"Boss, how did you end up here?" Yue Wang asked in surprise when he clearly saw the two people walking in.

"Fourth Brother, don't say another word. Come back with us first, get those wounds of yours treated, and then we'll talk," Liu Hui said. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Yue Wang bare-chested, wrapped entirely in bandages, looking severely injured. The room was thick with the smell of traditional Chinese herbs.

"Boss, there's no rush, I still have something I need to finish," Yue Wang said cheerfully, then looked towards Luo Pingping, who was standing nearby.

Luo Pingping spoke in a flustered manner, "Yue Wang, you must leave quickly, your health is more important."

Luo Pingping naturally recognized Liu Hui and knew the relationship between him and Yue Wang. Hearing Liu Hui utter the three words, "I object," sent a chill through her heart. She suddenly remembered her current status, and the spark of hope that had just ignited was instantly extinguished.

Yue Wang said, "Boss, I really have something unfinished; can you just wait a little longer?"

Liu Hui roared in anger, "Nonsense! You're not even recovered, what other business could be so important? Go now!"

Liu Hui's attitude startled Yue Wang a bit. He had also heard the objection Liu Hui had spoken; he knew there would be some complication with his matters regarding Luo Pingping, so he said, "Pingping, wait for me for a few days. I’ll come back for you when my body is better. Remember our solemn vows; I will be with you for the rest of my life."

Pingping suppressed the deep sorrow in her heart and managed to say, "Yue Wang, you should go, recover well. I will wait for you here." Inwardly, she was overcome with grief, only wishing to leave Hong Kong immediately after Yue Wang departed, to find a place where she would never see him again and spend the rest of her life there.

So, leaning on Mei Peng for support, Yue Wang staggered toward the door. Suddenly, Liu Hui slapped Yue Wang on the head and scolded him, "What are you doing, walking off alone? What about Miss Pingping's things? Aren't you going to help her pack?"

Yue Wang was momentarily stunned, "Boss, what is this..."

Liu Hui barked, "You scoundrel! How can you get married when you're injured? Of course, I object. Even if you're going to marry, it has to be after you've fully recovered. Isn't that right, Miss Pingping?"

Yue Wang was stunned, then instantly overjoyed. He said, "Boss, you don't object to Pingping and me getting married?"

Liu Hui laughed, "Why would I object to your marriage? This is your own business. Besides, true affection is hard enough to find in this world; if I broke you two up, I'd be struck down by lightning."

Yue Wang was overjoyed, breaking free from Mei Peng’s support. He grabbed Luo Pingping's hand and said, "Pingping, did you hear that? The Boss agreed! We can finally be together!"

Luo Pingping looked gratefully at Liu Hui. She had thought that love was no longer in her fate this lifetime, only to experience a sudden turn for the better at the last moment. Overcome with emotion, she found herself speechless.

Liu Hui rushed Yue Wang and Pingping back to the 'Starry Sky City' overnight. After settling Pingping in, Liu Hui began using the bio-healing tank to treat Yue Wang’s injuries. Yue Wang quickly fell into a deep sleep inside the tank. By the afternoon of the next day, when Yue Wang awoke, he found that all his injuries had miraculously healed.

Liu Hui was waiting beside him. Before Yue Wang could even marvel at the miraculous nature of the bio-healing tank after putting on his clothes, Liu Hui said, "Fourth Brother, tell me—what exactly happened to your Yue family?"

Yue Wang sank onto the sofa, his face etched with pain. After a long silence, he said, "Boss, it’s all my fault. I caused my father's death."

Liu Hui said, "If it's convenient, tell me the entire sequence of events!"

Yue Wang spoke with anguish, "Two years ago, I accidentally met an unparalleled beauty named Xiao Xiao. Captivated by her allure, I pursued her relentlessly, and eventually won her over. We began a happy life together. During that time, our relationship was so wonderful that we were even discussing marriage. Remember how I tried to bring this up a few times before but always stopped short?"

Liu Hui nodded. "No wonder you would hesitate when speaking before; so you were planning to talk about this woman."

Yue Wang continued, "Exactly. I thought I could spend the rest of my life with Xiao Xiao, so I planned to marry her. But what I never expected was that Xiao Xiao was actually being kept by a high-ranking official back on the mainland. The only reason I managed to hook up with her was because she was lonely and bored in Hong Kong. Her talk of marrying me was all a lie. Not only was she cohabiting with me, but she was also fooling around with several other men. After discovering this, I was in pain for a long time. Then, the official from the mainland also found out about the situation between Xiao Xiao and me. He met with me once, but at that time, the official showed no sign of anything unusual."

