N-M Chapter 8 Information Leak
Chapter 8 Information Leak
The trending topic exploded at 3 a.m. My phone suddenly started vibrating like crazy, with WeChat message notifications, SMS alerts, and missed calls all exploding at the same time!
"Who's up so late at night...?"
He picked up his phone and stared in disbelief.
The top trending topic: #The Monkey King is hired by mortals to work#
The second trending topic: #TheMostAmazingPhotoshopShowInHuaguoMountain#
The third trending topic: #This scammer is really daring to brag#
Unsurprisingly, everything was developing exactly as Lin Chen had envisioned! When it comes to marketing, Lin Chen is number one, and no one dares to claim second place! Back then, Mingguang Real Estate's projects had dismal sales performance for six consecutive months! The sales director resigned, and he was appointed to take over in a time of crisis. In less than two months, he managed to get the group's monthly sales to number one! The sales office was packed, and apartments were in high demand!
Why? Because he understands human nature!
What's this called? This is called warming up! Don't let a project fail right from the start; first, generate buzz! Whether it's good or bad, praise or criticism! It's all about people's curiosity!
He scrolled down through the comments, bombarded by a barrage of insults.
"This picture is photoshopped so badly, even Sun Wukong's fur isn't properly attached."
"Another one trying to become famous. Last time someone dressed up as Buddha to scam donations, this time they've hired someone to dress up as the Monkey King. They're trying to get attention, aren't they?"
Do visual effects companies take orders? Looking for recommendations for post-production work similar to theirs.
"Hilarious! The Monkey King works for someone else? Why don't you say the Jade Emperor serves you tea and water?"
"It's confirmed, this guy is a fraud, case closed."
Lin Chen wasn't angry; instead, he smiled. He read through the comments section very carefully, not skipping a single sarcastic remark!
After looking around, I came to the conclusion that everyone on the internet was criticizing him, but no one was criticizing Sun Wukong.
Not a single person questioned it.
This is interesting.
If the person in the photo wasn't Sun Wukong, but just any actor in costume, there would definitely be comments saying things like "This actor is really good," or "This monkey is a contractor from some circus."
But nobody did. Everyone was criticizing the photoshopping, the scammers, and the fake special effects, but no one pointed at the person in the photo and said, "You look like a monkey."
Because subconsciously they know that the monkey is real.
Lin Chen was just figuring out how to quickly capitalize on this surge of attention and make it even more popular when his phone rang. It was his former creditor, Mr. Wang from the construction team. He owed Mr. Wang 230,000 yuan, and after more than half a year, the interest was almost equal to the principal.
He answered the phone, but before he could even speak, a burst of undisguised sneer came from the other end.
"Lin Chen, you're famous now."
Mr. Wang's voice carried an extremely sarcastic pleasure, like someone watching a spectacle during the New Year: "I was scrolling through my phone when I saw your picture. You even managed to invite the Monkey King! Mr. Lin, you've got some skills after all! Let me tell you, you can't just renege on your debts like this. You think you can scam 200,000 yuan by putting up a fake monkey online to get clicks?"
Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather: "Mr. Wang, have you seen the photos?"
"I saw it."
Do you think that monkey is real or fake?
Mr. Wang was stunned for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter: "You really dare to say that? Really? Tell me, how do you prove it's true? Have him do a somersault for me?"
Lin Chen said, "Why don't you come and take a look at Huaguo Mountain? While you're at it, why don't you take over the infrastructure construction there? This time, not only will we be able to pay back the money we owe you all at once, but we can also help you expand your business and become a long-term infrastructure partner for Sanjie Cultural Tourism!"
There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone.
"Lin Chen, are you crazy? You haven't paid me back what you owe me, and you still want to trick me into going to jail? Are you trying to fleece me completely?"
