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

Inside the police station.
Zheng He finally found out how he was exposed; it turned out that enthusiastic netizens noticed something off about his account balance and reported him.
The TV crew then urgently verified it, and after checking the financial transactions sent by Zheng He, they confirmed with him again.
Turns out, Zheng He really did buy that fruit basket for 2.99 yuan.
The crew went to the supermarket and found that the cheapest similar fruit basket was priced starting at 199 yuan, there was no 2.99 yuan price tag at all!
Eventually, the supermarket manager was alerted.
The TV crew initially wanted to settle it privately, considering their show always somehow gets involved with the police, drawing their attention, which greatly affected the entire program.
The impact was so significant that their show is now considered a high-risk investment by sponsors.
Despite the show being very popular and trending, many sponsors were already considering withdrawing their investments.
Who would dare to invest in a variety show that could be pulled off air at any moment!
It was truly a gamble with their real money!
The head director was so furious he wanted to kick this high-risk element out of the crew, but the assistant director disagreed, insisting that since their variety show had finally taken off, they should not mess it up.
Moreover, Zheng He was not entirely useless, as he contributed many highlights and hot topics to the show.
Without such an element, the show would have at least half as many comedic moments.
But the netizens made a big fuss about this incident, and enthusiastic netizens directly reported it to the police.
Sitting in the police station, the high-risk Zheng He deeply sighed— he had been careless, never expecting someone would be so idle as to calculate how much he spent on his purchase.
[Caught in the act, did you think shutting off the live stream would solve everything? There might not be a live broadcast, but the netizens are all online reconnoitre soldiers!]
[Did Zheng He commit theft, how did he manage to pay 2.99 yuan and leave the supermarket?]
In the next five minutes, Zheng He explained the entire process of how he bought the fruit basket: “I took the basket to the self-checkout machine, scanned the barcode on the tag, and followed the instructions to present the payment QR code to the scanner. The money was automatically deducted from my phone. I was so excited about meeting a big star soon that I didn’t notice how much was deducted. That’s what happened.”
The police brought over the fruit basket for a look and found two tags on it, then asked Zheng He if he knew what was going on.
Zheng He tried to sound calm, “I don’t know! I didn’t notice at all; I was just looking at what fruits were inside the basket since I was thinking of giving it to the big star, so I was picking the best ones and didn’t pay attention to the price. Who would have thought there would be two price tags on it!”
The police silently looked at him for a while.
Zheng He felt the police didn’t believe him and quickly defended himself, “You’re not suspecting that I deliberately put the tag on, are you? If you don’t trust me, you can check the supermarket surveillance; I didn’t intentionally put that tag on! I really don’t know anything! I’m innocent! I really am a good citizen!”
Zheng He said, changing to a joking and smiling demeanor, “And it’s just a wrong payment! How much was the basket? I’ll just make up the difference, that’s it! I’m not lacking that bit of money!
What’s the big deal, stirring up the police uncles like this, you guys are usually busy anyway, don’t know who had nothing better to do and troubled the police uncles.”
[Do you want to see who’s really causing trouble for the police uncles?]
[Saying it like this, it seems like this matter really has nothing to do with Zheng He.]
[The price tag wasn’t put there by Zheng He, he also didn’t notice how much he scanned to pay, so Zheng He really is innocent!]
Zheng He paid the difference for the fruit basket, and the supermarket did not pursue the matter further, and the investigation also found no evidence that Zheng He did it deliberately, so he was once again released without charges.
Coming out of the police station unscathed again, Zheng He looked up at the darkening sky and took a long sigh of relief, while his stomach also started growling.
He glanced at the time—it was already past seven in the evening. At this time, Chen Xixi must have already exchanged the goods and finished her delicious dinner.
Rather than going home hungry, he thought it better to eat outside before returning, that way he also saves himself from spending on those celebrities.
He looked down at the fruit basket he bought for 299 yuan, decisively opened it and started eating some fruits.
Why can’t he eat the fruits he paid for himself; especially since he’s nearly starving, why should he care about others!