Liu Hui inquired, "What was that official's name?"

Yue Wang replied, "His name is Zhou Hua. I believe he is somehow connected to the national tobacco monopoly."

Liu Hui asked, "And then what happened?"

Yue Wang said painfully, "Two months ago, after learning Xiao Xiao's true nature, I broke up with her and cut off all contact. I thought that was the end of it, that I would slowly forget Xiao Xiao existed. Unexpectedly, Zhou Hua suddenly attacked our Yue family, leading to my father falling to his death from a building."

Liu Hui frowned slightly and said, "Then what was the deal with you being hunted down?"

Yue Wang explained, "My father called me at the time, saying someone wanted to kill me and told me to flee immediately or seek refuge at your company. But I don't know what happened at your company; I couldn't reach any of your executives. At that moment, my whereabouts were discovered, and the other side dispatched several teams wielding machetes to surround me. After being slashed eight times, I desperately managed to escape. But my injuries were too severe, and I dared not go to a hospital, so I lay alone in the wilderness waiting to die. Fortunately, I met Pingping at that moment. She risked a great deal to bring me to her home and paid to have my wounds bandaged. Then you all arrived."

Liu Hui asked, "Fourth Brother, what are your plans now?"

Yue Wang smiled bitterly, "Logically speaking, I should be furious right now, eager for revenge. My father was murdered, my company collapsed, and I was hacked half to death. But when I calmed down and thought it over, I realized I didn't even know whom to seek revenge against."

Liu Hui was momentarily surprised. "Aren't your enemies quite clear? It's that Zhou Hua on the mainland, some triad societies in Hong Kong, and the court judge who forced your family's company into bankruptcy."

Yue Wang stated seriously, "I don't know why, but lately I've started reflecting on my own actions. If I sought revenge against Zhou Hua, then shouldn't he seek revenge against me for wearing his hat? The Hong Kong societies trying to kill me were only after money; do they really have a grudge against me? As for that judge, it's true that my family's real estate company operated irregularly and violated legal regulations. Their actions forcing our company into bankruptcy were legitimate, even if the process had minor flaws. As for my father's death, I saw it from a distance; he died from a misstep in a fit of rage. Who should I seek revenge against for that?"

Liu Hui paused. He hadn't expected Yue Wang's personality to change so drastically after his family's ruin, even abandoning the thought of revenge; this was quite unexpected.

Liu Hui said, "Since that's how you feel, take some time to rest first, and we'll discuss other matters later!"

After watching Yue Wang leave, Liu Hui immediately placed a call to Luo Tianmin on the mainland.

"Xiao Hui, what made you think of calling me?" Luo Tianmin laughed. He had been living quite comfortably lately; recovering the great achievement of China's South Sea had significantly boosted his approval ratings domestically, ensuring his name would be recorded in history.

"Old Luo, I need to inquire about a person. His name is Zhou Hua, connected to the national tobacco monopoly. Do you know anything about him?" Liu Hui asked.

Although Yue Wang himself didn't want revenge, Liu Hui was not willing to let Zhou Hua off. The fact that Zhou Hua dared to move against Yue Wang after knowing his relationship with Liu Hui meant this was no longer just Yue Wang's affair; it was tied to Liu Hui's authority.

Luo Tianmin responded, "Xiao Hui, why are you asking about this person? He is indeed an official responsible for the tobacco monopoly. What's wrong? Did he cause trouble for you?"

Liu Hui stated, "Yes, he provoked my brother, causing my brother's family ruin. Do you have a way to put this man in prison?"

Luo Tianmin replied with difficulty, "This Zhou Hua is a holdover from the Guo family. Previously, to persuade the Guo family to step down voluntarily, we agreed to certain conditions, which included preserving some officials within their faction, and Zhou Hua's name was on that list. If I move against him now without a legitimate reason, the other powerful figures likely won't support me."

Liu Hui asked in surprise, "On the mainland, even you can't casually remove a minor figure?"

Luo Tianmin responded awkwardly, "Well... if it were someone else, I could certainly help you. The key is that Zhou Hua is specifically in charge of the national tobacco monopoly. You must understand how crucial tobacco is to our country; it brings us immense tax revenue every year. Zhou Hua not only represents the final interests of the Guo family but also the vast interests of many other high-ranking officials. If I move against him now, the resistance will be enormous, potentially isolating me."

Liu Hui hadn't expected this small Zhou Hua to be entangled with so many vested interests, rendering even Luo Tianmin powerless. Liu Hui considered for a moment and then said, "Are you saying that if Zhou Hua's status is no longer so important, taking him down becomes much easier? Is that right?"

