The weather in Jiangzhou in July, if described in one word, was hot; if you added another word, it would be even more fitting: scorching.

Even during the coolest part of the morning, the air carried a hint of heat, and after a morning run, the sticky residue left on the skin was the result of sweat drying onto dust carried by the breeze.

After showering, Wang Zhuo followed his daily routine: booting up his computer, logging into QQ to check for messages, see who had visited his profile, how many new followers he had on Weibo, and whether the items he ordered from Paipai.com had shipped.

Now that he had money, did that mean he no longer needed grassroots platforms like Paipai.com? Certainly not. There were many unique shops that money alone couldn't easily access, like hand-painted canvas shoes, matching couple's shirts, locally cured preserved meats and hams, and DIY creative toys, among others.

While browsing a webpage, Sun Donghao’s QQ icon popped up; he had sent a web link.

“Meiman Net? Isn't that the site that supplied many third-rate actors and nude models for the If You Are the One show?” Wang Zhuo asked as he clicked the link.

Sun Donghao sent a smiling emoji: “Don't worry about that for now. What do you think of this model?”

The webpage that opened showed a girl whose beauty seemed inhuman, scantily clad in two palm-sized pieces of fabric, posing provocatively in a shot so hot it made one’s blood boil.

Wang Zhuo shook his head repeatedly, answering honestly, “Technology is too advanced these days. With Photoshop, even a sow can be turned into Diaochan; I can’t properly judge her.”

PS was the abbreviation for Photoshop software, meaning "Image Factory"; with the help of both makeup artistry and this software, the ideal state of "no ugly women online" had truly been achieved.

“I’m having dinner with her later,” Sun Donghao said, clearly annoyed at not receiving praise from Wang Zhuo. “I’ll take some candid shots of her life for you.”

“Good luck to you then,” Wang Zhuo replied casually.

Sun Donghao logged off. Only then did Wang Zhuo suddenly remember that Meiman Net seemed to have a poor reputation; pictures of nude models from that site, with extremely revealing content, were frequently leaked online, attracting crowds of eager followers like the character Fei Long.

Wang Zhuo couldn't help scratching his head. He hoped the girl Haozi (Sun Donghao) was meeting wouldn't turn into the main subject of one of those leaks someday; that would be a disaster.

As a friend, Wang Zhuo felt obliged to help, but this area was completely foreign to him, leaving him feeling strong but unable to direct his energy.

“Ah! I’ve got it!” Slapping the table, he picked up his phone and dialed Fei Long.

“Boss, what are your orders?” Fei Long’s voice sounded weary; Wang Zhuo had likely woken him from a deep sleep.

Wang Zhuo briefly explained the situation and then asked, “Don’t you have a collection of private photos of Meiman models? Get up quickly and see if this woman is among them.”

“Boss…” Fei Long complained, caught between laughter and tears, “Meiman Net has over a hundred thousand model members. Only about a thousand or eight hundred of them do private shoots. The probability is very low; what you’re asking is completely unnecessary, isn't it?”

Wang Zhuo thought to himself that he was simply trying to do his part, and urged, “It won’t take more than a few minutes; just take a look.”

“Fine, fine, fine. If you insist, how can I refuse, sir.” Fei Long painfully climbed to his bedside cabinet and flipped open his laptop screen.

“I’ve sent the link to your QQ. We can talk on QQ in a bit. I’m hanging up,” Wang Zhuo said before ending the call.

Fei Long was effective. Ten minutes later, he sent Wang Zhuo a roaring-laughing emoji on QQ, followed by a photo of the model named Nan Bing with another model.

It was a promotional photo for clothing—Nan Bing and the other model were wearing the same style of clothing in different colors and sizes, posing naturally in a park. From this photo, it was evident that Nan Bing was quite attractive; she wasn't the kind of homely woman whose looks would cause shock without Photoshop.

Haozi being able to date a girl with that kind of looks wasn't bad, Wang Zhuo thought, then asked, “So, you didn't find anything?”

Fei Long sent several more laughing emojis, then suddenly posted a nude photo—it was the girl who had posed with Nan Bing in the promotional shoot. Judging by the setting, lighting, and explicit nature of the shoot, it was clearly one of those underground private sessions.

“Holy crap!” Wang Zhuo immediately sent a face-palming sweat emoji and rapidly clicked the video call button.

When Fei Long accepted, Wang Zhuo saw the sight of his friend rolling with laughter, his fat jiggling.

“Do you have anything on Nan Bing?” Wang Zhuo grabbed his external microphone and hurriedly asked.

Fei Long, his flesh shaking with laughter, replied, “No, didn't find anything on her, but Lu Yao, the one who shot the commercial with her, is a very famous girl in that circle. I have more than ten sets of her photos here!”

“What should we do then? Do you have any channels to inquire about her?” Wang Zhuo asked again.

“Channels? Of course, I do!” Fei Long said with a sly grin. “But this requires funds, Boss. Will you reimburse me?”

