Super Zoo

"Jiao Shou, can I stay in the zoo to play for a few days? I don't need to attend the meeting anyway, and I don't seem to be in the next episode."

Who would have thought that right before the film crew was about to leave the zoo, the lead actress Xiaomei suddenly asked Jiao Shou.

Actually, her role in this episode wasn't substantial, just a symbolic presence at the beginning and end, and her lines totaled two sentences. She didn't need to familiarize herself with the plot nor spend time filming; frankly, her part could have been played by a cardboard cutout.

Precisely because of this, she had plenty of free time on set to play with the animals. While others were filming, she would be squatting on the sidelines, teasing the monkeys. Most girls like animals, and the ones brought in for filming had been specially trained by Suming, able to be both cute and act like domineering CEOs, quickly capturing Xiaomei's tender heart.

As she spoke, she was hugging a fatty rabbit, the very one named Tutu-chan.

Tutu-chan, the Hop-hop King, was rescued from Huiya's mouth by Xiaomei and, after being trained with spiritual power by Suming for a day, joined the filming crew on the spot, playing the role of Boss Number One, the Hop-hop King.

"Yeah, okay, just don't trouble Mr. Su," Jiao Shou warned specifically before boarding the vehicle, and Xiaomei said with a giggle, "I wouldn't dream of it."

It was unclear whether she was talking to Jiao Shou or to Tutu-chan as she rubbed the rabbit's long ears, "Right, we are being very good, aren't we?"

Girls who say they are well-behaved usually aren't all that docile. Xiaomei might look quiet and like the girl next door, but she was a celebrity, after all. Using his spiritual power covertly, Suming commanded a couple of hornets to follow Xiaomei day and night for the next few days, to ensure that no accidents occurred in the zoo.

"Mr. Su, where will I be staying?" Xiaomei asked Suming while holding the rabbit.

"You're not staying at a hotel?" Suming was slightly taken aback. It sounded like she was expecting him to take care of her accommodations and meals.

Poor little star, without a decent nanny or agent and having to worry about lodging and meals herself. Staying in a hotel was possible, but the nearest one was several kilometers away from the zoo, and as a stranger in Yangchuan City, Suming couldn't possibly assign someone to accompany her exclusively.

"Why don't I stay at your place? It's quiet with beautiful scenery, and I can play around in the zoo every day." Xiaomei tugged at Suming's sleeve and cooed.

When the crew negotiated with Suming, they sometimes did it in the office, sometimes directly at Whisperwind Pavilion, and Jiao Shou had even shared tea with Suming on the pavilion's deck. Xiaomei had been there too and quite liked the environment.

"Stop joking, what are you thinking? You're not afraid of scandal, but I am," Suming rolled his eyes. If she really moved into the pavilion, that would be like mud falling into the crotch – not poop, but close enough.

Well, of course, that comparison isn't quite suitable. Xiaomei did have her charms, definitely not mud, let alone poop...

Besides, as someone with a girlfriend, how could he possibly let another woman move in to live with him?

"So where will I stay? I'm not going to a hotel. If I wanted to stay in a hotel, why would I come to Yangchuan City?" Xiaomei pouted, her eyes rolling whiter than the fur on Tutu-chan in her arms, practically threatening to faint herself if he suggested she stay at a hotel.

I knew it, definitely not the docile type. Jiao Shou leaves and her true nature comes out. But the mention of Whisperwind Pavilion gave Suming an idea. There was more than one 'Whisperwind' in the zoo; beside Shuijun Lake, there was a six-story Whisperwind Pavilion with an environment just as nice as the Fengshui Pavilion, and it was much closer to various attractions in the zoo. After arranging for a cleaning crew, he let Xiaomei stay there to make do for a few days.

"There's a boat on the lake below, and you can even ride fish; if you want to go fishing, find a researcher named Liang Shi; the pebble path beside the lake leads to the main area of the zoo, and the small path behind it goes straight to the Fox Immortal. Oh, and there's a grey wolf on the hill behind, which you have seen; don't wander around at night, be careful not to be carried off by a wolf..." Suming gave her a list of dos and don'ts.

"I heard there's a hot spring, where is it?"

After the monkeys finished brewing the wine, Suming didn't hide the existence of the hot springs anymore. He had even sent his uncle Su Desheng with a construction team to scout the area, planning to refurbish the surroundings when funds permitted. Xiaomei probably heard about it from the zoo staff.

"The hot spring hasn't been developed yet; the surrounding area is rough, and it's not safe for you to go there as a girl."

... Stay connected through empire

This episode, beyond everyone's wildest dreams, didn't only elate Jiao Shou and the film crew when it aired, but Suming also experienced the sensation of overnight fame.

