Rebirth 09: Starting from taking charge of Running Man on CCTV

Chen Yang's speaking speed began to increase.

"From now on, don't touch that blog post, don't try to whitewash it, and don't respond."

"Do one thing."

"Describe in words Liu Xiang's incredible 15-second ascent to the top of the slope this morning. The more detailed the better, including his run-up, how he grabbed the rope, how he flipped up, his feet covered in mud, without any protective measures, relying purely on the athlete's top-level physical abilities."

"Paired with those blurry photos taken by onlookers."

"The title should be: '[Asian sprint star Liu Xiang participates in a new CCTV program, scaling a 4-meter slippery slope in 15 seconds with his bare hands; the entire audience shouts "Liu Xiang is invincible!"]'"

"Then use all the accounts you have to simultaneously post on Tianya Entertainment, Baidu Liu Xiang Bar, Baidu Variety Bar, and Baidu CCTV Bar, and frantically bump them up until they reach the homepage."

Chen Xi's eyes widened.

"Instead of putting out the fire, you're adding fuel to the fire?"

Chen Yang looked at her.

"Do you think netizens would be more interested in an old scholar criticizing CCTV for being vulgar, or in Liu Xiang's 15-second free climb up a slippery slope?"

Chen Xi opened her mouth.

"Of course, it's the latter."

"That solves it."

Chen Yang tapped on the table.

"While everyone's talking about how amazing Liu Xiang is and how exciting the show is, does anyone still read that sour-tongued blog post?"

"and."

He held up one finger.

"What do you call it when Liu Xiang showcases Olympic-level athletic ability on a variety show?"

He answered it himself.

"This is called the grassroots inheritance of the Olympic spirit."

"This is called a vivid practice of fitness for all."

"Try using this argument to criticize that blogger and see how he responds. Saying the Olympic spirit shouldn't be passed down?"

Zhang Lei listened in stunned silence.

Chen Xi had already started typing rapidly on her laptop.

"Director Chen, I'll start writing the script now."

"quick."

Chen Yang glanced at his watch.

"I want our post to appear on the Tianya homepage before 3 PM."

Chen Xi grabbed her laptop and rushed out of the room.

Zhang Lei remained standing there, his expression complex.

"Director Chen, what about Manager Ma...?"

"Ignore him."

Chen Yang spoke calmly.

"When the whole internet is praising Liu Xiang and the show, the station's leaders will only see the positive things."

"Did Ma Qianshi use a blog post to file a complaint?"

"Just wait to be proven wrong."

......

4:17 PM.

Chen Xi knocked on Chen Yang's door again.

This time, her face was filled with disbelief.

"Director Chen! It's a blockbuster!"

She spread the notebook out on the table.

The second pinned post on the Tianya Entertainment Gossip section homepage.

Title: Shocking! Asian sprint star Liu Xiang participates in a mysterious new CCTV program, scaling a 4-meter slippery slope in 15 seconds with his bare hands!

The number of comments has exceeded 1,200.

"Holy crap! Liu Xiang actually went to record a variety show?"

"15 seconds? Is that something a human could do?"

"Even though the photo is blurry, you can tell that slope was really slippery! It was covered in foamy water! Liu Xiang is amazing!"

"What's the name of this show? 'Run, China!' It's on CCTV? A must-watch!"

The situation is even more outrageous on Baidu's Liu Xiang forum.

Within an hour of the post being published, the number of discussions within the forum tripled.

Fans spontaneously forwarded the post to various sports forums, spreading it far faster than Chen Xi's plan.

As for that blog post...

Chen Xi scrolled to the comments section.

The original two hundred or so follow-up criticisms were replaced by thousands of new replies.

"Have you even watched the show, blogger? Liu Xiang participated willingly; who do you think you are to make that decision for him?"

"What's wrong with Olympic champions showcasing their athletic prowess on variety shows? Isn't that promoting the spirit of sports?"

"I suggest the blogger go and have their brainwashed before speaking."

