Wealth is found in peril.
Although the editor-in-chief did not know this Chinese proverb, his mindset was virtually the same when he pushed past all objections to publish the article. His subordinates' attempts to dissuade him had been entirely fruitless.
The next day, even the boss, who rarely bothered with the daily operations, called.
He knew someone must have secretly tipped him off.
But from this, one could also see just how terrified, wary, and cautious the outside world was of this person named Su. This was especially true for the reporters who had followed him to the scene and witnessed it with their own eyes. He couldn't blame them; even his own feelings were complicated when he recalled that scene.
Possessing immense wealth was not terrifying.
What was terrifying was that the master of that wealth had a vicious, unbridled personality. You could never use common sense to predict her actions. The editor-in-chief had a vague feeling that the more pain she could inflict on others and the more hatred she could draw, the more determined she would be to do it.
It truly reminded people of a demon crawling out of hell.
Unless they were heroes from legendary tales, normal people only wanted to stay far away and pray to God that her gaze would never fall upon them.
Ring, ring, ring.
The sound pulled the editor-in-chief back from his thoughts. Evidently, his respectable boss had no desire to play the hero. Taking a deep breath, he answered the call. Unsurprisingly, after a few brief pleasantries about the weather, the voice on the other end tactfully brought up the matter.
"Yes, I believe we must publish this news, and it would be best to print it in its entirety, from beginning to end."
The sound of shattering porcelain came from the other end of the line.
What a pity.
The editor-in-chief thought to himself. His boss loved collecting porcelain, and the pieces he used daily were exceptionally fine goods.
After listening to the expected, anger-laced questioning, he loosened his cuffs:
"That's right. As an Easterner, Su first racially discriminated against white people, sparking a protest. She refused to offer a single word of apology or denial, and instead used money to bribe the higher-ups into having our military suppress the protesters. This is a blatant scandal, and the public will not accept this reality."
"So they will collectively aim their spearheads at Su, and she will be condemned and cursed by everyone."
The voice on the other end was freezing cold:
"And then, that viper of an Eastern woman won't be able to hang everyone who criticized her, but I and the newspaper agency are sitting right in front of her!"
He was no nobody in Portugal either.
If he encountered something like this normally, he wouldn't care at all. They were all respectable figures; causing trouble over such things would only invite ridicule. Not to mention, he wasn't someone to be trifled with, and a fight wouldn't be worth the losses.
But this time was different.
Su was a lunatic!
And a genuine lunatic who had proven she had the power to back it up.
The boss cursed under his breath.
He then began to suspect that the editor-in-chief had been bought off by his rivals to intentionally sabotage him. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed...
"No, publishing this news won't make Su do anything to us. On the contrary, not doing so will bring trouble."
The boss: ...???
Did he hear that wrong, or was there a problem with his subordinate's brain?
Ruling out the first answer.
Because the editor-in-chief also knew how unbelievable his words sounded, he began to explain. Through various observations and analytical examples, he arrived at his conclusion: Su Ning was extraordinary. She simply enjoyed being hated.
He finished in a single breath.
The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Finally, filled with confusion, the boss said:
"Although it sounds logical, it is just too contrary to common sense. How could there be someone who likes being despised?"
"That's too twisted."
"But it is the truth."
The editor-in-chief was very calm. After all, he had already gotten past his own shock.
Thinking for a moment, he said:
"Just as you said, a pervert... oh, that word might be a bit too harsh. I guess her channels for obtaining pleasure are just different from ordinary people. This is understandable. She is too rich, so rich that there is almost nothing she cannot get. Even emotional feedback that people usually pursue, such as affection, respect, admiration, and awe, she can have them whenever she wants."
"Things obtained too easily are never cherished, so she must have gotten bored."
At this point, the editor-in-chief could not help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
The boss sitting across from him felt the exact same way.
They were all wealthy men.
But the gap between him and Su Ning was even greater than the gap between him and a beggar on the street...
In the end, he still approved the publication.
Of course, it was not entirely because of this unprovable speculation, but also because of what the editor-in-chief said next:
"Almost everyone who participated in the parade was arrested, including many onlookers who were just there to watch the show. But under the exact same circumstances, we managed to leave safely with our cameras—nobody even gave us a second glance."
He seemed to recall the thrilling experience of that day.
He almost sighed:
"Is this not enough proof?"
As for what it proved.
The boss was no fool either. He lamented for a moment about the alienation of humanity by money, which could actually spawn such a bizarre and dangerous fetish. It seemed he needed to bask more in the glory of God to prevent himself from losing his way like Su.
The editor-in-chief: ...
Could he say it? Actually, there was no need to worry about that, because you probably, perhaps, possibly, definitely, absolutely, certainly would never reach Su's level of wealth.
......
With the boss's support.
The editor-in-chief went all out, pouring in all their resources. The printing factory ran overnight, even turning down business from other companies. Such a huge move naturally aroused the curiosity of their peers.
What kind of big news would make them dare to invest so heavily?
