A viral dog with over 100 million fans across the internet, featured on the front page of the Liberation Daily, turns out to be fictional?

Even if you don't spend much time online, you’ve surely seen the viral "cross-eyed dog" with bright red fur and unusual eyes, which captured over 100 million fans due to its uniquely captivating look.

Recently, this cross-eyed puppy surged in popularity again by being featured on the front page of the October 8th Liberation Daily, a reputable official newspaper, with the headline "Let Passion Be Seen, Let Creativity Be Supported."

The front-page photo shows the Shanghai CPSP exhibition booth for the mobile game "Justice Online," decorated as a giant cross-eyed puppy wearing the crown of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, giving off a "Dog Emperor" vibe.

In fact, this cross-eyed puppy originates from the pet-raising feature in the Justice Online mobile game. After the game's pet system became popular, players accidentally bred this bright red, cross-eyed dog, which quickly went viral due to its bizarre appearance. It not only became the game's mascot but also gained fame beyond the game.

Since the cross-eyed puppy went viral, the official team has been actively developing its IP value. Besides being a promotional symbol everyone in the game owns, a full set of cross-eyed puppy emoji packs has been released, widely used across social media platforms.

Last month, the official store launched two cross-eyed puppy merchandise items: a plush shoulder bag and a water bottle. Both sold tens of thousands instantly, showing tremendous popularity.

At the CPSP event, the cross-eyed puppy theme dominated the venue. Besides the giant "Dog Emperor" centerpiece, all cosplayers portraying game characters, including handsome heroes and fashionable avatars, wore dog ears, transforming collectively into pups.

They even introduced a "Dog Emperor Parade," featuring four muscular men carrying a sedan chair for the cross-eyed puppy, parading around the exhibition with characters like the Divine Seer escorting them, creating a grand spectacle.

By the way, these four muscular men wore pants covered with prints of the cross-eyed puppy’s “pain pants,” causing the puppy fans at the event to burst into laughter.

Moreover, the exhibition’s decorations and giveaways were all themed around the cross-eyed puppy, fully idolizing this virtual dog and captivating every passerby.

While Justice Online promoted the cross-eyed puppy on a grand scale, players also enjoyed it immensely—not only playing with the celebrity dog in-game but also seeing so many adorable puppy-themed products in real life, making it truly fun.

It must be said, the Justice Online team really knows how to engage fans. How do you all feel about this charming cross-eyed puppy?