9:47 PM — Hangzhou Arcane Gymnasium, Hangzhou City
The roar of thousands thundered through the concert arena, an avalanche of cheers, chants, and flashing lights.
On the stage, drenched in spotlights, stood Veronika Qin, better known as Vera, the newest rising idol in the C-pop industry.
Dressed in a shimmering silver outfit, her voice rang through the venue, effortlessly delivering the final high note of her encore and ending her first-ever concert performance.
Letting out a deep breath, she spoke in her motive tongue, although with a touch of a foreign accent.
"Xiexie nimen jintian de peiban, wo zhen de hen gandong. Xiwang xiaci hai neng he nimen yiqi chang, yiqi xiao. Goodnight, get home safely~"
After a beat of silence, the crowd exploded.
*Wooooooh!
Falling to her knees, Vera caught her breath, overwhelmed by the sheer love and adoration radiating from the crowd. The cameras zoomed in, capturing the tears glistening in her eyes.
Meanwhile, in the backstage, a man watched from the shadows with his arms crossed. He was dressed in a black suit, tailored to perfection and exuding an effortless authority, his sharp features stood out: defined jawline, piercing dark brown eyes, although one of them was a contact lens under which a bionic eye was glowing.
Alex had seen this moment several times before as an artist earning their glory. But this time, it wasn't just business. This was personal.
Because the one who just finished the performance was his daughter.
"CEO Qin." A nervous staff member approached, voice laced with awe. "The press is waiting. They would like your statement."
Alex nodded once. "Let's not keep them waiting."
As he stepped into the press zone, flashes went off like gunfire.
"CEO Qin! What are your thoughts on Aurora's record-breaking debut?"
"Did you always know Vera would become a star?"
"What's it like managing your own daughter?"
Alex gave a measured smile. "As the CEO, I'm happy that my artist is welcomed by the fans, showing the entire world that she indeed has what it takes to become our company's face. And as a father, I'm very proud of her. I watched her from the sidelines for years. Vera worked harder than anyone to reach this stage. She had several opportunities to take my help for faster growth, but she didn't. Whatever she achieved, she did it through her own efforts."
The cameras ate up his presence, the way he balanced professionalism with fatherly pride.
But once the microphones were lowered and the lights dimmed, his night continued.
*
10:18 PM – Xueyuan Road, Hangzhou City;
The street ahead was sealed. Police tape flapped in the wind. Blue and red lights pulsed over the glassy pavement.
At the barricade, four figures stood silently. Each one clad in full armor, all of them were platinum-ranked Hunters, belonging to Guild Zero: the strongest guild in Hangzhou, even though their members numbered fewer than 30.
A sleek black vehicle pulled up just short of the line. Inside, Alex loosened his tie and reached for the helmet on the passenger seat. Shaped like a wolf's head, it shimmered under the neon glow.
He slipped it on and murmured. "Eva, activate the prototype."
A soft hum escaped the helmet.
[Affirmed. Activating the Suit]
Nano-particles spilled from the helmet, wrapping around his body like liquid steel. In seconds, his silhouette transformed into an armored figure in black, his face hidden beneath the wolf mask.
He then stepped out.
"Hey! It's the Black Wolf!"
"Get the shot. Close up!"
"Zoom in on the mask!"
Photographers and civilians pressed up against the police lines. Cameras and smartphones were raised, and the blinding flashes of light aimed at Alex.
Alex waved his hands as he walked past them without a word. He approached the four Hunters.
One of them, a lean, sharp-eyed 18-year-old, crossed his arms and scoffed. "You and your obsessed fans…" he muttered.
Alex almost walked past him but halted his footsteps to give a pat on his shoulder. "When you save people, they will also become your fans…" He leaned forward, his voice as low as a whisper as he added. "Son."
"Let's go," Alex said to the group, continuing to walk forward toward the portal. The others followed. "Tch… show off…" Theo clicked his tongue but followed him and entered the dungeon, as well.
12:12 AM – Outside the Portal
In a little less than two hours, the group of 5 walked out as the gateway sizzled out behind them. The street was quieter now, but the press still lingered.
Flashes sparked again as the Hunters walked out, bloodied and tired but victorious.
Alex waved casually, his armor looking brand new. On the other hand, the remaining four had bruises over their faces and skin, and scratches were seen almost everywhere on their armor.
It was as if he didn't lift a finger while the others did all the work for him. Nevertheless, everyone seemed to have satisfactory looks on their faces, except for the 18-year-old. Theo looked a bit sour, as if he wasn't satisfied with how the raid went.
"We're done for tonight," Alex said, glancing back at the team. "Let's catch up later."
"Goodnight, Mr. Qin."
"Goodnight, Tianzhun-gege."
