Under the blazing summer sun, Vivian Frost stepped off the plane, sunglasses tilted slightly as she frowned at the overwhelming heat. A line of bodyguards quickly surrounded her, shielding her from the crowd as they escorted her toward the waiting car.
She wasn't here to travel.
She wasn't here to relax.
Vivian Frost had only one goal for this trip: to acquire an animation company.
Not a tiny studio with a handful of freelancers and borrowed equipment—but a fully operational, legally registered animation company with a proper team, production pipeline, and existing projects.
And the most ridiculous part?
That company would become a subsidiary of Northstar Games.
The moment that thought crossed her mind again, Vivian felt her lips twitch in disbelief.
Northstar is still considered a small company… and now we're acquiring an animation studio?
This was madness. Absolute madness.
Yet reality didn't care about her disbelief.
From Near Bankruptcy to Absurd Wealth
Just over a year ago, Northstar Games had been hanging on by a thread.
Back then, Vivian had been pouring money into the company like water into a cracked cup. Salaries, office rent, equipment—every expense came straight out of her family's pockets.
Her father's money.
Her mother's money.
And when both sources finally cut her off?
She had still stubbornly kept the company alive, refusing to admit defeat.
If Ethan Reed hadn't appeared when he did…
Northstar would have died quietly, without anyone noticing.
But now?
Vivian Frost had over 100 million yuan in liquid funds.
Not assets.
Not shares.
Not long-term investments.
Cash.
That alone placed her in a rare category—one that even many so-called billionaires couldn't match.
Most wealthy businessmen had fortunes tied up in factories, land, or stock. Ask them to produce 100 million in cash overnight, and they'd panic.
Vivian could do it with a single signature.
And that was the terrifying power of internet-born industries.
The Animation Company That Never Took Off
Ironically, this entire situation traced back to her older sister—someone who had once lectured her endlessly about romance, ambition, and never confessing first.
After graduation, her sister had followed her dreams and opened an animation company with two million yuan in registered capital.
On paper, it looked promising.
In reality?
It barely survived.
Whenever Vivian called to check in, she'd hear the same bitter rant:
"The market is rotten."
"Good animation never gets noticed."
"Studios adapting cheap web novels pump out garbage and still make money."
"Original creators don't stand a chance."
She always ended with the same conclusion:
"Domestic animation is already dead."
Vivian never argued back.
Because she had been worse off.
Before Ethan Reed, she hadn't even been able to make money—only burn it.
At least her sister could still claim she was trying.
Everything Changed Because of One Conversation
As the car sped toward the city, Vivian leaned back and closed her eyes.
Her mind drifted to that fateful discussion in the Northstar office.
She remembered standing in front of Ethan Reed, arms crossed, frustration written all over her face.
"AAA games aren't just about development," she had said bluntly.
"Marketing alone can cost hundreds of millions. We can't skip promotion this time."
At the time, she had been genuinely worried.
Northstar could make great games—but visibility mattered.
After a long silence, Ethan suddenly laughed.
"Marketing?"
"Of course we'll market it."
"I already know exactly how."
Vivian had stared at him in disbelief.
"You haven't even finalized the game concept yet."
Ethan waved it off casually.
"When have I ever needed to think too hard about game design?"
"Trust me. I'm a genius."
She had believed him.
And that belief had led her here.
The Condition That Sounded Completely Insane
The car slowed to a stop.
Vivian opened her eyes just as they reached their destination—a modest three-story building tucked between older office blocks.
This was it.
The place Ethan insisted on.
Because his one non-negotiable condition for promotion was simple:
Acquire an animation company first.
At the time, Vivian had nearly exploded.
Who buys an animation company before even starting the next game?
And just to "support promotion"?
It sounded like a one-time expense with no long-term value.
If Ethan could hear her thoughts right now, he'd probably knock her on the head and laugh.
Because what Vivian didn't know was this:
Ethan Reed wasn't thinking short-term.
With the contents of his system vault, entire franchises could be built.
Animation wasn't an expense.
It was infrastructure.
Reunion After Two Years
Vivian stepped out of the car and looked up at the building.
She made a phone call.
Two minutes later, hurried footsteps echoed from inside.
A woman burst through the door and ran down the stairs.
Messy hair.
Oval face.
Slim upper body.
And legs so long they immediately stole attention.
Calling her "all legs below the neck" might have been an exaggeration—but not by much.
When the woman saw Vivian, her face lit up.
"YOU ACTUALLY CAME!"
Then—
"You dairy cow!"
Vivian's smile froze instantly.
"Long-legged monkey!" Vivian snapped back, stomping her foot.
The woman laughed shamelessly and threw an arm around her shoulders.
This was Rachel Quinn, founder of Quinnlight Animation—and Vivian's best friend, whom she hadn't seen in two years.
Envy, Pride, and Old Rivalries
Rachel eyed her up and down, clicking her tongue.
"So it's true. You really made it big."
"How much money did you make, huh?"
Vivian grinned and lightly smacked Rachel's backside.
"I'm a billionaire now."
"Not like you, struggling artist."
Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Yes, yes. Honored billionaire Vivian Frost."
"So what brings you to my humble animation company?"
Behind the teasing, Rachel felt something complicated.
She was happy for Vivian.
Truly.
But she was also jealous.
Because everyone at Quinnlight Animation played Northstar's games.
Neon Blade: Echoes of Lumen.
Animal Party.
Night of the Full Moon.
Stardew Valley.
Even Rachel herself was addicted to Stardew Valley.
And knowing that all of it came from the same "dumb milk cow" she used to tease?
That stung.
The Real Reason for the Visit
Vivian sighed and waved her hand.
"Enough sarcasm."
"Let's go upstairs."
"I'm here on official business."
Rachel raised an eyebrow.
"Official?"
"Aren't you just a mascot, like people online say?"
"Where's that legendary planner you always brag about?"
Vivian paused.
"Ethan Reed stayed back at the company."
"He's busy."
Rachel's expression sharpened instantly.
She knew Vivian too well.
This cow can't hide secrets.
Something big was happening.
And whatever it was—
It involved money. Power. And an acquisition.
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