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

“Which way please? Isn’t it time for the big donors to come up on stage to donate?”
Why invite him?
Zheng He felt something was seriously off. He looked around and noticed that the host and everyone present were focusing on him.
Chen Xixi was among them too.
At the same time, the applause was noticeably warmer than before, like a surging wave pushing him towards the stage.
After a moment of stupefaction, Zheng He suddenly felt like a fish on the chopping board, completely at others’ mercy…
He stepped back in panic and asked bewilderedly, “Why me?”
The middle-aged man still had a pleasing smile on his face, patiently answering, “It’s your turn to go on stage!”
Every cell in Zheng He’s body was resisting, “What stage? What am I supposed to do on stage?”
“To make a donation! Didn’t you just register to show love and donate twenty thousand to our community?”
“!!!” Zheng He’s brain went into chaos!
He was supposed to donate twenty thousand? He wasn’t even aware of this!
And he had just won twenty thousand yuan, which was crucial for his victory. To show love, he was supposed to give up the five million prize money?
His brain was definitely not malfunctioning!
At this moment, he finally realized why he didn’t have to work and why the leaders were so enthusiastic towards him.
Turns out, they were treating him as a charity donor, not as his die-hard fan.
[I was wondering why the community leader was personally welcoming Zheng He and why Zheng He didn’t have to work. I thought it was because he was a fan of Zheng He, but it turns out Zheng He was going to donate to the community, so the leader was so nice to him!]
[Damn! I underestimated Zheng He. No wonder that guy was praising Zheng He! I’m starting to see him in a new light! This guy’s playing on a whole new level! Using the compensated money for charity!]
[I admit I was blindfolded before and didn’t truly understand Zheng He. Turns out he’s such a caring person!]
[To do charity, he’s giving up the chance to win five million? Although his action is indeed praiseworthy, isn’t it a bit too foolish? Wouldn’t it be better to do charity after winning the five million, when he could save a lot of money? Isn’t that more appealing?]
[It’s my first time seeing Chen Xixi present at such an event, but everyone’s attention is all on Zheng He this time. He’s really stealing the show!]
[I just looked up, and even today the sun hasn’t risen from the west!]
[Feels like Zheng He is possessed by Chen Xixi?]
[Who on earth are you? I command you to leave Little Zheng’s body within three seconds!]
[Zheng He usually seems pretentious, but turns out he silently does significant things!]
The whole internet was shocked by Zheng He’s ability to donate, almost throwing their backs out.
Isn’t this just like the sun rising from the west today?!
Not just the netizens across the web, even Zheng He himself was still immersed in shock and hadn’t recovered.
Because he too just found out with the netizens, that he himself had done such a ‘good deed’!
Public welfare activities are indeed likely to attract extensive attention from various media and society.
Just like now, the event venue was also attended by numerous media for coverage, as well as enthusiastic citizens live streaming with their phones.
In a swift moment, all cameras were virtually aiming at Zheng He’s face.
At the same time, discussions among the crowd at the scene spread.
“Wow! Isn’t that Zheng He from the cost-saving variety show? He actually wants to donate money?”
“It looks like the online rumors about Zheng He being stingy and mean aren’t entirely true. If he really was both, would he even participate in charity?”
“The internet really is full of lies!”
“If Zheng He donates the money, does that mean he won’t join the competition?”
“Maybe he thinks doing charity work is more important than winning the prize money? I heard his family is not so ordinary. Online they say he’s a second-generation demolition beneficiary with a lot of money from property compensation, probably doesn’t care about that prize money!”
“What a good person! A truly generous person! If anyone badmouths him again, I’ll be the first to object!”
Just as Zheng He’s chaotic thoughts sorted themselves out, the surrounding praises entering his ears made him feel stuck.
At this moment, if he denied and said it wasn’t his initiative to sign up, that there might have been a mistake in the registration information, and he didn’t actually want to donate, he could already imagine how these people praising him now would curse him behind his back for suddenly backing out.
But to actually donate… he really didn’t want to part with the money at all! He couldn’t even bear to spend it on himself, why would he give it to others?!
Besides, he needed that money to win five million!
But… his popularity is currently the second to last. If he donates today, given everyone’s current attitude towards him, his popularity is definitely going to skyrocket…
Maybe he could even surpass Chen Xixi to become the most popular male star and sign with Nanxing Entertainment!
Is there a way for him to neither spend money nor lower people’s good opinion…?
Zheng He started racking his brain wildly, and finally, an idea struck him as he looked at the middle-aged man in front of him and said smilingly, “Brother Li, I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately.”
Brother Li chuckled: “Donate first and then we can talk, I have plenty of time today! Whatever you want to talk about, I’m here for you!”
Zheng He looked around and then stepped forward to Brother Li’s side, whispering, “It’s about… the donation thing, I want to talk to you alone first.”
Upon hearing this, and seeing Zheng He’s lack of confidence, Brother Li suddenly felt that this donation might not happen after all.
Brother Li frowned slightly and instructed the other staff to arrange for other charity participants to go onstage first, while he and Zheng He went to the office they had just been in.
Several media outlets were ready to move forward to interview this TV personality who was very different from his online reputation, but then Zheng He left without even hitting the stage?
The people present were puzzled as they watched Zheng He leaving, trying to figure out what his deal really was.
Is he still going to donate or not??
[What’s going on? Why isn’t Zheng He going onstage to donate? Did he suddenly change his mind about donating?]
[Why did Zheng He’s live feed suddenly go dark? Can’t see anything now?]
Before entering the office, Zheng He removed and turned off all the streaming equipment.
After entering, Zheng He also peeked his head out suspiciously, looking around to make sure no one was there, before closing the door.
Brother Li frowned and asked, “Little Zheng, what’s actually going on?”
“Actually, there’s a bit of a misunderstanding about the donation. The registration information might have been filled out wrong. I originally meant to come as a volunteer, not to donate…” Zheng He cautiously explained.
He had signed up to volunteer, but mysteriously ended up as a donor instead; aside from mistaken information, he couldn’t think of any other explanation.
After all, he had been perfectly incognito in the group, and if anyone had recognized him, he would have been kicked out long ago. Yet, his alias remained in the group without any issues, which shows his skilled maneuvering hasn’t exposed a single bit!
Of course, if he knew the contents of another fan group’s chat, he might not have been so confident…