Jiao Shou exchanged follows with Taoyuan Interests and actively recommended them.

While Taoyuan Interests already had some young fans, along with some older ones who may not all enjoy web series, the unexpected fans were mainly young people. Thus, Suming's original followers might not all be interested in the unexpected hit show, but most of the surprises' fans were quite fond of animals.

In just a few days, the followers of Taoyuan Interests surged to nearly five hundred thousand, and the number continued to rise!

What's called a nouveau riche, that's it!

In the past, despite being on TV and dealing with the Fox Immortal incident, along with a charity funds investigation, he spent so much time and effort, and only just managed to break a hundred thousand followers on Weibo.

But now, just by assisting with a web series and exchanging follows with Jiao Shou, in less than a week, his follower count multiplied several times, so much so that even Suming began to doubt the data on the server, wondering if there was an error in the stats?

Fifty thousand followers, all real people without any fake followers. While still far from the tens of millions that popular stars boast, it had surpassed many so-called famous institutions and shows, an unimaginable feat for a zoo with educational purpose.

Suming went online to check, and among the largest zoos in the country, just in terms of Weibo marketing, they've been left in the dust by Yangchuan City Zoo by a long shot. The Capital Zoo's Weibo only just broke ten thousand followers, and the renowned Songjiang Wildlife Zoo's followers have just surpassed fifty thousand, which isn't even on the same level as Yangchuan City Zoo.

The new followers are also interested in more than just the "Never Would Have Guessed" show itself.

At first, everyone's attention was focused on the animals featured in the show. Those monkeys and hopping kings were poles apart from the animals in regular zoos, with many people mistaking Yangchuan City Zoo for a circus. But after longtime fans introduced them to previous posts and dug up a series of videos featuring things like riding fish and Fox Immortals, only then did they realize that this was no circus—Yangchuan City Zoo is simply one of a kind!

"Holy shit, are these foxes for real? Are you sure it's not CGI? I'm convinced!"

"Are they really riding fish?"

"Just come and visit Yangchuan Zoo, and you'll know. I go there to play every week, and the fish-riding attraction has been redeveloped for a month now, with lines every day!"

"What breed of axolotl looks like a crocodile?"

"The one beside it is the crocodile. These two guys fight every day. Last time I went, I saw the axolotl spraying water at the crocodile!"

"That's a huge python, just letting it crawl around on the ground, is that really okay?"

"The zoo director mentioned that they are building a snake park on the hill behind the zoo; the pythons will live there in the future, and there are hundreds of wild venomous snakes..."

"I've been into 'Magical Beast' since the '50s, and I'd like to visit Yangchuan Dasheng Distillery in person. Director, will the distillery be open to the public? Do they have Chen. Stormstout Brew?"

"Isn't Stormstout Brew related to pandas? Could there be pandaren?! Director, are there really pandas there?"

"Director, director, is that Da Sheng Liquor really as amazing as they say? The drink of youth, friendship, and health?"

"Same question, I'm going to my girlfriend's house next week, and I don't know what gift to bring. Director, where can I actually buy Da Sheng Liquor? I've searched many stores and can't find it!"

...

Alongside "Never Would Have Guessed", another name that has been making waves is none other than Yangchuan City Dasheng Liquor Industry.

With a focus different from that of general viewers, professional journalists from major news outlets have a keener sense of smell and concentrate on digging deeper into phenomena beyond their surface.

Close to the water, Whisperwind Pavilion got the moon first and was the first to publish an article.

"Who is King in the Age of the Internet?"

The article analyzed marketing models in the internet age, posing a question: In an era where information spreads at incredible speeds, how should product marketing be conducted? Clearly, the old adage "If the wine is good, it needs no bush" no longer applies. In the current environment, which is more important—product quality or marketing?

Other major media outlets also published their articles almost simultaneously.

"Never Would Have Guessed breathes second life..."

"A national frenzy of celebration!"

"Humans and animals, you protect me, and I bring you joy!"

"Overnight fame: Yangchuan City Dasheng Liquor Industry!"

"In fact, Da Sheng Liquor is currently unavailable on the market!"

"Hundred-Fruit Wine—Exploring the origins of Monkey Wine brewing."

Media outlets from major southeastern Huaxia regions, as well as numerous national internet media platforms, like Qianbaidu and Sōuhu, had several columnists provide in-depth analysis, as nearly all of them voiced their opinions due to the popularity of that episode of "Never Would Have Guessed."

This is not just about a web series heating up once more, but about the underlying effective marketing model it represents.

But as of now, this so-called 'Yangchuan City Da Sheng Liquor' isn't available for sale in various major stores as mentioned in the web series.

On the contrary, Da Sheng Liquor can't be bought on the market at all.