C18 Public Opinion

Ruocan Media's PR department was in a frenzy. The head of the department, visibly frustrated, instructed the team to quickly strategize. This scandal was different from the usual minor incidents. The speed and scale of the online spread made it clear that this was an organized, premeditated plot.

The boss had already issued orders to regain control of public opinion. If this situation crushed Qu Zhenzhen's career, the loss for Ruocan would be immeasurable.

Qu Zhenzhen understood the gravity of the situation and was constantly monitoring the online buzz. She frowned as she read some of the harsh comments from internet trolls. The truth didn't seem to matter to them; they were only interested in the thrill of gossip.

With today's advanced media, you can stay informed about the world without leaving your home. A few influential voices can easily sway public opinion, leading to a one-sided narrative.

It seems that publicly condemning a celebrity has become the easiest way to ruin someone. Hidden behind the anonymity of the internet, people feel free to lash out. If they don't like you, they'll attack you.

In just a few hours, rumors about Qu Zhenzhen dominated the headlines of major gossip sites. "Rising Star Qu Zhenzhen's Romance Exposed" ... "Popular Actress Caught Meeting with Corporate Exec at Hotel" ... "Qu Zhenzhen Uses Influence to Bully Co-Stars" ... The derogatory headlines were endless, occupying the top spots on trending searches.

Qu Zhenzhen's assistant and manager were bombarded with calls, all seeking a reaction from her. Frustrated, the manager eventually turned off the phone. Meanwhile, Ruocan's office was in chaos, with the PR department's phones ringing nonstop as media outlets scrambled for exclusives and breaking news. Employees were so busy they barely had a moment to catch their breath.

Inside the CEO's office.

Xie Yaotian sat with a furrowed brow, eyes glued to the computer screen. The online backlash was so intense that even with all his public relations efforts, he couldn't completely erase the scandal from the internet.

The increasing insults and escalating rhetoric had pushed the situation far beyond Ruocan's control.

Xie Yaotian picked up the internal phone and instructed his secretary to bring in the company's private lawyer.

After a discussion, he called the head of public relations back into the office.

"Attorney Chen will discuss the details with you. You just need to get the legal notice out as soon as possible and clarify the truth online."

Xie Yaotian paused, his cold gaze fixed on the screen, and continued, "If any gossip bloggers continue to follow this, inform the platform management to shut down their accounts."

"Understood, Director Xie," the head of PR quickly agreed, dragging Attorney Chen to his office.

Having worked at Ruocan for many years, the PR head was a veteran employee. Yet, he had never seen the CEO so furious.

This was the biggest crisis Ruocan had faced since its inception, especially since the protagonist of the incident was the CEO himself. No wonder Xie Yaotian was so angry.

Twenty minutes later, a legal notice was rapidly disseminated across major platforms.

Every blogger spreading rumors was identified and sued without exception. Ruocan Media took these influencers, who were driving false narratives, to court.

The legal notice stated that, aside from expressing deep disdain for such behavior, it demanded that each blogger post an apology. Spreading rumors without evidence would not escape legal consequences.

Some of Qu Zhenzhen's fans remained steadfast in their belief that their idol hadn't done anything disgraceful, and they tried to explain this from the start.

However, their voices were small, and whenever they spoke up, they were dismissed as mindless fans with no boundaries, defending their idol no matter what.

It wasn't until Ruocan released a firm legal statement that the fans felt a glimmer of hope and stood tall.

"See, my idol isn't like that! You rumor spreaders will pay the price!"

The letter had a significant impact, intimidating those influencers who were paid to stir things up. They had no real evidence. Once they heard about the potential lawsuits, they rushed to delete posts and clean up their acts. Most of them disappeared from the scene.

Even though the public outcry was subdued, the impact on Qu Zhenzhen remained. Almost all her activities were put on hold, and she stayed at the company all day to protect her from further harm.

Zhenzhen, usually an optimist, wouldn't let things affect her mood. But this time was different. The online insults and real-life criticism took a toll on her. She no longer wore her carefree smile. The power of public opinion had finally frightened her.

She realized how easily it could destroy someone. In the past few days, she lost her appetite and noticeably lost weight.

