When they heard the police call for Tang Shiba,
the fans at the venue fell silent.
Some tried to jump out and report her, only to get sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
"Ah!!! Who was that? Officer, someone hit me!"
"Someone hit me too! Come arrest them!"
The fans who raised their hands suddenly had their mouths covered and couldn't move.
They were going crazy. What bastard was stopping them from speaking?
The police looked toward the crowd and frowned.
Strange. Didn't someone just call for help?
Seeing that even the police had arrived, Tang Xiao realized how serious things were and hurried off the stage to ask what was going on.
"We're here for Tang Shiba. Is she here?"
Tang Xiao hesitated. It certainly looked like they were here to arrest Tang Shiba.
They had even brought guns.
While Tang Xiao was still worrying, Tang Xueqing rushed over.
She excitedly told the police, "Officers, you're here to arrest Tang Shiba, right? She's onstage, the one dressed in black."
"Xueqing, what are you saying?"
Tang Xiao wanted to stop her, but it was already too late. He could only explain to the police, "Although Tang Shiba hit someone on the show, it was all scripted. If she really has committed an offense, the company should handle it."
The officer looked puzzled. "Who said we were here to arrest anyone?"
Tang Xueqing froze. "Aren't you here to arrest Tang Shiba?"
"Why would we arrest her? Since she's here, that makes things easy."
The officer quickly called over his colleagues, straightened his collar, and went onstage with something in his hands.
Once onstage, he picked up the microphone beside him.
In a strong, ringing voice, he addressed the fans. "Since the reporters and fans are all here, we'll join in too."
Realizing they weren't here to arrest anyone, the fans below the stage finally reacted and obligingly applauded.
The officer looked very pleased. Then he pulled a bewildered Tang Shiba into their midst and handed her an Honor Banner bearing the words, "Reporting fraud to uphold justice, bravely saving lives to warm hearts."
Tang Shiba, holding the Honor Banner: ???
What's going on? How did I suddenly earn a commendation?
The officer said excitedly, "Thanks to Miss Tang's tip, we successfully took down the Scammers on Moon Island and rescued the people trapped there. Today, we're here to present her with this Honor Banner!"
Another officer took out an envelope the size of a face and placed it in Tang Shiba's hands.
A reporter brought the camera closer for a look.
Reward: 500,000 yuan!!!
Tang Shiba took a look too and was stunned!
A windfall of 500,000 yuan? How did I get this ridiculously lucky?
When Tang Xueqing saw this, her eyes reddened, and she rushed forward to challenge them.
"She couldn't possibly have made that call! This hasn't been properly investigated!"
Why was I being attacked online while Tang Shiba received this kind of honor?
Tang Xueqing trembled all over.
She refused to accept this outcome!
The officer was displeased. "We've already investigated thoroughly. Miss Zhao of the Zhao Family called the police, but she did so at Miss Tang's instruction."
What? Zhao Tiantian said that!
Impossible! If she named anyone, it should have been me. Why Tang Shiba?
Zhao Tiantian, you bitch!
A reporter asked, "Officer, if Tang Shiba discovered the Scammers on the island early on, why didn't she tell the people around her?"
The officer gave the reporter an approving thumbs-up. "Good question. Why didn't she tell the people around her? If it had been you, and I'd told you, would you have believed me?"
The reporter shook their head.
The officer asked again, "And if you had believed me, what would have happened?"
"I would've been so scared that I'd have given myself away! Then the Scammers would've shut down the livestream ahead of time!"
The officer smiled. "Exactly. Tang Shiba muddied the waters, making the people around her believe the truth was fake. Wouldn't that make the Scammers lower their guard? And wouldn't that give them more time to call the police?"
So that was it. The fans finally understood.
"So, our task here today is complete. Miss Tang Shiba has made a major contribution, and we hope you'll all follow her example."
After a few more words, the police left.
With the police having intervened, there was no need to continue the press conference. Everyone understood what they needed to know.
Pale-faced, Tang Xueqing was surrounded by reporters, with no room to escape. "Miss Tang Xueqing, what prompted your actions just now?"
"Miss Tang Xueqing, did you also think Miss Tang Shiba's actions were wrong without knowing the truth?"
Their questions brought Tang Xueqing to tears. "My sister didn't tell me the truth, but I don't blame her. She did nothing wrong. I was the one who was wrong."
"I only did that because I was worried about her. If the police really were here to arrest someone, I would've been guilty of harboring a criminal."
With just a few words, Tang Xueqing absolved herself, and Tang Xiao quickly ushered her away.
If they stayed any longer, the crowd would only grow.
Tang Shiba wasn't surprised to be left behind, nor did she care.
She carefully put away the Honor Banner.
Then she grinned, showing her pearly white teeth.
In two lifetimes, this was the first time she had received such an honor. She would take it home and hang it somewhere Tang Xueqing could see.
As for the 500,000 yuan...
She planned to save it. Money like this wasn't to be squandered.
When Tang Shiba left, no one dared step forward to stop her.
The fans watched her quietly, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.
Tang Shiba wanted to leave quickly, but her steps faltered.
Logically, since Tang Xueqing had left, her fans should have left too.
Not only were these people staying, they were looking at her expectantly.
Could they be my fans?
Tang Shiba gave a self-mocking smile, thinking that was impossible.
Her Weibo was full of anti-fans. Where would she get actual fans?
Still, considering the effort they'd made to come all this way, she smiled and greeted them. "Everyone, thanks for your hard work. You did great!"
She made a hand gesture and hurried away, afraid they might suddenly start throwing rotten eggs.
After she left, all the fans went wild.
"Our flop idol praised us? She said we did great?"
"She even thanked us for our hard work!"
"Ah!!! We picked the right person to hate on! Hater besties, let's hit Weibo!"
"Let's go, let's go! I took loads of ugly pictures of Tang Shiba today. Time to expose her."
"Same here. I took over a thousand today."
"Black Babies, send me a copy."
"Black Babies, I want them too!"
"One yuan per photo!"
"No problem!"
As soon as Tang Shiba got home, she showed the Honor Banner to her parents like a prized treasure. They were so delighted they nearly lost their composure.
"Well done! That's our daughter for you."
"Our daughter has actually become a hero! I've got to post this on Moments."
There were new trending topics on Weibo.
#Tang Shiba taken away by police at press conference#
#Was Tang Shiba really arrested?#
This was clearly the work of her anti-fans. They loved pulling stunts like this.
Someone had even photoshopped the Honor Banner and reward from the event into a pair of Silver Handcuffs. Looking at it that way, it was quite convincing...
Just as everyone thought it was real, someone posted a video from the venue. The story turned around, delivering a stinging slap in the face to everyone who had kicked her while she was down.
Following the clues, netizens discovered that the photoshopped image had been made by none other than Tang Shiba's anti-fans...
They were speechless...
After the police publicly proved her wrong, Tang Xueqing stayed in her room and refused to come out.
Her three brothers were at their wits' end.
Tang Shiba, meanwhile, had her mother hang the Honor Banner in the living room, where everyone could see it.
Tang Xueqing never would've dreamed that this incredible honor would fall into my lap.
Tang Shiba hadn't expected the police to pull something like this either.
[Ding! Gossip task settlement in progress. Settlement complete. Gossip items collected: 8. Points earned: 80. Total points: 110.] [The system is now eligible for an upgrade. Host, would you like to upgrade?]
There were actually eight! Tang Shiba was delighted. Upgrade!
Upgrading would unlock the System Shop. She was eager to see what amazing products it had to offer.
Before you continue