Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao suspects an information leak within his team, as competitors like Shanda, Tencent, and Sina are closely monitoring Century Interactive Entertainment's moves.
• Chen Hao sends Zhou Xiao to Korea to sign games, followed by Chen Hao leading a team to Korea three days later.
• Competitors, aware of Chen Hao's team's movements, rush to Korea to discuss cooperation with the same game companies, creating a seller's market.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao demonstrates strategic thinking and decisiveness in sending Zhou Xiao to Korea first to secure games, then leading his team to follow up.
• Zhou Xiao shows trustworthiness and capability in handling sensitive tasks.

Significant Themes

• Competition and Strategy: The intense competition among game companies is highlighted, with each trying to outmaneuver the others to secure lucrative game agency rights.
• Information and Intelligence: The value of timely and accurate information is emphasized, with the leak within Chen Hao's team and competitors' intelligence gathering efforts.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao and Zhou Xiao: Chen Hao entrusts Zhou Xiao with a crucial task, showing confidence in his abilities, and Zhou Xiao executes it successfully.
• Competitors: They interact indirectly through their shared pursuit of game agency rights, each trying to gain an edge over the others.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A bidding war ensues for the publishing rights of Korean online games, with prices skyrocketing.
• Chen Hao, representing Century Interactive Entertainment, attends these auctions, bidding strategically.
• Chen Hao's company secures the rights for "Heat Blood Jianghu" for $20 million after a fierce bidding war.
• In the final round, the publishing rights for "Miracle World" are auctioned, with bids reaching an unprecedented $50 million, won by Century Interactive Entertainment.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao demonstrates strategic bidding, patience, and composure, showing no signs of dejection despite initial losses.
• Representatives from other companies show determination and competitiveness, aiming to maximize profits.

Significant Themes

• Competition and strategic bidding in the business world.
• The high value and potential of the online gaming industry.
• The role of confidence and composure in business negotiations.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao interacts with representatives from other companies, maintaining a composed demeanor despite losses and victories.
• Other company representatives interact with Chen Hao, expressing their joy at his initial losses and later acknowledging his composure and determination.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao and Little Ma engage in a psychological bidding war for the distribution rights of MU World.
• Chen Hao successfully secures the rights for Tencent after a tense final bid.
• Korean game companies swarm Chen Hao, seeking collaborations, causing a media stir.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao demonstrates his strategic thinking and composure during the high-stakes bidding.
• Little Ma shows his understanding of Chen Hao's tactics and remains calm under pressure.
• Korean game company representatives exhibit desperation and eagerness to collaborate with Chen Hao.

Significant Themes

• Psychological warfare and strategic thinking in business negotiations.
• The global recognition and influence of Century Interactive Entertainment.
• The competitive nature of the online gaming industry.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao vs. Little Ma: A tense bidding war between two strategic minds.
• Chen Hao vs. Korean game company representatives: A overwhelming response from Korean companies seeking collaboration.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao interviews over 40 game companies, selecting 5 for potential publishing deals.
• He visits these 5 companies secretly, causing a stir in the industry.
• The 5 companies hold a joint auction for their publishing rights.
• Domestic companies, including Shanda, NetEase, Sina, and Tencent, attend the auction.
• Shanda, NetEase, Sina, and Tencent acquire Lunia, Rainbow Island OL, Thunder Squad 2, and Sky Warrior respectively.
• Tencent acquires Battlefield King, but Neowiz attempts to bundle another game for an additional fee.
• Tencent refuses, and the audience remains silent until Chen Hao steps in to acquire the bundled game.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao demonstrates his strategic thinking and business acumen by orchestrating a series of events to attract competitors and drive up auction prices.
• The CEOs of Shanda, NetEase, Sina, and Tencent show their competitive nature and willingness to outbid each other for popular games.
• Neowiz, the publisher of Battlefield King, attempts to exploit the situation by bundling another game for an additional fee.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry in the gaming industry.
• Strategic planning and manipulation of market dynamics.
• Greed and exploitation, as seen in Neowiz's attempt to gouge additional fees.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao interacts with the CEOs of other major gaming companies, exchanging pleasantries and taunts.
• The CEOs of Shanda, NetEase, Sina, and Tencent collaborate and compete against each other during the auction.
• Chen Hao and Little Ma (Tencent) engage in a bidding war for Battlefield King, with Chen Hao ultimately acquiring the bundled game.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao acquires the publishing rights for Crossfire for $30 million.
• Tencent acquires the publishing rights for several other games for $5 million each.
• Chen Hao returns home, reflecting on his journey and the changes in the industry.
• Media surrounds Chen Hao at the airport, and he makes a public statement about Century Interactive Entertainment's future plans.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao: Shows maturity and strategic thinking, successfully acquiring Crossfire and making a public statement about the company's future.
• Little Ma: Maintains his elegant demeanor but shows arrogance and disrespect towards Chen Hao and Crossfire.
• Ding Lei: Shows mixed emotions and a more humble attitude compared to other competitors.

