Part 2
The direction of public opinion was clearly wrong; those who saw the photo didn’t understand his intention, and he didn’t get the result he wanted.
He refreshed the page, and the top comments changed.
[I Say I’m an Islander V: No, I was there. Let me state that I’m not a fan or a sasaeng; I’m a local who happened to be nearby when Skye was filming and took a look. Though it wasn’t very clear, that makeup wasn’t used on-site. It was regular makeup…This scalper must have photoshopped it, right?][25k likes]
Seeing the beginning, the scalper nodded repeatedly, thinking someone finally understood.
Then he saw the last sentence and almost choked on his own blood.
Are these netizens’ brains malfunctioning? It should be understood literally!!
This comment set a new trend.
[Handsome Guys are Treasures of the World V: Wow, with such amazing skills, why be a scalper? I thought it didn’t look like makeup, Hua Yan’s face shape, eyes, and nose seem subtly different from this photo. It was photoshopped, that makes sense haha (I almost thought the handsome guy had plastic surgery…it’s good it wasn’t)][15k likes]
Scalper: “…”
Scalper: That makes a damn lot of sense.
Scalper: He’s really not human!!!
Seeing that this wouldn’t work, it was turning into an ordinary beauty post. The scalper gritted his teeth and quickly made amends, posting again, this time with twelve photos.
He didn’t believe that seeing the transformation process, they wouldn’t understand what was going on.
[Old Wang Takes You to Chase Stars/Give More Gifts to Support V: No, you misunderstood; I didn’t photoshop it! I saw his eyes turn red with my own eyes; I think he’s really a vampire! Look closely at the pictures, I captured the whole process, from the first to the last photo, the entire transformation took less than thirty seconds. #Skye Member Hua Yan is a Real Vampire# [Pictures] x12]
With the previous post as a foundation, this one also gained a lot of views, even more astonishing than the last.
The scalper stared at the screen, refreshing—This time, use your brains, netizens! See the truth!
[Skye Expeditionary Force No. 1 V: Although you’re a scalper and you leaked unreleased material, before I report you, I have to say: you actually edited so many photos. With this quality, don’t be a scalper; become a professional photographer, use the money you illegally earned to buy yourself equipment and turn over a new leaf. Fans will worship you as a god (look at my sincere eyes)][8k likes]
[Little Peach in the Jianghu: At first, I thought it was amazing makeup, then I thought it was amazing photoshopping. Now I think it’s still Hua Yan and my Lin’s faces…but these photos are really good, from this angle, they almost kissed [Shy peeping.jpg] Peach Blossom Forest yyds!]
[Super Cute Today Too V: Old Wang, you’re really into it. Were you touched after seeing Skye’s beauty offline? You have more drama than the fans, even giving compliments hhhhhhh Be a good person, turn back, you’re good at complimenting, better than me [Thumbs up.jpg]]
[CP Expert V: I believe it. Hua Yan is definitely a real vampire because no one is more beautiful than my Hua Yan 55555[Crying.gif]]
[A Little Cute Who Asks When They Don’t Understand V: Oh my god, did you use some kind of filter, how did you do it? I know Skye only arrived on Lixin Island today; it’s impossible to edit so many high-quality photos in such a short time…I get it, did you use some one-click filter software? Recommend it!]
Scalper on the verge of collapse: Recommend your mother!!! Are you stupid!!!!
His blood pressure surged; his head spun, and he angrily replied to the fans.
[Old Wang Takes You to Chase Stars/Give More Gifts to Support: I told you I’m serious! I didn’t photoshop it, I didn’t! Don’t you think I don’t have the skills to photoshop? He really is a vampire, he really isn’t human!! If I were lying or joking, my account would have been banned already!!]
He was confident; his account wouldn’t be banned in such a short time; he had experience.
But a bizarre thing happened.
Just ten minutes after he posted the comment, when he refreshed again…his account was gone!
Scalper: “…”
He stared blankly at the screen, momentarily thinking if he had done too many bad things in the past, leading to this bad luck.
He searched for keywords, finding many people posting with his original tag, but every refresh was either “ahhhhhhahhhhhhahhhhhh” or “hahahahahahahahaha.”
The first was screaming for Hua Yan and Berlin, the second was mercilessly laughing at his failed attempt.
