This premeditated large-scale smear campaign against Zhong Ruanxing did not actually last long.
Song JinXing intended to take this opportunity to eliminate those so-called "opponents" all at once and gave them enough time to make trouble. But he was not in a hurry, neither was Zhong Ruanxing, but they made Song Shuling, Bai Yinyue and others extremely anxious.
Bai Yinyue called his cell phone directly and started cursing, "Song JinXing, can you do it or not? If you can't, let me handle it!"
Song Shuling also blocked the front door and, despite the cold early spring weather, her face was flushed with anxiety: "Brother! Are you bankrupt and have no money to hire internet water armies? I'll give you all my money, quickly help my sister find PR and lawyers! Arrest all those rumormongers!"
Even Granny Song called to express her concern, asking Zhong Ruanxing in a worried tone: "Has my little star offended someone recently? Why don't you help resolve this? Does grandpa need to step in?"
Zhong Ruanxing laughed and reassured her: "Don't worry Granny, it will be resolved soon."
Granny Song exhorted her a few more words, and asked her to tell her daughter-in-law that she would not believe those online rumors and not to take them to heart.
After Song JinXing and Zhong Ruanxing reassured their family and friends, they waited calmly for the right time.
To carry out such a targeted large-scale smear campaign online, there must be traces left behind the scenes. The invisible hand that Song JinXing had placed in the dark grasped those artists involved.
Xu Qishen sorted through the evidence sent over by Boss Song, and glanced up at the overflowing private messages again, a glint of excitement flashed across his eyes behind his glasses. He hadn't gotten a big case like this in a long time - the money was secondary, the main thing was that he really liked watching the defendants kneel down and confess while crying painfully.
With so many defendants this time, the kneeling scenes must be quite wonderful. It was really something to look forward to.
Soon, while the crowd was "attacking" Zhong Ruanxing, Sheng Entertainment's official Weibo account announced termination of their contract with her. This signal pushed the incident to another climax. The antis and internet water armies used this as evidence to confirm Zhong Ruanxing's alleged "crimes", and it seemed that there was no place left for her in the entire entertainment industry.
Looking at Zhong Ruanxing who remained silent, Yuan Zhiyong revealed a smile of successful revenge. It seemed that her backer had indeed abandoned her, otherwise such an incident would not have been allowed to happen.
Yuan Zhiyong was in a great mood and was about to invite two or three good friends to celebrate with drinks, when the previously silent Zhong Ruanxing suddenly posted a video on Weibo.
The simple words of the caption were like a clap of thunder:
- @Zhong Ruanxing: Regardless of gender or profession, dare to say no to workplace harassment. Even with consequences like this, I still believe justice lies in people's hearts.
With the protagonist finally speaking up while at the center of the storm, this Weibo post became a hot search topic within a minute of the video being released.
Whether it was passersby, righteous netizens, antis or true fans, they all fell silent after clicking to watch the video. After the silence came great anger.
Which corporate slave among them hasn't suffered from the persecution of drinking culture? How many hardworking women in the workplace haven't experienced such sexually harassing male gazes?
Every humiliating word and harassing move that Zhong Ruanxing suffered in the video, happens constantly in this society, in countless fields and corners.
The difference is that some people resist while others don't even dare to resist.
Even for a public figure like Zhong Ruanxing, what awaited her after resisting was still a malicious smear campaign that would ruin her.
If her agent hadn't recorded the video back then, what would happen?
Under the control of these foul capitalists, even if she stood up to clarify and explain, no one would believe her. She could only leave showbiz under this stigma, and live forever under the outside world's humiliation and contempt.
This is the living environment for women today.
A simple rumor is enough to completely destroy them.
Sometimes, even rumors are not needed. Wearing a cropped top, dyeing beautiful pink hair, answering the door in pajamas to get a delivery - these ridiculous reasons can also become blades to kill them.
In the video, that greasy fat middle-aged man spoke righteously with the most disgusting words. His filthy, stinking fat hand gripped Zhong Ruanxing's shoulder, just like the countless similar people in real life, ruthlessly suppressing the victim's desire to resist.
But this time, the girl in the video didn't disappoint everyone.
Not only did she fight back, she punched the greasy man until he knelt down begging for mercy. Even as he spouted threats to boycott her and make her suffer a fate worse than death, the sight of him whimpering on the ground was still laughable.
The final scene of Zhong Ruanxing wiping her hands with a handkerchief handed to her by a bodyguard, throwing it on the ground and swaggering away, could simply be awarded the best cathartic scene of the year. The viewers who saw the video erupted:
- Damn!!! Well punched! Why didn't you beat this scumbag to death!!! I wish I could jump into the video and kick him a few more times!
- It was "Lady's Portrait" right? The producer's surname is Yuan right? Such a disgusting crew, such a disgusting producer, I'll remember them.
- I'm crying to death. The pressure that Zhong Ruanxing endured these past few days before finally releasing this video, the lawless entertainment industry right?
- Beaten like this, how dare he still spread rumors that Zhong Ruanxing inversely bribed him? Can't even match up to her! Greasy-headed fat-eared lecherous old man!
- I want to ask Mr. Yuan, don't you have a wife? Don't you have a daughter? Aren't you afraid that your wife and daughter will also be humiliated and harassed like this outside?
- Inhuman scum, may you be infertile!
- Zhong Ruanxing is so brave. She knew what would happen, this can't have been the first time she experienced this.
- Zhong Ruanxing said in the video that it wasn't the first time she heard such threats. I'm crying, so that's why she still hasn't become popular after so many years, because she was always suppressed for resisting!
- So I ask, does Mr. Yuan mean that only obedient women who submit to his advances can become the female lead? So the current confirmed female lead, Cheng Xitian?
- Zhong Ruanxing is so handsome so handsome so handsome so handsome!!! Beautiful heroine, from now on you'll walk the flower path and reach the peak!!!
...
The video was the most perfect evidence.
Zhong Ruanxing in the video was the most perfect victim.
After releasing the video, she reposted Sheng Entertainment's termination announcement:
- @Zhong Ruanxing: I am extremely angry and disappointed at your company's collusion with the defendant's shameful behavior. Six years working together, ends today.
The netizens realized there was still an accomplice! Not only did they not help their own artist, they eagerly terminated her contract. What, did Mr. Yuan give you some benefit? Oh, it was the female lead role in "Lady's Portrait" right?
Wait, Zhong Ruanxing said defendant?
Soon, netizens knew why she said defendant.
Because the previously silent top lawyer Xu Qishen finally made a move.
Not only did he sue Mr. Yuan the producer, leaving netizens shocked, he also sued a bunch of celebrities completely unrelated to the matter. Among them was Cheng Xitian, who had just gotten the female lead role in "Lady's Portrait".
Lawyer Xu stated that he already had evidence that these artists had been involved in spreading rumors and defamation against Zhong Ruanxing, and not a single one could escape.
Wow! What a cathartic plot twist this year!