Chapter Thirteen: The Charm Index

“Career is the fundamental pillar upon which a man’s life and purpose stand.”

Late at night, Wei Lin lay in bed, a book resting on his chest as his mind wandered. The title intrigued him: The Awakening of the Male.

It explained that a man’s Sexual Market Value (SMV) is composed of social achievements, appearance and health, and personality traits. Social achievements accounted for 50%, while appearance and health, and personality each made up 25%. A man’s attractiveness and charm to the opposite sex depended on this total score.

Appearance and health included height, looks, fashion sense, and physique; personality encompassed emotional intelligence, humor, and communication skills; social achievement meant wealth and the level of one’s position. Wealth, combining the latter two, played a crucial role.

“Looks and height are innate and hard to compensate for later; fashion and physique can be refined and improved. My height, looks, and fashion sense are decent. My physique… just a bit too lean, lacking some vitality, but I’ve started working out recently.”

“As for personality, that’s always been my strength, and lately I’ve been delving deeper into that realm.”

“Wealth…” Wei Lin stared at the ceiling, contemplating how to elevate himself comprehensively.

Compared to the average person, he was already somewhat affluent, owning a small company that brought in two to three million in steady annual income. Yet, he was far from true wealth and prestige.

Xinlin Hat Industry was a manufacturing business, primarily doing OEM work. Orders ranged from several thousand to tens of thousands, but profits barely exceeded ten percent. His company’s annual order value hovered around thirty to forty million. To achieve a major breakthrough and elevate his social standing, securing large orders was essential.

However, landing big orders was incredibly difficult. He had fought hard in previous years to build up some momentum. In the past one or two years, no matter how much he pushed the market, orders remained limited. Growing discouraged, he had begun indulging in alcohol and leisure.

“Building my own brand? Too difficult.”

Wei Lin sighed.

The cost to produce a hat was a few yuan, but adding a brand label and selling it on the market could multiply the price several times over. International big-brand hats placed in department stores worldwide could be priced tenfold or more—such was the power of a strong brand.

His country had become the world’s factory mainly because its products were good quality and low cost. Big brands leveraged their reputation, outsourcing production to his factory, earning several to ten times the profit on each order.

Meanwhile, he earned a meager profit of just over ten percent per order.

“Qi Feng Hat Industry’s annual orders exceed ten times my small targets. They also do OEM, but on a far larger scale.”

“To build a brand—to establish one that becomes a household name—is like climbing to the heavens.”

He had considered this long ago but, after thorough research, abandoned the idea. With his company’s size and output, he simply lacked the qualification and capacity to build an independent brand.

From nothing to prominence, a brand required overwhelming advertising, cooperation from many social elites, and perfect timing and conditions—not one element could be missing.

His company’s annual profits weren’t enough to hire a popular celebrity, and advertising fees across major platforms were astronomical—completely unsustainable.

“Branding is too tough for now. Large orders are more reliable. But the most pressing issue at the moment is my own health.”

“To live well, to truly live, is the only path to a future.”

Wei Lin closed his eyes and pictured a faintly glowing green star, vibrant with life, and felt a flicker of hope for the future.

…

Morning came, and Wei Lin woke with soreness all across his back.

“Yesterday’s back training really worked!”

He closed his eyes again, checked his progress sheet, and his eyes lit up.

Affection value: 19/50.

In one night, it had increased by seven points—five from Lin Nanxi, and two from his ex-wife Liu Qi.

“Liu Qi…”

Locking onto the progress bar, Wei Lin recalled his ex-wife’s intimate conversation with her mother last night. It seemed the mother was either encouraging reconciliation or arranging a new marriage for her daughter.

The two-point rise in affection meant his ex-wife still harbored feelings for him; otherwise, it wouldn’t have increased.

“Ah.”

He sighed softly, got up to wash, and casually contacted An Xin for the car keys.

…

At Xinlin Hat Industry that morning.