Significant Themes

• Competition and strategy in the online game industry.
• Hypocrisy and gratitude among competitors.
• The potential of Crossfire and other games.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao interacts with reporters, showing confidence and openness about Century Interactive Entertainment's future.
• Little Ma, Ding Lei, and other competitors make public statements, showing arrogance, humility, and mixed emotions.
• Chen Hao reflects on his journey with his friends, highlighting the changes in their roles and the industry.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Century Interactive Entertainment (CIE) announces multiple game projects, surprising the gaming world.
• CIE signs agency agreements with Korean companies for games like Audition, KartRider, Dungeon & Fighter, and Crossfire.
• Other major game manufacturers respond with their own game announcements, sparking intense competition.
• 17173 website hosts a guessing game event, "One Million Century Coins Giveaway," predicting the outcomes of the online game battle.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao, the CEO of CIE, demonstrates strategic thinking and confidence in CIE's games by announcing multiple projects at once.
• Other game company CEOs show eagerness to compete with CIE, revealing their own game plans.

Significant Themes

• Competition and rivalry in the online game industry.
• The impact of strategic announcements on the gaming market.
• The potential for a single company (CIE) to dominate the market.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao interacts with the media and other game companies through announcements and press releases.
• Netizens and media outlets respond to CIE's announcements, sparking discussions and predictions about the upcoming game battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Century Horizon Group moves to a new location, with employees moving in batches.
• Xu Xinze, a new employee at Tianxuan Studio, starts on the day of the move and is sent ahead to scout the new location.
• The group's Human Resources Department moves first to receive subsequent employees.
• The new location is revealed to be extremely remote, causing concern and surprise among the employees.

Character Developments

• Xu Xinze: A new employee at Tianxuan Studio, he is initially anxious about the remote location but later becomes amazed by the facilities.

Significant Themes

• The remote yet impressive new location of Century Horizon Group.
• The employees' reactions to the move and their new work environment.

Character Interactions

• Xu Xinze interacts with colleagues from other departments during the move, discussing their concerns and expectations about the new location.
• Xu Xinze and his colleagues are guided by an HR lady who explains the rules and provides orientation to the new employees.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Xinze, a new employee, enters the high-end office environment of Century Horizon's Tianxuan Studio.
• He explores the office and has lunch at the cafeteria, discovering that meals are free with a work badge.
• The new employee training includes an introduction to the company, its benefits, and a self-introduction session where Xu Xinze realizes his peers are highly accomplished.
• After the training, Xu Xinze meets his supervisor, learns about his role, and gets a manual for onboarding. He also learns about the flexible work hours policy.

Character Developments

• Xu Xinze: Initially awestruck by the office environment, he becomes aware of his peers' impressive backgrounds and feels like an ordinary person. He sets a goal to pass his probation period.
• The other new employees: They are revealed to be highly accomplished, with impressive academic backgrounds, work experience, or notable achievements in their fields.

