Chapter 316: The Earthquake Has Finally Arrived!

“So, he’s done so much,” Zhao Youcheng said slowly.

Before joining the program, he had thoroughly studied all of Wang Yun’s escape footage, analyzing his daring and extraordinary moves. However, he had no access to Wang Yun’s perspective and wouldn’t have sought it anyway, as abiding by the program’s rules was paramount.

Now, three months into the show, had it not been for today’s unexpected revelation by the police officer, they would have remained unaware of these truths.

The program inspectors, both senior and junior, felt deeply shaken.

It was like discovering that someone presumed to be a heinous criminal had, in secret, performed countless heroic deeds. The reversal was startling.

On the surface, Wang Yun appeared to be a lawless fugitive, but in reality, he was a hero of the people.

A real-life Kaitou Kid?

The crowd by the harbor was at a loss for words. After all, how could a hero of the people joke about something as serious as a natural disaster to trick them?

Realizing this, everyone began to look toward the distant island.

But still, there was no movement.

Even the sea remained eerily calm—so calm it felt unsettling.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know about all this earlier. It’s fine, my son won’t die from skipping a meal,” the tattooed man who had caused trouble earlier said, his face full of shame.

He bent down to pick up the bottle he had thrown and bowed toward the program inspectors.

His gesture sparked a wave of guilt among the crowd.

“I apologize too. I acted impulsively. Worst case, I’ll find a bathroom and deal with it later. Skipping one trip won’t kill me either.”

“It’s just 1,000 yuan. So what if I don’t get to do the water activities? I’ll treat it as a good deed and consider it an investment in karma.”

“Same here! An auntie lent me a blanket earlier, and now I’m feeling warm. The swimsuit doesn’t even feel that cold anymore.”

The crowd laughed, finding ways to lighten the mood and cover their embarrassment. They were people who knew right from wrong and were brave enough to admit when they had overstepped.

Even if no earthquake occurred in the end, so what?

“Not having an earthquake is a good thing. Let’s stay positive. Do we really want one to happen just to prove a point?”

“Exactly. Thanks to everyone for maintaining order and working hard.”

“Thanks to the program team too. Your kindness didn’t go unnoticed.”

The atmosphere shifted. It was now filled with gratitude.

Wu Yaoming and the others let out a collective sigh of relief. The tension had finally subsided, though the sudden turn of events left them a bit unprepared.

Zhao Youcheng’s eyes grew red. He had always admired and respected the heroes of the people, and this revelation only deepened those feelings. Unconsciously, a slight smile tugged at his lips, as if he had thought of something comforting.

“Little Qian, I just remembered, Old Qin is still looking for a successor, isn’t he? That guy’s retiring soon, right?” Zhao Youcheng asked, glancing at his friend.

Qian Guosen nodded, puzzled. “Yes, Old Qin is nearing retirement. Why do you ask?”

Zhao Youcheng waved him off, trying not to reveal too much.

“Oh, nothing. Just saying, until Old Qin finds someone, he won’t step down. He’s too responsible for that. But I think he’ll be able to enjoy his retirement very soon.”

Hearing this, Qian Guosen seemed to grasp something but wasn’t entirely sure, furrowing his brow in thought.

***

Meanwhile, in a studio far away, Old Fang let out a thunderous sneeze.

“Hmph! Trying to poach someone from me? Did you even ask this old man first? Old Qin’s body is still strong as an ox, and your team can find plenty of others. Don’t even think about taking someone from us.”

Clutching a tissue, Old Fang’s face was full of fighting spirit.

Nearby, a celebrity wiped his sweat, envy written all over his face.

Wang Yun wasn’t even done with the show yet, and people were already competing for him. From local teams to international organizations, everyone wanted him. Even racing clubs, paragliding teams, and world-renowned high-IQ societies had extended invitations, all waiting eagerly for the program to conclude.

Wang Yun was like a prized treasure.

“Holy crap!”

The celebrity, lost in his envious thoughts, suddenly blurted out as he stared at the livestream.

“Earthquake!”

***

Rumble! Crash!

At the harbor, just as the crowd had begun to relax, the ground beneath them started shaking violently.

It happened so abruptly that it caught everyone off guard as their nerves had only just begun to ease.

Before anyone could scream, the once-calm sea seemed to come alive, as though a giant beast lay beneath it.

A towering wall of water, three meters high, surged straight upward.

Crash!

The wave slammed onto the shore with immense force. It instantly submerged the stone barriers. When the water receded, those barriers were nothing but a pile of rubble.

“Ahhh! The earthquake is here!”

“Run! Get away from the water!”

“Look! The island! It’s sinking!”