The Whole Empire Raises Me - Chapter 4

 

Chapter 4

Wen Xingze tore open the last packet of instant noodles and poured in half a cup of hot water. He absentmindedly turned on the TV for background noise, then settled into the worn-out sofa, waiting for the noodles to soften.

Contestant number 7 had indeed joined the fan group. Her real name was Lu Qiqi. Her arrival brought life back to the previously quiet support group:

Aze and the Dragon Balls (9)

[Lazy Piggy: Wow, a new member! Warm welcome! (flower)]

[Glamorous Transformation: Warm welcome! (flower)]

[Lu Lu Qiqi: Hello, everyone! (shy) You can just call me Qiqi. But why is the group named ‘Dragon Balls’?]

[Ayun Loves Aze: “Haha, because we’ve always had only seven members for years. But now that we’re more than seven, maybe we should change it to ‘Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea’?]

Wen Xingze promptly changed the group name and typed: “I think that works.”

These seven fans had been with Wen Xingze for a long time, and they all got along well. There was no exclusivity among them. Except for Xiao Lu, who was currently busy preparing for the college entrance exam, everyone else online greeted Lu Qiqi. Soon they were all chatting harmoniously.

Seeing them enjoy their conversation put Wen Xingze at ease. Just as he was about to start eating his noodles, he received a worried private message from Lazy Piggy:

[Lazy Piggy: Aze, is something wrong with Daomei Entertainment? I saw that Wu Youjin signed with Yuwen Culture. Who will manage you now?]

Wen Xingze hadn’t expected them to find out so quickly. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, he replied diplomatically: 

[Currently, it’s unclear. I might explore other directions.] Like collecting scrap or selling vegetables. [Don’t worry, even if I’m no longer an artist, our group won’t disband.]

Over the years, they had become more than just a star and his fans; they were good friends.

Lazy Piggy responded with three crying emojis.

In truth, the fans had suspected this day would come. Wen Xingze’s showbiz career had been rocky, with no stable income. He persisted for the company and for these few loyal fans.

But from their perspective, it was hard to accept.

No one knew Wen Xingze’s talent better than they did. The person they had admired for so many years wouldn’t even get a chance on a bigger, brighter stage. It felt like he was leaving hastily.

Wen Xingze didn’t know how to console Lazy Piggy. He wasn’t good at this, so he finally said, [Don’t worry, let me play a lucky tune for you.]

[Lazy Piggy: Wait!]

[I See Xingze: (Voice Message)]

Lazy Piggy clicked to listen.

…And there it was—the familiar, festive sound of a suona. (Note: a traditional Chinese wind instrument)

Wen Xingze could actually play the suona quite well, although the fans couldn’t fathom why an idol would learn it.

According to Wen Xingze, “Among all instruments, the suona reigns supreme. It either lifts you to the heavens or accompanies you down the aisle.”

After losing his job, he occasionally played at weddings or other events to earn some extra money.

The lively suona melody flowed from the speakers. Folding a thousand paper cranes and tying a red ribbon, they wished for good luck every day. The room filled with the warm atmosphere of a village celebration.

Lazy Piggy’s sadness seemed to lodge in their throats.

Damn, had they just become fans of a comedic star?

________________________

After finally comforting the fans, Wen Xingze had some free time to do something for himself. He considered playing a video game but hesitated. He’d worked hard to break the addiction, and if he started again, he’d likely get hooked once more.

Desolation felt too real to him. He couldn’t detach easily. He even remembered every subject’s name. Upon waking at midnight, his first thought was whether everyone in the game was doing okay.

But it was all virtual — only he took it seriously, and that was a problem.

Finally, Wen Xingze couldn’t resist opening the game. However, when he tried to log in, a popup appeared: “Apologies, the system is currently in reverse cub raising mode. As a result of the system conflict, you cannot log in as the Emperor for now.”

Wen Xingze furrowed his brow. He couldn’t make sense of it.

Just then, the announcement on the television caught his attention:

“…Chi Yan arrived at the capital airport today at 6 p.m., and many fans are eager to know what plans the renowned actor has for his return to China…”

Wen Xingze perked up.

Chi Yan was back in the country?

Embarrassingly, aside from gaming, Wen Xingze had another hobby: idol chasing.

Well, maybe not full-on idol chasing. After all, he was broke — barely able to support himself, let alone spend money cheering for his favorite stars. Chi Yan was a mysterious figure from the novel 'The Wealthy Koi and His Lavish Life', and his presence elevated the story’s unconventional charm.

Although the novel was a fun read, the protagonist never managed to surpass Chi Yan.

Chi Yan was the industry’s glass ceiling.

Wen Xingze watched each of his movies three times in the theater, often scrimping on expenses to afford it. Chi Yan was picky about scripts, only filming once every two or three years. Yet each film swept major awards both domestically and internationally. Despite being an enigma — known for his aloofness and bad temper — Chi Yan’s star continued to rise.

