Chapter 17
"You'll have to pay for the plane that crashes. Also, you'll need to sponsor our show with fifty million US dollars."
The veins in the web of Zhang Puze's right hand bulged as he gripped the phone, visibly furious.
But the assistant director continued, "Besides, we think a plane crash alone might not achieve the effect you want."
"A safer approach would be to arrange for a satellite to crash as well. Of course, you'll cover the cost yourselves."
"Minister Zhang, give it some thought."
"Beep, beep, beep, beep..."
After hanging up, Zhang Puze lit a cigarette and took a long, fierce drag.
"Minister, since they said that if something really happened to Jiang Ye, it would affect them too, why are they still asking for so much?"
"Yeah, if Jiang Ye really died, wouldn't their show lose its entire purpose?!"
"By a rough estimate, the plane alone, plus the sponsorship fee, would bring the total to nearly a hundred million US dollars. If they arranged for a satellite too, I'm afraid it would be more than three hundred million."
The people at the table all began discussing it.
Zhang Puze finished his cigarette before speaking. "That's true."
"But they know we care more about the value Jiang Ye has shown."
"As far as they're concerned, if Jiang Ye really died, perhaps they'd have another Dragon Country citizen in reserve to replace him. But for us, that would mean losing a future leading figure in Dragon Country's mathematics community."
"So the main reason they're setting these conditions is to sound us out."
In a few words, Zhang Puze laid out the other side's intentions, making the others exchange glances.
"The production team actually has another Dragon Country citizen in reserve?"
"They've never made that public."
None of the people present had considered that, and they were stunned to hear Zhang Puze say it.
Before long, however, they understood.
The Ten Conglomerates had spent so much money staging this show that they would naturally have considered every angle.
"So they deliberately kept that hidden. Could it be..."
They continued to think it over, and the more they thought, the more terrifying it became.
For example, suppose someone on Dragon Country's side thought that if they assassinated Jiang Ye, the Ten Conglomerates wouldn't be able to achieve their goal.
Then the Ten Conglomerates could suddenly bring in a Dragon Country citizen from their reserves and make Jiang Ye's assassination public.
The public outcry and consequences would be unthinkable!
"So don't think the Ten Conglomerates are that simple." Zhang Puze snorted and continued, "I'll step outside and make a call to ask the higher-ups for instructions."
Outside, after Zhang Puze told them the production team's conditions, only one sentence came over the phone: "He's worth it."
Of course, that was what the higher-ups had instructed.
But Zhang Puze naturally wouldn't agree to the other side's demands so easily. He had to keep sounding them out and reduce the cost as much as possible.
An hour later.
In the international livestream, Chen Danni suddenly announced, "Given contestant Jiang Ye's condition, the production team will take measures to save him in the spirit of humanitarianism."
"At present, the production team is arranging for a passenger plane and a satellite to crash near Jiang Ye, using the enormous commotion to jolt him awake."
As soon as the announcement came out.
Immediately.
The whole world erupted.
No one had expected the production team to pay such an enormous price to save Jiang Ye.
Chapter 17: Already Whitewashing the Production Team? (Kneeling and Begging for All Kinds of Support)
"Although I don't approve of the production team interfering in a contestant's affairs, I greatly admire their humanitarian spirit."
"That's right. By a rough estimate, a passenger plane and a satellite would cost at least two hundred million US dollars."
"Fuck, I strongly protest the production team's actions. What's so worth saving about a yellow-skinned monkey?"
"The production team just takes the Shina people too seriously. Our Yamato contestant doesn't get this kind of treatment. I protest and demand that the production team treat everyone equally."
"We, the Great Han People, oppose this too. Why should their Dragon Country contestant get the production team to pour so much money into him again and again? You should know a plane has already crashed just for him!"
"I hope Jiang Ye stays immersed in his own world and doesn't get jolted awake. It'd be good if he went crazy. Only then can he do things we'd never expect."
The comments in the international livestream said all sorts of things.
But most demanded that the production team be fair and impartial and compensate the other five contestants in other ways.
On domestic online platforms, public opinion was just as divided.
"The production team finally did something decent. At least they didn't just stand by and watch Jiang Ye keep going crazy like this."
"Already whitewashing the production team? Fuck your mother!"
"Yeah, go look up the other five countries' contestants. Leaving their backgrounds aside for now, every one of them has been a well-behaved little darling since childhood."
"With five contestants like that alongside him, Jiang Ye is undoubtedly more likely to embarrass himself."
"So isn't the production team doing this just to keep Jiang Ye alive, so he can do something outrageous and give foreigners a chance to laugh at us?!"
"How truly sinister. And there are actually people whitewashing the production team. If you've got the guts, give me your address, and I'll beat your values straight."
"I heard our country actually paid for this!"
"Fuck! Is that true?"
"A childhood friend of mine who works in a relevant department told me!"
"If that's true, it's so touching!"
"Then the production team is way too shameless. Fuck them!"
While domestic viewers were arguing about the production team, the official platform released an announcement: "The motherland will not abandon any of her sons."
Although the words weren't too direct, everyone understood what they meant. After all, the Chinese language was vast and profound.