Once the first photograph appeared, many entertainment tabloids released their own takes within an hour. Their formats were all the same: that first photograph followed by completely fabricated contents.
What about the truth?
The truth was important, but site traffic was even more important!
At this time, what they were fighting for was site traffic.
Whoever could grab more site traffic first would earn more money!
Were rumors in the entertainment industry called rumor mongering?
It was called hyping!
What would happen if there weren't any topics to report when the truth came out? It was better to earn a bunch first before anything else.
These entertainment reporters also weren't just blindly fabricating. They even gave various analysis and explanations to make it sound as though it were the truth.
Fang Zhao's graduation was nearing, and he had been busy with preparing his graduation concert. Together with the Whale Island Conference, he had indeed disappeared for quite a period of time. The netizens' line of thought were swayed as they read the analysis of these entertainment reporters.
When they thought about Fang Zhao's previous disappearance, these reasonings seemed to make sense.
There were photographs and the actual fact that Fang Zhao had recently returned to Qi'an City for today before leaving hurriedly. Perhaps, just as this entertainment reporter guessed, Fang Zhao had come over to meet his lover?
Or, perhaps it was some unspeakable matter that yet another entertainment reporter said? After all, even the police were mobilized.
Entertainment reporters fabricated stories vigorously, and netizens online became very excited just reading all the news. Some media outlets who hadn't gotten in on the first round of hype coveted the site traffic that others were getting and also joined the party soon after.
Those trying to muddy his name also wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by. Silver Wing couldn't be allowed to just cover up this incident.
Of course, there were also some who felt disdain towards this sort of news. Wang Tie was one such example. He wouldn't fabricate random lies and falsehoods. He only released definitive evidence.
Their professional principles were different from his. Ordinarily, they would go about earning their own money and not cross paths. On the surface, they would still appear harmonious despite what they thought deep down.
Right now, Wang Tie turned his nose up and scoffed at all these so-called "truths" all over the Internet.
"If Fang Zhao really wanted to hide something, do you think that trash like you would be able to discover it?"
Although Wang Tie didn't dabble in Fang Zhao's matters, he was also rather curious towards this incident and felt an unbearable itch. He wasn't the sort that would stand at the side and glare at others so he used a few dummy accounts to comment.
"It is obvious that Fang Zhao notified the police voluntarily. Perhaps someone suffered at Fang Zhao's hands. It's just that we do not know who are the unlucky ones."
Wang Tie was happy to view it as a joke and aired his views as long as he wasn't the one suffering from that misfortune.
In Leizhou, Zaro was just about to take a nap. Over the past few days, he had been dragged by his dad into training. He was really tired and wanted to rest whenever he had any free time. Unfortunately, he had just shut his eyes when Woo Tianhao rang him up.
"Have you seen the news that just came out online? Someone's public persona is going to come crashing down!" Woo Tianhao giggled deviously.
Zaro yawned. "Not a big deal. This happens everyday in the news. I'm sick of hearing about them already."
"Fang Zhao has gotten into trouble!" Woo Tianhao was clearly excited.
All traces of Zaro's sleepiness vanished. "Who?!"
Some of the Renault family's core members had attended the Whale Island Conference. Zaro's father was among them. Thus, they knew a little about the matter of Fang Zhao rendering meritorious services during the conference period. They looked at Fang Zhao, and then thought about their very own Zaro…
Thus, after the Whale Island Conference concluded, Zaro was forced into training by his father. During this period, what he heard the most was, "Look at Fang Zhao!"
Zaro was delighted upon hearing that Fang Zhao had a scandal now!
After searching the Internet and seeing all sorts of stuff, Zaro got so excited that his spittle went flying everywhere.
"Seeing how secretive he is being means that he surely has a guilty conscience! Based on my experience of over two decades in the entertainment industry, it's almost certain that he has a secret lover in his mansion! How awesome! Fang Zhao actually did something that even I wouldn't dare do!"