Luo Tianmin confirmed, "Exactly. If Zhou Hua's position weren't as vital as it is now, given how long he's held a high post, his history is guaranteed to be riddled with problems; any minor pretext could land him behind bars."

Liu Hui smiled, "Old Luo, remember what you just said; don't go back on your word later!"

Luo Tianmin started, then quickly said, "Xiao Hui, don't do anything reckless..."

Liu Hui laughed, "Don't worry, I absolutely won't act rashly. I will follow the rules completely, and what I'm about to do is definitely beneficial to the entire nation."

After concluding the conversation with Luo Tianmin, Liu Hui spent a few more days preparing before contacting Zerg of the Zerg race via the dimensional trading device. Zerg soon appeared on the screen.

"Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, greetings. What can I do for you?"

Liu Hui also greeted him, "Esteemed Lord Zerg, greetings. I have a matter I wish to discuss with you."

Zerg replied, "Lord Liu Hui, please proceed."

Liu Hui picked up dozens of packs of various types of cigarettes and some data files from nearby and said to Zerg, "Esteemed Lord Zerg, we humans possess a peculiar item we call cigarettes. While these cigarettes can temporarily sharpen human thought processes, they cause physical addiction, making them incredibly difficult to quit. What I need to ask is, can your people manufacture a drug that can successfully make humans overcome their dependence on these cigarettes?"

Zerg said, "First, trade me these cigarettes and the related data. Only after our research can I give you a satisfactory answer."

Liu Hui immediately traded the cigarettes and data to Zerg, who took possession of the items.

Zerg looked at the cigarettes in his possession and suddenly asked, "Lord Liu Hui, do your humans also utilize that white, magical powder you traded to me?"

Liu Hui replied, "Yes, we do. Why else would we produce this white, magical powder? The human body also develops a profound dependency on this powder, far greater than the one caused by the cigarettes I just traded. A normal human, after just a few uses of this magical powder, becomes utterly reliant on it."

Zerg stated, "Lord Liu Hui, our Zerg race will face a massive war against the Protoss in the future, requiring a great quantity of that white, magical powder. However, your human race consumes a large amount of it yourselves. I fear you won't have enough powder for us when the time comes. Your recent idea regarding quitting nicotine addiction has given me a thought. How about this: our Zerg race will freely provide you with a drug that can allow your humans to rid themselves of their dependency on this magical powder. This way, your human consumption will decrease, allowing you to stockpile more powder, ensuring we don't face a shortage when we need large quantities. What do you think?"

Liu Hui was taken aback, then utterly ecstatic. He hadn't expected the rigid Zerg to devise such a seemingly clever solution. Zerg believed that by reducing Earth's drug use, he could acquire more of the substance. What Zerg didn't realize was that Liu Hui wasn't relying on Earth's cultivation of narcotics; he was relying on the massive poppy cultivation orchestrated by the charlatan Alexander in the magical planes to sustain his trade with Zerg.

Liu Hui had already listed developing an addiction cure as his next development goal. Unexpectedly, Zerg brought up the issue himself and even offered the cure for free. This meant Liu Hui could profit immensely from this anti-addiction drug as well, since Zerg was providing it without charge.

Though ecstatic internally, Liu Hui maintained a calm exterior, saying, "That sounds excellent. First, research this drug and let us test it out!"

Zerg responded, "Lord Liu Hui, we will immediately begin researching both the smoking cessation and the drug withdrawal medications. We will notify you as soon as we have any news. Farewell!"

Liu Hui replied, "Very well, I await your good news. Goodbye!"

To deal with Zhou Hua on the mainland, Liu Hui could have instantly eliminated him using his available military power. However, given Zhou Hua's social standing, if news of such an action leaked, the reputation of 'Starry Sky City' would be utterly ruined. Others would fear a potential ambush from 'Starry Sky City,' causing it to be perceived as a terrorist entity. Therefore, Liu Hui abandoned direct military action, opting for an alternative approach against Zhou Hua.

Since Zhou Hua oversaw the national tobacco monopoly and was deeply interwoven with too many people's interests, toppling him immediately was difficult. Thus, Liu Hui had a sudden inspiration: to develop an anti-smoking drug and thus destroy the entire domestic tobacco trading market. Once the tobacco market was destroyed, the foundation Zhou Hua relied upon would vanish, and others would naturally cease to care about his fate, making it easy for Liu Hui to deal with him then.

What Liu Hui hadn't anticipated was that while he only asked Zerg for a smoking cessation drug, he inadvertently prompted Zerg to devise a method to free Earthlings from drug dependency for free.