"See you later, Mr. Qin."
The Hunters waved and split up.
Theo lingered there, stopping him instead. "You going home, right? Let's go together."
Alex blinked, then shook his head. "Nah. My night is not over yet, Wei. You go ahead." He threw the car keys to Theo and turned around, raised his arm, and in a flash of light, his flight suit lifted him off the ground. "Don't wait for me."
Qin Wei, aka Theo, just stood there, fists clenched.
*
12:45 AM – Zenith Entertainment HQ, VIP Lounge, Shanghai;
The glass table stretched long and wide. Alex sat at its head, fingers tapping rhythmically.
Across from him sat a film director, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"You asked for this meeting, Director Lin," Alex said quietly. "Well, you had one now. Speak."
"CEO Qin," Lin Haoyu hesitated for a moment and said. "It's about the casting for Blood Moon Chronicles."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"The investors… they're asking for Seo Hyesung instead of Zhang Ziyi for the lead role."
A brief silence filled the room, increasing Director Lin's nervousness.
Alex slowly leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. "They want a washed-up scandal magnet with a plastic face… over a proven A-list natural actress?"
The director shrank in his seat. "T-they were pressured by investors. Seo Hyesung was related to one of them, and she charges…"
Alex exhaled softly. He glanced at his assistant, who immediately handed him a folder.
"Take a look at this before speaking further."
Director Lin hesitated before opening it. His face drained of color as he saw what was inside. It is proof of Seo Hyesung's drug scandal, her hidden affair with a married CEO, and the tax evasions she has committed so far…
It's more or less a career suicide waiting to happen.
"Now," Alex said, maintaining his voice low and steady, "do you want to reconsider your casting decision, or do you want me to forcefully change your decision by leaking it the moment you announce her name in the press meet?"
Director Lin's hands trembled. "O-of course. Zhang Ziyi is the best choice. I'll convince the investors."
Alex leaned back, giving a satisfying nod. "Good. Then, I guess this meeting never happened."
The director fled, leaving Alex alone with his assistant.
"Doesn't stealing an opportunity from another actress go against your principles, Boss?" the assistant chuckled while taking the file from the table.
Alex shrugged calmly. "We won't rob opportunities from the deserving, Ah Jian. We sure as hell won't play it fair against the undeserving."
He rose from his seat, checking his watch. It was nearing midnight.
And he still had one last matter to deal with.
*
1:53 AM – Undisclosed Location
Far from the glitz and glamour of the Chinese entertainment world, deep within an abandoned factory, a group of men in suits stood waiting. They weren't celebrities. They weren't directors.
They were actually his subordinates.
And in the center of the room, a man sat slumped in a chair, hands tied, and face bloodied beyond recognition.
Alex walked in, his men stepping aside silently.
One of Alex's subordinates spoke. "Boss, this is the ex-boyfriend who was blackmailing Ms. Bai Lu, threatening to release their private videos unless she paid him a million credits."
Alex stared at the battered figure in front of him. The man groaned, barely able to lift his head.
"What do you have to say to that?" Alex's voice was low and emotionless.
"P-please… I-I won't do it. I beg you. Please leave me…"
"Wrong answer." Alex raised a hand. One of the subordinates clicked the trigger, an energy bullet escaped the handheld Mana Sniping Rifle.
The man slumped over, becoming a lifeless corpse in an instant with a bullet wound right into the middle of his forehead.
Alex didn't flinch. He simply turned, placing one of his hands in his pocket to turn around.
"Clean this up." He ordered.
As he stepped out into the chilly night air, his phone buzzed all of a sudden, a voice message sent to his chat.
[Shen Yue]: I can't sleep, Gege~… Wish you were here.
Listening to her flirty tone, he smirked, typed back instead: Wait for me.
*
2:47 AM – Four Seasons Hotel Suite, Hangzhou City;
Shen Yue, the darling of the celebrity world, barely had the time to react when the knock on the door came. She opened it and her eyes widened, filled with delight. "Gege!"
Alex didn't let her talk much. In one swift motion, he picked her up, his lips crashing into hers. She involuntarily put her arms over his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist. The door shut behind them.
An hour later;
Shen Yue lay asleep, wrapped in silk white sheets, her head resting on Alex's bare chest. The city lights filtered through the window, casting a dim glow over their naked bodies.
Alex exhaled, staring at the ceiling with a smirk on his face.
"Well, in a nutshell, this is my life: A celebrity Manager to my idol daughter, A teammate to my Hunter son, a Gangster Boss in the shadows, and a playboy who sleeps around with the celebrities with no emotional attachment."
"But it wasn't always like this…"
"Well, if I start with how this all happened, we have to go back four years."