Arrogance seemed to be a common trait among these geniuses, but it hadn’t hindered Chi Yan’s meteoric success. He was an irreplaceable legend in the industry. Even the author of 'The Wealthy Koi and His Lavish Life' seemed to write about him with reverence.

Wen Xingze settled onto a small stool in front of the old TV, its screen slightly snowy. The host’s voice continued, “Familiar fans will know that Chi Yan is making a directorial debut with the film One Day.”

“Rumors suggest that Xu Baijing will play the lead role.”

— False.

In the original story, Xu Baijing never collaborated with Chi Yan, although Xu Baijing himself had expressed interest.

The news showed a brief video from the airport, likely capturing Chi Yan’s arrival today. The crowd was massive, and even the entertainment reporters couldn’t squeeze to the front.

In the footage, Chi Yan walked toward the exit, flanked by assistants and managers. His expression remained indifferent; he didn’t spare a glance for the fervent fans or the reporters.

But he was still handsome.

Damn it!

Wen Xingze grabbed the remote and rewound the segment, watching it again. He thought, 'How great would it be if I were the lead?'

Although Xu Baijing hadn’t worked directly with Chi Yan in the novel, they had several interactions. Most people wouldn’t even get a chance to speak to Chi Yan, let alone see what he did day by day.

That was the one thing Wen Xingze envied about Xu Baijing.

After finishing the news, Wen Xingze returned to his seat and resumed eating his noodles.

Life had to go on. Starting tomorrow, he’d be unemployed, his savings dwindling, and next month’s rent and utilities uncertain. He wished he could play a suona version of “Good Luck” for himself.

Being poor left little room for entertainment. He’d save on electricity by going to bed early. At 7 p.m., Wen Xingze lay down.

Before drifting off, he wondered if today’s miraculous luck on the variety show was just a dream. When would the heavens favor him again?..

________________________

Muse Empire.

Citizens inspected the underground basement, which had a total area of nine square meters, using magnifying glasses.

There was only an old television and damp floors. Various books and pamphlets crowded the rickety secondhand bookshelves.

Soundproofing was poor; they could hear the neighbors playing mahjong next door.

The ventilation was terrible — no cooling system, no windows, and even during the day, they needed to turn on the lights.

All these facts led the parents to a swift conclusion:

[atleast: A storage room?]

[Not Without Passing the Elf Language Level 4: Why is our child personally searching for things in the storage room? Where’s the butler? And why is there a bed in this storage room? What’s that flickering light screen?]

[Marry the Emperor Squad: Is it a secret base?]

Indeed, nobody had considered that possibility.

In theory, this place could barely accommodate a person, but it shouldn’t be where their child lived. During the palace renovations, they allocated half of the capital star to the palace, and everyone still complained it was too cramped and would cause distress to the Emperor.

Inside the palace, everything was top-tier — meticulously chosen from servants to daily necessities. The citizens of Muse Empire adored their Emperor as if he were the apple of their eye.

This tiny space, designated as the Emperor’s storage room, was far from suitable for daily living.

In the “game” interface, Wen Xingze opened a packet of instant noodles and began to eat.

[Moonlit Pillow: Cub, don’t snack in the storage room. The dust is too much, and you might choke.]

[Yearning for Ears: Where’s the steward? How long has His Majesty been in the storage room? Why hasn’t the steward come to find him? Very irresponsible.]

They said many children enjoyed hiding in closets or storage rooms, creating their own “secret base” where they could read comics and eat snacks without their parents knowing.

Now, in the parents’ eyes, Wen Xingze was just like that.

They waited for him to leave the storage room, return to his actual living quarters, and see what his real living conditions were like.

And then…

Wen Xingze finished his noodles, washed the bowl, turned off the light, and went to bed.

At the same time, the game interface went dark, and a system message flashed:

Cub is Resting~

The time after Darling falls asleep is considered time, during which many system operations are restricted. For details, refer to the rules.

All citizens: “?”

All citizens: “???”

Wait, did the Cub just fall asleep like that?

In this storage room? Without going home???

Or… is this where the Cub lives every day?

No way.

No way, no way, no way, no way, no way, no way.

Even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, this small room isn’t a storage room or a secret base—it’s the Cub’s true residence.

That one-in-a-million possibility is enough to drive the parents crazy.

________________________

Dragon Clan’s Main Star.

Snow covered this planet year-round, with an unending expanse of snow-capped mountains, devoid of any signs of life.

Once, people called it the 'Dead Planet.' Nothing could survive here; it was isolated from the world. The newborn dragon clan members often struggled through the endless winter.

Until a few years ago, the rose flag belonging to the Emperor appeared above the snow line.

The proud dragon clan, by nature, refused to accept anyone’s charity or favor—except for their recognized master.

The dragon clan’s unwavering protective instinct toward the Emperor had deep roots, visible even during the era of war.