If Zerg truly managed to invent both these drugs, it would not only achieve the goal of neutralizing Zhou Hua but also allow the Starry Sky Group's pharmaceutical sector to regain its dominant position, earning massive profits for 'Starry Sky City.'

Once the international environment for 'Starry Sky City's' development was settled, Liu Hui shifted his focus back to the business development of the Starry Sky Group. The construction funding for the entire 'Starry Sky City' project was astronomical, far exceeding what the current scale of the Starry Sky Group could support. Therefore, the Starry Sky Group needed to continue expanding and earning vast sums of money to ensure the normal progression of the 'Starry Sky City' project.

Among the Starry Sky Group's previous industries, the pharmaceutical sector had seen a significant decline, with its sales contribution shrinking within the overall group. Other sectors, however, were flourishing and increasingly becoming the backbone of the Starry Sky Group, as one treated patient meant one less patient, while other industries offered continuous, repetitive cycles of income.

But now, with the addition of anti-smoking and anti-drug medications, the Starry Sky Group's pharmaceutical sector was poised for a resurgence, bringing massive profits to the group.

Furthermore, the newly developed age-reversal service at the 'Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital' also showed tremendous growth potential. After the 'Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital' announced its capability for human age reversal therapy, nations around the world began contacting 'Starry Sky City,' seeking agreements. These deals would recognize all the interests of 'Starry Sky City' in exchange for granting their citizens access to the age-reversal treatment.

Although the publicly announced price for age-reversal therapy at the 'Starry Sky Terminal Illness Hospital' was one hundred million US dollars to gain one year younger—an incredibly steep price that excluded the vast majority of the world's population—even the smallest and poorest nations still harbored wealthy individuals capable of affording this treatment. These individuals often controlled the direction of national policy decisions. Driven by their self-interest, negotiations between these nations and 'Starry Sky City' progressed rapidly, soon leading to the signing of formal agreement documents.

Once the age-reversal therapy officially launched, even if the number of recipients was small, the exorbitant price tag alone would generate colossal profits for the Starry Sky Group.

In addition to the aforementioned enterprises, Liu Hui made further adjustments to the Starry Sky Group's product structure. Previously, the Starry Sky Group used 'Starry Spirit' as a free gift, aggressively boosting the group's market share in the cosmetics sector, knocking many established cosmetic giants to the ground and seizing their market share. Now, apart from a few struggling cosmetic companies, the rest had declared bankruptcy.

After all, with the allure of 'Starry Spirit' combined with the excellent effectiveness of the Starry Sky Group's cosmetics, consumers, after using them for a period, simply refused to return to the products of the former cosmetic companies.

Liu Hui's adjustment to the product structure was this: purchasing Starry Sky Group cosmetics would still include a free 'Starry Spirit,' but simultaneously, 'Starry Spirit' would be officially launched as an independent product.

In other words, consumers previously needed to buy Starry Sky Group cosmetics to obtain 'Starry Spirit'; now, while buying cosmetics still came with a free 'Starry Spirit,' the item could also be purchased separately on the market.

Liu Hui's plan was to completely discontinue the free gift promotion with cosmetic purchases in six months. After that time, the only way to acquire 'Starry Spirit' would be through purchase at a Starry Sky Group specialty store. Given the enormous market capacity for 'Starry Spirit,' which was in no way smaller than the cosmetics market, Liu Hui had no intention of continuing the free giveaways indefinitely.

And so, Liu Hui, that unscrupulous profiteer, after leveraging "Starlight Dew" to crush other cosmetic manufacturers, gradually began recalling the free samples, repackaging them, and relaunching them for sale, toying with every consumer across the globe.

Those who saw through Liu Hui's marketing ploy gnashed their teeth at his despicable behavior. Yet, they were utterly helpless, primarily because only the Starlight Group possessed such a product, and moreover, the "City of Starlight" wielded formidable power.

Qian Yu Chu Hai has been traveling for business these past few days, but tragically forgot to pack his laptop charger. Consequently, after this chapter is posted, his laptop battery will completely drain, causing it to shut down automatically.

Therefore, the book will be unable to receive updates until at least December 4th. I sincerely hope for everyone's understanding. Once Qian Yu Chu Hai returns home, he will gradually catch up on the content missed during these days.

Thanks to the readers: Gu Ye Chang Mian and Zhi Fei Yi Yong for their support!

Thanks to the reader: Da Shi for the generous reward of 588 coins!

Thanks to the reader: Wo Shi Fei for the update tickets! RO