Chapter 255
Chapter 255: Blackmail
Translator: Min_Lee Editor: Tennesh
Wang Tie was afraid of Fang Zhao, but given his reputation as the "top paparazzo" and the "king of paparazzi" in Yanzhou, he couldn't state the obvious . That would be the equivalent of career suicide .
He had been planning to play dead, but given the amount of discussion online, Wang Tie decided to respond directly instead .
So Wang Tie posted a long spiel on his social media account, more than 100 words . In summary, the message was this: "This mofo is onto a big scoop at the Wai Filmed Entertainment Culture Base . Who cares what's going on on Earth? There are so many paparazzi journalists out there . Let them have the story . Stop bugging me!"
The Wai Filmed Entertainment Culture Base was now the focal point of most entertainment news outlets . After news had broken of the reboot of the revolutionary film project, paparazzi photographers and entertainment journalists started infiltrating the Wai base . They had discovered a construction site that they suspected was where the revolutionary project would be shooting .
Given that it was a blockbuster project, considering how things were developing, an elaborate set was likely . Geologists and historians also pointed out that the geological makeup of the construction site was quite similar to the terrain of many places during the Period of Destruction .
This prompted a deluge of A-list actors setting up camp on Wai so they could get used to the climate . What if they were cast in the revolutionary project? It would be an utter disaster if they couldn't acclimate then .
If they couldn't even get used to the weather and local diet, what were they good for?
So being prepared was the way to go . They couldn't go wrong with renting a spot to shoot another project on Wai and acclimating at the same time .
That was also why, after the brief respite during Memorial Day, the Wai Filmed Entertainment Culture Base became bustling again . With the revolutionary film project as a major attraction, the number of visitors skyrocketed . Real-estate and rental prices doubled . Rents at the film studio complex were spiraling out of control . And yet, despite the crazy rent, there was a waiting list .
The early investors in the film studio complex made a major killing .
Now that Wang Tie had announced that he was chasing a scoop on Wai, entertainment news junkies had nothing to say . They started turning their sights to other famed entertainment journalists and companies .
That was why it was a busy day at Yanzhou's spaceport .
This was the time of the year when conscripts who had completed their military service returned home . The spaceport typically dedicated a special passage for the soldiers where their parents could pick them up in person .
But the Yanzhou spaceport was exceptionally crowded .
There were parents picking up their kids, people greeting their friends, local journalists, entertainment reporters, and fans .
A student from a neighboring university wanted to get Fang Zhao's autograph . Little had he expected the arrival hall to be so crowded . After surveying his surroundings, he asked the folks next to him why they were there .
"I'm a gamer . Fang Zhao is the perennial champion in my mind," one person said .
"I'm a soldier . He's my idol," another answered, pointing to the sky .
"I'm a musician . I attend Fang Zhao's alma mater . He's our senior alum," a young fellow said enthusiastically .
"I'm . . . I'm here to check out the spectacle . "
Suddenly, someone started screaming .
"Look, look! They're here!"
Two flying transports landed, but they descended into different areas . One landed on the civilian airfield and the second on a military airstrip . The jam-packed arrival hall was near the military airfield .
The crowds gathering in the arrival hall craned their necks . Soon, passengers started emerging .
After a year of military service, many conscripts had gone from pale to thoroughly tanned and had bulked up . They still smelled like their barracks . Thankfully, the conscripts frequently stayed in touch via videoconference, so their parents were at least able to recognize them .
The long-awaited reunion gave rise to cheers and laughter . Many parents felt that military service was a rite of passage and that their children had come out the other end more mature .
Meanwhile, the journalists were scrambling .
"Where's Fang Zhao? Anyone see Fang Zhao?"
"Kid, did Fang Zhao come out with your batch?" a journalist asked a young man who was greeting his family . Most of the conscripts were university students, so "kid" was an appropriate way to address him .
The young man laughed . "You're not going to catch him . He boarded a transfer flight for Yanzhou's military headquarters . "
Fang Zhao was grouped together with about a dozen other conscripts, all exemplary soldiers from the same batch of conscripts . They wore the insignias of majors-in-waiting . After landing in Yanzhou, they had boarded another military transport bound for Yanzhou's military HQ right away so they could get straight to the paperwork for transitioning to reserve duty .
The computer software for switching service status was available online, but there were certain procedures that had to be handled in person .
The journalists from Yanzhou's military newspaper were already on the transfer flight . They would continue filming Fang Zhao and company as they traveled to HQ, where they would conduct a short interview with the soldiers . The questions were perfunctory and had been given to them in advance . The soldiers knew the kinds of answers the top brass was looking for .
Word spread quickly among journalists that Fang Zhao and company had headed to Yanzhou's military headquarters .
"We're not going to get him here . Let's move on . "
"Are we really going to stake out military HQ?"
"Military HQ is not somewhere you can just waltz into . Before you know it you'll be shot dead on account of being suspected criminals . "
"Then what should we do next? Set up near military HQ?"
"No, I have a better idea . Let's send someone to Silver Wing and we'll go to the retirement home for former officials in Yanbei . "
Conversations like this also happened elsewhere . Yanzhou's military HQ being off-limits, the entertainment press corps started thinking on their feet . They were experts at stakeouts—if one place didn't work, they would move on .
The entertainment journalists had missed Fang Zhao and company, but the group was tailed by reporters from Yanzhou's military newspaper who posted quite a few photos and videos online .
Readers glued to their devices weren't happy .
"The journalists didn't catch Fang Zhao . "
"He actually left straight for military HQ . "
"I don't want to watch the coverage from the military newspaper . The returning conscripts say the same thing every year . This year there's Fang Zhao, so they have to make a big deal out of him, but he himself is going to give the same politically correct spiel again . Lord knows how many times he has made the same comments on Baiji . I'm so sick of them . "
"I only want to watch the interviews conducted by the entertainment journalists, not the bullsh*t that the military reporters generate . "
What they wanted to hear wasn't effusive praise about the conscripts and their performance and hard work but, rather, interesting anecdotes—details that had never been reported .
"Wait, didn't you notice the insignia on Fang Zhao's shoulders?"
"F*ck! Is that the insignia of a major? Isn't he a captain? I could've sworn he was promoted to captain at the commendation ceremony . "
"If you take a closer look, the color is a bit different than a typical major's insignia . That's the insignia for a major-in-waiting, not a serving major . It's not just Fang Zhao . The others were promoted one rank too . The previous batch of conscripts from Yanzhou didn't produce this many officers . There's also a distinction between active and reserve officers . "
"You can get promoted even when you become a reserve soldier?"
"This rule was among the latest revisions to the military code during the New Era . The top brass decided to allow conscripts to be promoted when they become reserve soldiers to encourage military service . "
Folks hadn't paid attention to the new provision because they resented having to serve in the military . In addition, there were so many conscripts who served every year, and only a minority were promoted to officer rank upon completing their service period . The provision hadn't been widely promoted either, so many members of the public were clueless .
Meanwhile, after signing in at military HQ and completing his media interviews, Fang Zhao headed to the retirement home for former officials in Yanbei . His pet "rabbit" had already been delivered to his home in Qi'an by courier post, so he was traveling light, carrying a single backpack that contained his notebook and gun, his two most treasured items .
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