209-210

Chapter 209: A Day on America’s Independence Day

July 4, 1997.

It was Independence Day in America, without parades, speeches, or large-scale celebrations organized by the government.

There were no satellite broadcasts, nor was it turned into an extended holiday weekend.

It was simply a day off. Well, to be fair, many people used their annual leave to take additional time off for the national holiday.

Milo opened his sleepy eyes and reached out, only to find the space next to him empty. Charlize was already gone. He tossed aside the blanket, walked to the wardrobe, and pulled out his silk robe. Slipping it on, he opened the door and headed to the living room.

Hearing sounds from the kitchen, he went over and saw Charlize and another woman busy preparing food.

It was Jennifer Connelly. Since the release of Hitch, she had taken on another movie for Warner Bros.

However, she wasn’t the lead and had wrapped up her role in just two months.

A few days ago, she had arrived in New York, and Milo brought her to his Long Island estate.

Seeing Charlize, Jennifer didn’t feel much emotional turmoil.

After all, she had already spent time with Milo alongside Nicole.

She had mentally prepared herself. Having Charlize around wasn’t a big deal.

Charlize, however, had more complex feelings.

But she was incredibly smart—possibly the most pragmatic and level-headed woman among Milo’s Hollywood companions.

Even if she felt a tinge of discomfort, she handled herself well and got along with Jennifer.

After spending a few days together, a bond of sorts had started to form.

When you’ve shared hardships and laid everything bare, a certain camaraderie develops.

It’s just… different.

“Go freshen up. I made grilled hot dogs, and Charlize whipped up some South African Pap! Eat a little first. Today’s our country’s Independence Day, and I think cooking is a meaningful way to celebrate!”

Jennifer, wearing nothing but a pink silk nightgown with a glossy finish, had her dark brown hair tied up in a bun.

Without makeup, her eyebrows and lips looked pale, giving her a unique charm.

She turned playfully and kissed Milo, who had come up behind her to hug her, before arranging things with flour-dusted hands.

Among all of Milo’s women, Ariana seemed the most innocent and romantic at first glance.

Britney came in second, given her age.

But in reality, Milo felt that the most innocent and whimsical of them all was Jennifer Connelly.

Her personality? Well, you could say she was a little scatterbrained.

She was five years older than Charlize, but when the two interacted, it seemed as if Charlize was the older one by five years.

“What’s South African Pap?” Milo asked with a smile as he pulled Charlize close, holding both women in his arms and planting a kiss on Charlize’s lips.

“It’s a type of cornmeal porridge, usually cooked with minced meat,” Charlize answered softly.

She, too, wore a nightgown, but unlike Jennifer’s glossy pink one, Charlize’s was a nearly translucent white silk gown.

Milo didn’t even need to look down; through the gown, it was evident she was wearing nothing underneath.

Top to bottom, she was completely bare.

Her youthful, stunning figure made Milo particularly fond of her embrace these past few days, relishing the soft warmth she offered.

An absolute gem.

Since the living quarters were private, with no men besides Milo around—only maids and servants—Charlize said she enjoyed the natural feeling.

Milo let her be.

After all, it worked out for him.

When he wanted her, all he had to do was lift her gown.

How convenient.

After chatting with them for a while and sneaking a few touches, Milo happily went to the small dining area adjacent to the kitchen.

Mrs. Solly, his personal nanny and housekeeper, brought over the day’s newspapers for him.

Being Independence Day, most of the headlines were naturally related to the holiday.

American patriotism, in truth, was more fervent than in any other country.

As a nation of immigrants, it lacked an inherent sense of ethnic unity.

Its identity had to be forged through so-called universal values and the American Dream.

This is why American patriotism often seemed exaggerated.

Here’s a simple example:

Schools in the U.S. also raise the national flag.

Moreover, many schools require students to pledge allegiance to the flag weekly—some even daily before morning classes.

What happens if you don’t comply?

In China, nothing.

In the U.S., if you refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag, you might face criticism at school at best—or jail time at worst.

Every year, hundreds of young Americans end up in prison for refusing to pledge allegiance.

So, does the U.S. lack patriotic education?

Quite the opposite.

America is one of the most successful countries in instilling patriotism.

Jennifer’s sausages were ready first, and she proudly brought them over.

“Try my cooking!” she declared with confidence.

In reality, the sausages had been prepared under the supervision of Mrs. Solly and her maids, using the freshest meat the previous night.

The meat came from a farm Milo had invested in near New York, slaughtered and transported under the protection of his global security team.

Paladin Capital, under Milo’s management, didn’t just hold shares in numerous internet companies.

It was also becoming one of the largest landowners in the country.

The company was aggressively acquiring land worldwide and establishing agricultural ventures.

For example, in New York State, surrounding his armed farm, Milo had purchased an additional 100 square kilometers of land.

These prime lands, equipped with water rights, had previously been operated as farms or ranches.

Milo allowed the previous operators to continue their work but consolidated everything into a company.

Now, most of the food Milo and his women consumed was sourced directly from his farms.

Of course, there was far more produce than they could ever eat, so the surplus was sold.

Take the grilled sausages Jennifer prepared, for instance—they were products of Milo’s own farms.

