My CEO Harem Cultivation System

"What do you mean?" She looked at him in confusion and gestured at him. "You're already a CEO, so there's nothing that you'd probably desire—unless you're a heinous and debauched one. And if you are, then it's a star's luck that you'll need. I'm not interested in any sex scandals so you can leave."

He wasn't sure if she was that confident in her beauty that she assumed he wanted to sleep with her, but regardless of those thoughts, he shook his head. "What is it you desire from actively being part of the human world?"

"Desires?"

"Yes. I would like to know what it is that you want."

She sighed and crossed her arms. "In order to get something from me, I presume? There's always a trade between humans that you're as terrible as a witch or a demon."

The comparison made him smile slightly, but he nodded. "I do have something that I want from you, there is no doubt about it. However, I am not the type to simply enforce my will upon others nor will I give you a bad deal," he said. "Thus it's also necessary that I know what you want if we are to come to some agreement, and to not waste any more time between us."

The Mermaid tilted her head and ran her fingers through her lustrous hair. "I was bored with the life that I have in my world and decided that I could try my luck on here and voila, I'm a star and an idol. What else could I even ask for? I have men dropping at my feet and even women too."

"Is there anything else that you would like?"

She eyed him with a frown. "What more do I need to explain to you? Explain to me why you're involved in this dangerous lifestyle when you're already a wealthy man that can probably retire for the next hundreds of years?"

"Because I have no choice."

"Ehhh?" She gave him a look and then laughed. "Lack of choice? Did a fortune-telling woman from some unknown temple or sect tell you that? An oracle? I didn't know that you're the type to believe—"

"I have a curse."

The Mermaid's expression turned serious. "... A curse? Are you afflicted by some malady or a malevolent entity? Chased down by gods? Did you test fate and destiny and are now under some binding oath that requires you to offer the blood of virgins?"

He didn't think it would work, but she seemed to take it with a kernel of truth.

Not to mention it was the easiest way to express it, and so he continued on with it. "It is along those lines." He didn't want to explain or tell this Mermaid that the 'gods' she may be imagining were bored enough to watch and observe the lives of men. "The curse requires me to ensnare beautiful and powerful women and add them to my harem."

"... is this your way of flirting?" She raised a brow at him. "I'll give you props for saying something unique and extremely foreign."

Maybe this was a bad idea—she wasn't taking him seriously. Li Yang rubbed his face. "I'm afflicted with the ability to only get stronger if I involve myself with women along your stature, Miss Bai. I am not sure if you are familiar with different methods of cultivation, but because you've landed here in my country, then I'd like to think that you do."

"Your nation and people's practices have this sort of thing as well?"

"What do you mean by 'as well'?"

The Mermaid sighed and rested a hand underneath her cheek. "My kind are blessed with superior longevity, beauty, strength and other qualities that your people will envy from. However, there is a significant difference between that from my people who are men and those who are women, and that is in terms of the ability to use energy and magic."

Li Yang stayed silent in a prompt for more explanation.

"It is only through union between a man and woman that those men of our kind have the capacity to use magic. Thus it is common that a King of the Seas will have multiple beauties and wives to ensure his power and that is also why some 'legends' speak of Poseidon having fifty Nereids… and now you tell me your situation is the same?" She held a hand over her chest. "I left my world to have my freedom and now I suppose you are here to beg me to consider you?"

Thus her true motivations were revealed to the CEO, who took it in with an internal sigh. "I do not beg, but I will simply let the benefits of working with me be presented to you."

"Working in a harem?" She wrinkled her nose. "You expect me to manage other women and get along with them? I am not meant to be part of a group."

"Well, I suppose there's not much work to do—you'll be the first one to be part of it." Li Yang offered a hand. "You can still look at it as an opportunity to expand. Idols tend to be a short-lived career, and even then, if you are able to retain your appearance—it will still be questionable."

"I have it covered…" She averted her gaze. "I only need to disappear for a couple of decades, then I shall return to another debut. Then I can continue with the lifestyle that  I want to live."

"Will you return to your people while you wait for that?" Li Yang raised a brow. "And I understand that you have your voice to rely on, a certain talent for singing, but trends do change. The idea of idols may be prevalent now, but what of the years to come?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I do not take it kindly that you are trying to frighten me with such a thing."

"I didn't mean to scare you, but only inform you of what can happen. Us humans are constantly developing and changing, thus what might bring us joy now might be simply thought upon as foolish in the next." Li Yang explained. "I am not sure if this is your first time in this land—but having an ally can be a useful thing for you."

She placed a hand on her hip. "You think I cannot handle these troubles? I'm much older than you think, old man."

Her attempt to make him uneasy fell to deaf ears.

"I'm simply offering a much lighter burden on you with the opportunities for further growth—my situation prevents me from getting stronger without the help of certain women like you, but I can also offer a chance for you to become even more powerful." Li Yang offered a hand out to her.

"More powerful?"

He glanced at her get-up, the way she held herself up and nodded. "And I can throw in perhaps a brand ambassador deal to you if you wish with reasonable proceeds. This is all open to negotiations as well, so if you have anything on mind. Tell me, because I want you."

"What the—how can you tell that to a woman you barely met and with such a straight face?"

—-—-

Author Note: Wee, a bit tired today. But I hope the chapter still is a good read xD Faster pace, faster pace is what I tell myself to maintain an exciting story and because I tend to write slice-of-life *sweat*