Chapter 519: win-win-win

[Does this child even know what "being full" means?]
These kinds of heart-wrenching public service announcements pop up on TV from time to time.
A thin, bony child stares with large, clear, yet empty eyes, seemingly able to pierce the screen and reach the softest corner of your heart.
Of course, who watches TV these days?
The last time Su Hao turned on the TV was to test his newly bought game console.
These things are basically like viral marketing; they suddenly pop up from the corner of the screen while you're scrolling through short videos or browsing forums.
They stare at you with those big, watery eyes, making you feel like you're not even human if you don't scan a QR code and donate ten or eight yuan.
To be fair, giving is a good thing and deserves respect.
But to tell ordinary working-class people to tighten their belts and save every penny to donate feels a bit like moral blackmail.
That social responsibility should rightfully fall to the big corporations that rake in huge profits.
The logic is simple:
You take money from consumers' pockets, then give a portion back to society—that's called taking from the people and using it for the people.
Consumers who buy your products are indirectly doing charity, feeling good about themselves;
The company boosts its brand image, becoming a universally praised, ethical company, gaining prestige;
The beneficiaries benefit, solving their immediate needs.
Win-win-win, a triple win, it's incredibly lucrative.
"Wow, this is truly unbelievable.
The richest man in Xia Country, eating ham sausage and instant noodles for lunch?
If word gets out, the whole country will probably think the Great Depression has arrived prematurely."
A clear, slightly mocking voice rang out behind him.
Su Hao didn't turn around, knowing it was his beloved younger sister, Su Hui.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work today?"
"I'm on my annual leave today! Speaking of which, isn't your mansion a bit too big?
We live under the same roof, and we don't even know if the other is home? Is that even acceptable?"
Su Hui, like an elegant cat, gracefully floated to the refrigerator, took out a brightly colored salad, and unleashed a barrage of criticism on him like a machine gun.
"Seriously, bro? You still haven't broken this bad habit you developed from staying up all night at internet cafes?
Ham sausage and instant noodles, the standard meal for internet addicts, right?
You're a respectable person now, can't you treat yourself a little better?"
"Ham sausage and instant noodles, soulmates, you wouldn't understand."
Su Hao solemnly picked up a mouthful of noodles and slurped them down.
"It's because you like to make do with whatever you want that Mom nags every day!
You're practically a resident of the hotel downstairs, isn't it hard to just call room service and have them send up something nutritious?"
That's something...you really can't argue with that.
Back in the day, Su Hao was that hardcore otaku, completely absorbed in the virtual world, neglecting sleep and meals.
When his parents were busy with work and couldn't take care of him, instant noodles were his lifeline.
Ham sausage and instant noodles, better than heaven.
Unexpectedly, this habit ingrained in his bones has continued to this day.
Even now, he's the richest man in Xia Country, living in a luxury suite high in the clouds.
He would still sneakily make himself a bowl of instant noodles every now and then, savoring that unique, cheap, and sinful pleasure.
"Okay, okay, I know, I'll eat well tomorrow," Su Hao said perfunctorily.
"Come on, don't wait until tomorrow, start with dinner tonight!"
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you."
Su Hao agreed verbally, but his hands didn't stop moving.
However, he felt a burning gaze behind him, like two searchlights, fixed on the instant noodles in his bowl.
"What?"
"Let me have a bite!"
"..."
Ignoring Su Hao's speechless face, which screamed "Are you kidding me?", Su Hui had already swiftly grabbed a large mouthful of noodles, slurped it down in a "slurp," her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.
“Um… our boss… said…”
“Swallow it before you speak!”
“Cough cough,” Su Hui finally caught her breath, wiping her mouth.
“Our hotel boss asked when you’d be free to come over and inspect the hotel.”
“Why the sudden question? We’re all in the same building, we see each other all the time.”
“That’s different! The boss wants to invite you down for a bit, to cooperate with some publicity, take some photos, chat, and stuff.
After all, my brother, your public image is absolutely radiant right now, your popularity is like a top celebrity, we need to make the most of it.”
“My image?” Su Hao raised an eyebrow, looking completely bewildered.
“Are you playing dumb with me?”
Su Hao tilted his head in confusion, indicating that he was truly innocent and pure.
"Seriously, bro? Don't you ever search your own name online?"
"I'm not some celebrity, why would I search for that?"
To be honest, Su Hao really had absolutely no interest in these things online.
As for social media, he hadn't logged in in ages. He knew less about internet memes and slang than the old man downstairs.
Su Hui's jaw nearly dropped:
"My goodness! A big boss running the world's largest social media platform, and he doesn't even go online?! Who would believe that?!"
"I'm just an investor, not an operator. Besides, I don't even watch the web dramas produced by our own company."
"So what do you do when you're free?"
"Play games!"
"..."
Su Hui was silent for a long time, then uttered a quiet, somber remark,
"Goodness, so this is how you have to live to succeed?"
Su Hao thought about it himself, and it seemed his leisure time was indeed pitifully barren.
"Brother, you really have no idea, your image in the public eye is absolutely phenomenal right now!"
"I haven't been in the media much, how could I have an image?"
"Didn't you give a speech at the ESG Association's founding ceremony?
Since that day, news articles about you have been flying everywhere like they're free, and all sorts of short video clips have flooded my homepage!
Let me tell you, several times I've been lying in bed idly scrolling through my phone, and suddenly I'd see your face, and it startled me so much I almost dropped my phone on my face!"
As she spoke, Su Hui shoved her phone in front of him and opened several videos.
Su Hao leaned closer to take a look. The video was passionately recounting his glorious achievements since his debut, accompanied by various high-energy background music, and the titles were increasingly sensational.
"The Legendary Path of Su Hao, the God of Investment!"
"The Stock Market Saint of Xia Kingdom, the Man Who Single-handedly Supported the National Economy!"
"A National Treasure, a National Hero!"...
The video content further embellished his past investment cases, listing a dense array of feats of merit.
Titles like "God of Investment," "Eastern Buffett," "Guardian of Xia Kingdom"...
A barrage of cheesy and passionate titles were being showered upon him like they were free.