[Chapter 506: Widespread Reactions]
Linton's health product store had truly pulled off a miracle this time. In less than a day, it sold out an entire month's supply. What was even more ridiculous was that this wasn't some hunger marketing stunt -- they genuinely ran out of stock.
The store posted a notice announcing that the next restock of the Vitality and Beauty Pills wouldn't be until the 6th of next month. Even more frustrating for customers was that no reservations or deposits were accepted. Everyone had to be treated fairly. If you wanted to buy, you had to come in person and wait in line on the 6th.
That meant from now until the 6th, the store had no products to sell, and the employees had little to do. But that wasn't entirely true -- they still kept the doors open during business hours to entertain inquiries.
Though, without any Vitality Pills or Beauty Pills to sell, and no pre-orders allowed, what good was the store even being open? Was it just to let people admire the posters and soak in the atmosphere?
Surprisingly, the store saw a steady stream of visitors every day. At first, locals came just to check out the scene and admire the "Beautiful Angel" posters. Soon, it became a popular stop for tourists from out of town.
...
That very evening, almost every form of media -- TV, newspapers, and the internet -- buzzed about the Vitality Pills and Beauty Pills. The hottest topic was Linton's net worth.
Indeed, someone had already done the math. On just that single day, sales of the Vitality and Beauty Pills had totaled an astounding $1.7 billion. While the exact costs of these pills were unknown, it was obvious even to the casual observer that the manufacturing costs wouldn't exceed 10% of the retail price. This was a standard practice upheld by all pharmaceutical giants over the years.
But Linton's approach differed from those drug conglomerates. Usually, companies justified their sky-high prices with exorbitant research and development costs -- and people reluctantly accepted that. Linton, however, openly said on television that he had received the pill formulas in a dream via divine revelation and had then independently refined them.
In other words, the research and development costs could be incredibly low. Yet, the prices were shockingly high, meaning the profits were outright astronomical.
By that calculation, Linton was making at least $1.5 billion in pure profit on the day.
It was insanely wild -- no longer just the American Dream, but the rise of the next richest man. In a country that worshiped capital and wealth, Linton's fan base exploded, nearly turning him into a national idol.
The second hottest topic was the "Beautiful Angels." Posters of these 21 beautiful women dominated all media outlets.
Previously, a few media voices had sneered at Linton's 20 girlfriends -- Madonna, Nicole Kidman, and others -- calling them shameless for sharing the same man. But now, those critiques had vanished. The media praised the women's taste and discernment.
Young women everywhere were intensely envious, especially those actresses with some level of attractiveness, many of whom wanted nothing more than to replace them.
Yet, the most discussed figure among them was the 21st Beautiful Angel -- the only one absent from the event that day: Xu Qing.
Rumors linking her romantically with Linton emerged during the filming of the You'll Be In My Heart music video, flooding the tabloids. Now, it was confirmed -- Xu Qing was genuinely Linton's 21st girlfriend. Her absence at the event only fueled public intrigue.
Reporters spun countless stories and theories, desperate to attract attention no matter how wild. As for Linton's responses at the scene, people mostly ignored them.
Xu Qing was simply too unique, too compelling a subject.
...
How was it possible that a woman nobody knew -- a woman from across the Pacific -- could win Linton's favor, receive abundant resources, and become a Beautiful Angel? And even more baffling, she didn't show up to the most important occasion.
Every angle of this mystery stoked public curiosity. People were eager to gossip.
Fashion brands took notice, realizing Xu Qing hadn't yet signed any endorsements in North America.
Here was a premium candidate. Brands that hadn't signed up the other 20 Beautiful Angels suddenly felt a surge of excitement and urgency -- especially with Linton's backing. They had to make their move quickly.
Soon, Mira started receiving a flood of lucrative offers to have Xu Qing endorse fashion labels. The prices were sky-high, generally topping $3 million a year -- almost on par with rising Hollywood stars.
Of course, these endorsement deals were limited strictly to fashion at this time.
Still, a small faction of the media tried to drag Xu Qing through the mud, claiming she wasn't attractive enough, didn't suit mainstream tastes, lacked fame, and was being a diva by skipping the grand opening.
Unfortunately, there was almost nothing to dig up on her. She had barely appeared in the U.S. before, so allegations were pure fabrication. No media outlet dared risk filing outright falsehoods because Xu Qing had already been officially recognized as a Beautiful Angel -- Linton's unequivocal 21st girlfriend.
Those smear campaigns were clearly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.
Xu Qing's meteoric rise had triggered a collective backlash from a certain group: Hollywood's various actresses.
Particularly those who viewed themselves as naturally stunning considered Xu Qing a mortal enemy. They believed she was stealing their opportunities.
If Xu Qing hadn't been in the picture, surely this 21st Beautiful Angel role would have belonged to them.
Given Xu Qing's soaring popularity, there was no denying it -- they had to attack her viciously.
For the foreseeable future, controversy surrounding Xu Qing was inevitable.
But that was just how it went: controversy kept the heat going, and the people at the center of it often gained even more fans.
As long as no real scandals emerged, that was a huge advantage -- and with Xu Qing, there simply wasn't any dirt to find.
...
Meanwhile, the hottest topic online remained the effects of the Vitality and Beauty Pills.
Many fans posted glowing testimonials on forums, sharing before-and-after photos to flaunt their transformations. Some even shared shocking images of their skin breaking out in black spots shortly after taking the medicine.
Everyone who used the pills described them in one word: Magical. Two words: Absolutely Magical. Three words: Worth Every Penny.
Initially, some people grumbled about the high prices. But as more users posted their feedback and pictures, those complaints evaporated -- replaced by a flood of voices urging Linton to ramp up production.
While media and audiences gorged themselves on gossip, the sellout of Vitality Pills and Beauty Pills had much deeper repercussions than mere hype.
*****
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