Renault family elders had told Zaro to go about his love life and friendships openly instead of hiding them. It couldn't be helped. The Renault family elders were also worried. It wasn't that they were strict, but that they were concerned about Zaro's limited intelligence. His family members were afraid he could be implicated in trouble if he wasn't careful.
Since he hadn't been able to vent all his excitement with Woo Tianhao, Zaro then went to contact Chu Bo.
"Bobo, did you know that Fang Zhao has gotten into trouble?"
Chu Bo had just finished performing a concert. His family had criticized him for failing to control himself and using two lines of expletives. He had been sulking dejectedly in his own recording studio without checking the Internet. The news that Zaro brought immediately raised his spirits.
"For real?"
Chu Bo went online to browse through the news. The sides of his lips curled upwards. "To think that there would be a day like this for him!"
Chu Bo had complex sentiments regarding Fang Zhao. He felt that Fang Zhao was a rather good person, but after being scared into silence by Fang Zhao during that concert, he had always felt a psychological scar in his heart. Now, he had dissipated it with some difficulty, but it wasn't completely gone.
Seeing that Fang Zhao could also have a scandal helped ease his psychological scar considerably.
See, Fang Zhao is also just a normal person. There is nothing to be afraid of.
With that thought, Chu Bo made a call to Fang Zhao to express his sympathy and ask whether he required any help. If he could make Fang Zhao owe him a favor, Chu Bo felt that whatever traces of that psychological scar would no longer exist.
Chu Bo had always thought that people more impressive than himself wouldn't come begging to him and he wouldn't need to take action. On the contrary, those that needed help would surely be inferior to himself. Since he can't compare to me, what is there to be afraid of?
Thus, Fang Zhao received calls with consolation intent from Zaro, Woo Tianhao, Chu Bo and others, although they couldn't even hide their joyous delight in his misfortune.
Fang Zhao: "…" Are this bunch of kids asking for a whooping?
Of course, besides Zaro and the bunch, Fang Zhao also received calls from many people. Even Mo Lang had specially called to offer help. These people were genuinely showing concern. Although the police were still investigating and details weren't convenient to divulge, Fang Zhao still told them that it wasn't a big matter and that all the news online was fabricated. The truth would come to light as long as they waited.
While the Internet was abuzz with conjectures, Zuo Yu and Yan Biao arrived in Qi'an City and headed to Fang Zhao's home.
There were two police officers on guard there.
After identifying themselves, Zuo Yu and Yan Biao went inside. Upon seeing the apartment that had been messily rummaged through, Zuo Yu clicked his tongue. "It's about time Boss moves to a new place."
With Fang Zhao's current status, staying here was unsuitable indeed. For ordinary people, this place was indeed luxurious. However, it was insufficient for a public figure who had lots of exposure in the entertainment circle.
Yan Biao surveyed all over before halting his gaze at the aquarium. "The eighty million is still here."
In accordance to Fang Zhao's instructions, Yan Biao took out his communications device and made a video call to Fang Zhao.
"We have already arrived boss." Yan Biao let Fang Zhao view the situation of his house. "It doesn't seem too bad."
Fang Zhao only casually looked at the somewhat messy apartment before telling Yan Biao, "Check whether the aquarium's lid is unlocked."
Yan Biao went closer and took a look. "It's unlocked. The aquarium can be opened."
Fang Zhao's silence was somewhat longer this time.
"Boss?" Yan Biao was a little puzzled.
Zuo Yu had also been carefully inspecting at the side. He had heard that the two people that had broken in were found unconscious here, but he hadn't discovered any marks.
Fang Zhao took a deep breath before instructing, "Stick a memo at the side of the aquarium that says 'extremely venomous, stay away'. Write the words big and make sure it is eye-catching."
Zuo Yu and Yan Biao said, "… Boss do you mean… those two… were stung?"
"Mmhm."
Zuo Yu and Yan Biao both took a step back simultaneously.