All Jennifer did was put them in the oven.

Following Mrs. Soli's advice, she adjusted the oven temperature perfectly.

When the oven dinged, signaling it was ready, she carefully took the dish out.

Next, she added a couple of small greens on top for decoration.

“Tastes great.”

She savored the sausages made with beef from her farm near New York.

Milo gave Jennifer a thumbs-up.

“Haha, I’m starting to feel like cooking isn’t that hard after all!”

Jennifer, who had grown up as a child star and knew little else besides acting, cheerfully returned to the kitchen. “Wait, let me make you a few more sandwiches!”

Milo smiled, shaking his head as he returned to reading his newspaper.

American Independence Day isn’t much different from its counterpart in China.

To put it simply, it’s all about eating, drinking, and having fun.

The main differences are in cultural nuances, like backyard barbecues, camping cookouts, hamburgers, and hot dog eating contests.

Since July is considered National Hot Dog Month, it’s no wonder there are so many overweight Americans.

People dress up in red, yellow, and blue to match the flag’s colors, using them to accessorize their outfits.

Interestingly, every year on Independence Day, the U.S. imports over four million American flags, with 98% of them made overseas.

Then there are the fireworks. In particular, the display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., attracts millions of live viewers annually.

Parades, street performers, and other events are also major attractions in cities nationwide.

A little while later…

The dining table was set with oven-roasted meat, a cream cake adorned with two flags, steaming cherry pie, and a large bowl of fruit salad.

Each person also had a serving of South African pap—Charlize's cornmeal meat porridge.

There were also several sandwiches that Jennifer had made herself.

“Anyone want a drink? The wine cabinet has ice wine—Jennifer said she bought it from the Pyramid Winery in Summerhill,” Charlize called out from the kitchen to Milo in the living room.

Jennifer quickly added, “I did buy it!”

Milo chuckled and walked to the wine cabinet, picking out a green glass bottle.

The bottle bore a pyramid emblem and the winery’s name—a symbol of the renowned Canadian national drink, ice wine.

He fetched the wine opener and three wine glasses, then headed to the dining room. Pouring himself a glass, he took a sip.

“How is it?” Jennifer asked as she came out with a plate of baked scallops.

“Hmm, it’s excellent—definitely unique compared to other ice wines. Summerhill is the only winery in the world that still follows the ‘mystical pyramid’ winemaking process.”

Milo had some knowledge of ice wine. He believed the secret to tasting it well lay simply in drinking plenty of it.

The more high-quality wines you’ve had, the easier it is to discern the differences.

“Well, I’m glad you like it! Hehe, let’s eat!” Jennifer called to Charlize. Both women placed their dishes on the table, took off their aprons, tossed them aside, and sat on either side of Milo.

After breakfast and a goodbye kiss from the two beautiful women, Milo boarded a helicopter headed to Manhattan.

Without the helicopter, the trip from Long Island to Manhattan could easily take two to three hours—or even longer with traffic.

By helicopter, he could reach the helipad atop the Rockefeller Center’s International Building in under 40 minutes.

Compared to China, the U.S. in 1997 had very relaxed regulations for private aviation.

Most private aircraft could operate in general aviation zones with minimal or no fees.

Of course, Long Island and Manhattan weren’t unrestricted zones, and flight routes required prior approval.

But for the wealthy, such formalities were mere trivialities.

And for someone like Milo, it wasn’t just about convenience—it was expected.

While he couldn’t fly absolutely anywhere, he could certainly fly whenever he wanted.

Just over 40 minutes later…

At 9:55 a.m., Milo stepped off the helipad atop the International Building in Rockefeller Center.

Taking the elevator, he arrived at the top-floor office reserved exclusively for him.

During his time in New York, Milo spent most of his days here, unless he was out golfing.

After reviewing the stock performance of his media company, he set the report aside and picked up Yahoo’s business summary.

In the two years since Milo had taken over Yahoo, it had become something entirely different from its counterpart in another timeline.

In that alternate reality, Yahoo was essentially just a popular portal website—favored for being first to market but highly replaceable.

When the dot-com bubble burst, Yahoo’s fate was sealed, much like Britain’s decline by 2024.

Initially, Milo intended to cash out of Yahoo quickly.

However, when Jerry Yang and David Filo attempted to dilute his stake, Milo was “forced” to counter.

In retaliation, he eliminated David Filo entirely, consolidating control of Yahoo.

With Milo’s focus and capital, Yahoo became a comprehensive internet powerhouse.

He introduced every innovation he could recall from his knowledge of parallel timelines, implementing them wherever feasible.

As a result, Yahoo had evolved beyond a simple portal.

It now spanned diverse areas like gaming, social networking, news, and entertainment.

Thanks to Milo’s foresight, deep pockets, and access to cutting-edge technology, Yahoo became a jack-of-all-trades—and excelled in nearly every domain.

Of course, the nascent state of the internet played a role, as competition had yet to catch up.

By 1999, Yahoo’s global influence was unparalleled.

With fewer than 200 million internet users worldwide, Yahoo boasted a staggering 1.2 billion weekly active users and 11.2 billion weekly clicks.

