“Why did the police withdraw?” Seeing the police vanish in the blink of an eye, even the other TV executives on the elevated platforms were momentarily stunned, but they quickly understood.
American police are essentially a hired service; they receive payment from the government and thus exert some effort when working for the government. However, they have no obligation to protect a wealthy individual.
When faced with over a hundred thousand people surging forward, with no benefit to be gained from intervention, a tactical retreat was entirely logical.
Simultaneously, some executives harbored deeper suspicions. They had heard whispers that a certain domestic conglomerate was actively seeking to oust the arrogant Huang He. This entity wielded considerable influence, making it plausible that they had intervened behind the scenes, perhaps orchestrating the police’s premature withdrawal to embarrass Los Gatos Media and its benefactor, Jiangnan Group.
Of course, a minority believed the situation was somewhat abnormal. While American police often acted in a less than ideal manner, they generally maintained a semblance of professionalism in front of the cameras, especially with two to three hundred lenses focused on them. Their direct withdrawal was, frankly, unusual!
However, these lingering questions were soon answered. As all the police withdrew from outside the corrugated iron fence, the previously standing metal barriers suddenly collapsed inward, crashing to the ground. This startled several of the protestors who had been at the forefront.
Two individuals, who had been the most vociferous moments before, froze in place out of shock. They were then pushed forward by the surging crowd behind them, falling to the ground and being trampled underfoot several times.
Fortunately, these individuals were seasoned protestors with extensive experience, and the crowd was not moving at breakneck speed. After being stepped on a few times, they quickly managed to get back on their feet, otherwise, their lives could have been in peril.
However, if they had actually died, Mr. Huang would have faced significant trouble, likely having to pay at least a hundred thousand US dollars per person in compensation.
Returning to the matter at hand, once these metal fences collapsed inward automatically, the scene within the enclosure was finally revealed. The Times Square, once a bustling hub of modern urban life characterized by concrete and steel, was now bathed in a vibrant, festive atmosphere.
Inside Times Square, numerous Christmas trees stood tall. Of course, it wasn't Christmas, so a closer look revealed they weren't actual Christmas trees but rather apple trees adorned with a multitude of colorful lights.
Yes, genuine apple trees, all planted within a massive flower bed and arranged across the ground of Times Square. This transformation had effectively turned the concrete jungle into a veritable urban forest.
Furthermore, each “Christmas tree” was interconnected by red silk ribbons, with each ribbon displaying an array of exquisite decorations and banners.
Beyond these beautiful adornments, the entire plaza featured other diverse decorations and arrangements, making Times Square appear incredibly beautiful, almost like stepping into a fairy tale.
However, what truly captured everyone's attention were the people within the plaza. Not a single person was dressed in ordinary attire; everyone wore a variety of bizarre and fascinating costumes.
The crowd consisted almost entirely of characters from classic movies and television shows, encompassing realistic dramas, mythological figures, and individuals dressed in anime-inspired outfits.
This scene would undoubtedly be familiar to avid fans of Japanese animation and subculture, as it was essentially a massive Cosplay exhibition! Indeed, many strikingly beautiful women with captivating figures were clad in costumes from various anime, such as Sailor Moon or Lara Croft. The sight of their fair skin and exposed midriffs made countless men swallow hard.
Faced with this spectacle, the American public felt a sense of familiarity, as they often encountered similar masquerade scenes during Halloween. The current event bore a striking resemblance to those festivities.
Still, organizing a masquerade in Times Square was an event that happened perhaps only once or twice in a lifetime.
Finally, and perhaps most captivatingly, were the diverse aromas wafting from Times Square. Upon closer inspection, they discovered tables randomly placed throughout the venue, each laden with enticing food.
It wasn't just pre-prepared dishes on the tables; there were also cooking appliances like induction stoves, ovens, and microwaves, alongside various food stalls where culinary creations were being prepared live!
“What is going on!” The protestors at the front were utterly bewildered, completely at a loss to understand the situation. At that moment, a pleasant female voice resonated, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the opening celebration hosted by Los Gatos Media!”
