Chapter 314: You actors say one word, and it wastes people’s effort and resources!

The server crash of the livestream didn’t have much impact. On the contrary, even more people stayed logged in, unwilling to risk getting locked out if they exited.

It was 8 p.m., prime time for most people to be on their phones, which only boosted the viewership. However, things were not looking as good on the inspectors’ livestream. The viewer count had dropped to just tens of thousands. A far cry from the millions it had before.

It was a disaster for them. Once viewers left, they rarely returned. Many had flocked to Wang Yun’s stream instead.

Time passed quickly.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, an hour and a half had gone by.

And yet, the island everyone was fixated on remained completely unshaken.

At precisely 8:00 p.m., alarms went off. Many had set timers just for this moment.

Excitement and worry filled the air as people eagerly watched.

Those gathered at the harbor were especially tense, eyes wide and hands clasped in prayer. Their expressions were a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

One minute passed.

Three minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

By 8:15 p.m., there was still no sign of an earthquake.

“What’s going on? I don’t feel any tremors. Do you?”

“Me neither. It’s already 8:15. Could it have been a false alarm?”

“Why are you panicking? Even the meteorological bureau can’t pinpoint the exact second an earthquake hits. Wang Yun isn’t some god. Give it more time.”

“Exactly. No earthquake is a good thing.”

“Good thing, my ass! I’ve said from the beginning there wasn’t going to be one. This whole thing was just for the show’s entertainment value!”

“Damn it! I spent money on water activities this afternoon. If there’s no earthquake, who’s going to refund me my 1,000 yuan?”

Voices erupted along the harbor as people shouted. Their eyes turned toward Zhao Youcheng and his group, who stood waiting on the shore.

The tension was palpable, and the looks from the crowd were almost predatory. If no earthquake happened, it seemed they might pounce on the inspectors at any moment.

Hardy was growing increasingly restless. He was unable to sit still as time ticked by and the island showed no reaction.

If not for Werner repeatedly holding him back, telling him to wait a bit longer, Hardy would’ve already taken a yacht back to the island.

Suddenly, a smack! echoed as a plastic bottle flew through the air and struck a stone pillar near Zhao Youcheng.

Chaos broke out instantly.

“I just ordered food on the island, and before I could eat, you dragged me out here starving! How dare you joke about natural disasters for your stupid show? Do you have no conscience?”

A burly, tattooed man shouted as he stormed toward Zhao Youcheng’s group, his expression fierce and his steps heavy.

His voice boomed, each word shaking the hearts of those nearby.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Wu Mingyu stood abruptly, angrily confronting the man.

“What am I doing? The question is, what are you planning to do? We were all enjoying ourselves on the island, and some of us even just paid for water activities. Then you lot start yelling about an earthquake and scare us into running. No water, no food, just panic. And now? There’s no damn earthquake, my kid’s starving and crying, and you’ve had your fun with your gimmicks! Did you ever think about how we feel?”

The man’s rage was palpable, and each shout seemed to intensify the frustration of those around him.

The crowd, already holding back their grievances, began shouting as well.

“It’s been over half an hour! Are you seriously not going to explain yourselves?”

“How can you toy with people like this? I was in the middle of using the bathroom when I ran out with my pants half down!”

“I’ve been so scared my stomach hurts, and my mom’s heart condition is acting up now. You’ve got the whole place in a panic over your farce!”

The scene descended into chaos. People surged forward, pointing fingers and yelling at Zhao Youcheng’s group.

Zhao Youcheng’s face was heavy with tension, his expression grim. Even now, he held onto a sliver of hope, believing that Wang Yun wouldn’t deceive them.

But as half an hour passed without any incident, doubt crept in.

Some people stood at the harbor in swimsuits, their clothes still left behind in their hotel rooms. Thousands of frustrated faces glared at the inspectors, brows furrowed and eyes blazing with anger.

“Could I have really misjudged?” Zhao Youcheng murmured, looking back at the island amid the clamor.

In front of them, the program inspectors and police were busy maintaining order, trying to prevent any accidents from escalating.

Behind the officers, the Captains stood with blank, helpless expressions.

“Mr. Zhao, let’s wait a little longer,” Ying Yuezi, standing beside him, said solemnly.

Zhao Youcheng’s eyes were bloodshot, exhaustion etched into his features. For the past three days, he had barely rested, wholly focused on capturing Wang Yun.

Turning to Ying Yuezi, he saw her force a strained smile.

“I understand you’re doing this for the people, to ensure their safety. I get it,” she said.

But what good was her understanding?

Her words were drowned out by the growing tide of insults, which now filled the air with vulgar and cutting remarks.