When they finally found out, the entire industry fell almost entirely silent.
Was the news big?
Yes.
Would it help newspaper sales?
Of course it would.
Doubling the sales would not be difficult, but if you asked them if they wanted to follow up with their own reports, well, to tell the truth, they didn't dare. Everyone's feelings were very complicated and shocked.
Someone privately sighed:
"I didn't expect that beneath Antos's cunning exterior lay a passionate heart of justice. He has proven himself to be a true warrior."
Otherwise, how could he dare to risk his life to expose that Easterner's scandal?
When they learned that he was also going to distribute it abroad.
The peers: Hiss—
True greatness needs no words.
Infected by this spirit, they coincidentally and secretly provided help. Although the editor-in-chief found it baffling, he unapologetically accepted the benefits.
Many hands make light work.
Soon, on a foggy early morning, a postman riding a bicycle and ringing his bell skillfully dropped off a few newspapers. The busy housewife didn't have time to go get them.
Once everything was arranged.
The husband going to work and the children going to school were all dressed and appeared at the dining table.
"Annie, straighten your clothes."
"Wayne, don't fidget. We have to thank God for His gifts before we can start eating."
They were a typical middle-class family.
The husband had a job with a good salary and had inherited some annuities. Even luckier, his wife was very capable. Not only could she keep the family looking respectable, but she could also save some money every year.
This meant she had sufficient control over the family's finances.
Therefore—
"Leo, why is there an extra newspaper!"
The husband thought for a long time but couldn't remember. He might have signed up for it casually after getting drunk one time. To appease his angry wife, he said a lot of sweet words and promised to cancel the subscription the very next day.
Finally, the storm passed.
The first thing he opened was that "extra" newspaper.
He thought viciously to himself.
If it was just some boring news, not only would he cancel the subscription, but he would also make sure to tell all his neighbors and colleagues about it.
The next second.
He abruptly stood up and exclaimed:
"Oh my God!"
"What happened?"
His wife asked in dissatisfaction while leaning over to look. Soon, she also let out a shocked scream. On the newspaper, a rare full-page layout was dominated by photos, with only a few words of explanation as embellishment.
The text was very objective, even cold.
But paired with the pictures in this way, it made people even more furious!
For example, the photo in the center.
Under a gloomy sky, Portuguese people were being kicked, beaten, and suppressed by soldiers of their country. In the very front, a man who was clearly a military officer was bowing and smiling obsequiously to a young Eastern woman.
Next to it, their conversation was recorded truthfully.
"Why, why do our soldiers protect an abominable racist? Good heavens, she should go to hell!"
"Because of money."
The husband said dejectedly, turning to the second page. The subtitle read:
#The New Owner of Swire Shipping Insists She Does Not Discriminate Against White People#
A glimmer of hope rose within him.
He looked down.
Next to a photo of Su Ning looking cold and impatient, her words were described in detail.
The hope burst like a soap bubble.
Not only that, the husband also felt a sense of humiliation at being made a fool of. If this wasn't racism, he would do a handstand. His wife was no less furious, her face flushed red as she said, "This is too shameless. How can there be such a shameless person in the world?"
"Is no one going to sanction her?"
"Maybe."
The husband flipped through the other newspapers. Only a few briefly mentioned the protest. Let alone photos, the length of the articles was only the size of a wine bottle bottom, and they were even squeezed into the crevices.
He felt very disappointed.
They were all cowards. In contrast, the newspaper in his hand seemed so brave and fearless.
"Let's keep subscribing."
"I think it's necessary to continue subscribing to this newspaper."
The two spoke in unison.
The wife said, "We can't do much, but at least we can support this brave newspaper. It represents justice."
"Yes." The husband lowered his head, carefully folded the newspaper, and sighed: "Its existence gives me hope for this country and nation."
Many, many people thought the same way.
And so.
The subscription volume of the newspaper where the editor-in-chief worked surged. Many people even came to the newspaper office in person to express their support, sending flowers, food, and even giving money directly.
That was one thing.
What was more important was reputation. After this battle, this newspaper office had practically become the conscience of society!
Moreover, this was only domestic. One could imagine that once public opinion fermented abroad, the anger towards Su Ning, this person who discriminated against white people, would likewise turn into admiration and love for this newspaper.
Peers in the industry couldn't help but feel sour.
They could only comfort themselves by thinking that with Su Ning around, all of this was just an illusion. What's the use if the newspaper office is gone?
But one day, two days, three days, four days passed.
Why hadn't anything happened?
…………
That was a very good question.
On the day the newspaper was released, the phone on Su Ning's end never stopped ringing.
That money-grubbing military officer even rushed over in person, waving the newspaper.
He expressed his righteous indignation:
"I never expected that what happened that day would actually be photographed. Speaking of which, it's my fault. And this newspaper agency is simply going too far. They have no sense of the big picture at all. Involving a distinguished foreign lady like you, they actually dared to fabricate lies and ruin your reputation, which is as precious as gold. Others might not know, but how could I not? You are the real victim here."
