The Master Programmer - Chapter 67: Just… Business 2

[Delicate Wife VS Tough Guy, Spoiling Wife + Double Virtue + Raising Kids Daily Life]The foodie livestreamer Shen Mingzhu transmigrated into the role of a wicked stepmother from a bygone era's novel, becoming a contrasting figure to the village's Shen Baolan.Shen Baolan was kind and virtuous, treating her stepson as her own, while the original character was harsh and mean, either beating or scolding the stepson.Shen Baolan enjoyed her twilight years thanks to her promising stepson, whereas the original character was burned alive by her twisted and sinister stepson.In order to change the tragic outcome, Shen Mingzhu rolled up her sleeves, prepared to sort things out properly.——Shen Baolan had a dream.The man she was about to marry would die half a year later, leaving her a widow with nothing, bound to lead a life of misery.Meanwhile, Shen Mingzhu, for having married the right man, became an enviable rich lady.Both from the same village, both becoming stepmothers to someone, why should Shen Mingzhu live a better life than her?She would marry the man Shen Mingzhu was married to, and live Shen Mingzhu's good life!——Five years passed.Shen Mingzhu had become a college student, Shen Mingzhu's man didn't die but instead became a big boss, and Shen Mingzhu's stepson turned into a child prodigy.Shen Baolan, who pined for her husband to succeed, was still bitterly waiting for the day her man would rise to greatness.

Betrayed by those he empowered. Slain at the peak of his reign. Reborn into a world unworthy of him.Tian Mo was once a supreme cultivator, a dark sovereign who ruled with absolute might and terrifying intellect. After a million years of conquest, his closest allies turned on him, stripping him of everything. But fate offered no rest. Reincarnated into modern-day Earth, he awakens in a weak mortal body—yet his memories, ambition, and ruthlessness remain untouched.In this strange new world of technology and fragile peace, Tian Mo finds new prey. With the Primordial Chaos Demonic Evil Physique and the forbidden Divine Sins Emperor Technique, he begins building his empire from the shadows. He manipulates the system, devours the corrupt, and topples the powerful—not out of justice, but vengeance... and the endless hunger for power.There are no heroes in this tale. Only a monster reborn—and the world that will burn beneath his feet.

I am currently re-writing the first chapters of this story. They are quite rough and bounce around a lot and I can do better. At some point, I will replace these with the better chapters.Sometime in 2024 Aethon Books will publish the first volume of this story on Amazon, KU, and audible. This will mean the story will be stubbed. I will notify people far in advance of that.In the dystopian world of the future, life is rough when you live at the bottom. Jobs are non-existent. Far too many people live in poverty, crammed into huge buildings called Habitats. With no jobs in the real world, many people can only find work online in VR worlds as servants to the very rich. And it's getting worse. The old internet is unusable and hacked to pieces. The new system needs AI to run things, but all but one of them were destroyed. The last sentient AI is ordered to create a new game world so the rich can have a playground, and the corporations that rule the world can have a new global market place. Everyone wants a piece of the new game. The guilds are competing to be the first to find the dungeons and kill the biggest monster. The corporations are claiming land and putting in their online market places. Ozzy and his friends just want a paycheck.Four friends sign five year contracts as virtual serfs in a small village, and can't go adventuring at all to gain money. They don't have many choices. They can work as a blacksmith, barmaid and shepherd for all those years....or they can cheat and find ways to take advantage of the system and carve out a section of the game world for themselves, and earn a fortune in the real world.When they give you a mop and not a sword, you have to find the loopholes and change the rules.

VOLUME 1 : COMPLETED

WARNING: A roller coaster love-hate journey and a tear-jerking story equipped with mysteries.

Dylan Sterling, the youngest and the most ruthless chief executive of Sterling Group, has special powers that superseded the Group. Money, fame, and intelligence were clear evidence of his status in the society he belongs to. His exceptional talent had a hidden purpose, and the DARK WORLD he ruled was cruel. He showed no mercy to everyone who blocked his path and devoured those who attempted to stand against him.

Savannah Schultz- 21 years old, an orphan turned to be a model, was engaged to wed Devin only to gain support for the family business that her father built for many years. Later she went south after her father died. And her uncle Dalton Schultz adopted her to get everything she had, including Devin's aid.

Devin had sold her off like a slave to his uncle Dylan - to scheme the notorious man for additional capital to inject into his business venture. Dylan had eaten her up like a box of chocolates and treated her like a bargaining chip.

She felt herself knocked off balance and falling into a deep abyss. Anger, sadness, embarrassment –swelled within her and threatened to ruin her life.

To save himself from humiliation, he perfectly planned to take her as his nominal wife and promised to help her break up the engagement and aid her family business.

Helpless and humiliated, she accepted his bargain. She started to become strong in front of those bullies, yet she was weak when it comes to him.

They lived together but treated each other as strangers. He had no plans of falling for her as someone had occupied his heart a few years ago.

Then the situation shifted when he discovered who she really was! But the dark world he ruled threatened to destroy them.

Mystery, deception, and revenge-fueled them both to rise together.

Volume Two Title: Marrying The HEIRESS

A wrong encounter that leads to a bad impression. She accused him of being a pervert and arrogant. Hazel, a badass and strong young woman, has always been fiercely dealing with every circumstances she encountered, including the time she met Joshua Denmark. She gave him a great lesson he'd never forget after she wrongly accused him.

He knew she's the woman he wanted to be with, and he stole her first kiss. Her strong and straightforward personality hooked Joshua despite the danger ahead.

He drew her towards him by announcing a big competition - seeking a surrogate mother for his heir. Hazel's friends had quickly signed her name on the online form without her permission. Leaving no option, she joined the competition only to find out that the man who stole her first kiss was the same person who launched the competition.

Owing to the trick played by the ruthless billionaire, little did they know that Hazel would end up breaking into the world of Joshua Denmark. The mystery he hid for many years gradually unfolds.

Doubt and fear played on Joshua's mind when he confirmed her real identity, and several deceptive tricks trapped Hazel into his life. Would he change their destiny, or rather destroy her life for a selfish reason?