Chapter 440

Chapter 440: Chapter 440

At these words, all the reporters looked over, their eyes filled with hope.

Whether they were from the state media or the entertainment tabloids, all of them made their living off news events.

This was especially true for the entertainment reporters. If they could get their hands on a brand-new, explosive story, it would not only be a chance to make a name for themselves but would also earn them a hefty commission.

Within the industry, one reporter had once made millions just by getting the scoop on a top-tier celebrity’s scandal!

Although Lin Jiji wasn’t a top-tier star, given his fame and the current buzz around his exposé, an even more explosive story was a guaranteed opportunity for big money. It would also boost their own standing within the industry.

So, as they all looked at Chenyang, they didn’t just press him for details—they started arguing amongst themselves for the exclusive rights to the story.

"What kind of more explosive news?"

"Doctor Chen, can we speak in private? If you give this exclusive story to me and me alone, I’ll make it well worth your while."

"I’m willing to pay more to buy this scoop from you. We want this to be our exclusive report!"

"You tabloid reporters really will stop at nothing for a scoop, won’t you? Offering bribes right out in the open."

"This isn’t bribery, it’s just a standard purchase of information. That’s not illegal, is it? Besides, it’s you reporters from the state media who are used to having stories handed to you on a silver platter. You expect to reap the rewards without doing any work. Doctor Chen has suffered so much during this incident, so isn’t it perfectly normal for him to get some compensation for his emotional distress in exchange for information on Lin Jiji?"

"You..." The few reporters from the state media were left speechless by the tabloid reporter’s retort.

After listening to them, however, Chenyang couldn’t help but look surprised. "You can get paid for news?"

"Of course you can," Yao Yadi explained quietly from the side. "In our industry, exclusives on celebrities or other public figures are always hotly contested. Whoever gets the scoop is the one who stands to gain the most."

"Take new media companies, for example. Normally, they can only follow behind the major outlets, reporting on things that are already public knowledge while slowly building their own followers and influence. The major outlets, on the other hand, are the primary channels for exclusives. By leveraging those scoops, they can earn much bigger profits."

"If a small media company happens to get its hands on a few brand-new, explosive stories—it doesn’t even have to be many—that’s enough for them to make a name for themselves. Their company’s influence and the follower counts on their accounts would see a massive boost."

"This is why, right before an exclusive story breaks, companies will do everything in their power to fight for it. And in that fight, buying the information with cash is the most effective and direct method."

It dawned on Chenyang. "So, how much would a bombshell story about Lin Jiji be worth?"

"That depends on how explosive the story is. For example, the news that was just exposed—about him sleeping with fans and forcing them to have abortions—if that had been sold to a single media company beforehand, it would have fetched around several tens of thousands."

"That much?"

"Of course. At the end of the day, Lin Jiji is still a B-list celebrity, and he’s had a lot of exposure this year, so his price tag is naturally high. If it were a story about him using illegal substances or selling his body to a sponsor, the price would be at least in the six figures, maybe even more."

Hearing this, the corner of Chenyang’s mouth twitched. "So when I just dumped all that information online at once... does that mean I missed out on close to a million?"

Yao Yadi smiled. "Theoretically, yes. But... if you hadn’t chosen to expose it like that, you wouldn’t have the upper hand right now. To be blunt, if that news hadn’t attracted the state media, Lin Jiji would probably still be gloating right in your face."

Chenyang nodded. ’That’s true,’ he thought.

Even though he had enough leverage to keep Lin Jiji in check, that leverage was useless until it was brought to light. Without that, Lin Jiji would never be in his current position, quietly awaiting judgment.

After a brief pause, Chenyang voiced the question that was really on his mind. "If the stuff from before was already that valuable, what if I had an even juicier piece of gossip, plus a story about him breaking the law? Roughly how much would that be worth?"

Yao Yadi asked, "Do you really have stories like that?"

"Of course!"

"Is the information reliable? Do you have hard evidence?"

"I do!"

The gossip and news of criminal activity Chenyang mentioned didn’t come from Liu Yue. They came from Brother Wei, who had told him as part of a deal to save his own skin.

Brother Wei was the leader of the thugs Lin Jiji had hired to deal with Chenyang. After realizing he’d been double-crossed by Lin Jiji, he had offered up these two secrets as bargaining chips in exchange for Chenyang letting him off the hook.

Back then, Chenyang and Yan Rongrong had asked, and Brother Wei had assured them that the two secrets were true. He also claimed to have some evidence to back them up.