Jing Yuanhao watched her with concern, worried for her well-being. Unfortunately, he was still dealing with his own scandal and felt helpless to support Zhenzhen. He could only watch from a distance, trying not to disturb her.

Through a series of private investigations, Xie Yaotian was almost certain that the scandal was orchestrated by a rival company. The CEO of that company had always seen Ruocan as a thorn in his side but lacked the skills to compete with Ruocan, constantly overshadowed by him.

Releasing a scandal to lead a wave of public opinion to bring down Ruocan made sense. Yaotian also discovered an important detail: the CEO had been seen frequently with a particular actress, almost daily.

The actress in question, without a doubt, must be Yuh Wan. Xie Yaotian's expression turned unreadable; this woman truly didn't know what was good for her. Since she didn't appreciate the face-saving gesture offered to her, there was no need to hold back anymore.

Meanwhile, Yuh Wan was feeling smug, thinking, "Let's see how you, Qu Zhenzhen, can block my path now. Enjoy the taste of online backlash." Yuh Wan was willing to use any means to climb the ladder, even resorting to scandalous tactics to ruin someone.

However, her moment of triumph was short-lived when she received a shocking piece of news: her film company had its operating license revoked. This plunged Yuh Wan into a downward spiral, leaving her management company saddled with millions in debt. She couldn't believe her ears. How could the license be revoked just like that?

Completely devastated, Yuh Wan's company faced bankruptcy due to the massive debt. The company executive she relied on couldn't help this time, only informing her that the revocation came from the head of the entertainment company in the region.

Faced with this disaster, Yuh Wan became despondent, staying home all day, finally quieted down.

One evening, Xie Yaotian took Qu Zhenzhen to a newly opened Thai restaurant, saying he wanted to make up for all the grievances she had endured. Initially, Qu Zhenzhen didn't have much of an appetite, but as the beautifully prepared dishes were served, she couldn't resist and started eating heartily.

"The chef here is a friend of mine. His cooking is practically Michelin standard. Eat up," Xie Yaotian said, watching Qu Zhenzhen devour the food with a subtle smile.

Qu Zhenzhen was so absorbed in the meal that she didn't even glance at Xie Yaotian, which didn't bother him at all. After a while, she finally looked up and asked, "How did you find out that the one behind the rumors was the CEO of xx company?"

She scratched her head in confusion. "But why is he giving me such a hard time? What did I ever do to him?"

Xie Yaotian couldn't tell if this woman was truly clueless or just pretending. She was just a minor celebrity, no matter how popular she seemed. Why would anyone go to great lengths to bring her down? Even the mastermind behind it all could figure it out with a little thought.

She continued gnawing on chicken wings, one after another, still puzzled. Across from her, Xie Yaotian rolled his eyes and smirked.

"I never realized you could eat so much. You're like a pig."

Qu Zhenzhen didn't want to argue with him, so she focused on enjoying her food, determined to make up for the days she went hungry.

Halfway through another chicken wing, she suddenly stopped and stared at Xie Yaotian. "Yuh Wan? Is it her?"

Xie Yaotian chuckled and handed her a napkin to wipe the grease from her mouth. "Not too dumb, after all." His acknowledgment made Qu Zhenzhen explode. She threw down the chicken wing and slammed the table.

"I knew it was that witch! She just can't stand to see me doing well, can't stand me being better than her!"

The more Qu Zhenzhen thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She stood up, ready to leave, but Xie Yaotian grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think? I'm going to confront that witch! She wants to ruin me? She thinks I'm easy to bully?"

Xie Yaotian found it amusing. This little spitfire had more temper than talent. He motioned for Qu Zhenzhen to sit back down and asked curiously, "Haven't you been following the news lately?"

Qu Zhenzhen rolled her eyes dramatically. "News? I don't even want to turn on my phone. All I see are things that ruin my mood."

It seems this woman really had no clue about what happened. Yaotian shook his head in resignation and continued, "Yuh Wan's film company has had its license revoked. All her contracts are null and void, and her agency is facing over a hundred million dollars in compensation."

Zhenzhen's eyes widened again. "Oh my gosh, really? This woman finally got what was coming to her. Who's the angel that helped me get this sweet revenge?"

The agency's bankruptcy is quite the joke. It's true what they say—what goes around comes around.

​