma Wu had nothing else at his disposal now.

So, within this month, he needed to find a way to deal a blow to Goldfish TV.

The Lei family seemed like a possible angle.

Lei Bujing had certainly had a string of bad luck lately—not only was his face ruined, but he had also lost his allowance.

After getting chewed out by his father, he finally managed to get some pocket money and was now living it up at a bar.

“Come here, darling, give your big daddy a kiss,” Lei Bujing said with a lecherous grin to the bar hostess before him.

A flash of disgust appeared in the woman’s eyes, though she kept up her coquettish laughter.

“Well, if it isn’t the young master of the Lei family,” a mocking voice chimed in nearby.

It was Ma Wu.

“How did you end up making out with this kind of company?”

Lei Bujing, who was riding high just a moment before, instantly turned pale. He would never forget that voice.

Ma Wu, you’re actually looking for me instead of the other way around?

“What do you want with me?” Lei Bujing nearly ground his teeth to dust as he spoke.

Ma Wu flashed a provocative smile. “You’re still upset you lost to me last time, aren’t you?”

“I’m giving you a chance for revenge. How about it?”

Lei Bujing’s eyes lit up at first, then he quickly restrained himself. No one offers goodwill without a reason.

“So, what’s the game?”

“Goldfish TV is about to launch a streamer competition,” Ma Wu said, pausing before continuing, “I’ll be supporting our Erke. You find your own streamer. Let’s see who wins.”

Lei Bujing never expected Ma Wu would be foolish enough to challenge him in terms of financial power, especially considering the Lei family was the richest in the city.

“Fine, I accept,” Lei Bujing replied without hesitation, already plotting furiously. Last time, he was caught unprepared. This time, with full preparation, he was sure he wouldn’t lose again.

Having secured Lei Bujing’s agreement, Ma Wu left.

He now had only 1,100 spending value left, plus the available overdraft. All he could do was give it his all.

“Beep beep beep—”

His phone had been buzzing incessantly since earlier, but he’d been too busy to check it.

Now that he had a moment, he opened it and found over fifty unread messages—all from Lin Erke.

[Erke, what did you want to talk to me about?]

As soon as she saw Ma Wu’s reply, Lin Erke breathed a sigh of relief, afraid he was ignoring her.

[It’s like this, Goldfish TV’s streamer competition is about to begin. I was wondering if you, sir, might be able to…]

Before she could finish, Ma Wu already knew what she was getting at.

Courting patrons before a competition was nothing new, and last time Lin Erke had even kicked Lei Bujing out of her stream.

[Of course, no problem. You know how much I like you, Erke.]

[But…]

Lin Erke’s heart rose and fell with Ma Wu’s message, a faint pout forming unconsciously. Why couldn’t he just say what he wanted all at once?

A mischievous smile curled on Ma Wu’s lips as he imagined Lin Erke’s current expression.

He had planned to tip her anyway, but since she brought it up, how could he not take advantage?

[I wonder, Miss Erke, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?]

Seeing this message, Lin Erke frowned involuntarily. She’d encountered this sort of thing plenty of times. What if Ma Wu wanted to do something improper?

[I’ve tipped you so much; surely it’s not too much to ask for a meal?]

As he spoke, Ma Wu tipped another million into Lin Erke’s account.

[…Alright.]

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Erke agreed. Now she could only hope Ma Wu was a decent man.

“Who are you chatting with?” Li Midah asked, arms crossed, a hint of displeasure in her voice.

It was likely the constant beeping of his phone that had caught her attention.

Ma Wu didn’t have time to close the chat before Li Midah came over and saw everything.

“You already have me, so why are you still chatting with other women?” she said, her tone edged with jealousy.