Chapter 28: Brother Yang, I’ve been saving up for half a year, and today, it’s all yours!

In an apartment in Qingcheng, Liang Yuzhu clutched her phone and opened Wang Yang’s livestream. Seeing the number of viewers, she let out a long, shaky breath. With nearly two million people tuned in, surely… surely there must be someone who would buy an F-22 fighter jet? If not, would Wang Yang’s jet remain unsold? And if it didn’t sell, the consequences would be dire: she wouldn’t be able to repay her loans on time, and her company would face bankruptcy. Not only would her initial investment be wiped out, but she would also be saddled with the burden of the remaining debt. Wang Yang’s fighter jet… it simply had to sell. Even if the price were lower, even if the profit were slim, it had to sell. If no one bought it, she would ask Wang Yang to drop the price; at this point, even breaking even would be acceptable. At this thought, Liang Yuzhu curled her toes tightly, watching the stream with bated breath.

In the Fuli Huating residential complex in the capital, Chang Wen sat before his computer, waiting. With less than ten minutes until 8:00 PM, he quickly logged in. Seeing that the broadcast had not yet begun, he exhaled in relief. He had made it just in time to catch this livestream—one that had caused such a massive stir online—featuring the sale of an F-22 fighter jet. Watching the viewer count surge past two million and continue to climb, he realized that Wang Yang’s previous post on Weibo had been incredibly effective, drawing in not just fans, but curious onlookers looking for a spectacle. From an outsider’s perspective, the marketing for this stream was impeccable; regardless of whether Wang Yang actually sold a fighter jet, he had certainly generated immense attention. If he could manage to steer this volatile broadcast to a stable conclusion, Wang Yang would undoubtedly be a marketing genius. Of course, Chang Wen remained skeptical: it was impossible for Wang Yang to be selling an F-22. Even if he were, it had to be a fake. If even governments struggled to acquire a real F-22, how could Wang Yang? It was absurd. Sipping his coffee slowly, he watched the screen. As the clock struck eight, Wang Yang’s face appeared.

In a warehouse in Qingcheng, Wang Yang smiled into the camera. "Hello, hello, friends! After six months, your Brother Yang is back!" He did not yet signal the cameraman to turn toward the F-22 parked behind him. It was a tactic—a way to build suspense and manipulate the emotions of his audience, a staple skill for any live streamer. Instantly, the two million viewers flooded the chat with comments.

"Finally started! I’ve been waiting for an hour!"
"Still as handsome as ever, Brother Yang."
"What now? Are you going to apologize as soon as you start? Hurry up, I have a foot massage appointment later."
"Is that a 'legitimate' foot massage?"
"Don't talk nonsense! Why would Brother Yang apologize? You haters need to stop."
"Oh, look at you fans. You don't actually believe he can get you an F-22, do you?"
"Haha, what kind of fan would believe that? You must be paid shills."
"You're the shills! Don't you dare talk to us like that."
"Believe what you want, I’m betting this is just an apology tour so he can go back to selling cheap goods."
"Enough talk, I just want to know when the F-22 goes on sale. I’ve got my money ready!"

Wang Yang watched the scrolling text and smiled, ignoring the comments. He wouldn't engage with the trolls, nor would he let them dictate his rhythm. As for the apology they craved? That was impossible. The F-22 was right behind him; he had nothing to apologize for. If anyone owed an apology, it was the trolls.

"Brother Yang, don't listen to them! Keep going. These trolls are just clowns," a fan wrote.
"That’s right! We believe in you. Apologize? Never!"

The chat erupted again. Seeing the support from his true fans warmed Wang Yang’s heart. It was clear that these fans didn't care if he could actually lower the price of an F-22. It made sense—an F-22 was a military aircraft; even a government couldn't just walk up and buy one, let alone negotiate a price with the U.S. military. How could a small-time internet celebrity do it? But today, Wang Yang intended to show everyone—haters, fans, and passersby alike—that he was going to make it happen.

"Alright, brothers, my stream has always been about peace and reason," Wang Yang said, his tone characteristically upbeat and positive, avoiding anything that might stir up conflict. "Life is already exhausting enough, isn't it? We're here to buy things we like and have a bit of fun. Let’s just enjoy ourselves."

The fans immediately rallied, drowning out the trolls.

"Brother Yang is right! Why bother with them?"
"Get out of here, haters! Don't ruin the stream."
"Start selling, Brother Yang! I’ve been saving up for six months just for this!"

Seeing the chat stabilize and the trolls retreat, Wang Yang cleared his throat.