This meant 60% of global internet users visited Yahoo’s platforms daily, clicking an average of ten times and staying for over half an hour.

Relative to its competitors, Yahoo was in a league of its own.

Yahoo's lead was no longer an insurmountable gap.

Instead, it was a dominant 90% market share.

The reason for achieving such a staggering market size, apart from Milo being a "prophet," was undoubtedly related to the fact that the global internet was still in its infancy.

If this scale could still be maintained ten years later, Yahoo would surely face antitrust investigations from major powers worldwide.

Unlike now, where its market share and scale are absurdly high, no one has yet called it a monopoly because the market is still a vast blue ocean.

After all, Yahoo hasn't even gone public yet.

After reviewing the briefing, Milo pondered for a moment and made a commitment in an internal email.

When Yahoo goes public at the end of the year, all shareholders will contribute 5%–10% of the shares to establish an incentive pool for all Yahoo employees.

Milo used to be just a humble online writer, scraping by with meager royalties and struggling to make ends meet.

To say he had a grand vision at the time would be an exaggeration.

He hadn't studied courses on success or similar topics.

However, he understood the principle that "a single thread cannot form a cord, and a single tree does not make a forest."

Running a business means that while amassing great wealth for oneself, one must also learn to share.

A selfish entrepreneur will never truly succeed.

Especially in America’s money-driven society, if you don’t know how to share and try to hoard everything, you’ll alienate investors, executives, and employees alike.

Steve Jobs, who was about to sell Pixar to him, was a prime example of this.

Jobs had been ousted from the company he founded by the board and executives working together against him.

It’s imaginable how devastated Jobs must have felt at that moment.

Initially, Jobs was notoriously greedy and stingy, which led to his eventual isolation.

For example, Milo's approach to Paladin Media was entirely different. He could have chosen not to allocate any shares to his subordinates.

After all, the company was a giant built entirely through his capital manipulation and groundbreaking scripts and ideas.

However, Milo cared about the company's growth.

Sure, he was a time traveler and very capable.

But not so capable that he could single-handedly sustain a massive corporation.

He could provide ideas and scripts, but he couldn’t personally produce every piece of work—he didn’t have a magic cloning technique.

Ultimately, it took the efforts of capable people to execute and achieve his vision.

He needed many subordinates with such capabilities.

To motivate them to perform at their best, offering just regular wages wasn’t enough.

Dangling a carrot in front of them was more effective, especially if that carrot was attainable.

This strategy would also significantly benefit Milo in attracting talent for other ventures in the future.

To be honest, Milo admired Jack Ma of China in this regard.

When Alibaba went public on the New York Stock Exchange, over 10,000 employees shared $60 billion in bonuses.

On average, each employee cashed out $4 million.

What did that mean?

It meant China produced over 10,000 millionaires overnight—real millionaires in U.S. dollars.

At the time, Milo, who was just an ordinary person, read the news with envy, his eyes burning with jealousy.

So, when Paladin Media went public, Milo pushed back against opposition and allocated shares for employees to share in the company's success.

This was crucial—running a business isn’t like running a convenience store.

Offering incentives to motivate employees to work hard was a no-brainer.

Besides, American financial groups wouldn’t let a company hoard everything anyway.

Even if an entrepreneur wanted to monopolize, these groups would wait for the company to grow and then push the government to intervene, forcing it to go public.

They’d claim it was to let the American people share in the company’s growth.

In reality, the public would only get crumbs while the real meat went to the powerful players.

Even Milo understood this.

Look at the old financial conglomerates—none of them had simple shareholding structures.

Many even held cross-shares in each other’s companies.

It’s a path every company must take to grow strong.

That evening, after working late at the group headquarters, Milo didn’t return to his Long Island estate.

Instead, he headed to the Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Greenpoint, located at the northern tip of Brooklyn, spans only 7 square kilometers but is interwoven with rivers and creeks.

To its west, it faces Manhattan across the East River.

Newton Creek, a tributary of the East River, separates Greenpoint from Queens and Long Island City.

South of Greenpoint lies Williamsburg, home to two iconic bridges: the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge.

The opening sequence of the TV show 2 Broke Girls frequently features shots of these two bridges.

The stunning skyline might give the illusion that Greenpoint is well-connected to surrounding areas.

In reality, the rivers and creeks make travel cumbersome. Getting out of Greenpoint by subway often requires transfers, and taking a ferry to Manhattan is the most convenient option.

Despite this, Greenpoint is one of the best residential areas in Brooklyn, almost like a wealthy enclave within the borough.

Its status is comparable to Manhattan’s Upper West Side or Upper East Side.

As night fell...

A convoy of eight identical Cadillac Escalade SUVs, all the same model, color, and even license plates, drove in here with a few police cars intermittently escorting them.

On the street.

After Kenny and the others confirmed it was safe, Milo finally got out of the car.

Tonight, he dressed simply—a T-shirt and a handmade long coat, which made him seem casual and carefree, radiating youthful energy.

Adjusting his clothes, Milo stepped forward with the carefully wrapped gift in his hand and pressed the doorbell.

With the chime of the bell, the door in front of him opened.

