The moment Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan stepped into the courtroom, the tense atmosphere in the air seemed to ignite. This day of court hearings was yet another severe test of their fate. The courtroom was packed, filled not only with their respective legal teams, but also with numerous media reporters and members of the public who were concerned about the case; all eyes were on them.
The judge struck the gavel, the sound echoing in the silent courtroom: "Court is now in session."
The plaintiff's lawyer stood up first, a look of certainty on his face: "Your Honor, after the last court hearing, we still maintain that the defendant's actions constitute an infringement of our client's right to reputation. Even if the defendant claims to have evidence, the authenticity and legality of this evidence remain to be debated."
Ling Yichen's lawyer stood up calmly, his gaze sweeping firmly across the room: "Your Honor, our evidence is legally obtained and has been authenticated by a professional institution, its authenticity is beyond question. In the last trial, we exposed the fact that the plaintiff's witnesses committed perjury, which is enough to show that the plaintiff will stop at nothing to achieve their goals."
As he spoke, he presented new evidence—a detailed investigation report that documented the plaintiff company's entire process, from planning the smear campaign to hiring online trolls and instructing employees to give false testimony. Every detail was supported by corresponding screenshots and witness testimonies.
"This report was issued by a professional investigation agency. They conducted an in-depth investigation into the plaintiff's malicious actions, collected evidence from various channels, and formed a complete chain of evidence." Ling Yichen's lawyer spoke in a loud and confident voice.
The plaintiff's lawyer's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "This is just another sophistry by the defendant. Even if this evidence is true, the harsh language used by the defendant in issuing the statement exceeded reasonable limits and caused substantial damage to our client's business reputation."
Ling Yichen's lawyer immediately retorted: "The plaintiff has been maliciously smearing the defendant's production team for months, causing huge economic losses and reputational damage to the team. When the defendant issued its statement, it was only making statements based on facts, using reasonable wording, and aimed at protecting its own legitimate rights and interests. Moreover, we have a large number of comments from netizens and objective reports from the media as evidence. The public has long seen through the plaintiff's malicious behavior and has condemned its unfair competition tactics."
The two sides went back and forth, neither willing to give an inch, and the heated debate made the atmosphere in the courtroom increasingly tense. Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan sat in the defendant's dock, their fists clenched tightly. They knew that the outcome of this case would determine the fate of the entire film crew.
Just as the two sides were arguing, the judge suddenly spoke up: "This court has noted that this case involves a large amount of evidence and is complex. In order to ensure a fair judgment, this court has decided to adjourn temporarily. The panel of judges will conduct a detailed review and discussion of all the evidence and will announce the verdict at a later date."
Hearing the judge's words, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran felt a pang of anxiety. Although they were confident in their evidence, the wait for the verdict was undoubtedly agonizing.
Stepping out of the courtroom, the sky outside was overcast, as if foreshadowing an impending storm. Jun Mozhan said worriedly, "I don't know how the panel of judges will rule. This waiting period is really unbearable."
Ling Yichen comforted him, saying, "We have done our best, and we believe the law will give us justice. In the meantime, we cannot let our guard down and must continue to push forward with the release of the new drama."
Back on set, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran immediately threw themselves into promotional preparations for their new drama. The publicity team worked overtime to produce a series of exquisite promotional posters and trailers, highlighting the drama's unique charm and cultural depth. They also collaborated with major media outlets, publishing several in-depth reports introducing the drama's creative background and filming process, attracting even more viewers' attention.
However, the plaintiffs did not stop their disruptive tactics during the temporary recess of the trial. They intensified their online propaganda offensive, not only continuing to spread rumors but also hiring more online trolls to post negative comments on various social media platforms in an attempt to damage the reputation of the new drama.
"These people are despicable; we must find a way to stop them," the publicity director said angrily.
Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan held another emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. They decided to strengthen the monitoring of online public opinion and immediately report and refute any malicious comments or rumors discovered. At the same time, they also organized a fan support group, encouraging fans to actively speak out online and spread positive information about the new drama.
Thanks to the crew's efforts, online public opinion was gradually brought under control. However, Ling Yichen and Jun Moran knew that this was only a temporary victory, and the real challenge was yet to come—awaiting the court's final verdict.
Days passed, and Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan spent their time in anxiety and anticipation. Finally, they received a notice from the court that the panel of judges would deliver its verdict in three days.
For the next three days, Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan barely ate or slept. They repeatedly checked the preparations for the release of the new drama to ensure everything went smoothly, while silently praying that the court would make a fair judgment.
The day of sentencing finally arrived, and Ling Yichen and Jun Mozhan arrived at the courtroom early. The atmosphere inside the courtroom was heavy, and everyone was waiting for the moment that would decide their fate.
The judge stood up, cleared his throat, and slowly said, "After careful review and discussion by the collegial panel, the verdict in this case is now announced..."
The judge's voice echoed in the courtroom, each word like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of Ling Yichen and Jun Moran.
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