This scoundrel! He and Haozi were good friends, yet he was trying to take advantage. Wang Zhuo said testily, “What funds? How much?”

“People in this circle do trades,” Fei Long explained proudly. “We are all involved in private photography; how could we not enjoy collecting? I heard some people have collections of several thousand private shoots. You can trade one they don't have for three of theirs, or you can buy them.”

Several thousand sets? Wang Zhuo was speechless.

“Though I am not talented, Brother, I have collected over four hundred sets myself. However, he definitely already has the vast majority of those, and his collection isn't complete. I'll still need to find others, so these expenses are unavoidable.”

“I get it,” Wang Zhuo replied with a wry smile. “You brat, you’re trying to use my money to beef up your own collection, aren't you?”

“Oh, Boss,” Fei Long wheedled with a silly grin, “My collection is your collection, isn't it? Once I collect them all, I'll definitely burn a DVD for you right away.”

Wang Zhuo pretended not to hear his fawning and asked, “How much money do you need?”

“Give me twenty thousand to start,” Fei Long demanded exorbitantly. “I need to participate in a few private shoots first, get into the photographers' circle, before I can trade for things. Otherwise, they’ll mistake me for a journalist trying to expose them, and they won't show me anything.”

Damn it, Wang Zhuo cursed inwardly. This guy was taking advantage of the situation, not only collecting photos but also demanding funds for attending private shoots. Yet, what he said made perfect sense, leaving no room for refusal.

“Then do you need me to buy you a camera as well? And equip you with a few professional lenses and a tripod?”

“Uh… actually, a consumer-grade camera is fine for participation, but it would be even better if you could lend me your Nikon, Boss.”

Just as Wang Zhuo was about to curse, a semi-nude woman suddenly sat up behind Fei Long. She looked like a beautiful woman in her late twenties, with messy hair, clearly having just woken up.

Fei Long noticed the disturbance behind him and quickly switched the screen display back to his desktop, turning around to ask, “Are you awake?”

“How could anyone sleep with all this noise,” the woman complained, pinching Fei Long’s ample chest before yawning and heading to the bathroom.

Wang Zhuo clearly saw the exchange and wasn't sure what to say.

“Are your parents not home?” he asked.

“They went traveling,” Fei Long declared proudly, waving his hand dismissively. “I gave them thirty thousand yuan, and they went to Hong Kong to have fun.”

Wang Zhuo instantly burst out laughing. Fei Long, when at home, was always a pampered young master who expected everything to be served to him. He spent money like water. Now that he had made so much from stocks, his parents must have been overjoyed and relieved. Traveling on their son’s money must have been very pleasant for them.

“Then who is she?” Wang Zhuo asked again.

“An online acquaintance,” Fei Long replied with a cheeky grin. “I met her on Jiayuan.com. You know that site?”

“Weren’t you looking on QQ City Star before?” Wang Zhuo quickly searched Jiayuan.com and discovered it was a “serious marriage and dating” site.

“City Star?” Fei Long scoffed. “That place is full of little girls who haven't even fully grown up; I got tired of that long ago. The best things are dumplings, and the most fun is with a sister-in-law, Boss!”

This guy was hooking up with a married woman… Wang Zhuo was speechless for a moment before finally asking, “Who told you that twisted logic?”

“Duan Jian Tian Ya, my teacher,” Fei Long quickly sent a web link. “Take a look; it’s his new serialized book. It’s very exciting.”

Anyone who could spout such words probably couldn’t write a decent book, Wang Zhuo thought privately, but he opened the URL anyway and bookmarked it.

Fei Long chuckled, “Then it’s settled. I’ll buy the camera myself. You can reimburse me later for the group fees for the private shoots and the cost of trading photos.”

Wang Zhuo nodded. “So when will you return to Jiangzhou to handle this?”

“Boss, you don’t know this,” Fei Long said. “Who plays around with private shoots in Beijing and Jiangzhou anymore? Everyone has moved to second-tier cities. Today we go to Xi’an, tomorrow to Nanjing, and the day after maybe Changbaishan. That way, the photographers can mix in a bit of travel, and they can even claim the expenses under the guise of a conference.”

Even claiming tax receipts? What kind of people were these photographers? Wang Zhuo waved his hand, caught between laughter and tears. “Then you handle it as you see fit.”

“I’m going to wash my face now. Don’t turn off the video,” Fei Long whispered with a smirk before jumping off the bed and running out.

A moment later, Wang Zhuo understood why Fei Long told him not to turn off the video. The guy actually brought that **“sister-in-law” into the room, and they started rolling around on the bed.

He watched for a moment, then casually closed the video, thinking to himself that his friend had X-ray vision. He had seen performances far more exaggerated and powerful than this amateur show.

This punk, trying to show off to him. Put away your clumsy acting!

How could the most serious marriage and dating site end up introducing these illicit lovers? Wang Zhuo opened Jiayuan.com again, then looked at the equally controversial Meiman Net. He felt that the world was becoming increasingly incomprehensible, a place even his X-ray vision couldn't penetrate.