The next day, Linghui Studio released an extremely long clarification statement along with legal letters, which exploded across the entire internet.
[Linghui Studio: Recently, our signed artist @Actor-Xiao He has been subjected to malicious rumors online. Many related statements are completely fabricated, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Meanwhile, Linghui Studio solemnly declares——]
Following the studio's official clarification was Xiao He's repost.
[Actor-Xiao He: Already reported to police. Work issues, please don't involve my parents. [Repost-Linghui Studio: ...]]
This news became the second major drama that caught everyone's attention after the White Magnolia Awards nomination list was announced.
[Holy crap, what happened? If I remember correctly, wasn't Brother Xiao filming abroad recently? When did he return to the country?]
[Brother Xiao didn't return. It's just that some people domestically couldn't hold back anymore and want to mess with Brother Xiao.]
[Huh? What's going on? I can't even follow this drama properly.]
[I know a bit about it. Apparently someone spread rumors saying Xiao He's father is a major corrupt official, and that Xiao He bullied female classmates in school, forcing someone to jump off a building. It's absolutely ridiculous.]
[Really? Oh my god, how come I haven't heard anything about this at all?]
[Of course it's fake! Didn't you see the studio already reported it to the police?]
[But how did this news spread? I'm always surfing Weibo, but I haven't seen any related exposés.]
[Apparently it was only spreading in group chats across different platforms, all very subtly hinted. I only found out they were actually talking about Xiao He after another group member decoded it.]
[Damn, so it really is about this! Some time ago, in my elementary school class group chat, someone randomly said they had major drama and asked if others wanted to see it, then posted damaging information about Xiao He! It's absolutely insane - our elementary school group chat had been dead for over a decade, and they suddenly resurrected just to post damaging information about a celebrity. We were all completely confused.]
[Wait, so now spreading damaging information and rumors has become this advanced? They're even using private domains?]
[That's pretty normal. Back in the day, QQ zones were full of these celebrity rumors and damaging information, spreading incredibly fast.]
[Let me share some industry insight: those people who post these messages in groups of different sizes actually get paid for it. So the people spreading these messages... *cough cough*, those who understand, understand.]
[Oh my god, the comments section has really opened my eyes.]
...
Linghui Studio's announcement practically blew everyone away.
The current Xiao He was no longer the Xiao He of the past. His fan counts across various platforms had reached astonishing numbers, and since he mostly played roles that showcased his acting skills in serious dramas, combined with previous official endorsements, the general public had a very positive impression of him.
Now that something like this had happened, many people found it hard to understand.
Of course, they weren't confused about Xiao He and his studio's actions, but rather about the people deliberately spreading damaging rumors about Xiao He.
[Haha, but I really laughed my head off. When Xiao He said not to mess with his parents, I couldn't hold back.]
[Laughed until I cried. Do you think this is Brother Xiao's warning? Actually, it's because he really has no other options left.]
[Mainly, who came up with such shady Damaging Information? The video was stolen from neighboring India, the posts were supposedly from Xiao He's elementary school days, and even the parents' job positions were completely different from reality. It's just too ridiculous. If I were Xiao He, I'd be breaking down too.]
[Actually, what I admire more is how Xiao He's studio managed to find so much evidence and counterattack so strongly. Especially that overseas video - I checked and it's not available on any domestic platforms, not even on major international platforms. I don't know which dark web they dug it out from, but they're really powerful.]
[Indeed, that's quite impressive. And the studio's response was so fast - they quickly debunked all the rumors with detailed evidence. Really good. I usually criticize studios, but this time I really have to praise them.]
[Um, could this be self-orchestrated? The speed of this clarification is just too astonishing. And it was only spreading in group chats with very limited reach. Right after the White Magnolia nomination list came out, they started jumping around. Emmm, I can only say Xiao He's studio is quite skilled at manipulating public opinion.]
[?]