At the same time, the faint noises from inside suddenly surged out, especially the loud sound of confetti being sprayed, indicating that the party was in full swing.

“Mr. Blackburn?!” The lady who opened the door looked at him, astonished.

“Hello, Mrs. Spears. I didn’t expect you to be the one opening the door for me,” Milo smiled as he said.

“Oh my gosh! Jamie, come quick! Ah, I’m so sorry, please come in! Mr. Blackburn, I didn’t expect you to come over at this time. Is there something you need?”

Lynn Spears hurriedly asked, her gaze quickly falling on the exquisitely wrapped gift box in Milo’s hand. She was even more surprised. “You’re also...”

“Yes,” Milo confirmed with a nod, and before he could explain further, Lynn turned and called out, “Come over here, Bub, look who’s here!”

“Who’s here?” Britney rushed out, wearing a pink princess dress with lace, her hair carefully done up with a specially made crown, looking like a little princess.

Behind her was her father, Jamie Spears, who had an expression of delight on his face.

As soon as the girl saw Milo, her bright eyes lit up.

If her parents hadn’t been around, she might have already thrown herself at him.

“Milo!” she exclaimed loudly, “Oh my god, I thought you weren’t coming!”

This wasn’t pretending.

Her birthday party had already started nearly an hour ago.

During this time, she had often looked toward the door.

Whenever someone knocked, she would rush to check.

But each time, it had been a disappointment.

“Thought I wasn’t coming?” Lynn asked, sounding puzzled, looking between her daughter and Milo.

She couldn’t quite believe that such a huge super-rich boss like Milo would show up for her daughter’s small employee birthday party.

Well, this might also be because Lynn hadn’t quite gotten used to the fact that her daughter was already a superstar.

“Bub called me earlier to ask if I could attend her birthday party. You know, I’m always busy, so I didn’t give a definite answer. I just said I’d see how things went. I happened to be free tonight, and I thought there wasn’t anything important going on, so I came over to check on her. It was a bit last-minute, so I didn’t have time to pick out a proper gift.”

Milo explained.

“It’s fine. Just the fact that you came is wonderful,” Britney said excitedly, quickly taking the gift from Milo’s hands. Then she looked toward her mother and her thrilled father.

“Please come in! Mr. Blackburn, we’re so happy you could make it to Bub’s birthday party!” Jamie Spears gestured enthusiastically for him to enter.

While her parents weren’t looking, Britney gave Milo a flirtatious and seductive glance.

Sure enough, she was a little minx, Milo chuckled to himself.

If Ariana was still a bit shy, mature yet carrying the innocence of a young girl, then Britney was a combination of angel and devil.

Bolder, more explicit, and less restrained.

She exhibited all the adult traits openly on her little frame.

So holding her in his arms felt even more sinful.

At least, calling her a little minx was spot on for now.

There were a lot of people at the party, but most of them were Britney’s peers.

There were friends from her school in New York, and others she met through work.

It was clear she was well-liked, as several young boys kept circling around her.

However, even though Britney appeared to be chatting and laughing with them, she kept her distance, and there was a hint of mockery in her eyes.

Too bad those guys didn’t notice at all.

Milo, while talking with a few adults, including some of the Spears’ friends and neighbors, also got along well with the younger boys.

This wasn’t just because of his titles like the “Miracle Blackburn,” “World’s Richest Man,” or “Super Media Tycoon.”

Some of Britney’s friends were second or third-tier singers or aspiring entertainers.

At this age, if young people weren’t as mature as Britney, they were usually in a rebellious phase, often using actions that were previously forbidden to express themselves.

Whether in his past life or this one, Milo had always gone through such phases.

Though society’s rhythm became faster and faster, and generational gaps were discussed every few years, for someone who knew the future like him, it was never an issue.

So, gaining the approval of these young boys and girls was ridiculously easy.

As Britney blew out her birthday candles, the atmosphere of the party reached its peak.

Everyone looked a bit over the top, including Britney’s parents.

Then, the girl made an excuse that her mouth was full of crumbs and wanted to clean up, heading to her bedroom. As she did, she discreetly gave Milo a signal.

Milo smiled slightly and wasn’t in a hurry.

Another ten minutes passed, and he finally took slow steps to the kitchen. Then, he slowly made his way to the backyard.

He saw that David was already there, waiting.

The two nodded at each other, and Milo quickly climbed the ladder that the bodyguards had arranged for him, making his way up.

He reached the designated window, pushed up the half-raised window, and crawled in.

Though this plan had been discussed over the phone many times, this was the first time it was actually being executed.

But the entire process only took three minutes.

After all, this new home where Britney had already lived for almost a year was recommended and introduced by Milo.

“I thought you weren’t coming,” a lazy voice drawled as soon as he stepped inside.

“How could I not?” Milo smiled, clapping his hands lightly as he gazed admiringly at the girl lying sideways on the sofa.

The room wasn’t lit by electric lights, but several candles flickered in various spots, creating a romantic atmosphere.

The faint aroma of incense lingered in the air, adding to a sense of tranquility and delight.

At this moment, Britney had already changed out of her princess dress.

She now wore a small, silk camisole nightgown that barely reached the tops of her thighs.

