In the evening.
It was almost time for the press conference. The storm from the afternoon was also growing more and more intense. A lot of the Japanese and Korean media and citizens were scolding Zhang Ye. Later on, even quite a few of their government officials started publicly speaking out and condemning Zhang Ye. The criticisms came wave after wave!
In the end, the Chinese netizens were so annoyed by it that they came forward to show their support for Zhang Ye.
“What the hell are they doing!”
“Can’t they differentiate fake news from the truth?”
“And why are the Japanese and Korean government officials adding fuel to fire as well?”
“It might have been started by those officials in the first place!”
“That’s right, that might be possible!”
“I’m on Zhang Ye’s side!”
“Me too! Those people are totally unreasonable!”
“How can they suddenly start scolding Zhang Ye like that?”
“Zhang Ye has been garnering donations for everyone and did those PSAs as well. This is something that would benefit the whole of Asia. After giving so much effort for everyone, you people are just going to turn hostile and ignore his contributions? Stab him in the back? Do you people have a conscience? Did it get eaten by dogs?”
“Just seeing this makes me so angry!”
“The problem is that those Korean stars are still continuing to fan the flames!”
“The Korean and Japan media are the same. They’re clearly targeting Zhang Ye!”
“Supporting Zhang Ye!”
“If it carries on like this, could Zhang Ye get banned in Japan and Korea?”
“Damn, they wouldn’t dare!”
“Let’s see how Zhang Ye will handle this!”
The netizens paid close attention.
The industry insiders paid close attention.
Members of the entertainment circle were also watching.
In the past, Zhang Ye’s minor skirmishes with the Japanese and Koreans had never been brought up so blatantly by anyone. It wasn’t that the news didn’t report about it, but that it didn’t receive a lengthy mention and had little effect on public opinion. After all, Zhang Ye wasn’t really famous at that time as he was just a run-of-the-mill celebrity in China. But it was different now. Zhang Ye had become very active in show business these days and was starting to step onto the Asian stage. His public exposure was soaring while his Asian popularity was growing by the day. With that, many of his past incidents were now being talked about again by people and had become the ammunition and weaponry to bring him down.
Those who have come are not friendly.
Those who are friendly have not come.
It was at this time that the live broadcast of the press conference began!
…
Japan.
“Damn!”
“He’s coming out!”
“Zhang Ye is coming out!”
“Scold him!”
“Make him apologize!”
“Right, we have to make him apologize to us!”
…
Korea.
“He still has the nerve to go ahead with the live broadcast?”
“Zhang Ye! You better apologize to Anson-oppa!”
“And Park Jaesang too!”
“You owe the oppas an explanation!”
“Right! Apologize!”
“Calling for the philanthropic ambassador to be replaced!”
“That’s right! Replace the philanthropic ambassador!”
“We must rid the Asian entertainment industry of such hooligans!”
…
At the venue.
The live broadcast began.
Reporters from all over Asia were present, and it was very chaotic.
At this moment, Zhang Ye entered the venue.
The coordinator at the Asian Red Cross Society was next to him and whispered, “Teacher Zhang, the Japanese and Korean media will surely be targeting you today, so try not to answer too many questions and don’t talk to them too much. I’ve also heard the news and know that a lot of it is untrue. We understand everything, so don’t worry. We’re all on your side. Rumors will remain rumors, and it will collapse upon itself. Since we’re involved in charity work, we cannot be afraid of such things.”
Zhang Ye smiled. “Alright.”
The coordinator said, “We’ll try our best to steer clear of the reporters’ questioning session or maybe cut it short. When you’re finished writing the calligraphy for ‘Rivers Run Red,’ we’ll end the press conference there.”
Zhang Ye said, “Sure, that won’t be a problem.”
Kacha, kacha. The cameras were snapping shots without pause!
The Asian reporters immediately turned their attention to him!
Zhang Ye walked up onto the stage and gave the crowd a smile before sitting down.