"I'm serious." Lin Chen's tone remained unchanged. "You'll see when you get here; it won't be a wasted trip. You'll see for yourself. Your engineering company only takes on small, menial jobs every day. When will it ever grow? You're just building water towers, wells, and rural roads for people. This is a big project. Even Sun Wukong is one of my employees. You've seen it yourself; the project hasn't even started yet, and it's already generating so much buzz. Collaborating with the Immortal Realm—not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. Brother Wang, I'm only giving you this amazing opportunity because I truly consider you a brother."
Mr. Wang remained silent.
He'd known Lin Chen for three years. This guy was quick-witted and full of ideas! But he was also honest; if he hadn't been scammed by his good friend, he wouldn't have owed so much money! Even after signing such a large sum, he never disappeared. His phone was always reachable, he replied to text messages, and he paid back his debts in full every month—he never shirked his responsibilities! His character was impeccable!
"Are you serious?" Mr. Wang's voice finally lost its sarcasm and became more hesitant.
"Really," Lin Chen said. "The Huaguo Mountain scenic area is under preparation. The Great Sage and I have already signed an employment contract. Here, let me show you!" "I can even get you an official souvenir later, a signed photo of the Great Sage."
"You can even get the Monkey King's autograph?"
"I'm his boss, what do you think?"
Mr. Wang fell silent again. After several seconds, he managed to say, "Okay, you're a trustworthy person! I trust you this time."
"I won't let Brother Wang down. Just wait for my news! We'll sign the project contract in a few days!"
Before Lin Chen could even put his phone down after hanging up the call, another call came in.
This time it was Old Zhao from the building materials market; he owed 60,000 yuan for materials. Old Zhao's voice was even louder than Boss Wang's, and he immediately started off in a sarcastic tone: "Boss Lin, I heard you've made it big? You've even hired Sun Wukong? Does that mean my little bit of money is nothing? When are you going to pay me back?"
"The Huaguoshan Scenic Area is currently under preparation. Mr. Zhao, I need to supply construction materials on a long-term basis. Are you interested in cooperating?"
"You still haven't paid me back for the materials you owe me, and now you want me to invest in them again! Does Mr. Lin think I'm stupid, or are you just not thinking straight?"
"See, did I hide the money I owe you? Mr. Wang from Pineng Construction signed a contract with me for the entire Huaguo Mountain project! If you're not willing, I'll transfer the 60,000 yuan I owe you tomorrow. But you know Pineng Construction; they have long-term material suppliers and handle big projects! If we can cooperate with Pineng, Mr. Zhao's construction materials will have a bigger market and sales channel! And there are also long-term orders from our Huaguo Mountain scenic area… I've genuinely worked with Mr. Zhao for so long and I think he's a trustworthy person I can cooperate with long-term. You know I have more than one material supplier! But the only one I want to cooperate with, the only one I trust, is you, Brother Zhao!"
Old Zhao was speechless for a long time after hearing those words! Time seemed to stand still! He weighed his options and made his decision! Some opportunities are fleeting! Over the years, although his business had been doing well, he had always lacked a breakthrough opportunity! He was stuck in a rut!
"Then bring me the contract from Pineng Construction. If I see they're working with you, I'll work with you!" Old Zhao gritted his teeth. Fine... you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub!
"Alright, Brother Zhao, just wait to ascend!" Done! Haha, sometimes Lin Chen even admires himself! The engineering contractor and material suppliers are all sorted out!
The phone kept ringing. Although it was chaotic, Lin Chen knew in his heart that the expected effect of this pre-launch hype had been achieved!
After finishing all the calls, he glanced at his phone. It was 4:12 AM, and the top trending topic was still rising, with over 50,000 comments. He scrolled down further and found several users digging into his past: failed startups, a mountain of debt! They'd dug it all up, word for word.
The comments section was overwhelmingly filled with criticism, calling him a "habitual offender," a "deadbeat who preys on honest people," and a "ruthless person who dares to imitate even gods."
Lin Chen put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, looked up at the flickering light bulb on the ceiling, and suddenly chuckled.
