Chapter 9: Chen Ge Falls Asleep, Calming Incense Goes Viral

The timer started.

Smoke swirled in circles as Chen Ge took a deep breath. “The scent… not bad. The dryness is light, and the smoke doesn’t sting at all.”

[Low smoke and dryness indicate the streamer’s incense-making technique is excellent.]
[Too bad I can’t smell it.]

Netizens watched the scene unfold with amusement.

Chen Ge continued savoring the fragrance. “Hmm… this incense smells…”

He paused thoughtfully. “Actually… it’s quite pleasant.”

The audience watching the stream burst into laughter:

[Looks just like me when I have no culture.]

Chen Ge inhaled deeply, and the subtle, clean fragrance enveloped him, making his entire body and mind seem to float along with it.

It smelled really nice.

He smiled, then suddenly yawned.

Immediately, his body swayed on the sofa and collapsed with a thud.

Viewers: ???

[Bro, are you kidding us?]
[It’s only been a minute! You’re already out?!]

Chen Ge didn’t notice the shock of the viewers. Half-reclined on the sofa, he unconsciously nuzzled the cushion with his cheek, a sweet smile on his lips as he drifted into a deep sleep.

After a moment of thought, the audience commented:

[Call 120! I think something’s wrong with him.]
[Agreed. If the calming incense works this strongly, then what was I burning all these years?]

Thus, enthusiastic netizens immediately reported it to the authorities.

The cyber-police traced Chen Ge’s location, and the local emergency team rushed out.

Ten minutes later, Chen Ge awoke from his nap, blinking sleepily. Seeing fully equipped medical staff before him, he asked in confusion, “Who… are you?”

The medical team briefly explained the situation.

Chen Ge: “Me? I fell asleep? Netizens called the police?”

“Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Chen Ge: “…”

He turned toward the incense, still dazed. This really worked.

“Do you feel unwell?”

“No, not really.”

Chen Ge yawned. “Just… sleepy.”

The medics yawned in sympathy. “You can come to the hospital for a check-up if you like.”

Chen Ge declined.

After sending the medical team away, he glanced at the still-streaming broadcast and twitched his lips. “Thanks, contemporary enthusiastic netizens.”

[Contemporary enthusiastic netizens: You’re welcome.]
[As long as you’re not faking it.]

“Faking it my foot!”

Chen Ge snapped angrily. “Who do you think I am? Did Wen Lingyue save my life?! Do you really think I’d fake this?!”

Fair enough.

Still, Chen Ge wasn’t ready to give up. He looked at the audience. “I’ll try again.”

Saying so, he ventilated the room and re-lit the incense that had just gone out.

Two minutes later,

Viewers watched Chen Ge fall asleep once more: “….”

Bro, this time we’re not calling the police.

#ChenGeFallsAsleepTwice#
#WenLingyue, Goddess of Sleep#
#CalmingIncenseEffectStrong#
#StubbornChenGeKnockedOutOnStream#

Following the popularity of the Sleep Melody, calming incense once again swept the internet. Many netizens, amazed, began to doubt the potency of the incense.

As the buzz spread, Wen Lingyue promptly shared the test report and patent certificate for the calming incense.

Netizens were stunned. Wen Lingyue: undeniable.

Chen Ge also sent his sleep incense for testing. After confirming that the score met standards, he recorded a video verifying Wen Lingyue’s claims, ending with a sincere apology and a casual request for more incense.

After all, who doesn’t have friends or family who suffer from insomnia?

Netizens sneered:

“I still like your unruly side.”
“Chen Ge quickly kneels in submission; Wen Lingyue proves unstoppable.”

Numerous insomniacs flocked to Wen Lingyue’s official account:

“Boss, give us another batch!”

Sleep melodies are nice, but waking up in the middle of the night is annoying. What’s better than lighting one stick of incense and sleeping soundly until morning?

Soon, the entire internet went into a frenzy over the calming incense, and a single stick skyrocketed in price.

…

Wen Lingyue began busily preparing production for the “Into Dreams” incense.

To be honest, she didn’t understand business.

But she understood human nature.

“Human nature?”

After being kicked out by her previous company and blacklisted by the industry, hearing Zhao Huajing mutter this word, she felt confused.

She was only forty—why couldn’t she understand young people anymore?

Wen Lingyue sipped her coffee. “In other words… I have money.”

Zhao Huajing: ?

Even more incomprehensible.

Wen Lingyue explained: “Establish a company, register capital, apply for licenses, acquire land and build production facilities, hire talent…”

“All this just requires money.”

Wen Lingyue pointed at a spot on the map. “We’ll build the office here.”

Zhao Huajing: “The rent for this floor is 1.5 million per quarter.”

Wen Lingyue raised her eyes. “Buy it.”

Zhao Huajing: ?

“Staff salaries will be 70% above industry average.”

Zhao Huajing: ??

“Land for the factory? Same thing. If we can buy it, we buy it.”

Zhao Huajing had never seen such lavish spending and timidly said, “The company doesn’t need such high initial costs.”

“Nope. We have money.”

Wen Lingyue put down her coffee cup. “Later, the company will launch other products. If the foundation is solid, later operations will run smoothly.”

Okay.

A boss with money and talent—basically willful!

Zhao Huajing nodded.

Wen Lingyue stood up to leave. “Keep an eye on the company. Contact me if anything comes up.”

“Ms. Wen—”

Zhao Huajing finally asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time: “Why do you trust me so much?”

She was nearly forty, dismissed by her former company, shunned by the industry, and almost thought a recruiter was a scam.

Wen Lingyue looked her in the eyes. “Because—”

In her past life, Zhao Huajing was the only person who believed in her calming incense research.

“You are worth trusting.”

•  

Beijing.

The cold night filtered through the window. At Huang Lingli’s desk, a man toyed with a bracelet of incense beads. The originally brown beads looked delicate against his long fingers.

The computer screen glowed, showing a red-dressed dancer spinning and twirling, radiantly flamboyant.

“Knock knock.”

Fu Yuanzhang closed the computer. “Come in.”

Butler Yang Yihong entered, handing him a document. His gaze lingered on Fu Yuanzhang’s fingers—a subtle pause. The private collection contained top-tier Hetian jade, agarwood, and southern red bead bracelets, all finer than these beads.

Fu Yuanzhang looked at the document and suddenly thought of something: “The Youth Dance Competition finals… I will attend.”

Dance competition?

Yang Yihong lowered his gaze. “Yes.”

He would arrange everything in advance.

Fu Yuanzhang waved him off.

Yang Yihong left the study, silently and without a sound.

Fu Yuanzhang sat for a while, then got up to wash.

Before sleep, he glanced at the incense bracelet in his palm and placed it beside his pillow.

A subtle scent of magnolia drifted over.

Fu Yuanzhang closed his eyes.

A night of deep sleep.

•  

As local dance competitions concluded, the national youth dance finals approached. Organizers began promoting the event online, mentioning likely champions.

Wen Lingyue, with her performance Phoenix Song, won high votes and was favored.

To celebrate, Jiang Kun, head of the Lingcheng competition area, specially invited Wen Lingyue to dinner.

“You are the hope of Lingcheng.”

Jiang Kun, a man in his thirties, was nearly in tears. “Every year, Lingcheng has been second best. Many times we’ve lost by a hair to the champion. Other districts even say Lingcheng has no chance!”

Jiang Kun slammed the table. “Wen Yue, I believe in you—”

A phone rang. Jiang Kun answered, and his face went pale as he looked at Wen Lingyue. “It seems… Lingcheng really has no champion luck.”