On the same day, at the same time.
Wang Xiaoliang, Wei Zijin, and Xiao Mo all posted a video on their accounts.
The thumbnail had white text on a black background-"Restoring the truth."
The video ran for three minutes. Each of the three appeared on camera, saying almost exactly the same thing.
Wang Xiaoliang sat in front of the camera, his expression calm. "There's a video on Haoran Film and Television's account titled 'Restoring the truth,' which contains a complete audio recording. I'm now offering a public reward for experts in lip-reading and speech analysis to reconstruct the speech and text in this video."
"You have three days to send your analysis to the designated email address."
"The person whose reconstruction comes closest to the truth and reaches our inbox first-"
He paused.
"Will receive one million."
The barrage of comments instantly exploded.
Then came a second announcement.
All three parties simultaneously instructed their lawyers to issue statements: police reports had been filed, and forensic examinations of the audio and video had been requested. The preliminary conclusion-malicious editing, fabrication of evidence, and the spreading of false rumors to stir up trouble.
Civil lawsuits were launched at the same time.
Wang Xiaoliang sued entertainment reporter Mu Yanshou for thirty-one million.
Wei Zijin sought twenty-eight million.
Xiao Mo sought nineteen million.
In addition, Xiao Mo issued a statement on Mi Shanshan's behalf, seeking eight million.
Together, the four claims totaled eighty-six million.
The internet erupted.
Mu Yanshou was a well-known name in entertainment circles.
He had been in the business for nearly twenty years, and the stars and celebrities he had brought down numbered more than he could count on both hands. Some had failed to know their place and offended people they should never have crossed. Others had powerful figures