He wasn't worried at all. Let them curse; the harsher the cursing, the higher the buzz, and the bigger the tourist attraction! Go ahead and dig up dirt; you can dig up my entire family history, I don't care!
He took out his phone, found Sun Wukong's WeChat. Don't ask why Sun Wukong has WeChat; that old monkey is very up-to-date and has recently learned to watch short videos.
He sent a voice message: "Great Sage, what are you doing?"
Less than ten seconds later, a voice message came back, sounding impatient: "Looking at the moon on the mountain. What's wrong? Still not asleep so late? Did you get scolded and cry? I, Old Sun, saw it all."
Lin Chen was taken aback: "You saw it?"
"I'm not blind or deaf! Even our monkey troop is talking about your embarrassing past." Sun Wukong's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude. "They're saying some really nasty things about you. Should I go down and clear up those rumors for you?"
"Need not."
"Really not going to?"
"Really, you don't need to."
Lin Chen's tone suddenly became serious: "Great Sage, I'm not calling you to complain. I want to tell you that you're now the security director of the Flower Fruit Mountain Scenic Area, and you'll be officially starting work soon."
"So fast?"
"I have to be quick," Lin Chen said. "The whole internet is waiting to see us fail. They want evidence, so I'll give them evidence."
Sun Wukong was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly: "You little brat, you've got guts."
"How can you be your boss if you don't have the guts?"
"Okay." Sun Wukong's tail twitched in the voice message!
"Meet me at the entrance of Flower and Fruit Mountain at nine o'clock in the morning. Put on your golden armor."
"I haven't worn my golden armor in a long time."
"Then wipe it clean properly," Lin Chen said. "You're going to be on camera."
Sun Wukong snorted, and a message popped up in the chat box: "Are you trying to use me, Old Sun, to make short videos and gain views?"
"It's not about attracting traffic," Lin Chen corrected. "It's about selling products."
What goods are you bringing?
"Flower and Fruit Mountain".
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the voice call, then Sun Wukong sent a text message: "Really? It works?"
Lin Chen typed a few words and sent them: "I never make empty promises."
Sun Wukong looked at the message, squatted on the cliff, and his tail wagged unconsciously. He didn't know why, but he felt that what this mortal said didn't sound like a lie.
He sent a message in the group, "Little monkeys, get ready to start work tomorrow!" He closed his phone, looked up at the moon overhead. The night wind howled across the mountain ridge, the leaves on the treetops rustled, he stood up, slung his golden cudgel over his shoulder, and walked back to the Water Curtain Cave step by step.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long, like a pillar reaching to the sky.
Inside the cave, the old monkeys were scrolling through their phones. When they saw the Great Sage enter, they looked up and asked, "Great Sage, are you really going to work tomorrow?"
Sun Wukong grinned and said, "Go."
"And those people online who are criticizing our boss..."
"Let them curse." A glint flashed in Sun Wukong's golden eyes. "Once I, Old Sun, show my face tomorrow, they'll know what it means to be..."
He paused, then slammed the golden cudgel into the ground with a loud boom:
"The true Great Sage."
At the same time, Lin Chen took out his phone and opened his account's private messages, which contained over ten thousand unread messages. He turned the phone volume up to the maximum and then resent the photo with a new text:
"Huaguo Mountain Scenic Area is under preparation, and the trial operation date will be announced soon. Ticket sales will open shortly, and the price... guess how much? Everyone is encouraged to participate and set the ticket price!"
"Tickets booked during the pre-sale period will receive a 20% discount, limited to the first 5000 people! A live performance of the real Monkey King. Monkey NPCs, a real-life somersault cloud experience! Money-back guarantee if unsatisfied. No photoshopping, no special effects, no questioning."
"If you want to find out if it's true or not, meet me at Flower Fruit Mountain tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."
After sending the message, he threw his phone on the bedside table and went to sleep.
He knew that when he woke up tomorrow morning, the comment section would explode again.
But he didn't care.
Let Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) dominate the entire internet!