âHey, are you asleep? I recommend you watch a movie.â
Late at night.
Someone clicked on his buddyâs avatar.
His buddy replied, âIâm in the middle of cultivation. What movie are you recommending?â
The other party said, âItâs a very warm and healing movie, âHachikoâ.â
The buddy sent a confused emoji:
âWhy do I feel something is off? Why would you suddenly recommend a movie to me in the middle of the night?â
âBecause this movie is truly excellent, itâs Xian Yuâsâ¦â he hesitated, ââ¦Teacher Admirable Fishâs movie! Please donât read any reviews before watching it, youâll get spoil by the spoilers!â
He emphasized that again.
This buddy seems to be an ordinary fan of Xian Yu, and immediately said, âSo itâs Teacher Admirable Fishâs new movie? Got it. Iâm going to buy tickets.â
ââ¦â
In another instanceâ¦
On a film forum, someone is making a post inquiry.
âThereâs an internet celebrity on the blog recommending the movie âHachikoâ. Have any audience seen it and could talk about it?â
Unexpectedly to the person who made the postâ¦
Not long after his post, a reply appeared below: âGood movie, very healing!â
The person who made the post expressed his doubts: âReally?â
The commenter firmly responded, âWhy would I lie to you? Just go and check the ratings on Starry Sky Network. But donât read the reviews! Most of them are filled with spoilers, which can severely impact the viewing experience.â
Starry Sky Network?
The person who made the post immediately looked up âHachikoâ on Starry Sky Network, and was shocked by the results.
The movie âHachikoâ has a rating of 9.5!
Holy cow, only classics get such high ratings!
He quickly replied to the enthusiastic netizen: âThanks for the recommendation, brother! The rating is really crazy. Iâm buying a ticket for the first show tomorrow morning.â
âYou wonât regret it!â
The commenter, who was very enthusiastic, added: âAfter watching this movie, I feel so warm. I feel like the whole world has become better. I believe you will be just as moved.â
At this time.
In the forumâ¦
â¦there were also other night owls lurking.
After seeing the post, some of the night owls that didnât know much about films were drawn in, filled with curiosity and interest:
âWhat movie is this awesome?â
âA rating of 9.5? Thatâs pretty brutal!â
âThe movie is called âHachikoâ? Seems like itâs Xian Yuâs new work. I saw the promotions before.â
âAlright, Iâm going to buy a ticket. Starry Sky Networkâs ratings are dependable.â
âXian Yuâs âFlirting Scholarâ didnât even score this high! Looks like Xian Yu has made another good movie. Iâm definitely supporting this excellent film.â
ââ¦â
These people didnât suspect anything fishy and certainly didnât bother to read the reviews, knowing how Starry Sky Network operates.
Eighty percent of those so-called movie reviews are spoilers.
The viewing experience is bound to be lessened after being spoiled.
Moreover, with the excellent word of mouth for âHachikoâ, how could the audience be collectively hyping it up?
Soâ¦
Many people booked their tickets for the next day right on the spot.
Such is the power of word of mouth.
At the same timeâ¦
In a small company group chatâ¦
An employee tagged a close colleague:
âI saw your Moments and I saw the âHachikoâ movie you recommended. Is it good? What kind of movie is it?â
âHealing! Warm! Touching! Redemption!â
With a cute puppy avatar, the answer came at lightning speed.
Apparently, to strengthen the persuasion, the colleague with the puppy-like avatar added: âI can responsibly tell you that this is the absolutely must-see movie of this year. Itâs super classic!â
Perhaps because it was a Saturday, surprisingly many people in the group chat hadnât gone to sleep yet.
Seeing a conversation going on, people started joining the chat about the movie:
âIs that true?â
âIs the movie really that awesome?â
âIâm tempted to go see it.â
âIt wonât hurt to go to the theater and find out, right? There is a show at 9 AM tomorrow. Whoâs going?â
âMe!â
âIâm in!â
âCount me in!â
ââ¦â
Since itâs the rare Saturday break, everyoneâs enthusiasm for watching movies was really high.
At this moment, someone asked the colleague with the puppy avatar, âWanna watch it for the second time?â
âNot a chance!â
The guy with the puppy avatar responded without hesitation and hurriedly added: âMainly because I have some things to take care of tomorrow morning, so I canât go to the movies with you guys. Enjoy your movie, and also, donât read the reviews beforehand. I believe you guys know this.â
âExactly, reviews are filled with spoilers.â
Everyone replied adeptly, not thinking too much about it. They quickly organized a group purchase of movie tickets in the chat.
Similar situations were happening elsewhereâ¦
The swindlers were efficiently gathering everyone they could convince.
They kept recommending to anyone they meet and the keywords were consistent:
âThis movie is really healing'â, âItâs a warm and sunny filmâ, âAfter watching it, I felt full of loveâ, âI donât usually tell anyone this, but Iâm recommending it because we have a good relationshipâ, âSisters, hurry up and go watch it. This will really touch you as a dog ownerââ¦
They were inflammations!
Under the influence of these swindlers, more and more people began to buy tickets for âHachikoâ.â
The next day.
A girl, sitting in the theater waiting for âHachikoâ to play, happily posted in her Moments:
âI had a fight with my boyfriend a while ago and Iâm not feeling well. Came to the theater to watch Teacher Admirable Fishâs new movie to heal myself. I absolutely love Teacher Admirable Fishâs first movie âFlirting Scholarâ. I still remember Teacher Admirable Fishâs promotional slogan of his film: Rescue the unhappy. Teacher Admirable Fish, save me again!â
The girl specifically posted about her âHachikoâ ticket and a selfie of herself.
Her best friend commented quickly, âDid you bring tissues?â
The girl humorously replied to her best friend, âWhy do I need a tissue to watch a movie? Am I going to poop in the theater?â
The friend then replied with an ellipsis.
She was about to carry on interacting, then the movie startedâ¦
So she muted her phone and sat back, recalling her joke earlier, a smile spread on her lips and she eagerly started to watch the movie.
Clicking sound.
The gears of time started to turn.
Letâs just fast-forward ninety-three minutes laterâ¦
At the same time in countless theaters, most of the viewers silently took out their phones and began to vent their feelings online or texting their friendsâ¦
âGo screw yourself!â
âWang Xiaohua, you wait for me!â
âHe Mingxuan, youâre dead!â
âI swear, next year today, Iâll go and honor your dead body!â
ââ¦â
Meanwhile, the girl who posted before going to the movie was now crying so much that she texted her best friend: âI have decided to break up with my boyfriend.â
Her best friend was stunned: âHuh?â
She sobbed and said: âHeâs a far cry from Xiao Ba!â
Her best friend: ââ¦â
Not long afterwards, these people also happily joined the team of swindlers. They couldnât be the only ones whoâd cry!
So it is said:
The swindlers are swindled; Itâs an endless cycle.