Another day passed. Zhao Wanling contacted the private investigators and asked them to collect other offensive remarks from several accounts and do nothing else. Then she contacted the legal department, packaged all the screenshots and videos of evidence collected over the past two days, and sent them over, telling the legal department to prepare to sue these people.
The legal team counted thirty-seven people in total. This was their first time suing so many people, and they were a little unsure. "Ms. Zhao, are you certain you want to sue all thirty-seven?"
Zhao Wanling said, "There should have been more than twice that number, but these thirty-seven had the worst attitudes."
"Understood. We'll review the folder you sent carefully. The grounds for the lawsuits and the summonses will be finalized by two this afternoon."
"All right. Remember, I won't settle or accept apologies. Those thirty-seven people should face whatever consequences they deserve."
Gu Zhiyue marveled, "Mom's so cool. Even Dad can't quite compare."
Gu Shuoyan laughed. "That's exactly what Dad loves about Mom. He's completely hooked."
Zhao Wanling put down her phone. "What are you two saying about me now?"
Gu Zhiyue shook his head. "Nothing. I was wondering whether that document would help."
"It definitely will. Just leave the rest to the legal department and your second brother. They'll handle it."
"That's good."
Gu Zhiyue opened the account's profile. The video was still there. He scrolled through the comments, where each insult and profanity was more unbearable than the last, with maliciously edited pictures and vicious rumors coming one after another.
The exchange of insults between the poster and the others was already showing signs of spilling offline.
Gu Zhiyue clicked his tongue. "It's only been two days, and people have already gone to this person's actual address. Holy crap! They've even got funeral wreaths ready."
Gu Shuoyan clicked his tongue. "This feels a bit like when our second brother first shot to fame. He had lots of fans, but lots of haters too. Insults and maliciously edited pictures flooded his private messages every day."
Gu Zhiyue asked, "Then how did he handle it?"
"He collected their private messages and reported them all. Of course, our reports aren't like ordinary people's reports. Once we reported an account, it was permanently disabled and couldn't be used again. After a while, those extreme haters no longer dared to insult him so openly. As for the ones who did it in secret, he said there was no need to bother with them. Who in the entertainment industry doesn't get insulted?"
"I still have to say, our second brother's got nerves of steel."
Within a day, all thirty-seven people, including the person who posted the video, received court summonses. Some began worrying about what punishment they might face, while others brushed it off as nothing more than a scare tactic.
At the same time, Gu Shen Ci's studio posted a new update: The internet is not beyond the law. If you speak without restraint, be prepared to face punishment.
Attached were an image of a court summons and several images of information with identifying details concealed.
The post quickly became a trending topic. Some sharp-eyed people noticed that some of the images with identifying details concealed concerned fans who had been insulted by haters and extreme fans.
The other half concerned the defendants and the person who posted the video.
["Is the company going to seek justice for the fans too?"]
["They've even posted the summons. Looks like the hearing won't be far off."]
["I knew I picked the right person to be a fan of."]
["It's just a few pictures. What if the studio staged the whole thing?"]
["You above, don't you know Gu Shen Ci's family background? How could this be fake? Do you want to end up in the defendant's seat too?"]
["Whatever the outcome, this alone is enough to make me his fan for life!"]
["+1"]
["+1"]
Word came from the court that seventeen people could attend in person. Another eight were too far away and could only attend online, while the remaining twelve had given no response.
Gu Jiangfeng frowned and said gravely, "The court will have ways to deal with those who haven't responded."
Gu Shen Ci said, "I've already arranged my litigation lawyer. We can go to court anytime. We're just waiting to hear from the court."
"The court's notification is here." Zhao Wanling scrolled through her phone. "Tomorrow afternoon at three fifteen, at the Anzhou High People's Court."
Gu Shuoyan leaned back against the sofa. "It's finally almost all sorted out. We have our little brother to thank again."
"Huh? Why me?"
"Ah... well..." Gu Shuoyan's mind raced. "Thanks to that document you gave us. That evidence played a huge part."
"Really? I didn't expect that document to help so much." Gu Zhiyue bobbed his head happily. The fruit dessert in his hand tasted even sweeter.
Gu Shuoyan quietly patted his chest. His quick tongue had nearly let something slip. Luckily, he'd thought fast.
Zhao Wanling asked, "What are you planning to do later, Zhiyue? How about coming to afternoon tea with Mom?"
Gu Zhiyue thought for a moment. "If you're going out with your friends, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to be there?"
Gu Shuoyan patted Gu Zhiyue's shoulder. "Mom's taken all your older brothers out for afternoon tea. You're the only one left."
"Is this some kind of KPI? All right, I'm not doing anything anyway. I'll go with Mom."
Zhao Wanling's smile deepened. "My friends have wanted to meet my youngest son ever since he came home. We just haven't had time before. They've been talking about it for ages."
Gu Jiangfeng stood up and patted Gu Shen Ci's shoulder. "Handle the rest yourself. Don't go soft."
"I know, Dad."
Zhao Wanling's afternoon tea was set for four, and they had an hour before they needed to leave. She returned to her room to wash up and get ready, while Gu Zhiyue also went upstairs to change.
His phone vibrated twice. It was a message from Luo Yunhe. [Your second brother's going to court? Is that true?]
[The company's already posted about it. How could it be fake?]
[Finally suing them. Those trolls should've been made to pay long ago.]
[Will this affect his concerts later? A few older girls asked me to check whether there would be any delays.]
[No. The earliest concert is still two or three months away. The hearing will be over in a few days. Tell them the concerts will definitely go ahead as scheduled.]
[Okay, okay, I'll let them know. Let's hang out in a few days when you're free. I found a pretty good braised food shop.]
[School's starting soon, so let's do it before then. You pick the time.]
Gu Zhiyue sent the message, tossed his phone onto the bed, and walked into the dressing room to change.
He paired cream-colored, draping straight-leg trousers with versatile white sneakers, wore a crewneck knit top in the same color family, and put on a silver cross necklace.
Gu Zhiyue looked himself over from every angle in the full-length mirror, nodding in satisfaction. Only after he had admired himself enough did he leave the dressing room, drape the ear-hook headphones from the shelf around his neck, pick up his phone, and leave his room.
"Mom, I'm ready."
"I'm ready too. Let's go. I'll take you to meet those aunties."
Before you continue