In addition, her legs were clad in semi-transparent black lace garter stockings.

Her legs were tightly pressed together and slightly curled, and her wistful expression, combined with the dim and flickering candlelight, created a hazy allure.

Yet her youthful innocence was enough to stir an irresistible impulse in any man.

“I promised you, didn’t I?” Milo said with a smile as he approached, sitting down and unceremoniously lifting her small chin. “Even if I had to be a thief, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Then what are you waiting for, my master…” Britney parted her lips slightly, allowing Milo’s touch as her eyes shimmered with unmistakable longing.

And in the next second, her mouth was sealed.

"Come on, master......" Britney, who was lying on top of her head with her hands on top of her head, like a little white lamb, opened her misty eyes, "this is my best birthday present......

The words worked more than anything else, and Milo kissed her, pressing down like a mountain.

Immediately, the girl's crying and moaning sounded.

Downstairs, her mother, Lynn, was still praising her well-behaved daughter in front of the guests, and proudly selling her achievements.

The boys are still debating who might win the favor of the girl.

The girls speculate about who might be favored by the miracle Blackburn.

Jamie Spears glanced down the hall without a trace, and then continued to talk and laugh with the other adults.

Whenever someone mentions how Blackburn and his daughter are gone.

Jamie always cleverly deflects the scene.

In the corner, Aguilera Christina, who was surprised, happy and angry because of Milo's arrival just now.

At this moment, the beautiful eyes of the young girl were fixed on the stairs leading upstairs.

She really wanted to go upstairs, to see Britney.

Although Milo seemed to have left earlier and didn’t go upstairs, she guessed her boss must be up there now! Otherwise, why would his tower-like bodyguard be sitting conveniently close to the stairs?

How outrageous!

Christina thought to herself.

She looked around at the partygoers, still immersed in their joy.

Clenching her teeth, Christina headed toward the stairs.

Sure enough, the towering man moved closer.

Christina showed no fear and softly said, “I... I’m Aguilera, Christina Aguilera. Britney told me to come up. She... she said we could both keep Mr. Blackburn company.”

Of course, Britney had never said such a thing.

This was purely Christina mustering her courage to say something she imagined would work.

However, her words made Kenny, the bodyguard stationed there, pause in surprise.

“Wait a moment,” Kenny said, his tone noticeably softer.

Though Christina, a year older than Britney, might not match her in appearance, her figure and budding femininity undoubtedly made Kenny think his boss might also find her appealing.

With that thought, Kenny decisively used his walkie-talkie to contact the female bodyguard stationed upstairs, who was supposed to be keeping watch near the boss’s door.

A few minutes later.

Kenny nodded at Christina and said, “Miss, you may go upstairs.”

Christina was overjoyed.

She had almost given up hope.

Her heart raced wildly as she turned to glance at the partygoers in the hall below.

Without a hint of hesitation, she quickly headed upstairs.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 210: No One in the World Is Unconnected*

Last night was quite enjoyable.

Although there was a moment when Britney seemed unhappy.

But she matured early and knew how to endure.

Also, I have to mention her parents.

The Spears couple are very tactful people, especially her father, Jamie Spears, who is absolutely a character.

After the party ended and he didn’t see Milo come downstairs, he decided to take his wife and their two other children, leave the house, and check into a hotel.

He claimed they were in a good mood and wanted to experience the luxury of Manhattan’s top hotels.

Just like that, they left space for Milo, Britney, and her female colleague.

Considering that this man, in his past life, closely controlled and even monitored his own daughter for profit, pushing her to the brink of madness, his tactfulness now seems understandable.

After an enjoyable night, Milo returned to work in Manhattan the next day.

At noon, after finishing his routine paperwork in the office, he felt a bit bored and decided to go through the resumes of candidates for the personal assistant position.

Ever since Monica got pregnant, Milo had arranged for a new personal assistant to be recruited. After nearly half a month of preparation, the interview materials were finally ready.

Following multiple rounds of selection, eight candidates made it to the final stage.

Their ages ranged from 18 to 38, covering all types—from youthful girls to mature women, and physical attributes from A to 36E.

The 18-year-old candidate was named Lilith Lawrence.

Well, to be precise, she was Hector’s sister-in-law—the daughter of the Lawrence family, part of the Boston elite. She hadn’t even graduated from high school yet.

The reason she passed the rigorous selection process was obvious to Milo without even thinking.

Since Milo's rise, many families from the Boston consortium had tried to prevent his union with the Rockefeller family.

They didn’t dare to act openly, as it would risk offending both families. Instead, they resorted to more subtle tactics, like planting Boston women around him.

Lilith Lawrence was not the first.

Even Peggy Adams’ transfer to Haley’s team might have had a similar motivation.

But hiring Lilith? She was just 18 years old.

Would she be taking care of Milo, or would Milo end up taking care of her?

Being a personal assistant was essentially a high-level personal caretaker role. Most of the work involved taking care of people’s needs.

Monica could handle it because she had years of experience and enough emotional intelligence and life skills.

But an 18-year-old girl from a wealthy family? What could she do?

Could she handle it? Maybe.

But if she did, the trouble that followed would undoubtedly be overwhelming!

