Qingshan Green Water Studio decided to post a wave of drama-stirring threads in Jiang Jiujiuâs fan community after all.
As expected, it was completely useless. The posts failed to get a rise out of anyone; the hundreds of millions of fans passing through acted as if they didnât exist.
Even when they put in the effort to bump the threads to the top, no one came to read them, as if everyone instinctively knew they were hired trolls.
When replies finally trickled in, they were all things like: [Moron Studio], [Trolls Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb], and [Masters of Backfiring Campaigns]. Not a single person read the actual content; everyone just went to have fun in the popular threads at the top of the page.
As a result, the studio had to hold an impromptu meeting.
"We canât make any waves in her own community. This approach just wonât work on her fans."
Wasting effort on pointless tasks wasnât Qingshan Green Water Studioâs style, so they decided to move on to Plan B.
The idea was to stir up public opinion in larger communities. Once enough people became curious about the matter and flooded Jiang Qiuqiuâs livestream to ask questions, the streamer would have no choice but to respond.
And once she responded, the drama would begin.
Then, a young woman raised her hand. "But what if the same thing that happened last time happens again?"
Her question immediately reminded everyone of the disastrous outcome of their last operation.
They had painstakingly whipped up a tidal wave of public opinion, only for countless little ripples from that wave to splash right into Jiang Qiuqiuâs "fish pond."
It was an utterly failed smear campaign.
"That probably wonât happen. This time, we wonât focus on the taste of her food. Weâll just pull in some outsiders and get them curious about the streamerâs face."
"There are plenty of malicious people on the Star Network. This time, we wonât go to the foodie communities. Weâll go to other onesâ"
No matter the era, as long as people exist and can think, there will never be a shortage of those who just want to watch the drama unfold.
"Weâll bring *those* people in."
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed it was a viable plan.
The young woman wanted to say something else, but she thought better of it and kept her mouth shut.
The meeting was dismissed, and everyone went back to their workstations to pack up.
"What were you going to say back there? The group leader already made the decision. Are you trying to get fired by speaking up like that?"
"...I canât really put my finger on it." The young woman ran a hand through her hair. "âI just feel like... itâs wrong for us to act as hired trolls.â"
"âI actually think that streamerâs broadcasts are pretty normal. She seems like a nice person, and her fans are actually really well-behaved. Sheâs doing just fine on her own...â"
"So? Sheâs not the one signing your paychecks. *We* are. Stop overthinking it."
The young woman mumbled an "oh," gathered her things, and got ready to go home and begin the next phase of the operation.
âI donât know why... Before, I never felt any guilt doing this stuff. But now, I always feel...â
âMaybe itâs because I ate her food? Or maybe because the streamer really is very young.â
âShe seems even younger than me.â
There were others in the studio who felt the same way she did, but they were, for the most part, also the younger employees.
ăThat night.ă
Jiang Qiuqiuâs fan community was still holding its "Fan-Run Beauty Contest."
Qingshan Green Water Studio took a different approach this time. Instead of targeting foodie communities, they had their second team of hired trolls go to communities dedicated to gossip and entertainment and start posting a series of eye-catching, linked threads.
[A Rundown of Unattractive Streamers and How They Rake In Cashâ]
[With Just One Mask, You Too Could Become a Streamer Earning a Million a Day.]
The people in these communities loved drama and never minded fanning the flames. And just like that, through the efforts of Qingshan Green Water Studioâs team of hired trolls, a large number of rubberneckers who wanted to know what Jiang Qiuqiu really looked like began to appear.