Significant Themes

• The high-pressure, competitive work environment in a big tech company.
• The importance of a good work-life balance, as seen in the flexible work hours policy.
• The value of continuous learning and adaptation, as Xu Xinze navigates his new role.

Character Interactions

• Xu Xinze interacts with his peers during the self-introduction session, realizing their impressive backgrounds.
• He meets his supervisor, who assigns him his workstation and explains his role and the department's situation.
• Xu Xinze exchanges contact information with his peers after the icebreaker games, indicating a sense of camaraderie.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao and Lin Xiaoran move into a large villa at Ziyu Villa, marking a significant change in their living situation.
• Chen Hao reflects on his past life's struggles with moving due to frequent job changes and the instability of the IT industry.
• The company moves to a new location, and Chen Hao initiates three major changes: increased recruitment, a system of elimination for underperforming department heads, and an "Ice Bucket Challenge" for all employees to prevent complacency.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao: He shows growth in his leadership role, making strategic decisions for the company's future. He also demonstrates a more confident and assertive approach to his personal life, delegating tasks to his wife and employees.
• Lin Xiaoran: She is depicted as capable and efficient, managing the household move with ease, further solidifying her role as a supportive partner to Chen Hao.

Significant Themes

• Change and Adaptation: Chen Hao embraces the changes in his personal and professional life, demonstrating his ability to adapt and grow.
• Leadership and Responsibility: Chen Hao's decisions reflect his understanding of his role as a leader, prioritizing the company's future and the well-being of his employees.
• Complacency vs. Humility: Chen Hao is aware of the potential dangers of complacency and encourages his employees to remain humble and focused on their work.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao and Lin Xiaoran: Their relationship is portrayed as supportive and collaborative, with both parties contributing to their new living situation.
• Chen Hao and his employees: Chen Hao's interactions with his employees reflect his role as a leader, making decisions that affect the entire company and encouraging his employees to strive together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wang Yifan, now known as Farmer Little Wang, has saved up 53 Goddess Votes and over two thousand Century Coins for the knockout rounds of the Goddess Competition.
• He enjoys the "selection concubines" process, voting for his favorite goddesses daily.
• The competition intensifies as netizens use various strategies to support their chosen goddesses, including completing tasks, rallying people, and soliciting votes on forums and social media.
• The leaderboard changes dramatically in the first few days but stabilizes later, with Hong Kong and Taiwan actresses dominating the top spots.

Character Development

• Wang Yifan's character is further developed as a dedicated and passionate fan, willing to invest time and effort into supporting his favorite goddesses.

Significant Themes

• Fandom and Support: The chapter explores the dedication and strategies of fans in supporting their favorite celebrities, highlighting the power of fandom in shaping competition outcomes.
• Cultural Influence: The dominance of Hong Kong and Taiwan actresses in the top spots reflects the cultural influence of these regions on the current generation of netizens.

