Chapter 35: The Endangered South China Tiger, Jail-Breaking Beast

Some people were curious and would try to find out the whole story. Once they learned about what had happened, most of them would change their views on Wen Chi. When their views on Wen Chi changed, they would naturally start to doubt the previous negative rumors. It was like a virtuous cycle. Netizens began to take off their tinted glasses and re-evaluate Wen Chi's being smeared all over the Internet in the past half month.

[Maybe we should think rationally. Who knows if the so-called revelations in the entertainment industry are true or false?]

[Even if the negative rumors were true, Wen Chi's actions in the face of the tiger at least proved that he was kind-hearted and not hopeless.]

[I had already unfollowed him, but after watching the live stream replay, I suddenly want to follow him again...]

Of course, there were rational people, and there were also stubborn and prejudiced ones. Even though the live stream replay was as solid as a rock and hundreds of thousands of viewers who watched the live stream could testify, there were still people who firmly believed that it was a premeditated hype.

[The former top star's whitewashing routine is really amazing! He spent a lot of money on recording the program, found three unknown actors as supporting roles, and there were one scripted event after another. Yesterday it was the rare orchid, today it's the wild tiger. Tomorrow, is he going to claim to discover the eighth wonder of the world? Stop acting and be more sincere!]

The person who posted this was a well-known Weibo influencer with quite a number of followers. As soon as he shouted, a swarm of people immediately followed suit and started mocking:

[So great, why not contribute to world peace? I won't watch the Nobel Prize ceremony without Wen Chi, haha!]

[It seems that the bankruptcy rumor is false, or the big shot behind him hasn't left. With such a big move, how many in the entertainment industry can compare?]

[There are still people who think the tiger thing can't be faked? Girl, let me tell you, anything can be faked in this circle! The tigers in the circus don't hurt people. With a trainer, it's easy! It's a pity that the show wasn't complete. The tiger left without showing its full face. It seems that Wen Chi still couldn't bear it. If you had Wen Chi fighting the tiger, I would definitely love to watch it! I promise I won't criticize you, hahaha!]

The mockers rushed in, and those who had been criticizing Wen Chi and were forced into a corner immediately became arrogant as if they had found a backer. They flooded all platforms with complaints about Wen Chi. Many passers-by who didn't know the truth were easily misled and really thought that Wen Chi was crazy enough to find a circus tiger to act with him in the program.

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Wen Chi's agency was as quiet as a mouse and didn't say a word. The "Peach Blossom Spring" program team was also hesitating whether to intervene. At this moment, there was a turning point.

A netizen saw Wen Chi's video and focused her attention on the tiger behind the bushes. She usually liked to read the science popularization posts by bloggers and had just read the atlas of extinct wild animals in China not long ago. Looking at the tiger's stripes that were similar to those in the atlas, she had doubts and casually @ a famous science popularization blogger, asking:

[Is this a South China Tiger? @Bowuzhi]

This Weibo post attracted a lot of ridicule. The South China Tiger had been declared extinct in the wild. How could it be so easily filmed by a variety show?

However, Bowuzhi quickly logged in and actually replied:

[Bowuzhi: Judging from the tiger's stripes, color, body shape, and the faintly visible "false eyes" on the back of its head, I estimate that it is highly similar to the extinct South China Tiger! I have already contacted the Wildlife Conservation Association! Wait for the follow-up!]

This stunned everyone. Even those arrogant haters were at a loss for a moment — What? You're telling me this is a South China Tiger? The extinct South China Tiger? A first-class protected animal? Are you kidding?

Bowuzhi had a good relationship with the official association. After making a private call, he quickly got a reply. The people from the association were very excited and said that they would immediately send people into Chun Mountain to observe the traces of the South China Tiger near the filming location. Bowuzhi then immediately posted the reply:

[Bowuzhi: Basically confirmed.]

Suddenly, the whole Internet exploded!

[Is it really a South China Tiger? I'm so excited! I can't believe it!]

[Every time I see that another species on Earth has been declared extinct, I feel very depressed. But today I'm especially happy. I always feel that the efforts we have made for environmental protection over the years have been useful! I hope to see more extinct animals and plants return to the big family of the Earth!]

[This reversal is really astonishing! I just had an argument with someone. The other person firmly believed that it was all Wen Chi's hype and that the tiger was a performing animal from the circus and was stupid. Now? Who dares to doubt? Even if the program team was willing to hype with Wen Chi, they wouldn't be willing to go to jail with him. This is a South China Tiger!]

[That's right! A first-class protected animal, a jail-breaking beast! Who dares to use it for performance?]

A storm that had just started brewing dissipated in such a strange way.

...

There was an office on the 43rd floor of the office building. It was spacious and bright, overlooking the prosperous scenery of Yanjing. It could already be regarded as the configuration of a successful person. Unfortunately, the owner of the office sitting behind the oversized desk was flattering and smiling, constantly apologizing on the phone:

"...Yes, I didn't expect things to develop like this either. Mainly because of the South China Tiger... No! Of course I know what I should do! Don't worry... Yes, yes, I remember your kindness... Okay, I will definitely make sure that Wen Chi can never turn over in his life!"

Finally hanging up the phone, the man threw away his phone, loosened his tie, and pressed his aching temples. He didn't expect things to have developed to this point. He called his subordinate through the internal line. When the subordinate came in, he immediately ordered that the suppression of Wen Chi should not stop.

The subordinate smiled bitterly: "Even if we use trolls, we can't blindly lead the rhythm. Too low-level means are easy to be seen through, and they will be less and less effective later."

What the subordinate didn't say was that in fact, there were already signs that it was not working well. Suppressing Wen Chi probably wouldn't work for long.

How could the boss accept what his subordinate said? He immediately shouted: "Then can't you change the angle? Dig up his old accounts! By the way, yesterday's orchid, many people questioned Wen Chi. Seize this point and hit him hard! It's best to make him a criminal! I don't need to teach you the rest, right? Netizens these days have short memories. After smearing him all over the Internet for half a month, they just forget it like that!"

The man was full of anger. After scolding for a while, he finally vented his anger. The subordinate was helpless and could only bow and nod, saying yes repeatedly.

The man glared at him: "What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and go!"

"Ye...Yes!"

The subordinate was about to leave when he received a message. After reading it, his complexion changed.

"Our means probably won't work anymore."

"What?"

"Just now, the official account of the provincial research institute posted an article thanking the program team and Wen Chi for discovering and protecting rare plants. Many official accounts are forwarding it, including the Wildlife Conservation Association... Once the official gets involved, no matter how many trolls we have, no one will believe us."