Fate's Choice: Livestream at the Start Summoning Billions of Ravens

The online uproar reached its peak the night before the Flower Expo opened.

Sun Peiwen, a renowned botanist in China and honorary professor at the School of Life Sciences, Jiangcheng University, published a long article on his verified social media account.

The title is: "On the Erosion of Contemporary Art by Popular Appeal".

In the article, Professor Sun Peiwen, using his consistently rigorous and almost rigid academic language, elaborated from the perspectives of botany and cytology that after a tree is struck by lightning, completely carbonized, and loses all its vitality, its cellular structure has completely collapsed, and the possibility of revival is zero.

He defined Jiang Ming's exhibit, the charred and withered tree, as "an open provocation against science and a low-class hoax."

At the end of the article, Sun Peiwen wrote:

"True art stems from reverence for life, not from using a 'corpse' to attract attention. This is not only an insult to botany, but also an insult to all horticultural workers who love life and work hard to cultivate it."

This article, like a manifesto, instantly ignited academic and intellectual circles.

Numerous scholars, professors, and science popularization bloggers forwarded and supported the article, praising Professor Sun for daring to bow to online traffic and defend the dignity of science.

Ordinary netizens have found a pillar of support, and public opinion has completely sided with them.

"Professor Sun is right! Science cannot be challenged!"

"Just an internet celebrity, does she really think she's a god? Trying to make a dead tree bloom?"

"This is all a complete publicity stunt; let's wait and see how he gets out of this!"

……

Inside the temporary command center for a special operation established by the Jiangcheng City Public Security Bureau.

Young police officer Li pointed to the surveillance footage and reported, "Captain Chen, look here."

On the huge screen, frames of infrared surveillance footage are playing slowly.

"At 2:17 a.m., 3:04 a.m., and 4:22 a.m. last night, several tiny heat sources crossed the infrared warning line in Zone C outside the venue."

In the footage, several blurry, cat-sized shadows deftly slipped through gaps in and beneath the police tape without triggering any alarms.

"Magnify their local features," Chen Jianguo said in a deep voice.

The image was magnified, and although blurry, a faint bright spot, distinct from body temperature, could still be seen on the necks of those heat sources.

"It's a collar."

"Archive these records and label them 'cooperative reconnaissance'."

……

Lyon, France.

The European headquarters of the multinational biotechnology giant "GeneCore".

Sofia Walsh translated Professor Sun Peiwen's incisive article into English using translation software and attached it to Jiang Ming's file as the latest supplementary material for "social reaction," submitting the upgrade application once again.

A few minutes later, the system sent back a red notification.

The application was rejected.

Her direct supervisor, a meticulous middle-aged French man, sent her a short message.

"Sophia, I understand your keen observation, but the target's behavior pattern perfectly matches the logic model of 'S-level online hype' in our database. Gaining attention by creating extreme opposition and impossible gimmicks has no biological research value. Stop wasting time; we have more important projects at hand."

Sophia looked at the message, her blue eyes devoid of any emotion.

She didn't argue anymore, but silently closed the chat window.

……

A detached villa in the suburbs of Jiangcheng City.

In the small garden in the backyard, Jiang Ming squatted on the ground, stretched out a finger, and gently touched a patch of damp soil.

Buried in the soil is an ordinary watermelon seed.

Jiang Ming closed his eyes, and the ability of [Plant Control] was quietly activated.

A surge of vital energy flowed precisely from his fingertips into the tiny seed.

Inside the seed, the embryo absorbs energy at a speed that defies the laws of time, breaking through the shell and sprouting.

A tender green shoot broke through the soil and grew at a visible speed, thickening and sprouting vines.

The vines meandered and crawled on the ground, blooming with pale yellow flowers, which then withered and bore fruit.

A fist-sized, blue gourd-shaped knob appeared, and then it was inflated like a balloon.

Thirty minutes later.

A huge watermelon, weighing over ten kilograms and covered with dark green patterns, lay quietly in the center of the vine.

Jiang Ming opened his eyes, casually picked up the watermelon, and returned to the living room.

He easily sliced ​​open the watermelon with a fruit knife, and the bright red flesh instantly burst out with sweet juice.

Jiang Ming picked up a piece and took a big bite.

Refreshing and sweet.

On the tablet in front of him, a video of Professor Sun Peiwen being interviewed by the media was playing.

In the video, Professor Sun, full of vigor, spoke eloquently to the camera, thoroughly criticizing Jiang Ming's "dead wood art".

Jiang Ming ate watermelon while watching the video, a playful smile on his face.

……

The immense public pressure finally reached the organizers of the Flower Expo.

They held an emergency meeting to seriously discuss whether to disqualify Jiang Ming from participating in the exhibition in order to quell public anger.

Just as the resolution was about to be passed, Zhao Lin, along with the heads of Douyin's legal and public relations departments, stormed into the meeting room.

"According to the contract we signed, Mr. Jiang Ming, as the 'Most Influential New Media Artist of the Year on Douyin,' has complete creative freedom. Any unilateral termination of the contract will be considered a serious breach of contract."

The legal representative of Douyin pushed a document in front of the organizer.

"At the same time, our public relations department believes that retaining this booth is itself a respect for 'artistic diversity' and 'creative freedom,' which will become a highly topical positive label for this flower expo."

Zhao Lin stood to the side with her arms crossed, calmly adding to the discussion.

Ultimately, under pressure from both commercial contracts and public opinion, the organizers compromised.

Jiang Ming's booth was saved.

……

On the official opening day of the Flower Expo.

Crowds surged.

Jiang Ming's "dead wood booth" unsurprisingly became the most popular "attraction" at the entire event.

Countless tourists came specifically to point at the charred, dead tree, then raised their phones and struck various exaggerated and mocking poses to take photos with the withered tree.

"This is the legendary tree that's supposed to bloom? Hilarious, the bark's almost all peeled off."

"Checking in, checking in, the best performance art of the year, uniquely ugly."

These photos and short videos were quickly uploaded to the internet, fueling the online frenzy.

Jiang Ming himself was not present.

In the huge booth, there was only that lonely withered tree and a huge electronic screen next to it.

On the screen, only four large, pure white Song typeface characters were playing quietly in a loop.

Waiting patiently for the flowers to bloom.

……

Inside the security command center, Chen Jianguo's team made a new discovery.

"Boss, look here."

A police officer points to an enlarged thermal imaging surveillance screen.

"A persistent, weak heat source signal was detected in the ventilation duct directly above Jiang Ming's booth. Based on its shape and temperature, it is one of the 'cooperative reconnaissance' targets we previously marked."

Chen Jianguo stared at that small, radiant silhouette.

"How long has it been lurking there?"

"It has been more than two hours since the museum opened, and it has not moved an inch."

At the same time, a lazy yet authoritative consciousness transmitted a message to Jiang Ming's mind.

It is General Yu.

"Your Majesty, I am in position. This is the best spot, overlooking the entire booth with no obstructions."

Jiang Ming responded with a command via the [Voice of the Mind].

"Very good, remain hidden and await orders."

It was exactly 10:00 AM.

The Douyin account "Jiang Lai," which had been silent for two days, posted a brand new update.

Only one sentence.

"See you in the live stream at 3 PM."

This post was like a drop of water thrown into a pot of boiling oil, instantly causing the already heated public opinion to explode.

……

Lyon, France.

Sofia set up reminders for the afternoon on her computer.

She decided to watch the live stream in her own name.

This might be the last time her intuition is proven.

If it turns out to be a scam, she will completely seal the file and admit her mistake.