The listing of Aifeng Financial was like a bomb that had dropped into the water.
Some netizens, who still had a wait-and-see attitude, believed that this was part of the program team's script.
After all, how could there be such a coincidence?
Gates started trending just after he attended the show, and in the blink of an eye, his product was on the market.
A normal person would know at a glance that things were not that simple.
"Shady! Shady! The program team is treating us viewers like monkeys."
"Do they really think that a normal person can invite a big shot like Gates to the show? Dream on."
"The program team will do anything for entertainment. That Thomson is just a clown. He's just an actor."
"If this is true, I'll drink water upside-down!"
"F*ck, this show has used so many tricks. I'm done with it."
The entire internet criticized the program team. Even a wise person could tell at a glance that it was all a show.
There was an unspoken rule in the industry. If the show was not exposed, everyone would just watch it for fun. However, if it was exposed, then the show deserved to be criticized.
The current situation was obviously the latter.
"They're a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well. How can't it be true?"
"We just watch it for fun. Why are they so serious? What evidence do they have that the program team arranged this?"
"I don't think they know that you can randomly bump into an old man on the streets of Washington, and he might be a retired CEO of some financial group. You cannot judge a book by its cover."
"There are so many keyboard warriors these days. If it's all just an act, then show us some evidence."
"Stop making comments if there's no evidence. If you're so capable, then why don't you go and find one."
...
At this moment, the director looked at the comments on the internet and could not help but laugh out loud.
"It's trending! It's gone viral."
The director was extremely excited to see that his show was at the top of the trending list.
This show had been running for a few seasons, but the response had always been mediocre. It was only at the quality of a third-rate program.
Yet now, because of Thomson, the entire internet knew about his show.
If he ignored all the people criticizing the program team, it meant that the show was popular.
If it was not popular, the keyboard warriors would not waste their energy with all the comments.
"Director, so many people are criticizing you, but how are you still happy?"
A staff member at the side grinned and said, "What do you know? Hurry up and post on Twitter right now. Say that this show is real and nothing is fake or scripted. Then, say that the third round of the challenge will start tomorrow. Let's take advantage of this popularity to make the show famous once and for all."
Then, the director looked at Thomson's information, his small eyes filled with doubt.
Was he really just an ordinary person?
Not only did he invite Gates, but Gates was so respectful as well.
This made the director realize that he had picked up a treasure.
Now, how popular the show became was heavily depended on Thomson's capability.
...
["Do You Know Your Value?" is absolutely real. There's no script!]
The moment the program team's statement was posted on Twitter, netizens started to comment on it.
"Please, don't you feel shameful? You call that no script?"
"How bad is this show's publicity team?"
"Let's see how your program team will perform on the third round of the challenge."
"It's absolutely real. Director, why don't you come out and explain what happened with Gates?"
"I'm just waiting for the show to be exposed. This show has died long ago."
"Refusing to admit it that you hired an actor? What a good role model for the entertainment industry."
"The third round will definitely be less interesting. After all, the third round is known as the magic mirror of this show."
On Twitter, a big shot also released a statement.
"It's not the first time this show has hired actors. Before the rules were changed, it had already been reported that a contestant used software to synthesize some celebrity's supporting videos as his friend's."
At the same time, Facebook's founder also released a video.
The content of the video was a contestant's supporting video from a popular A-list celebrity.
Only then did people realize that the supporting video that the A-list celebrity had recorded a few years ago was released in the show. However, the voice of the celebrity was completely synthesized.
After this matter was exposed, that contestant came out and admitted that it was the program team's gimmick.
In an instant, a lot of onlookers flooded the comments section of this Twitter post.
"@DoYouKnowYourValue program team, please explain."
"A small show has so many tricks? My god."
"Can somebody explain if Gates was really at the scene? Could it be computer generated? Technology is so advanced these days."
"I'm waiting for the third round of the show. This is a huge mess. I don't think the program team will be able to continue with the acting anymore."
"I've been tricked by the program team."
"I thought it was real, but it turned out to be fake."
"If you dare, live broadcast the program. Don't fake it with any post-production!"
...
For a moment, the public opinion on the internet was completely one-sided.
However, the program team paid no attention to the outside world and focused on the show.
Besides Thomas and Alice, there were other contestants that the other program teams were filming across the country.
There were ten groups of guest contestants in the third round of the challenge, and the final winner would receive a more generous prize money.
The guaranteed prize money was one million, but if they could get through to the fourth round, it would be two million dollars.
This made many contestants put in all their effort to demonstrate their capabilities.