Some opposed scalpers, some scolded him for leaking materials and seeking attention, some praised his amazing photos, but no one believed him.
The scalper’s account was banned. But many people had already saved the pictures, and even though some fans called for not re-uploading them, many couldn’t resist.
The photo was too stunning.
Even more upsetting for the scalper was that he not only failed to achieve his goal, but also boosted their popularity.
#Hua Yan Human Vampire Look Leak#
This hashtag wasn’t bought; its position wasn’t 17th or 18th, but at the bottom of the trending searches. Due to high click-through rates, it was quickly rising.
The real-time discussion on the main page still didn’t take the scalper’s post seriously.
[Peach Blossom Forest Welcomes You V: #Hua Yan Human Vampire Look Leak# Help, is this a new look? So different from Hua Yan’s usual style!! And…is she looking at Berlin? What kind of look is that sos…This eye contact is killing me[Tears][Tears] Who doesn’t say the atmosphere is amazing, Peach Blossom Forest szd!]
[800G Real-Time Tracking V: #Hua Yan Human Vampire Look Leak# Oppose scalpers, respect artists. This is an unreleased commercial shoot, please don’t disturb or spread unreleased materials. Fans, please don’t forward; leaked materials will be deleted. [Warning.jpg] Please don’t affect the artist’s work; don’t disrupt their work schedule, the brand has its own publicity plan. Legal action will be taken if necessary. @skye-official]
More and more people clicked on the hashtag.
Popular posts were reposts from marketing accounts, copying the scalper’s posts, but no one cared.
Everyone’s attention was focused on the beauty and story in the photos.
Even those who randomly clicked in were shocked by Hua Yan’s stunning visual impact.
Many passersby commented.
[A Melon-Eating Account V: I’m stunned…This styling is so amazing. This face is also amazing. This hazy, desperate longing and desperate restraint is so captivating. The side profile looking back at the other person is focused, yet worried and anxious, so heart-wrenching. My scalp is tingling.]
[Impossible That I’m the Only One Who Thinks This V: I’m imagining a 10,000-word fanfiction, with NSFW scenes (just kidding)]
Under the second top comment, there was a flood of requests for fanfiction, with many waiting.
Everyone who clicked would like the post; eight or nine out of ten people would post about this shocking vampire look. The conversion rate was very high, and the ranking rose rapidly.
The scalper watched his plan fail, feeling a sense of defeat.
How could this happen?
He clearly had the first-hand photos, he uploaded the whole process, he clearly said Hua Yan wasn’t human…why doesn’t anyone believe him?
Skye, who was focused on filming the commercial, was temporarily unaware of what was happening online.
But Hua Yan wasn’t worried; someone else was.
The Supernatural Management Bureau members, who had just finished capturing Seville after a tough fight, hadn’t yet left the waters near Lixin Island and were still doing cleanup work.
Seville had appeared near the land, and because of its enormous size, many people saw it.
The Bureau needed to check if it caused panic. Luckily, most people wouldn’t think of sea monsters; they would instinctively think it was a whale. In this case, there was no need for extra action; people would lose interest in a few days.
Seville’s size was a problem, but the Bureau had special handling methods and didn’t worry about accidents during detention.
Having just dealt with a relatively difficult matter, Gu Zexi hadn’t even had a cigarette when the alarm sounded again.
His hand holding the cigarette paused; his eyebrows furrowed so tightly they could kill a fly.
It’s never-ending.
Gu Zexi expressionlessly extinguished his cigarette on the ship’s bow and threw it into the trash.
This alarm wasn’t caused by abnormal source energy fluctuations, but by online sentiment monitoring regarding supernatural beings.
The deputy rushed over to report, “Captain, emergency. A supernatural being-related hashtag is trending.”
Gu Zexi: “…Who the hell is it again?”
The deputy’s expression was strange; he twitched his mouth, seeming also troubled. He helplessly turned the screen to Gu Zexi, “It’s an old acquaintance, Skye.”
Gu Zexi looked down, cursing, “A bunch of bastards, always causing trouble for me.”
Overtime, overtime, and more overtime, without end, and no overtime pay.
He quickly scanned the hashtag.
#Hua Yan Human Vampire Look Leak#
Gu Zexi’s expression wasn’t good, “…It looks like a marketing hashtag.”
