Manipulative Harem God



27th March, 2023. 

In the morning, Zhang Wei finally checked his phone and received the news that the deal with Tianyi Entertainment had been successfully negotiated at the impressive sum of 1.8 billion HLD.

Wu Xue had sent the message the previous day, but he had forgotten to check his phone, causing a slight delay in his response.

Wu Xue was now inquiring about a suitable place to finalize the agreement.

With 1.2 billion HLD remaining from the original amount he had transferred to her, Zhang Wei asked her to remit the remaining funds to Rose.

He also extended an offer to assist if she needed additional funds for opening the new company.

In addition to this, he transferred another 500 million HLD to Rose, instructing her to disburse it in batches to support Tang Bo's efforts.

This was to ensure the development of the White Tigers gang beyond the Waterfront district.

Rose had a question for Zhang Wei – whether she should provide anything for Lin Ruoxi. Since he hadn't visited her the previous day, Lin Ruoxi was once again in a state of hunger.

Zhang Wei's response surprised Rose; he told her to let Lin Ruoxi starve once more.

This unusual directive left Rose feeling puzzled, wondering about his motives for allowing Lin Ruoxi to go without food again?

Wasn't he visiting Lin Ruoxi regularly from last one week, and training her to be more obedient to him?

Lin Ruoxi had also surrendered herself, and followed all his instructions. 

Bur despite her confusion, Rose followed his instructions nonetheless.

[Blue Orchid Pavilion, 11:00 AM]

Zhang Wei's eyebrows shot up in surprise as a text from Song Shoushan popped up on his phone screen. She was inviting him to meet her friends at a gathering.

In her room, Song Shoushan was equally baffled by her own decision to extend the invitation.

Was it lingering fear from the previous incident that prompted her to reach out? Uncertainty left her helplessly staring at her phone, the digital message feeling oddly weighty.

As he considered the invitation, Zhang Wei's mind went into contemplation mode. He ultimately made up his mind to attend; after all, someone as well-off as Song Shoushan would surely be connected to a circle of affluent friends.

With a few taps, he confirmed his attendance and promptly forwarded the gathering's address to Wu Xue. He instructed her to send the agreement directly there for his signature. Efficiency mattered, even amid personal engagements.

Just as he put down his phone, a presence drew his attention.

"... You're buying an entertainment company?"

Yu Lei had managed to stealthily approach him, perching herself on his lap, her gaze locked onto his eyes with a spark of curiosity.

Being so close to her, he felt her energy was contagious, and he noticed she seemed to respond particularly when something caught her interest.

"Yes," Zhang Wei nodded, providing detailed information about Tianyi Entertainment company, including the fact that they had several tier-1 actresses signed up.

How he acquired the company was a detail he didn't delve into, and that suited Yu Lei just fine.

Upon hearing about the company, Yu Lei's eyes sparkled with excitement. The prospect of working with such high-profile talents seemed to ignite her enthusiasm, and she couldn't contain her delight.

With an unrestrained grin, she enthusiastically grabbed his shoulders and exclaimed, "Zhang Wei!"

Zhang Wei, mindful of their surroundings, quickly reminded her, "Keep your voice down," as she was speaking rather loudly, dangerously close to his face.

Ignoring his caution, Yu Lei continued, "I want to become an actor!"

"Huh?" Zhang Wei was genuinely taken aback, his surprise evident in his expression. Gazing at her wide, grinning face, he realized she wasn't joking; she was genuinely serious about pursuing this new aspiration.

An idea struck Zhang Wei's mind, causing his expression to shift into a serious one. He regarded Yu Lei suspiciously and questioned, "... You want to become a star?"

"Yes!" Yu Lei responded immediately, her smile growing with each word.

"... You want to become famous?"

"Yes!"

"... You want to grace red carpets?"

"Yes!"

"Would you follow my instructions?"

"Yes!"

In that moment, Yu Lei seemed like an eager puppy, waiting for her owner's approval, her eyes forming crescent moons with her radiant smile.

It was in this moment that Zhang Wei's smirk grew mischievous.

"Then the first rule for you is..." he paused, letting the suspense hang in the air before delivering the unexpected twist, "...You will never pursue acting."

"Huh?"

The smile that had been bright on Yu Lei's face faded as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a look of disbelief.

But Yu Lei was undeterred. "... Why?" Her voice held a tinge of confusion, mixed with an edge of protest.

She leaned forward, her expression questioning. Yet, Zhang Wei wasn't to be swayed by her attempts at seduction.

"Because I said so," he answered calmly, moving past her and stepping off the bed.

The disbelief on her face soon gave way to a sense of feeling wronged and abandoned.

Her next words came out with a mix of frustration and accusation. "You're discriminating against me!"

With a hint of resentment, she even tried to play the 'husband' card, declaring, "Husband, you can't misuse your authority like this!"

However, Zhang Wei wasn't about to back down.

Instead, he reached for two nuts and placed one in each of her hands.

With a sense of purpose, he explained, "The right one is for you to pursue acting. Take it if you want to, and feel free to leave the house."

Pointing to the other nut in her left hand, he continued, "The left one is for you to stay with me. You can either follow the rules or leave."

Yu Lei's eyes widened in disbelief.

She felt like Zhang Wei was intentionally toying with her mind.

Was this even a real choice?

Zhang Wei didn't waste time coaxing Yu Lei in the early morning. He chose a more straightforward approach, heading for a shower, perhaps to create a temporary escape from the situation.

Meanwhile, Yu Lei's face displayed a fascinating array of emotions.

She held the nuts in her hands, her gaze shifting from one to the other, as if the answer to her decision was hidden within those small objects.

Gritting her teeth, she muttered, "Is this even a choice!?" Determined to make a point, she defiantly threw the left nut into her mouth, chewing it slowly, each deliberate bite a manifestation of her lingering resentment.

While she held onto that sense of resentment, her mind began to shift. She couldn't help but think about Zhang Wei's intentions.

The entertainment industry was infamous for its darker aspects – drugs, exploitation, and various pitfalls. Could it be that he was genuinely concerned for her safety?

As the nut's taste lingered on her palate, a new realization dawned.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Zhang Wei's actions were more protective than punitive.

A renewed cheerfulness washed over her face, and she couldn't help but giggle at the thought.

Was he perhaps too shy to directly express his concerns, resorting to playing the role of a "villain" with this unconventional rule, shouldering the burden of her resentment to keep her safe?

Yu Lei clicked her tongue, her amusement growing at the sight of Zhang Wei's possessive side. She found this unexpected facet of his personality rather endearing and charming.

However, if Zhang Wei were to know what she was thinking, it might very well be the last day this evil creature was allowed to roam freely in his world.

One can't help but scream: Such rationalization, just how did she came up with this!? 

Chuckling at her own line of thought, Yu Lei mood turned for better, before she was forcefully pulled into the shower by him, as he was bored alone.