One by one, they all left. Some even spat at me as they passed, glaring at me as if I were some disgusting cockroach.
Seeing that, a few of my employees also quit.
The once lively fried chicken restaurant suddenly became cold and empty.
Over the next few days, not a single customer came. Instead, someone even started throwing feces and urine at the shop's entrance.
I've got a bad reputation, too. Even before the show started, my name was already trending in local news.
My parents were so angry that they threatened to cut ties with me. And to make matters worse, my in-laws used their power to create a special TV program to attack me, turning the whole incident into a national hot topic.
Many reporters came to interview me beforehand. I said nothing except that I would appear on the show as scheduled.
When the day of the show finally arrived, the entire studio was packed and millions of people tuned in to the live stream, waiting to see me become a joke.
My parents didn't come, but they sent me an ultimatum. They couldn't bear the shame anymore and demanded that I apologize before the show started, or they would cut me off completely.