The deputy opened it for him, muttering, “It’s not much different from a marketing hashtag, actually.”
Gu Zexi saw the photo immediately.
The real-time discussions and top comments on the main page were fine; no one took the hashtag seriously; people were focusing on the face and CP feel.
But this photo had to be deleted as soon as possible.
No one had realized yet, their attention was diverted, unaware of the illogical aspects of the photo.
Too little time had passed since Skye arrived on Lixin Island.
Photoshopping wasn’t easy. To create this quality of photo would require not only skill but a lot of time.
This doesn’t make sense, let alone twelve photos with gradual changes.
Luckily, Hua Yan was a member of a popular boy band; the public was familiar with them.
People’s minds are hard to change. No one would immediately believe that a well-known celebrity “isn’t human”; they would assume it was a marketing tactic.
Moreover, idols are different from actors; they have various stage styles, even exaggerated ones have precedents, dyeing hair, colored contact lenses, excessive shadowing and highlighting were common.
With the current advanced makeup and photoshopping skills, this effect is achievable.
The problem was the inconsistencies. There isn’t enough time for photoshopping, especially twelve photos. For special effects makeup, many people were watching, and they all knew there wasn’t any.
The filters on certain short-video platforms are impressive, but they can’t achieve this level of detail.
Someone on the main page had already raised this question, but not many people cared; most were still immersed in the photo itself, and the question was quickly buried.
Gu Zexi’s task was to nip the situation in the bud before more people realized it.
Gu Zexi gave a brief command: “Deal with the hashtag, delete all the photos.”
Deputy: “Yes.”
Gu Zexi stared at Berlin’s side profile in the photo, pausing for a moment before continuing, “Find the source of the photos.”
Deputy: “Received.”
The most important thing was to find the scalper who uploaded the photos to prevent further dissemination.
He had his phone with him and located the scalper in a few seconds.
Deputy: “Captain, he’s within three kilometers of us.”
Gu Zexi quickly reacted, this person was at sea. He looked around; only one ship was in his field of vision.
“Intercept it.”
The deputy received the order.
Dealing with this incident didn’t require as much effort as capturing Seville; it could be resolved quickly.
The scalper was unaware that someone was coming for him.
He nervously bit his nails—he tried to expose Hua Yan’s true identity, but failed; no one believed him.
But he used his scalper account, and he had live-streamed with his face revealed! To get gifts from viewers!
Even if his account was banned, it was easy to find him; his appearance was exposed.
He couldn’t make others believe Hua Yan wasn’t human, so no one would catch this scary monster, so what should he do? The monster might come for revenge after learning he had leaked her secret.
At the thought, the scalper’s scalp tingled.
He nervously thought of what to do.
What to do, what to do. What to do!
Quickly, he had an idea—a desperate solution.
“I’ll start a livestream, a livestream to explain…” the scalper muttered, looking at his phone, then his camera.
The photos were unedited and could prove him right. He would emphasize that there wasn’t enough time.
He would show the photos on his livestream, seriously explaining that someone would believe him, that he wasn’t joking or memeing.
He wasn’t promoting Skye.
With this in mind, he immediately got started, without delay.
He logged into another account, also named Scalper Old Wang, using the same name to draw traffic.
The hashtag was at its peak, and many people entered the livestream.
[Is this the first person who posted the photos?]
[They’re on the trending list, why are they still live-streaming? Aren’t they afraid of being reported?]
[Scalpers are in a grey area, hard to sue. Many people photograph celebrities. How do you prove it’s a scalper and not a passerby?]
[With this ID and name, isn’t it obvious? Or is it not enough just to look at this?]
[Of course, it’s not that simple, otherwise, they wouldn’t be so rampant.]
“Ahem.” The scalper cleared his throat. “I’m doing this livestream to tell you all something terrifying.”
He paused for two seconds, before he could prepare his speech, the ship suddenly swayed, slowing down.
Author’s Note:
Second update~ Good night, little cuties qwq
Thank you to the little angels who gave me rewards or poured nutrient solution between 2022-11-09 21:20:02 and 2022-11-09 23:59:41!
Thank you to the little angels who poured nutrient solution: ＆, Nanqiang 10 bottles; Keyi, Chi Tu Shiyi, Qi Jcx hammer! Ashore beating, garbage truck 1 bottle;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!