"Now that you are misunderstood by the world, I simply cannot stand by and watch!"
After saying this, he looked at Su Ning with fervent eyes.
He was disappointed to find that her expression remained placid, without the slightest hint of anger...
Of course, Su Ning wouldn't be angry.
Looking at the continuously climbing reward line chart from non-plot characters.
The only reason she didn't laugh out loud was because she thought of the one billion spending mission laid out before her. Although the actual amount to be spent was less than eight hundred million, it was still enough to give anyone a headache.
Alas, spending money is not something that can be done overnight.
Thinking about it every day wouldn't make the money disappear; it would even suddenly multiply on its own.
Just like this newspaper incident.
Even Su Ning didn't expect the effect to be so good. It just goes to show that no matter where you are, similar incidents can always hit a nerve with the public and unite them against a common enemy.
She turned her gaze to the tall and straight-postured officer.
And received a brilliant smile in return.
So... this guy was also an absolute weirdo.
Thus, she chuckled softly:
"Is that so? Thank you. I didn't expect there to be such a righteous presence in Portugal like you, willing to help an outsider like me."
These words were highly sarcastic.
But the officer accepted them without batting an eye:
"You're welcome. This is what every Portuguese citizen should do. If my presence can bring even a trace of comfort to your heavily criticized heart, then it's all worth it."
Saying that, he brought the topic back around:
"Besides, you are not the only one slandered by that newspaper; I am too. Perhaps you don't know, but those ignorant, incited masses even rushed to my residence to hurl insults at me and tried to beat me up. Of course, I didn't hold it against them."
Speaking up to this point, he deliberately paused.
"Why? They were clearly so out of line. You are too forgiving."
Su Ning responded perfunctorily.
He was indeed very forgiving.
Assaulting active-duty military personnel is a major crime. Not arresting them and only making them cough up a little money made him practically a saint reborn, the officer thought righteously.
Of course, these were just appetizers.
He wanted to make a big score!
"Actually, I'm also very angry, but I know the real criminal is that despicable newspaper agency. I originally wanted to arrest those people immediately, but I thought of you, who has been hurt by it just as much, if not more."
Then, his true intentions were revealed.
He practically stated outright to Su Ning that he could take action against the newspaper in his own name. After all, he was also a victim, and his status was quite special.
This way, on the surface, the matter would have absolutely nothing to do with Su Ning.
And she would still get her revenge.
And all this would only require Su Ning to pay what was, to her, an insignificant amount of money!
In his heart, the officer once again deeply thanked the newspaper for bringing him this opportunity. Thinking of the numbers that were about to be added to his bank account, he tried hard to suppress the corners of his mouth from turning up.
At this moment, Su Ning spoke.
"No."
"...What?"
The officer's heart skipped a beat. Thinking Su Ning wanted to take matters into her own hands, he earnestly tried to persuade her otherwise. He argued from every angle, reputation, practical benefits, and public opinion, to prove that he was the much better candidate to do the dirty work.
"I will not lay a hand on the newspaper."
That was good.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but it seemed he had relaxed too soon, because...
"If you do not want to die, do not make a move either."
Sitting opposite him, Su Ning's tone was incredibly flat, yet it carried an undeniable, crushing weight.
This was a bit too overbearing.
Even the officer, a man who usually looked at everything through the lens of money, felt a flash of anger. He thought sarcastically, could it be that she could not handle the pressure and was trying to whitewash her own image again?
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Lin Sen walked in, a hint of exhaustion lingering between his brows. Acting as if there was no one else in the room, he handed Su Ning a document. "Miss, the owner of the Daily News is willing to sell the shares to us."
The Daily News.
That was Miguel's newspaper, the very same publication that had been reporting on Su Ning's scandals.
A beat late, the officer's eyes widened in shock after listening to the Portuguese translation whispered by his unassuming interpreter.
No way...
Signing her name in flowing cursive, Su Ning looked at the document. A smile curled on her lips as she turned to the officer.
"Because from now on, this belongs to me."
...
Very few people knew about this transaction.
To the outside world, it simply appeared that their public support had worked. They believed the wicked Su did not dare touch the newspaper, and as a result, the publication's sales surged once again.
Not long after.
Public opinion outside of Portugal also began to boil over. Without exception, it was filled with mockery, furious insults, and biting sarcasm directed at Su Ning, branding her a shameful racist who discriminated against white people.
Inside a dilapidated manor in England.
John glared at the ridiculous caricature in the newspaper, depicting a figure with squinting eyes and exaggeratedly yellow skin. He was fuming.
"Damn it, discriminating against white people? She has completely dragged the reputation of our Hawthorne family through the mud."
"Exactly. It is bad enough that people know the heir to the Hawthorne family possesses such lowly yellow blood, but for her to act in such a foolish and laughable manner? High society will reject us completely. This is absolutely terrible!"
Someone immediately chimed in to agree.