“Linzi, orders have been sparse lately, the factory isn’t very busy,” An Yuntian explained in Wei Lin’s office before adding, “It would be great to get new orders.”

“Uncle An, new orders are really hard to find,” Wei Lin smiled ruefully.

“I know, you’re working hard. I’m good at managing production and internal affairs, but expanding business isn’t my forte. We have to rely on you.”

“I’ll focus more on it going forward,” Wei Lin nodded.

The uncle and nephew chatted idly before An Yuntian changed the subject, frowning.

“Xin came back yesterday and said he wants to train seriously with you. He even asked me for twenty thousand to hire a personal trainer. Is that true?”

Wei Lin was momentarily stunned, thinking An Xin’s talk of playing hard to get was just his way of saying he was short on cash.

“I support getting a personal trainer, but I worry he might get scammed or waste money on some unreliable girl,” An Yuntian said anxiously.

“It’s true he’s getting a personal trainer, but it’s a pretty female coach,” Wei Lin clarified.

“Just don’t hand the money directly to her!”

An Yuntian breathed easier. Before leaving, he reminded, “Linzi, keep an eye on him. That boy listens to you more than me.”

“If he listened to me, he’d have a girlfriend already,” Wei Lin muttered under his breath.

That afternoon, during a short rest, Wei Lin checked the affection progress sheet again. It had shifted from 19 to 21, with the additional two points still from Lin Nanxi.

…

Hanlin Advertising Company.

After a busy afternoon, Lin Nanxi hurriedly checked her phone when it rang.

“6:30 PM, Green Bamboo Japanese Restaurant, V8 private room.”

Seeing the specific time and place, her exhaustion eased considerably. Tapping the screen, she replied simply, “Okay.”

“Knock, knock, knock!”

The office door rapped.

Lin Nanxi put down her phone, her face returning to its usual cool demeanor as she said softly, “Come in.”

“It’s the weekend. Want to grab dinner after work?”

Chen Hao, dressed in a tailored suit, stood upright at the doorway, seemingly forgetting Lin Nanxi’s cold texts from last night, smiling warmly.

“Hot pot, sushi, Cantonese food—I’m good with any.”

“Thanks, I have plans,” Lin Nanxi frowned and declined firmly.

“How about tomorrow? Or the day after?” Chen Hao pressed.

Lin Nanxi inhaled gently, reflected briefly, then said seriously, “I don’t usually socialize privately with colleagues.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Hao looked at her intently twice, then nodded, “Okay, I understand.”

…

4:20 PM.

Wei Lin, having gone home to pick up An Xin, arrived at the gym to find He Jingxuan and Yu Xiaorou already waiting.

“Mr. Wei! Mr. An!”

Before He Jingxuan spoke, Yu Xiaorou sweetly greeted, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wei. If you leave Mr. An with me, I’ll make sure he slims down!”

“Get lost,” Wei Lin pushed the hesitant An Xin forward and said to the young woman, “An Xin is yours. Use any method you want, but I want to see results.”

“Hahaha!”

A hearty laugh broke out. The bald man from yesterday parked his car and approached.

“Xiaorou, Mr. Wei’s brother doesn’t look so great. Don’t overwork him.”

When he emphasized “overwork,” his voice grew louder, causing a few members smoking by the door to smirk knowingly.

“Pfft! Not decent!” Yu Xiaorou laughed and scolded lightly, then grabbed the lovestruck An Xin and led him into the gym.

“You’re the real powerhouse, Wei little brother.”

The bald man patted Wei Lin on the shoulder as he passed by, admiringly saying, “The young generation is impressive!”

Wei Lin smiled, “Though I don’t quite understand what you mean, thank you for the compliment.”

“If your coach isn’t around or you don’t know what to do with training, you can ask me,” the man said politely, no pretense now, pulling out his phone enthusiastically, “Here, let’s exchange WeChat.”

“Sure!”

…