Chapter 146: Officially Accepting the Live Interview!

Shen Xian, wearing a hoodie and a face mask, wove through the crowd, unnoticed for the moment. As time passed, Zhou Wan and Ning Cai grew increasingly nervous, and Ye Yuning even more so. For someone accustomed to raising geese, having to face a camera lens was an ordeal; her palms were damp with sweat.

"Do you really have a plan?" Ning Cai asked Meng Yanzhou.

Meng Yanzhou glanced briefly at Zhou Wan before replying, "Naturally, it will be absolutely fine."

Reassured, Ning Cai and Ye Yuning settled down, though Zhou Wan sighed as she gazed out the window. How was this mess supposed to end?

"The Beijing Media van is here!"
"They've arrived!"

A commotion stirred outside. Looking out, they saw a news vehicle driving into the base, the crowd parting to let it pass. It was an Iveco van, but the logo on its side was unmistakable: CCTV.

When state media mobilizes, the local authorities tremble. Officials from the Emergency Management Bureau, the Publicity Department, and the Petition Office had been waiting for some time, ready to handle emergencies and monitor online public opinion.

The reporters stepped out and exchanged pleasantries with the local leaders. While the officials wore practiced smiles, they were cursing Shen Xian in their hearts. That damn Shen Xian—dragging them into such a high-stakes situation and bringing state media to their doorstep. If state media got involved, it would draw the attention of higher-ups, potentially leading to inspection teams being dispatched. The more scrutiny, the more likely other skeletons in their closets would be dragged into the light. They could only hope these "big shots" would leave as soon as possible.

The official in charge of publicity wore a smile on his face while silently cursing the situation. The district’s top leader claimed to be unwell, the second-in-command cited a city-level meeting, and the deputy party secretary claimed to be out on business. Consequently, the burden of hosting the state media fell entirely on the shoulders of the Publicity Department head.

The reporter was a young woman in her twenties, beautiful and dressed in a professional suit. After meeting the publicity head, she headed toward the base office.

Followed by a cameraman and a staff member live-streaming with a mobile phone, she knocked on the door of Ye Yuning’s office.

Seeing the trio enter, Ye Yuning took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Hello, reporter. I am Ye Yuning."

"Hello, President Ye. I am Qin Yike, a reporter from Beijing Media. It is a pleasure to meet you." Qin Yike shook her hand with a smile. "Please don't be nervous, President Ye. My questions won't be too sharp. Let’s just treat this like a casual conversation."

Ye Yuning nodded. Qin Yike looked at the others in the room. "Could everyone else please step out for a moment?"

Zhou Wan, Ning Cai, Meng Yanzhou, and the others retreated to the adjacent office, pulled out their phones, and logged into the official live stream.

"Are you ready, President Ye?" Qin Yike asked.

Ye Yuning squeezed her palms. "I'm ready."

"Shall we begin?"

Ye Yuning nodded. "Yes, please."

Qin Yike turned to the camera. "Hello everyone, I am Qin Yike from Beijing Media. We are here on-site for a live broadcast regarding the widely discussed 'Red-Crowned Goose' incident. Before we examine the geese themselves, we will be interviewing Ms. Ye Yuning, the person in charge of the Nanzhou Red-Crowned Goose Special Breeding Base."

The live stream officially began. The terrifying power of state media lay in its immense traffic, vast coverage, and strong recommendation algorithms. Countless mobile users received push notifications as soon as they opened their phones, and a massive audience flooded the stream.

"Wow, the owner is so young and beautiful!"
"She looks like a celebrity... yeah, like Nazha!"
"So pretty!"

Netizens flooded the comments section with messages. Shen Xian also opened his phone to monitor the situation.

"Ms. Ye, when did you start this breeding base?" Qin Yike began. The first ten minutes were mundane, covering trivial topics like the construction of the base, total investment costs, and environmental concerns.

Ten minutes later, the reporter finally cut to the chase: "President Ye, there have been rumors online that while you were out having a meal with female friends, a boyfriend of one of your friends recorded a video and threatened you for money. Is this true?"

The moment had arrived. The onlookers were instantly alert.

"It is true. I just wanted to get together with friends I hadn't seen in a long time. I never expected to be recorded and photographed," Ye Yuning said, her palms beginning to sweat again.

The reporter followed up: "And they also reported you for consuming protected wild animals, correct? What is your take on this entire situation?"

Ye Yuning’s face turned angry. "I can only say that I misjudged people. I invited him to dinner, and he filmed me and posted it online!"

Qin Yike watched her face closely, confirming that her emotions were genuine and not a ploy for attention. She asked, "His name is Shen Xian, correct? His reputation online is quite poor. What are your thoughts on him?"

Ye Yuning’s expression turned complex. "I trusted him, which is why I invited him to eat. I never imagined he would do something like this. I am very angry and very hurt."

The comments section in the live stream exploded.
"Kill the Shen dog, protect President Ye!"
"Shen Xian is a piece of trash!"
"Damn him, why hasn't he been hit by a car yet?"

The room was filled with vitriol. Zhou Wan watched the insults directed at Shen Xian, feeling a deep sense of distress. In a welfare home, a seventeen-year-old girl took the director’s phone and tried to comment, "Brother Shen Xian is not that kind of person," but her message was instantly drowned out by a sea of toxic comments.

Xiao Yang looked at the screen, his scalp tingling. "This has blown up. There's no turning back now."

Shen Xian sat in a corner of the base, his face devoid of expression.

The reporter continued, "Is your female friend present today? May I interview her?"

Interview Zhou Wan? Or Ning Cai? Ye Yuning blinked, confused. Who was Shen Xian’s girlfriend supposed to be? Who should she call?

Zhou Wan gritted her teeth, ready to step into the room for the interview, already planning how to clear Shen Xian’s name. Before she could move, Meng Yanzhou whispered to Chen Rumeng, "Rumeng, it’s your turn to shine."

Chen Rumeng took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "I am Shen Xian’s girlfriend. I’ll accept the interview."

She appeared on camera. Zhou Wan and Ning Cai stared, dumbfounded, at Meng Yanzhou. He offered a mysterious smile. "Everything is under control."