If there’s one thing netizens universally despise most, it’s bullying!
The big scandal that broke today immediately shot to the trending search.
Li Ziyue truly lived up to being a web series actress – she did possess some acting skills.
Along with this, Gu Yanqiu’s name once again appeared on the trending search.
This time, Gu Yanqiu responded promptly. Facing the insults and doubts, he immediately posted a clarification on Weibo: “No bullying occurred. Please provide evidence for your claims. If evidence exists, I will withdraw from the entertainment industry.”
This account of Gu Yanqiu’s was basically an official repost account and had never taken such a firm stance before. Seeing him like this now,
Netizens immediately protested: “Seriously, bro? Threatening to quit the industry over this? Who are you trying to intimidate?”
“Demanding the victim provide proof – isn’t this just tearing open old wounds?”
“Speaking so aggressively. Probably bullies people regularly, won’t even soften his tone for something like this.”
“No wonder you’ve never made it big all these years – there’s a reason for it.”
But this time, Gu Yanqiu’s fans didn’t just sit back. They immediately countered: “Shouldn’t such matters require evidence and solid proof? Can you just slander people with empty words?”
“My brother must be blocking someone’s path. Now they’re starting trouble again.”
“Am I the only one who finds the filming angle too deliberate?”
“The crying looks so fake too. Using all your web series acting skills here? How shameless.”
Li Ziyue’s fans weren’t pushovers either. In terms of numbers, they outnumbered Gu Yanqiu’s fans several times over. Plus, Li Ziyue had rich fans.
So on various posts attacking Gu Yanqiu, there were even reposts offering lipstick, bags, and 18PROs as gifts, making it seem like Li Ziyue had more supporters, creating quite a grand scene.
PK money?
Apple Sweet wasn’t having it. So a repost offering an SUV as gift appeared.
The second repost offered a property in Jiangdong. Right after posting, group administrator Moon replied underneath: “Calm down, calm down!!!”
Others in the group were shocked too. After much persuasion, they managed to convince her to delete the property giveaway post, but not before someone quick-handed took a screenshot. Ordinary observers were astonished.
“Damn… can you even participate in fandom without money?”
“Um, when a group of kids agree to play house, why is someone bringing the Green Dragon Crescent Blade? This is too much…”
“I’m at the frontline of this drama. Joined two fan groups. Li Ziyue’s fan group is discussing how to hire paid commenters to escalate this. Gu Yanqiu’s fan group is all trying to persuade the rich lady to delete the property giveaway post – laughing tears.” Then they posted two contrasting screenshots. One side was fully prepared for battle, while the other was entirely filled with people urging Apple Sweet to delete the post, all saying, “This won’t do.”
This message quickly climbed to the top three trending posts. Since both parties were under the same company, Orange Media, many netizens went to leave comments under the official media account, hoping for a quick response.
But the official media account, which usually had dedicated management, remained silent as a dead dog.
Gu Yanqiu was currently in his room. His manager was calling the company executives: “This Li Ziyue has such a black Heart. We’ve never offended her normally. Now she comes out spouting nonsense. And we’re in the same company too, I spit! This kind of person is truly a rotten apple. The company needs to issue an anti-black statement immediately. Ah, yes yes, Manager Lin, I’ll wait for your update.”
After hanging up the phone, the male manager paced back and forth in the room: “What kind of mess is this?”
Gu Yanqiu had only just begun to gain a bit of popularity—nowhere near the level of truly famous stars—and yet he was already seen as a threat?
The male manager had been waiting to level up alongside Gu Yanqiu. Before the company could even roll out their operations plan, a major scandal dropped out of nowhere.
Though usually mild-tempered, Gu Yanqiu was furious at being provoked by Li Ziyue in such an extreme manner. He felt as though fate was toying with him.
Every time he showed the slightest sign of rising, something bigger would come along and overshadow it. It was as if an invisible hand was pressing down on him, refusing to let him break through.
Just then, Gu Yanqiu’s phone rang. He glanced at it, and his eyes instantly lit up with a brilliant spark: “It’s Chen Duo calling.”
Hearing this, the male manager immediately rushed over and even answered the phone for Gu Yanqiu: “Hello…”
Chen Duo said on the other end, “Don’t be upset. I know you’re not that kind of person. We’ll all help you.”
“Thank you,” Gu Yanqiu’s voice was slightly choked.
Chen Duo added, “Let me speak to your manager.”
The male manager was surprised to be involved but quickly responded, “Huh?”
“We want to help Gu Yanqiu with anti-black efforts and start preparing. Can you get us copies of Qiūqiū’s and Li Ziyue’s itineraries?” Such information wasn’t exactly secret—with enough effort, it could be found online—but it would take too much time. She wanted to get it directly from an insider.
The male manager immediately agreed without hesitation: “Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you right away.”
“As soon as possible,” she said before adding a few more words of encouragement to Gu Yanqiu: “Stay off the internet these next few days. You have to believe that many people online genuinely like you.”
Chen Duo knew that Gu Yanqiu tended to be a bit sensitive and prone to overthinking. Being repeatedly knocked down just as he was about to take off would be unbearable for anyone.
Little did she know that her simple words of encouragement had almost pulled Gu Yanqiu back from the brink of despair.
Soon, both itineraries were obtained. Li Ziyue had been consistently on set filming, while Gu Yanqiu had been rehearsing at the company the entire time.
With no overlap between their schedules, how could there be any talk of bullying?
Li Ziyue’s itinerary also showed several hotel stays, so Chen Duo immediately began pulling surveillance footage.
Everyone had been waiting for the company to issue a statement defending Gu Yanqiu, but from morning till afternoon, the official media account remained silent as if dead.
This made even those who initially believed in Gu Yanqiu start to waver: “If even the company won’t speak up for him, the situation must be complicated.”
Li Ziyue’s fans, previously suppressed by the rich woman, began celebrating wildly again.
Gu Yanqiu’s manager spent the afternoon making calls to several departments. At first, those who answered promised to help with the anti-black campaign, but later they became evasive.
Eventually, they stopped taking his calls altogether. Both he and Gu Yanqiu felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.
Clearly, the company had chosen to side with Li Ziyue.
The company’s sudden abandonment caught them completely off guard. Time continued to tick away, and the longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for them.
At this very moment, bad news kept pouring in. It was said that Li Ziyue had appeared on a debate show. The topic was: Should adults seek revenge against their childhood bullies?
This made her male manager see black spots before his eyes again and again. What on earth was all this about?