I’ve Gone Viral Because of a Money-Saving Variety Show

Chapter 10: Chapter 10 just caught him for shearing the sheep! Chapter 10: Chapter 10 just caught him for shearing the sheep! “[Why did the event end all of a sudden? I just made plans with my bestie to go eat for free tomorrow!]”
“[Wan Chen, Zheng He, and Han Qianyi are so unlucky, the event ended right when they arrived.]”
“[Oh man, this is like missing even the chance to eat crap when it’s warm! It’s their fault for not coming when Chen Xixi invited them!]”
Everyone thought Zheng He was Unhappy because he missed out on free BBQ, so they didn’t pay much attention to it.
Han Qianyi, a bit curious, asked softly: “How come it’s such a coincidence that right after Chen Xixi had her free meal, the event ended?”
Han Qianyi wanted to suggest that maybe Chen Xixi and the barbecue restaurant owner had some special relationship, perhaps Chen Xixi was trying to cheat to win by using this method?
But she was too embarrassed to say it outright as it would make her thoughts seem too malicious, yet she couldn’t help being curious.
If it really was Chen Xixi cheating, getting her disqualified would be good, as it would mean one less strong competitor.
Today after lunch, when she went back to her room to browse her phone, she saw that Chen Xixi was currently very popular, and even though voting hadn’t started yet, she could predict that tonight’s popularity vote would most likely go to Chen Xixi.
Even though she didn’t directly state it, everyone present could understand what she was implying.
Zheng He, who always opposed Chen Xixi, suddenly spoke out: “Chen Xixi has no relationship with the owner of this restaurant.”
Wan Chen raised an eyebrow, turning to look at Zheng He who was unexpectedly defending Chen Xixi, “How do you know?”
Zheng He: “…” It’s his family’s restaurant, how could he not know?
He clarified for Chen Xixi not because he was particularly kind-hearted, but because he didn’t want people to pay too much attention to his family’s restaurant.
He didn’t want to end up investigating the restaurant and Chen Xixi only to reveal that it was his instead.
Especially since his family’s restaurant was just reported, it was quite embarrassing.
Zheng He scratched his eyebrow, stiffly saying: “Judging by Chen Xixi’s stinginess, her living conditions must be really tough, so it’s impossible for her to know any restaurant owners.”
[Zheng He’s reasoning makes sense, but why do I feel like Chen Xixi just got subtly insulted?]
[Chen Xixi: What a malicious way to mock someone!]
In the end, a waiter clarified for them: “This afternoon, for some reason, a huge crowd of customers suddenly rushed in, and our boss just couldn’t handle it, so he had to end the promotion early.”
If it were about paying customers, it wouldn’t be an issue, but since it was all for free, this could have overwhelmed their new store financially and operationally.
The sudden surge of customers, of course, had something to do with Chen Xixi’s live stream.
[This restaurant’s owner really doesn’t know how to run a business, isn’t the whole point of free offers to attract customers? Just when a big group finally shows up, he ends the promotion! Talk about failing to grasp newfound wealth!]
[Normally it would be fine, but it’s free! With Chen Xixi’s live promotion, their restaurant would definitely have been swamped, I think the owner made the right decision to end the promotion early!]
[Perhaps the owner thought the promotion had gotten enough publicity, so he ended it, because now I see many more customers in the restaurant compared to noon.]
When Chen Xixi came to eat a free lunch this afternoon, there were hardly any customers, but in the afternoon, after the surge in popularity, Boss Zheng couldn’t withstand the pressure and had to cancel the free promotion, yet he still couldn’t resist the influx of customers as the thought occurred to him: since they are already here!
So, only those who came solely for the freebies grumbled and left, and many others stayed to spend money.
Boss Zheng, who had been looking worried, suddenly lost all trace of distress and smiled brightly: Who knew we would still make a profit! This place can keep running!
Other than Chen Xixi’s table, which looked a bit eye-catching, overall, it was quite good!
In the next second, Boss Zheng then saw a very familiar figure at the entrance of the store.
Standing outside the door, isn’t that his son!
Zheng He also saw Old Zheng; Old Zheng was smiling as he walked towards him.
Zheng He hurriedly started making faces at Old Zheng, gesturing for him to pretend not to know him.
Old Zheng looked puzzled but complied anyway.
Wan Chen and Han Qianyi realized they wouldn’t be getting a free dinner, so they reluctantly left.
At that moment, Zheng He excused himself to enter the shop using the bathroom as a pretext, and he again signaled to Old Zheng with his eyes.
Once inside the bathroom, Zheng He took off the hidden filming equipment he was wearing and turned it off.
Old Zheng followed him into the bathroom: “What’s up with you, son? You’re acting all weird! Those two standing next to you earlier, were they your friends? Why didn’t you invite them in for a meal and show them our new restaurant?”
As Old Zheng spoke, his tone was noticeably proud and boastful.
Zheng He glanced outside the door to make sure no one was coming, then whispered, “I’m participating in a reality show, it’s live right now, so it isn’t convenient.”
Old Zheng frowned: “Reality show?”
Zheng He grew up as a second-generation demolisher, and his family wasn’t wealthy before the demolitions.
Zheng He signed up for the show both for the chance to win five million prize money and to become famous, since every ordinary person dreams of making a name for themselves.
Imagine the neighbors talking about him: “Oh my, that kid from Old Zheng’s family is amazing! He’s been on TV! And he won five million prize money! So famous now!”
By then, the girls around him would prioritize him as a partner, even some girls would come admiringly, surrounding him every day…
The thought alone made him almost laugh in his dreams!
Zheng He told Old Zheng all about participating in the show.
Old Zheng was somewhat dumbfounded, his eyes wide with disbelief as he gazed at Zheng He: “So you and that girl outside, who reported me, are competitors in the same show?”
Old Zheng inwardly groaned, regretting unintentionally helping his son’s competitor.
“Yes.” Zheng He was also frustrated: “Actually, when I first came, I thought about finding any non-compliance to report, just like Chen Xixi did, tricking another twenty free meals… but then I saw… it’s our own family’s restaurant…”
What a dutiful son indeed!
Old Zheng suddenly thought of something and asked with a frown: “So you and those two guests just now wanted to use the free meal opportunity to report me, like Chen Xixi did?”
Zheng He nodded truthfully.
Old Zheng clutched his chest, feeling a sudden heart attack coming on! What, everyone was just looking to fleece him?
Zheng He looked eagerly at Old Zheng: “Dad, the show rules forbid asking acquaintances for free meals, please arrange another day of free activities tomorrow, I too want some barbecue… I can use the event to eat without breaking the rules.”
Being in the dorm, he wasn’t usually greedy, but coming here and smelling the aroma was too much to resist.
Zheng He swallowed his saliva and added: “Moreover, this would also save me a meal expense, and winning could mean five million prize money! Who knows, I might even end up with a contract and become a big star!”
Old Zheng frowned deeply: “But…” considering the current customer flow, giving away free food would mean a substantial cost, but then, thinking of his son, Old Zheng clenched his teeth: “Alright! I’ll arrange another day of free activities tomorrow!”
After discussing with Old Zheng, Zheng He was about to leave but then suddenly smirked, turned back, and said: “Oh Dad, by the way, can you try to seduce Chen Xixi so she’ll break the rules and get disqualified? Because of your compensation, she’s way ahead of me financially in the competition, it’s too hard to beat her!”
“…Seduce? How to seduce?” Old Zheng wrapped his coat around himself, cautiously spoke: “Listen here you little rascal! I refuse to do anything that would upset your mom!”