The people from the charity joined him and sat down as well.
Around them, many of the staff and volunteers from the Asian Red Cross Society were very worried.
Some of them huddled together and spoke in whispers.
“What should we do?”
“They’re taking it too far!”
“Teacher Zhang is such a good person.”
“Yeah, I can’t understand why there are people slandering a great philanthropist like him!”
“He donated a calligraphy piece worth a $100 million USD just like that and also sponsored the money and manpower for our PSAs. Just think, how many people would do something like that?”
“What’s more, Teacher Zhang is a very nice person and is especially kind.”
“I’ve never seen him lose his temper before.”
“Teacher Zhang has fully dedicated himself to charity.”
“Look over there. Teacher Zhang still has a smile on his face at this time. How gracious of him.”
“That’s right. He’s not even angry after something this big happened. He’s really too kind.”
Having interacted with Zhang Ye over the past few days, some of the youth volunteers at the Asian Red Cross Society had started admiring him a bit. So they naturally supported him and looked at the Japanese and Korean reporters with disdain. Whoever determined that volunteers in charity couldn’t have a bit of a temper?
The press conference formally began.
After adjusting the microphone on the table, the charity’s coordinator said with a smile, “Good evening, everyone. We’re here at the press conference today for the appointment of the Asian philanthropic ambassador. We are very honored to be able to get Teacher Zhang to take the role as our ambassador and also very happy to share this good news with the various media outlets from across Asia. I’m sure that no one’s a stranger to Teacher Zhang. Since a long time ago, Teacher Zhang has always been involved at the front lines of charity work. For example, I wonder if everyone remembers the electricity conservation PSA and also the quit smoking PSA that aired in China a few years ago?”
The opening speech went on for a long time.
Finally, it was Zhang Ye’s turn to speak.
Zhang Ye smiled before saying, “Thank you, everyone. And thank you for the trust that the Asian Charity Association has placed in me. To be honest, taking this role as the Asian philanthropic ambassador really stresses me out, but it has also given me motivation. I will do my best to help whoever I can.”
Quite a few volunteers were looking at him in admiration.
When Zhang Ye finished speaking, they applauded him with all they had!
The applause by the Chinese media’s personnel also rang out!
Only the Japanese and Korean media outlets were less enthusiastic as they showed no response at all.
The coordinator hesitated for a bit before saying, “Next up, it’s time for the reporters’ questioning session.” He checked his watch and said, “Due to time constraints for the live broadcast, we will only accept three questions.”
Before they could even pick a reporter to ask the questions, a Japanese reporter was already on his feet. When the Korean reporters saw this, they also started asking their questions. They didn’t care about the rules at all.
“May I ask, can Zhang Ye apologize for those mistakes that he made in the past?”
“Teacher Zhang Ye, why did you attack Lee Anson?”
“About your attack on Teacher Park Jaesang, what explanation do you have for it?”
“I would like to ask the people from the Red Cross Society, what kind of criteria did you have for choosing the philanthropic ambassador?”
“Zhang Ye, please apologize!”
“The press conference is broadcast live to all of Asia and the people are watching. Since you’ve been appointed as the Asian philanthropic ambassador, you should make an example of yourself by adopting the right attitude. This is the best chance for you, so you should make an apology to the Japanese and Korean people for the things that you’ve done to them in the past. It is the only way you can earn the respect and forgiveness of everyone!”
The Japanese and Korean reporters banded together to attack him. It made it seem like all of it had been arranged beforehand!
The press conference looked like a public condemnation session!
…
Japan.
“Right!”
“Apologize!”
“Apologize!”
…
Korea.
“Apologize immediately!”
“Apologize on the live broadcast!”
“Hurry up!”
…
China.
“Apologize, your sister!”
“Fuck!”
“You’re starting to encroach even further now?”
“Why isn’t Zhang Ye addressing the issue!”
“This fellow is still putting on airs?”