Character Interactions

• Although not explicitly shown, the chapter implies interactions among fans supporting different goddesses, as they collaborate and compete in various online platforms and forums.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Hao, Li Wu, and Li Fang hold a meeting to decide the grouping for the top 32 contestants in the Goddess Competition.
• Chen Hao decides to protect mainland actresses and eliminate Hong Kong and Taiwan contestants in the initial round to avoid an early elimination of mainland actresses.
• Chen Hao eliminates Zhao Wei, Lin Chi-ling, and Big and Small S from the competition, causing confusion among Li Wu and Li Fang.
• Chen Hao arranges the groups for the top 32 contestants, ensuring that mainland actresses are protected and Hong Kong and Taiwan contestants face off against each other.
• Chen Hao decides to sign high-profile celebrities with Century Youyuan and plans to negotiate endorsement deals based on their vote counts.
• Chen Hao plans to hold a group drawing ceremony to explain the groupings and introduce betting for the finals.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao demonstrates his strategic thinking and manipulative skills in arranging the groups and protecting mainland actresses.
• Li Wu and Li Fang show their loyalty and understanding of Chen Hao's decisions, even when they don't fully comprehend his reasoning.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and control: Chen Hao uses his influence to manipulate the competition's outcome and protect mainland actresses.
• Power dynamics: Chen Hao's position as the boss allows him to make decisions without fully explaining his reasoning to his subordinates.
• Popularity and fame: The contestants' popularity and fame are emphasized, with Chen Hao using this to his advantage in the competition.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao interacts with Li Wu and Li Fang, discussing the competition's arrangements and making decisions together.
• Chen Hao's decisions cause confusion among Li Wu and Li Fang, but they ultimately follow his orders without question.
• Chen Hao's influence and power are demonstrated through his interactions with his subordinates and his ability to manipulate the competition's outcome.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The boss orders an overtime session, causing Wang Yifan to complain about his work conditions.
• Wang Yifan ignores the overtime order and goes to an internet cafe to check the top 32 qualifiers for the Goddess Competition.
• He uses all his remaining votes to support his favorite goddess, Liu Yifei, but her rank fluctuates.
• Liu Yifei and Vivian Chow advance to the top 32, facing tough competition in the finals.
• Wang Yifan bets on the goddesses and notices a heated discussion about the beauty of Vivian Chow and Gigi Lai.
• The website's homepage announces a video message from the boss, Chen Hao, which shocks Wang Yifan.

Character Developments

• Wang Yifan shows his dedication to the Goddess Competition, prioritizing it over his work, and reveals his strategic thinking in betting on the goddesses.
• Chen Hao, the boss, is introduced as a handsome, serious, and straightforward individual.

Significant Themes

• The power of online voting and its influence on the Goddess Competition.
• The passion and dedication of fans towards their favorite celebrities.
• The competitive nature of the Goddess Competition and the challenges faced by the advancing goddesses.

Character Interactions

• Wang Yifan interacts with the other netizens in the Topic Plaza, discussing and debating the goddesses' beauty and chances of winning.
• Wang Yifan indirectly interacts with Chen Hao through the video message, feeling shocked and curious about the announcement's content.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Century Friendship Net Goddess Competition's rewards are significantly increased, with the total prize pool multiplied by five.
• A 'Sunshine Sweepstakes' is introduced, rewarding users with 100 Century Coins for casting over 100 Goddess Votes.
• Taoyoubao launches a mall with exclusive items redeemable using Century Coins.
• Wang Yifan decides to invest 1200 yuan into Century Coins and places bets on multiple goddesses.
• Tencent's QQ Zone management team holds an emergency meeting to respond to the increased stakes, deciding to temporarily embed an item exchange page within QQ Zone.

Character Developments

• Wang Yifan: He becomes more involved and invested in the competition, betting a significant amount of money on multiple goddesses.
• Little Ma: He expresses frustration with his team's lack of initiative and innovation, leading to a poaching attempt for the Century Friendship Net manager.

Significant Themes

• Competition and escalation: The increased stakes in the Goddess Competition lead to a response from Tencent, highlighting the competitive nature of the industry.
• Investment and risk: Wang Yifan's decision to invest a significant amount of money in the competition demonstrates the theme of risk-taking and potential rewards.

Character Interactions

• Wang Yifan interacts with the network administrator at the internet cafe, borrowing paper and a pen to calculate his bets.
• Little Ma interacts with the QQ Zone management team and the head of Paipai.com, discussing their response to the increased stakes in the Goddess Competition.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces the first online beauty pageant in mainland China, with celebrities like Gao Yuanyuan participating.
• Gao Yuanyuan, after advancing to the top 8, logs into her Century Friendship Net account and posts her first update, causing a stir among netizens.
• Netizens initially doubt her authenticity, but she proves herself by posting a recent photo with a time-stamped watch.
• Gao Yuanyuan interacts with netizens, answering questions and expressing care, leading to an outpouring of support and votes.
• Other celebrities, seeing Gao Yuanyuan's success, start posting updates and soliciting votes, triggering a chain reaction.

