*There's no one as useless under the heavens, nor as unfilial throughout the ages.* This saying perfectly captures Ye Wudao's essence.
Ye Wudao was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a child of destiny carrying the full weight of two powerful family legacies. It's said that he came into the world with an unusual laugh, perhaps already reveling in the life others could only envy. Whatever hardships he endured in a past life, this time around, he was undeniably destined to bask in the favor of Lady Luck.
On the day of Ye Wudao's birth, no fewer than thirty luxury cars lined the street outside the largest private hospital in the province—Mercedes, Bentleys, BMWs, Cadillacs, and even a Rolls-Royce from the exclusive Silver Spirit series, nicknamed "The Blenheim Palace on Wheels," of which fewer than 120,000 exist worldwide. The fleet of vehicles could have easily staged a private car show, their collective worth exceeding one hundred million.
This famed private hospital in D Province, known both locally and abroad, was merely a small asset of the Yip family's business empire. Even before he was born, Ye Wudao was destined for a diamond-class lifestyle.
Ye Zhengling, head of the Ye family and Ye Wudao's grandfather, left his hometown at sixteen to carve out a legacy, wielding his unique vision and remarkable business acumen to create a legend in the world of commerce. Now residing in Washington, D.C., he oversees his business empire from afar.
Ye Zhengling has four sons and one youngest daughter. His eldest son, Ye Shaotian, made his mark in the electronics industry, earning a place on the Forbes list of billionaires and currently resides in Los Angeles. The second son, Ye Feng, followed in his father's footsteps as the CEO of Ye Enterprises, proving himself to be just as skilled in business. The third son, Ye Hetu—Ye Wudao's father—lacks any extraordinary talent, making him the most ordinary of the Ye family; however, he's infamous for his flamboyant lifestyle. The fourth son, Ye Zhenkun, is the family's "black sheep," deeply entangled in the underworld. He married the daughter of a key figure in the American mafia and holds considerable sway in New York. The youngest daughter, Ye Qingge, reputed to be a genius with an IQ of 200, has remarkable achievements in arts and culture. Despite this, she remains single, preferring a life of travel.
Yang Wangzhen, Ye Wudao's maternal grandfather, is a high-ranking figure within the General Staff Department of a certain Chinese military region, holding the rank of Lieutenant General. Known across the country, he has countless proteges and a lifetime of accolades. True to the saying, *"Like father, like son,"* all three of his sons are entrenched in politics and the military, with one of them even serving as the Party Secretary of J Province—a major economic powerhouse in the South. His two daughters, Yang Ningbing and Yang Suniang, also hold prestigious positions: Yang Ningbing, Ye Wudao's mother, serves as the Vice Mayor of KJ City, and her marriage to Ye Hetu is widely regarded as a failed union of political and commercial interests. The younger daughter, Yang Ningsu, is a renowned television host for the provincial network. Both daughters were named among the "Four Beauties of D Province"—though at this time, Yang Ningsu was still just a young girl.
Even before his birth, Ye Wudao had already gained a powerful godfather in the Chinese underworld.
*Ye Wudao, you truly are a child blessed by the heavens!*
One can only imagine the breathtaking scene on that day: a gathering of influential figures waiting outside the delivery room, nearly a hundred people anxiously anticipating the arrival of one child. Faces were filled with expectation and impatience, especially those of Yang Wangzhen and Ye Zhengling, both sporting silver hair and seasoned with life's storms. Despite their resilience, they were unusually tense, for this was the only male child of the third generation.
Strangely enough, every other child in the Ye and Yang families' third generation had been female. Despite neither family being overtly patriarchal, the absence of a male heir to carry on the family legacy was something neither elder could easily accept.
When they finally heard the newborn's cry, a collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd, followed by thunderous applause and cheers echoing through the hallway. Yang Wangzhen and Ye Zhengling, wiping the sweat from their brows, exchanged a smile. This little fellow was quite the handful even before he was born, making these two old men and this large crowd wait for hours on end.
Lying on the bed, Yang Ningbing was undeniably the hero of the Ye and Yang families that day. Though her face was pale and she was visibly exhausted, the sight of her child brought a radiant, maternal smile to her face, making her beauty even more captivating. Ye Hetu, unable to contain his joy, gazed dumbfounded at his son, a silly grin plastered across his face. "His nose and mouth look like his dad's, and his eyes and brows take after his mom's. He's going to charm a lot of girls when he grows up! I'm finally a dad!"
As everyone reveled in the joy of this long-awaited male heir, no one noticed an elderly man dressed as a Taoist monk slip through the tight security and approach the bedside. The baby, with his cherubic features, unexpectedly smiled at the Taoist. Only then did the crowd realize that an unexpected visitor had arrived, and several people, startled, moved to apprehend him. However, Yang Wangzhen and Ye Zhengling quickly intervened. Yang Wangzhen, a military man through and through, locked eyes with the old man without speaking, his instincts warning him that this stranger was anything but ordinary.
Ye Zhengling, a believer in the ancient philosophies of Laozi and Huangdi, respectfully asked, "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
The elderly Taoist gazed at the smiling infant, stroking his long, jade-like beard. "A star descends from the heavens, untouched by the Six Realms of heaven, earth, humans, asuras, yaksas, or beasts. Thus, *Wudao* would be the most fitting name for him. This child's bones are pure, and his spirit brims with essence. One day, he will be destined for greatness. Yet the world grows increasingly unkind, and even with such talent, he may stray from the right path. The ways of fate are mysterious—only time will tell what lies ahead."