“For the past three days, we have been meticulously preparing an opening celebration that is completely free and open to the public. We believe that celebrating and sharing the joy of an opening with everyone is the true essence of a wonderful moment. Therefore, we have thoughtfully designed and decorated this revitalized Times Square, all to share happiness with you!”
“However, we must ask for your forgiveness for our secrecy. To present you with a surprise, we chose to remain silent for these three days, revealing nothing, all to provide the greatest surprise at this very moment!”
“Now, please, join us in participating in the opening celebration of Los Gatos Media and enjoy this beautiful evening! Everyone is welcome to enter freely. All the food and beverages on site are also completely free. We have also prepared dozens of interactive mini-events, where you can participate to win prizes!”
“Furthermore, we will be hosting a stage performance on the grand stage at the center of Times Square. We have invited performance groups from China, Europe, and the United States to bring you an extraordinary carnival!”
“Additionally, we will be distributing one million Los Gatos Cable Television Boxes for free. All users who have not yet received a television box can claim one by providing their social security number. Simply registering your credit card account will also grant you an additional month of Los Gatos membership benefits!”
Upon hearing the female voice’s announcement, the crowd initially fell silent, followed by a tremendous roar of cheers. It turned out they had misjudged Los Gatos Media; they were truly benevolent.
Some people instinctively glanced at the protest signs they were holding, then casually discarded them on the ground before rushing into Times Square. With so much free food, entertainment, and activities, how could they possibly miss out?
Of course, there were also some protestors who stared blankly at the scene, looking at their protest signs, unsure of how to deliver their pre-planned, impassioned speeches.
After all, Times Square was now open to all audiences for free. Their demands had already been met before they were even voiced. What were they supposed to do now?
Perhaps more mentally devastated than the protestors were the executives of the major television networks. They were acutely aware that their respective networks had gone to extraordinary lengths to cover this event, even coordinating live broadcasts where all American television stations focused solely on a single news item simultaneously—a scene typically reserved for events like US presidential elections or declarations of war. Yet, all this attention was now directed at the opening celebration of a media company held in New York's Times Square.
This was an unprecedented occurrence under normal circumstances. In fact, regardless of how grand an opening celebration might be, these networks would never have reported on it, let alone organized a collective live broadcast. Wasn't this essentially drumming up business for their competitors?
But the reality was that it had already happened. Their cameras were all aimed at Times Square, and all the on-site reporters, broadcast personnel, and commentators were immersed in their work, exclaiming in surprise at the sudden and dramatic turn of events. Simultaneously, the viewership numbers for each network surged.
What were these executives supposed to do at this juncture?
Simply cut the live broadcast?
While that was technically an option, it would render all the efforts of their employees, who had been mobilized over the past two to three days, entirely futile.
Certainly, employees were meant to be exploited, and they wouldn't dare voice their anger. However, the audience was a different matter. The current audience craved plot twists and reversals. When viewers witnessed the astonishing surprises and turns of events unfold on their television screens, they felt an urge to leap into the television and experience the event firsthand.
If the broadcast were to be cut now, the official phone lines of the television stations would likely be inundated with complaints imminently.
Furthermore, it wasn't just one television station broadcasting; nearly half of all television stations across America with live broadcast capabilities were airing the event. While they could cut their own feed, other stations might not. Consequently, viewers would undoubtedly switch channels to other stations that were still broadcasting.
This would not only fail to curb the rival's influence but also alienate their own loyal viewers, potentially even driving them to competitor channels. This was an unthinkable outcome.
In essence, once the jubilant live broadcast commenced, the television stations had no option but to continue broadcasting. They could only watch helplessly as their own television screens continuously promoted another media company.
The television executives, who had been so confident and analytical just moments ago, discussing how Los Gatos Media would fail, were now forced to don expressions of anguish, squatting where they stood, contemplating how they would deceive their boards of directors the following day.
However, it was fortunate that this was a collective lapse in judgment, eliminating the pressure of comparison with others.