[Sigh, when will these "I'm the only sober one in a drunk world" anti-intellectual comments disappear? Are you saying Xiao He was so bored that he spread rumors about himself forcing someone to death, and about his parents embezzling government money? Then he'd really be quite the filial son.]
[That's some truly heartwarming filial piety, fam.]
After posting the relevant updates, Xiao He called home again.
Father Xiao and Mother Xiao already knew about the matter and were equally furious, but fortunately Xiao He had minimized their exposure risks. Although most netizens already knew about his parents' actual work situations, Father Xiao and Mother Xiao's daily lives remained completely unaffected.
Mother Xiao even comforted Xiao He instead: "This just shows our son is really about to become famous, attracting too much jealousy. That's a good thing. Focus on your work, stay safe, and definitely beware of those petty people. Your dad and I are perfectly safe - he's at his unit, I'm at school, both with proper security, and we rarely go out far. Don't worry about us."
"Okay, Mom."
Xiao He agreed verbally, but still felt somewhat guilty inside.
Once things settled down here, he should go back for a visit...
-
Beijing, Xingchen Entertainment.
"Holy shit? They even found that video?"
Qin Yuezhang stared incredulously at the tablet in his hand.
Wen Qi gave an awkward smile: "Their methods are indeed quite good."
Qin Yuezhang complained discontentedly: "What kind of people did you find? They're too incompetent!"
"My mistake. But now the police have caught them, so the follow-up..."
"Give them some money to shut them up! Or do you want me to go in and have a chat with them too?"
Qin Yuezhang glanced sideways at Wen Qi.
Wen Qi wiped his sweat: "I understand. I'll make sure they keep quiet."
If this really got traced back, the one who'd suffer wouldn't be this young master, but him.
"So how's the blacklisting progress going? How dare Xiao He still bounce around like this?"
Qin Yuezhang was quite displeased.
"We've managed to block some production teams, but the influence in Shanghai area is relatively smaller..."
Wen Qi carefully watched Qin Yuezhang's expression.
"Never mind."
Qin Yuezhang sneered coldly.
"My dad already went to the group to find Uncle Song. Once Uncle Song's side cuts off a few disobedient production team projects, they'll naturally fall in line."
These days, the ones with money are the bosses. Since they won't listen, just cut off their funding.
However, just as Qin Yuezhang was feeling smug and confident, his father Qin Song returned.
The middle-aged man sat on the sofa with a gloomy face, not saying a word.
The tense atmosphere immediately made Qin Yuezhang sit up straight, while Wen Qi had already tactfully retreated from the "battlefield."
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Qin Yuezhang cautiously asked his father.
"Someone, some little bastard, exposed my embezzlement of public funds to the group!"
Qin Song angrily grabbed his hair, "Fortunately, the higher-ups just told me to return the money and didn't directly call the police. Damn it, whoever did this, I'll make sure I find out who!"
Qin Yuezhang froze for a moment, his mind first flashing to Xiao He's side quickly finding the original overseas video with such speed and efficiency. But then he shook his head, dismissing this ridiculous thought, and said instead: "Dad, is it that faction targeting us?"
As a major corporation, Xingchen Film Industry had plenty of internal competition and factions.
For example, they currently belonged to Uncle Song's faction, including the entire Xingchen Entertainment, which had always sided with Uncle Song in group power struggles.
As an entertainment company holding multiple artist contracts with decent traffic development in the industry, their Xingchen Entertainment's profits had always been quite good, with plenty of benefits to skim.
So for a long time, people from other factions had been eyeing Qin Song's position, wanting a share of the pie.
But Qin Song had worked for many years, his position as stable as Mount Tai. Even after his father retired, his influence remained, plus he had a wildly popular son, making it difficult for others to pull Qin Song down.
And this time...
Complex emotions flashed in Qin Song's eyes, but he maintained composure in front of his son, saying quietly: "There are new changes happening in the group recently. Behave yourself and don't cause trouble."
"Don't worry, Dad."
Qin Yuezhang immediately nodded.