Paparazzi Action
The morning sun shone through thin clouds, illuminating the streets and alleys of the bustling city. In a corner of the city, in a small, dimly lit room, several figures were busily moving about. The room was filled with various photography equipment and computers, and the walls were covered with blurry photos taken secretly. The subjects of the photos were Ah Yu, Zhong Hua, and Lin Wanqing.
"Quick, process these photos again, make them more impactful," a man wearing a baseball cap and with a full beard urged in a low voice. His name was Chen San, and he was the leader of this group of paparazzi. His underlings were working nervously in front of the computer, post-processing the secretly taken photos, cropping, adjusting colors, and adding suggestive captions.
"Third Brother, are these photos really going to be a big news story?" a young paparazzi asked nervously. Chen San glared at him fiercely. "What do you know! The relationship between these three is incredibly complicated—family feuds, love triangles—that's the kind of stuff people on the internet love to read. Once it gets out, we can just sit back and count our money!"
Meanwhile, in another upscale neighborhood in the city, Ah Yu was preparing for a new job opportunity at home. He straightened his tie in front of the mirror, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. He had been working hard to secure an important advertising endorsement; if he could land it, it would be a huge boost to his career. Not far away, Zhong Hua had just gotten up and was preparing to go to the hospital to visit her sick mother. She was completely unaware that a massive storm was about to engulf her.
Online fermentation
Around noon, a series of sensational headlines suddenly appeared on major entertainment websites and social media platforms. The headlines were increasingly exaggerated: "A love triangle emerges in a wealthy family, a mysterious woman interferes!" "Ah Yu is deeply embroiled in a complicated relationship, her career may suffer a major blow!" Although the accompanying photos were edited, the figures of Ah Yu, Zhong Hua, and Lin Wanqing were still clearly visible. In the photos, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua were behaving intimately, while Lin Wanqing stood to the side with a complex expression.
These revelations instantly stirred up huge waves, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Netizens flooded the comment section, with all sorts of opinions pouring in. "Zhong Hua is actually a mistress, how shameless! She'll do anything for money!" "Ah Yu seems so decent, I didn't expect her private life to be so chaotic, I'm unfollowing her!" Negative comments poured in like a tidal wave, quickly overwhelming Zhong Hua and Ah Yu.
Zhong Hua was on her way to the hospital when she accidentally saw the news notification on her phone. Her hands trembled instantly, and she almost dropped her phone. Her eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing. The vicious comments were like sharp blades, piercing her heart. She tried to explain in the comments section, "That's not how it is, you've misunderstood..." but her comments were quickly drowned out by countless insults.
Ah Yu was about to leave to meet with the advertiser when his phone suddenly rang. His agent shouted anxiously on the other end of the line, "Ah Yu, something terrible has happened! There are negative news stories about you all over the internet. The advertiser just called to say that the endorsement has been canceled!" Ah Yu felt his world collapse instantly. He sat helplessly on the sofa, and his phone slipped from his hand.
Amidst this chaos, Gu Yanting sat in his luxurious office, watching the news online with a smug smile on his lips. He had orchestrated everything in secret; he had bribed paparazzi to deliberately create this public opinion, intending to ruin Ah Yu and Zhong Hua's reputations.
Cyberbullying Escalates
As time went on, the public outcry not only didn't subside, but intensified. Some marketing accounts also jumped on the bandwagon, fabricating more baseless stories to further smear Zhong Hua and A Yu. Netizens thoroughly investigated Zhong Hua's personal information, exposing her home address and workplace. She was constantly harassed by phone calls from strangers, and some even went to her doorstep to hurl insults.
Zhong Hua returned home, hid in a corner, hugged her knees, and wept uncontrollably. She didn't understand why she had to suffer like this. She thought of her sick mother; if her mother saw these news reports, her condition would surely worsen. The thought tore her heart apart.
Ah Yu's career also suffered a devastating blow. Brands that had sought to collaborate with him terminated their contracts one after another, and his social media accounts were flooded with all sorts of offensive comments that he couldn't bear to look at. He tried to contact some friends to help clarify the situation, but everyone was afraid of being implicated and chose to remain silent.
Lin Wanqing also suffered greatly in this media storm. She felt that it was all because of her, and that if it weren't for her, Ayu and Zhong Hua wouldn't have suffered such torment. She decided to stand up and speak out for them. She posted a long article on her social media account, explaining in detail the true relationship between her and Ayu and Zhong Hua, hoping that netizens would stop attacking them.
However, netizens weren't buying it. They believed Lin Wanqing was also fabricating lies and trying to whitewash Ah Yu and Zhong Hua. Some even started attacking Lin Wanqing, saying she was also a participant in this farce. Looking at those malicious comments, Lin Wanqing felt utterly hopeless.
Darkness enveloped
Night fell, and the city's neon lights flickered, but for Ah Yu, Zhong Hua, and Lin Wanqing, the night was exceptionally dark. Zhong Hua sat alone in the dark room, her phone still receiving harassing text messages. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown, her heart filled with helplessness and despair.
Ah Yu lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. He didn't know how to deal with this crisis; he had lost his career and had even dragged Zhong Hua down with him. He felt a deep sense of self-blame.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanting was throwing a party in his villa, celebrating his "victory." He watched the negative news about Ah Yu and Zhong Hua on TV, his heart filled with smugness. He thought he had completely destroyed them, unaware that an even greater counterattack was quietly brewing.
As public opinion continued to escalate, some rational netizens began to have doubts. They felt that things seemed too suspicious, and that there might be a hidden hand manipulating things behind the scenes. Although these voices were faint, they were like a ray of dawn in the darkness, bringing a glimmer of hope to Ah Yu, Zhong Hua, and Lin Wanqing. They decided not to sit idly by and wait for their fate, but to work together to find the truth, fight back against Gu Yanting, and break this dark situation.
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