Fang Zhao glanced around and saw that the two bonsais in the living room had been nibbled on. Clearly, the "rabbit" in the aquarium had been out.
Having confirmed his suspicious, Fang Zhao once again applied for leave to return to Yanzhou after he ended classes on the second day.
The two perpetrators that had been rushed to the hospital were finally out of critical condition but were still unconscious. The police were aware that these two were afflicted with sea slug venom and also had questions for Fang Zhao.
Fang Zhao was cooperative and produced the ownership permit as well as various other documents concerning it. The permit was comprehensive and there were no issues with Fang Zhao's right to breed it.
The Police had also checked the sea slug feed in Fang Zhao's house. Commonly seen pets like sea slugs couldn't be fed with highly toxic food without approval. Although the police had already confirmed that the feed within Fang Zhao's apartment was completely non-toxic, it still didn't mean that whatever that was fed to the sea slug in the past wasn't toxic.
Afterwards, by comparing what had happened to experimental results from various sea slug researchers, the final conclusion was:
"What caused these two to be lying in hospital is just a venom it composes within its body from the energy gained through photosynthesis. It is only released when it feels under threat and has nothing to do with its food. If it had really been given toxic food, even if there were just a slight bit of toxicity, those two would have already stopped breathing before the police arrived."
Police officers: "…" So, those two deserved it!
The pot and condiments lying around the kitchen had made the intentions of those two obvious.
It could only be said that those two had been asking for it by breaking in!
Served them right for getting stung!
And, they were fortunate that Fang Zhao hadn't fed it any toxic foodstuff!
However, one more unsolved mystery remained. The surface area on their bodies that were stung was too huge. How had it been done? Could it be those two had hugged the sea slug and rolled around?
Those questions would have to wait until those two regained consciousness. Right now, there were no longer any problems for Fang Zhao.
The personnel dispatched by Silver Wing to handle Fang Zhao's incident also heaved a sigh of relief. No wonder Fang Zhao had dared to make a police report. Fang Zhao hadn't done anything illegal nor did he have any of those shady dealings. He had believed Fang Zhao's issue to be much more complicated, but that wasn't the case.
However, the matter couldn't be hidden. All sorts of rumors were flying all over on the Internet. Now, they needed the police to clarify matters as nobody would believe the credibility of any statement that Silver Wing issued. There was also the need to contact authoritative media outlets as their words held weight. The follow-up actions would all be handled by one of Silver Wing's teams.
Thus, a day after this incident, an authoritative Yanzhou media outlet released a piece of news.
[Two Fugitives Broke Into Fang Zhao's Residence Late At Night. They Tried To Cook A Sea Slug Worth 80 Million, But Ended Up In The Hospital Fighting For Their Lives…]
Everyone that had been waiting an entire day to hear from an authoritative media outlet: "…"
People across the globe who were paying attention to this news were also shocked.
"Hahaha, what sort of stupid news is this!"
"Those two are especially foolish!"
"Yeah, they should have some intelligence if they could break in… Come on, they were nearly poisoned to death from trying to eat a sea slug!"
"I suspect that this was planned by Fang Zhao. How could there be such stupid thieves?"
"Fang Zhao again? Hyped again? Or is it fabricated to hide some truths?"
"Fabricate my *ss! Yanzhou's Qi'an City Police Department has already confirmed the identities of those too. There is even an official stamp. This is real news! Those two are A-listed wanted criminals by the police! This, time Fang Zhao's pet sea slug has rendered a meritorious service!"
"For real? A-list wanted criminals? If that is true, I just want to say something to those two—— you f*cking deserved it!"
"As expected from my idol. Even the sea slug he keeps can apprehend thieves!"
A certain person from the 'PET' magazine who had once evaluated Fang Zhao's two pets said as if trying to clear his grievances, "I said it before, that one is really very dangerous! Do you all believe me now?!"
Back then, my arm was nearly been crippled despite just a touch while wearing a thick glove! I really wasn't doing it wrongly. That "rabbit" is just that savage!