Chapter 219 – A Scandalous Journalist Gone Too Far

Chapter 219 - A Scandalous Journalist Gone Too Far

Less than 24 hours after Tang Fei's case began, while the police were still racing against time to investigate urgently, a small reporter from a gossip marketing account suddenly dropped a bombshell that could rock the entertainment industry.

Breaking News! Tang Fei is missing! Suspected kidnapping!

A manipulated voice recording, with identifying details removed, was released online. At first, Tang Fei's fans, known as Toffee Fans, refused to believe it.

Tang Fei's infrequent appearances were normal in the eyes of her fans, for she was someone who believed that her work was enough to connect with them. Even if she didn't send holiday greetings, her fans appreciated her as a dedicated actress who avoided stirring up trouble within their community.

It was Spring Festival, and on New Year's Day, Tang Fei's movie was still screening. The day before, on New Year's Eve, the box office performance had been outstanding. Premiering at 8 pm, "Mercury City" dominated the box office against all the excellent films released during the Spring Festival season, securing the top spot for that day.

With a single-day box office revenue of 190 million yuan, the film contributed about 25% of the total 800 million yuan box office on New Year's Eve, when fourteen films were screened. "Mercury City" claimed the top spot, followed by two comedy series with established brand appeal, then the most popular animated feature film of 2021, a visually stunning mecha battle movie, an explosive action war film, and a heartwarming light comedy from a major IP franchise.

These seven blockbusters accounted for 90% of New Year's Eve's box office earnings, leaving the remaining films struggling to survive amidst the competition. Half of the films captured 90% of the market, while the other half barely managed 10%, effectively dropping out of the race for the Spring Festival box office gold rush right from the start.

On the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, from 10 am until lunchtime, "Mercury City" maintained its lead in the box office rankings.

Even the usual pattern of low movie attendance in the morning seemed to be shattered.

Admission fee at 52 yuan, occupancy rate of 49%, screen allocation of 21%, and box office earnings of 70 million, it has left the second-place film far behind. The second-ranked comedy only grossed 26 million in the morning, with a 26% screen share and an occupancy rate of merely 23%.

Many caramel enthusiasts were eager to be among the first to witness Tang Fei's debut film performance, resulting in a fierce rush for tickets early on. With a substantial fan base and Chen Ye's directorial reputation drawing in casual viewers, "Mercury City" became a priority for many. Coupled with the box office triumph on New Year's Eve and the enthusiastic recommendations from those who had already seen the film, highlighting the spectacular special effects and breathtaking alien landscapes, the scramble for tickets intensified.

This led to movie tickets in Mercury City being as sought-after as train tickets during the Spring Festival migration.

Word-of-mouth promotion is a significant method of film publicity. Once the film withstands the test of public opinion, its reputation will spread further among movie enthusiasts.

This is a virtuous cycle, where box office revenues accumulate, and excellent films tend to dominate the market, sapping the audience's interest in other films. In such comparisons, moviegoers tend to favor the more spectacular and superior offerings, leaving merely good films overshadowed.

Thus, when this news gained overwhelming momentum in Mercury City, overpowering all competing films during its release period, fans believed it to be a malicious spread of false information. They thought that for the sake of defaming Tang Fei's film, nothing was off-limits, even fabricating such ridiculous claims!

Accusing the film producers of having an issue that led to Tang Fei's disappearance at the premiere—were they slandering the movie or mocking the capital's security? Bold and reckless troublemaker, spreading such disgusting rumors during the New Year, did they wish to receive a capital property and a silver bracelet as a reward?

The fans were ready to raise the flag of complaint, eager to let this repulsive person experience the warmth of the police officers in the detention center during the Spring Festival.

Unexpectedly, numerous ill-intentioned "insiders" emerged to criticize Time Culture for concealing Tang Fei's situation and deceiving the fans.

Then, many insiders came forward to criticize the reporters. Publicizing this information online could jeopardize Tang Fei's safety. What if the kidnappers, upon realizing they might not get paid, decide to kill her?

"How can you prioritize your own fleeting fame and the so-called big scoop over someone's life? You have no humanity at all! How can you still call yourself a journalist? Apart from reporting truthfully, journalists also bear the responsibility of upholding ethical standards and guiding societal values!

"You chase sensationalism and risk others' lives for an exclusive breaking news story! You're a disgrace to our journalism profession!"

The fans started to panic. This situation seemed all too real.

What's going on here?

What happened to my Feifei? How could she be kidnapped during a premiere in broad daylight, right in the capital city?

Even on New Year's Eve, when there are fewer people on the streets and the entire city is quieter, such incidents shouldn't occur!

"Please refute these rumors! Nothing will happen to my Feifei!"

"@Time Culture, where is my Feifei? Please give us an assurance of her safety! Please!"

"@Tang Fei Fan Support Club, tell me that this is fake. Feifei must be at home with her family, safe and sound!"

The anxious anticipation of the fans fueled the event's escalation, propelling the news to the top of the trending list and making it widely known.

Those "insiders" who had suddenly emerged to criticize Time Culture vanished once they sensed the tide turning.

It was He Baoyi who had orchestrated their appearance.

She aimed to kill through proxies.

Using the foolish Xiao Fang and Xiao Zheng as her pawns, she sought to take Tang Fei's life.

Xiao Fang and Xiao Zheng only wanted to capture compromising photos and videos of Tang Fei to use as leverage, allowing them to continue exploiting her, just as they had with their sister Xiao Yuan, living off their ill-gotten gains without any effort. But He Baoyi's intentions were far more sinister – she wanted Tang Fei gone for good.

What would Xiao Fang and Xiao Zheng do when they realized their plan was impossible? Would they panic and resort to desperate measures?

He Baoyi felt a familiar tremor of nervous excitement, much like when she had orchestrated the incident with Tan Ge last year, causing her heatstroke while suspended on wires. She entertained the thought that if Tang Fei were to meet an accidental end, it would be akin to her personally ending Tang Song's life.

How would Tang Song and Ye Qing react to this news?

Back then, Tang Song had been a shining beacon in campus life. Countless women had admired him, and numerous opportunities had been extended to him. If he had simply chosen one of those who liked him, he could have achieved what many strive for in a lifetime with ease.

Ye Qing, her confidante, knew well of her affection for Tang Song and her loneliness with no friends but Ye Qing herself.

How could these two people end up together? How was she supposed to face it?

In a fit of anger, she hastily agreed to a suitor's proposal and married a husband who turned out to be abusive.

Fuelled by resentment, she stirred trouble at Ye Qing's home and sowed discord among Ye Qing's admirers. Soon, Tang Song and Ye Qing found themselves under pressure from Ye Qing's family.

If she couldn't have him, neither could Ye Qing. It would serve them right to marry someone they didn't love, someone who might also be abusive!

But Tang Song and Ye Qing astonishingly left their families and prestigious jobs in the capital behind, forsaking all luxuries to return to Qin Island.

No matter how influential the Ye family was, they couldn't reach Tang Song and Ye Qing in other provinces.

How could they suppress others when they had nothing left? What could they do working as temporary laborers on a construction site?

Or as a full-time housewife, could they really control anything?

He Baoyi clenched her fists tightly, closing her eyes as she spoke: "Tang Song, I can accompany you to Qin City too. Why do you assume I am vulgar, while Ye Qing is the embodiment of purity, an unassuming white lotus rising above the mud?"