"Someone like you can't stand seeing others innovate."

The comments section has been completely flooded with negative comments.

Chen Xi looked up at Chen Yang, and the expression in her eyes changed.

It's no longer just about the anxiety during "urgent reports".

It was something she herself was unaware of, something akin to worship.

"Director Chen, not a single penny of the budget was spent."

"Um."

Chen Yang spoke in a flat tone.

"That's called going with the flow."

His phone rang.

It was Zhang Lei calling.

"Director Chen! The station is calling!"

Zhang Lei's voice carried a sense of exhilaration, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

"The channel's deputy director personally called production manager Wang Jianguo, saying that he had seen the news online that Liu Xiang was participating in our program, and that it was generating a lot of discussion online. He told us to keep it up and be careful."

"He also said, 'Your directors are good at creating buzz; the station is paying close attention.'"

Chen Yang hung up the phone.

He glanced at Chen Xi.

"Take a screenshot of the Baidu Index and keep it."

"It will come in handy when we're attracting investment later."

Chen Xi nodded vigorously and took a screenshot.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her face.

Working with Director Chen has truly broadened my horizons.

......

It's 7:30 in the evening.

Asian Games Village Hotel Lobby.

Eight people appeared one after another.

The effects of a half-day rest are obvious.

Deng had his hair freshened up and looked much more energetic.

Liu Xiang walked briskly and greeted the receptionist with a smile.

Wang Baoqiang came running over with a backpack on his back, his face clean and spotless.

Baby, with her hair tied in a high ponytail and wearing new sneakers, skipped and hopped out of the elevator.

Li Chen stood silently in a corner of the lobby, already starting to flex his wrists.

Zheng Kai pulled Chen He along and walked over quickly, the two of them muttering something to each other.

Shen Teng was the last to appear.

With his hands in his pockets, he slowly strolled out of the elevator.

He yawned.

"Brother Teng, did you take a nap this afternoon?" Chen He asked.

"Going to sleep."

"A few hours?"

"Four."

"Then why are you yawning?"

"Habitual".

The production crew's bus was already parked in front of the hotel.

Eight people boarded the bus in batches.

The four members of the green team consciously sat in the back of the bus.

Li Chen was by the window, and Zheng Kai was next to him.

Chen He and Shen Teng sat in the row behind them.

Zheng Kai lowered his voice.

"Brother Chen, we didn't get that clue this morning, we have to win this round tonight."

Li Chen nodded.

"Um."

Chen He peeked forward through the gap in the back of the front seat.

Deng Chao sat in the middle of the bus, his left hand resting on the armrest of the seat, while his right hand unconsciously pressed against the pocket of his coat.

It contained the map clues we got that morning.

"See that?" Chen He lowered his voice. "Deng Chao has been touching his pocket the whole time; the clue must be in there."

Shen Teng kept his eyes closed.

"You're planning to steal it?"

"I didn't say I stole! I was just observing."

"Have you finished observing?"

Chen He thought for a moment.

"...We'll see."

Shen Teng's lips curved slightly, but he didn't reply.

The bus drove through the streets of the Asian Games Village and stopped fifteen minutes later.

The moment the car door opened, everyone fell silent.

Outside the window, the entire Water Cube was illuminated with dreamy, light blue lights.

The surface of the membrane structure glows translucently in the night, like a giant blue crystal.

The plaza in front of the venue was deserted.

There were no tourists, no passersby.

There were only the production crew and a dense array of camera positions.

The entire venue was booked out.

Baby was the first to press her face against the car window.

"So beautiful..."

Wang Baoqiang also came over to take a look.

"The Water Cube looks much better at night than during the day!"

Eight people filed off the bus.

Standing on the plaza in front of the Water Cube, the blue lights made everyone's faces feel cold.

Chen Yang was already waiting there.

He stood directly in front of the stadium entrance, holding the megaphone in his hand.

"Welcome to the second level."

"Water Cube"