Ariana and her family might tolerate Milo’s escapades in Hollywood, but they wouldn’t stand for him getting involved with a true elite heiress.

These women and their families could genuinely threaten Ariana’s status.

Milo set Lilith’s resume aside and randomly picked another one to start the interview process.

The first candidate was a 32-year-old with a mature charm. Time hadn’t left a mark on her face, and her curvaceous figure resembled a perfectly ripe peach.

She was blonde with blue eyes, bold red lips, and dressed entirely in black—black dress, black stockings—giving off an irresistible allure.

She looked less like an interviewee and more like someone ready to serve.

After asking her a few simple questions, Milo kept her contact information for later "exploration." But it was clear she wasn’t a suitable assistant.

He already had Monica for that type of role, and once Monica returned after her maternity leave, she would be enough.

The second candidate was a 29-year-old slim woman who was also quite attractive. She exuded a professional aura, holding a degree from Harvard Business School. She had even worked for a few years at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.

Milo dismissed her after one meeting—not because of her looks or physique, but because of a note in her file.

Kenny had flagged her background, noting that her parents were defectors from the Red Bear’s senior officials.

There was no guarantee she wouldn’t reconnect with her roots in the future.

The third candidate caught Milo’s eye, not because she was the most beautiful but because she was a 28-year-old Asian woman.

To be honest, since his rebirth, Milo hadn’t seen many particularly stunning Asian women in the U.S.

Not that they didn’t exist, but Western grooming standards had overly influenced them. No matter how beautiful they were, they all adopted the typical "Asian makeup," which dulled their natural beauty.

However, this candidate’s resume photo showed her without the standardized "high-level Asian makeup" popular among Asian Americans.

And so…

Milo greeted the interviewee, Angelena Ye—her English name—with a warm smile as she walked into the room.

Dressed in a tailored black professional suit, she paired it with a white fitted blouse, its collar folded outward, and left the top two buttons undone, revealing her delicate pink neck.

Standing tall at around 5'9" (175 cm), her long black hair was tied up neatly, with a strand of hair falling gracefully on each side of her face. Her features were refined, with a pair of eyes that stood out—slightly downturned at the corners, lending her an air of delicate vulnerability.

As a soul from the Celestial Empire, Milo naturally found the beauty of Asian women more pleasing to the eye.

Especially since Angelena didn’t wear the heavy and garish makeup often seen in the West, which Milo found unappealing. Her figure was also exceptionally striking.

Milo's gaze shifted from her neckline as he noted Angelena’s calm demeanor while approaching him.

"Angelena, please take a seat," Milo said with a smile, gesturing toward the chair.

"Thank you, Mr. Blackburn. It's a pleasure to meet you," Angelena replied crisply, her tone brimming with confidence.

Milo smiled and said, "Let’s start with a self-introduction."

Without much thought, Angelena began speaking, focusing solely on her career experiences since graduating from college.

Milo watched her composed expression as she eloquently recounted her work history. Her tone exuded a strong sense of confidence, tinged with subtle pride.

"Miss Angelena, may I ask—why did you leave Goldman Sachs?" Milo inquired after she finished.

"The company was caught up in internal factional conflicts. Office politics of that nature, which can hinder a company’s progress, hold no interest for me. I didn’t see the point in wasting my time there, so I chose to leave," Angelena explained without hesitation, meeting Milo’s gaze directly.

Milo nodded noncommittally before continuing, "Your résumé is impressive, but you've changed jobs three times in the four years since graduating. This pace of shifting platforms suggests one of three possibilities: First, a desire for novelty—young professionals often dislike being confined to one environment and seek new challenges. Second, a strategy to broaden your professional experience and refine your skills using various company resources. Third, a calculated move, waiting for the right moment to venture into entrepreneurship. Miss Angelena, which of these scenarios applies to you?"

As soon as Milo finished speaking, Angelena pressed her lips together briefly. His tone and attitude were far from friendly, carrying an undercurrent of criticism—implying she lacked loyalty to her employers.

"The third scenario: waiting for the right moment to start my own business. My previous work experience has been a means of accumulating knowledge and preparing for entrepreneurship," Angelena replied.

Milo wasn’t surprised by her answer. Instead, his expression seemed to confirm his expectations.

He nodded, smiling as he said, "The position I’m hiring for is that of a personal assistant. Frankly, your qualifications are excellent but not suited for this role, which essentially entails household management. I’m sorry, but this position isn’t a good fit for you."

"That’s unfortunate. I apologize for wasting your time, Mr. Blackburn," Angelena said. Her face darkened momentarily before she stood gracefully. Chin slightly raised, her self-assured demeanor remained intact as she gave a polite nod and prepared to leave.

"Although the personal assistant role may not be suitable, I might have another position you’d be interested in, Miss Ye," Milo said in fluent Mandarin from behind her.

Startled, Angelena—whose real name was Ye Jingwen—turned around in surprise.

"Your Mandarin is excellent, Mr. Blackburn!" she exclaimed.

Milo shrugged. "As I’ve mentioned in interviews, I’m fascinated by Eastern culture. I taught myself Mandarin."

