Dongjiang City, Haifeng Village.
It was an ordinary fishing village, a quiet coastal home. Xiao Yu's relatives, uncles, and the old family house were all here. Today, she was returning to her hometown for the traditional post-wedding banquet.
A luxury convoy slowly entered the village, immediately drawing the attention of countless villagers. Haifeng wasn't large—news traveled fast, and everyone knew something big was happening.
"Whose car is that? So fancy! Which family's child did so well for themselves?"
"You don't know? Didn't you see yesterday's news? The bride was on the broadcast—the daughter of the Lao family. She married a billionaire, and today is her return to the family."
"My son attended the wedding banquet. It was grand! I heard the bride's jewelry alone is worth hundreds of millions. Their house sits on dozens of acres."
"The Lao family is truly blessed. If only my daughter could marry like that..."
...
The buzz rippled through the entire village.
Soon, every household knew the Lao family's daughter had come home. Women and children arrived in groups, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new son-in-law—young, handsome, and incredibly wealthy.
Xiao Yu led the way home. He Zhenhua and Wang Lan were full of smiles as they welcomed her. Chen Mo sat in the living room, quietly respectful. Wang Lan's gaze lingered on him with increasing fondness.
Their daughter had married well—successful, well-mannered, and attentive. The disappointment they once held toward Xiao Yu had gradually faded after the wedding. Watching the care Chen Mo had put into every detail, the two parents felt reassured and proud.
Xiao Man excitedly ran to Chen Mo's side.
"You young folks chat. I'll check in with the chef," Wang Lan said with a smile, getting up with He Zhenhua to give them space.
"Big sis, brother-in-law—happy marriage!" Xiao Man said brightly.
Chen Mo nodded, pulling out a red envelope and handing it to her. "When do you graduate?"
"Next month! Brother-in-law, you said you'd fund my startup once I graduated. Are we still on?"
She beamed, her little tiger teeth showing as she grinned.
Chen Mo smiled. "Sure. Any ideas yet?"
"I do! After attending your wedding, I came up with something. I want to start a live-streaming platform."
"Live-streaming? That market's fiercely competitive. Are you confident?"
"Totally!" Xiao Man nodded vigorously. "At your wedding, I mingled with a few industry big shots—asked them about starting a company. I even met some top managers from big streaming platforms. I'm planning to poach a few people to form an experienced team. With your backing and some resources, even a pig could succeed."
"You're good at using your resources." Chen Mo chuckled. "But can you really make it?"
"I definitely can! …Wait—I'm not a pig!" Xiao Man caught his teasing and pouted.
Chen Mo laughed. "Okay, tell me. What's the killer idea behind your confidence?"
"I was inspired by your wedding. The most popular game right now is the holographic version of Hero, right? Imagine holding the Hero League finals at the Bird's Nest stadium in the capital. Use your company's large holographic projectors to turn the football field into a giant Summoner's Rift!"
"Then do the same for Dota, King, and all the big leagues. Before, holographic broadcasts were limited to a few meters wide—great, but not immersive enough. But with a stadium-sized projection, the intensity would rival the World Cup. There's already a huge e-sports fan base, and the visuals would be mind-blowing."
"I'll secure exclusive streaming rights, and host the games on my own platform. With that kind of exposure, it'll crush all other live-stream platforms. Bring in some popular streamers, and the platform will take off."
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's… actually very clever."
He hadn't expected Xiao Man to think so far ahead. Using a massive holographic projection for competitive gaming could revolutionize e-sports. With its growing popularity and huge fan base, the idea had huge potential.
Large-scale holographic gaming—it had wow factor, novelty, and an established audience. It really could work.
"Right?" Xiao Man looked smug after his praise.
"How's the team-building going?" he asked.
"That's easy! I'll just tell them my company is backed by the Marching Ant Group, and you're my investor. No one's going to turn that down. I even got Xiao Ma's WeChat and card at your wedding. I'll work with Penguin Games next."
Chen Mo smirked. "Using the tiger's name for power, huh?"
"Hey, why not?" Xiao Man laughed. "It's the truth! You are investing in me. I'm just making good use of my connections. I don't need to start from scratch like other entrepreneurs. This is a golden opportunity—if I hesitate, someone else might beat me to it."
"Alright. I'll give you a hundred million to get started. Have your sister help find a planning team to build a business roadmap. If you lose it, I'll send you to grad school or make you start from the bottom."
He wasn't bothered by Xiao Man borrowing his name. She wasn't misusing it, and her approach showed quick thinking. That kind of adaptability was rare—and promising in business.
"Yay! Thank you, brother-in-law! I won't lose! This pig will fly!"
Her eyes lit up with determination. Clearly, Chen Mo's support had filled her with confidence.
As they chatted, a little girl from the neighborhood wandered over, blinking curiously at them. "Big brother, Sister Xiao Yu—happy wedding! Mama said I should wish you sweetness and give candy."
Both Chen Mo and Xiao Yu laughed. He handed her a red envelope and some sweets. "Thank you, little sister. This is for you."
"Thank you, big brother!" the girl beamed and clutched her gifts.
Other kids saw her joy and quickly ran over too. Before long, a small group of children surrounded them, each one offering blessings in exchange for candy.
Some mothers followed, bringing their children to wish the newlyweds well.
The villagers weren't there for favors—just genuine happiness and goodwill. Chen Mo and Xiao Yu didn't hold back, handing out the red envelopes and candy they'd prepared for the occasion.
Eventually, it was time for the banquet. Chen Mo and Xiao Yu took their seats.
It wasn't extravagant—no lavish decorations or showy plating. Just real, hearty dishes, generously portioned and delicious. He Zhenhua had made sure the neighbors were well-fed, arranging over a dozen banquet tables.
Introductions followed, and Chen Mo got to know more of Xiao Yu's extended family.
By five o'clock in the afternoon, the return-to-family event had ended. Chen Mo and Xiao Yu finally left the village—off to begin their honeymoon journey.