The little one seemed delighted with his name, breaking into a wide smile that drew laughter from everyone present, especially the two elderly men, who had tears of joy glistening in their eyes.
Ye Wudao grew up surrounded by near-obsessive adoration. If China's lunar exploration program had already been successful, the Yang and Ye families might have very well brought the moon down just to give this little emperor a new toy. He was the most precious flower in a greenhouse, with the adults pouring everything they had into cherishing this heaven-sent gift. His birthdays became grand affairs; not only did over a hundred family members attend, but the gatherings also drew elite figures from various fields and political circles, and even underworld kingpins paid their respects to this future "crown prince" of the criminal world.
As a result, attending Ye Wudao's birthday celebration later became a mark of status, with many people pulling strings just to secure an invitation. With the Ye family's extensive resources and connections, these events turned into impressive social spectacles each year.
Ye Wudao took much longer than usual to be weaned. Even when he was already walking, he would still fuss for milk, much to the embarrassment of his mother, Yang Ningbing, who was famously known as the "Ice Queen." Yet her maternal instincts always won out, and she would indulge his unusual requests until he finally stopped at the age of three and a half.
Ye Wudao had a peculiar habit when it came to sleeping: he loved to wrap his arms around someone's neck. Once he latched on, there was no chance of prying him off for the rest of the night. It was clear from an early age that he was naturally gifted in what could only be called the art of charming his way into people's hearts. His beautiful aunt, Yang Ningsu, once decided to pamper her young nephew by sleeping next to him when he was four. After experiencing the bliss of cuddling up to her—a woman whom the men of D Province dreamed of holding—Ye Wudao went on a hunger strike to insist on sleeping with his aunt. Eventually, Yang Ningsu, who had already moved into her own place, was coaxed back to the Ye family's Purple Maple Villa to spend nights with this little "prince." If the men outside knew of this cruel reality, they would be spitting blood in envy! Even if Ye Wudao was still just a child, he was still, after all, a boy.
By the time he was nine, Ye Wudao finally parted with his "wonderful nights" beside his beautiful aunt—who would later be celebrated as the "Best Lover of D Province." This farewell came only after his mother, Yang Ningbing, implemented a firm yet balanced carrot-and-stick approach, which led to his tearful goodbye. However, he negotiated a generous compensation: he was now allowed to cuddle up to his mother every night, with a bedtime story to boot. (Ye Wudao flashed a sly smile—*when one door closes, another opens!*)
At Ye Wudao's insistent request, all the servants at Purple Maple Villa were young, attractive women. It was perhaps around this time—or maybe even earlier—that his mild fascination with uniforms began to take shape. After his aunt, Yang Ningsu, no longer needed to share a bed with him, Ye Wudao started watching more television. He found his aunt's appearance in uniform a visual delight, and it was no wonder that the shows she supported always ranked high in viewership. Of course, this wasn't to say Yang Ningsu was merely a pretty face—she was a top graduate from Fudan University in Shanghai!
The women of the Yang family never relied on their looks alone. Both Yang Ningbing and Yang Ningsu started working part-time during their university years, funding their entire education through annual scholarships—a feat that, to Ye Wudao, seemed nothing short of legendary.
On his tenth birthday, Ye Wudao managed to charm his fourteen-year-old cousin, Ye Kexin—the daughter of his uncle Ye Shaojun—into sharing her first kiss on the balcony by reciting a love poem from Tagore's *The Gardener.* By the time he was eleven, he had successfully collected the first kisses of one cousin, three paternal cousins, and four distant cousins, using a mix of persuasion, playful threats, and a bit of trickery. His "achievements" were indeed impressive.
By the age of twelve, young Ye Wudao had nearly completed his "exploratory mission" across the female members of his generation within the family. Through repeated "theoretical study" and "practical experiments," he had come to understand the intricacies of the female body quite thoroughly. His familiarity had reached the point where he navigated his way around with the ease of an experienced master.
One morning, at fourteen, Ye Wudao boldly declared that he had fully earned the title of "man." His statement drew a round of laughter from the adults. Yang Ningbing, his mother, chuckled affectionately, pulling him into a hug. If she had known the extent of her precious son's "achievements," she might not have found his words so amusing. Yang Ningsu's eyes sparkled as she shot him a look that said, *You little rascal.* As for his father, Ye Hetu, he simply watched with a knowing, amused expression.
The night before that bold declaration, Ye Wudao had undergone the transformation from boy to man. To him, the forbidden fruit was no longer "forbidden" but had become something as ordinary and accessible as any piece of fruit to be enjoyed whenever he pleased.
His success in these pursuits could be attributed to "one-third effort and two-thirds talent." His father, Ye Hetu, played a significant role, though certainly not as a good role model. It was Ye Hetu who encouraged young Ye Wudao to show "appropriate affection" toward beautiful women and instilled in him the belief that a man's purpose was to conquer beauty. He also taught Ye Wudao various techniques for winning a woman's heart—reciting love poems, bringing flowers, and crafting all sorts of romantic gestures.
As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and neither is the making of a playboy. Such a transformation takes time and cultivation.
Soon, Ye Wudao's fifteenth birthday was approaching.
Without a doubt, another chapter in his legendary romantic escapades was about to unfold.