He continued, "The position I have in mind is manager of my investment company’s branch office in China. Miss Ye, as a native of China, would you be interested?"

"To be precise, Mr. Blackburn, I’m Taiwanese," Ye Jingwen corrected him before quickly adding, "But if the position is suitable, I’m definitely interested!"

"That’s good to hear," Milo replied.

---

About an hour later, back at her residence, Ye Jingwen retrieved a device from a hidden compartment and scanned the space thoroughly, walking around the room. Once she was sure it was secure, she opened another hidden compartment and took out a satellite phone-like device.

"The interview didn’t go as planned, but there’s hope for staying. However, I’d be assigned to work in mainland China. Director Qin, should I stay?"

After listening for a moment, she responded, "Understood. I’ll report for work tomorrow. Thank you."

After everything was put away, Ye Jingwen once again transformed into the image of an Asian financial professional—poised and confident.

She stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, arms crossed, gazing at the bustling streets below. The American flags from yesterday’s Independence Day celebrations still hung on display.

Looking at the vibrant Manhattan streets, Ye Jingwen’s expression hardened.

Little did she know, at the same time, back in the office where she had just interviewed, Milo sat conflicted and melancholic. Staring at the wisp of cigar smoke rising from the ashtray, he took a long sip of wine.

Ye Jingwen and her superior believed they had succeeded—at least halfway.

In truth, like others before her, Milo already knew her background the moment she walked in. Just as he could sense whether a flight was safe before boarding, he had a divine intuition when it came to his personal safety. This gift extended to detecting spies or any potential threats around him.

Though Ye Jingwen appeared to be a Taiwanese-American who had settled in the U.S. at thirteen, with a family rooted in staunch pro-independence ideals, Milo saw through her façade.

*"It’s been featured in newspapers here and there."*

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have passed the rigorous scrutiny of Americans to stand before Milo.

But the gospel told Milo: this is a red.

Doesn’t everyone share a common understanding?

Yet, no matter how hard I try, I can’t align with it.

After realizing this…

The emotions he had suppressed so well before surged like a floodgate opening, eroding his soul.

A wanderer.

Half of his soul always saw himself as a traveler lost in time and space, a sojourner in a foreign land.

Neither wealth, beauty, nor his current status could erase that other half of his feelings.

The anguish of being a stranger in a foreign land, unable to share his frustrations with anyone.

Perhaps only those undercover agents could somewhat understand him.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling crowd on the street below, lost in thought just like Ye Jingwen.

“Damn it!!”

Seeing a flawless version in the [Book Bar] (一6一9一书一吧一).

A few minutes later…

Milo looked at the handsome white man’s face reflected in the glass and muttered a curse under his breath.

Milo knew this state of mind was neither normal nor safe.

He struggled to close the emotional floodgate once more.

He was Milo Blackburn, the miracle of America, the American Dream embodied, the elite of the United States, the descendant of a prestigious American political dynasty!

He tried to calm himself down, shifting his thoughts to other matters.

Focusing on Ye Jingwen, he tried to divert his homesickness.

Since the beginning of this year, countless spies had been attempting to get close to him.

From the clumsy methods of the Russians, the ingratiating approaches of the Japanese and South Koreans, to the subtle tactics of the Chinese, who assumed everyone shared a universal understanding.

The French tried to persuade Sophie and her circle, while the British attempted to infiltrate his security company. Even the Indians had their ideas, though their efforts were even rougher.

It was all quite normal.

After all, beyond his political family background, his identity as a prominent American media mogul was enough for other nations to seek to influence him.

He had always been quick to deal with those who came close to him, swiftly removing and distancing them.

The particularly irritating ones? He’d hand them over to the CIA.

But this incident with Ye Jingwen taught him an important lesson:

As his identity and status grew, such occurrences would only increase.

Simply kicking them out wasn’t a scientific solution.

So, he decisively assigned Ye Jingwen to his company but posted her to the China division.

He figured that even if it was just to create an opportunity for Ye Jingwen to approach him, they would ensure she excelled at her work.

As long as his core secrets remained untouched, he could guarantee both safety and profit. Going forward, this might be a more effective approach to such situations.

Turning spies into opportunities to extract benefits felt thoroughly capitalist to Milo.

He chuckled, thinking, Maybe I do deserve to be hung from a lamppost.  

With that thought, his mood finally lightened a bit.

In the days that followed, Milo continued to oversee operations in New York.

His schedule had become almost fixed.

Every year from January to May, he liked staying in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

During New York’s best weather, from June to September, he would remain in New York.

When the weather turned cold, he returned to California, making a trip to his hometown for Christmas.

---

*July 20, 1997*

In a mansion on Long Island...

"Everything’s been great so far; it shows your music is really popular."

Inside the villa, Milo held freshly released sales data and said this to Christina.

In early July, Christina Aguilera’s first self-titled album was finally released.

The album had three singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It wasn’t as explosive as Britney’s debut album, but its sales were still impressive.

By next year, she should easily win the Grammy for Best New Artist.

"Too bad it’s still not better than me." Britney grinned smugly before Christina could respond.