And Chen Xixi, once he returned, he definitely wouldn’t let her off!
Jiang City Star Club.
“Old Lu, is Jinyuan not coming? We agreed on seven, and now it’s almost eight, but he’s still not here…”
Xu Nianying was only halfway through speaking when the private room door was opened and a tall figure walked in.
Xu Nianying stood up with a wine glass in hand, a smile on his handsome face as he teased, “President Zhou, you’re really busy indeed. Today feels less like a welcome back for me and more like one for you! Everyone’s been waiting for nearly an hour, it wouldn’t be fair not to drink a couple of glasses!”
Lu Wenling joined in, “Yeah, Old Xu has rarely come back from Africa…”
Zhou Jinyuan strides over to the leather sofa, sits down, and his deep eyes subtly twinkle with amusement, “Welcome you? Maybe I’m here to send you off instead.”
The atmosphere in the room cooled down significantly.
Xu Nianying was shocked, then laughed recklessly, “Stop joking.”
The Xu Family, Zhou Family, and Lu Family have been close for generations, and they have all grown up together like brothers. Xu Nianying didn’t think he had done anything to offend Zhou Jinyuan.
But there was one thing he had to clarify.
Xu Nianying sat down and casually asked, “I heard you went personally to Hai City to take over a nearly bankrupt small broken factory? That place has no value nowadays, why did you buy it?”
Zhou Jinyuan: “To bury you.”
Xu Nianying: “…” I’ve heard of conversations killing the mood, but killing both the atmosphere and a person, that’s a first.
So from the moment he entered the room, it’s been nothing but non-stop hints he won’t let him live, huh?
Lu Wenling’s action of drinking halted. He had felt that Zhou Jinyuan buying that broken factory was too bizarre and seems he wasn’t wrong—this guy has definitely lost it!
Zhou Jinyuan scanned the table, picked up a few bottles of spirits, mixed a very strong drink, and placed it in front of Xu Nianying, slowly saying, “Seventeen years ago, this small factory was in Chen Youqing’s hands, then suddenly transferred to someone else. Chen Youqing’s family disappeared from Hai City, and I’ve heard that all of Chen Family’s relatives have been driven to ruin. Have you heard about this?”
Xu Nianying froze, then managed a smile, “How old was I seventeen years ago, how would I have heard about such a thing?”
Lu Wenling put an arm over Xu Nianying’s shoulder, looked at Zhou Jinyuan, and said, “Old Xu has just returned from Africa, can we talk about something cheerful, what does ruin have to do with us…”
Lu Wenling’s voice vanished under Zhou Jinyuan’s gaze.
Zhou Jinyuan grabbed a few more glasses, continued to mix that strong drink, and methodically placing it in front of Xu Nianying, emotionlessly saying, “Then let me help you recall it.”
Xu Nianying: “!!!”
Is he really planning to drink me to death?!
…
Ironically, even though Xu Nianying was the one being forced to drink, Lu Wenling ended up slightly tipsy too.
No one forced him to drink; he just didn’t want the contention between them to become too stiff, so he continuously tried to lighten the mood.
Without him, this family would’ve fallen apart soon!
Back home, Lu Wenling immediately headed for the bathroom to take a bath, and after the bath, he went downstairs to the kitchen fridge to grab a bottle of water.
By chance, he came across the little friend staying at his house.
When he noticed her unabashed gaze fixated on his upper body, he sobered up significantly and hastily buttoned up his open shirt.
Living as a bachelor, he dropped his head and felt somewhat relieved that he had worn pants today.
Lu Wenling glanced at her, his voice serious, carrying a bit of the family head’s demeanor, “What time is it and you’re still not asleep, go to bed!”
But it was too late, Qiao Yu had already seen everything, she even counted, apparently six-pack abs, if she hadn’t miscounted.
Qiao Yu leaned against the fridge, holding a box of vanilla ice cream, looking at him calmly, and complimented with a smile, “You have a nice body.”
Lu Wenling: “…” Thanks for the compliment!
Aren’t kids these days just too bold and open?