Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Lu Xiaobu left, leaving behind a group of journalists drenched in waterfall-like sweat.
Too terrifying.
Never seen such a venomous billionaire.
Aren’t you worried that you’ll shred those young people to pieces?
Things like "success at the cost of severing all ties."
And that "drop, drop, drop, falling endlessly."
That "You’re utterly incapable of achieving anything great."
You are way too venomous!
Are you a demon?
Many journalists, eager for a big scoop, started searching online for netizens’ opinions on this ton of toxic chicken soup.
Even though they got sprayed by Lu Xiaobu, a journalist is a journalist; it’s their occupational instinct.
They thought the internet would be filled with criticism.
But the result was this.
There were criticisms, alright, but even more of the comments were like this:
"Refreshing! This toxic chicken soup feels invigorating."
"Damn, haven’t felt this great in a while, never knew toxic chicken soup could taste so good."
"After downing this bowl of toxic chicken soup, I’ll continue to face-plant tomorrow!"
"Life, as it turns out, is full of despair, but still, I choose to go on."
"It really stung when I first listened, but as the sting went on, I got used to it. After getting used to it, I even started to enjoy it! Is this what they mean by ’if you can’t resist, might as well enjoy it?’"
"..."
These comments, resembling a phoenix rising from the ashes, left the journalists utterly dumbfounded.
What’s going on?!
We adults are in unbearable pain listening to it, and you young people are already rising from the ashes?!
No way!
Weren’t young people supposed to be fragile?
Like flowers in a greenhouse?!
Some people, sharing their sentiment, raised this question online.
"Why did you recover so quickly? Doesn’t it hurt?"
Young netizens laughed at this comment.
"It hurts, sure, but so what? Isn’t that just the harsh reality? You’re already old!"
"Yeah, what era do you think it is? The internet has opened our eyes to everything."
"Yes! Although toxic chicken soup is poisonous, it keeps you alert and reminds you not to make excuses for yourself; chicken soup may taste good, but it dulls the mind, making you believe that ’effort’ alone will solve all problems. In truth, if you’re heading in the wrong direction, effort will only steer you further off course."
"..."
Adults reading these comments were taken aback.
Then, they all fell silent.
It seemed true; from the lost generation to the beat generation to the silent generation, people have always tagged the newcomers with various labels.
But there’s no denying that each new generation will always grow up.
While they were still reflecting on this.
An online voting event suddenly started.
"Strong demand for Lu Xiaobu to do it again!"
"That’s right, I’m addicted to toxic chicken soup, you have to take responsibility!"
"I’m addicted too; it feels wrong not to have it for a day!"
"Strong demand for Lu Xiaobu to start a show, a special program for toxic chicken soup!"
"Please pour a bucket of cold water on me, extinguish the world of my delusions!"
"Toxic chicken soup, the unparalleled soup!"
"..."
In the end, the toxic chicken soup event actually received over a million votes requesting Lu Xiaobu to dish out more toxic chicken soup.
Those organizing conferences and forums were shocked.
Their invitations to big shots for lectures hadn’t garnered this much popularity!
What’s going on with the world?
Have they really gotten old?
The modern youth, not into success tutorials nor sipping regular chicken soup, have become addicted to toxic chicken soup!?
You guys must all be masochists!
Let’s put them aside, within the Lu Group, the seven CEOs—nope, let’s just call them the seven gourd brothers from now on.
They are currently holding a discussion about Lu Xiaobu’s recent toxic chicken soup speech.
"Sincerely IT’s Third Brother voiced a question: "What do you all think is the reason Young Master Bu went to give a speech at the summit? And why the toxic chicken soup?!"
"Erwa Create Chinese Website pondered, "Could it be there’s something we haven’t thought of?"
"Shadow Mobile’s Fourth Brother affirmed, "That’s right, Young Master Bu never does anything pointless."
"Brain Black Gold’s Seventh Brother had an epiphany, "Wait a minute, let me offer a thought. Think along the lines of our Brain Black Gold’s advertising approach. Now that Xiaobu’s toxic chicken soup is so popular, shouldn’t we use this to boost the sales of a certain product?"
"LOL’s Sixth Brother furrowed his brows, "Sales? Sales?! Advertising?"
"Dawa Cola Company’s First Brother had an "aha" moment, slapping his thigh, "It must be for our cola that Young Master Bu did this, think about it! If we print Young Master Bu’s toxic chicken soup on our cola labels, the sales will definitely skyrocket!"
"Sincerely IT’s Third Brother suddenly saw the light, "Yes, we can also design a creative label for you, like it looks like chicken soup on the surface, but as soon as the label is peeled off, it turns into toxic chicken soup!"
"Dawa Cola Company danced excitedly, "Great, that’s the one, we’ve finally guessed Young Master Bu’s intentions for the first time! Fantastic!"
If Lu Xiaobu were to hear this he’d probably be flabbergasted—What the heck is my new creative idea? What have you guys figured out?!
But, whether he’s dumbfounded or not...
The cola with the new toxic chicken soup labels went on sale!
...
Jintailong Supermarket.
The supermarket owner was puzzled by the latest batch of cola—the labels had changed?
There were words on them.
And they seemed thicker, too!
But anyway, it wasn’t his business.
After all, cola is cola, and it always sells well.
Soon enough, the first batch of customers arrived, heading straight for the cola shelf.
The owner frowned, "Is there some kind of promotion going on? Why the rush?"
Then, he watched a customer meticulously picking one.
This stunned the owner again – isn’t cola all the same flavor? What’s there to pick?
But well, the customer knows best; he didn’t say anything.
Finally, the customer made up their mind, grabbed a bottle, and exchanged it for cash.
Then, the owner saw...
The customer didn’t pop open the cola after getting it but started carefully peeling the label.
Peeling it bit by bit, just like a gambler reveals their hand.
This drove the owner nuts.
You buy a drink and don’t drink it, instead you fuss over the label, what’s up with that?!
After a while.
The customer finally tore off the label.
"Ah!"
The customer clutched their chest, letting out a cry.
Their expression was indescribably weird, both sad and happy.
After catching their breath.
The customer sighed, unscrewed the cola to take a sip, and left.
The owner was about to lose his mind, what the hell is this?!
And just when he thought it was a one-off, other customers in the store nearly all followed the same antics as the first one.
Picking a cola, making the purchase, not drinking straight away, tearing the label first, crying out, showing a peculiar face, and eventually drinking.
The owner went crazy, unable to contain his curiosity, he grabbed a bottle.
He looked at the words on the label – If life deceives you today, don’t be sad, don’t cry.
To the owner, the words seemed pretty good, quite positive.
But why the wailing from the customers?
He tore the label off like the customers did.
The rest of the sentence appeared – because life will continue deceiving you tomorrow!
The owner nearly spewed blood three kilometers out!
Damn it all!
Am I really that idle, just looking for some heartache?!
What in the world kind of cola is this?!