"Yeah, sure. Using songs written by the boss to compete with songs by ordinary writers? Britney, you’ve got some nerve~" Christina rolled her eyes, though her tone lacked the sharp sarcasm of before.

Since Milo had brought them together, they often lived under the same roof.

Over time, while they weren’t close, they had become more harmonious.

At least, they no longer fought to the point of physical altercations.

Of course, their words still retained some bite.

Christina claimed she wouldn’t stoop to the level of that brainless woman, while Britney felt she could tolerate that arrogant, self-centered woman.

"Hah, you’ve been getting cockier lately, Brit."

After Christina stepped out, Milo pinched Britney’s cheek with a smile.

"That’s because I have you by my side!"

Britney clasped her hands in front of her chest, stuck out her tongue with a "ha," and wiggled her hips. If she had a tail, she’d look like an adorable little puppy.

Her playful, endearing act made Milo laugh.

For a while, Milo really wanted to find a tail to plug in for her.

"Has the master already agreed?"

Britney, who was already very good at observing words and feelings, immediately shouted happily.

"Of course not."

Milo quickly came to her senses and lifted her chin, "You're too young for now. And you're working on a second album now, and the timing isn't right. ”

Outrageous.

Britney is a year younger than Christina.

Christina turned seventeen this year.

She sixteen.

But the other day, Jennifer Connelly, who had returned from a trip to Los Angeles for several business events, came.

She was pressed by Milo, and after rolling with her two little sisters with Milo a few times.

Their relationship also became harmonious.

Later, Jennifer said that she pouted about Monica's pregnancy.

This piqued Britney's curiosity, as she always remembered the glamorous and sexy secretary who followed Milo.

This time in New York, I never saw her.

Britney was wondering if Milo was tired of Monica dumping her.

Unexpectedly, not only did Milo not get tired of it, but he actually made Monica's belly bigger!

Britney has always been skinless and faceless in front of Milo, and she changes her tricks to please Milo.

So Britney learned from Milo that he already had several children.

Including Sophie Marceau's twin daughter, who was very popular for a while because of the release of "The Da Vinci Code" at the beginning of the year, but disappeared later.

So this chick had a whim, and she said that she was going to give Milo a baby too!

And it's not a scene used to cheer up when the love is strong.

But seriously, I don't even want to take medicine.

To be honest, let the American Britney have a big belly and give birth to a child.

This thing is very attractive to Milo.

But Milo is thinking about releasing her a second album.

If she gets pregnant at this time, the follow-up plans will be in vain.

Universal Music will probably lose hundreds of millions of dollars in profits as a result.

It doesn't matter, the important thing is that she is really young.

Although having a child at the age of sixteen is actually common in many states in the United States.

"But I really want to give you a baby, master......" Britney pouted, but her voice grew quieter, and then her eyes rolled twice, and then she grinned and twisted her body around Milo's body like a snake.

"Master," she whispered in his ear, "do you have a crush on that, Avril Lavigne?" ”

"Don't act rashly, Bubu." Milo reached out and tapped her head lightly.

"I just want to help the master." Britney pursed her mouth again, her face full of unwillingness.

Last month, Universal Music unearthed a new batch of good seedlings from the United States and Canada.

plans to follow Disney's new Mickey Mouse Club and create Universal Music's own singing seedling class.

After all, Britney Spears and their new Mickey Mouse Club this year.

So far, there has been a super pop female singer Britney, a female singer Christina who is expected to hit the first line and debut, and a very high-selling boy group.

The quality of the production is too high.

Not to mention that the tears of regret of Disney, who were dug up at the foot of the wall, will fall.

Lawrence, the CEO of Universal Music, is intrigued by this kind of venture-style move.

There is Universal Music's own Mickey Mouse Club, of course, the name does not need this.

It's the "Universal Super Rookie Club".

It has been established for a few months, and it has not yet started broadcasting, and I have been looking for excellent seedlings.

Britney was interested in this because she mentioned the name Avril Lavigne.

It's because a week ago, when she showed Milo the list of members of the "Universal Super Rookie Club".

Milo looked at the resume of the name Avril Lavigne for a long time.

Britney asked if there was anything special about this chick who was three years younger than her.

Milo told her that this is a future female singer who has the hope of becoming a level with her, but with a different style.

Britney made a note of the name.

And because of her experience with Christina Aguilera.

She felt that Milo must also want to take this Avril Lavigne.

Hug them up and play together.

Although in the middle Britney went to the club on purpose.

Look at that skinny little chick like a little skinny boy.

She figured that Milo might not be interested in such chicks.

But Britney thought that three years ago, she was not much better than Avril Lavigne now.

But now that he is popular all over the world, the owner is happy every time he plays.

Maybe this Canadian chick will also transform in the future.

So......

"Yes, I know, but I don't need your help with this. But if you really want to, you can ......," Milo smiled evilly, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Britney was a little stunned at first, but immediately became excited, and clenched her fists excitedly: "No problem, I will definitely be the one who does the best!" ”

After a pause, she also showed a wicked smile: "Let Christine also participate, master?" ”

"No problem, as long as she wants." Milo laughed.

Let the tuned goblins help them tune up the new goblins.

Just thinking about it, Milo thinks it's good.

(End of chapter)