Character Developments

• Gao Yuanyuan: She becomes more comfortable with online interaction, showing care and gentleness towards her fans, and gains immense popularity.
• Other celebrities: They start to engage with their fans online, realizing the potential of social networking sites.

Significant Themes

• The power of online interaction and its impact on celebrity-fan relationships.
• The potential of social networking sites for celebrities and businesses.
• The blurring of lines between traditional media and online platforms.

Character Interactions

• Gao Yuanyuan interacts with netizens, answering their questions, and expressing care, fostering a sense of connection with her fans.
• Other celebrities start interacting with their fans online, soliciting votes and engaging in competition with each other.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Century Goddess Competition gains nationwide attention, with everyone from children to seniors participating or following the event.
• Chen Hao and Li Wu monitor the competition's progress, with Chen Hao revealing the semifinalists: Chingmy Yau, Vivian Chow, Gao Yuanyuan, and Athena Chu.
• The semifinal matches are 1v1, with Vivian Chow vs. Chingmy Yau and Athena Chu vs. Gao Yuanyuan. Both matches are intense and closely fought, with netizens and celebrities employing various tactics to gain votes.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao: He remains mysterious and powerful, with the ability to influence the competition's outcome. He shows empathy towards Li Wu's fandom for Cecilia Cheung.
• Li Wu: He expresses his admiration for Cecilia Cheung and feels motivated by Chen Hao's promise to help him meet any female star. He experiences a sense of power and ambition while managing the competition's data.

Significant Themes

• Power and influence: Chen Hao's ability to manipulate the competition's outcome highlights the theme of power and influence. Li Wu experiences a taste of this power, feeling a sense of godhood.
• Human drama: The intense competition and the emotions it stirs in netizens and celebrities reflect the theme of human drama and the impact of online events on people's lives.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao and Li Wu: They work together to manage the competition, with Chen Hao revealing the semifinalists and Li Wu handling the data. Chen Hao shows empathy towards Li Wu's fandom, while Li Wu feels a sense of power and ambition.
• Netizens and celebrities: They engage in intense competition, employing various tactics to gain votes and secure their favorites' places in the semifinals. The interactions between netizens and celebrities highlight the emotional investment people have in online events.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The finalists for the first Century Goddess title are Vivian Chow and Gao Yuanyuan.
• Wang Yifan, a dedicated netizen, bets on Gao Yuanyuan, believing she might be the official favorite, despite emotionally rooting for Vivian Chow.
• In the final seconds of voting, the Century Friendship Net experiences a lag, and Vivian Chow is crowned the first Century Goddess.
• Wang Yifan receives 328 Century Coins from a big red envelope, but regrets his decision to bet on Gao Yuanyuan, feeling he's lost his entire year's salary.
• He decides to spend all his remaining Century Coins, buying a mobile phone charger, USB drive, a signed poster of Vivian Chow, and a game time card.

Character Developments

• Wang Yifan: He experiences the highs and lows of betting, feeling despair and regret after losing his money. He decides to change his gaming habits and participate in betting activities more responsibly.
• Vivian Chow: She wins the title of the first Century Goddess, becoming the face of the competition.
• Gao Yuanyuan: Despite being the dark horse and the people's favorite, she loses the competition but gains more popularity due to her engaging interactions with netizens.

Significant Themes

• The power of public opinion and netizen engagement in determining the outcome of the competition.
• The influence of official promotion on the results of the competition.
• The highs and lows of gambling, and the consequences of impulsive decisions.

Character Interactions

• Wang Yifan interacts with other netizens through the Century Friendship Net, discussing and debating the competition and its outcomes.
• The interaction between Vivian Chow and Gao Yuanyuan is limited to the competition itself, with no direct interaction between the two characters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Goddess Competition concludes, with Vivian Chow winning.
• Century Friendship Net's website is revamped, featuring Vivian Chow's images.
• Century Friendship Net announces Vivian Chow as their image ambassador.
• Chen Hao receives offers from IDG Capital, Hillhouse Capital, and Oak Pacific Interactive to invest in or acquire Century Friendship Net, but he declines.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao remains focused on growing Century Friendship Net and is not interested in selling it yet.
• Li Wu shows dedication to his work and loyalty to Chen Hao.
• Vivian Chow's enduring beauty and popularity are highlighted.