No matter how formidable an army was, it couldn’t withstand the fierce attacks of the dragon clan. Soon, a certain saying circulated throughout the universe: “When fighting against the Muse Empire, never harm their Emperor; otherwise, the dragons will erase your planet from the cosmic map.”

At this very moment, beneath the Kanka Mountains, the sacred mountain of the dragon clan:

Astor, the acting clan leader of the dragons, was modeled after a golden dragon. His massive form unfolded wings, and he circled high above the snowy expanse, emitting a furious roar: “Roar!”

Seconds later, the same sound echoed from near and far:

“Roar!”

Thousands of colossal dragons simultaneously transformed into their true forms, wings outstretched, echoing their leader’s anger.

The entire Dragon Star, whether awake or slumbering, saw emerald dragons, silver dragons, and crimson dragons awaken. Their wings blotted out the sky, casting vast shadows upon the snow-capped mountains that had been silent for thousands of years.

It was a scene of breathtaking grandeur.

Among all races, the dragon clan’s intuition was unparalleled, especially when it came to matters related to their Emperor. In such situations, their intuition reached its zenith.

From the very moment the Cub Raising Program went live, all dragons sensed something: this wasn’t mere game modeling; this was their Emperor!

The Emperor was their heart’s desire.

And when they thought about that recent “storage room,” which might have been the Emperor’s residence all along, combined with the game’s luck value and savings… Such speculation was too much to bear, their hearts unable to withstand it.

Finally, led by proxy clan leader Astor, their fury erupted completely.

Golden dragon Astor: “Roar!!!”

The assembled dragons: “Roar!!!”

The wasteland planets and meteor clusters surrounding Dragon Star were utterly devastated by the enraged dragons. The residual energy continued to spread, triggering one avalanche after another.

After an unknown duration, the frenzied rage finally subsided slightly, allowing their brains to engage in some contemplation.

Astor landed before the silver dragon, his terrifying and awe-inspiring dragon aura impossible to conceal. He asked, “Will, have you tried your spatial magic? Can you travel to parallel universes?”

They couldn’t bear it any longer.

They were going to destroy the universe that dared to treat their Emperor this way.

Silver dragon Will had already obliterated a wasteland planet moments ago, and his anger hadn’t subsided. Stammering, he replied, “I’ve tried, tried thousands of times, but it’s impossible! I’m going crazy!”

The excessive rage left many dragons still unable to articulate:

“20% probability? Ridiculous.”

“I despise that universe.”

“Why entrust the Emperor’s fate to something like that?”

Among the thousands of dragons present, the elderly red dragon was the only one maintaining composure. He asked, “So, do you have any solutions?”

The dragons collectively responded, “…It seems not.”

They were left with brute force. After all, their combat prowess came at the cost of intelligence.

Thinking about it, they couldn’t help but obliterate two more abandoned planets.

The red dragon said, “Listen to me,” addressing the silver dragon. “We have 20 minutes left. Will, use spatial teleportation to visit the capital star.”

________________________

At 7 p.m., the game system unexpectedly issued a new mission:

[Main Quest]

Mission Description: As an idol, managing popularity is crucial! Help the Cub accumulate initial popularity and gain the favor of two industry seniors!

Mission Progress: Popularity value (8/1000), Favor of industry seniors (0/2)

Mission Reward: Skill point *1, Lottery ticket *1

All parents were furious. How dare the system seek attention at this moment?!

But then, in the next second, the lottery ticket pool was officially launched.

The infuriated parents suddenly noticed a subtle change in the rules:

The success rate for altering fate had gone from the original 20% to 100%.

On his first day of unemployment, Wen Xingze was rudely awakened by a phone call at 8 a.m.

Groggily staring at his phone, he saw that his former boss from Daomei Entertainment had called him a whopping twelve times. Now, the boss was persistently dialing for the thirteenth time—clearly, the author of this book had been quite casual when naming characters.

“Hello,” Wen Xingze answered with a yawn. “Boss, happy unemployment?”

The boss urgently interrupted him, his normally timid demeanor replaced by an uncharacteristic firmness: “Enough with those ominous words! We’re not unemployed anymore… You, you, you’ve gained fans!!!”

Wen Xingze pointed out, “I gained fans, but how does that relate to us not being unemployed?”

The boss tearfully exclaimed, “Of course it’s related! Just now, Shengtian Entertainment called me. Our company has been acquired! You don’t need to leave the industry anymore, wuwuwu!”

“…”

This was the only boss Wen Xingze knew who could be so ecstatic about their company being acquired.

Wen Xingze got up, washed his face, and still felt a bit dazed. Suddenly, his phone vibrated again.

He assumed it was another message from the boss, but upon closer inspection, it was an unfamiliar number:

[Light Tower Logistics: Mr. Wen, greetings! The private plane reserved by the dragon parents will arrive in two hours. Please…]

Wen Xingze: “?”

A private plane?

________________________

Author’s note: 

Falling off the horse happens step by step; otherwise, all the parents together might just blow up the universe…

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