Chapter 312: Shocking: A Show Participant Predicts an Earthquake, and Everyone Believes?

Hardy’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but it managed to cut through the noise, ensuring everyone heard him clearly.

The other Captains glanced at him but chose not to respond.

Zhao Youcheng heard it too, and nearby, Qian Guosen’s face darkened.

“Captain Hardy, if you really don’t believe it, why don’t you stay on the island and keep chasing him?” Qian Guosen retorted. “We can arrange helicopters and personnel for you. You can head back anytime.”

Qian Guosen wasn’t about to let an outsider mock Zhao Youcheng, whom he had personally invited and deeply respected as both a senior and a close friend.

“Tch, easy for you to say. Do you know how few resources I have? How many helicopters can I mobilize?” Hardy sneered, his tone filled with disdain.

“This is your Dragon Nation’s territory. The producer went all out for you guys. I know my place.”

The sarcasm in his voice only fueled Qian Guosen’s anger. “You—”

“Enough,” Zhao Youcheng interrupted, stopping the argument before it escalated.

“You said it yourself, there’s still an hour and a half left. Surely Captain Hardy can wait that long?”

Hardy fell silent, turning his face away.

“It’s just a matter of closing our eyes. If there really is an earthquake, surviving it will be a blessing,” Wu Mingyu added, attempting neutrality. 

Yet even he couldn’t hide the doubt etched into his expression. Internally, he too was questioning everything. After all, who could say for sure?

Soon, their ferry docked at the mainland.

The group disembarked but didn’t rush to leave. Now that they were off the island, they figured they were safe and decided to wait at the harbor.

The harbor was crowded with tourists and residents, many carrying large bags. Some were still in bikinis. They had no time to change, giving the scene a somewhat chaotic and disheveled air.

Everyone looked anxiously at the sky and toward the distant island. They were caught between belief and skepticism.

A public announcement blared through the speakers:

“Reports indicate a large-scale earthquake is expected at 7:10 p.m. The exact magnitude remains uncertain. Residents and tourists are advised to prepare for the quake. Stay away from the coastline and move toward city centers whenever possible. The scale is yet to be confirmed, so there’s no need for excessive panic. This report comes from the meteorological bureau.”

Many people glanced at their phones, listening to live updates.

While reports of the earthquake were circulating, none mentioned Wang Yun as the source of the prediction.

For one, Wang Yun wasn’t a professional, and secondly, no official equipment had detected anything. If an earthquake did occur, it would undermine the credibility of these organizations.

As such, all media outlets chose to withhold his name.

Meanwhile, live-stream viewers, particularly those watching the inspectors’ channel, were growing increasingly vocal in their criticism of Zhao Youcheng.

Fortunately, Zhao Youcheng wasn’t privy to the online chatter; otherwise, it would have been a massive blow to his mood.

“I don’t get it. Old Zhao is supposed to be a respected figure. Someone who’s seen everything in his lifetime. Why is he believing the words of a fugitive?”

“I’m so disappointed. Old Zhao’s getting old and sentimental!”

“This is obviously a made-up excuse for Wang Yun to escape. They had him within reach and let him go!”

“Hey, nobody wants an earthquake to happen. Old Zhao is just thinking of the people. Cut him some slack!”

“Ridiculous! If Wang Yun truly believed there’d be an earthquake, he would’ve left the island himself. But the footage shows he’s still there!”

The barrage of comments was relentless. The producer, watching the flood of messages in the livestream, grew increasingly anxious. He kept glancing at the clock.

“Producer, our show is trending on social media,” a staff member said, sounding helpless.

The situation had reached a boiling point, and the trending headlines were nothing short of mortifying:

“Shocking: A Show Participant Predicts an Earthquake, and Everyone Believes?”

“Absurd! A Casual Lie Causes Widespread Panic!”

“A Joke That Ridicules the Meteorological Bureau’s Expertise.”

“Meteorological Authority Challenged by an Actor’s Claim!”

The top ten trending topics were all about the earthquake.

Given the gravity of the situation, the entire nation was paying attention.

Initially, uninformed viewers thought the meteorological bureau had predicted the earthquake. But after digging online, they were astonished to learn that the prediction had come from a fugitive in a survival show. The revelation caused an uproar.

The comments under these posts were equally harsh.

Frustrated, the executive producer waved his hand. 

“Get the PR team to remove those negative trends immediately. And stop looking at that nonsense. Do you believe it or not?” he asked his staff.

The crew, having witnessed Wang Yun’s actions firsthand, exchanged hesitant looks. Finally, a young woman spoke softly, “I believe him. Wang Yun doesn’t seem like the type to joke about something this serious. He’s not someone without principles.”

Her words gave the executive producer a brief moment of relief, but a male staffer immediately scoffed and countered, “I wouldn’t be so sure. You realize Wang Yun earns 20 million for every day he survives, right? That’s more money than most people will see in their lifetimes. In the face of that kind of wealth, morality and principles are meaningless.”