Significant Themes

• The enduring appeal of beauty and youth.
• The value and potential of Century Friendship Net.
• The power dynamics and negotiations in the business world.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao and Li Wu discuss business and personal matters, with Chen Hao boosting Li Wu's confidence.
• Chen Hao declines investment offers from various companies, showing his commitment to Century Friendship Net's growth.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Century Friendship Net gains popularity post-Goddess Competition, attracting celebrity inquiries for cooperation.
• Chen Hao considers charging celebrities for cooperation but decides against it, seeing it as an opportunity for influence expansion.
• The website's user data doubles, with 170 million registered users and 15 million peak online users.
• Chen Hao plans to transform Century Friendship Net, focusing on blogs, microblogs, and games.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao exhibits far-sightedness and strategic thinking, planning to expand Century Friendship Net into a global social media platform.
• Li Wu shows dedication and enthusiasm, eager to keep pace with Chen Hao's vision.

Significant Themes

• Expansion and influence: Chen Hao seeks to grow Century Friendship Net's influence and user base.
• Transformation and adaptation: Chen Hao recognizes the need to evolve the website to stay relevant and competitive.
• Vision and ambition: Both Chen Hao and Li Wu display strong vision and ambition for the future of the website.

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao shares his plans with Li Wu, who takes notes and expresses excitement about the transformation.
• Li Wu admires Chen Hao's vision and decides to follow his lead, seeing it as an opportunity for personal growth.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Century Friendship Net's Goddess Competition concludes successfully, exceeding targets.
• Chen Hao doubles everyone's salary for the month and announces a move to a new office.
• QQ Zone's Male God Competition begins, but user engagement is low, with only a 20% increase in users.
• The Project Lead at QQ Zone works overtime to create a positive summary report for the first day of the Male God Competition.

Character Developments

• Chen Hao shows generosity and gratitude towards his employees, boosting their morale.
• Li Wu demonstrates leadership potential and inspires the team.
• The Project Lead at QQ Zone exhibits adaptability and strategic thinking in his report.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and reward for hard work (Chen Hao's decision to double salaries).
• Leadership and team unity (Li Wu's speech and Chen Hao's encouragement).
• Strategic communication and spin (The Project Lead's report).

Character Interactions

• Chen Hao and Li Wu: Chen Hao praises Li Wu's speech and encourages him.
• The Project Lead and his team: They collaborate to create a positive report, despite the event's underwhelming results.
• The Project Lead and his superior: He seeks to impress his boss with the report.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wuxia World's open beta reaches 500,000 players on the first day and surpasses 1 million players in just three days, becoming China's first online game to achieve this feat.
• Media outlets react to Wuxia World's success, with some praising the game while others struggle to find flaws to criticize it.
• An editor from Tencent Games Channel attempts to find Wuxia World's shortcomings but fails, leading to a critical article that indirectly addresses the game's success.
• Jet Li is officially announced as the Jianghu guide for Wuxia World.
• Server queues for Wuxia World become an issue due to the massive player base.

Character Developments

• The editor from Tencent Games Channel struggles with finding flaws in Wuxia World, ultimately learning from his editor-in-chief's approach to criticism.
• Players express frustration with the server queues but continue to enjoy the game.

Significant Themes

• The power of hype and marketing in the gaming industry.
• The challenges and benefits of having a massive player base.
• The importance of game quality and player enjoyment over criticism and hype.

Character Interactions

• The editor from Tencent Games Channel interacts with Wuxia World players in a YY Group and later plays the game himself, struggling to find flaws.
• The editor-in-chief of Tencent Games Channel provides guidance to the struggling editor.