“Fuck, has Teacher Zhang become stupid from performing all that charity work!”
…
At the venue.
It was getting out of control.
All of the Japanese and Korean media outlets’ personnel were kicking up a fuss as the volunteers and staff went forward in an attempt to stop them. However, they could not get things under control.
The coordinator immediately ended the reporters’ questioning session. “Next, let us invite Teacher Zhang to write a calligraphy piece for us. This calligraphy piece will be open for bidding when it gets put up at a charity auction in a month’s time. All of the proceeds from it will then go towards our charity efforts in Asia, so let us thank Teacher Zhang for his generosity.”
The applause was sparse.
It was mostly just the volunteers clapping.
The Four Treasures of the Study had been brought out and prepared beforehand.
The coordinator said, “Teacher Zhang, please.”
Zhang Ye nodded. “OK.”
A lot of people knew that the finale of the press conference today was going to be Zhang Ye’s calligraphy of “Rivers Run Red: Boundless.” It was a very famous contemporary poem and was considered a very widespread piece of literature. The content of it expressed boundless benevolence and was very suited for the occasion here. Using this work of poetry as the finale would bring the press conference to a close in a perfect way. Charity acts were not bound by geographical borders and also had an effect of opening up everyone’s hearts. The coordinator at the Red Cross Society also hoped that Zhang Ye’s calligraphy could appease the scoldings from the Japanese and Koreans a little.
The volunteers understood this.
And everyone else understood this.
But a few Japanese and Korean reporters still continued making a scene.
“Apologize!”
“Apologize!”
“Apologize immediately!”
Zhang Ye picked up the brush. He looked calmly at the clamoring Japanese and Korean reporters, then looked down and placed the nib on the paper!
“Rivers Run Red.”
The volunteers shouted.
“Nicely written!”
“Wow!”
“That’s so amazing!”
The Chinese media.
“It’s in semi-cursive!”
“It’s semi-cursive again!”
“‘Rivers Run Red: Boundless’ is indeed a good poem!”
“I also like this piece of poetry.”
But when Zhang Ye carried on writing, a lot of people were stunned.
“‘On this’?”
“Are these the first two words of the poem?”
“They aren’t, right?”
“Yeah, I remember that it isn’t these as well.”
“Uh, did he get it wrong?”
“Damn, surely a literary giant like Teacher Zhang couldn’t have made such a bad mistake, right?”
“But it’s really written wrong!”
“This is bad. It’s even being shown on the live broadcast!”
The coordinator was stunned!
The volunteers were dumbfounded!
The Japanese and Korean reporters were very happy. They looked like they were enjoying watching someone make a fool of themselves!
He wrote it wrong?
Serves him right!
You deserve it!
Hahahahahaha!
But as Zhang Ye’s brush danced across the paper leaving a vivid trail of words behind it, the laughter of the Japanese and Korean media stopped. The Chinese media was stunned and the volunteers were dumbfounded. Meanwhile, the Japanese, Korean, and other Asian peoples watching the live broadcast nearly jumped out of their seats!
Each and every word had rocked them to their core!
Each and every word was full of malice!
“On this tiny globe,
“a few flies dash themselves against a wall.
“Buzzing drones,
“At times whining,
“At times weeping.
“Ants climb a locust tree, boast of a great nation.
“Mayflies talk of shaking trees—out of their station.
“The west wind scatters leaves over Chang’an,
“whistling arrows fly.
“So much to get done, making haste slowly.
“The world moves on, time passes by.
“Ten thousand years is too long,
“Seize every minute of every hour.
“The Four Seas crash,
“clouds and waters warring;
“the Five Continents thrash,
“wind and thunder roaring.
“If we sweep away all pests, invincible we’ll be!”
He signed it.
And set down the brush!
He finished writing it in one go!
On this year.
On this day.
At this moment.
” Rivers Run Red: Reply to Comrade Guo Moruo 1 ” shockingly arrived!