Rise Of The New Empire & Songstress Gift

A Billionaire's Morning & A Jealous Stirring

The golden rays of morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of the Horizon Hill Villa, casting a warm glow over the luxurious master bedroom. Joshua stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Jia Yi's body pressed against his side.

She lay curled up against him, her bare shoulders peeking from beneath the silk sheets, her long black hair cascading over his chest. Her breathing was soft, steady—peaceful.

For a moment, Joshua simply watched her, his fingers brushing through her hair absentmindedly.

Then—ding.

His phone, which lay on the nightstand, vibrated with an incoming message.

Jia Yi groaned softly at the noise, shifting slightly before lazily opening her eyes. She blinked at the bright screen lighting up the room.

Joshua reached for his phone, but before he could grab it, Jia Yi had already seen the sender's name.

📩 Xin Er: Good morning, Joshua. I really enjoyed last night. Thank you for everything.

Jia Yi immediately sat up, her drowsiness vanishing. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to Joshua, possessiveness flashing through her gaze.

"…Who's Xin Er?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm.

Joshua smirked, knowing full well she had already seen the message and was just testing him.

He leaned back against the pillows, stretching slightly. "A girl from my high school."

Jia Yi crossed her arms, not buying it. "Oh? And why is she texting you first thing in the morning, thanking you?"

Joshua chuckled, sitting up. He reached out, but Jia Yi smacked his hand away, her pout deepening.

"Oh? Someone's jealous," he teased.

Jia Yi huffed, glaring at him. "Don't change the subject! Tell me everything."

Joshua sighed, deciding it was best to tease her a little before explaining. He pulled her closer—an arm slipping around her waist, his other hand tilting her chin up.

"Why so jealous, Jia Yi?" His lips brushed dangerously close to her ear. "Afraid I'll leave you for someone else?"

Jia Yi's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly pushed against his chest, scowling. "I swear, Joshua—if you don't tell me, I'll—"

Joshua cut off her words with a kiss—a slow, teasing kiss that made Jia Yi momentarily forget her anger.

When he finally pulled away, he smirked. "Relax. Xin Er was my high school crush. I saved her from an arranged marriage last night, and she confessed to me."

Jia Yi's eyes widened. "She confessed to you?"

Joshua nodded. "And guess what?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What?"

He leaned in again, his voice a seductive whisper.

"She's not the only one."

Jia Yi's face burned as she pushed him away. "Shameless!"

System Reward – The Billionaire's New Empire

As their playful argument died down, Joshua reached for his phone again. But this time—ding.

A system window popped up before him.

[System Notification]

Reward Unlocked: Xin Er's Confession (90 Favorability Points Achieved)

• New Asset Acquired: 100% Ownership of QiQi TV (Valued at 6.5 Billion Yen)

• Special Reward: Media Mogul Title – Grants increased influence in the entertainment & media industry

• Attribute Boost: +10 Charisma

Joshua's eyes gleamed as he read through the rewards.

QiQi TV?

This wasn't just any asset. This was one of the largest streaming platforms in China—a global powerhouse in social media, music, and content creation.

And more importantly—this was the very platform that built Sung En's career.

Joshua smirked. He already knew exactly what he was going to do with it.

A Songstress' Gift – A Billion-Dollar Surprise

By mid-morning, Joshua made his way to Sung En's private studio, a sleek, high-tech space designed for music production.

Inside, Sung En was seated at her piano, absentmindedly playing a soft melody. Her silver-white hair cascaded over her shoulder, and she was dressed in an oversized sweater, looking effortlessly stunning.

She turned as he entered, raising an eyebrow. "You're smiling too much. What are you up to?"

Joshua walked over, casually leaning against the piano.

"I got you a gift."

Sung En rolled her eyes. "Let me guess—a ridiculously expensive handbag? A sports car? Another VIP shopping spree?"

Joshua chuckled. "Something better."

He pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and slid it across the piano.

Sung En frowned, picking it up. But as she read the screen, her fingers froze.

Her silver eyes widened.

She read it again.

And again.

Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching.

She looked up at Joshua, her voice barely above a whisper. "You… bought QiQi TV?"

Joshua smirked. "Not quite."

She blinked in confusion. "Then…?"

Joshua leaned in slightly, his voice low and intimate.

"I'm giving it to you."

Sung En stared at him, completely stunned.

The weight of his words slowly sank in.

He was giving her ownership of the very platform that had built her career.

Her hands trembled as she placed the phone down, her usual playful confidence completely stripped away.

"This is…" She swallowed, her emotions suddenly overwhelming her. "This is too much, Joshua."

Joshua tilted her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. "You deserve it."

Sung En bit her lip. Her heart pounded.

No one had ever believed in her like this before. No one had ever given her something this grand—this life-changing—without expecting anything in return.

She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions bubbling inside her.

And then—without thinking, she threw herself at him.

Joshua caught her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face against his shoulder.

"…Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Joshua chuckled, his hands resting on her waist. "Don't go falling in love with me now."

Sung En pulled back slightly, glaring at him—but her face was red.

"Tch. Who says I will?" she shot back.

But as she stepped back, her hands lingered on his arms just a little longer than necessary.

Ding.

[System Notification]

Sung En Favorability +20 → (Total: 85)

Joshua smirked.

She was already falling.